Can Broadmead become Bristol's Covent Garden?
The streets of Broadmead will be filled with activities and entertainment this weekend to celebrate the shopping area's £11 million facelift.
The builders have gone. So, too, have the tired-looking shop fronts, the tatty benches, the grubby litter bins, the concrete bollards and the dated phone boxes replaced by modern, stainless steel street furniture, bright new shop facades, and eye-catching landscape architecture.
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There is new paving, including a design based upon the theme of the River Frome which runs beneath Broadmead, interspersed with stone balls. White tree-like structures with words from Massive Attack and Portishead carved into the timber have been installed around the Podium, and real trees have also been planted.
However, the completion of Broadmead's £11 million facelift does not mark the end of work to transform the Bristol's central shopping area. Instead, it is just beginning, according to manager John Hirst.
The street entertainment this Saturday for the 'We Love Broadmead' event that will celebrate the new look is the first in what will be a series of regular events aimed at turning Broadmead into a street performance venue similar to London's Covent Garden and Southbank.
"We want to create a street life that will animate Broadmead and make it come alive," says Mr Hirst.
"The idea is to have a programme of events throughout the year, and we're looking for artists, musicians, actors, dancers, sculptors. We'd like people to come to us and tell us what they'd like to do, or what they'd like to see the door is open."
In addition to themed activities on occasions such as Mother's Day, Refugee Week, there are plans for daily activities. "We want to make Broadmead a place where there's always something interesting happening," says Mr Hirst.
A meeting with artists and performers was held recently at Bristol's Pierian Centre, and discussions about street art have also taken place with the People's Republic of Stokes Croft.
Already, professional musicians are becoming a familiar feature in Broadmead. "We're attracting some really talented buskers. There's one guy who used to work in Covent Garden," says Mr Hirst.
"We've never been in a position before where musicians have come to us because they wanted to perform in Broadmead, but they are now."
Broadmead is also set to host coach parties for the first time.
Mr Hirst explains: "A company which does shopping trips to places like Gloucester Quays and the Trafford Centre in Manchester has been in touch about putting Broadmead on their list of shopping trip destinations.
"We don't get any coach tours to Broadmead at the moment, and we're certainly going to start encouraging coach companies to come here."
However, Mr Hirst's main priority at the moment is encouraging Bristolians to see how their city centre has changed following the improvement works to Broadmead, and the opening of nearby Cabot Circus.
"It was a difficult process at the time - like having major works done to your house and having an extension built while you're still living there," he recalls.
"We knew the improvement works were damaging at the time for the retailers but it had to be done and they understood that.
"In the past a lot of people had crossed Broadmead off their list as a destination for shopping. Now it has a fresh new look, and after investing all that money we want to get the message out to the people of this city and region that things have changed in Broadmead."
The number of people coming into Bristol to shop has more than doubled since the opening of Cabot Circus, and it is expected that even more shoppers will be attracted following the opening of the largest Primark outside London in the old House of Fraser building, which is presently covered in scaffolding as cleaning work gets underway.
"At peak times we've been seeing 600,000 people a week coming into Bristol city centre. It was less than half that amount before," says Mr Hirst.
"Footfall in the Mall Galleries has gone up by 10 per cent since Cabot Circus opened, and the closer you get to Cabot Circus the more footfall has increased. In Broadmead East, where the old River Island used to be, it's gone up by about 40 per cent.
"At the moment it's quieter in the western end around Fairfax Street, but we're expecting that to change when Primark opens in July.
"Personally, my favourite area is Broadmead West it's got beautiful mature trees and stone-fronted buildings that wouldn't look out of place in Bath, and it's going to look great when summer comes."
The 11 million for improvements to Broadmead was raised after its 300 retailers voted in 2005 to become a Business Improvement District (BID) by paying a 1.5 per cent levy on their rates.
This contributed £1 million, and the rest came from a variety of sources including the South West Regional Development Agency, Cabot Circus developers Bristol Alliance. Bristol City Council, and the Mall Corporation.
"If they hadn't said yes back in 2005, those other organisations wouldn't have put in any money either," states Mr Hirst.
The money for BID 1 ran out in October 2008, but before then the Broadmead retailers were asked to support BID 2, which provides total funds of 2.2 million over a five year period that began in November 2008.
This be invested in promoting Broadmead, providing street entertainment, and improved maintenance including hourly cleaning patrols - to ensure Broadmead is of the same standard as Cabot Circus and The Mall Galleries.
Before BID 1 and the opening of Cabot Circus, Bristol was rated at around 30th of British shopping destinations, despite the fact that it is the ninth largest city in the country. Now it is in the top 10, alongside places like Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow.
"Broadmead isn't a downmarket place. There's a massive variety of shops here, from the Arcade to the Mall, and now we're in a good position to promote Bristol to retailers in Britain and Europe and let them know why they should invest here," declares Mr Hirst.
Isn't that quite a challenge in a recession? Mr Hirst replies: "The recession might slow us down in terms of what we want to achieve, but things are already changing for the better in Broadmead as anyone who comes here will see for themselves."
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by John, Bristol
Monday, February 23 2009, 2:32PM
“London has appeared on this list twice before and Bristol just the once. London has recently been awarded the worlds best city and is known as the financial capital of the world.
I admire your love for this city but I think your pulling my leg here when comparing Bristol & Bath as being superior cities to London. Now that's not saying Bristol isn't a great city but if you did a survey, you would see that London is ahead of Bristol in every way and my argument comprehensively supports this.
It has been nice speaking to you as well.
John”
by Richard, Bristol
Sunday, February 22 2009, 11:45PM
“Good speaking with you john. I like to think of Bristol and Bath as one place and together sorry but London doesn't get a look mate lol.
However Bristol is now one of ten top cities in the world by DK Travel Books 2009. London didn't make the list.
The best of Bristol is in the town centre, go for a walk by the courts and through corn street. Look around the docklands and if you seek history remember Bristol has 1000 years of history. It's a shame our castle was destroyed, we had the best castle in the UK.
Castle of Kings!”
by John, Bristol
Thursday, February 19 2009, 1:41PM
“I think we will have to agree to disagree & I am sure if there ever were vote, people would say Covent Garden is far far more superior in terms of shopping & general atmosphere than Quakers Friars.
How can you compare Quakers Friars to Covent Garden. Covent Garden is a magical part of London full of atmosphere & steeped in History. Richard I did state that there were mainstream shops in London but overall there are far more niche & unique shops. You¿re right on the Primark front, but like I said Bristol from what I read, will host the soon to be biggest store.
I know lots & lots of people who work in fashion & they all believe Bristol is defiantly not a trend-setting city for fashion. People outside of Bristol who travel for fashion usually go to the capital to find the best/unique/most sort after pieces, that you just cannot find in Bristol. Also most foreign travelers travel to London for fashion not Bristol.
Of course London gets all the glory, as your right there is more money to be made in London than Bristol because more people in London are willing to invest in artists and invest in their talents.
And also how can you compare Milan, to Bristol. Bristol has beautiful Georgian buildings but mainly in Clifton, Redland & Cotham. But Milan host¿s breath taking shops (Milan is one of the fashion capitals remember?) & Baroque buildings. The architecture is outstanding. For example I don¿t think there is a building such as the Duomo in terms of grandeur & monumentality in Bristol.
I do however believe you are patriotic about Bristol and I commend you for that. Bristol does have its plus points but how can you even place the city in the same league as London (including the points you have about transport & pollution) & being much nicer than Milan. Perhaps our definitions of ¿nice¿ differ.
Read everything I wrote (as I wrote a lot more points, than the few you expressed disagreement to) as my argument wholeheartedly shows London is a better town when it comes to shopping and general amenities.
Also even though I love Bath shopping compared to Bristol shopping. Statistically London has more niche & far greater range of shops than Bath.”
by Richard, Bristol
Wednesday, February 18 2009, 1:13PM
“lol, good work John. As I said previously Knights bridge is a nice area to shop but the rest including Covent garden is no different from what Bristol offers. Look around and you'll see the same shops there as you'll find in Quakers Friars.
The flagship store in Oxford Street is also Primemark so you don't have a case with that move and when you speak of quality, well Bristol is at least three times cleaner than London and the I can breath here. If you want unique settings and shops then go to Bath. It's closer and quicker to get to Bath from Bristol than it is to go from say Tooting to central London and that's using a train. Here one can drive in their own free space effortlessly on weekends and after 09.30 during the day. Something I'm afraid London will never offer.
As for Milan, again I've been all around the city and it's nice but not near as nice as Bristol. There's a lot of fashion here in Bristol and trend setting but London get's all of the glory because artists end up there to make more money. Bristol offers a music scene on par with London. Speak to people and it'll offer you a whole different light to our city. Be a student here when you're older and explore life as you've never seen it before.”
by John, Bristol
Sunday, February 15 2009, 2:43PM
“Richard, really I love the city but how can you even say that its all happening here!! It really is not, just because of the Cabot Circus development & a few odd developments here & there.
The shops in Bristol still are not that superb. Yes I have looked around & yes their are three large shopping areas within roughly 10 minutes but sadly dominated with chain shops such as Topshop & H&M in all 3 shopping areas.
Their is nothing niche or unique offered in Bristol unlike the shops for example in New Bond Street, The Kings Road, Burlington Arcade or even Covent Garden. Of course London has big chain stores but also they have large amounts of niche & really unique shops, which Bristol really doesn't have, even in Gloucester Road & Clifton Village.
We don't also have any chic luxury boutiques. How nice would a Chanel boutique be in Clifton Village, it will bring more charm to this charming part of Bristol. And perhaps instead of a dry cleaning chain of 'Johnson's', A 'Jeeves of Belgravia' would be more suitable (yes I know its just a dry cleaners, you might reply, but it does point out the variety of choice you have, even when it comes to the keep of your clothes). You might also say look at Harvey Nicks, well I won't deny it, it defiantly has bought a difference. But actually the store compared to the others dotted around the UK is not fantastic; the food hall for example is incredibly limited.
Also Knightsbridge is the location of probably most famous department store in the world... HARRODS, so I would say its more than just 'nice'. And not forgetting all the other breathtaking furniture/fashion/antique shops in the area aswell. And If Oxford street is going downhill then I'm most sure that Clifton Village has hit rock bottom, especially with the opening of that shoe shop (don't know the name) that took over the 'Bakers Dolphin' travel agents recently.
Richard I do think its good to have high standards, especially when it comes to food as quality and ambience is important. I understand London is the capital & therefore is going to be more shops, restaurants etc¿ good & bad. But Bristol is way way off the mark when it comes to these amenities. Look at the sad closure of Fresh & Wild recently (even though I am glad Waitrose has taken over the premises)
And finally Bristol is not Milan, Paris, New York or London when it comes to fashion and shopping. It's a shame really as Bristol can offer so much more than Cosmo & the soon to be the biggest Primark chain store, which in itself again sums up the quality of shops offered.”
by Grant, Bristol
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 11:01PM
“Hey Richard some good arguments and there's clearly no winner.
Don't forget High Street Kensington is good and all the areas around London including Wimbledon, Wandsworth Town and Canary Wharf.
Avon offers much more!”
by Richard, Bristol
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 9:49PM
“When it comes down to public transport I can't defend Bristol. It's maybe the worst in the UK.
Good for cycling provision!
Restaurants, well you have high standards so maybe for you it's not perfect but there's still a huge choice and watch this space in the coming years... it's all happening here.
Shopping. Bristol is superb! Look around, you're never 10 minutes by car from at least three large shopping areas and the central area is great.
London
Brent Cross = Rubbish.
Surrey Keys = Nice
Oxford Street is nice but it's going down hill fast.
Knightsbridge is nice.”
by John, Clifton, Bristol
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 8:23PM
“No, it's not about money Richard, but the bottom line is that Bristol has a poor standard when it comes to restaurants, shopping and most importantly public transport. I love Bristol but London is in a different league.”
by Richard, Bristol
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 7:58PM
“John John John, it's all about money with you buddy. There's far more to life. It depends where you want to live in London. You could buy a beautiful home of the same size at the top of Forest Hill with views across London and have change. It's clean up there, cleaner air quality than anywhere else I visited in London. Nice people and regular train and bus services.
If you want to invest some cash then look no further than Elephant & Castle, it's all about to happen there and it's only a fifteen minute walk from Bank. (10-15 year investment)
London's nice but for me it's not a touch on Bristol. We're all different. If you believe in class then move to Bath and live in the Circus, there's not a better address anywhere.
If you love London so much then move there and stop using money as an excuse. It's easier to get by in London than it is in Bristol as rates are far cheaper (cheapest in the UK actually) and renting a room in most areas is comparable.”
by John, Clifton, Bristol
Tuesday, February 10 2009, 7:36PM
“Clifton and Bristol as a whole is Calcutta in comparison to London, in terms of shopping, restaurants etc. What are you going to say next Richard, that Clifton Village has great restaurants? lol Bristol Old Vic is superb but it's incomparable to the West End. I would love to move but London is too expensive, even though we have a 7 storey house in Clifton, to buy an equivalent house in London will be about 20x times the price. That's why I think Clifton is undervalued and parts of Central London such as Mayfair is way overvalued.”