Three new shops have opened in Broadmead and two more firms open premises next month.

It follows news of five store openings in Cabot Circus in March.

Surfwear shop Animal has opened in Merchant Street and employs 20 people.

Manager Heidi Southern, 25, said: "Business is really good. We are just getting established now."

The West Cornwall Pasty Company, which has 60 outlets across the UK, has just opened another in The Arcade, near Starbucks, employing eight people.

Manager, Christophe Montmasson, 35, said: "The company really wants to expand .

"It is a difficult time to open a new shop but our pasties are very popular and we have had fantastic feedback from customers."

Trainers and clothing shop Size opened in The Horsefair on April 4.

Manager Hannah Owen, 25, said: "It's going really well. The first weekend was really busy and the Bank Holiday was amazing.

"We are meeting our targets so we're really happy."

Another new shop called Boulangerie is being fitted out in Union Street and is due to open soon.

NatWest Bank is opening another branch in the city on May 11.

It already has a branch in The Horsefair, one in Corn Street and more than a dozen in the greater Bristol area.

The new branch will have a level access entrance, four till positions, four interview rooms, two indoor cash machines, both of which will also allow people to pay in and pay bills as well, a quick deposit unit, and two external cash machines.

It will also have audio induction loops at all tills for customers who use hearing aids and lower level writing positions for those in wheelchairs.

The new branch will be open from 9:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday except Wednesdays when it will open at 10am, and from 10am to 3pm on a Saturday.

Manager James Chutter said: "My team and I are really excited about the new branch. At a time when others are preaching the virtues of branchless banking, our customers in Bristol, as elsewhere, are telling us that they value their local NatWest branch and we look forward to providing this additional convenient city centre banking facility that our customers have told us they want.

Fashion stores Joules and Gant have opened in Quakers Friars and in Cabot Circus new lettings include outdoor clothing retailer North Face and food outlets Bella Italia and Hey Potato!

The former Zavvi store in The Mall Bristol – formerly the Galleries – has re-opened as entertainment store Head, and the covered precinct has just seen a new baguette shop open. A further seven new store openings are set to be announced soon.