Like every major city, Bristol has lost some of its most cherished landmarks over the years.
From shops to festivals to clubs, there are certain things we all still mourn the loss of years after their closure.
We’ve picked out 17 things we dearly miss, some recent and some more historic, many of which lots of people will no doubt remember fondly.
1. Bristol Ice Rink
Bristol Ice Rink opened as part of a huge Mecca entertainment complex in the 60s known as the ‘New Bristol Centre’. At the time it was the biggest entertainment complex in Europe boasting a dozen licensed bars, an ice rink, bowling lanes, a casino, a night club, a grand cinema, a sumptuous ballroom and a multi-story car park to accommodate all the visitors. But it closed in 2012 to make way for more student flats.
2. Dave and Buster’s
Dave and Buster’s was a huge gaming parlour based at Cribbs Causeway, which provided plenty of entertainment for people visiting the shopping centre. It also house a few snooker tables and a restaurant, but it all closed in 2000.
3. Ashton Plaza Cinema
After opening in 1914, the Ashton Plaza Cinema became an iconic building on Bedminster’s North Street but there’s not much information about it online, other than the fact it closed in the mid 50s. After that it became a snooker hall but was converted into flats in 2008.
4. Colley’s Supper Rooms
Some say it was like going into someone’s dining room when entering Colley’s Supper Rooms, which is now Aqua on Whiteladies Road. Everyone had to be seated by a certain time and there was no menu to choose from, but each main course and pudding would be presented to customers before making their choice. Starters were served in a smorgasbord style and there were also a couple of other small courses in between. It closed in the late-80s/early-90s.
5. Power Boat Racing
Power Boat Racing took place from 1972 until 1990 and saw boats racing through a tight course, reaching speeds of more than 100mph. The races drew huge crowds but they also saw seven deaths before they stopped in 1990.
6. The Dug Out
Seen by many as the spiritual and physical home of Bristol’s music scene, The Dug Out on Park Row was a legendary little venue with a notoriously steep staircase which closed in 1986 and later became unrecognisable as Surakhan, a Korean restaurant.
7. Bagel Boy
Bristol institution Bagel Boy closed all of its branches in the city last year, bowing out with an emotional message to their loyal customers. The restaurant was started by Mitch Church and Leo Thompson, after starting life as a pop-up at The Elbow Room on Park Street. In 2013, they took over a derelict Indian restaurant on St Nicholas Street. From there was onwards and upwards - opening in Gloucester Road and more recently, North Street.
8. Metropolis
Metropolis on Gloucester Road was a comedy club which was previously known as Jester’s. Some huge names played there including Peter Kay and Russell Brand and it also played host to touring bands. But sadly the Grade II listed building was put up for sale in 2012, and has remained untouched since then.
9. The Exploratory
Before At-Bristol and then We The Curious we had The Exploratory, which was based in a terminal shed designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and not Millennium Square.
While We The Curious is a fantastic attraction for families, The Exploratory will always have a special place in the hearts of kids who were growing up in Bristol at the time.
The Exploratory at Temple Meads closed in 1999 before moving to its current location of Millennium Square in 2000, as part of the regeneration of the Floating Harbour.
10. Ashton Court Festival
The Ashton Court Festival was an outdoor music event held annually in mid-July on the grounds of Ashton Court. The festival was a weekend event which featured a variety of local bands and national headliners, mainly attracting local residents.
Starting as a small one-day festival in 1974, the festival grew during succeeding years and was said to be Britain's largest free festival until changes brought on by government legislation resulted in compulsory fees and security fencing being introduced.
After problems were caused by a temporary move to Hengrove Park in 2001 due to the foot and mouth crisis, and a washout in 2007, the organisers declared bankruptcy in 2007 and the festival was sadly no more.
11. Planet Kids
A trip to Planet Kids was almost a rite of passage for kids living in Bristol in the 90s, and the amusement park on Brunel Way was a hugely popular destination for birthday parties.
It was also home to a bowling alley, arcade and restaurant, meaning parents could relax in the knowledge that their kids were going to be well and truly occupied for a few hours at least.
12. J.S Fry and Sons
For almost 100 years some of Cadbury’s most famous products were produced out of the J. S. Fry and Sons building in Keynsham.
The Somerdale site was one of the best known employers around Bristol and at its peak had a workforce around 5,000 strong.
But that changed in 2011 when the factory – then significantly smaller – was closed down by Kraft foods and operations moved to Poland.
Those with fond memories of the building were saddened in 2015 when the Cadbury sign was taken down.
13. The Picture House
The little Clare Street Picture House BS1, which closed in 1927, may not have been the first cinema to open in Bristol, but was perhaps the first to offer a continuous performance. It was certainly one of the most comfortable and luxurious, opening in 1911, the year after the death of Edward VII in 1910.
The film of the King's funeral was shown on a big screen at the Colston Hall, with everyone in black armbands, as they mourned the passing of this much-loved monarch.
14. Bamboo Club
The Bamboo Club was set up in 1966 by the late Tony Bullimore, who died last month, and his wife Lalel, and was the first place in Bristol to welcome those arriving in St Pauls from the Caribbean.
It was open for 11 years, hosting world famous acts like Bob Marley, Ben E King and Tina Turner, but burned down in 1977 just days before the Sex Pistols were due to play there.
It was the first of its kind to serve the city's West Indian community, although it has been said to have brought everyone together regardless of class or race.
15. White Horse Pub
The White Horse Pub in Bedminster will be familiar with fans of Only Fools and Horses. The West Street boozer was used as the Nags Head in the episode “Dates” and the car park at the back is where the police van was parked when they arrested Del. The pub closed in 2007.
16. C&A
Before Cabot Circus arrived, C&A was one of the town’s major department stores, stocking everything you could possibly imagine. The fashion store group announced that it was to close all 113 of its UK stores with the loss of 4,800 jobs in 2000.
17. The Granary
Now a Loch Fyne restaurant, the striking Granary building on Welsh Back was once a very famous rock and jazz club, welcoming the likes of Yes, Motorhead and Iron Maiden before changing purposes in 1988.
