Features / Bristicles
A day on the Bristol Pound: what I learned
There are new Bristol Pound notes now in circulation three years after the currency was set up and I still hadn’t seen, used or spent any. With that in mind I set out across town to Gloucester Road to see how easy it is to spend the things. Here is what I learned:
You can change your Sterling into Bristol Pounds at any of 17 business acting as ‘cashpoints’. Except The Tube Diner in the Paintworks, where we started, whose card machine was broken for the day.
is needed now More than ever
First Bus now accept Bristol Pounds, when the buses arrive. “More bloody paperwork,” for the driver though, apparently.
£B50 actually costs £51, if you pay by card at Bristol Tourist Information Centre. Daylight robbery.
At the same place, £B1 can buy you a postcard (40p) and a stamp (60p) with George Ferguson’s face on it for Velopost, the cycling postal service which installed its first ever post box on the counter. Nice surprise for the wife.
A trip up Gloucester Road to the Amitabha Buddhist Centre costs £B1.50 on the bus. But don’t expect 50Bp in change, it doesn’t exist. Don’t get a return either, it costs £B4.40. This city never fails to amaze me.
WOW! 1 Year of the Bristol Pound. Accepted now by 600+ traders, including @FirstBSA. Here’s last week’s BBC feature: http://t.co/HgIpFDA8Mj
— Bristol Pound (@BristolPound) September 19, 2013
You can’t go into the meditation class (£B2 suggested donation) at Amitabha Buddhist Centre if you arrive 20 minutes late. However, the place has a handy Protector Room to “contemplate” things. Things like ‘why is the traffic so shit in Bristol’, I wonder, shoeless. I google this question using the free wi-fi.
A chai latte with soy milk is an acquired taste (£B1.90), whether you buy it in Bristol Pounds or not.
I am the first person to pay using Bristol Pounds at Biblos. The place not only takes Bristol Pounds but also stocks Bristol24/7. Good combo. However, it becomes apparent that it is difficult to spend £B50 when everyone keeps giving you change in Sterling.
Poppers Party shop, to my disbelief and disappointment, does not sell poppers. Could have been a perfect end to Friday back at the office.
The shop does, however, stock very convincing inflatable sheep. Good job there’s that stag do next weekend. Although the shop takes Bristol Pounds, the owner has never seen one.
Pom Bears are a handy snack when passing the Co-operative, which doesnt’t take Bristol Pounds, and finding Scoop Away, which does. Forty-five pence for a kids party in a bag. Paid with a £B1 note, of course. Change in Sterling, of course.
Have a great weekend everybody! If the weather is nice why not go for a picnic!! #PomBearPicnic pic.twitter.com/R6E7lAQ6vh
— Pom Bear (@PomBearIreland) July 17, 2015
If your money is dwindling and you are heading back to the office, buy some local cider – from Grape and Grind – with your Bristol Pounds.
And if you are down to you last tenner (in Bristol Pounds), the best place to get rid of it (and please you workmates) is at El Colmado, the delightful Spanish deli a few doors down. Some ham for the workers, imitation baby eels for the boss.
If you realise you have run out of Bristol Pounds, but you need to take the train back to Temple Meads (in ten minutes) to prove a point, El Colmado’s helpful owner David Pavon might change up some sterling from his personal stash for you.
It turns out you can’t actually pay with Bristol Pounds on the train – only at the station, which is awkward. No one else seems to be paying for their tickets, is one argument which doesn’t work.
If you catch the train from Temple Meads you can now pay with new paper Bristol Pounds http://t.co/5hwAxNuatv pic.twitter.com/QdSaIS9vlu
— Bristol Pound (@BristolPound) July 15, 2015
This is the best I could do in two and a half hours on Bristol Pounds:
The change I was left with will thankfully spare the reader my planned beginners class at the Pink Kitten Dance School (£B45).
Men’s Pole tonight will be at 7:15pm – at the same time as the advanced pole class – just for tonight, please spread the word to anyone…
— Pink Kitten Dance (@Pinkkittendance) July 20, 2015