New pop-up Bristol skatepark opens in Cabot Circus car park

A new skatepark has been launched in the car park of Cabot Circus. The pop-up destination is open for half-term only and the city’s skateboarders can visit until October 29.

Bristol is regarded as one of the UK’s top 10 cities for skateboarding, a sport which has been boosted by its addition to the Tokyo 2022 Olympics programme. With 11 billion views on TikTok and 14 million Instagram posts using the hashtag #skateboarding in 2021, skateboarding is more popular than ever.

For the pop-up, Cabot Circus owners Hammerson have collaborated with Bristol-based skatepark designers Canvas and local street art favourites Upfest, to curate the innovative and colourful space. The skatepark is packed with curbs, ledges and rails – obstacles that skaters seek out on the streets of towns and cities.

The pop-up is being sponsored by Red Bull, which will bring its international ‘Curb Kings’ contest to the UK for the first time, with skaters battling it out to be crowned the best in the South West on Saturday October 29.

In a unique partnership with Bristol Council, obstacles constructed by Canvas will be donated to and repurposed within Bristol skateparks, inspiring the next generation. A collaboration with ‘Bristol Girls Skate’, also aims to encourage young females in the city and all over the country to take up the sport.

Harry Badham, Chief Development and Asset Repositioning Officer of Hammerson said: “We’re not afraid to do something different at Hammerson and the skatepark proves this. Carparks should be seen as multi-purpose spaces which can be transformed, bringing a new vibrancy and customer base.

“Skateboarding has a phenomenal following and Bristol was the perfect city to test-bed this concept. Thank you to our partners Red Bull, Canvas and Upfest for bringing our idea to life.”

The pop-up also includes skateboarding lessons for all ages, a range of food and drink stalls and guest skateboarding appearances from Jamie Griffin, Alex Decunha and Palice.

The skatepark is located on Level 7 of the Cabot Circus car park.