L1 Redcliffe Wharf
The harbourfront playground for community, creativity and culture.
The opportunity
Redcliffe Wharf is a great opportunity for multiple occupiers that have a complimentary offer incorporating integrated leisure, culture, food and beverage or street market and fares. This harbourside location has an attractive west facing aspect and enjoys the evening sunshine. We are seeking proposals that will help animate the front of the site, whilst discretely creating a ‘back of house’ service area to the rear.
Technical information
- Size: The site is approximately 2,900sqm. However, the rear of the site is required for parking to support Bristol City Council Events and Film Office.
- Lease Length: Meanwhile use up to September 2028 with potential to extend annually thereafter depending on the development timetable for the site.
- Access: The site is a 10-minute walk to Temple Meads Station and a 10 minute walk to The Centre where there are many bus options. Closest public parking is Portwall Lane car park. The nearest vehicle access point for loading is Redcliffe Wharf itself. The front of the site needs to be retained as a pedestrian route. There is an aspiration to improve this route by creating its own separate entrance up to Redcliffe Bridge rather than share with a vehicular entrance as it does currently.
- Permissions: Planning permission would be required for any use longer than 28 days and will be liable to pay business rates. Proposals for markets will require a markets license, see Resources section for more details.
- Power & Utilities: See Resources section.
- Notes: Rear of site allocated to ‘back of house’ operational area to be shared by the meanwhile operator with Bristol City Council Events and Film Office, (approximately 24 spaces for 40 days/year).
- This site is allocated in the Local Plan for development. Any agreements drafted will need to allow access for surveys and other such works to enable the future development of the site.
Current and past uses
- Planning permission secured for a mixed-use development which has stalled.
- The Film Office currently use the site approximately 30 days/year to accommodate a Film Unit (hair/make-up/props trucks) in support of filming taking place elsewhere in the city. Redcliffe Wharf typically gets used when the larger amphitheatre space is not available due to events. Bristol City Council Events Team typically use the site 10 days/year for parking in support of events such as the Bristol Harbour Festival and other large events. These uses can generate significant income for Bristol City Council/Harbour Master.
- Previous meanwhile uses included Bump Roller Disco (2020-2023) which was a hugely successful activity for the community and Bristol Urban Beach (6 weeks in 2007), a chilled, sandy space which on a sunny day typically attracted 2-3000 visitors.
The wider area
- As outlined in the Harbour Place Shaping Strategy, the vision for this area is to transform it into a vibrant and dynamic part of the harbour offer.
- Redcliffe Wharf sits on the edge of North Redcliffe which has seen significant investment and economic growth over the last 10-15 years into new homes and businesses.
- From April 2025, the M2 Metrobus service along Cumberland Road was extended to include additional evening and Sunday services to Long Ashton Park & Ride.
Video footage of Redcliffe Wharf
Video footage of an eye level view of Redcliffe Wharf. There is a lot of empty space by the water where a few boats are moored.
Interested in this site?
The deadline for applications for Redcliffe Wharf is: 17 November 2025.
