Shops / Quakers Friars
Apple Store to leave ahead of major Quakers Friars redevelopment
The artist impressions for the future of Quakers Friars contain an Apple Store but the tech giant has confirmed it will be permanently closing its shop in August with no replacement yet revealed.
It comes as plans take shape for a major redevelopment in this corner of Cabot Circus with the shops along Philadelphia Street set to be transformed into “a multilevel arrangement of uses” which could comprise retail, health, workplace and “cultural experiences”, to “ensure a safe and animated environment throughout the day and night”.
A planning application submitted by the Bristol Alliance Partnership includes proposals to replace the shops’ first floor areas “with a space that will suit new, flexible, future-proof uses, such as flexible workspaces and healthcare”.
The shops along Philadelphia Street could be transformed into “a multilevel arrangement of uses”
A masterplan “designed to revitalise Quakers Friars” is described as “emphasising the preservation of architectural heritage, fostering diversity, happiness and resilience, and enhancing the quality of life through sustainable urban development”.
Philadelphia Street, where the Apple Store is currently located, is envisaged to be “transformed into a vibrant public realm environment with ‘urban rooms’ for rest, play and reflection” with the retrofitting of the buildings as part of this “increasing vibrancy and variety to the activity on the street”.
A new sunken courtyard could be created in front of the Friary building
Quakers Square will become “a welcoming, intergenerational public space at the heart of Quakers Friars, serving as a focal point for the community and enriching the city centre with diverse event experiences, while honouring the building’s heritage setting”.
The buildings at the centre of what is now Quakers Friars started life as a Dominican Friary and were used by the Quaker community and also as Bristol’s register office.
The Friary Building most recently hosted a Wallace & Gromit experience. It was also used in 2024 as a temporary home for Southville restaurant Sonny Stores, having been Klosterhaus restaurant until it closed abruptly at the beginning of 2023 and before that was Brasserie Blanc.
Cloister Square looking into Quakers Square
Close to what is now Cupp within a converted shipping container in Quakers Friars is Cloister Square, which the masterplan envisages as “an intimate space for performance and tranquillity, enriched by the cultural legacy of the Friary Building and complemented by proposed natural interventions, preserving the heritage of the space and creating space for outdoor events to be hosted”.
The final piece in the masterplan jigsaw is called ‘Laneways’, focusing on the entrance to Quakers Friars from Broadmead along Quakers Lane and also the other entrance to Quakers Friars from Broad Weir along Narrow Weir Lane.
The plan here is to “declutter and strengthen the laneway arrival experience into Quakers Friars by adding colourful wayfinding, catenary lighting, public art and natural planting to frame views of the historic Quakers Friars building”.
Quakers Lane connects Quakers Friars with Broadmead
An Apple spokesperson said: “Due to the redevelopment plans at Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, which include the closure of the section where our store is located, Apple Bristol will close on August 9, 2025.
“We’ve loved serving the Bristol community for over 15 years, and our valued team members will continue their roles at Apple.”
A Cabot Circus spokesperson added: “We can confirm that Apple is ending its tenancy this summer.
“We have exciting plans for Quakers Friars, combining investment in more green spaces and a vibrant cultural quarter alongside investment in the surrounding retail and commercial buildings.
“Meanwhile, our focus is on a very busy year at Cabot Circus, with M&S launching a new flagship store and ODEON opening a major new complex.
“Together with recent leisure and retailer openings, and alongside our proud ongoing support for community and arts events, we’re delivering on our plans to make the area a buzzing destination day and night in the heart of Bristol.”
The rear of the buildings of Philadelphia Street face into Broad Weir
All images: Hammerson
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