Martin Booth

Bristol

Mersina & Lois' dad. Jo's husband. Writer, tour guide and @Bristol247 Editor. Bristol Bears, Gas Girls & Watford fan. Usually on a bicycle.

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Articles

15-year-old boy stabbed near shopping centre

1 week ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

A teenage boy was stabbed in an underpass on the afternoon of Bank Holiday Monday. The 15-year-old was attacked in the underpass between Cribbs shopping centre and the area with the Vue cinema and Hollywood Bowl. The incident happened soon after 5.40pm on Monday 26 May, with members of the public providing first aid and the boy taken to hospital where he is in a stable condition.
Cycle path through Centre to not be invisible for much longer

1 week ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

A black tarmac surface with large white painted bike symbols is set to replace the ‘invisible’ cycle path through the Centre. Work is due to start on the new surface on June 9 and take four weeks to complete, with the aim to make it better stand out to pedestrians who can never be blamed for walking on the stone blocks that do little to differentiate the current cycle path.
Former Michelin-starred restaurant in shock closure

1 week ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

One of Bristol’s most acclaimed restaurants of recent years has closed its doors. Paco Tapas in Redcliffe was awarded a Michelin Star in 2017 alongside its sister restaurant Casamia but lost that accolade in 2024. The Spanish restaurant on Lower Guinea Street from the Sanchez-Iglesias family specialised in tapas and sherries. In a statement, the Paco Tapas team said: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Paco Tapas is closing with immediate effect.
Historic shopping arcade for sale for £4.6m

1 week ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

Clifton Arcade was planned as a Victorian version of the modern shopping centre but when it opened in 1879 it was an instant flop. It was only in 1992 that its original purpose was fulfilled and it opened its doors to shoppers. In the intervening years it had mostly been used as a furniture warehouse as well as being used by Glasgow band Del Amitri to film the video for Nothing Ever Happens. The shopping arcade is now on the market with an asking price of £4.6m.
Police separate 'strikers' from counter-protesters

1 week ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

“Gammons!” shouted one man on his e-scooter as he sped through Castle Park on Saturday afternoon. His shout was directed at dozens of people, some holding Union Jack and St George’s flags, one dressed as a crusader, taking part in the Great British National Strike. It was one of a several similar protests across the UK by a group with just fewer than 100,000 followers on Facebook who oppose illegal immigration, net zero and ‘two-tier justice’. “I was here today holding my Union Jack.
Bee swarm makes beeline to Belisha beacon

2 weeks ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

Bees have been a regular sight on North Street recently. The latest bee swarm saw the buzzing honey makers take over a Belisha beacon opposite the Tobacco Factory, which has a hive on its roof. The arrival of the winged nectar collectors prompted many to do a double-take at what looked like an elaborate conical sculpture. “Don’t worry, these bees are on their way somewhere else,” said a note pinned to the post by beekeeper Tim Myers.
Liveable neighbourhood bus gates to be switched on soon

2 weeks ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

Three bus gates in Barton Hill and St George will be switched on in June. They are the final measures to go live as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial, which has been beset by controversy. Before they were finally put in place, a number of residents in Barton Hill had attempted to prevent their installation by blocking contractors before police took part in an operation in the early hours of the morning to put the infrastructure in place.
My Bristol Favourites: Arthur Cauty

2 weeks ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

Arthur Cauty is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer. His latest film, The Pig Picture, uncovers the untold story of the IMAX on Anchor Road which had been abandoned for over a decade and now serves as the epicentre of a thriving community cinema movement. The Big Picture is receiving its premiere at the Bristol Megascreen on Wednesday as part of the Forbidden Worlds film festival.
I visited UKIP's national headquarters in Bristol

2 weeks ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

At the UKIP rally last weekend, I kept on hearing the same question. UKIP? Are they still going? The answer to that is yes. The United Kingdom Independence Party may have achieved their main aim of the UK leaving the European Union but they now describe themselves as “the party of the patriotic working class and believe Christianity should be put back into the heart of government and that our culture should come first”.
Huge fire breaks out on hospital roof

2 weeks ago | bristol247.com | Martin Booth

A serious fire broke out on the roof of St Michael’s Hospital causing pregnant women to be evacuated onto the neighbouring streets. Smoke could be seen across Bristol as firefighters tackled the flames which thankfully seemed to be contained to a flat roof of the hospital which specialises in maternity services. In a post on X at 4.50pm, Avon Fire & Rescue Service said: “We’re currently responding to a fire on Southwell Street, Bristol.