News / Cotham Hill
Cotham Hill street party returns for 2024
Cotham Hill Street Party will return this year, for its fourteenth incarnation on Sunday, May 12.
In the last few years, the festival that now takes over the pedestrianised street of Cotham Hill, has grown in popularity, with around 1,600 to 1,700 people attending.
This year’s event is set to host a DJ set, alongside bands and street performers dotted right the way along the street.
is needed now More than ever
The event’s popularity is great for organiser Simon Baines, who has been running the street party for years, but comes with its challenges and increased costs.
Simon is seeking potential support in sponsorship, in order to pay the musicians. With costs going up each year and the overall bill standing at £8,500, it has become impossible to designate further funds to musicians, he said.
“We do not like not being able to pay the musicians but when the money’s not in the bank we can’t pay them. It’s only through the kindness of the musicians’ hearts, and the fact that they love playing music to a good crowd, that they’re playing.”
Simon also now employs professional stewards to run the event due to its size, which has come with its own costs.
“They’re trained, they’re qualified, and you feel more confident about the event when you’ve got professionals involved but it does cost,” he said.
Simon said he is proud of the traders and their support for each other during the party, with each business playing its part – the Brewhouse and Kitchen’s manager is the personal licence holder and the water and electricity for the stage comes from The Whitmore Tap.
“Both these breweries are playing a key part,” he said.
Corks of Cotham and 1B Pitville are also holding fundraising events throughout the year, raising hundreds of pounds to help support the street party.
Simon Baines set up the annual Cotham Hill Street Party in 2010 – photo: Carli Collins
Simon credits his mother’s involvement with community events in his village when he was growing up as contributing to his desire to create the much-loved community event.
Despite increasing costs, Simon stressed his desire to continue the street party.
“I met a guy who’s a local trader who came to visit friends in Bristol. He was living elsewhere and wasn’t happy there.
“His friends brought him to the Cotham Hill street party and he decided there and then that he liked this city and wanted to move here.
“If our parties are good enough to make people move, then that’s got to be worth something.”
Main photo: Carli Collins
Read next:
- UK’s biggest free nature festival returns to Bristol for 2024
- Bristol refugee festival needs support to raise £15,000
- Cotham Hill pedestrianisation pilot made permanent
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