Bedminster guidebook

When the first phase of apartments at the new Airpoint complex in Bedminster went on sale, the developers had 1,200 enquiries from potential buyers, not just from Bristol but from right across the country and as far afield as Hong Kong.

People even camped outside overnight to be sure of securing the apartment of their choice in this much sought-after development.

Admittedly, Airpoint is unlike anything Bristol has seen before; it even has a private park with a running track on the roof. 

But the overwhelming popularity of the development highlights how the property market in this part of South Bristol has radically changed in recent years.

Not that long ago, things didn't look too good for the Bedminster area. Many of the traditional industries on which the district's fortunes had been built had either closed down or moved to new premises outside of Bristol.

However, Bedminster had a secret that had been overlooked by the rest of the city.

It had row after row of elegant period houses that were just a short bus ride from the centre of Bristol, and which were at much more affordable prices than you'd pay for the similar type of property in, say, Clifton, Redland or Cotham.

The secret came out, however, and house buyers began looking at the potential of this area south of the river.

Changing Place

Initially it was the streets of period terraced homes in Windmill Hill and Southville which began to attract young couples, professionals, first-time buyers and property investors.

As these areas became trendy residential hotspots, so the house prices rose to the point where properties in Southville, especially smaller one-and two-bed houses, now command much the same as those in Redland and Cotham.

Bedminster itself is also now enjoying the benefits of all this. Family-sized homes are being refurbished or converted into apartments, and new building is ongoing.

In general, however, house prices and rents, especially for older properties, are still more affordable in Bedminster than in many parts of the city; you can find three-bedroom period terraced houses here for the sort of price you'd pay for a one-bed flat in Clifton.

As well as the Airpoint apartments, new developments here include the massive Squires Court in Bedminster Parade and across the road, the castle-like Grade II Listed former Police and Fire Escape Station, now renamed St Peter's Court, is a mixed-use development including one- and two-bed apartments.

The Pantile comprises 14 apartments in three buildings on what used to be a roofers' yard in Westbourne Grove, while Bridge Court on Bedminster Down is a new development of 16 one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Malago Place, just a few minutes' walk from the delightful Victoria Park, consists of two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom town houses.

Surrounding Areas

In Southville, there's a very contemporary block of apartments in Myrtle Street, and in Cannon Street, the huge Robinson's Paper Bag factory, built in the 1890s, is being developed into one, two and three-bed apartments and duplexes.

Neighbouring Ashton, Ashton Gate and Ashton Vale are smaller, well-established communities.

These contain a mix of privately and local authority-owned terraced, semi and detached houses, bungalows, apartments and flats with very varying house prices, including many sought-after areas where prices are similar to those in Southville.