Competition to bag the best bargains in the post-Christmas sales means that many shoppers venturing out to the shops expect to do a bit of queuing. But yesterday (December 27), customers at Cabot Circus took to Twitter and Facebook to complain of being stuck in gridlock for up to “an hour and a half” trying to get out of the mall’s multi-level car park, reportedly following a fire alarm in a shop that led to many people leaving at once.
Despite gloomy predictions that consumers were planning to spend less in post-Christmas sales, the figures for Boxing Day 2022 footfall were actually up 50 per cent year on year, according to tracking agency Springboard. Trying to entice customers to support city centre shops, Bristol's Cabot Circus tweeted, “Fancy some great discounts and savings? The Winter Sales are on! Save up to 70% on your favourite brands.”
In response, however, some shoppers complained of being stuck in queues trying to exit the car park on Tuesday. No queues have been reported today (Wednesday) and it has been suggested that the congestion yesterday was in part due to a mass exodus caused by a fire alarm, which the fire service confirmed it was alerted to but did not need to attend.
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One driver who contacted Bristol Live said he had "never seen anything like it" in the car park, claiming that it took him two hours to get out. Another motorist tweeted yesterday, “Why am I stuck in the car park at Cabot circus Bristol level 6?” and a fellow motorist shared that they also “still haven’t moved on level 7”.
At around 5pm, a Twitter user added, “Basically not moved, been sat here for an hour and a half. I'm on level 6. It's a joke!” while another wrote, “I went to Cabot Circus today after a very long time... I've now accepted that I probably won't ever get out of this car park!”
Several shoppers vented frustration and said there had been a lack of communication about what was going on. One Twitter user asked the shopping centre: "Please give a car park update and get things moving. Stuck on level 6, for a long time and I imagine we aren’t the only ones who now need to urgently get home!”
Another said, “Been sat in queue on level 7 of car park, not moved for an hour and a half. What the hell is going on? Can I leave my car (if I can get parked again) and get it tomorrow?” Speculating about what was causing the chaos someone tweeted Cabot Circus, "No, it's not 'just traffic'. Fix your car park".
On Facebook, a driver wrote that they were also static for an hour and a half, saying, “We have not moved an inch”. One shopper claimed that an alarm had sounded in House of Fraser, asking shoppers to “evacuate the building”.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it received a call yesterday evening, but did not say which shop was affected. A spokesperson told Bristol Live, "We were made aware of alarms sounding in a shop in Cabot Circus at 16.44pm on December 27.
"Following protocol, on-site staff investigated and did not locate a fire. As no fire was found, we did not attend the incident."
The Cabot Circus car park offers 2,500 car spaces over eight floors on the boundary of Bristol's Clean Air Zone. It has entrances on Newfoundland Street and Wade Street, but during busy periods when the car park is full the slip road entrance leading to the car park near the M32 can be closed off for small periods of time.
Bristol Live has approached Cabot Circus for comment and is awaiting a response. According to its website, the winter sales at the shopping centre include:
- Accessorize - up to 50% off
- All Saints - up to 40% off
- BOSS
- Boux Avenue - up to 50% off
- Fraser Hart - 50% off Jewellery
- H&M - up to 50% off
- MOSS - up to 60% off selected lines
- New Look - up to 60% off
- Superdry - up to 70% off
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