Power cuts caused disruption across parts of Bristol on Saturday night (October 26), with many local residents reporting flickering lights and power outages for some time. Those who had headed to the Bristol Beacon to watch Public Service Broadcasting take to the stage were also affected, with at least two cuts in power meaning the show was cut short.
Bristol Green Councillor for Lockleaze, David Wilcox, posted to X (formerly Twitter) at 9.24pm to say: “I’m at @PSB_HQ in the @Bristol_Beacon and there is a power cut.” He later added: “10 minute outage. And they are back”, before posting again to say: “It’s tripped again”.
More people added comments to say: “And we’re down again”, and “we’re here too – 3rd beer, time to go home. Will we get our money back?” The band posted a message at around 1am on Sunday morning to say: “Thank you to everyone in Bristol tonight for persevering with the show.
“Genuinely an outstandingly patient and kind bunch. We’re a bit heartbroken not to have been able to do the full show (what might have been) but glad we got through most of it in the end.”
They went on to add: “Promoters, venue and us will try to work out what the best thing to do next is. For now (personally speaking) it’s probably whisky o’clock.”
In response, fans quickly replied to call the band “true professionals” despite the “incredibly frustrating situation” they faced. One fan added: “You came back out and nailed it!”
Elsewhere in the city, locals were taking to social media to report their own power cuts and outages. On community platform ‘Nextdoor’ one resident wrote: “Anyone else experiencing power outages in Hotwells this evening?” To which one neighbour replied to say: “Yes, National Grid have said power cuts in BS8 will be sorted by 11pm.”
Another added: “Not Hotwells area, but in North Horfield our lights are starting to flicker.” A third said: “Twice already in Clifton Village”.
The National Grid UK Customers X page posted a statement at 9.20pm to say: “There is currently a powercut in Clifton, BS8 and surrounding areas. We are sorry about this and are working to have the power restored by 11pm.”
In response to a resident who replied to add that “BS1 also hit”, the National Grid said: “Hello, yes it’s affecting a large area, sorry.” At 10.10pm, the National Grid posted: “Apologies for the disruption, it is a HV fault. We are currently switching (fault finding) in the area and as such customers may see the power going off and on while the fault is located.”
And, at 11.03pm, it posted once more with an update to say: “We’ve got the majority of supplies back on and are working to restore the remaining properties by approximately midnight.”