When you think of shopping in Bristol you might think of Cabot Circus or Cribbs Causeway but there’s a road close to the city centre which has an abundance of thriving independent shops and businesses. As one of the main thoroughfares from the centre to other parts of Bristol, Gloucester Road gets a lot of footfall.
But as you walk up away from the centre, you notice a change in the type of shops you walk past, what was once chain stores becomes small, unique independent outlets. It is of course Gloucester Road, the longest independent shopping street in Britain where you can buy everything from bacon to a car, from clothes to some toys.
At 4pm on a Thursday evening before Christmas, the road and its shops are incredibly busy. One of the big things you'll notice is the old-fashioned high street feel it gives off, with the little boutique style shops and small town pubs.
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Sophie Hanson from Make, a small clothes business selling fashion for women, said: “Even though it's been a hard year, it still comes through at Christmas.”
With the cost of living crisis hitting hard this year, some small businesses have had to close their doors. But when one door closes, another one opens. Sophie said: “It’s constantly evolving, constantly changing but it has a strong sense of independent shops.”
Make is just one of many clothes retailers on the longest street of independent shops in Britain, but there are plenty of other kids of shops. From art shops to furniture at The Sofa Project, to classic games and toys at Totally Toys to Grape & Grind, a shop specialising in wine, beer, cider and coffee.
All of that shopping could make you peckish, and probably thirsty too. Fortunately Gloucester Road has you covered here as well, from beloved pubs including The Bristol Flyer, The Gallimaufry, The Golden Lion or The Anchor. There are plenty of plaes to grab a bite to eat too from fish and chip shop Reel Soul to an Italian diner at Di Meo or some pastries from Hobbs House Bakery or Bakers And Co.
Of course you can't eat out all the time but Gloucester Road has plenty of places to pick up your fresh produce as well as a few excellent sweet shops selling all the classics.
David Pavon, the owner of deli El Colmado, said: “The whole point of independent shops is that the wealth stays in the community rather than going elsewhere.”
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Hobbs House Bakery has had a base in Gloucester Road since August, 2017 but has been baking bread near Bristol for over 100 years. Referring to how the cost of living crisis affects business, staff member Luciano Mogni said: “People aren’t doing a lot of things but they do think 'I can do coffee and cake'.”
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