It’s worth the detour from Cabot Circus if you’re shopping in Bristol
The summery display that greets shoppers(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
The trek from Cabot Circus to Primark is a well-trodden route, with hundreds of discerning Bristol shoppers descending on the store daily. The huge branch even has an in-store Greggs, a nail salon and a vintage section.
Few brands have enough of a pull to entice people into Broadmead these days, but there is a much smaller shop a couple of doors down that deserves attention too.
At the back entrance to Primark – along the Haymarket, not the main one on the Horsefair – you’ll find St Peter’s Hospice charity shop. It’s the next occupied unit along, past the now vacant Corner Cafe and opposite the building site where the former Premier Inn has just been reduced to rubble.
It’s not the prettiest location, granted, but step through the doors and you’ll find a colour explosion brightening up this concrete corner of the city centre. Rails of colour-coded women’s clothes fill the space, all in size order and split into categories such as trousers and tops for efficient browsing.
I spotted some higher-end brands including a spotless Crew Clothing polo for £6.99, which retail new for about £35. A clearance rail had further reductions marked in red, with prices easily cheaper than Primark for certain items, especially compared to the chain’s more luxurious lines.
The Bristol city centre branch of St Peter’s Hospice charity shop(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
There is men’s clothing section upstairs as well as a big children and baby section downstairs, where I noticed some bargain JoJo Maman Bébé items and a massive range of toys that looked barely-used. There was also a selection of brand new handbags hanging on one wall of the womenswear section, as well as a display of sunglasses also marked as new.
Bric-a-brac, books, footwear and homeware was also neatly displayed for sale, but it was a section at the back of the store that really caught my eye. This selection looks geared towards a younger crowd with plenty of party dresses and festival-wear, from sequin tops to patterned mini-skirts.
The store is said to specialise in selling on-trend fashion items, catering to its generally younger customer base thanks to the location’s popularity with students. Oh Polly, Urban Outfitters and Bershka feature among the brands.
The jewellery wall and, around the corner, brand new sunglasses – we picked up a pair for £2.99(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
Some iridescent platform heels were looking for a new owner as well as some vintage-looking floral shorts – although ironically, they turned out to have a Primark tag. The store has also recently started selling ‘mystery bags’ for £5, which contain five or six items of “the most viral and stylish items”, for customers who are willing to take a chance.
Shop manager Dan Norris said: “We are always seeking more on-trend items to be donated so anyone having a clear out is encouraged to drop their items off to our shop, we’d really appreciate it. As well as womenswear and accessories, we also have one of the largest men’s departments in all the St Peter’s Hospice shops across Bristol.
“Located on the first floor of the store, the department houses everything from formal shirts to more casual clothing, all at great affordable prices. We know that our customer base is really passionate about sustainable shopping.
“We are also home to a massive jewellery wall. Customers often remark on how well it’s stocked and the quality of not just our jewellery but all our clothing and accessories.”
After a rummage through the rails I left with a £3 River Island blouse and a £2.99 pair of sunglasses – both cheaper purchases than the flat white I then bought on my way into the Bristol Live office. The branch is one of many shops around Bristol and beyond supporting the hospice’s operation, which provides free care for people at the end of their lives.
If you’re in the city centre looking for a new outfit on a budget, it’s worth the brief detour from its big chain neighbour and you’ll be supporting a good cause too.