Spring 2010 - Shipshape Magazine Bristol

All picS (except Zoe): tHegroupofSeven.co.uk
interview
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harbourside
shipshape talks to Zoe Swindell, Harbourside project manager for Destination
Bristol, about what makes the city unique and what 2010 has in store
Tell us a little bit about your role
I’m the Harbourside project manager for
Destination Bristol, an organisation that exists
to promote and raise the profile of the Bristol
city region as a world-class place to visit, study,
play, work and live. My role is focused on
delivering improvements around the harbour,
making it an even better place for local people
and visitors to explore and enjoy.
What do you think makes Bristol such a
great destination?
There’s a strong sense of history and heritage
and a great choice of places to visit, stay, eat
and shop. Attractions such as Brunel’s ss Great
Britain, Bristol Zoo Gardens, At-Bristol and Blue
Reef Aquarium are second to none, and cover all
ages and interests. The city plays host to a wide
range of excellent festivals and outdoor events;
the Balloon Fiesta and the Harbour Festival are
internationally recognised. Shopping, whether
you’re looking for independent stores or the
high street, is also excellent.
What does Bristol have that other cities don’t?
Bristol’s unique position means that it has
beautiful countryside and coastline on its
doorstep, and a cosmopolitan feel without
being claustrophobic. Where else can you catch
a ferry from the train station to go shopping?
We also have a fantastic brand new Tourist
Information Centre, located on Harbourside,
next to Watershed Media Centre, offering
a wide range of information and advice to
tourists and residents to help them make
the most of Bristol.
Do you think the Cabot Circus
redevelopment has attracted
more interest in the city?
Most definitely. Before Cabot
Circus opened, Bristol used to
lag behind Cardiff, Bath and
Birmingham in the shopping
stakes. Now we have fantastic
shopping to suit all tastes and budgets. It has
shown people what good regeneration can look
like and given the city something to feel proud
of. It has also created momentum to improve
other areas in the city. This has certainly helped
with what Destination Bristol is hoping to
achieve on Harbourside. We’re surrounded by a
lot of energy and some great ideas.
And what about the Harbourside
redevelopment?
The area around Bristol’s Floating Harbour
is a fantastic stretch of public realm. We’re
so lucky to have the water on our doorstep.
The opening of the new Museum of Bristol,
M-Shed, in spring 2011 will be a hugely exciting
development that will really put the area on
the map and complement the existing cultural
attractions such as the Arnolfini, Spike Island
arts centre and Brunel’s ss Great Britain. I
hope that in the next 12 months people will
come down and take a fresh look at the city’s
waterfront in the same way that they have done
with Broadmead and Cabot Circus.
The coming year is looking pretty packed:
what events are you most looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to this year’s Wine and
Food Fair (2-4 July) and the Harbour Festival (30
July-1 August). July will be especially exciting as
At-Bristol will celebrate its 10th anniversary and
Brunel’s ss Great Britain will celebrate the 40th
anniversary of the ship’s return to Bristol, so you
can expect a bumper month of fun.
Is there anything else new on the
calendar for 2010?
In addition to July’s anniversary celebrations,
September will see the Brunel Institute
open its doors. This means a worldclass
specialist library and the Brunel
archive will be accessible to all. Also,
on 24 September Ashton Court will
host the start of the Gordon Bennett
2010 International Gas Balloon Race –
the oldest and most
prestigious aeronautical
race in the world!
Bristol is renowned
for being a green city:
is this important to
visitors?
It is increasingly important, yes. Bristol is a
Fairtrade City, the UK’s first Cycling City and the
only UK city nominated for The European Green
Capital Award 2010/11. These credentials, along
with over 450 parks and green spaces, make it
easy to see why Bristol has earned its status as a
Green Capital. We have a whole section of the
Visit Bristol website dedicated to green places
to visit, eat and stay, and Destination Bristol
is constantly looking to expand, develop and
promote a greener tourism agenda.
What do you particularly love about the city?
I love the mix of water, city hustle and bustle,
and green open spaces. For food, I love the
laid-back vibe and view of the water at the
Olive Shed, the Grain Barge and Spyglass. For
romantic dining, it has to be Brasserie Blanc or
the Glassboat. For cake and coffee, the Arnolfini
Cafe Bar. Browns is an old favourite – it’s such
a beautiful building and great for lazy lunches
and early evening cocktails. For drinks, I also like
the Watershed Cafe Bar and The Mall in Clifton
Village. As for landmarks, I love the coloured
terraces of Cliftonwood and Totterdown, the
Suspension Bridge and the Wills Building when
it’s lit up at night. I also love the ‘old world’ feel
of Queen Square, where Destination Bristol is
based. Ashton Court Estate and Leigh Woods are
two of my favourite walking spots.
And finally…
If you’ve not taken a tour of Bristol by boat, then
do so this summer – you really do get an amazing
and totally different view of the city.
More visitbristol.co.uk / 0333 321 0101
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