Bristol ready for shopping boost

Bristol has more than 100 empty shops available for retailers, which could prove a major benefit for establishing the city's growing reputation for independent training.

National website www.propertydna.com says interest in shop and retail units across Bristol is growing following publicity nationwide about the Bristol Pound and an increasing appetite in the city for independent traders.

The website is listing most of the city's available retail outlets, which range from the 28,461 square feet former Habitat Store in Queens Road, Clifton to a kiosk at St Catherine's Place, Bedminster, which is under 200 square feet.

Christopher Tabor, chartered surveyor and commercial property specialist with PropertyDNA, said: "The whole country now knows that Bristol is a place where people support independent traders and the empty shops should be seen as an opportunity for that reason.

"We are seeing tremendous changes in our High Streets driven not just because of the recession but because of the move towards online purchasing.

"It is easy to order standard products online and price match across various websites. But retailers who have unusual and bespoke products are filling the gaps in our streetscene and Bristol is ahead of the game.

"The Bristol Pound was designed to help keep trade and wealth within the city. Although it isn't the answer to all the woes of the retail market it is an interesting phenomena that the rest of the country is watching with interest.

"We are seeing a number of independents looking at Bristol as a potential destination for new outlets and there is certainly the stock to satisfy demand and a huge choice for those who want to go in to retail. At the moment it is a buyers market."

PropertyDNA.com has targeted Bristol for a marketing blitz because the city has a lively property scene. Most of the city's major commercial property agencies have placed their stock on the website so that businesses can go to one place on the web and find the offices, shop premises or industrial unit that they need.