Shops / Bristol Legends
Shop of the week: Stokes Croft Post Office, Stokes Croft
In the middle of the vibrant neighbourhood of Stokes Croft stands a pillar of the community. Established in 1984, Stokes Croft Post Office offers locals a variety of essential items, snacks and postal services.
Ash Randhawa, owner of the shop, describes his day as “pretty hectic, from the moment we begin to the moment we finish”.
“We get people picking up their packages, to people picking up their money, to people having mental breakdowns because they can’t find their stuff,” he told Bristol24/7.
Customers can access services such as insurance, loans, mortgages, credit cards and mail at the shop on Stokes Croft
There are around 260 corner shops in Bristol, each offering support to its community, whether this be through its services, late-night loo roll offerings or simply by having a friendly and familiar face behind the counter.
But Stokes Croft in particular is a neighbourhood defined by community, and this is probably why this corner shop is one of those shortlisted for the Bristol Legends Awards in the Business category.
While everyone might not have a similar opinion of the neighbourhood, Ash said, he finds it is a “cool” place regardless of what others say about it.
He acknowledged the occasional “characters” that come into the shop but recognises that odd behaviour is generally a “call for help”.
He added: “I think it’s got worse, because I think there’s not as much help out there these days as there used to be.
“And I suppose we’ve been here a long time, so people see us as a familiar face.
“You get people who come to you because they want something that they can relate to, because otherwise it’s quite harsh out there.”
When asked about the shop’s role in the Stokes Croft community, Ash emphasised the impact it has had on older generations.
He said: “There are some ladies who come every morning and say hello to you just to speak to somebody, because they haven’t spoken to anybody.”
A similar desire for connection, Ash said, can be seen in younger generations too.
“Whether it’s your doctor’s surgery, whether it’s your electrical team or your phone board or whatever, there’s no human element now,” he explained. “You’ve got it all online, where you speak into an app. It’s okay if you’re proficient with that, but there’s a lot of people who aren’t.”
He continued: “There’s quite a lot of people that have been left behind with all this technology. I think that’s quite sad.”
Ash likes this aspect of human connection in his job, especially the ocasional funny interactions with customers.
He recalled: “There was a bloke that came in and he was trying to stop the postman from entering the box so he could give him his E111, which is actually an application for getting health insurance for travelling abroad.
“But he was going to Swindon.”
Stoke Croft Post Office has been part of the neighbourhood for over four decades and has been shortlisted for a Bristol Legends Award
For more information about Bristol Legends, visit www.bristol247.com/about-bristol-legends; and to attend the awards ceremony at Ashton Gate on March 6, visit www.bristol247.com/events/legends-awards-tickets
Stokes Croft Post Office, 109 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RR
Main photo: Cessie Hall-Eade
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