It feels like we’re out on a limb, that no one is paying attention. Bristol can be complicated. There are parts of the city that thrive and grow year on year, see new housing, news shops, bars, restaurants and investment.
Others that do not and can feel left behind in what is sometimes called a divided city. And there are significant issues that impact everyone – the housing crisis, development, challenges being faced by hospitality, small business growth and more.
Today, we launch BristolLive Premium and take a deep dive into the state of Bristol in 2026, praise the good and shine a spotlight on those areas that need help. We sent reporters out across the city to get a range of voices, we didn’t just want to speak to the usual suspects.
We’ve spoken to 54 people from all walks of life covering ‘forgotten’ Bristol, housing, development, sport, small businesses, pubs and bars, and a city divided. We think this ‘state-of-the-nation’ deep dive gives an in-depth snapshot of what life is like in Bristol today and we’ll be back out soon to delve into these and other topics to bring 100 voices to the debate.
‘It feels like we’re out on a limb, that no-one’s paying attention’
Bristol is far more than street art, organic coffee shops, the Suspension Bridge and Gloucester Road, and while it seems the city’s attention always seems to be on what’s going on within a mile or two of College Green, there are areas half an hour’s bus ride away that are still very much Bristol but often forgotten or neglected by the politicians and the chattering classes.
These are places that would be medium sized towns in their own right, but which have been left with few decent shops, one or two – or even no – pubs, and a proud population that love their community but are fighting for improvements and attention – places like Stockwood, Withywood, Broomhill and Ashton Vale south of the river, Hillfields in the east and to the north, Avonmouth, Southmead and here, in Lawrence Weston.
Known affectionately by the locals as L-Dub, Lawrence Weston was a post-war council housing estate that grew rapidly in the 1950s and later in the 1960s. There’s been more growth in recent years too, but like many areas on Bristol’s fringes, has lost a lot of its original facilities.
Alan Mundy: “I’ve lived in Lawrence Weston since the 1960s – it is nice around here. I think it would be nice if we could see the police occasionally on the streets – there’s lots of kids up to no good tearing around on those e-bikes, and it would be good to see some kind of law and order going on in this area, but then I guess it’s the same everywhere.”
Josh Hastings: “I do like living here but it does feel a bit like the Wild West at times, it feels like we’re out on a limb, that no one is paying attention. So we need some better security, whether that’s more police or even just CCTV, just to give a sense of safety.”
Lawrence Weston resident Robert Lake(Image: Bristol Post)
Robert Lake: “I’ve lived here since I was ten and I’m 77 now, although for about four years I lived in Shire but I came back. I’ve seen a lot of changes, all the pubs have gone from here now, but I still play skittles.
“Obviously I love it here, I would have moved away otherwise. What I love is the community. I come up here (to the Ridingleaze parade of shops) every day and I’ll see people I know all the time. My children and grandchildren live close by, and this is my home. I know everybody, there’s a strong sense of community.
“I think there could be more amenities, things for people to do – I know the kids have got youth clubs but it would be good to have more places for people to meet up and socialise.”
Ellis Lawrence(Image: Bristol Post)
Ellis Lawrence: “I love living here, but I can see how the community might feel a bit ‘outside’, a bit forgotten. There’s a lot of community spirit but it’s quite divided, generationally and about which side of Lawrence Weston you come from, which is a shame.
“I’ve lived in Bristol for 23 years, and in Lawrence Weston for six years, and there used to be street parties and the community organising stuff, which doesn’t seem to happen anymore. I find the kids are left to their own devices a bit too much.
“I’ve lived all over Bristol, and what I love here is the fact we’re surrounded by nature, by greenery – my house is close to woodland, and I go to see friends who live in the inner city and it’s just street after street after street and I couldn’t live like that.”
Fran Jones: “It does feel like Lawrence Weston is neglected – this is how it feels. What happens is that we’re part of Bristol when the council wants to build loads more houses and flats here, but not part of Bristol when it comes to spending money to create facilities. It’s been like that for years. There’s nothing left for the kids or adults for that matter – there’s no pub, the youth centre closed and now they want to build houses on that too.”
Stefan Cerajewski(Image: Bristol Post)
Stefan Cerajewski: “I have lived here all my life, 74 years and never lived anywhere else. The thing about living here is that you’ve got to go somewhere else to get decent shops. We’ve got a Lidl now, but the one thing I’d love is an Iceland. I wouldn’t even know where the nearest one to here is.
“You’ve got to think about what local people want, and it’s not this row of takeaways, barbers, convenience stores – they put shops in here we don’t really need.”
Emilia: “I’ve lived in Lawrence Weston for 18 years. I came here because I wanted to buy a house and it was a good deal, but everyone where I worked at the time said ‘oh no don’t move there!’ they actively and seriously tried to persuade me not to.
“It probably is a bit neglected, out of the way, but I don’t see how this would change. I like where I live. I go to places like Whitehall in Bristol and come back thinking this is not too bad.
“One thing that’s a real problem around here is the state of the roads – the potholes are huge and it’s so dangerous, especially on the road up to Kings Weston.
“I grew up on a farm, and really value fresh fruit and veg, and we really could do with a traditional greengrocers, or a shop like the Sweetmart in Easton, which sells fresh food – a proper shop.
“I have to go elsewhere for a decent shop, like a Marks & Spencer or something like that.
“Here, it’s all fast food and convenience stores. There’s not even a decent coffee shop – if I meet up with my friends for a coffee, we go as far away as Portishead.
“It feels out of the way here, and that’s nice in some ways, but not in others. The bus service is horrendous – it was OK up to Covid times, but since then it’s got terrible. I was looking for a job a while ago and when I heard ‘city centre’ with a potential job I didn’t even bother. I try to never drive into the city centre, and you’re talking a two-to-two-and-a-half-hour round journey on the bus every day. A work-life balance is important, and that just eats into it too much.”
Mark Pepper, the development manager of Ambition Lawrence Weston(Image: Ambition Lawrence Weston)
Mark Pepper: “I wouldn’t live anywhere else, there’s a fantastic sense of community here, we’ve got the green space but there’s a lot of deprivation too, but also some great community resources as well – and everything we’ve got we’ve worked to get ourselves – and we’ve got a lot of things going for us.
“But Lawrence Weston isn’t part of Bristol, it doesn’t feel like part of Bristol and people here don’t think it is – it’s its own place. Part of that comes from geography, but a lot comes from the years of the way the area has been treated by the city generally too.”
Abdi Dahir: “I was worried when I moved here, I’m not gonna lie, but people have been really friendly, it’s nice. I’ve lived in other parts of Bristol but this doesn’t feel like Bristol, it feels like it’s own place, and that’s ok. I think the place needs better shops and places for the kids to go, because it’s a long way to anywhere.”
John Simpkins: “Lawrence Weston is neglected – it feels like we’ve got to do things for ourselves. The organisation Ambition Lawrence Weston is great, but it can only do so much. It always feels like other places get the attention – I’m not knocking it, they deserve it too – fair play to Hartcliffe getting money, Knowle West getting money, good luck to them, but it feels like because we’re near Avonmouth and all the jobs there, that people think ok that’s L-Dub sorted, but those jobs are mainly zero hours contracts in warehouses.”t’s just far too expensive here in general, and if you’re renting then it’s really hard to save
‘Housing is just far to expensive here and if you’re renting, then it’s really hard to save’
House prices in Bristol are now among some of the priciest in the UK outside of London, with figures from January 2026 revealing that the average property price in the city is over £350,000.
And renting is no easier, with tenants now paying an average of £1,891 a month, according to the Office for National Statistics – a whopping 7.4% rise from £1,761 a month in February 2025.
With the Renters Right Act set to come into effect from May 1, and due to impact both tenants and landlords, we chatted to people in Bristol about how they feel about rising property prices in the city, some of the biggest challenges facing prospective first-time buyers – and whether it’s easier to simply move elsewhere.
Angie Cook
Angie Cook, 64, homeowner and landlady, doesn’t work: “I own a home and also have one that I rent out as well. I’ve lived in Bristol all my life and have owned my home in south Bristol for about 40-odd years.
“I would definitely say it’s got more difficult to buy a home in Bristol. I’ve got three sons who have all now managed to get on the property ladder, but they did struggle with finding the money for deposits, and also making the decision as to whether or not they would stay in Bristol or buy elsewhere.
“I think just getting the deposits is the biggest challenge. They could stretch to the mortgage payments, but it’s just that initial deposit. And also, enough houses being available. I think Bristol is definitely lacking in that area.
“As a landlady, I’m not concerned about the new Renters Rights Act. In 15 years I’ve never been without a tenant. They’ve come and gone, but they’ve always been good and given notice. As a landlord I’ve had no problems.
“For those who are trying to buy their first home, I’d say just do whatever you can to get on the property ladder, even if that means getting help from family if you can do.”
John Taylor, 53, homeowner, works in finance: “I’ve owned my home in south Bristol for about 20 years, and I 100% think it’s become more difficult since then to buy a home here. I think houses in Bristol are probably overpriced for what they are. You spend £200k and you get a shoebox for that.
“I don’t think I could afford my house today, if I was buying now. If I sold my house and used the money to buy up north, for example, I’d end up in a mansion.
“I think the biggest challenges these days are mortgages. Mortgages and deposits. You get wiped out with deposits these days, and then you can’t get the mortgage.
“If you’re looking to buy in Bristol, I’d just say save. Save as much as you can do. Or look at shared ownership-type properties, which is not ideal, but it’s a way forward. Rent is just dead money. What you pay in rent is what you’d be paying on a mortgage.”
Toby Jackson
Toby Jackson, 34, homeowner, works as a scientist at University of Bristol: “I bought my house in St Werburgh’s last year, after saving up for about 5 years. We actually got quite lucky, we initially moved to Bristol and rented, and then our landlady agreed to sell us the house we were living in. So we did some house-hunting for a few months, but we ended up not having to move, so it worked out quite well.
“It is very, very expensive here, and it’s a bit galling to see how much it’s gone up recently. We bought last year, but the same house a few years ago would have been quite a lot less, which is kind of annoying. But having said that, we moved from renting in London, and we never would have been able to afford to buy a house in London, so it is at least better than that.
“It’s just far too expensive here in general, and if you’re renting then it’s really hard to save. We had help from family, and I know that’s not always possible for people, but there’s just a lot of luck involved, we did get lucky. My advice really would be just to move further out of Bristol. It’s a sad fact.”
Danny J Lowes
Danny J Lowes, 20, works as an actor: “I’ve just moved out of Bristol and I live in London currently, but other than that I’ve lived in Bristol my whole life. Primarily I left Bristol because I’ve been looking into acting and going to drama school, and I also wanted a change of pace and to experience something new, which was the biggest reason I moved away.
“I’ve been looking at a couple of places in the Brixton area in London recently, and the price of getting a house share for four people in Brixton is the same price as getting it here. In fact, depending on where you look, it might even be slightly more expensive here. I just think that’s mental. The dead centre of London, and the slight outskirts of Bristol, and the prices are nearly the same. It’s crazy.
“Bristol has got a really good reputation now. In the last 10 years it’s become this hotspot for alternative people, people who don’t want to be in one of the bigger cities, but still want to be in a city, and experience that feeling of a city.
“The location of Bristol, being close to London, being close to Birmingham, and a lot of places, it’s become this hotspot for people to just move here, and so the housing prices are going up because it’s become so popular.
“I think one of the biggest challenges is pay gaps, the fact that people are earning so little in comparison to how much prices are skyrocketing. The place that my parents live at in St Paul’s, they bought it 25 years ago, and nowadays if they were to sell it outright it would be about £700,000. Unless you’re working as a CEO or you’re high up in a big company, I don’t think anyone is going to be affording that any time soon. It’s ludicrous to assume that anyone could afford that, unless you’ve got generational wealth.”
Max West
Max West, 19, works at Itsu: “I live with my mum at the moment but I do pay rent. I’m not looking to buy in Bristol, I don’t want to live here forever. I do know about the property prices because my dad’s a property owner, so I know how expensive it is. In terms of value for money, I just don’t think it’s worth it.
“The only reason my parents were able to afford the house we live in is because my dad flipped it. We had the privilege of being able to do that, because of the career he is in, but not everyone has that luxury, and not everyone can take time and spend years and years to fix and build a house.
“I don’t pay full rent, I pay family rate, and I can’t afford to do anything else, currently. Not by a long shot.
“I’m actually hoping to move abroad, maybe to Canada or the States. I’ve lived in Bristol my whole life, but if I’m going to have to pay that much I’d rather be somewhere where I can get something for it.”
Andy Bollan
Andy Bollan, 57, Senior Teaching Technician at UWE: “I’ve lived in Bristol since 1990, so more than 35 years. I’m renting currently, I used to own a house with my first wife, but practically speaking I couldn’t afford to buy a property now despite earning a decent wage. Even modest properties in my part of town are £300k and above.
“I would say my experience of renting in Bristol has been mostly positive. My Landlord has always been quick to respond to any issues. They also were very supportive during Covid lock-down.
“I think one of the biggest challenges is that Bristol has one of the most artificially inflated property markets in the UK. The root of the problem goes back to the Thatcher years when council property was sold off to create a generation of Tory supporters. The moment property became an investment opportunity rather than a place to live, regular people were priced out of it. There are large number of empty flats and houses sat gathering equity while working people struggle to live.”
Eliza Galauska and Lawrence Keen
Eliza Galauska, 31, nurse, and her partner Lawrence Keen, 33, account manager. EG: “I’ve lived in Bristol about 17 years, I moved here as a teenager. We’ve been living with my mum to save up to buy a house, and we’ve been homeowners since August.
“We’ve been together for four years and for the last three of them we’ve been saving to buy a house together, and I was probably saving for a year or two before that too, to get the deposit. The house we bought was £300k.
“It was difficult, houses are a lot. We wanted to buy a house up to £300,000, because we had the 10% deposit for that. But it was quite tricky to get the area that we wanted and the size of the property that we wanted. We’ve ended up buying a house that needs quite a lot of work done to it.”
LK: “It’s also relative, I’m Northern and house prices for people there are very different to what they are here, so it does hurt a lot. In Bristol I think a lot of those houses in the bracket for first-time buyers are either full renovation jobs, so you have to spend a lot of money once you go into the property, or they are flats with what I feel are extremely high management fees. So you do have to make a compromise either way.”
EG: “The most difficult thing is just how much everything costs. It’s just expensive. I would say, always be more realistic about how much work a place will have to have done. If your deposit is, say, £30k, you’d almost need to have an extra 5% on top just to be ready for things like plastering, plumbing, electrics, everything. Even the solicitors fees was a shock. Your mind is so focused on getting a deposit, you forget about those extra things.”
Abi Matthews, Bristol Communications Officer for Acorn the Union: “The housing crisis is one of our biggest concerns as an organisation. We feel the causes of unsustainable rising rents are multifactorial. A combination of the loss of decent social housing and lack of proper investment in this from the government, alongside a system that prioritises landlord profiteering over tenant’s stability, has led to a market that cannot regulate itself.
“The biggest issues we see renters facing in Bristol (and nationwide) are un-regulated rising rents, being faced with no-fault evictions, lack of timely repairs and maintenance, and a lack of responsiveness and accountability from landlords. We support ACORN members every week who have been treated with a complete lack of care or empathy by their landlords, tenants who just want simple repairs made and to be treated fairly.
“Thankfully, the Renter’s Rights Act will go a long way to improving these issues, and we are really proud to have fought hard for this legislation. We would like to see the government go even further and impose rent controls, which would be the next logical step towards making renting and saving possible for those looking to get on the property ladder.
“These issues are systemic, and we encourage anyone who wants to see fairer housing options in the UK to join our movement.”
Adil Ayub
Adil Ayub, founder of property management company, Lets Rent Bristol: “One of the reasons rents are going up is because of the government bringing in this new legislation, the Renters Rights’ Act, from May 1. Landlords are petrified of the consequences, such as no fault evictions and penalties, so more landlords are deciding to exit the market, and properties are being sold and being taken off the rental market. Landlords have lost confidence in the whole rental business, so they’re exiting and nobody is buying up those properties. And average rental prices are going to go up because of this.
“Both sides are panicking, landlords and renters. There’s always been a supply and demand issue in Bristol, especially because it has always been good for employment, so lots of people come from places like London or Brighton. That supply and demand will be a problem until the government starts building more houses. There’s not enough housing – I think the last time I looked there are 500 families in Bristol in temporary accommodation, waiting for properties.
“My biggest advice for renters would just be to be proactive and register everywhere, and register early. Nothing in the new Act is a positive for tenants, and I think the impact on tenants is going to be a lot harder.
“Whereas before we could use a bit of a judgement call when it came to profiling new tenants if they weren’t quite hitting all the benchmarks, the new changes mean we can’t just go with that gut instinct anymore. Everyone has to tick all the boxes. I think it will also be useful for tenants to know parts of the new legislation, so they know how to work out a solution to any issues.”
‘Bristol needs to look forward… we need to support each other to embrace change’
As well as being very expensive, Bristol is sorely lacking in housing supply across the spectrum of the market. Additionally, many of the major developments approved in the city in recent years are huge towers dominated by Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), which critics warn will not do anything for housing availability and will also fundamentally change the landscape of the city.
Andrew Smith, Director of Conversation PR: “Speaking as an adviser to the development industry but also an intermediary between communities and developers, I’d say:
“Biggest hurdle. Viability. I think barely anyone would dispute the need to invest in regeneration with new homes, workspaces, improved pedestrian and cycle links, and safe, welcoming public open spaces. There are, of course, plenty of differing views on what that should look like. But there’s a brutal financial reality – if the cost is too high, then it won’t get built. And that’s the biggest challenge Bristol faces.
“This isn’t just the cost of construction and of borrowing the money to build – both of which have gone through the [yet to be built] roof! It’s also about the need for all developments to meet a blizzard of policy requirements (like paying for affordable housing, having to connect to the district heat network, meeting biodiversity targets, meeting the latest building safety regulations, funding road improvements, paying for new cycle and pedestrian routes, contributing often millions of pounds in Community Infrastructure Levy…the list goes on).
“All of these are perfectly reasonable. But the result is that building stuff has simply become too costly.
“Change one thing. Ramp up delivery of council housing. Bristol City Council’s house building company Goram Homes is making a really positive difference. Housing associations are too – but they are placing quite tight limits on what they will and won’t do in the city. That leaves the development industry to pick up the slack.
“On housing schemes above a certain size, developers must either provide affordable housing within their schemes or justify why they can’t afford to do so. As costs go up and up that’s getting harder and harder for developers to do – and they are often chastised for not being able to fund affordable housing.
“The only sure way to guarantee that these homes get built is through public funding. I’m pleased how well the political groups are collaborating around attracting more Government funding through the efforts of Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority, securing substantial sums to invest in infrastructure and housebuilding.
“This isn’t easy for anyone – and communities will expect to have their say on any proposals, whether they are publicly or privately funded. But injecting Government funding (much of which, of course, come from taxes!) into the delivery of affordable housing is the one thing which could most help Bristol and its citizens.”
Gavin Bridge, Director, Spatia Real Estate UK. What is the biggest issue currently facing Bristol in terms of development?
“Project viability is the biggest challenge and has been for several years. What does this mean? Simply put it means any funder does not see the financial returns it requires to invest given the many risks involved. Why? It takes too long to secure a planning decision; lack of resource to administer fire safety approvals, cost of development finance particularly equity, financial investors moving away from real estate to less risky sectors particularly with global crises like COVID, Truss / Kwarteng budget and more recently two wars…
“Quite simply, building medium and higher rise development in urban Bristol is significantly more complex and expensive than in areas such as say South Glos or North Somerset. That’s why the large housbuilders have tended not to do it. They can’t usually deliver their cookie-cutter house types.”
If you could do one thing to change development in the city what would it be? This can be either undoing/changing a past decision or looking ahead to the future.
“Just One? Bristol needs to look forward not to the past. We need to support each other to be more bold, embrace change and have the courage to move forward at pace. Lots that I could suggest but perhaps I’d introduce a levy on large planning applications that is ring fenced to find a major projects planning super team like the London Olympics did.
“Here we would pay above market rate to attract and retain the best planners into the public sector so we can take the city’s foot off the development brake to deliver the homes of all tenures and types, the sustainable workspace, new city squares and parks and all the spaces between buildings to stitch our city back together. Can I sneak in another?
“A tree tax by way of a fixed charge per square meter of new development to fund a cross city programme of tree planting to reduce pollution and begin to form a shady canopy that we will need as global warming bites harder.”
Planning Consultant Alan Pierce: “There is not one single issue at play but multiple reasons why development is so challenging in Bristol.
“Planning policy on a strategic level does not exist and so the 4 LPAs in the Bristol area have not been aligned politically for as long as I can remember. Bristol can’t meet its housing need on its own without developing to a density the Councillors and some officers are not comfortable with.
“This is changing and some recent positive planning committees are proof that things are improved on that front. Ultimately, it comes down to land ownership values/expectations, land assembly, increased build costs based on contractor pricing and the never-ending list of legislation requirements (second staircases for fire being the latest), planning obligations and finally owners and developers profit requirements and aspirations. As an expert in PBSA developments, the planners will say this is the only use that appears viable as conventional housing in central Bristol is a challenge.
“Affordable housing requirements are never achieved and so if this is lowered along with other costs it will assist in getting development moving again. If not, then the build them bigger approach only works if floor plates are large enough. Bristol’s heritage often stifles scale so there needs to be strong leadership.”
If you could do one thing to change development in the city, what would it be? This can be either undoing/changing a past decision or looking ahead to the future.
“Bristol City Council are a significant landowner and do have powers to compulsory purchase missing pieces of the jigsaw to allow comprehensive development.
“I would do 3 things if possible (sorry), 1. Encouraged Bristol City Council to develop their land holdings earlier, particularly in the city centre and adopt a zonal approval plan for appropriate uses to reduce timescales for delivery; 2. get the strategic plan adopted for the former Avon area with greater engagement with the private sector and less political influence.
“Far too many good plans have been changed in advance of publication due to non-planning reasons. And 3. I worked on the Bristol Arena project back in the early 2000s for BCC and SW RDA on the Diesel Depot site, with a plan to have concert tickets linked to train tickets reducing car movements.
“Sadly, this did not progress despite our Regional Sequential Test confirming it was the best site. Delivery of the arena and associated development here would have given the centre a critical mass and Temple Quarter/St Philips would have been regenerated long ago.
“Comprehensive development is now happening around Temple Meads which will significantly improve that area but it will be without an arena which now sits in South Gloucestershire. I would have changed that decision and the LRT decision as this is essential.”
Councillor Andrew Brown, Chair of the Economy and Skills Committee, said: “Bristol is at an important point in how the city develops. Over the next decade we face the challenge of delivering many thousands of new homes and jobs for a growing population, in a tight economic climate and within a compact city with limited land.
“At the same time, development has to respond to the climate and nature emergencies and address long‑standing inequalities. Through our Corporate Strategy, new Economic Strategy and emerging Local Plan, we’re clear that growth must be carefully planned and focused in the right places — delivering good jobs, affordable and high‑quality homes, safe and healthy neighbourhoods, and a greener, better‑connected city,
“Our plans are now largely in place — what needs to change is the pace and certainty of delivery. Regeneration at Bristol Temple Quarter and St Philip’s Marsh is already underway, and we need to maintain and accelerate that momentum to deliver homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure, as well as progress delivery across other areas of regeneration across the city.
“While the national planning system does limit how much control councils have, our focus is on using the powers we do have to provide certainty, raise standards, and work more closely with communities and developers so development delivers real benefits for Bristol’s communities. Nationally, reform is underway, but councils still need stronger tools to shape development with confidence.”
‘This is a really tough industry, everything is against you when you’re running a pub’
A little less than 500,000 people live in Bristol. Around nine million more visit every year. Whether they’re kicking back with coworkers after a busy shift or experiencing British pub culture for the first time while on holiday from across continents, many of these people will end up visiting Bristol pubs and bars.
But what patrons don’t always see is the reality of running them. We spoke to 10 pub landlords and managers to see what life is like behind the bar.
Landlord Hamish Williams, Chris Bartlett and Sean Mathews outside the Luckwell Pub in Bedminster(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Hamish Williams, The Luckwell, Bedminster: “My Mrs is the landlady, I’m the manager. We employ three people, the minimum we can because of money at the minute.
“It’s really hard at the moment. We’ve had this pub for four and a half years. Now we’re doing twice the hours as when we started for the same money.
“We try to keep our prices down, but it’s getting harder and harder. The minimum wage has gone up twice since we ‘ve been here. I thought things were going to get better until this war kicked off. Now everything’s going to go up. We’ve got good regulars: that’s what keeps us going.”
Marc Griffiths runs a number of pubs in Bristol(Image: Marc Griffiths)
Marc Griffiths, multiple pubs around the city: “We have three pubs right in the city centre, one in Stokes Croft, one in Fishponds and another one is going to open in the city centre, but I can’t tell you where yet!
“Hospitality is a very challenging investment. I’ve done everything you get to do in hospitality, from hundreds of hours behind the bar to what I do now. It’s changed a lot over the years…My mum was born in a pub and back then they could cover all the expenses from just ten regulars.
“When I got into this game VAT was at 17.5%, then it went up to 20%. In my working life it’s been as low as 15%. We only get to keep 4p of every pound we make.”
Theo Cernow-Cooke, 34, of The Robin Hood: “I love it. I absolutely love hospitality. I love working and being part of the Bristol community. As a local, independent business we get so much joy from being here and a lot of fulfilment and satisfaction.
“Originally, our pub was a green grocer in the 1830s. Then it became a pub in 1848. It’s really important for pubs to have that feeling, that atmosphere.
“I’ve only been in the industry two years. Two of my best friends floated the idea over a New Year’s drink. I’m told I said yes! It was the best thing I’ve ever done.
“This is a really tough industry and everything is against you when you’re running a pub. I’ve had to recalibrate what success is.”
Bristol pub owner Stephen Wallace (Image: Bristol Post)
Stephen Wallace, 54, of The Rising Sun and other pubs around Bristol: “I used to work for Apple in London as an account director and as a lot of young men do dreamed of opening a pub. I resigned. My boss laughed and said no. I went back a few months later and he said ‘Fine, go and balls it up and you can have your job back later’.
“80% of our draughts, probably more, are local. Coming from London, I’ve found people in Bristol are very supportive of local. It’s great, it’s really rubbed off on me in a big way. The Bristol Distilling Cop is literally five minutes away from the Rising Sun pub.
“I think hospitality has to be fun, because it’s not the best paid career in the world.”
Damian Griffiths, of The Folly, Emersons Green: “Obviously the industry has changed a lot in the last few years. Bristol is definitely a hotbed of hospitality but everything’s increasing, from the price of a print to the price of food when you go out.
“We mainly get a lot of regulars because we’re on the outskirts. We find people avoid going into town as much these days. It’s benefitting us on the outskirts a bit. It costs over £30 for an Uber to town and back: you can go on a flight to Amsterdam for £30! Why use that money to travel into the city centre when you go a bit more local?
“There’s a lot of houses being built in Emersons Green. We’re seeing an influx of people moving in which is great.
“We’re quite a food-led pub. We’ve got a really well attended quiz on a Wednesday night. We have book clubs, pottery nights…We’re dog friendly as well with a special dog menu! We’ve got steak, burgers, a special grill and we’ve got dog roast dinners.”
The walls inside The Hope & Anchor showcase some photos of the pub over the years(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Richard Avison, of The Hope and Anchor and The Lion, City Centre: “I’m a bit of an old dog: I’ve been doing this 18 years! It’s enjoyable owning businesses and it’s enjoyable leading teams, but there’s also the other, more stressful side of it.
“Obviously, we’re battling the economy. Everyone in hospitality can agree we’re always watching what Rachel from accounts is doing! But having gone through Covid and having gone through the recession, we always come out okay in the end.
“I don’t know if I’ve just been lucky, but the pubs that we run are busy and people seem to enjoy them. I try not to get depressed about it anymore: my motto now is ‘things can only get better’.”
Louis Lewis-Smith, owner of the Crying Wolf cocktial bar(Image: John Myers)
Louis Lewis-Smith, The Crying Wolf, Redland: “The elephant in the room is the economic difficulties and challenges. The temptation is to make cuts everywhere to make things affordable, but we can’t necessarily do that. Our guests are feeling the economic hardship so we can’t make everything really expensive. We still want people to have a lovely experience. So what’s 2026 like? It’s juggling.
“It’s often really overlooked how pubs and bars form a real vital part of the community. It’s where you go to celebrate, it’s where you go to commiserate.
“I wish there was just a bit more understanding about the critical position the industry is in and the critical function they perform in a community. They’ll miss it when it’s gone.”
Staff celebrate at The Rose and Crown Pub in Kingswood Bristol, Thursday 18 December 2025 after winning Pub of the Year. Pictured from left, Rory Burbedge, Grzegorz Nowocien, Christopher Williams, Ben Dossett, Dan Appleby-Walker, Ellie Long(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Christopher Williams, 32, The Rose and Crown, Kingswood: “It’s great. It’s really rewarding and it’s really tough too.
“I’m a Bristolian. I was born and bred here and the pub I run now is a 15 minute walk from the house I grew up in.
“I’ve been in the industry as long as I’ve been allowed to legally pull a pint! I’ve been running venue for 12 years and I’ve had this one for four.
“We do face a lot of challenges. Where we are there’s no parking and since we’ve started taxes have gone up and up. We’ve always had issues with parking here. As a pub in the suburbs, if people want to visit they have to walk, really. There are some buses and we used to have parking on the street, but the council has now limited it to an hour only. It decimated our lunchtimes.
“Although I personally support a lot of the legislation going on like the Workers’ Rights Bill, at the same time I do have concerns for my industry.”
Rose Robinson(Image: Snuffy Jack’s)
Rose Robinson, 30, ofSnuffy Jack’s, Fishponds: “I grew up in pubs. I’ve been in pubs all my life. The pub is one of the only places where you get multiple generations hanging out together. Our youngest member of the Snuffy’s community is turning six months old soon. The oldest member of the community is 84.
“Having a space where people can be themselves and share their stories with so many other generations and walks of life…I think that’s a really special thing to nourish.
“One of the things that wrenches my heart is the thought of people being lonely. Seeing older lonely people just breaks my heart. The driving force for me is wanting a space for people to come and connect to each other.”
‘There’s lots of sport to be proud of in Bristol, but as always, there’s hopefully even more to come’
Richard Hoskin, BBC Radio Bristol: “It’s hard to sum up in a few words the current state of sport in Bristol – and like many things, it’s down to opinion.
“Looking at the football side – on one hand we are blessed with two EFL clubs. City have a stadium and facilities to be proud of, and reached the play offs last season. Rovers are ending the season strongly – and there’s optimism about their prospects next year under Steve Evans.
“On the other hand – City are struggling to take that next leap into the Premier League, and there are big changes happening on and off the pitch. While Rovers have gone through a number of managers and players – and their desire to have a stadium fit for the modern era lingers on and on.
“In rugby – Bristol Bears are an established Prem Rugby club – but can they build on last seasons top four finish?
“In cricket – Gloucestershire have plans to move away from their current home – on the pitch, can they improve in both the County Championship and Vitality Blast?
“There’s plenty more sport to watch in the region – from ice hockey to basketball.And as a dad to a young son – I get to see first hand the hard work and dedication of our grassroot clubs.
“In conclusion, there’s lots to be proud of in Bristol – but as always, there’s hopefully even more to come.”
Martin McConachie – OPTA stadium analyst at Bristol City and Bristol Rovers: “As the football calendar reaches the “business end” of the season, it ebbs to a quiet ending with the only business to be done off the pitch at both major Bristol clubs. However with a neutral eye on the city as a whole, there are both blue AND red shoots of recovery to be seen.
“As an OPTA stadium analyst, I’ve covered nearly sixty games in the city this campaign, watching City, City Women and Rovers. At times, it’s been a struggle, I can’t lie, but as we enter the summer, I’m getting super excited for next season.
“City are set to appoint a new sporting director and head coach/manager, this double appointment will be the most important yet as City push for the top flight. The Rovers already have their man, the vastly experienced Steve Evans, who transformed the Gas from Christmas onwards, and has now penned a new deal; playoffs will be the minimum expected in BS7. And for City Women, new investment at the top from Mercury 13 should allow Charlotte Healy’s side to have a real crack at the WSL2 title next year.
“Anyone for a triple promotion?”
Tom Day, Bristol Rovers fan and student at the University of Gloucestershire: “Quite a fun time to be a Gashead, isn’t it? Obviously the season hasn’t exactly gone completely to plan, but with Steve Evans now signed on, it’s understandable why last summer’s optimism is carrying over to this coming one.
“There’s real belief that Rovers can go on and get promoted next season – and that’s ultimately what 6/6 or 9/11 wins gets you. Evans has transformed a dismal season both by bringing in fresh quality and improving what he inherited.
“A bit of an added bonus of late too has been City’s collapse; it felt a bit harsh for Gerhard Struber to be sacked, but Roy Hodgson has steadied that slump and left Bristol with the two oldest EFL managers!
“Alas… soon the season will be done and both sides will be wanting to get back to pushing promotion. Soon the cricket will take over the scene – and Glos will be hoping for a Rovers-like change in fortunes after some large defeats early in the County Champ campaign.”
Joe Morrell speaks to the media whilst on international duty with Wales(Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
Joe Morrell, former Wales international, Bristol City footballer and Robins’ Under-21s coach: “Sport in Bristol is brilliant. I think for me, I’ve enjoyed coming back to Bristol as well.
“I think when you’ve been away, you forget how amazing a city Bristol is and whenever people speak to me about Bristol, they love it, and they’re so passionate about it. It’s difficult for me to comment too much on other sports but you see that the Bristol Bears and how well they’re doing.
“Of course, it would be amazing to have a Premier League team in Bristol. I think that would have a massive knock-on effect for the city, and that’s obviously the ambition. But I think sport in Bristol is in a fantastic place with both the rugby and the football.
“I think it’s just a brilliant city, and as with any major city, when the sports teams are doing well, you see the rest of the city come with it as well. Hopefully, with a Premier League team one day, the city will come with the side as well.”
Tom Trotman, lead sports coach at Shine Sports: “The one word I would use to describe the Bristol sporting landscape is hope.
“As a supporter of Bristol Rovers since the age of six, this season has been difficult. But as The Smiths once sang in “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” there remains a constant thread of optimism. That sentiment perfectly captures where Bristol sport stands today, a city full of belief in what could be.
“Starting with Bristol Rovers, there was real hope that the return of Darrell Clarke might restore former glory. Unfortunately, that didn’t materialise, leading to frustration and genuine concern among supporters about the possibility of back-to-back relegations. Pressure on the board intensified, mirroring struggles seen across the city.
“However, a turning point arrived with Steve Evans. He has galvanised the fanbase, restored belief, and brought much-needed stability. Transforming a run of 10 consecutive losses into 7 straight wins – the first such streak since 1953 – has reignited optimism around the club.
“Bristol is one of the largest cities in the United Kingdom, and with that comes expectation. The passion, loyalty, and commitment of its people demand that their clubs compete at the highest level. The appointment of Roy Hodgson until the end of the season brings experience and stability, qualities similar to those seen with Evans at Rovers. However, in the longer term, the club may need a fresh direction.
“Organisations such as Bristol Rovers Community Trust and Bristol Sport continue to lead the way, creating opportunities for young people and strengthening community ties. Initiatives like Her Game Too, championed locally by Caz May, are helping to grow the women’s game and challenge discrimination. Alongside this, the work being done by colleagues at Shine provides safe, nurturing environments for schools and communities across the city.
“All of this reinforces that central idea of hope. Because in Bristol, sport is more than results. It’s about identity, opportunity, and the belief that the best is still to come.”
George Townsend, Bristol City fan, Bristol Flyers supporter and University of Gloucestershire student: “The one word that comes to mind when looking at the state of sport in Bristol is ‘potential’.
“Bristol is home to two well-supported EFL clubs, though as it has done for decades, the absence of Premier League football continues to linger over the city.
“Last season, Bristol City came as close to the so-called ‘promised land’ as they have in 17 years, having reached the Championship play-offs after year-on-year improvement since 2020. However, significant changes across all levels during the twelve months that followed have left the Robins at a crossroads and approaching a summer that is likely to determine the longer-term future of the club.
“Meanwhile, while Bristol City Women are yet to be successful in their mission to return to the Women’s Super League, their recent takeover by Mercury 13 could prove to be transformational, though their dreams of promotion will need to wait for at least another year.
“On the north side of the city, Bristol Rovers’ turnaround under Steve Evans has been nothing short of remarkable, and the confirmation that he will remain in charge, with the new title of manager, has only provided even more of a boost to supporters.
“In basketball, the Bristol Flyers are representing the city both domestically and in Europe, an incredible rise from their formation just over twenty years ago. However, they’ve outgrown their current home at the SGS WISE Campus, and delays to the developments of the Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter – which plans were initially unveiled for eight years ago – have proved extremely frustrating. While the team have embraced their underdog mentality, ownership of a purpose-built facility feels crucial for their future progression.”
Joe Jackson, Bristol Sport foundation coach: “I think the story of sport in Bristol is one of huge community impact and outreach, burgeoning grassroots scenes in multiple sports, but untapped potential at the very top level.
“Bristol boasts excellent grassroots networks in football, cricket and rugby. Combined with the fantastic work of charitable foundations and sizeable investment over the last 10-20 years into upgrading facilities and raising the profile of sport in Bristol, this has created endless opportunities for the general population and access to increasingly popular sports such as basketball and padel. Where Bristol really thrives is in its provision for the most disaffected areas of society through their charities. It is safe to say that everyone in Bristol has access to some form of sport, which is an outstanding achievement for a city so diverse.
“However, as you look further up the competitive ladder, Bristol becomes somewhat less visible. The Bristol Bears have had an excellent few seasons, competing in European competition and fighting towards the top of the Gallagher Premiership. After investment from the Lansdown family, the Flyers have also become a strong National League Basketball side, dramatically raising the sport’s profile across the city. In football, Bristol City have re-established themselves as a strong, mid-table Championship club, with Bristol Rovers threatening to push on next season. Lower down the pyramid, Bristol is quite poorly represented, with Weston-Super-Mare, Portishead, Yate Town and Bristol Manor Farm the only representatives in the top four tiers of non-league football.
“Similar can be said of cricket, where Bristol competes strongly across the WEPL, with Bedminster, Thornbury and Bristol all playing in the first division of West England cricket. Having played for Keynsham since I was 8, I know how valuable these clubs are to their communities and the enjoyment they bring to the local areas every summer. But, despite the T20 cup win two seasons ago, Gloucestershire continue to play second fiddle to Somerset in red and white ball formats.
“Ultimately, the community-first approach in Bristol has reaped great rewards and will do so for the long-term health of the city in many ways. But it still feels there is room for it to push on as a real sporting powerhouse in the country.”
‘Inequality is rife in Bristol and Hartcliffe and Withywood is on the receiving end of it’
Councillor Abdul Malik(Image: Abdul Malik)
Abdul Malik, 52: “As a British Pakistani Muslim and a councillor representing Ashley Ward, I see both the strengths and the stark inequalities within Bristol every day.
“This is a city full of resilience, culture and community spirit but it is also a city where your postcode can still determine your opportunities, your health outcomes, and even how safe you feel walking down your own street.
“For many of my residents, particularly in inner-city communities like Easton and St Paul’s, there is a persistent feeling of being overlooked. That isn’t just perception it is actually rooted in real disparities around housing quality, public investment, and access to services. When people feel left behind, division is not surprising; it is the natural consequence of inequality that has not been addressed.
“At the same time, I also see something powerful: communities stepping up where systems fall short. The answer, in my view, is not to pit areas against each other, but to be honest about inequality and commit to fairer distribution of resources, investment, and opportunity across the whole city.”
Zoe Bankls Gross – 100 Voices/Divided City
Zoe Banks Gross: “I moved to Bristol in 2010 and founded East Bristol Kidical Mass in 2014. I coordinated it up to when the pandemic hit, the changing rules regarding gatherings scuppered attempts at organised rides, and then at some point a number of the bikes were stolen. Since then, that project doesn’t really exist anymore, though I have been involved in the organisation of the Bristol-wide Kidical Mass events.
“All this to say that whilst I still live in Easton, I am not currently involved in coordinating family cycle rides. I am still involved in cycling, walking and running but in different ways. These days I have been spending more time helping out at the Whitehall track- my kid trains at Bristol and West Athletics club which relies on volunteers.
“Living in Easton for 16 years, I have seen a lot of changes. Some for the better, there’s less fly tipping now then there used to be. And it feels safer, generally. Although I haven’t yet used it, it is super cool that we’ve got a sauna now too. We’re blessed with great places to eat and drink, fab bakeries and coffee shops.
“But it feels like the population is getting younger. A lot of families who used to live on my street have moved to Fishponds or further away. And usually it’s young couples who move in. As a parent of a teenager, I am really aware there’s very little available for young people in the area.
“And that with inequalities in our city becoming more pronounced, it feels like there are gaps to fill. Our neighbourhood is lucky to have Eastside Community Trust with Felix Road Adventure Playground and the Community Centre offering lots of activities for people from all backgrounds, and Trinity down the road with its garden, gigs and creativity.
“I think these organisations help with the glue to hold things together- like last year I attended a meeting at the Community Centre addressing racial harassment where people came together to talk. These spaces are vital in this time of division- I feel like there’s more connections across cultures, ages and socioeconomic backgrounds where I live than in other parts of the city.”
Jennifer Riley (Image: Jennifer Riley)
Jennifer Riley, 42 and from South Bristol. CEO of One25: “At One25, we see inequality every day in the lives of the women we support, who are street sex working to survive. These are women who have experienced trauma and are navigating homelessness, violence and poor health. Too often the systems that could help them aren’t equipped to meet multiple needs or give trauma-informed support, allowing inequality to persist and deepen.
“When services are inclusive and flexible this can transform women’s experiences and support healing and recovery.”
From left, Cllr Kirsty Tait, Cllr Susan Kollar, Cllr Kerry Bailes and Cllr Paul Goggin (Image: Bristol Labour Group)
Councillors Kirsty Tait, Kerry Bailes and Paul Goggin (Hartcliffe and Withywood): “Inequality is rife in Bristol and Hartcliffe and Withywood is on the receiving end of it. We have some of the worst health and education outcomes in Bristol, a lack of decent public transport and few proper community facilities.
“Hartcliffe and Withywood has long felt forgotten by those in power. When the community was first built, there were promises of local facilities to go alongside the housing – these never materialised.
“So it’s no surprise that people feel like they’ve got a raw deal. Fortunately, that looks set to change with the £20m our community will receive from the Government, to be spent on projects decided by local people. This has the potential to truly be a new chapter for Hartcliffe.”
Cllr Lisa Durston and Cllr Rob Logan (Image: Bristol Labour Group)
Cllr Lisa Durston and Rob Logan (Filwood): “There is more that brings South Bristol together than divides us. However division, or a belief in division, has caused too much harm and taken too many lives. As community leaders, we owe it to all our neighbours to celebrate the many things that bring us together.
“Filwood residents often feel left behind, but there’s a lot of investment coming into our community which will help address those feelings. The refurbished Filwood Community Centre will give people a space for events and community activities, and the exciting new Youth Zone will give our young people a place to get to know each other and to use shared facilities with friends and classmates from across South Bristol.
“This will by no means fix all the problems facing our community, but it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.”
Liam O’Hara (Image: Bristol Drugs Project)
Liam O’Hara, from Bristol Drugs Project, lives in Bedminster: “At Horizons – Bristol’s Drug & Alcohol Partnership, we see the first-hand impacts of rising inequality every day. I work in a team that supports people who are experiencing homelessness, and it is clear that many of the people we work with are affected by multiple, overlapping forms of inequality.
“These include a lack of available housing, barriers to accessing healthcare, and increasing stigma towards some of the people in our society who need support most.
“These inequalities often intersect, making it increasingly difficult for people to access the support they need and deserve.”
‘People here are fiercely protective of our independents and they show up for them time and time again’
Steve Cownie, 36, St George, co-founder of Chance & Counters: “We opened in Bristol nearly 10 years ago now, and even though we’ve expanded out as far as Leeds, Bristol’s still the beating heart of the business.
Steve Cownie – 100 Voices/Small Business.(Image: Stevie Cownie)
“We launched off the back of a crowd-funding campaign which I think illustrates one of the best things about Bristol. People get behind things they care about and they show their support in a meaningful way.
“Times aren’t easy at the moment, for us in our sector but many others too. But people here are fiercely protective of our independents and they show up for them time and time again.”
Lindsay Meyer-Nicholas – 100 Voices/Small Business.(Image: Lindsay Meyer-Nicholas)
Lindsay Meyer-Nicholas, 42, Southville – owner of ToyVille: “We first put Toyville on the market in May 2024 through a specialist business agent.
“We were initially positive about finding a buyer as the shop has always been profitable and shown good growth but the longer the business remained on the market the more we began to lose hope. We were even starting to consider the option of closing down if we couldn’t find a buyer. I don’t know if it’s caused by uncertainty in the markets because of the cost of living crisis.
“Many people mistakenly thought that the business was for sale because it wasn’t doing well, despite us having the figures to show otherwise.
“Thankfully we’ve finally found a potential buyer but they have a small gap in their funding which they’re trying to fill via the crowdfunder.”
The owners of the Hatter House Café, Feras Khoula (left) and M K (right), say that local businesses need more support.(Image: Bristol Live)
M K Khoula, 57, Broadmead – owner of Hatter House Cafe: “It is very very difficult. The city depends heavily on students and the visas are not secure, as it used to be. We know for sure the number of student customers has reduced. This is in addition to the challenge of running a business in the city centre.”
Dan Levy (Image: Dan Levy)
Dan Levy, 43 – Director of Eat A Pitta: “The hospitality sector has taken a real battering for over half a decade now and talking to others in the industry I’m not sure how much more we can take. Margins have always been razor thin for restaurants however all the extra taxes being piled on by His Majesty’s Government the past few years have eroded what little breathing room there once was.
“Personally, I want to grow the business and be able to employ more people however the increased cost of employing people now makes that almost impossible.
“It’s really difficult for everyone in society right now, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of good news around and consumer confidence is low. We are all tightening our belts and people are generally spending less eating out.
“The good news is we’ve managed to keep our prices fair. Eat a Pitta still offers great value, with a family of four able to eat a fresh tasty meal for around £30–£40.”
Rudy (right) (Image: Rudy – Woodes)
Rudy Desousa, 47, Staple Hill, owner of Woodes: “Well, Woodes was opened by my father back in 1966 and we bought the business from him in 2016 so it’s been in the family now for 60 years!
“We are very lucky to be so well established and have such good customers. In the decade that I’ve had the business things have got a lot harder from all the costs rising to the serious drop in foot fall ever since covid. The irony being that the only businesses to be opening on park street are coffee shops (12 at my last count)
“But we will concentrate on providing a good hot coffee and a hearty sandwich at a great price and hopefully weather this storm like we have over the last six decades.”