Independent shop owners hail ‘great potential’ of The Arcade as Broadmead slowly recovers from pandemic

Independent traders at one of Bristol’s most historic shopping quarters are feeling optimistic about the future of the ‘hidden gem’ as the pandemic eases and shoppers descend in the run-up to Christmas.

It’s been a tough time for any ‘indie’ in the city, but shop owners at The Arcade are holding out for a better year in 2022 after lockdown reinforced the importance of supporting local businesses.

The Arcade dates all the way back to 1825 and is home to an array of businesses including clothing shops, eateries, hair and beauty salons and a tattoo studio.

It is hoped that any empty units that remain there will be filled as the Broadmead area evolves, with the purchase of the former Debenhams store on the horizon and plans for the Galleries to be transformed into a mixed-use developments in the works.

Tayler Cox, store manager of Sobeys Vintage, said lockdown spelled a ‘scary time’ for the company as they didn’t have a website to fall back on and were unable to trade whatsoever.

“But as we opened up we were really busy. People stayed loyal to us and customers were excited to get back in the shop,” Taylor added.

“A vintage shopping experience is completely different to high street. We’ve got a lot of unique and one-off pieces - you’re not gonna see anyone else wearing the same thing as you when you’re walking down the street.

“I think people realised how much they value smaller and independent shops and the experiences they offer. This has actually made us busier than we ever were.

“In terms of the future, I would love to see the empty units in The Arcade fill up. This place has the potential to be a super busy and thriving hub.”

Nikita Montuori, who works at The Taste of Napoli, echoed this sentiment as her restaurant is loved by customers from across the world.

She said: “We have a big international community here who all love to commune and have a coffee.

“Outside you’re in Bristol, but step in here and you’re surrounded by different countries - Spanish, Greek, Italian, English.

“It’s really nice to be open again and see all the familiar faces.”

Finn Marjoram, watchmaker at Horological Underground Watchmaking Atelier by German Polosin, said: “For us, the pandemic wasn’t so bad as we hadn’t officially opened as of the first lockdown.

“This is German’s first UK shop but he’s already a very established watchmaker in Russia, so we were still getting a lot of online orders in, a lot of them custom pieces for international customers.

“Lockdown allowed us to make lots of watches so that by the time we were allowed to open after restrictions lifted, we had a good stock ready to go.

“The Arcade is a hidden gem that I hope will just get busier and busier.

“Some new shops have opened recently which is lovely, but there are still a few empty units.

“It’s a fantastic place to work, the ideal place for a watchmakers with a lot of space for a workshop - the buildings may look tiny, but they’re five storeys tall.”

The comments come following the start of Bristol’s local Christmas market in Broadmead - a market featuring more than 20 independent traders inside wooden chalets decked out in festive decorations.

Vivienne Kennedy, manager of Broadmead Business Improvement District (BID), which represents almost 300 companies in the shopping district, said the city centre offered a good opportunity for independent businesses.

She said: “We have the Arcade with a long tradition of independent shops as well as many pop-up stores run by independents opening in closed stores in places like the Galleries.

“Things are looking up for independent traders in the city centre as the economy recovers.”