City Guide to life in Bristol

Bristol Overview

 

Bristol is the largest city in the South West of England, with a population of roughly 420,000 people, making it the eighth largest city in the United Kingdom.

The city is the largest centre for culture, employment and education in the region, famed for its long history as an important port, rapidly expanding in the nineteenth century.  Today, the city has benefited from many regeneration projects that have put Bristol at the forefront of 21st century living.

 The Bristol Legal Scene

 

Bristol has an extremely competitive legal industry, with a large number of high quality, full-service firms having a base in the city.

As a result of the impact of the credit crunch, many legal firms have shifted their mandates in recent years to focus on insolvency, corporate recovery and professional negligence claims. 

In terms of the rest of the South West of England, the city of Exeter is another important legal hub, with leading firms here including Stephens Scown, Ashfords LLP and Michelmores LLP.

Legal 500 firms in Bristol

 

The city is dominated by a ‘big three’, although several busy firms have a base in Bristol and across the South West. The major legal players in Bristol are:

• Burges Salmon LLP – This firm primarily focuses on corporate, commercial and financial interests.  Burges Salmon has offices in both Bristol and London, but prides itself on its regional identity in the heart of Bristol. The company has roughly 650 employees in total and works with both major multinational companies and emerging enterprises. 
• Osborne Clark – The majority of this firm’s work is linked to areas such as dispute resolution, finance, energy and human resources.  The company is currently in the top 60 of all European law firms.  The firm also has bases in London and Reading.
• TLT PPP – Interests are primarily based in providing integrated solutions for the financial and leisure services. The firm has been praised for the innovative approach it takes towards legal dealings. Major clients the company liaise with include Punch Taverns, Merlin Entertainments, Orange and Barclays Bank.
• Other leading firms in the city include Ashfords LLP, Bevan Brittain LLP, Clarke Wilmott LLP, Bond Pearce LLP and Beachcroft LLP.

 

Living in Bristol

When it comes to property, Bristol has a strong blend of the old and the new – as touched on above, extensive regeneration plans have seen some major property developments transform certain areas of the city.

The city’s main residential districts can be split broadly into three main sections.

To the south of the city, many people choose to live in areas such as Bedminster, Knowle, Totterdown, Amos Vale and Southville.

Heading north, popular districts include Bishopston, Kingsdown, Montpellier and the large suburb of Clifton.

To the east of the city, major districts include Easton, Kingswood, Eastville and Fishponds.

Entertainment, Shopping & Sites in Bristol

 

For those who enjoy nothing more than a spot of retail therapy, Bristol should have plenty of appeal – the city has three major shopping centres, and is the major retail hub in the surrounding region.

The city’s newest shopping development is Cabot Circus with over 120 new shops and a major cinema. Adjacent to the development is Bristol’s original major shopping area, Broadmead with over 300 famous high-street stores. The Mall is another major retail centre with a pleasing mix of big names and independent shops.

If joining the masses shopping is your idea of hell, you can always enjoy the passion of league football by heading to a match at one of the city’s two major football clubs. Bristol City plays home games to the south-west of the city, while rivals Bristol Rovers are based towards the eastern side of Bristol.

Anybody walking around Bristol needs to keep an eye out for a Banksy artwork – the mysterious graffiti artist originates from the city and has certainly left his mark in many of the city’s districts.

Socialising & Eating in Bristol

 

Bristol has plenty of restaurants and cafes catering to every palate, so whether you like sushi or steak and chips, you should find something to whet your appetite. 

The city has two restaurants that have won critical acclaim from Michelin – Casarnia in Westbury-on-Trym and Green’s Dining Room in the heart of the city centre.

Aside from dining, the city has a highly-regarded and lively underground music scene, especially the genre of ‘Trip hop’, or the ‘Bristol Sound’ as it has become known.

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