Former Bristol city centre restaurant demolished as major development continues

The demolition of a restaurant in an iconic area of Bristol has been completed. The former Beefeater, located next to the Bearpit roundabout in the city centre, has completely disappeared with the name of the restaurant being the last part to be knocked down.

The restaurant, alongside the Premier Inn hotel which is located next door, was planned for demolition to be replaced by two tower blocks. The hotel will be replaced by a 28-storey tower, containing 422 student bedrooms, and an 18-storey tower of 142 co-living rooms.

Work to demolish the restaurant began in September and the site has since been fenced off to protect members of the public on The Haymarket. Planning permission was also granted to demolish the hotel, but the demolition has not yet been carried out.

Now, the site contains piles of rubble as the former restaurant is unrecognisable. Diggers are on site and will be clearing the wreckage as development on the new tower blocks continues.

The 28-storey tower block will be the tallest building in Bristol. The height of the tower proved controversial, particularly as it stands next to a Grade-I listed church.

The co-living rooms also proved controversial with some people. Similar to student accommodation, it is formed of bedrooms with en-suites and shared kitchens and living rooms.

The demolition of Beefeater forms part of a larger project which will change the look and feel of the city centre. In March, Bristol City Council gave planning permission to demolish the NCP Rupert Street car park, which will be replaced with 328 student beds, 249 co-living studios and a new car park.

The Debenhams building in Broadmead will also be demolished to make way for 502 new apartments. At the same time, the infrastructure in Broadmead and the city centre could be very different as a consultation on plans to pedestrianise the city centre and change transport across the area ended in September.

Want the latest Bristol breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.