Venture Security celebrates a year protecting The Roman Baths

With more than a million visitors every year, including celebrities, dignitaries and other high-profile figures, The Roman Baths is one of the UK’s most prestigious historic sites, dating back more than 2000 years in places.

Venture was awarded the security contract for the site by Bath & North East Somerset Council in February 2022, following a competitive tender process. Venture’s officers have been in place since May 2022, helping to protect the site for generations to come and ensuring visitors have a safe and pleasant visit.

The history of The Roman Baths

The Roman Baths is one of the finest historic sites in Northern Europe. As one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world, the people of Roman Britain would come to the site to worship the goddess, Sulis Minerva, and bathe in the waters of the natural thermal springs, which still flow with hot water today.

Today, visitors can explore the Roman Baths complex, walk on the original Roman pavements and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva.

The venue is also a popular choice for events, with everything from weddings, birthday parties and drinks evenings, to Proms and VIP dinners being held there. In addition, film crews are regularly in attendance.

Security for The Roman Baths

Venture’s officers cover all areas of the site, including entrances and the gift shop. Alongside this, they carry out regular patrols and support the Visitor Experience Hosts. Plus, provide night-time cover as required, such as for CCTV monitoring, staff welfare checks and alarm activations, and support the delivery of onsite events.

As officers are customer facing, having strong customer service skills is vital and the team also takes pride in being smartly presented at all times.

Paul Howe, MD, Venture Security, explains: “At Venture, we have a long and successful history of protecting sites of historical significance and it’s an honour to have The Roman Baths under our care. Alongside their security training, all our officers are also trained in customer service, which forms an integral part of the role, with the Baths playing host to visitors from across the world.”

Venture’s experience with historic sites

From 900-year-old Winchester Cathedral to Whitchurch Silk Mill, a 19th century water mill that weaves English silk fabrics using 19th century machinery, Venture works with many of the region’s most prestigious and well known historic venues. Here is a snapshot of some of those sites:

Stonehenge

Since April 2019, Venture has been providing static guarding for the Stonehenge monument around the clock, as well as security for the onsite visitor centre. Additionally, the specialist team is delivering comprehensive security services for four popular events held at the site throughout the year. These are the summer and winter solstices, as well as two equinoxes held in spring and autumn, which up to 15k people will typically attend.

Venture’s guarding team at Stonehenge is made up of 13 SIA licensed security officers, with additional team members joining to support the security detail for the quarterly events as required.

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire is one of the UK’s most recognisable landmarks. Set within an 80-acre walled close and housing one of only four remaining copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, the cathedral is open to the public every day of the year and visited by more than 260,000 people annually.

The cathedral first approached Venture in 2017 when looking for professional help in tackling antisocial behaviour within the cathedral’s grounds, with additional security services being added over time.

Venture has responsibility for locking up the site every evening. Additionally, Venture’s security operatives carry out daily patrols of the cathedral site on foot. These operatives help to tackle any antisocial behaviour, while their presence offers reassurance to staff, visitors and residents alike. Several incidents involving members of the public coming into the cathedral and acting aggressively towards staff and other visitors, led the cathedral to increase its security provision further, with the addition of a static guard.

Newbury Racecourse

Newbury Racecourse is a Grade 1 racecourse and ranked among the top 10 racecourses in the UK. The racecourse has a long history of racing, having been in operation for more than 115 years and welcoming around 180,000 visitors annually.

Since April 2023, Venture has been supplying all event stewarding, crowd management and hospitality security services for the racecourse, including for the high-profile Coral Gold Cup, Betfair Super Saturday, and the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes.

Venture’s experienced team are providing year-round security services for the site, including 31 popular racedays held at the racecourse each year, the largest of which will require a mobilisation of up to 180 security and stewarding staff on the day.

Newbury is the second racecourse to call on the team’s services, with Venture having been the security provider of choice for Salisbury Racecourse, the second oldest racecourse in the UK, for the last eight years.

Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral is one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Europe and for more than 900 years, people have come to seek inspiration within its beautiful building and grounds. Visitors from across the world share in worship, explore the Cathedral’s history, and take part in a variety of events throughout the year, including a popular Christmas market.

Venture supports the cathedral with a range of security services including conducting patrols of the grounds to help manage anti-social behaviour and locking up the site in the evenings as required.

About Venture

Venture Security was founded in 2006 and is ranked within the top 1% of UK providers by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

The company provides a range of professional security services and event security services, for customers based across Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Surrey. As well as working with private and public sector organisations, ranging from large businesses to event organisers, Venture’s officers can also be spotted in towns and city centres across the region helping to tackle anti-social behaviour.

• To find out more about Venture’s award-winning services, contact us using [email protected] / 01264 391 538
• To find out more about career opportunities visit: https://www.venturesec.co.uk/recruitment