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Retail & Consumer

Bristol's Wapping Wharf marks 10 years of 'vibrant independent community'

The historic former shipyard site is a thriving waterside hotspot of shops, bars, restaurants and homes

Diners outside CARGO at Bristol's Wapping Wharf - a network of converted shipping containers that houses independent shops and restaurants.(Image: Jon Craig Photos)

Bristol's independent foodie and shopping hotspot Wapping Wharf is marking a decade since its residents moved into their new homes.

The previously disused former shipyard site was acquired by family-run development firm Umberslade in 2003 and, along with residential partner Muse, was transformed into a mixed-used neighbourhood of restaurants, bars, shops and properties.

In the years since, Wapping Wharf has become a popular harbourside destination among locals and visitors alike, with many of the eateries touted among Bristol's best.

It is home to over 1,000 people and 45 independent restaurants and retailers.

Stuart Hatton, managing director at Umberslade, said: “From the outset, our vision for Wapping Wharf was to create a real community here - a new neighbourhood for Bristol in its own right.

"A place that would make the most of this wonderful location and where people living in the homes here would find what they wanted on their doorstep but that would also become a go-to leisure destination for the city."

A thriving shipbuilding yard and dry dock in the 18th century, the site had fallen into disuse when Umberslade acquired it more than 20 years ago.

The vision was to create an attractive new neighbourhood that reflected the independent spirit of Bristol. In 2006 Bristol City Council approved plans to develop Wapping Wharf into a mixed-use development.