Chef Josh Eggleton brings acclaimed Root concept to Bath
Michelin-recognised chef Josh Eggleton will headline the relaunch of Shires Yard in Bath this October, bringing his acclaimed Root restaurant to the city as part of the development’s next chapter.
Root comes to Bath
Root will take over the former Jamie’s Italian site, a double-height space spread across two floors with the addition of a rooftop terrace. It will be the largest Root to date and the first in Bath, joining the existing Bristol and Wells restaurants.
In Bath, guests can expect the familiar small-plates style upstairs, while the ground floor will offer a more casual setting with a Root cocktail menu and relaxed dining space.
Josh said the move was the natural next step for the group: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Root to Bath. The city’s food scene has gone from strength to strength, and Shires Yard is the perfect home for Root’s next chapter.”
Read more: From field to fork: how Somerset’s chefs are redefining regional food
Origins of the brand
Root was created in 2017 by Josh and his sister Holly as part of The Pony Group, the family’s collection of hospitality businesses in the South West. The first Root opened in Bristol’s Wapping Wharf, taking over a shipping container site originally used as a temporary space for Josh’s former Michelin-starred pub, The Pony and Trap.
Root was designed around a vegetable-first philosophy. Menus are centred on seasonal vegetables, with meat and fish used sparingly as supporting ingredients rather than the star of the plate. The concept was inspired by the rise of flexitarian dining, the push for sustainability, and the team’s desire to champion local growers and producers.
A heritage site reimagined
The opening is part of the wider redevelopment of Shires Yard, a collection of Georgian courtyards and listed buildings stretching between Milsom Street and Broad Street.
Previously known as Milsom Place, the site is being relaunched under its original 18th-century name to reflect its heritage as a working stable yard that once transported goods and art from Bath to London.
Covering 75,000 square feet and incorporating terraces, vaults and landscaped courtyards, the redesign blends historic architecture with contemporary finishes.
A hub for food, drink and culture
The relaunch on October 15 will showcase Shires Yard’s new direction as a destination for food, retail, wellness and culture.
Alongside Josh's Root, the development will also see the arrival of Magari, a pasta-focused restaurant, Coret Coffee and Wine, The Cookery Studio, Bramley’s first standalone skincare store, Yogakave hot yoga, and a series of independent makers and galleries.
There will also be pop-ups including a taproom from Bath’s Electric Bear Brewery, complementing existing names such as Bosco Pizzeria, The Botanist, Bandook Indian and Côte Brasserie.
Bath as a dining destination
For Bath, which has grown its reputation as a dining destination with openings such as Upstairs at Landrace and Beckford Canteen, the addition of Eggleton’s Root reinforces the city’s culinary credentials. For Shires Yard, it signals the kind of ambition its custodians want to foster: independent creativity, hospitality-led vibrancy, and a sense of place that connects history with the present.
Shires Yard partner Peter Phillips said the aim was always to breathe new life into a part of Bath’s heritage.
He added: “Our goal was to re-energise an important part of the city’s history. With restaurants like Root joining, Shires Yard will once again become a focal point for food and culture in Bath.”
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