Bristol BID, going behind the scenes of the management of Bristol’s city centre, and the inside track on the Bristol Light Festival 2025.
Vicky Lee has been the Director of Bristol City Centre BID since 2022. In this episode, Kelly and Vicky talk about the potential changes in the pipeline, such as how the city centre Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are run and the activities happening in the city to create an exciting place to visit.
Vicky introduces Bristol City Centre BID and her role, what a BID is, and the large geographical area covered by the City Centre BID.
Kelly and Vicky talk about:
Unifying the Bristol BIDs
- Proposal to combine the city centre, Redcliffe and Temple, and Broadmead BIDs into one unified Bristol BID.
- Expanding the BID boundaries to include additional areas like Wapping Wharf.
- Benefits of a single, larger BID, which will give it a stronger business voice.
Bristol Light Festival – A Major Driver of Footfall
- History and growth of the Bristol Light Festival since its pilot in 2020.
- Significant impact of the festival, attracting 275,000 visitors and £8.7 million in additional spend.
- Efforts to engage businesses and provide a multi-visit experience for visitors.
Transforming the City Centre Through Public Realm Improvements
- Upcoming projects to enhance public spaces in areas such as King Street, Centre Promenade, and Park Street.
- Goals of reducing vehicle traffic and creating more welcoming, accessible environments.
- Importance of maintaining business activity during periods of change.
Vicky’s Career Journey and Passion for the City
- Vicky’s background in the events and tourism industry.
- Her love for Bristol and creating reasons for people to enjoy the city.
- Emphasis on the “invisible” work that the BID does to support businesses and the community.
Technology Vicky can’t do without: Google Drive.
Vicky’s favourite place to visit when not working (if not in Bristol): The City of Bath.
Previous related podcast episodes:
This episode is sponsored by Hello Starling.
Hello Starling is an award-winning Media Planning and Buying agency that specialises in delivering advertising campaigns with great results for visitor attractions and destinations. They’ve work with brands such as Bristol Zoo Project, Visit Shropshire, Visit Conwy, Visit Herefordshire and the National Tourism Office for Poland. If you want to be the centre of attention, visit hellostarling.com today.
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