Bath Lives - Simon Dehany

Fresh from winning 'Best Cocktail Bar in Bath' at the Bath Life Awards, we spoke with Simon Dehany, general manager of Circo Bar & Lounge.

Where is home and why?

Limpley Stoke – on the gorgeous Wiltshire / Somerset borders – the perfect place to relax after 21 hectic years spent living in ‘Sarf’ London!

What inspired you to set up your business here?

Well the business belongs to our esteemed Boss / Owner Giles Thomas – but I chose to move here to exchange gangster gunshot as a late night soundtrack, for the more refined farmers gunshots of the early morn!

What advice would you give anyone looking to do the same?

Do it. Don’t hesitate! I accepted the position and moved my whole life in 4 weeks flat!

What do you think attracts business people to Bath?

Ease of communication, a tight knit business community and a willingness to help each other by sharing contacts and knowledge.

How do you like to spend your time off?

At the local country pub (The Inn at Freshford) sampling fine ales, cycling, listening to music and sleeping! After all I do work when everyone else is out enjoying themselves!

Your phone book must be full of business contacts, but who is the most famous person in there?

Probably harks back to my days working in the music industry – but I would say David Bowie. The most gracious of Britain’s rock stars. A true gent.

Your 2pm meeting has been cancelled, meaning you now have a two-hour lunch break. What do you do?

A quick trip to ‘Raves From The Grave’ (a wonderful second hand record shop in Widecombe) or straight over to ‘Independent Spirit’, Bath’s newest fine liquor store stocking all manner of wonderful elixir’s!

Describe Bath in three words.....

Clean, Serene, Fresh.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

Workwise – winning the Bath Life 2013 award for best bar – Personal? Escaping London!

What’s your favourite thing about Bath?

It has to be the accessability to the beautiful countryside! Oh and the roof top spa!