With special thanks to the people of North Street.

The High Street

North Street
There is a high street in almost every village, town and city and each is different in its own little way. More and more high streets are suffering from the recession and the competition from big supermarket chains and there arent many traditional high streets left. In most cases the green grocers, butchers, bakers and the odd independent shops and cafes make the street a real community, where they all pull together and celebrate special occasions. This is apparent in North Street too. We chose to look at North Street as it is surviving all of these problems even with two very big supermarkets less than 5 miles away. It has its own character as well as people that help to make it such a diverse place. There are many pubs, restaurants, food shops and cafes along the road. There really is something for everyone. We want to look closely at what makes a street like this survive and how much of an impact the people who work there have on the people that use it daily. Things change every year with new shops opening, along with the proposals of a new Sainsburys being built at the bottom of the road. We are making it our task to find out what the people of North Street think about this and what they plan to change for the future for the better. A key question is; how they can keep North Street a busy, friendly and safe street to shop, work and visit?

SENSE OF COMMUNITY
There is a lot of local support for North Street to keep the independent shops going. A lot of people do their weekly shop on North Street as they feel it is better quality and also more personal as you get to know the owners.

Its local, its fun, I like supporting local businesses, its convenient

I prefer getting food shopping from local shops as the produce tastes better i.e fruit and veg I like chatting to the people in the shops People are always a lot more friendly in the local shops and will help you with how to cook certain things

You feel more welcome and treated with respect, everyone is so willing to help you rather than getting ignored in the big supermarkets

North Street has two main supermarket chains less than a mile away but still manages to survive. Even buying a few things a couple times a week or even once helps keep North Street going.

ITS A GREAT PLACE TO DO YOUR SHOPPING, FRIENDLY AND LOCAL!

Phillip
Philip has been the lollypop man for Ashton Gate Primary School for 12 years. Every morning and afternoon he stands there with a smile no matter if it is rain or shine, and helps everybody cross the road. I love working outside in the fresh air, talking to people as they walk past having a few laughs making jokes, it is good to make people smile Even just a simple morning is enough to make people smile. A lot of the cars cause the problems, if they paid more attention to the road it would be a lot quicker and safer in the mornings, a lot of drivers say it is hard to see me I just give them what I get, and laugh.The biggest problem I get, to be honest, is the mums after they have dropped their children off.Theyre too busy standing at the side of the road then to cross the road safely so I just come back onto the pavement and wait for them to be ready.

Paul Bobby Burns 55 years

Mark Ashton Fruit Shop 9 years

H Dr. Butt 10 years

Chris Rare 1 year

Kevin Clarkes Pies 82 years

Willow Garden 15 years

Bernard Bernard Hunter 22 years

John Southville Deli 3 years

Willow Garden 15 years

RARE
Chris is the owner of Rare, the butchers, and is the most passionate person we found regarding North Street. Even though he has only been on the street for a year he is getting involved in everything he can to keep the street going. He spoke with great enthusiasm about how the North Street Traders are planning to have the street cleaned, have flag poles put up to celebrate the events that will be held on the street in the coming years and also hanging flower baskets in the spring. Hopefully in time to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. An added extra that you get from going to your local butchers which is often overlooked in the supermarkets is the expert help. If youre stuck with a recipe or need help with a certain cut of meat the local butcher would happily help you out so you get the best out of their produce. This could be part of the reason how and why they have managed to survive in the current climate. Its much nicer to go to a butcher and ask for the type of meat than it is to go to the aisle in the supermarket and not really know what youre buying. 9 10

Bernard Hunter
Bernard Hunter owns and runs a photography shop mostly specializing in film, which is very rare these days as more and more people are buying digital. However, there are still a few using film such as students who are learning the art and professionals who strive for that extra creativity and quality. Both learning and knowing the way an analogue camera feels and sounds. Bernard worked for another photography shop on West Street before he was made redundant and bought this shop. It was already a shop that developed films and sold cameras which was perfect for him as the custom had already been set up, and since then he has had it for 22 years. He is very knowledgeable about cameras and is more than happy to discuss them and talk about photography in general,

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Ashton Fruit shop

The shop has been a green grocers for over 100 years and it is one of the many old sites that are still used today as shops. Since Mark took over 9 years ago he has run a very successful green grocers, selling locally sourced fruit and vegetables as well as imports from Europe. They are happy to show you new vegetables and tell you the best way of cooking them, also where they are sourced, what they work well with etc. The biggest change Mark would want for the street would be for safety. This would mean adding a zebra crossing in the middle of the street so it is easier for shoppers to get across the busy road.

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Clarks Pies
Has been on North Street since 1930. If you have ever visited a fish and chips shop in Bristol and bought a pie, the chances are it has been made by Clarks. They only produce two flavours of pies; steak and kidney, and steak and ale. The beer used in the later is from the Bristol Beer Factory which is a hundred yards down the road. They also sell pasties and sausage rolls which are sold in various locations throughout the city.

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Almost everything is locally sourced, which adds to the flavour

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THE SHOPS
There are over 60 shops that span the length of North Street with most of them being resturants and cafes. As well as this there are 8 takeaways so whether youre dining out or eating in, there is a lot to choose from, making North Street a very popular place to dine. The end of North Street heading towards Bedminster isnt as busy and the recession is making it hard for the few shops still open. Whereas the row of shops near the start of the road are completely different , it is very busy and there are only one or two empty shops.

I think there is a good mix of local shops, specialist shops and bigger convenience shops all offering a variety of services

Some good bars and coffee shops

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There is something for everyone, lunch spots, pubs, cofee shops, cards, newsagents, post office Lots of different types, good charity shops

They have more recently tended to reflect the people that live nearby. I would avoid anything that relates to George Ferguson like the plague Caters for the local residents and students, possibly too many resturants and cafes now but they get used and brings people into the area.The theatre too has regenerated the area.Whether the elderly folk have enough of what they need at the right price?

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Teohs Tobacco Factory Brewery Theater Bakery Workout Bristol Occasion Cakes Bristol Bound Books El Rincon Aldi Willow Garden Eddys Domestic Appliances Souk Ocean Blue Savana Northwood Off Licence Cats Protection The Salon You Ashton Fruit Shop Fish Minister Cj Hole McColls Post Office Dim Sum Oriental Glass Designs Clarks Pies Perfect Pizza Betfred Southville Deli Cardiac Pizza Hut Tenovus St. Peters Hospice Think: Kitchens Parsons Bakery Rare The Beauty Room

The Lounge Bernard Hunter Lloyds Pharmacy Als Hot and Spicy The Flying Frog Lion Store Dr. Butt Strada Cafe Sazz Opticians Bakery Barber Emporium Marks Antiques The Terrace Hen & Chicken Comedy Club Co-op Arts & Craft Upfest Enids Fish bar Bobby Burns Tesco Off Licence The Laundarette The Spotted Cow Gentle Baby Things The Budget Boozer The Masonic Anthonys Motors The Co-op Pharmacy Tattootime Eastern Tandoori Club Taxis Garlands The Bay AV Bristol Personic Computers

Just some of the shops on North street

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Opinions on the new Sainsburys proposal

If Bristol City Football club start building their new stadium, the old ground may become a Sainsburys supermarket. This has caused a lot of arguments in the local area regarding traffic and the effect it will have on the North Street shops. Here are some opinions from the shop owners: What percentage difference is going to occur moving across the road? Wont be too much harm on the street - a shame for the area though, shed on the road - massive - vulgar Why do they need a bigger store when they cant fil their checkouts in their smaller one! I dont believe it is necessary. In particular the size planned It just isnt neccessary! Sainsburys will kill off all the small shops, that have already taken trade off me. As we find it hard to sell china, glass ware and cutlery, as people buy it from supermarkets Will cause massive traffic jams that roundabout is bad enough at the moment as it is

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All it takes is one shop to shut down and itll start a domino effect*
*we all effect each other thats why the community is so strong
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