Winter 2010 - Shipshape Magazine Bristol

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feature The Ferguson factor Another crucial activist in the markets movement is George Ferguson – architect, owner of the Tobacco Factory (Sunday market and all) and coowner of the aforementioned Harbourside bistro. “Bristol has, along with most UK cities, a pathetic market culture,” George reflects. “UK markets tend to be a relative pinprick compared with the staple food provider they are in many European cities, where supermarkets have not taken the same stranglehold they have here.” The latter, he says, are driven by an obsession with growth and market share. “This has the inevitable effect of damaging the independent providers and retailers, and supermarkets’ centralised distribution systems militates against regional and smaller suppliers who can benefit from cutting out the middle men and selling direct.” And the solution? “We could give up, admit that the big chains have won the battle and that markets are for a fringe middle class – or we could work with our regional food providers and makers to provide a real challenge. There is plenty of potential for a market culture in Bristol, but we need to work hard at helping producers who feel trapped by the supermarkets’ ruthless purchasing methods.” The benefits of markets aren’t confined to stallholders’ pockets, either. “Street markets that bring provider and consumer together have a great educational role – they demonstrate that apples, for instance, come in hundreds of local varieties, shapes and flavours, rather than the bland, largely foreign varieties on supermarket shelves.” Magnus Macdonald is another interested party in the markets debate. Chairman of the Glassboat Company, Magnus co-founded the floating restaurant on Welsh Back; he’s also a hugely experienced markets man, having run markets Pictured clockwise from top: Vincent Castellano of Castellano’s Charcuterie and Traiteur; Helen Brent-Smith and David Kasper of Day’s Cottage Apple Juice; Sandra Paget and Terry Duncan of Paget 4th Generation Grocers. twelve Shipshape
feature at festivals including Glastonbury, V Festival and The Big Chill. Recently, he’s introduced a series of successful themed markets along Welsh Back, including Fish Fest, Eat Cheese and Summer Fayre. “I’m a passionate believer in the future of Bristol’s docks, and I see markets as a central part of the docks’ future wellbeing,” Magnus observes. “But it’s fiendishly difficult to get things moving in Bristol. The Council’s Markets department does a perfectly good job, but is hiding behind a 650-yearold piece of legislation [the Markets Charter] that no longer has a function. “Steve Morris [Bristol City Council Market Manager] is actually a very good market manager – he looks after St Nicholas Market and its traders very well – but it’s only on a limited scale. The general view is that any new markets would compete with St Nick’s – but, in fact, other markets will only bring benefits, because you get people into the market habit, get them thinking, ‘OK, it’s cold and wet, but at the market we can get interesting, good-quality stuff.’” He also underlines Bryony’s point about markets’ crucial role in getting small businesses moving. “Everyone’s asking, ‘Where are all these jobs going to come from?’ You’d create a few hundred jobs just by getting markets going in Bristol. The current climate is bringing mass redundancies – one way people can take back control of their lives is through market trading. Overheads are cheap, you’re in direct contact with buyers: markets are the rawest and most immediate way of learning to manage your own venture. Some will fail, others succeed, “I’m a passionate believer in the future of Bristol’s docks, and I see markets as a central part of the docks’ future wellbeing. But it’s fiendishly difficult to get things moving in Bristol” Magnus Macdonald, Chairman of the Glassboat Company others will go off and think about how to do things differently – but at least you sow the seeds of people’s future independence.” Magnus has similarly ambitious plans for the parts of town (Welsh Back, King Street and Queen Square) adjoining Glassboat, as Bryony does for the stretch of harbour further west. “The pedestrianisation of King Street would be a brilliant idea. Regular events there would animate this area and give Bristol a whole extra two miles of quayside to generate visitor income. King Street is a dead end at the moment – one of the most beautiful streets in Bristol, yet one of the least used. Ten years ago it was home to various drinking clubs, but these have all died off and it’s in urgent need of a new lease of life – partly to take advantage of such a gorgeous street but also to ensure it doesn’t become derelict or intimidating.” What might be the template for a modern market in the area? “You could have a weekly CD/book market on King Street and Welsh Back. And King Street is just asking for a Christmas Market. Pedestrianise the street to create a regular market area, move the bins between Spyglass restaurant and The Apple cider bar and install a bandstand in their place, where you’d invite buskers to play. Combine that with some sensitive traffic management, and you have an inexpensive way to animate an underused gem in the heart of Bristol.” But, warns Magnus, markets aren’t plain sailing. “They need hard work to succeed. You’ve got to give people reasons to come to markets, and numbers take time to build up. If it’s cold and wet people won’t come. And if traders don’t make money they won’t come. Markets are delicate things – they need nurturing.” Back to the Charter Magnus is less than enamoured of the 650-year-old Markets Charter – or, at least, of its modern application. “The Markets Charter is a wonderful historical anachronism. But in today’s shopping environment, it’s damaging rather than benefiting Bristol. It gives the Council the right to decide who has a market within six miles of the city centre – but I would argue that Tesco, Sainsbury’s and so forth are basically indoor markets. Worse, they’re not bringing any of the benefits that markets would – livelihoods, animation of an area, social interaction, using local producers and makers. It would be interesting to see what happened if the Markets Charter was put up against Tesco!” George Ferguson is yet more adamant on this point. “Why they did not think of using the Markets Charter to restrict the domination of the supermarkets is beyond me. A thriving market culture is a major attractor at a time when cities have to compete for attention, tourism and outside investment. They’re also a fundamental element in the greening of cities, in terms of reducing food miles and all sorts of wasteful energy practices. They are also extremely sociable places.” The Council was unwilling to comment in depth before the findings were made public, but Steve Morris issued this comment: “The City Council has an excellent market track record, with nationally recognised and award-winning markets. We are currently conducting an independent review of markets in the city and are also looking at the potential for developing additional, sustainable markets in Bristol. “The Council and its partners such as Destination Bristol know that sustainable and viable markets bring many benefits to residents and the wider region. This review will inform a markets policy and examine potential future opportunities for markets in the city. The review will also help to shape a robust business plan for the Council’s own market operations at St Nicholas. “The Council believes that markets will play a key role in Bristol’s future sustainable economic growth. We are aware of the huge economic, social and environmental benefits markets bring to the city, from creating small-scale, start-up opportunities for burgeoning businesses to attracting more visitors and from providing a platform to showcase locally sourced goods and services to encouraging reuse and recycling in its widest possible sense.” Last word to Bryony, back on the Harbourside. “We want the harbour to be a focal point of our city again, rather than somewhere people should feel scared to go. It’s Bristol’s USP – we are a port, a centre of commerce, and what better way to show that than by putting commerce right back onto the waterfront, where merchants have unloaded their goods from boats for centuries?” s For more on the Market Charter and a detailed analysis of the Markets Review, see www.bristol.gov.uk/retailcentres. Bristol’s first Christmas Market takes place in Broadmead West until 19 Dec, selling arts, crafts, food and drink from across the region. The German Christmas Market also returns to Broadmead East until 22 Dec. See http://tinyurl.com/39mdku4 for more info on both Shipshape fifteen
Page 1 and 2: Shipshape winter 2010 www.shipshape
Page 3 and 4: contents Welcome... ...to the winte
Page 5 and 6: arts & feature events celebrate Bri
Page 7 and 8: arts & events arts & events See Mae
Page 9 and 10: arts & events feature Shipshape BOO
Page 12 and 13: feature They help start-up traders
Page 16 and 17: harbourside map & ferry guide getti
Page 18 and 19: feature Shipwright Gary Grizzell in
Page 20 and 21: Cosima von Bonin, detail of ENGLAND
Page 22 and 23: Sail with Santa! rem plan and run e
Page 24 and 25: lido restaurant, spa & pool Pre-wed
Page 26 and 27: shipshape directory Arnolfini Arnol
Page 28 and 29: shipshape directory Glassboat Welsh
Page 30: and finally... 1The Finzels Reach d

Winter 2010 - Shipshape Magazine Bristol

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