Better Business / Member profile
Tobacco Factory Enterprises joins Better Business Network
Tobacco Factory Enterprises is excited to be an official member of the Bristol 24/7 Better Business network.
Tobacco Factory Enterprises is a family of locally minded, creative, sustainably focused businesses and community interest farm.
Over the years it has grown, learnt and evolved. Marks Bread, Grain Barge and 5 Acre Farm have joined along the way; each supporting the other and cementing their core commitments.
Tobacco Factory
The Tobacco Factory Enterprises began when the historic building was saved from demolition back in 1993 – photo: Tobacco Factory
The Tobacco Factory is where it all started for the enterprise. George Ferguson, first elected mayor of Bristol, purchased the historic building in 1993, saving it from demolition, with plans to redevelop it as a creative, mixed-use community building and today that vision has become a reality.
The cafe bar is a community hub serving great food and drink, and with art exhibitions, live music and community events. Upstairs is home to Tobacco Factory Theatres (a separate business but close partners) as well as Boomsatsuma, and office spaces occupied by creative businesses.
Sunday Market
Every Sunday, around 40 of Bristol’s best makers and producers sell their produce – photo: Tobacco Factory – photo: Tobacco Factory
Tobacco Factory Market started in 2004 and is now a much loved community hub. Every Sunday, around 40 of Bristol’s best makers and producers sell crafts, clothes, artwork, vintage goods and more, alongside delicious street-food.
Grain Barge
Grain Barge started life as a transport barge that carried barley and wheat. The boat, now moored in Hotwells, was bought and refitted in 2007, using reclaimed and recycled materials that reflect the boat’s industrial heritage.
Today, Grain Barge is a relaxed and friendly bar/restaurant with great views across Bristol harbour. Serving fresh, locally-sourced dishes, craft beers, wines and coffees. The unique venue also hosts live music, comedy and other events from its Hold Bar.
5 Acre Farm
Aligning with its founding principles, Tobacco Factory aims to be a model of social, environmental and economic sustainability and it has committed to working with small, local, independent businesses.
In 2018, it build on these values further by fully embracing the ‘farm to fork’ movement with the purchase of five acres of land south of Bristol and established its farm.
The farm has become a thriving environment where it grow mixed vegetables, flowers, and mushrooms and keep bee hives, without the use of artificial chemicals. The farm now supplies for the farm shop and venues with seasonal produce all year round.
Tobacco Factory Enterprises is a family of locally minded, creative, sustainably focused businesses and community interest farm – photo: Alastair Brookes / Peachyqueen
5 Acre Farm Shop
5 Acre Farm shop started out as a stall at its market, selling produce from 5 Acre Farm. With growing demand for local, seasonal produce, it moved into its current shop space in 2020.
With many more shelves to fill, the shop expanded its range of farm produce to also sell sustainable and ethical groceries, home wares, plants, gardening supplies, toiletries, gifts and more. Furthermore, it also sells veg boxes which are delivered in the local area using its electric van.
Mark’s Bread
In 2021, Mark’s Bread joined the Tobacco Factory family. Their ethos of creating high quality produce using only the best local ingredients aligns perfectly with Tobacco Factory Enterprises’ own core commitments and the bakery now sits alongside enterprises’ other venues.
Mark’s Bread joined the Tobacco Factory family in 2021 – photo: Milan Perera
The bakery team serve up delicious bread, pastries, breakfast, lunches and groceries every day, as they have been doing since it was founded in 2009.
To find out more or to join, visit https://tobaccofactory.com/
Main photo: Meg Davies
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