One of Bristol’s outstanding charms is how each area is founded on unique pockets of communities to offer a vibrant place to live.
South of the river, North Street forms the border between Southville and Bedminster, and it become a hub where independent businesses thrive.
It was named the most gentrified street in Bristol in a 2018 survey, a trend believed to have commenced around the 1980s amid nationwide house price rises.
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Now home to a theatre, hairdressers, grocers, a bank, brunch spots, and an array of pubs - the breath of businesses means there isn’t a need to go into the city centre for supplies.
North Street is an area tied to its historic associations with the tobacco industry, formerly the headquarters of Imperial Tobacco, the fourth largest international tobacco company today.
The former factory buildings continue to hold a crucial function in the cultural make-up of the area through the hugely popular theatre and bars.
Tobacco Factory Theatres
Speaking to Bristol Live, David Dewhurst, Executive Director of Tobacco Factory, said: “When the theatre opened its doors for the first time Bedminster was experiencing high levels of unemployment with many of the local shops on North Street empty and boarded up.
“As projects such as Tobacco Factory Theatres emerged, more began to follow with an increase in people experiencing what Bedminster had to offer.
“Fast forward 20 years, with culture, community and a range of exciting independent offerings, South Bristol is home to one of the most vibrant high streets in the city.”
Their inaugural fully programmed season launched on September 10, 2002, and they have showcased some of the leading performances in theatre, music and the arts every year since.
The Tobacco Factory building has always played a central role in the local area, formerly offering employment to a large proportion of South Bristol through the tobacco trade.
“Although now in a very different light, the building is still playing that important role today, providing work and learning opportunities for young people and artists, and with audiences flocking to it year-round,” David added.
Ailie Debonnaire, Get Involved Director, highlighted the growing importance placed on community engagement over the years. “Our Artistic Director Mike Twedell is really passionate about the power of participation.
“When you do that work with local communities and embed it in your programme, it can have a really positive impact not only on the people taking part in that project but in the quality of the work you’re making.”
The scale of the opportunities they offer continues to grow for people of all ages across the city, through workshops, acting classes, community choirs and training opportunities.
Lion Stores
Anyone local to North Street will know Lion Stores as the only place to go to for any hardware, gardening supplies or home improvement essentials.
This year marks the shop's 50th anniversary, a milestone highlighted by its unparalleled breadth of knowledge and outstanding service.
Derek Knapman’s parents bought the business on North Street back in 1972 although he believes the hardware store has been in the area since 1897, originating on Warden Road just off East Street.
He’s been part of the family business since he was a child and took over the store officially from his mother around the turn of the millennium.
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Derek has witnessed the area evolve dramatically during his time, a change he attributes to the people who have moved in.
“It’s ever-shifting sands around here now,” he added. “At one time during the 70s, you could have three generations of people working at Wills, which is now the Tobacco Factory.”
He recalled how it wasn't always the clean-look street it is today: "During the 80s it went a bit ghetto around here because shops were boarded up, windows were getting smashed there were ram raids on the shops. It’s gone through a mix of turbulent things here."
Derek cites The Lounge as one of the first establishments that started the revival of the area when the bar was first launched two decades ago.
He said: “Some people might say it was the Tobacco Factory but I’m pretty sure it was The Lounge.”
Lounges was founded by Dave Reid, Alex Reilley and Jake Bishop. Having spent years in the restaurant and bar trade, they launched their own cafe bar on North Street in 2002.
In the year of their 20th anniversary, they have well over 100 lounge sites across the UK.
“Now they’re a national chain. I wish they had asked me to put ten grand in at the time,” he joked.
Zara’s Chocolates
Just a few steps up the street with queues often spotted spilling out the door on weekends, Zara’s Chocolates is another longtime server of the Southville community.
The chocolatier has a total of eight years of service to Bristol and beyond, moving sites up the road to number 200 in 2018 ago after sharing a space with a florist for four and a half years.
Zara's Chocolates is famed for their handcrafted truffles and has grown to sell a whole range of beautifully presented treats, as well as offering bespoke services for businesses and weddings.
Owner, Zara Narracott, admitted the area had changed quite a bit after spending almost a decade on North Street: “There are just so many new and vibrant businesses opening up.
"There are quite a lot of cafes now, giftshops, some more places to go and browse around now, some new clothes shops too. I do tend to do most of my Christmas shopping along here.”
Christmas is a hugely important period for all retailers, and online shopping has played a crucial part in taking some of the demand away from the high street.
Fortunately, Zara’s Chocolates already had an established webshop prior to the Covid lockdown meaning it was simple enough to move their business entirely online when the pandemic hit.
“We actually gathered new people as well because everything went online,” Zara said. “We’d get people from other areas of Bristol through local deliveries, which was really nice.”
When their North Street shop reopened, the support from some of the longtime local customers was still there strong: “As we opened our doors after being closed they’ve all rushed back which is really nice to see.”
Zara added how many local businesses she knows along North Street are met with the same warmth and loyalty in the neighbourhood.
Despite the presence of Aldi, Co-Op and Tesco, there still seems to be a lingering aversion to big brands in this area.
Ultimately, this is how independent businesses in smaller communities like these survive, through the support of their residents.
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