Shops / News
Much-loved independent shop to shut
A shop nominated as one of Bristol’s best independent retailers in the Bristol Legends awards is closing their city centre branch.
The last day of Prior in Quakers Friars will be on February 1, with founder Beck Prior saying it “has been a blimmin’ pleasure to have created a successful independent retail space here for so long, and in such a prime retail zone”.
“We were only supposed to be here for six months, and somehow it became four years and four months. That’s a huge achievement.”
Prior’s shop on Church Road in Redfield and online store will both continue to operate despite the closure of the shop in Quakers Friars.
In a blog post, Beck said: “In reality, operational costs continue to be higher than what remains after paying artists, and previously crowdfunders, award funding and personal funds have subsidised us over the year to keep the doors open in the city centre.
“Prior has, in many ways, become a victim of its own success, having grown without the structural framework or support needed to sustain it long term.
“With our already crippling business rates bill set to increase again from April, we can’t afford to operate sustainably here under the current model we have.”
Beck Prior said one of the aims of her shop was “to show artists, students, graduates and hobbyists that local creativity belongs in mainstream retail” – photo: Prior
The shop would have survived according to Beck if it had continued to be given business rate relief as a not-for-profit organisation.
Beck said that the aim of Prior was to have “handmade work represented here, in the heart of the city, alongside the retail giants”, adding that “the fact that we have been paying the same business rates as Apple, Oliver Bonas and Hugo Boss says everything”.
“I remain adamant that the current business rates system creates a significant gap in support for small independent businesses that are attempting to grow and contribute meaningfully to the local economy…
“It feels counterintuitive that business rates – designed to support local services – have become the single greatest pressure threatening the sustainability of community-focused organisations such as ours.”
Main photo: Prior
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