Bristol City Council’s planning committee voted in favour
15:25, 01 May 2025Updated 15:26, 01 May 2025
The current view of Bristol Cathedral from the corner of the Floating Harbour by the Arnolfini, over the roof of the V-Shed.(Image: Conversation PR)
Plans for a rooftop bar in the Harbourside have been approved unanimously by Bristol city councillors.
The development management committee granted permission after a U-turn by planning officers who told the V-Shed’s owners just two weeks ago that they were likely to recommend refusal amid concerns from heritage bodies about the impact on views of Bristol Cathedral.
Councillors decided this would be minimal and that not only could people get a better sight just yards away from one small section in front of the Arnolfini on Narrow Quay where it would be partially blocked, it would be great from the rooftop, where customers at V-Shed Wetherspoon, Ritorno Lounge and Coyote Ugly could go.
Cllr Fabian Breckels (Labour, St George Troopers Hill) told the meeting: “It’s an excellent idea, we’re going to get some great views.
“We need to attract people, we need to generate revenue.
“The impact on the views of the cathedral is minimal – it’s a view from one spot, and the benefits far outweigh the harm.
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“It’s going to be a fantastic place for a summer drink or a bite to eat.”
Cllr Caroline Gooch (Lib Dem, Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze) said: “I find some of Historic England’s reasoning a bit inconsistent because they were quite happy to put a tower block in between Christmas Steps and Totterdown houses and spoil that view.
“It’s a view [of the cathedral] that you have to be over a certain height to see anyway, and you can just walk a little way and see a better view.
“It will be a great addition to the Harbourside and boost the economy, and people will enjoy going there.”
Cllr Guy Poultney (Green, Cotham) said: “I was slightly concerned at the idea that public benefit could simply be economic growth and that would be enough to overcome the heritage objection.
“That was not a precedent I would be happy to set and I want to make very clear that my support for this scheme applies largely to the fact that this is a nighttime economy venue and the nighttime economy is in very serious trouble.
“All members of this committee will remember occasions where we were desperately trying to refuse something in order to save a pub that we believed was viable but where there were huge arguments to say that it wasn’t.
“The heritage harm is fairly minimal.”
Cllr Richard Eddy (Conservative, Bishopsworth) said: “Back at the agenda meeting a couple of weeks ago it looked as if officers were minded to recommend refusal.
“That perplexed me and I thought it was really odd.
“My memory went back several years ago to when members overturned at committee the proposed recommendation for refusal and approved the Bristol Arc which was the glazed canister which would be viewing the Harbourside.
“We deemed the alleged heritage harm to be utterly bogus and minimal if it existed.
“If Bristolians and visitors could view the surrounding heritage assets from this roof terrace, that would be a vast improvement.
“I certainly will endorse this, fully and without reservation.”
Cllr Lisa Stone (Green, Windmill Hill) said: “This would benefit the business community. “However, whether or not it actually benefits the public is not really likely because you have to buy a drink or a meal to gain those views from the rooftop.”
She asked whether the committee could add a condition so that access could be free to everyone.
Bristol City Council deputy head of planning Jonathan Dymond, who recommended giving the go-ahead, said that under planning guidance, the benefits did not have to be visible or accessible to the public to be classed as genuine public benefits.
Cllr Eddy said he hoped the applicants, V-Shed owners Padmanor Investments, ignored Cllr Stone’s suggestion.
He said: “Frankly the job of the hospitality sector is difficult enough without Nimbys turning up on a roof terrace and sitting there gassing and not buying a drink.”
Ward Cllr Patrick McAllister (Green, Hotwells & Harbourside) said: “Members will be aware of how the nighttime and leisure economy in our city is struggling.
“Creating a destination venue like the V-Shed can only be to the benefit of this vitally important social and economic sector.
“It will be a landmark that attracts people to our waterfront, spending in the local economy and meeting a latent demand that is clearly evident from the public support for the proposal.
“Opening up the rooftop to public access would create new views of several Bristol heritage assets and points of interest, from a far superior vantage point than ground level.”
Thirty residents wrote in support of the application, with two against.
There were also objections from Historic England and the council’s conservation and urban design officers, while the authority’s economic development and sustainability teams were in support.
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