LOOKING BACK - BROADMEAD IN THE 1990s

[@ethanoreilly2002]

I didn't see Bristol in the 1990s but it's so lovely seeing these pictures. Broadmead is a very sad place now a shadow of its former self. I can even remember as recently as 2008 broadmead being like that much cleaner and smarter

[@historymandave4739]

It was Bristol's main shopping centre years ago but has lost it's customers to The Mall and Internet Shopping. Great shame to see it's decline. Regards Dave.

[@benfletcher9659]

The Galleries peak was from 1991-1998 and was still busy up un till about 2000. The Mall in Cribbs opened in 1998 but both had good trade until 2008, when recession and Cabot Circus opened up. It never really recovered.

[@dawrath57]

best years of my life in 90s bristol no better place on earth

[@louisesouthgate5231]

This is just as I remember it.... I used to go in Debenhams regularly, and my bus stop home from work, was just outside. Used to go to the Odeon too... the good old days... hey ho.

[@MrMetalChris]

@0.22 seconds in I miss the centre looking like that! Way too open now until the Christmas market is around. Lived in Bristol all my life n just turned 40 so was great seeing all these pics of the centre I remember from my teens 😅

[@astreoin]

i was born in 2007 in bristol but seeing these photos makes me want to go back, its beautiful

[@dommidavros2211]

You couldn't have been born in 2007! That would make you like 16 and 16 year olds don't talk like that!

[@astreoin]

@@dommidavros2211 21st may 2007 lol, just brought up by the right people haha

[@puppy1584]

Before Broadmead died. Thanks for the upload Dave…and Happy Christmas…

[@historymandave4739]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Regards Dave.

[@tx3851]

Totally agree....It's awful now....Cute Pup by the way :-)

[@benfletcher9659]

@@tx3851 I think they killed it off around 2006. Now just over priced crap and trendy Londoners.

[@shaneraines2094]

I think Broadmead died when the Galleries were built, I prefered good old woolies and Fairfax House😥 Also that thing called Cabot Circus is a joke.

[@puppy1584]

@@shaneraines2094 yer not wrong. No more M & S, no BHS, no C & A, Lewis’ gone, Debenhams gone…no heart basically. 🙁

[@julianmidwinter3636]

Its a disgrace what they have done to Bristol.No love.Just trodden on .Carnage

[@miisty6438]

Do you have any pics of the fly over and the bridge that used to be by c&a?

[@MrDookieDan]

When Bristol was a nice place to live.

[@lovedaybebe5881]

Such a shame ! Bristol was a fantastic city centre. So disjointed now , and sad that so many stalwarts of the high street have gone ! I hope they do something wonderful with it in the future 🙏

[@joebuchanan9885]

Looks so nice and vibrant back then, Broadmead bleak as fuck these days

[@stevethomas5849]

I miss Fairfax House which disappeared in 1990.

[@chrisrebar2381]

Hardly any cars or people there - Were these taken on a Sunday?

[@historymandave4739]

Not sure. Regards Dave.

[@jsanders5419]

Am amazed to see how clean and tidy it was not so long ago. Broadmead is so ugly and dirty now

[@historymandave4739]

Seems to get worse every year. Regards Dave.

[@benfletcher9659]

@@historymandave4739 It had some bloody awful buildings but the shops were by far more interesting, unique and more choice. Just seems to cater for trendy Londoners on a weekend trip/weekend house. I left 5 years ago but visited 2 years ago, just didn't relate to it.

[@seanrm]

The Luftwaffe didn't manage to destroy Bristol, but the internet and the digital age will.

[@smacko81]

Now its all Greggs

[@SpeakerG3]

From what i heard cribbs cauesway was was the beginning of the end for broud mead since the mall

[@benfletcher9659]

I think it survived until the 2008 recession but Cabot never had the same impact like the Galleries did when it opened in 1991.

[@sean-p3r]

They where the days

[@iangraham871]

Not the same without green buses!

[@deantaylor2736]

Great memories, now ruined

[@historymandave4739]

Many thanks. Regards Dave.

[@cypriot4lyf]

The town centre needs rejuvenating. It’s turned into a dump now.

[@olwens1368]

Oh yes- I remember- there used to be shops and nice places to eat and it was reasonably neat and clean and driving around was fairly straightforward. It was good...what happened to it ??

[@lordyrich]

Pre culture

[@dolmanf]

Much cleaner ad smarter! There's even buses!!!! What have BCC done. Mass immigration has aided it's horrendous decline as well

[@benfletcher9659]

I grew up and lived in Bristol throughout the 1980's up until 5 years ago when we moved to near Cardiff and it's just awful now. I know there were some awful buildings but the shops were just so much better and more variety then there is now. The Galleries was always busy up until the 2008 recession, which it never recovered from. I think the mid to late 2000's is really when it started to decline. Now it's just over priced, over rated, gentrified with trendy Londoners. I visited 2 years ago and I just didn't relate to it at all. I hear they are on about demolishing the Galleries and replacing with housing, offices and shops. I suspect it won't ever be as busy again. Kind of glad we left.

[@historymandave4739]

Hello Ben. The magic of Broadmead has long gone. All the big names we loved have closed one by one. Regards Dave.

[@louisesouthgate5231]

Where abouts did you live? I grew up during the 80s and lived in Kingswood until I got married and moved away. I often think of returning but like you say, it has changed so much.... all the meaningful places are not the same anymore... such a shame.

[@benfletcher9659]

​@@louisesouthgate5231I lived near Yate for 20 years then several places like Bradley Stoke, Brislington and St George. Now near Cardiff. Have not been back properly in over 2 years. With ULEZ I might not bother again.

[@benfletcher9659]

@@historymandave4739 Yes very few shops that are over 20 years old now, only one I would go in is Antics the Model Shop, which I first went into in 1996 (but suspect its been there much longer). None of the shops seem to last very long. The Arcade seems a bit more full, first time in over 15 years but the Galleries has really gone down hill. I might visit next month for one last time.

[@suesmith3744]

@ benfletcher 9659. I agree …