Where are Bristol's "forgotten" shops?

An arcade of independent shops has been renamed 'the forgotten arcade' by one tenant shopkeeper after it was left off a shopping map of Bristol city centre.

The Arcade, which is off The Horsefair, has not been marked on new maps for shoppers in Broadmead following the opening of Cabot Circus.

Kevin Lucas, owner of specialist greetings card and framing shop Aroha, says it is not the first time The Arcade has been overlooked on shoppers' guides.

He says independent traders in the Arcade need all the help they can get in the economic downturn.

Of the 36 units in the Arcade, 13 are empty.

John Williams, owner of Which Watch, said his store would close in two weeks' time after 20 years of trading in Bristol.

Mr Williams, who runs another branch in Bath, said: "I'm coming up to the end of my lease and I won't be renewing it because the rent is too expensive.

"We're selling more on the web and that's the way things are going. The reason many units are empty has to be the high rents. It would also be better if more people came by.

"It was really busy when we first began trading here but the Arcade has been neglected.

"Other factors including House of Fraser relocating and our shop being burgled three times have had an impact on our decision to close."

Another shop worker, who asked not to be named, said empty shops gave passers-by the impression the Arcade was closed.

Another trader, who asked not to be named, said the economic crisis was the main reason behind the high number of empty units in the Arcade.

Broadmead manager John Hirst said the new maps only show the area stretching from Cabot Circus up to the Podium, which is the area owned by the Bristol Alliance.

He said: "They've produced a map which is a bit confusing for shoppers because it shows BHS but not Debenhams.

"We've now produced a Broadmead map and delivered it round to shops last week. It shows the part of the town the Cabot Circus map doesn't show.

"Street signs will go up in January and we've also distributed a new guide to all the independent shops in Broadmead."

The Arcade is owned by Epic and managed by BNP Paribas.

Mr Hirst said: "I've got great confidence they can turn it around. It's gone down the pan over the years and there are far too many empty shops in there."

Simon Williams, a senior surveyor for BNP Paribas, said: "Some matters, such as the economic climate, are out of our control but we we're doing our best.

"We have a couple of deals going through with some new tenants moving in there. We are trying to promote the Arcade as a retail venue to get units let out.

"Cabot Circus was never going to put the Arcade on its map because it isn't located in the area outside the new shopping centre."