What’s in store for the future of Park Street?

Vibrant graphics placed over empty shop windows in November 2018 marked the launch of a new marketing campaign to revitalise Park Street and Queen’s Road.

The once-coveted shopping destination has suffered some major losses, including Jamie’s Italian, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Cath Kidston and Fopp, prompting a drive to revitalise the area and give it a new brand identity.

Blessed with impressive architecture, a Banksy original and a location on the doorstep of Bristol University, just a stone’s throw from Clifton and the city centre, Park Street has all the makings of thriving high street.

The street has suffered a number of closures

But shutters and ‘to let’ signs still feature prominently, with businesses blaming high rates and rents, as well as traffic and limited parking, for the decline.

Mike Cannings is general manager of the Bristol Guild of Applied Art, which has been a Park Street staple for more than 100 years. He has witnessed the cycle of ups and downs.

“Usually after the area goes through a down cycle, it emerges in an altered format that allows it to build and grow again,” says Mike.

“I do think that Park Street is currently in one of those down cycles, which has arisen through a variety of factors. From discussions with fellow traders it is clear, for example, that high rents and business rates are doubtless a major factor.

“I feel that the sort of recipe we need for a thriving Park Street centres on building back the right critical mass of quality shops, restaurants, leisure and cultural destinations.”

Mike expressed doubts about whether the City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) behind the new marketing drive is doing enough to leverage funding to support business development.

Created in collaboration with a team of marketing and branding experts, the BID campaign aims to give Park Street a new identity that draws on the area’s unique attributes and promotes it as a destination for shopping, eating, drinking and leisure.

Park Street has had its ups and downs

Speaking about the project, BID operations manager Keith Rundle said: “Our strategic thinking focuses on the importance of ‘placemaking’ as people increasingly look for things to do and going shopping becomes increasingly about ‘experiences’.”

Offering a unique customer experience is key to the success of Bird and Blend Tea, which has occupied its prominent corner unit for around two years.

“We are quite unique, so we have lots of loyal customers that make up about 50 – 60 per cent of our business,” says Holly Ingham, the store’s trainee manager.

“We do music and mixology nights, so we always have something going on which I guess is why things are going pretty well.

“I think it’s really important to be part of the community and we are always trying to encourage independents and artists to celebrate with us.”

Trainee manager Holly Ingram with manager Sophie Spray in Bird and Blend

Further up the hill, another relative newcomer, Illustrate, is also thriving in the fast-shifting area.

“Art is central to our company and we feel Park Street culturally reflects us, so it really is the dream setting,” says general manager Lily Brunsdon.

“Park Street is full of diverse, open-minded, friendly, arty characters and we always love meeting our customers.”

She adds that one of the key challenges faced by her business is shoplifting, which, she says, is far more prevalent than in the business’ other locations.

Long-term resident BS8 has occupied its spacious premises for more than 20 years – offering an eclectic mix of streetwear and vintage.

Manager Sherry Chandler believes the influx of other vintage fashion stores has helped boost the area, which is fast becoming a go-to destination for vintage.

Deep Sharma, owner of Lexies newsagent and off-licence, has also witnessed many changes in the ten years his family-run business has been operating on Park Street. He believes the volume of traffic and a lack of bins and parking are holding the area back.

Deep Sharma, owner of Lexies newsagent on Park Street

“We have a number of regulars and also tourists that are passing by,” he tells Bristol24/7. “But parking is quite a big issue. We need more independent and retail shops here.”

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