Broadmead sees 25% rise in visitor numbers

Footfall in Bristol’s Broadmead continues to rise above pre-Covid levels as the shopping district fights back post-pandemic. Latest independent figures show the number of visits from January 22-28 was up 25% compared to the same period last year, and up 16% from 2019.

The upturn in people visiting the area coincides with last September’s arrival of a Lidl store on Union Street and the first city centre branch of Coffee #1 on the corner of The Horsefair.

Another contributory factor could be that shoppers are returning to a more normal routine after the pandemic, compared to January 2022 when many people were still concerned about Covid. More people are also returning to the office after a long period of working from home due to Covid.

And with Bristol Light Festival starting today, a major photography exhibition planned for March and the springtime opening of Sparks, an arts and sustainability hub opening in the former M&S, head of Broadmead BID Vivienne Kennedy expects footfall to continue to increase this year.

She said: “Footfall in Broadmead has been consistently higher than 2019 since mid-September. Many retailers told us they met or exceeded their sales targets leading up to Christmas and we’re pleased to see footfall has remained strong throughout January - we’re up 20% on the same period last year.”

The 25% increase in footfall for the last week of January compared to last year is also higher than the UK average for high streets, which was 15%. A total of 213,390 visits were recorded in Broadmead between January 22-28. The busiest day was Saturday, January 22 - also the busiest day of the year so far.

Viv said: “We’re looking forward to Sparks, an arts and sustainability hub, opening in the former M&S building in the spring, with the celebrations including four ‘Weekends of Wonder’ from The Invisible Circus.

“Before that, we have Bristol Light Festival opening today (February 3), and running until the February 12, and we’re very excited to be hosting an installation on The Podium for the first time.

“In March, Broadmead will be the location for an outdoor photography exhibition - Picturing High Streets - from Historic England, and at Easter we have a two-week sheep trail when we’ll be inviting children and their families to follow the flock to Bristol Shopping Quarter.”

Talks are also continuing over the future use of the closed-down Debenhams store. It is understood that the new London-based owenrs AEW have plans for a mixed-use development at the site.