People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: David Savage
David Savage is the owner of Black City Records on Trenchard Street.
David grew up in Watford and is a huge Watford FC fan with his shop behind the Bristol Beacon full of Hornets paraphernalia.
He moved to Bristol in 2017 and opened the South West’s only heavy metal record shop in 2021 having traded records since 2009.
is needed now More than ever
These are David’s top-five Bristol favourites:
The Gryphon
The Gryphon helps keep the heavy rock and metal scene alive and thriving in Bristol – photo: Martin Booth
“Our Bristol Metal Quarter next door neighbours, the Gryphon was one of the first places I visited before moving to Bristol. John Ashby has made a welcoming place for the city’s rockers and it always just feels like home. We intentionally opened Black City as close as we could to the pub to really add to that sense of community, and hence our Metal Quarter was created.”
The Hatchet Inn
The Hatchet claims to date back to circa 1606 – photo: Martin Booth
“The Hatchet is equidistant to the Gryphon on the other side of our shop and is my sanctuary. This pub has so much history, character and unique spaces, which makes it one of my favourite places to go. Be it to watch the footy, hang out and chat at the bar or in the beer garden or hide away or your own in a little nook, you can be as social or as solitary as you wish. Something I cherish a lot.”
Christmas Steps
Colourful bunting on Christmas Steps celebrated the recent Bristol Pride – photo: Martin Booth
“I’d only visited Bristol once or twice before we made the decision to move here in 2017. First impressions last as they say and the sight of Christmas Steps was one of them. Day or night, summer or winter, or from the bottom or the top, it’s one of my favourite views in the city – steeped in olde world charm. It also has the delightfully retro 20th Century Flicks and Drizzle – purveyors of the finest lemon drizzle cake.”
Thomas Lane
Thomas Lane is named after St Thomas the Martyr Church – photo: Martin Booth
“Thomas Lane is home to my favourite venue in the city, the Fleece, and this small road comes alive whenever there’s a gig on at the venue. The shared space outside between the Fleece and the Seven Stars is always one of my favourite places to hang out. There have been occasions I’ve gone to a gig and never set foot inside the building, missing the entire thing as more often than not you’d be outside chatting with people over a few beers. The Seven Stars is also what you’d define as a proper old pub. Great beers and a chilled out vibe. Even during the day when it’s quiet, Thomas Lane feels like a little sanctuary away from the occasional madness of the city centre.”
Plague Pit
“As a record shop, we’ve seen a lot of local bands form over the years. None have had quite the impact on us though as Plague Pit. I’ve known the singer Will for a number of years now and always cite him as Bristol’s nicest man. Plague Pit play a form of blackened death metal mixed with hardcore punk that they’ve made truly their own and have released on local label Eggy Tapes (also well worthy of a mention). I’d go so far as to say they are the best heavy band in the city right now and I have huge hopes for them to become mega. Go see them when you can.
Main photo: Black City Records
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