The struggles of Westbury-on-Trym's high street and its residents' hopes of reviving their shops have been well documented over the years.
And the Covid-19 pandemic has seen retailers struggle more than ever, with major units boarded up in Bristol city centre including Marks and Spencer, among others. Now, residents of Westbury-on-Trym, a 'village' within the north-west of the city's boundary, still feel that their shopping district is lacking.
Michael Kemp, manager of Kemps Jewellers, says the problem began with the arrival of the internet. His shop has been present since the 1970s, and he blames the world wide web for killing off small shops.
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"The internet has had an effect on the variety of shops that the village can offer," he said, noting that independent places like boutiques and gift shops have been the ones that have disappeared. He said the village now "lacks variety", and says they "have to go down other high streets" to find the things they want.
A shop worker in a different store, who asked not to be named, highlighted the same problems. "The shops never really attract people any more. It needs something to attract people. Even the trade here's gone down. [But] it still makes the boss a living and pays our wages," he said.
He has worked in the shop for about eight years and says he has noticed a decline in the shopping variety in that time. "You can't come into Westbury and get a pair of jeans unless you're in a charity shop," he said.
But on the whole he said it is a nice area, and benefits from being close to the motorway and to Bristol's city centre. "My mate lives in Weston and all he wants to do is live up here, but he can't afford it," he said.
Westbury-on-Trym is often considered to be an affluent area and property there costs about £500,000, according to Rightmove - much higher than the average price across the whole of Bristol, which is £360,549. And one retailer says that people in Westbury-on-Trym have been dipping into their pockets to help local businesses more and more.
Cindy Jane, who runs a boutique clothing store on Canford Lane, says there is hope for the high street and she thinks it will soon become the "new Clifton Village". She feels there is a "real sense of community" in the area, and more people are beginning to shop locally, which she says is helping stores like hers to thrive.
"Westbury is always evolving, sometimes things close and sometimes things open - its forever changing, we have seen a real influx of new young families." She said the continuing presence of the banks in Westbury has also been helpful, at a time when some branches across Bristol are closing.
She says none of the pubs closed in the village during the Covid pandemic either, and feels that the support of the community is helping the high street to thrive. "I think it's really up and coming. I think we're going to be the new Clifton Village," she said.
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