City left furious about losing Beefeater

Bristol residents have been left furious at the planned destruction of a Beefeater restaurant.

The location is set to undergo a transformation into two tower blocks, one providing student accommodation and the other offering co-living spaces. However, the construction of these towers, especially the 28-storey student accommodation block, has raised concerns due to its close proximity to a Grade-I listed church.

Co-living rooms, similar to student digs, have also faced backlash from some corners. These rooms provide en-suite bedrooms with communal kitchens and living areas.

Bristol City Council gave the green light for these developments, including the tearing down of the NCP Rupert Street car park to create room for more student beds and co-living studios. Moreover, the iconic Debenhams building in Broadmead is marked for demolition to pave the way for 502 new flats, some of which will be categorised as affordable housing.

The revamp of Bristol’s city centre is triggering a range of reactions amongst locals and observers. The recent boom in constructing student accommodation and co-living spaces has drawn criticism for potentially overlooking the needs of permanent residents, reports Bristol Live.

Bristol is seeing new challenges as it tries to grow without losing its community spirit.

A worried local, Madsaxon, questions the city’s future: “When students aren’t in halls, watch Bristol crash, as there will not be anything left for Bristolians, apart from the outskirts of their own city.”

Barrycash highlights a housing crisis: “We have 20,000 families on the housing waiting list and 1,800 in temporary accommodation. There are already 40,000 students in Bristol. Why are we building more student flats? “.

CharlesBridge underlines a sense of exclusion: “We don’t count because we don’t pay £20K uni fees and 600 quid a week to the landlord sector. We are not supposed to own anything and be happy.”

Dbanderson offers a cynical view on social neglect: “Because their existence doesn’t provide an income to somebody. Nobody cares about them. The sooner you understand that the better. Giving somebody a free house fixes very little.”

God47 takes aim at institutional power: “The university appears to be the most powerful institution in the city, with both the council and local press in their back pockets. Political parties shift seats but the power of the universities remains unchanged and unchallenged, much like the Catholic Church / Vatican, they are their own state.”

But Brizzlebee sees a positive side: “I’m all for increasing the number of students in Bristol. They are good looking, fun – what’s not to like? “.

TalbotHill expressed his frustration, stating: “All the large office blocks have gone or been converted into student accommodation where there used to be workers (remember them? ) that used the shops in Broadmead and/or the restaurants/bars off the centre and Park Street. All you have now are non-Bristolians that don’t pay Council Tax but instead have made the central area a no-go area for the “grown ups!

“Tried a pub lately? the £7.00 pint has arrived in Bristol – all paid for from Student Loans! “.

CharlesBridge shared his experience: “I was on Clifton Triangle yesterday around 11:00, I could hardly get a seat in a coffee shop and I felt like I was back in China for a trip. That would have been quite a carbon footprint moving so many so far to study. The U busses seem to have taken priority over services for areas of Bristol. 1 and 2 buses seem sparse leaving large population centres like Henbury, Brentry, and Southmead marooned.”

Meanwhile, on the Bristol Live Facebook page, Alison Short commented: “Should be building council houses for Bristolians.”

James Holland voiced his opinion: “Great idea., students in the centre, therefore less need for HMOS which causes rental inflation, freeing up property in outer area of Bristol for rent at a more realistic price and get rid of the architectural eyesore that surrounds the Bullring. Sooner the better.”

Rachel Belton lamented: “City centre being turned into student city, whilst Bristol residents are unable to purchase houses due to the ever increasing cost. Bristol university has been around for years and years and students coped before.”

Meanwhile, Bob Starr questioned: “Wonder how long before Cabot circus gets turned into student flats? After all half of the retail square footage of Broadmead already is so killing retail interest and small businesses.”