Invest West of England

Bristol

Bristol - Regional Capital

Bristol is a lively bustling city with a buoyant and expanding economy and a strong cultural offer. One look at the skyline will reveal the city's changing face thanks to new high-visibility developments, modern business accommodation, state-of-the art research and teaching centres, and new leisure and sports facilities, together with a regenerated harbourside that now boasts waterfront restaurants, cafes, art centres, cinemas and contemporary apartments.

However, despite all the changes, Bristol managed to maintain its unique character of historic maritime city. The south bank is dominated by icons of the city's pioneering spirit such as Brunel's ss Great Britain, the world's first great ocean liner and award winning attraction, the full scale replica of John Cabot's ship The Matthew, and the Bristol Industrial Museum, soon to be transformed into a new Museum of Bristol.

Bristol also enjoys a vibrant cultural scene thanks to an active programme of events and festivals and renowned centres for music and performance. The city is also one of Europe's leading centres for circus with physical theatre being home to the internationally-renowned circus school Circomedia.

A new 20 million GBP scheme will transform Bristol's Colston Hall into one of the UK's top music venues, while the Arnolfini, a newly refurbished centre of contemporary art, and the digital media centre Watershed contribute to Bristol's upbeat atmosphere. The annual Bristol Harbour Festival, the International Balloon Fiesta and the Organic Food Festival are only some of the highlights of a busy calendar of events that attract thousands of people to the city.

Recently designated a Science City and with a university consistently ranked as one of the top 10 in the country, Bristol is recognised as a centre for excellence in education and research. The University of Bristol also supports Set Squared, a high-tech business incubation facility that enables commercial ventures to emerge from academic and scientific research.

Over the next six years at least 2 billion GBP of commercial investment is scheduled which will continue the transformation of Bristol city centre and waterfront. This will include Temple Quarter, a new commercial heart adjacent to Temple Meads Railway Station, the 500 million GBP Cabot Circus shopping centre, and a new major creative centre.