What’s next for Broadmead? That’s the question on everyone’s lips. After 70 years M&S has closed its doors and Covid, Brexit and the move to online shopping is hitting shops hard.
But West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris learnt how Broadmead is fighting back as he took a tour of the area with the Broadmead Business Improvement District (BID) team.
New figures show that the Bristol shopping area is outperforming the average UK high street. Although Covid has hit Broadmead hard and footfall is down by over ten percent this compares favourably with the UK average of a twenty five per cent drop, compared with 2019 levels.
Mr Norris met Viv Kennedy, Head of the Broadmead BID, who is spearheading work to drive shoppers to the area and support retailers. This includes innovative ideas such as a loyalty app and a regular monthly competition to win prizes supplied by Broadmead shops. Mr Norris will enter the Valentine’s special to win chocolates and a gift voucher for a local flower and plant shop. The duo will also discuss what could replace empty shop sites – should they be filled with cultural exhibitions or maybe turned into housing?
West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Broadmead is bouncing back and Viv Kennedy and the BID team are doing a great job. Shopping centres at the heart of cities matter, they are part of the life blood of communities, and when they are thriving they give people a real sense of pride in our local area. We know there is a cost of living crisis made in Downing Street, and that means people have less money in their pockets to spend but our local efforts are showing Broadmead is resilient and not afraid to try new ideas as we look to the future.”
Broadmead bouncing back
