'Bristol Eye' big wheel offers a great view of the city
THIS is the newest addition to the Bristol skyline – an observation wheel that soars over the centre of the city.
The Bristol Wheel was erected by a team of engineers over the weekend and will open on Saturday.
At 60m (197ft) tall it is the height of 15 double-decker buses and dwarfs Cabot Tower, which is just 32m (105ft), and should give spectacular panoramic views across the city.
The enormous structure was last used in London's Hyde Park at Christmas, and was transported to Bristol on 11 trailers.
It now stands at the heart of Broadmead in The Podium, the open space in the centre.
Street furniture was removed to make way for the 365-tonne wheel, which is now fenced off.
Ten riggers used a 72-tonne crane to lift the heavy metal struts into place, and it will take a week to complete the setting up of the tourist attraction.
The wheel will have 40 gondolas which can carry up to six people at a time, with one "VIP" gondola and one with disabled access. During the 12-minute ride there will be commentary on Bristol's history and the geography of the parts of the city that are visible from the attraction.
The wheel is run by Nottingham-based business Mellors Group, which was granted temporary planning permission for it by Bristol City Council last month.
The company carried out work to ensure that the ground beneath The Podium was suitable to hold the wheel, taking ultrasound readings to make sure its weight is distributed properly.
James Mellors, one of the company's directors, previously told the Evening Post the wheel would be a great addition to the city's skyline and could drive up visitor numbers to the city centre by 20 per cent.
Yesterday the wheel was given a seal of approval by shoppers in Broadmead, although some felt it was an eyesore and others thought it would offer better views of Bristol from Castle Park or the centre's fountains.
An observation wheel which operated in Castle Park for seven weeks in December 2006 and January 2007 was deemed a success. Dubbed the Bristol Eye, the 45m-tall Ferris wheel was brought to the city by Plymouth firm C&G Tourist Attractions.
The new wheel in Broadmead will be running in Bristol until May 8.
It will be open for rides between 10am and 8pm, Sunday to Thursday, and between 10am and 10pm on Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays.
Rides cost £6 for adults, £5 for concessions and £4 for children over three years old and shorter than 1.4m tall. Children under three go free.
For more information, visit www.bristolwheel.co.uk.
17 Comments
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by Morrissey9
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 1:29PM
“I bet you'd get a lovely view of the shop roofs of Broadmead from that big wheel.”
by shortie2377
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 12:34PM
“Nor are sporting premises i.e. football, ice hockey, cricket, rugby.
All are moving or closing.
Big shame.”
by Dingslady
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 11:50AM
“@Shortie2377..
"Dingslady. I think you'll you'll find Cossham Hospital in Kingswood is the tallest point in Bristol.
The wheel is in the wrong place.
What Bristol needs as an observation area at the city can make money on......"
I stand corrected, Shortie. I wasn't sure, hence the words "just about" as a precaution! :)
Whether the wheel is in the wrong place depends on your standpoint. For Mellors Group it's in exactly the right place as Broadmead is constantly busy regardless of the whether, whereas Castle Park is out of the way of shoppers if it's wet out. You may be right about Bristol needing its own observation point that generates income for the city. (Ssh, don't give Bristol City Council ideas about charging an entry fee at Cabot Tower !!! ) Maybe there could be an observation deck on the top of, say, Colston Tower for instance, but if you're talking about a new structure, I get the impression that very tall buildings aren't welcome by those with the power to veto them!”
by frank1958
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 10:48AM
“by Dingslady
Monday, Feburary 6 2012, 10:55AM
."I don't really understand the snidiness in the comments about this venture - it's not tax-payer funded. Granted, there are more thrilling things to do in the world, but I'm pretty sure a lot of people will want to take a ride and the Mellors Group is going to make a packet! Maybe a bit of envy going on here!
I think the headline says it all.”
by shortie2377
Tuesday, February 07 2012, 8:37AM
“Part is, part isn't its a strange bit of Bristol.
You could have one long road and one side is Bristol and the other is South Gloucester.”
by Bristol1978
Monday, February 06 2012, 11:55PM
“Shortie I thought Kingswood was in South Gloucestershire ;-)”
by shortie2377
Monday, February 06 2012, 4:44PM
“Dingslady. I think you'll you'll find Cossham Hospital in Kingswood is the tallest point in Bristol.
The wheel is in the wrong place.
What Bristol needs as an observation area at the city can make money on.
Look at New York the make money from both the Empire State Building and the Rockerfeller building.
In Toronto the have the CN Tower.”
by fatboy67
Monday, February 06 2012, 12:41PM
“Personaly I think the wheel may have been better plaaced in castle park. In broadmead you wont see much except air conditiong units on hsops untill you reach the top.”
by brisguide
Monday, February 06 2012, 12:15PM
“Our entire economy is reliant on us spending money because we don't make anything anymore. That's why the government doesn't like people that don't consume, e.g. those who save money.”
by Pogo_T_Clown
Monday, February 06 2012, 11:07AM
“Well, star spotters, I shall be in Boots the Chemist in an hour or so, so I'll pop over and see it. I might even go up to the top floor of Debenhams and look down on it (pun intended).”