From carpark to skatepark: Bristol’s Cabot Circus hosts half term pop-up
The carpark of Bristol’s Cabot Circus has been transformed into a skatepark, creating a unique new destination for the South West’s 100,000 young skateboarders.
Bristol’s skate scene is iconic, making it one of the UK’s top 10 cities for the sport, boosted by its addition to the Tokyo 2022 Olympics programme.
Hammerson, owner of the retail and leisure complex, has tapped into the minds of Bristol-based skatepark designers, Canvas, and local street art favourites, Upfest, to curate the innovative and colourful experiential offer.
The pop-up is being sponsored by Red Bull who will bring its international ‘Curb Kings’ contest to the UK for the first time, with skaters battling it out to be crowned the best in the South West.
In a unique partnership with Bristol Council, obstacles constructed by Canvas will be donated to and repurposed within Bristol skateparks, inspiring the next generation. A collaboration with ‘Bristol Girls Skate’, also aims to encourage young females in the city and all over the country to take up the sport.
Harry Badham, Chief Development and Asset Repositioning Officer, Hammerson said: “We’re not afraid to do something different at Hammerson and the skatepark proves this. Carparks should be seen as multi-purpose spaces which can be transformed, bringing a new vibrancy and customer base. Skateboarding has a phenomenal following and Bristol was the perfect city to test-bed this concept. Thank you to our partners Red Bull, Canvas and Upfest for bringing our idea to life.”
The skatepark is just one of the many ways Hammerson is reinvigorating its destinations. Developing strong partnerships and experiences with new and existing brands to explore and incubate new concepts that welcome and engage our visitors in new, smart, and memorable ways.
