New shops and public toilets to open at Bristol Temple Meads

New shops and public toilets could soon open at Temple Meads under new plans recently submitted.

Network Rail is applying to refurbish empty rooms in the Midland Shed to create three retail units and passenger toilets. The building is on Station Approach, to the left of the main entrance to Temple Meads train station.

In planning documents, architects said: “With direct pedestrian access from Station Approach, the Midland Rooms are in a prime location to be utilised to provide benefit to all station users. The rooms are currently not in use and are in a very poor condition including missing floors, roof propped up and water ingress.”

Plans for the retail units include a convenience store, a cafe and a gift shop. The toilets will include a changing places facility. The Midland Rooms were built in the 1870s, and were used as offices next to terminating platforms until 1965. Since then, the train shed has been used as a car park, while the offices have been largely left empty and derelict.

There are currently no public toilets on the non-paid side of the station. The new ones planned will be accessible to people who haven’t crossed the turnstiles, but will likely only be open from 7am to 7pm.