“Harry must be talking about the areas around Frenchay Village, it's truly beautiful there but there aren't any shops as such. You're lucky to live there Harry. Maxine there is a superb industrial kitchen shop at Aztec West Business Park as well.”

“Maxine: I don't know Bristol very well in terms of shops (never been to Frenchay or Thornbury, but Harry thinks there are superb independent shops there). The finest kitchen shop I have ever been to is on Whiteladies Road. As for gift shops and arts & crafts (where do Bristol's prolific artistic people buy their stuff?) - again I have to repeat myself - there are dozens of these in our very individual districts. Whereas Cardiff has a lovely deli in the centre, Bristol finally has a couple in Cabot Circus; but we've always had them in Bishopston, Clifton Village, Montpelier and elsewhere, and gift shops too.”

“John, I don't believe that most people who prefer designer wear are concerned with where it's made; however, I agree about mass produced clothing being made in developing countries.

Bristol does actually have more independent shops than almost anywhere else; however, because the City came together from villages (unlike B'ham), these almost self-sufficient districts often have their own independent traders, eg Bishopston, Clifton Village, Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym and so on. There are many areas in London that are devoid of organic shops; in B'ham my organic, vegan brother and his wife are not as fortunate as many here who are able to find everything in one or two shops - and they much prefer Bristol.”

“Is not those expensive Gucci and Prada handbags all made in China these days?

Versace and Armani clothings made in India and Bangladesh? In fact I used to have a pair of rather pricey designer Paul Smith jeans, and where was they made? England? France? Italy? No.. they where made in Hong Kong.

Globalisation and maximising profits. Expensive or cheap they're all doing it.”

“Living in the best area of our region I am very fortunate to be surrounded by superb shops. I think some of you are forgetting the unique shops we have in local villages like Chipping Sodbury and Thornbury. Fashion clothing is overpriced and generally of a low grade finish. I prefer country clothing and tailor made smaller shops which are all too often over looked.”

“Bristol to a huge extent compared to other major cities in the UK is a very ethical & eco-city. As we all know it is the home of the Soil Association. I shop for organic food and local produce where I can, usually traveling to St Pauls where my local organic shop is situated, nearest to me from Clifton. I used to shop at Fresh & Wild, which sadly is now closed because the majority of people from Bristol rather buy from the unethical supermarkets. When I go to London I shop at WholeFoods and many other organic delis and shops. Also when I am in London, I dine at organic restaurants my favourite being an organic Indian restaurant in Fulham.

Birbeck, you mention about designer brands. It is actually the majority of high street brands in Bristol & Cabot Circus and the wider UK, (including London) that sell unethical, mass produced clothes from places like Indonesia, that are usually sold in shops like North Face. But the thing is, London sells luxury high end clothes that are incredibly limited in Bristol, e.g. Versace, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Salvatore Ferragamo etc. These luxury fashion houses produce clothes in Italy and France, where couturiers are paid fair wages to produce the high quality garments that they are famed for.

I agree with Maxine, it would be nice if there were more independent stores, like they have in Bath & to a larger extent London, for example the Kings Road.”

“Birbeck, Montpelier what you've written makes a lot of sense.

As gateway to the South West and South Wales Bristol is an outdoors city!”

“I like Cabot Circus as a feat of architecture, design and the shops available. I would like to see more independent boutiques, like the one's in Bath and some completely different shops selling art and craft materials, more gift shops, and a decent kitchen shop.”

“I don't know what money has to do with it. I'm sure many in Leeds, Liverpool (UK's fashion capital), Manchester and Newcastle don't worry how they are going to acquire the high-end designer clothes, more of them are so obsessed with labels - and because they are so gullible these designer stores are there. However, these same cities are not known for their commitment to the environment, organic, veggie, vegan, ethical, eco concerns. Bristolians, in the main, being a very outdoor lot, would rather a North Face store than Versace.”

“John Bristol is far greater than London!!”