Back in 2018, residents of Westbury-on-Trym spoke to Bristol Live about their fears for the future of their high street.
At the time, almost a dozen units stood empty at the heart of the suburb, and a group of Westbury-on-Trym locals attended a “crisis meeting” to discuss their worries. Many of the shops had been left vacant for years, according to residents, and there was very little information about what would be done with them.
Gift shop owner Amanda George commented at the time: "So many of the national high street chains are going into administration and because of that I think local high streets will play a much more important role in people's lives. I just want Westbury-on-Trym to be a part of that.”
Read more: Westbury-on-Trym still 'lacking' shops but has potential to be 'new Clifton' says trader
So, four years ago, we went down to the high street to see for ourselves, and found 11 empty shops. And recently, when we returned to the area again to speak to residents and business owners, some of them still expressed concerns about in Westbury-on-Trym.
This is despite things appear to be looking up for the village with many of those units now being filled by new businesses.
Michael Kemp, manager of Kemps Jewellers, said that the village "lacks variety", and that people "have to go down other high streets" to find the things they want, while another trader said the shops "never really attract people any more". With that in mind, we decided to go to each of the shops which were empty in 2018 and find out what became of them.
Have a read below.
Great Western Air Ambulance charity shop
The former Lloyd's Pharmacy in Carlton Court which was empty on our last visit has now become a Great Western Air Ambulance Charity shop.
Westbury Inks
The former Thomas Cook travel agents on Canford Lane is now home to Westbury Inks, a printing shop which was formerly based in a different unit on the same street.
Cindy Jane
The old Cindy Jane store is still vacant, but the owner has opened up a new shop on Canford Lane.
She recently told Bristol Live that she thinks Westbury-on-Trym's high street is "really up and coming".
Simpson Solicitors
Simpson Solicitors have moved into the site of Sweet Pea boutique on High Street.
Unclear
Connells Estate Agents used to have a building on the corner of Stoke Lane and Westbury Hill, but now it's unclear what it is used for.
In 2019 planning permission was granted for the existing retail unit on the ground floor to be kept and for three flats to be created on the first floor, but there is no signage to indicate whether any business is occupying the ground floor.
Westbury Smiles Dental Practice
The Westbury Smiles Dental Practice on High Street used to be a Co-op bank. It's just a couple of doors down from Simpson Solicitors.
Harold Stephens
Harold Stephens, a financial and legal advice firm, now occupies the old Ladies Day boutique.
Eleven Eleven Superstore
One convenience shop has been replaced by another - the former McColl's is now occupied by the Eleven Eleven Superstore.
Two-bedroom house
Evoke Home Care used to operate this building on Passage Road, but in 2019 permission was granted to convert it into a two-bedroom house.
Domino's
A Domino's takeaway was supposed to open in an empty retail unit at the bottom of Westbury Hill after planning permission was granted in 2016.
It was was kitted out with Domino’s-branded equipment, including huge pizza ovens, and a Domino’s sign even appeared outside the shop, but now it remains disused.
British Raj
Indian takeaway British Raj, on Passage Road, is still empty four years later, but the original signage remains.
Two more empty units
Although only three of the empty businesses we saw in Westbury-on-Trym four years ago are still disused, and no more than two appear to have been converted into something other than a retail unit, two new vacant shops appear to have cropped up.
However, this would mean that in total there are only five empty units by our count, which is more than half as many as in 2018.
These are the new empty shops:
PDSA Charity Shop
This used to be a charity shop run by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, but it is now empty.
Old Westbury Inks
Westbury Inks used to occupy this shop on Canford Lane, but now they have moved to a shop which is just two doors down.
Read all the latest Westbury-on-Trym news by clicking here
Read more: The paradox of the empty shops creeping through one of Bristol's leafiest areas
Also read: The paradox of the empty shops creeping through one of Bristol's leafiest areas
