Bonaparte's at Bristol Temple Meads

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

I was at Temple Meads on Thursday last week.  The old ticket office is now open again and staff were busy dismantling the temporary one in former Bonaparte's.  I've read somewhere that the materials used to building temporary office will be reused elsewhere.... commendable if achieved.
I wonder if a replacement for Boney's has been found yet?

[JayMac]

A 'Tap' like those at York, Sheffield and Harrogate stations would be a great addition to Bristol TM^‡(resolve).

[johnneyw]

A 'Tap' like those at York, Sheffield and Harrogate stations would be a great addition to Bristol TM^‡(resolve).

I wasn't familiar with any of them but their websites give a great impression.... there's even a microbrewery at the Sheffield one.
All this leads me to wonder about what other potential suitors for the Temple Meads vacancy would Coffee Shop members suggest?  Especially given their undoubtedly refined tastes.


Edit to add:  I'd certainly welcome a branch of JayMac's "Station Tap" suggestion fulfilling the role but at present, they do seem to be centered up north.
Personally, I think it would aptly reflect some aspect's of Bristol culture to look for an independent outlet (indeed, we have a host of microbreweries and bars that have set up in the station's broad locality).

[johnneyw]

A picture taken this morning of work continuing to dismantle the temporary ticket office in the former Bonaparte's at Temple Meads.  Couldn't spot any signage to indicate what will replace it.

[johnneyw]

Looks like the temporary ticket office at Temple Meads has been fully dismantled now.

[TonyK]

Looks like the temporary ticket office at Temple Meads has been fully dismantled now.

It's quite a magnificent space without all the clutter.

[Bmblbzzz]

It is. It has an almost church-like quality, but I think that's jut the influence of the Gothic architecture. What was its original purpose? Booking office, waiting room... ?

[rogerw]

I can remember it as a buffet in the late 1960s

[johnneyw]

With the space formerly occupied by Bonaparte's now vacated for a couple of months and with no indication of any replacement, I emailed Network Rail to enquire about it's future.  Within a few days I received a reply as follows:

Thanks for getting in touch with us about the area where the former café at the station.

Going forward we will be looking at what we can do for the Bonaparte's vacated area, however with ongoing roof and rewiring projects there will not be any imminent plans. The location will be reviewed for future options.

Kind regards

Chris O'Connell

Community Relations Executive

Western Route – Devon and Cornwall


It rather looks like there will be nothing happening in the very near future but I would be surprised if (contrary to what is implied in the reply) NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are yet to look at what to do with the space.

[Red Squirrel]

Just noticed that Network Rail put in a planning app several months ago for Bonaparte's (23/01662/LA at https://pa.bristol.gov.uk/online-applications/). Not very exciting - basically they just want to get it ready for a future client, if they can find one. Also worth pointing out that the planning service in Bristol has pretty much ground to a halt in the last year...

[johnneyw]

Looks like Bonaparte's, or whatever it will be called, is projected to reopen next summer according to this report in Bristol Live about plans for the redevelopment of the station.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/derelict-part-temple-meads-reopen-8778449?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

[Kempis]

Let's hope they restore the clock that wasn't working.

[johnneyw]

It looks like there's a bit of activity in the former Bonaparte's.  Work benches have appeared, doors removed and a couple of people in hard hats and hi viz were evident... although they had gone back behind the open door by the time that I had wound the camera up.

[Red Squirrel]

Looks like lengths of conduit or service racking leaning against the wall. I suspect they’re just laying on the bones of structured electrical services that’ll be needed whatever the space is used for.

[johnneyw]

From Network Rail's Bristol Regeneration website pages:

"Alongside this rewire work is completed inside the former Bonaparte’s Bar, with basic ‘core and shell’ fitting out to make it ready for letting for retail due to take place in early 2024".

Now, I don't think that anything quite that date specific was there when I looked previously so maybe something is happening now.  On the other hand, I've seen timescales lapse and late revisions on their website before.  I'll have another nose around next time that I'm down there.