Behind a big door lies a calm space that many shoppers don’t know about
Cabot Circus in Bristol(Image: Bristol Live)
As someone who has visited Cabot Circus countless times – both as a Bristol resident and as a frequent visitor even before that – I thought I knew my way around pretty well. I know to stare ahead on the wobbly bridge to avoid feeling queasy, I know which escalator to take to get to each level, I know where the lifts are if I’ve got the pushchair with me.
However, there is a room I’ve only recently discovered. During the many times I’ve queued to get into the ladies’ toilets during a shopping trip, I’d never noticed the big door at the end of the corridor with frosted glass.
That makes sense as, until becoming a mum, I had no use for it. Behind the door is a massive family room that seems a bit of a secret – I only found out about from hearing other mum friends mention it during maternity leave last year.
It seems a boring thing to talk about, but planning a trip into the city centre can be pretty daunting with a newborn so any advice about baby-friendly spaces should be shared. I had to consider a few basic practicalities before I felt confident bringing my tiny baby into such a busy place, most notably where to feed and change in privacy.
As it turns out, Cabot Circus has four family rooms on the ground floor with baby changing, which was a massive relief to discover when confronted with a Code Brown situation or a hungry cry. The largest room has a row of baby change areas and sinks on one wall, tucked-away seating areas for privacy when feeding, and a little kitchenette with a sink and microwave for warming bottles or baby food.
Last time I used it, it was completely empty and there was calming music playing over the speakers – it felt like a spa compared to the chaos of the sales outside. It has also always been spotlessly clean during my visits, which is not always the case at family facilities in my experience.
It’s not such a necessity now that the days of newborn nappy changes are over, but anecdotally it seems that not many parents know about this space. It has also been recommended as a calming space for children with additional needs, which could be especially useful given how over-stimulating a busy shopping centre can be.
A spokesperson for Cabot Circus said: “We know that shopping with little ones can be challenging at times. That’s why we’ve designed Cabot Circus with families in mind, to help make days out be as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Whether parents are browsing, shopping, or enjoying a meal, we have created spaces where their children can stay comfortable, entertained, and safe.
“We have a large family room on the ground floor, equipped baby changing facilities, a microwave for heating food and a quiet area for breastfeeding. Additionally, we have two smaller rooms, on the ground floor, and two more on Level 1, each providing baby changing tables plus a quiet space for feeding.
“The rooms are popular as they provide a calm space for parents, especially those with small children or children with additional needs, offering them a quick rest-stop before continuing with their day.”