The best of Bristol's independent shops
Epigram Style introduces the best of Bristol's independent shops on the Triangle, City Center, Clifton, Stokes Croft and Park Street.
The Triangle
U Studio
This small independent publisher (previously Urban Graphic) sells unique cards and gifts designed in their Bristol based studio. They have a huge selection of cards and a mix of stationary, screenprints, ceramic mugs and pots that are reasonably priced and offer something different to mainstream high street stores.
Friska and Rise, 70 Queens Road
Downstairs, the open plan café offers tasty lunches of pho noodles and wraps, but upstairs is Rise, a great independent music store. An extensive selection of records, walls of books and a section of vintage clothes for men and women make this a great place to choose a quirky gift for anyone.
Park Street
BS8, 34 Park Street
A shop combining vintage and high street clothing, BS8 is one of Bristol’s gems and popular with students and locals alike. Their prices are higher than charity shops in the area, but their pieces are well worth investing in. They are especially chosen for their individuality and quality and often feature designer pieces at bargain prices.
Guild, 68 Park Street
This sprawling shop sells a huge array of interesting design pieces, small gifts and on the top floor, interesting biscuits, sweets, chocolates and chutneys. Halfway up Park Street, this is a lovely place to spend half an hour in the afternoon between lectures, looking through the mix of affordable and ‘I wish’ classic design pieces.
Chandni Chowk, 66 Park Street
Next door to Guild sits this much smaller but equally as unique shop that sells fair-trade textiles handmade in India and Bangladesh. You could really kit out your whole house in here, as they sell clothes, cushions, bedspreads, washbags, travel holdalls and pretty much everything in between. The clothes are not cheap (between £20-£50) but are good quality cotton and such unusual prints that you won’t find them anywhere else.
City Centre
Christmas Steps
A real-life Diagon Alley, Christmas Steps is arguably one of the most charming and commercially untouched areas of Bristol. The alley consists of a number of specialised shops including a stamp dealer, video shop complete with small cinema, and a great fancy dress shop. Take a detour down this street on your way to or from the city centre.
St Nicks
Away from the main hustle and bustle of the main shopping quarter, St Nicholas Market is home to the largest assortment of independent shops in the country. Features of this Georgian Arcade include the permanent Exchange Hall and Glass Arcade, complimented by the weekly Nails Market and the regular night markets. Come here for great independent clothes and accessories stores, amazing street food and more specialist sellers like fossils and stamps.
Clifton
Pod
First opened in Clifton in 2001 and now with another store in Oxford, Pod is a gift and lifestyle company who sell homeware, stationery, gifts and jewellery. A must see for those who love brands such as Orla Kiely, Happy Jackson and Wild and Wolf.
Clifton Arcade
The independent heart of Clifton, the Victorian Arcade houses many shops selling everything from vintage clothing to artwork. It opened in 1878 but fell into disuse and disrepair but is now fully restored to its former glory.
Papersmiths
The quality of the products sold in this stationery shop match the amazing interior, set up as an addition to the owner’s design studio. They sell a huge range of books and over 120 independent magazines, as well as posters, pens and stationery.
Stokes Croft
RePsycho
A cool vintage and retro clothing shop that also rents out costumes, RePsycho comprises three floors and also sells homewares and vinyl. It opened on Gloucester Road in 1995, but before that traded on Portobello Market and a number of university campuses, so the staff really know their stuff when it comes to vintage clothing.
Katze
Katze is an ethical version of a department store that sells everything from fairtrade clothing to gifts and cards: a must-see for those students looking for cool clothes from responsible sources.
Fox and Feather
A quirky boutique that houses some of the most unique brands the UK has to offer. The shop prides itself on non-conformity and not following the high street, a great place for finding something amazing on a budget.
Have you got any other recommendations? Let us know: