Welcome back to The Date Edit, our running series of ready-made date plans for queer women (and allies) who want a great day out, but would rather someone else did the hard work for them. Well, lucky you.
If you’re looking for Bath date ideas then, this is the one. Bath is built for dates because it does half the work for you: honey-coloured Georgian stone, sweeping crescents, little side streets. The trick is keeping it all in a tight loop, so you get the, coffee to spa to dinner without the day turning into logistics. We hope you’ve packed your swimmers.
Vibe: Romantic, a bit grown-up
Area: Bath (central)
Best For: Third date / Long-term couples
Budget: £££–££££
Length: 8–12 hours
The Day Thing
Colonna & Small’s
Start at Colonna & Small’s, they’re serious about coffee. They’ll talk you through what’s on, and if your date likes details (taste notes, origin, bllah, blah), this is a good start.
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Once you’re caffeinated, you’ve got Bath’s best part on your doorstep: those Georgian streets with symmetrical terraces and tall sash windows. You can do Royal Crescent / The Circus as a loop without turning it into a march (we know the gays love to walk quickly, but that’s not for right now sweetheart).
Price Point: ££
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The Afternoon Thing
Thermae Bath Spa
Thermae is the best way to use Bath properly. The building’s modern, the water’s properly warm, and the rooftop pool is the main reason to go — open air, steam, and the city’s rooftops and stonework around you. It’s not a place you rush; you go, you stay in, you come out feeling like you’ve had a real break in the day.
It also makes the date easier because you’re not constantly moving. You’re in one place for a couple of hours, you can keep things simple, and you don’t need to keep deciding what happens next. Do the rooftop first, then the steam rooms, then sit for ten minutes with a drink and pretend you’re not checking the time.
Book a slot and build around it. Mid-afternoon works well because it splits the day neatly and sets you up for an evening that doesn’t feel too full-on.
Price Point: £££
If It Goes Well
The Olive Tree
The Olive Tree is a one-Michelin-star restaurant located beneath The Queensberry Hotel. It’s a small, low-lit dining room with a formal-but-relaxed setup and attentive service that’s present without being overbearing. If you want dinner to be the main plan (rather than a quick stop), it’s a solid choice.
The meal is structured and paced like a proper evening out, so it works well as the final stop after a full day. Book ahead, and keep anything after to a simple drink nearby if you still want to stretch the night.
Price Point: ££££
Wrap-Up
The Hideout
The Hideout is tucked away in the centre, set in an old cellar space, and it focus is on cocktails + whisky (they’re proud of having 300+ whiskies) with a hip-hop soundtrack rather than the usual “speakeasy cosplay.” Cocktails are well-made, the venue is a compact cellar space, and it’s a convenient post-dinner stop in central Bath.
See you next time for the next instalment of The Date Edit.
Nonchalant x
Babs heads up Logistics and Product here at Nonchalant Magazine.
