Bristol's Stokes Croft has been named one of the world's top ten coolest places by Time Out. In an article published on September 25, 2024, just three UK areas made the list of the coolest neighbourhoods in the coolest cities in the world - Bristol, Glasgow and London. In fact, Stokes Croft & St Paul's was the highest ranked UK spot, coming in sixth overall.
It was described as 'ever-changing and ever-vibrant' with the publication highlighting the area's history as the 'centre of the city's African-Caribbean communities who have become instrumental in developing its unique culture over the past 50 years'. You can read more about what Time Out had to say about the area further down. As one means of celebrating such an accolade, businesses in and around the neighbourhood will take on extra purpose on Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, November 9, when they become venues for a free programme of bite-sized live arts activities and 'have-a-go' workshops.
Stokes Croft Calling is a new festival celebrating arts and culture, being organised by Bristol-based Compass Presents. It's taking place across the two dates as part of a Bristol City Council and West of England Combined Authority Initiative aimed at boosting the local economy by attracting more customers to the city centre and local high streets. Day one of the festival will see some 50 events, including Vogueing performances, a fashion show, poetry from the award-winning Muneer Pilgrim, story-telling by Edson Burton, synth, stree.