Bristol to get Christmas lights 'to remember'

Bristol has been promised a light show to remember this Christmas.

After a disappointing display in Broadmead last year all the stops have been pulled out to put on a glittering show that will light up all the main shopping areas and the harbourside.

Architectural lighting company Lite – which has lit up many town centres including Bolton, Swansea and Gloucester – was asked to design a new low-energy Christmas lighting scheme for Broadmead.

Three giant canopies of light strings with huge light 'baubles' are already up in the shopping centre.

When Father Christmas switches on the lights on November 12, the canopies will glow in blue and white.

Destination Bristol operations director John Hirst, who was asked to commission new lights for Bristol, said: "We are very pleased with this design because it's something different.

"In the past we have strung things across the street. This is completely different and new for Bristol.

"We will have lights in the trees as well, continuing the blue and white theme.

"I've seen the lights on and they are stunning."

There have been no overhead lights since 2006 when a fixing for a display broke above the street. No-one was injured but city council officials feared someone could be.

The new LED lights weigh much less than old-style displays and they are thoroughly tested before being switched on.

Wine Street and the top of Union Street will also have Christmas lights this year.

Director of Lite Martin Avill (c) said: "John Hirst wanted us to give Bristol something with a wow factor.

"The blue and white lights pick up the blue and white paving through Broadmead West and the giant baubles echo the decorative concrete spheres."

Traders in Broadmead have paid £30,000 for the new lighting display in Broadmead and the city council has spent £45,000 on enhancing the displays in the centre and other streets.

Lite, based in Burnley, Lancashire, is supplying additional features for the lights in Park Street.

The trees on College Green will be lit up as usual but this year there will be lights leading down Trinity Steps by Bristol Cathedral to the harbourside.

And the LED light curtains that used to light up the sail structure – removed from the city centre last month – will light up the walkway by the Watershed.

The focal point in the city centre will be a 35ft high Christmas tree lit with 2,000 twinkling lights.

In Broadmead from November 12 there will be a German Christmas market which will have a 13-metre high pyramid decorated with lights.

Mr Hirst said: "In the past people have been disappointed with the lights in Broadmead, understandably so. I'm very much looking forward to the switch on next week.

"Christmas this year is going to be so much more exciting than last year."

Bristol's Christmas lights switch-on will take place under the glass dome of Cabot Circus at 5.30pm next Thursday.

Gospel choir The Souls of Prophecy, who have performed with stars such as Russell Watson and Mica Paris, will be getting people in the Christmas spirit.

And the evening marks the start of the German market which will extend from Broadmead into Quakers Friars and will remain open until December 20.

It will have more than 30 stalls selling crafts, unique gifts and mouth-watering food and drink, including Gluwein – a festive German mulled wine.

German Oompah band the Bavarian Strollers will entertain the crowds in Quakers Friars.

Cabot Circus centre director Richard Belt said: "The weeks leading up to Christmas are always full of excitement and we aim to reflect this time of year as we kick off our festivities on November 12. Our Christmas lights generated a fantastic reaction when we unveiled them for the first time in 2008 and we hope the German market will add a new dimension to this year's celebrations."

Cabot Circus' Christmas lighting scheme uses 127,000 LEDs rather than conventional bulbs, saving 80 per cent on power.

Father Christmas will be in his grotto in The Mall Bristol from Friday November 27.

As part of The Mall Bristol's 'Mall Cares' appeal, from Saturday November 28, a gift wrapping service will be available courtesy of Penny Brohn Cancer Care and supported by Boots. There is a suggested donation of £1 per gift wrapped with all proceeds going to Penny Brohn.

The Mall will have a Giving Tree once again, this year supporting the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust, a UK-wide charity for people affected by retinoblastoma.

To help shoppers take the rush out of their Christmas shopping The Mall Bristol is now open until 7pm in the evening, and 8pm on a Thursday.

General manager Colin Lang said: "Christmas is a truly magical time of year and here at The Mall Bristol there is already a real buzz of excitement as our stores prepare for the festive season.

"We are delighted to be playing our part alongside our partners in bringing the true spirit of Christmas to the city centre and I personally am looking forward to working with our retailers and welcoming all our shoppers to The Mall over the course of the coming weeks."

St Nicholas Market, currently undergoing a £150,000 makeover, will be open for business as usual and its Christmas lights will go on at the end of November.