Dubbed the ‘saddest’ shopping centre in Bristol, St Catherine’s Place is now derelict, dirty and awaiting redevelopment but that wasn’t always the case.
Opened in 1969, it was for decades a popular and well supported shopping area with cafes, independent shops and, when it first opened, a large Sainsburys supermarket.
These incredible photos from The Sainsbury Archive show just how modern this shopping centre once was, and includes some of the local shoppers who used it.
The images will bring back memories for many people who remember the Bedminster shopping centre in its heyday - maybe you even recognise some of the locals in the pictures.
1. St Catherine’s Place opened for business in 1969
2. Open for business
Families checking out the new Sainsbury’s store in St Catherine’s Place when the shopping centre opened in 1969 (image: The Sainsbury Archive)
3. Building a future
The office block next to St Catherine’s Place under construction, taken from Windmill Hill (image: The Sainsbury Archive)
4. Happy shoppers
Shoppers walk past Sainsbury’s in St Catherine’s Place in April 1983 (image: The Sainsbury Archive)