TGt Meets... Jennifer Randall of Signature Bath Tours

As part of our TGt Meets... series of interviews, we caught up with Jennifer Randall, owner of Signature Bath Tours, so see what her top things to do in Bath are and what it's like showing amazed tourists around our beautiful city!

Where is our home and why?

I moved to Bath three and a half years ago and never has anywhere felt more like home. My Dad went to University here and my parents spent lots of time here when they were dating, so I’ve always had a desire to live here at some point. Even though my expectations were high already, my expectations were exceeded.

Describe your business in 3 words…

Unique, personal and special.

What gave you the idea to start Signature Bath Tours?

There are a number of reasons that linked together to create the concept behind Signature Bath Tours. I studied Photography at University but had a growing curiosity for tourism. In my final year I wrote my dissertation about the history and theories behind tourism, for the creative project alongside this I travelled to some of the major landmarks in Europe to document people documenting their holiday and of course based a lot of photoshoots in Bath. I was watching people take selfies, posing for self timers, only to have cut their head out or getting strangers passing by to take a quick shot (which probably had their thumb in the corner of the lens). I was watching people take bad photos, whilst reading about how precious holidays are for us. It was then that something clicked. The idea of a tour and photoshoot spawned from this experience.

I, myself am a sucker for a city break, I would come back with lovely photos of me and lovely photos of my travel partner but none of us together. To add to that, I never ever get around to printing these. Everything is digital, which can be great, on the other hand there is something really special about having something in print. I have also heard so many heartbreaking tales of photos getting lost, I have even experienced it myself. Never again. I have a hard drive to back up my hard drive now. This is where the idea for a bespoke book came from.

Documenting our holidays is high on the agenda when we go away, but by making it a priority means we can often forget to immerse ourselves truly on holiday. We all work so hard, so our holidays shouldn’t be hard work, it is our time to relax. My aim is to take all of the hard work out of it, including where to stop for coffee or lunch. I am in love with Bath and want the visitors to our beautiful city see the best that it has to offer and a lot of the time, that means venturing out of the city centre. This love for Bath was the inspiration behind the tailored nature of the tours.

What do you think attracts people to Bath?

The sheer beauty of the architecture is enough to lure anyone to Bath. Tourists see these glorious and grand honey-coloured crescents, to them I guess it looks like a magical kingdom. It is in a way, what other city is surrounded by rolling hills? Bath is the perfect blend of town and country. Though it has changed and developed in many ways over the years, Bath originated and was known as a place of leisure and pleasure for the Romans, it truly established itself as that in the Georgian era, what is the saying? ‘a leopard can never change its spots’.

In your opinion, what/where are Bath’s top 3 ‘hidden gems’?

Bath is full of hidden gems! I am going to have to be bias and say that the Bartlett St. Quarter is one of them, a quirky stretch of cobbles featuring shops, cafe’s, galleries and hair salons all within metres of eachother. You could easily walk past or take a glance and not suspect all that it has to offer. Cafe Lucca is probably the most spacious cafe in Bath, with floor to ceiling windows, the terrace out the front is perfect in the afternoon sun, I will certainly be taking many people up there for a late afternoon tipple. The brunch menu at Same Same But Different is incredible, and they serve water laced with cucumber and mint, so refreshing. The shopping is great too, Blue is filled with a carefully selected eclectic mix of furniture and clothing.

For those venturing up towards the Crescent, they are missing out by not taking a stroll down Margaret’s Buildings. You could never rush through and not look into all the shop windows, it is always fascinating to enter the antiques store and see the treasures inside. In the summer, it almost feels like Italy or Spain with the selection of al fresco dining options.

Finally, I would say behind the Royal Crescent, St.James’ Square and around, there is a chemist and a flower shop, it gives off the impression of a small village outside of Bath. The Marlborough Tavern is hidden behind the Crescent, with easily the best beer garden for a drink in the sun and a wood burning fire for in the winter, it helps that the food served up is fantastic, great food but in a casual surroundings. I feel this may become a regular lunch stop I take people to. A quick refuel there before taking the steep but rewarding walk up to Lansdown Crescent, my favourite crescent out of the 7.

How do you like to spend your time off in Bath?

I like to call it "Bumbling”. I normally work my way from bottom to top, nosy in the shops whilst stopping for many a tea and cake break or a spot of lunch. Browse the amazing galleries, stop in the book shops and flick through books, listen to some of the amazing buskers. It is a very relaxing and rewarding day to ‘bumble around Bath’.

Where’s your favourite place to eat in Bath?

That is probably the hardest question for anyone to answer, I love food and there are so many amazing places to choose from. I will have to split it into Summer and Winter. I am going to have to say The Bathwick Boatman for summer because of the delightful setting, by the river. I spent 3 hours there in the summer, they couldn’t get rid of me! You can then work off all that food with a spot of punting. In the winter I would say The Chequers, or just anywhere with a fire that serves delicious food.

What is your single most critical talent you possess in your role as a business owner?

I think it is less of a talent and more about my passion for what I am doing and my belief that I can make it successful. If you have that, you have the stamina to just keep going through all of the obstacles and problems that arise.

What’s been your biggest challenge to date?

Being patient is definitely a challenge, but 'good things come to those that wait'. I've found the sacrifices quite hard. Between working two jobs to fund the business and starting the business, there isn’t a lot of time for family or friends or fun let alone spare money. Holidays for myself are a thing of the past, I will have to live the off of the excitement of people coming on holiday to Bath!

What’s been your biggest achievement so far?

Starting this. It was just a passing thought, that became an idea, that then became my dream and it is now here after 10 months of hard work. Another huge achievement is that I still have friends that want to speak to me when all I talk about is Signature Bath Tours, but I think that is more of an achievement on their part than mine.

Where do you see your business in 5 years time?

In 5 years time I would love to be well established in Bath and at least in the process of turning Signature Bath Tours into a franchise across the UK, in cities like Oxford and York.

Describe Bath in 3 words…

Very hard… Creative, innovative, majestic.