{"id":796998,"date":"2026-03-01T13:56:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T13:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/796998\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T13:56:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T13:56:39","slug":"keynsham-could-hold-the-secret-to-a-thriving-high-street-as-people-flock-there-day-and-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/796998\/","title":{"rendered":"Keynsham could hold the secret to a thriving high street as people flock there day and night"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s no secret that many in Bristol and its suburbs and neighbouring communities feel they would nowadays rather not venture into Bristol City Centre <\/a>to shop, dine, and the like.<\/p>\n

This is due to a multitude of reasons – parking and traffic obstacles, the Clean Air Zone<\/a> charges and, quite simply, a lack of shops or things to see and do, that appeal to them – and the inconvenience of getting there.<\/p>\n

Situated somewhere in between Bristol and Bath, and with its own train station just a walk away – Keynsham is somewhat of a surreal hidden gem. It is home to several of the big chains and recognisable local names when it comes to food and drink spots – it has a Greggs<\/a>, a Grounded, a Mokka, and even a Lounges venue.<\/p>\n

Plus, it’s not short of pubs<\/a> and restaurants<\/a> that open from late afternoon into the night. And it’s so known and loved for its vast array of charity shops, that it would give Clifton<\/a> and Gloucester Road a significant run for its money. And in a surprise to some, there are still businesses here that have lasted for decades.<\/p>\n

Some parts of the high street are so surreal that it feels like you’ve actually stepped back in time thirty or so years. A Poundland filled with customers sits next to an equally loved Peacocks store, as we visit on a rainy Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\"Peacocks<\/p>\n

Peacocks and Poundland in Keynsham in 2026(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n

And speaking with some of the staff in some of Keynsham’s local businesses, they describe it as being a ‘hidden gem’, a ‘proper community’ and are unsurprised as to why people still flock here both during the day and at night, rather than going into town.<\/p>\n

Sarah and Lola both started at Crumbs Cafe some six months ago, on the very same day. “We both love working here,” they say.<\/p>\n

“Keynsham is a lovely place and we have quite a personal relationship with the customers that come in. There’s always a sense of community where people share tables and everyone’s chatting and having a good time.<\/p>\n

“A lot of people who come here are local, so they like to be able to go somewhere in walking distance rather than travel to the centre of Bristol and because everyone knows each other, it’s that sort of sense of familiarity. Over the winter we had all the markets, so Keynsham was so busy and the whole of the High Street was filled.<\/p>\n

“That gave all the businesses a big boom. Keynsham is just a nice place – even when you walk down the street, everyone’s just really friendly.”<\/p>\n

\"Crumbs<\/p>\n

Crumbs cafe and bakery in Keynsham(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n

Next door to Crumbs sits an historic building that is now home to not only a florist, but a coffee shop, with a coffee bar, limited amount of seating, flowers and gifts to purchase, and even a cosy area where the singular team behind the venue can invite guests for wedding and event consultations. Wild About Flowers is a decades old local business that has been run by generations of the same family, and is currently ran by owner Ivy.<\/p>\n

Ivy’s colleague Jodie, who manages the coffee area of the business, but who was behind the counter covering while the rest of the team were busy at a wedding while we visited, was also stood in front of several old photographs of how this very building has looked over the years.<\/p>\n

\"Jodie<\/p>\n

Jodie Mellors who works in Wild About Flowers in Keynsham(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n

The business itself caters to weddings, other special occasions, and has a vast array of gifts for sale inside – from chocolates and candles, to baby gifts, hot water bottles, and even special items like a ‘sips bundle’ which includes a bunch of flowers that sits inside a takeaway carrier next to a cup of coffee. It also runs a local (to the BS31 postcode) Friday subscription flower delivery service by bike, so locals can get fresh flowers delivered to their door, which arrive in the very sacks that the coffee bar’s coffee beans come in.<\/p>\n

And the newly redecorated exterior, which one would catch on approach to the high street if driving in, could also be right at home in more central locations of Bristol, like Clifton. It even has an alcohol licence and can serve up Chew Valley Gin, among other local suppliers’ wares, and hosts regular events like a book club, supper clubs with real chefs, jewellery making, and more.<\/p>\n

Jodie, who lives in Keynsham herself, says: “We still have people coming in who say they’re just finding us for the first time. It’s a really good place when it comes to the trains as well – you can really easily get to Keynsham from Bristol or Bath. And I love Keynsham as a hotspot. If you’re a charity shop lover you can literally make a day out of Keynsham High Street and stop for coffees along the way. I love it.<\/p>\n

\"Wild<\/p>\n

Wild About in Keynsham is a flower shop and coffee bar that also sells gifts and caters to weddings and hosts other events(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n

“I think when you look at other flower shops and coffee shops in other places in Bristol closing down, we’re lucky because of our community. But also, Ivy is amazing and has so much initiative. She’s always trying new things and I think that’s the key to keeping a business running on the High Street.<\/p>\n

“It’s about the events, the supper clubs, the sense of building something for the people around you. And Ivy and her family are really known in Keynsham for that. She’s always up for trying new things and she’s always ahead of the game.<\/p>\n

\"Inside<\/p>\n

Inside Wild About, the flower and coffee shop in Keynsham(Image: Paul Gillis\/Reach Plc)<\/p>\n

“I’m so lucky that I get to work here everyday, in such a friendly community, in such a historic and beautiful building.”<\/p>\n

Longstanding and popular businesses somehow seem to thrive in Keynsham. The likes of Baby & Co, which has stood on this High Street for more than 40 years<\/a>, is still open. And, up until recently, renowned record store Longwell Records was located right on this very road for some 10 years.<\/p>\n

Its owner, Iain Aitchison, has only relocated the business to Clifton<\/a>, but the empty Keynsham shop – a rare sight here – is a symbol of the success of a local business in such a place, in comparison with many of the empty stores we see regularly in some of our more central shopping locations.<\/p>\n

However, this doesn’t mean that Keynsham has not been spared from the obvious obstacles and issues that reflect our hospitality industry, as pub owner David Yeomans tells BristolLive.<\/p>\n

“People do have less disposable income nowadays, so we do find they come out less than they used to,” David, who runs The Crown Inn, tells us. “They book with us for things like special occasions and birthdays, but people don’t so much go out to the pub on a Monday or Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\"Longwell<\/p>\n

Longwell Records in Keynsham was opened by former NHS worker Iain Aitchison(Image: Bristol Post)<\/p>\n

“We do offer a free meal with a drink on those days, just to try and get people in and we also try and support the community. We’ve been doing that for years. During Covid, we fed 250 kids everyday free of charge.<\/p>\n

“Really I can’t afford to give out a free meal and people are struggling at home and can’t afford to be paying six pounds a pint – that’s what we now have to charge to make money to pay the bills. I haven’t actually taken any money from the pub for about five years. It’s only for the fact that I also have a catering business which allows us to carry on.<\/p>\n

“We used to open at 12pm everyday and if people didn’t book a table for lunch, they wouldn’t get one. We were inundated. Now we can’t. We have to open at 3pm because there’s nobody in during the day. Then in the evenings, where I would usually serve 50 to 60 meals a night, every night, we now don’t serve food on weekdays (apart from those free meals).”<\/p>\n

Despite this, in recent times a growing number of people have been spotted spending nights out at some of Keynsham’s food and drink spots rather than in the City Centre. And, considering how long some of the shops on this high street have been open, Keynsham certainly seems to be going against the grain of many high streets in the UK in the sense that it isn’t a ghost town. At all.<\/p>\n

Could places like this be the blueprint when it comes to the future of our high streets?<\/p>\n

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