It’s sad, but right, to say goodbye to the Grosvenor Hotel

Derelitct Grasvenor Hotel in Bristol behind cordons

A version of this post first appeared in Bristol 24/7’s Your Say section on 24 April. Thanks to them for taking these thoughts about a hot topic for the city.

Like many things in Bristol, there are mixed opinions online about news that the once grand (but now derelict) Grosvenor Hotel is to be demolished.

Bristol247 followed Bristol mayor Marvin Rees’ announcement that demolition will happen after years of wrangling, asking: should [the hotel] have been saved?

As owner of a small business based across the road from the building, who has worked in the area since 2010, I felt moved to respond to that question.

Continue reading “It’s sad, but right, to say goodbye to the Grosvenor Hotel”

Acrobats’ ambush part of a day’s work in Bristol

The weird and wonderful happenings in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone continue to generate headlines on a local and national stage.

This video of the BBC’s Dave Harvey in the thick of it with the acrobats at Creative Common was one of the more interesting pieces of coverage on the day of the Spending Review statement in Parliament. His piece focused on the contribution creativity and a quality environment can make to economic growth. Bristol’s Enterprise Zone puts these attributes at centre stage as part of the long-term plans to generate 17,000 creative jobs in the city. The result has been nearly 14,000 visitors to Creative Common and enough work for nearly 60 people to be employed in its first year. One hundred thousand people are expected over the next nine months, which makes what’s happening here pretty difficult to ignore.

Continue reading “Acrobats’ ambush part of a day’s work in Bristol”

Bristol’s ‘pop up’ creative hub starts with a bang

I attended the launch last night of a creative venture which has transformed a former car park near Bristol Temple Meads and was blown away by the results.

Nine months’ of live entertainment has kicked off in a big tent near where I work in Temple Quay, led by Creative Common and attended by hundreds of Bristolians last night.

They were invited into the tent on Plot 3 to stand and watch BIANCO, a fast-moving two hour display of high wire-walking, trapeze swinging, fire eating and live music.

Continue reading “Bristol’s ‘pop up’ creative hub starts with a bang”