It will soon be time for Bay to sprout new growth, so keep a look out for new red buds. It could be that the winter weather has done for the old leaves. Hopefully it will leaf up soon. Evergreens do lose their leaves too, just not in autumn like other plants.

Thank you, I thought there was no hope. There are buds at the end of the branches but it's hard to tell if they are ok or if they have perished. I will keep an eye on it, thank you for responding this is the first bay tree I have had so had no idea what was wrong.