The Bristol shops from our childhood we wish could come back

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Over the years, many shops have come and gone in Bristol. Some have been completely forgotten while many other stores bring back fond memories to former customers.

Some of these shops are big names - like Woolworths - while others were independent shops loved by many in the city. We've looked through our archives to find some of our long lost stores but if we've missed your favourite, please comment below.

Hobbies

Hobbies, on Fairfax Street, pictured on 1957.
Hobbies, on Fairfax Street, pictured on 1957.

Hobbies sold model kits and toy soldiers and was a favourite for many. Local historian and editor of the Post's Bristol Times section Eugene Byrne said: "I used to love that place, I was a table-top war-gaming nerd in the 1970s and their displays of painted figurines were amazing."

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Beatties

Penn Street in the city centre
Penn Street in the city centre

Penn Street was also a popular street to wonder along and a favourite shop along the street was Beatties model shop, which was on the Castle Park end. It was a shop where you could spend ages as a child and sold model trains and F1 cars, as well as huge train sets.

Rival Records

Rival Records was also a favourite along Pen Street. Along with the likes of Replay, Revolver and Imperial, Rival Records is still much missed by vinyl collectors of a certain vintage.

Woolworths

Inside Woolworths in Broadmead in 1958 -Credit:Bristol Live
Inside Woolworths in Broadmead in 1958 -Credit:Bristol Live

Another Bristol institution was The Woolworths store in Broadmead. You could pop into the store during your work lunch hour to buy more or less anything.

Children's World

Children’s World was down at Eastgate, long before Ikea was built. It had a slide by the front door and a Wimpy.

C&A

Like Woolworth's, C&A was a much loved department store. Who remembers the pneumatic vacuum tubes for cash collection in C&A?

Lewis's

Lewis's, pictured in the background of this picture of the Haymarket roundabout from 1973. It is now Primark.
Lewis's, pictured in the background of this picture of the Haymarket roundabout from 1973. It is now Primark.

Lewis's was another iconic store in the city which is no longer there, but which is remembered by many readers. Mr Byrne said: "When Lewis's was built (early 1950s) it was the last word in shopping glamour. No way was it Bristol's first department store, but it was the best.

"Everything you needed (if you could afford it) on several floors and with a restaurant on the rooftop."

Outside of the city centre

But not all the shops people remember are in the city centre. Fishponds high street in the mid 90s was well known for its independent butchers, bakers and greengrocers.

A lot of readers will remember the Maggs department store on Queens Road, and also Dingles next door.

We'd love to hear about your favourite shops of yesteryear and your memories of them.