[The winners of the bottle label competition are Sophie V ( children’s prize) and Sunny ( adult prize). ]
Around six months ago, l first met a young woman who had been brought into the Museum of Bath at Work to promote and encourage community involvement in a place that reflects and revels in the city’s industrial past.
One of its biggest collections revolves around Bath’s bottled drinks industry, which has inspired Elle Bowes to run a competition, along with her colleagues Helen Daniels and Holly Wallis, to encourage people to design their own soft drink labels.
It’s provided a colourful and informative pop-up exhibition which we talked about when l called in to see her.
Here’s the official museum press release!
Did you know that Bath has a long history of Fizzy Drinks Manufacture?
Discover the fascinating story of Bath’s bottled drinks industry in Bath Bottled, a new pop-up exhibition opening at the Museum of Bath at Work!
From bustling bottling factories to bubbling sacred springs, Bath Bottled uncovers the history of Fizzy drinks manufacture in Bath, the use of spring water, flavourings, marketing and the people behind the product.
The exhibition offers visitors of all ages a chance to explore:
- The entrepreneurial beginnings of local inventors, the working lives of factory employees and conditions in the factories within the Bath area.
- A brief history of mineral water in soft drink production and its links to Bath’s famed springs.
- Original and recreated recipes for old-fashioned fizzy drinks, including Hot Tom and Bath Punch.
- A look at the Marketing of drinks and how this has changed and developed over the last 100 years.
- A playful, hands-on section for younger visitors, including interactive activities for children, including an opportunity to listen to voices from the past.
- A creative showcase of contemporary label designs by local Bathonians, inspired by the city’s own iconic Bowler bottle labels, showcasing some of Bath’s artistic talent.
This exhibition is the combination of a series of workshops with local people, the research of a small team of volunteers – that’s Eloise, Yaren, Pauline and Fiona – and personal stories.
The exhibition runs from August 29th 2025, to March 1st 2026, and is included with general museum admission.
Thirsty for something different? Pop by the Museum of Bath at Work this Autumn!
Find out more about this and other museum attractions via http://www.bath-at-work.org.uk
