Features / geek
Bristol named second ‘geekiest’ city in the UK
Bristol has been named the second ‘geekiest’ city in the UK, in a recent poll.
Using the Urban Dictionary definition of a ‘geek’, On Stride compiled their list based on how many different video game, comic book, record, book and board game stores the city had in relation to a city’s population. Cinemas and conventions (comic-cons) were also taken into account.
Loving what you do and wanting to share it is the backbone of ‘geek’ culture, an idea fully embodied by craft alcohol, comic book and hot sauce seller Louis Harris at Bottles And Books on Gloucester Road, a beer and comic shop.
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Bottles And Books sell a wide array of beers and ciders
“The stereotypical ‘geek’ is normally artistic and fairly intelligent within their field,” says Louis. “Is it any surprise we’re classed as ‘geeky’ when Bristol’s affinity for independent stores and new ideas are giving ‘geeks’ places to congregate?
“You can feel at home in these kinds of stores, surrounded by the things you love and likeminded people. Plus, have you seen some of the artwork in comics and on beer cans nowadays? Who wouldn’t want to geek out over that!”
Comic book and games stores can give customers a sense of belonging and a place to offload as well as being somewhere to share knowledge.
“Bristol is so social about its hobbies,” said George Williamson of Excelsior! Bristol, a store that sells comics and board games.
“This means that there are so many ways for people to stumble across new hobbies in environments where there’s staff falling over themselves to share their passion. We don’t just do it in work, these hobbies bleed into our own social lives so you end up building really meaningful relationships with your customers and the products you sell.”
Michael Savage of Prime Cuts Music Exchange, a record shop situated beneath the vintage clothing store RePsycho says: “I’ve acted as an agony aunt a few times in the 20 years we’ve been going.”
Plastic Wax Records on Cheltenham Road has been operating for more than 20 years and currently run by David Kellard who believes that the trend and fashion of nerdiness is one of the main reasons “geekdom”, as he describes it, is so popular in Bristol.
Plastic Wax Records stock an every-changing range of vinyl
‘Geekdom’ has even contributed to the survival of 20th Century Flicks. Over 35 years on from the original video store boom, the DVD and VHS rental shop on Christmas Steps is still going strong in a perfect storm of Bristol’s love for films and independent commerce.
8Bit Planet, located in the centre of the city, believe the key to Bristol’s high ranking in the survey is down to geek stores working alongside one another and say: “These hobbies can be quite cliquey, but not in Bristol.”
The ‘geek’ label doesn’t please everyone, however.
“I’ve never seen Bristol as a ‘geeky’ city,” said Paul Kavanagh of PK Music Exchange on Gloucester Road. “It’s not a category I think we should be in.”
Inside Idle Hands record shop
Chris Farrell of the Idle Hands record store feels that Bristol has a “rich history” with music and record collecting but does believe there is a stigma that can come with it.
“When we designed this shop we wanted to break away from the traditional record shop feel with something more welcoming,” says Chris. “It’s not always the case but it can be intimidating going into ‘geeky’ places sometimes because it is almost like a private club.”
However, he understands why the ‘geek’ label has been applied to the city: “Everyone’s experience is different, but it makes sense Bristol being classed as ‘geeky’ city.”
Bristol has several places that supply board games for customers to use, including Chance & Counters.
Opening in 2016 on the Christmas Steps, Chance & Counters was a Kickstarter project that has became one of Bristol’s most loved bars. The venue has recently opened a venue in Cardiff as well, the eighth placed city on the On Stride table.
Since Chance & Counters opened three years ago, similar businesses have opened across Bristol.
“Bristol is such a welcoming city of culture,” explains Matt Turner of Playground Coffee House, a board game cafe and bar in the city centre. “Before I came here, boardgames were just my weird hobby.
Playground Coffee House is a cafe by day and a bar by night
“Now I work in this inclusive environment where everyone wants to play boardgames and talk about boardgames whilst they have a few cocktails,” adds Matt. “We ‘geeks’ just want to share, we want people to play games or read comics or watch films we love so that we can love them with other people. It’s so wholesome.”
Main photo by Darren Sheppard
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