New city-wide campaign launched to profile the people behind Bristol's high streets

New city-wide campaign launched to profile the people behind Bristol's high streets

Posted on: 24 May 2021

'Where's It To?' is encouraging people across Bristol to explore their local high streets post-lockdown.

 

Bristol City Council and a collective of local community groups have launched 'Where's It To?', a new project tasked with reconnecting Bristolians with their local high streets and giving independent traders the best chance of recovery after months of COVID-related restrictions.

 

Having gone live yesterday (Monday 24 May), the site will profile 15 high streets across the city, highlighting the diverse range of traders in each area, spanning stores passed down through generations of families as well as brand-new locations opened during the pandemic.

 

Phase One of the campaign features a look at some of the best-loved high streets across central Bristol, including the Old City, Bedminster's East Street and Church Road in Redfield.

 

 

Like any city across the UK and around the world, Bristol's vibrant high streets are the backbone of its economy, boasting an extensive list of renowned independent traders providing a huge range of goods and services to locals.

 

From Southmead to Stockwood, Filton to Fishponds and everywhere in between, communities across the city rely on hard-working business owners to keep things ticking along week in, week out.

 

After well over a year of the coronavirus pandemic, however, independents of all shapes and sizes are struggling. 

 

'Where's It To?' aims to re-bridge the gap between local traders and their surrounding communities, allowing people to get to know their local shops and hospitality venues as well as the characters who run them.

 

 

Following Monday's launch, a new street will be added to the campaign each week, profiled in a short documentary film inviting you to explore what the area has to offer.

 

East Street's film, for example, features the popular East Street Food Market, vegan cafe VX, The Revival Market, The Bristol Loaf and Brightbow Workspace, as well as a few hidden gems located a few steps away from the main retail strip.

 

In the coming weeks, high streets in Southmead, Clifton Village, Stockwood, Fishponds, Filton, Bishopston, Shirehampton, Brislington, Westbury-on-Trym and more are set to feature, with full details and updates available on the Bristol City Council website.

 

Speaking on the launch of 'Where's It To?', Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said: “This campaign celebrates the unique character of each Bristol high street, while recognising the contribution to the city as a whole.

 

“After a challenging year, we want to promote our shopkeepers, restaurateurs and businesses, as they have been critical to morale during the pandemic.

 

“Many of us have been shopping more on our local high streets and we really want to encourage more of this as we begin to recover from the pandemic. We are inviting Bristolians to shop locally, stay safe and take care of each other.”

 

For more information on the 'Where's It To?' campaign, or to follow news and updates in the coming weeks, head to the Bristol City Council website or find Shop Local Bristol on Twitter.

 

Main Image: Poco Deli on Church Road. Credit: Plaster


Read more:

 

 


Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.