News / Advertising
‘Horrendously large’ billboard appears in Old City
In the olden days, adverts used to cover Bristol buildings. Just take a look at High Street looking from Bristol Bridge in 1905:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/2060225340
And here is the still-recognisable St Augustine’s Parade:
is needed now More than ever
https://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/2059444605
Today, however, we are more protective of our historic streetscapes.
So it comes as no surprise that independently-minded Bristol has reacted strongly to a huge new billboard on High Street in the Old City, near to its junction with Corn Street.
The first business to buy up the new three-storey advertising space above the Bristol Blue Glass shop is Ben & Jerry’s.
https://www.facebook.com/bristol247/videos/10155631633924807/
Responding to Bristol24/7’s video in the pouring rain on Monday , readers were mostly critical (of the advert, not of our wonkily-shot video).
“That’s awful, we need to campaign to get rid of it,” said Rob Bryher. “We do NOT want Bristol to have London’s level of advertising.”
John Christopher Brooks asked: “How on earth did that get planning permission? What a disgrace.”
Other people, however, were more chilled about the ever-increasing encroachment of advertising into our daily lives.
Nathon Hawke said: “It’s advertising! Nothing to see here!!”
“It is fine,” said Richard Brown. “It is how it used to work.”
Read more: ‘Why we need an ad-free Bristol’
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
