In February, plans for a new coffee shop or café unit at a popular retail park in Bristol were approved. It would result in the latest change to Eastgate Retail Park, in Eastville, and the newest brand to appear at the shopping area.
Located just off the M32, the park consists of nine shops and food outlets. It, perhaps, is more known for Ikea and the Tesco Extra store, however these are actually not located within the retail park, but rather are listed separately on Eastgate Road.
In the past two years, the retail park has been subject to various closures, changes and openings. Before, the likes of Mothercare, Next and Laura Ashley were found on site but now, the offering has changed drastically.
So how has Eastgate Retail Park changed in the last two years?
Asda Living closed in 2023
In 2023, the Asda Living store would close down. The store, which sold clothes, homeware, kitchenware and electronics, closed down on July 30, 2023.
The brand announced that the store had been operating at a loss for a number of years. The store had opened at Eastgate in 2008 and at the time had 33 Aada Living stores across the UK.
The store had employed around 20 members of staff. The store’s central location within the Eastgate Retail Park, marked with the history of the store, meant it was seen as a big loss to the park.
M&S closes café in March 2024
M&S closed the doors of its café in March 2024. It shut following a review and the space was subsequently used as storage. Following on from the previous closure of Costa Coffee from the retail park, the remaining eateries at the retail park consisted of Burger King and KFC.
Inflatable park opens in Eastgate
However, the arrival of Jumpin Fun in a 26,000sq ft unit brought a leisure facility to the site. Housed in the former Asda Living space, the inflatable park features an obstacle course and runs sessions for children and families.
The brand has venues across the UK and opened in Bristol in August. Within the inflatable park sits a cafe servings a range of food and drink options. The Bristol branch is the biggest inflatable park opened by Jumpin Fun.
200ft art mural painted on wall near Ikea
Not all the changes to the retail park are to do with shops or facilities. In October, a 200ft art mural was created on the wall below the retail park, overlooking Ikea and the M32.
When driving on the M32 northbound from the city centre, the mural can easily be seen. It’s a celebration of the development of drum n bass as a new music genre. In 1994, 30 years prior to the creation of the mural, DnB was making its way out of Bristol’s underground scene.
The MetalHeadz record label was launched in 1994 and Goldie, one of the founders, brought together some of the pioneers of street art from Bristol, New York, London and Paris from the 1980s and 90s to paint the mural. The result? A massive mural with contributions from many of the biggest names in street art.
Proposal to develop former railway tunnel refused
Likewise, not all the changes to the retail park would actually come off. In October, Bristol City Council refused planning permission for a new retail unit to be created within the former railway tunnel located just outside the retail park.
The tunnel formed part of the Clifton Extension Railway, which ran from Avonmouth to Narroways Hill. The railway closed during the 1960s, finalised with the demolition of the 13-arch viaduct, which ran parallel to Muller Road, in 1968.
The tunnel was described as a hotspot for criminal activity and anti-social behaviour and plans were submitted in May 2023 to transform the tunnel into a commercial space. Planning permission would be rejected in October due to environmental impacts.
If approved, it would have seen All Trade Property Services, a construction company based in Bristol, open a store facing the retail park. It would have had off-street parking and would have been seen as a little extension of the retail park and its offering.
New coffee shop to be created within the retail car park
Last month, planning permission was granted for a new coffee shop or café to be created within the car park. The 167sq m unit would be located near an existing paved pathway which links the main retail shops with KFC.
A new paved pathway would be created, as well as an outside seating area and additional disabled and child-friendly car parking spaces, although 20 car parking spaces will be lost overall. The single-storey unit would consist of a coffee shop or cafe with a “hot food takeaway element”.
It is notknown which brand will move into the new unit when it is created, but what has been confirmed is that there will not be a drive-thru created. There are eight conditions attached to the planning permission.
The new brand will join the current crop of shops located at the retail park, which includes the likes of Pets at Home, Halfords, Boots and Park Furnishers. There is also a PureGym located within Eastgate.