Bristol to host its first-ever Birdman this weekend - What to expect

The event will be taking over Bristol Harbour (between The Cottage Inn and Bristol Marina) from 10am to noon on June 15.

Bristol Birdman is inspired by the the world-famous events that have run globably for over 50 years, and will see teams build homemade flying machines or costumes and launch themselves if a platform into the water to see who can fly the furthest, with the winner crowned Bristol Birdman or Birdwoman for 2025.

Broadchurch star and BBC Radio Bristol presenter Joe Simms will compere the event, bringing his unique voice and sense of humour to Bristol Birdman.

The main event will be followed by an awards ceremony with prices for the longest flight, best costume, most entertaining dive and more.

Subscribe to the BristolWorld newsletter

Businesses signed up so far include a varied bunch of adventurous teams including Adventure Bristol, Bakehouse Factory, Brightpearle, Commercial Property Advisors Ltd (CPA) and Puppet Place.

Gemma from CPA said: "We are proud to be a part of Bristol's first Birdman event, supporting Grassroots Community and the invaluable work they do in uplifting and strengthening local communities.

“We're thrilled to stand behind such an inspiring cause and look forward to contributing to this exciting and meaningful event!"

Ben Carpenter, founder of Grassroot Communities, commented: “Bristol is a city of ideas, humour, and community – and the Birdman event is the perfect way to celebrate all of that, while raising money for a vital cause.

“We want this to be a celebration of Bristol’s spirit, bringing together local businesses, creative minds, and future leaders.”

All profits from the event will go to Grassroot Communities, a Bristol-based social enterprise supporting young people from underserved communities through mentoring, education, employment pathways, and leadership opportunities.