A Place Called Space: Bristol - Broadmead + Castle Park

Sunday, 15 June 2025

Bristol - Broadmead + Castle Park

We went to Bristol for four days a few weeks ago. I had not been for years, so many parts of it were like new. What struck me most was how vibrant the place is - people like to have fun, to go out and enjoy themselves: the bars and restaurants were full to bursting, and as the weather was good, people were sitting out. Bristol is also a very multi-cultural city which gave it an added positive vibe. We had a great time.

Out hotel was in the centre, next to Broadmead shopping centre, with Castle Park on the other side.

Broadmead is a typical British shopping centre

but there are more old, classical buildings than in other shopping centres.

The Odeon is housed in this gorgeous Art Deco building.

An old Almshouse, built in 1399

Part of the Dominican Friary, founded in 1227.

The Society of Friends meeting house, 1747. The Quakers held meetings on this site from 1670 to 1956.

A happy co-existence of old and new.

What made this shopping centre different for me, is the large number of stalls selling international food, reflecting the multi-cultural nature of the city, but also, a sign of its vibrancy.

We couldn't understand what part of an animal they were roasting here

This child sang beautifully - the stall sells Argentinian food

Later that day, when we were returning to our hotel, by this same stall, a man on stilts was dancing to the music, and so many people were dancing with him

People were having such a good time!

Bristol is famous for its street art - we did not see as much as we would have liked

Normally, when we go to a new place, we like to try out different places to eat. This did not happen this time however. We had lunch here during our first day, but also ate here during our second and third evenings.

When we booked our hotel they offered us an upgrade, an offer so good, that we could not refuse. One of the perks was the Executive Lounge, where one could have unlimited amounts of wine, and what they called canapes, but which were in fact, proper starters. We liked sitting there (unfortunately I did not take any photographs) drinking wine, and nibbling various starters, so when it came to having a meal, which was pretty late by then, we just popped out to the nearest place and had a main meal and a pudding, with an additional glass of wine. It just suited us.

Two our of the three times we ate there, we were able to sit outside as the weather was very good, and this was our view - the old Friary.

On our first evening, as we were walking back to our hotel, having had dinner at a place by the riverside, we saw police tape draped by the park which was opposite our hotel. I asked one of the police officers who were keeping guard and he said that there had been a stabbing which started at the park,

and finished here, on the edge of Broadmead.

Forensics were here too.

Contrary to what happened that evening, the park is a peaceful, calm space that is used a lot during the day by people intent on relaxing on the lawns, or as a thoroughfare to get from the Broadmead area to the riverside, the old city and beyond.

We walked on the edge of it, by the river every day for that purpose

The Left Handed Giant was always busy

the same during our return, where a path would lead us straight to our hotel

Bristol Castle occupied the whole of the eastern section of today's Castle Park - it existed from at least 1088. From the 1100s, Bristol Castle was strengthened and enlarged and by the 1200, it was one of England's largest royal fortresses. By the 16th century the castle was 'tending to ruin' and following his victory in the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell decreed its destruction in 1655, a process which was completed within a fortnight. Following its destruction, a commercial avenue, Bristol's main shopping district, opened along Castle Street towards Old Market. The area was largely destroyed by the Luftwaffe during the Blitz, and that which remained was subsequently demolished by 1969.