The 8 best vintage shops in Bristol where second-hand bargains and antique treasures are waiting to be found

It’s no secret that Bristolians love their second-hand finds and vintage treasures, after all, it’s a much more sustainable way to shop.

So, with the Bristol Vintage Furniture Flea heading to Paintworks this weekend, we’ve been taking a deep dive into some of the many vintage shops this city has to offer to round up the best of the best for you.

From vintage clothing to vintage trinkets and homewares, there are all sorts of goodies to be found across the city. Some stores specialise in one element such as fashion, while others have vintage finds that cover both furniture and clothing.

Essentially, whatever it is that you are after, the likelihood is you’ll find it at one of these emporiums.

Beyond Retro

You’ll find over 10,000 pieces of vintage and retro clothing in Beyond Retro, all picked out by vintage experts especially for the Broadmead store. What started as a side-street treasure trove, the Beyond Retro brand has become a national staple on high streets. It’s not hard to see why when you step through the door, so if you’re on the lookout for a new outfit and fancy being thrifty and sustainable, pay this one a visit.

Dear Old Thing

This unassuming small family business on West Street has become known for its eclectic curation of vintage homewares and antique finds. If there’s something in particular that you’re looking for when it comes to your home, chances are you’ll find something that works in Dear Old Thing. They post most new items on their social media feeds or you can simply head down to browse their full range of items on offer at the shop itself. It is their aim to keep products as different and unique as possible.

Thrift

The Vintage Thrift Store on Park Street is possibly one of the most well-known of Bristol’s vintage clothing outlets, as well as one of the largest. Park Street has become somewhat known for its vintage shops over the last couple of decades, so it’s a brilliant place to head when you’re on the lookout for something second-hand. Thrift is full to the rafters with reworked and vintage clothes and is a popular spot with trendy students.

Repsycho

Although its roots are actually firmly in the trendy Portobello Road market in London of the 1980s, the home of Repsychovintage and retro clothing is now very definitely settled in alternative Bristol. The shop has long been a part of the Gloucester Road community and is well known for stocking an incredible range of vintage finds. What’s brilliant about Repsycho is that they don’t only stock one type of vintage product, they have a large array of goodies from vintage homewares and vinyl, to fashion and furniture.

Focus on the Past

If you love scouring shops for little random vintage and antique finds, Focus on the Past in the heart of Clifton Village is a brilliant place to head. It is heaving with bits and bobs, from all different eras. It’s run as a cooperative of 12 dealers selling a wide variety of antiques and collectables, including antique and painted furniture, Kitchenalia, old pine, French and English beds, tins and packaging, china, pottery, glass, silver, pictures, and old advertising. It really does have it all!

Rag and Bone

For those who are into their vintage shopping, Rag and Bone will certainly be a staple on their list of shops to scour. It started life on Chandos Road before moving to a shop in Bristol’s Old Quarter near St. Nicholas Market. Now working primarily online, with the shop as a base, you’ll find a little bit of everything from art prints to furniture. They don’t have a rule of thumb for selecting pieces apart from just buying what they love to stock; whether it’s drop-dead gorgeous, full of character, has a fascinating history, or indeed a mixture of all three.

Rhubarb Jumble

A brilliant vintage clothing, homeware, and furniture store on North Street, Rhubarb Jumble specialises in the period between the 1950s to the 1970s. The owner has a particular fondness for mid-century style and aesthetic, so you can expect a lot of this, as well as being the only stockist of the iconic Lea Stein jewellery in Bristol. You’ll never know what you might find there, from a 60s shift dress to a velvet wingback chair, or a melamine butter dishkids' to kids pyjamas.

Cart House

This one is a little bit different, as the Bristol-based business doesn’t actually have a shop front. Instead, the Brislington specialists work with the customer directly to source the vintage finds that they want, or also have an online store. When it comes to furniture, these guys know what they are doing and they have an incredibly good selection of restored pieces at affordable prices.