News / Welsh Back
What could be the future for the O and M sheds?
Ever since plans for a BoxHall venue on Welsh Back were formally scrapped on Friday, people have been speculating about the site’s future uses.
A food and drink venue “by Bristol, for Bristol”, an independent shopping market, a music venue or more student housing: the suggestions on social media are endless.
Originally planned to open in the historic O and M sheds in the summer of 2022, the space was to be an all-day dining venue.
Bristol City Council also purchased and later scrapped Ebenhaezer, a barge, for £1.4m from a private owner, as it was deemed to be in the way of the development.
The historic sheds were once earmarked to be a slavery museum for Bristol, with that idea also now back on the table as well as the space being a potential temporary home for an arts organisation like the Invisible Circus.
BoxHall was due to open in the empty warehouses on Welsh Back in June 2022 – photo: Martin Booth
The owners of taco street food stall Gourmet Warriors suggested: “How about something like Boxpark except it’s run by Bristol for Bristol! A live music/ events space with a food & drinks hall with rotating local breweries and traders involved.”
Others touched on the possibility of using the site as museum or cultural space, a concept street artist Inkie seems to be keen on exploring.
With their tongues hopefully firmly in cheek, some people also wonder if the site has been earmarked for more shared or student housing projects.
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The million-pound barge that the council purchased was broken up for scrap in 2025 after it was deemed unsafe for use.
“Has this got something to do with the million-pound purchase of a boat?” a social media user speculated while commenting on the news of BoxHall plans being scrapped.
On the website of JH Group, a construction and groundworks service company, the hope of a BoxHall venue still remains intact.
The webpage reads: “It’s inspiring to see how a space once forgotten will now play a part in bringing the community together.
‘We’re proud to have been part of this transformation, helping preserve Bristol’s heritage while paving the way for a brighter future.”
Another person with a several years-long connection to the venue commented: “I was part of the scrapstore management that was asked to move out of there in 1999. To make way for what exactly?”
While many people were generally disappointed about the prolonged delays and now the scrapping of plans, one Bristol24/7 reader saw this as a positive sign for Bristol’s nightlife.
They said: “This is a win for Bristol nightlife. Electric Bristol on Nelson Street is owned by Electric Group, who also owns Electric Brixton and a venue in Newcastle.
“If we keep allowing multi-million-pound companies to box out local artists by booking the same names over and over, then our scene would be dead.”
Officially announcing the end of Bristol’s BoxHall dreams on Friday, new CEO of Boxpark Matt Snell told MCA, he didn’t feel “confident” about the future sites in Bristol and Birmingham.
Snell added that the situation with these sites made him feel “nervous”, prompting the team to now step out.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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