Stokes Croft is a sliver of land between the suburbs Kingsdown and Bishopston and inner city St…read more Pauls. It's definitely not the prettiest of areas. In fact it's pretty grey and depressing, with a fair few boarded up shops and a constant stream of cars roaring through on their way home or into the centre of Bristol. Possibly because people want to counter the dullness of the place some amazing grafitti has popped up here, which the grandly named People's Republic of Stokes Croft have claimed responsibility for. Some of the murals are beautiful (which of course are liable to change or get wiped out by the council without any notice) and I think it's a brave attempt to bring a little colour to what is a drab part of Bristol. There isn't yet a walking tour, but I can imagine one popping up - Bristol's urban art has been attracting a lot of interest recently. It's easy enough to see the sites by one's self though - a wonder along Jamaica Street and the road Stokes Croft itself should mean you see a few interesting sites. Their website reveals them as a fairly serious bunch. They have maps, ambitions to be some sort of official community group, and a mission statement that says they want to promote Stokes Croft as a 'cultural quarter'. I hope they go from strength to strength and continue to brighten up Stokes Croft. That their chairman Chris Chalkley was arrested for painting a 'Welcome to Stokes Croft' sign shows they've got a way to go before everyone comes round to this view.

Stokes Croft: a gift and a curse to Bristol's culture. On one hand, this area of town is dodgy as…read morethey come, with antisocial behaviour and crime, this is a threatening place to be if you're alone and feeling vulnerable, especially towards the St James Roundabout. On the other hand, Stokes Croft is a gem. Full of artists and musicians, businesses like venues, cafes and arts centres are rapidly growing, what with Hamilton House, the Left Bank Centre, Metropolis and Cafe Kino all newly developing. When I miss Bristol, I miss places like Stokes Croft, but also can feel a little unsafe walking around there. It's definitely worth a visit. This is Bristol as much as Clifton is.

You will not believe the stuff this shop has in stock.Just ask Ella to show you into the back…read morestockroom. I was going to a tarts and vicars party the weekend after and managed to pickup everything I needed including a dog-collar, a rubber truncheon,fishnet stockings,french maids outfit,tiara,monocle pinstripped trousers and a drain plunger Really brilliant shop this ,thoroughly recommended for unusual party clobber I would have given it 5 stars but could not find a pair of German Marching Boots

Moved into a new place in the area and came here for all of my new furniture needs. Walked away…read morewith a load of good stuff for a very good price. Highly recommended!

Zero rating. I thought they do up furnitures for project like they say on advert like door handle…read moremissing on a drawer or a runner. Be careful what you want to donate make sure it's spotless because the driver is rude as if you've wasted their time.

This is quite a bizarre shop located in Old Market, close to the Lawrence Hill roundabout/underpass…read moreon your way to Redfield. It's packed (and I mean actually full to brim, up over your head and everywhere you look, with little space to manoeuvre other than a couple of feet from the door) with vintage and modern guitar/bass cabinets, amplifiers and PA speakers. There is also a smattering of second-hand guitars, basses and stompboxes available, too, but it's the amplifiers that you'll want to check out here. Need a rare Marshall stack that was covered in limited-edition green leather, or something of that nature? This is the place to go. The ageing hippy-rocker who runs the place is a fountain of knowledge on amplifiers and cabinets, plus how to repair them if you ever run into problems, so you can be sure that every second-hand item is fully serviced and ready to rock. This shop is a Bristol gem.