Let’s get real. City centres, especially Bristol’s, aren’t what they used to be. Once the beating heart of a city, online retail has all but killed off the need for huge shopping centres. It’s why The Galleries is being torn down. And why the ‘department store with a difference’, Sparks, is thriving.
The former Debenhams store on The Horsefair was one of many pandemic-hit casualties. It closed in 2021 and remained empty ever since, with plans approved last year to tear it down and make way for a 28-storey tower block. Until then, however, it’s having one last hoorah as it’s been transformed into an indoor skatepark, Shredenhams.
The Bristol-based, skater-owned, not-for-profit, Campus Skateboarding—with over 10 years of indoor skatepark experience—has secured a short-term lease for the space. Now open to the public (over 16s only, unfortunately), the whole lower ground floor of the building has been transformed, making use of the former Debenhams’ size and smooth floors, while adding obstacles, with all areas skateable.
What do I need to know about Shredenhams?
Skateboards, scooters, BMX, inlines, and quads are all welcome at Shredenhams, but you must be 16 years old or older to skate. Under-16s can spectate but must be accompanied by a parent and/or guardian, with under-16 events currently being planned. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12 pm to 8 pm, it costs £10 to enter the space for the day, and then you can come and go as you please.
Those under 16 wanting to skate should check out Campus Skateboarding‘s other two skateparks in Bristol. The first was born from the ashes of the former Bishopsworth Swimming Pool, which officially opened in 2015, and offers its own skate shop, beginner-friendly sessions and more. The other is in Winterbourne, starting life as a youth centre, before being converted into an indoor skatepark facility.
To learn more about Shredenhams head here.