My bar tree is looking terrible after the very cold weather

Bay trees are pretty tough, it will probably recover Julier. The plant in Portuagal is Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag or bacon-and-eggs. It's a tender perennial.

If your bay is in a pot, I'd ask how long its been in the same pot, and did you have it stood outside in a cold, exposed and windy spot over the harsh weather before Christmas?

Thanks both -yes, it was outside, nowhere else to put it an d it has been fine in previous years. Will hope for the best..