23 things to look forward to in Bristol in 2023

These are 23 things to look forward to in Bristol in 2023, from comedy to repurposed courtrooms and everything in between:

1. The return of the Bristol24/7 print magazine

2023 will see the return of the Bristol24/7 printed magazine – photo: Martin Booth

It’s been a while since Bristol24/7 printed a regular magazine but after a hiatus caused in no small part by the global pandemic, our magazine is returning. This time, it will be a quarterly edition but still packed full of the best journalism in Bristol, both celebrating and asking the questions that matter across our city.

2. Bristol Beacon reopening

The new Bristol Beacon will give Bristol the world-class concert venue it deserves – image: Bristol Beacon

The Bristol Beacon team promise that “the once-in-a-generation transformation of Bristol Beacon will provide the city and the South West with one of the best performance and music learning spaces in Europe”. This year will see the opening of three international standard performance spaces and a national centre for music performance, education and enterprise.

3. Chocolate Path reopening

The Chocolate Path acquired its name because its surface resembles a giant bar of chocolate – photo: Martin Booth

The reopening of the Chocolate Path was on our list of things to look forward to in 2022. Still yet to be fixed, it remains on our list of things to look forward to. In other exciting cycling infrastructure news, a new cycle lane could also be built on Bristol Bridge this year.

4. St Paul’s Carnival

It could be now or never for St Paul’s Carnival – which has not held a full carnival since 2019. With Upfest not happening in 2023 due to a rise in infrastructure costs, times are tough for largescale events such as this. Let’s hope that carnival organisers can get the party started again.

5. Unicorn Festival

Inkie has already painted his sculptures for the Unicorn Festival trail – photo: Unicorn Festival

After a few years without gorillas or Gromits, it will be unicorns taking to the streets of Bristol in 2023. Unicorn Festival will feature dozens of the mythical creatures raising money for Leukaemia Care. The event coincides with the 650th anniversary of Bristol becoming a city and county independent of Gloucestershire and Somerset, despite drop-down menus still persisting in making us choose Avon.

6. Cacti by Bill Nomates

Tor Maries – aka Billy Nomates – releases her second album, Cacti, via Invada Records, on January 13. “Unafraid to wade into the traumas of the past two years and the eerie sense of apathy that lingers, alongside heartache and more political themes, the 12-track collection openly confronts uncomfortable truths, as Tor puts it, ’70-80% of being bold is about being vulnerable as hell’.” A European and UK tour in the spring finishes with a hometown show at the Marble Factory on April 29.

7. Sophie Duker at the Wardrobe Theatre

You will know comedian and actor Sophie Duker from her appearances on Taskmaster, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, The Last Leg and many others. Her debut solo stand-up show, Venus, saw her nominated for the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Fringe and she won the 2021 Funny Women Best Comedy Writer Award.. She is coming to the Wardrobe Theatre on February 9.

8. 111 Places For Kids in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss by Martin Booth

111 Places For Kids in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss is the follow-up to the bestselling 111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss – image: Emons

Young explorers can experience Bristol like never before with this guide full of adventures for the whole family. Published on April 10, 111 Places For Kids in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss by Bristol24/7 Editor, Martin Booth, with photographs by Barbara Evripidou. is the follow-up to their bestselling 111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss.

9. Ruby Speaking on ITVX

https://twitter.com/jaydeadams/status/1600223954601639936

Jayde Adams had a busy 2022 which culminated as her being named as Bristol24/7’s person of the year. She will be just as busy in 2023, with filming starting in January for Ruby Speaking on ITVX, a sitcom penned by Jayde set in a Bristol call centre in which Jayde plays the “unconventional” Ruby. Jayde is also bringing her stand-up show Men, I Can Save You to the Bristol Old Vic on April 2 and will also star in the film Greatest Days released in the summer.

13. BoxHall opening on Welsh Back

BoxHall will be opening within O and M sheds next to Redcliffe Bridge – image: BoxHall

Remember those videos from the World Cup and Euros of England fans celebrating wildly by throwing their beers in the air? It was likely to have been at one of London’s BoxParks. Now Bristol is getting its own version, but this time called BoxHall with owners doing their best to emphasise the eating rather than drinking elements of the experience here.

14. What July Knew by Emily Koch

What July Knew by Emily Koch is published by Harvill Secker – photo: Emily Koch

The third novel by award-winning journalist and author, Emily Koch, What July Knew, is described as “a moving, 90s-set mystery about family secrets, grief and growing up”. It is published on February 9.

15. Doctor Who in Bristol

Could Mr Emporium be the toy shop of the Celestial Toymaker? – photo: Martin Booth

There were tantalising clues in June 2022 as Doctor Who filmed scenes in Bristol. David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Neil Patrick Harris were all spotted as filming took place around the Old City. There is speculation that Harris is playing the Celestial Clockmaker, with Chez Marcel on Broad Street transformed into a toy shop called Mr Emporium. Bristol will be likely doubling for London when the episodes air later in 2023.

16. Building work due to start on Bristol Arena

YTL Arena Bristol bosses are committed to the venue opening in 2024 – which means that building work has got to start soon. Due to be built within the cavernous Brabazon hangars on the edge of the former Filton airfield, the long-awaited arena promises to “put Bristol on the world stage for live music and entertainment”.

17. The Courts opening

Creative Youth Network is regenerating Bristol’s former magistrates’ court on Bridewell Street into a unique professional hub for young people and the creative industries – photo: Martin Booth

A Georgian court house is set to be transformed before the end of 2023 into The Courts, ‘a creative enterprise hub’  which is set to be somewhere that “young people in Bristol have a place to feel included and inspired to enter into careers in the creative industries, enabling them to fulfil their potential”.

18. Sparks in former M&S

The former M&S in Broadmead is set to be transformed into a temporary arts and sustainability hub – image: Artspace Lifespace

Another old building being given a new lease of life is the Marks & Spencers in Broadmead. The shop was affectionately known as Sparks and this will be the name of the temporary arts and sustainability hub created by Global Goals Centre and Artspace Lifespace. It is set to become “a vibrant, positive venue where local people and visitors can shop, recycle, and explore what a greener, fairer and creative future could look like”. Sparks Bristol will offer a reuse shop, installations, stalls, workshops, repair and education projects for schools and a hub for local artists.

19. England vs Belgium at Ashton Gate

The European champions take on Belgium at Ashton Gate on February 22 as part of a double-header in BS3 which will also see Italy versus South Korea. In their final tournament ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Sarina Wiegman’s side will attempt to defend the Arnold Clark Cup.

20. Russell Howard at the Hippodrome

Russell Howard is performing seven times at the Hippodrome from April 19 to 23. As we reel from one global crisis to the next, “the uplifting comedy king” promises to put the world to rights in his own uniquely hilarious way.

21. Ritual Union

Ritual Union takes over SWX, Strange Brew, Rough Trade and Dareshack on March 25. “The first edition might’ve only just passed following a handful of incidental virus-based-shuffles, but we’re thrilled to return as our originally intended pre-spring palette cleansing showcase of the best new music, from Bristol and afar” say the Ritual Union team. Acts already confirmed include Porridge Radio, Heavy Lungs, Rozi Plain, The Orielles and Panic Shack.

22. Reusable cup scheme to be introduced

The innovative new project will enable Bristolians to “borrow” a reusable takeaway cup from a cafe and then return it to another participating outlet so it can be used again and again – photo: City To See

A new pilot scheme hopes to go some way to tackling the problem of single-use coffee cups in Bristol. The scheme from City To Sea will allow people to borrow a reusable takeaway cup from a cafe and then return it so it can be used again, with the trial scheme accompanied by an app.

23. 17 Midland Road opening

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfHmn_HIAdE/

Due to open in the autumn, 17 Midland Road promises to be “a multi-purpose space to explore and stay in the heart of Bristol’s Old Market”.  The building was a pub until the 1960s and is now slowly being brought back to life by Barney Beech and Charlotte Philby.

Main photo: Sophie Duker

Read next:

• Bristol24/7 to launch a new quarterly magazine
• Bristol’s cultural highlights of 2023
• The people from Bristol recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list 2023
• Bristol-spotting in new Doctor Who trailer

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