Visit Bristol Press Update - February 2021

Outlet: The Metro

Reach: 39 million

Headline: Three experiences to give a taste of post-pandemic travel

Date: 13/2/2021

Link: Three experiences to give a taste of post-pandemic travel | Metro News

Mentions: Following the February half term press release sent out by Visit Bristol, Metro included Wallace and Gromit’s The Big Fix Up in this article about post-pandemic travel.

Outlet: The Telegraph

Reach: 63 million

Headline: Budget Britain: 30 Best Affordable Breaks

Date: 14/2/2021

Link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/budget-britain-30-best-affordable-breaks-book-summer/

Mentions: Freelance writer Sarah Baxter got in touch with Visit Bristol to ask for recommendations of local places to stay on a budget this summer for couples, families, adventures breaks and wellness holidays. The team responded with many suggestions and Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin and Bewick’s Lodge at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre were included in the final piece.

Outlet: The Guardian

Reach: 347k

Headline: 30 UK campsites with availability for summer 2021

Date: 13/2/2021

Link: 30 UK campsites with availability for summer 2021 | Camping holidays | The Guardian

Mentions: Following a Visit Bristol press release highlighting new accommodation in 2021, a writer at The Guardian approached us asking for more information and pictures of The Camp at The Wave which was included in this article about campsites.

Outlet: Family Traveller

Reach: 50k monthly visits, 192k Facebook reach

Headline: Bristol fills February half term with virtual fun for families

Date: 13/2/2021

Link: Bristol fills February half term with virtual fun for families and kids (familytraveller.com)

Mentions: Another piece of coverage resulting from the February half term press release is this article from Family Traveller which mentions Bristol Old Vic, RWA, Arnolfini and Wallace and Gromit’s The Big Fix Up.

Outlet: The Good Food Guide

Reach: Unknown

Headline: Valentine’s Dinner Delivered

Date: 2/2/2021

Link: Valentine's dinner delivered | The Good Food Guide

Mentions: The prestigious Good Food Guide by Waitrose picked up on the Valentine’s Day press release from Visit Bristol and included Paco Tapas, Root and Pony and Trap in their article for dinner deliveries.

Outlet: Secret Bristol

Reach: Unknown

Headline: 5 of the best Valentine’s Day dine at home kits in Bristol

Date: 2/2/2021

Link: 5 Of The Best Valentine's Day Dine At Home Kits In Bristol - Secret Bristol

Mentions: Another pick up from the aforementioned Valentine’s Day press release, Secret Bristol wrote about The Ox and Paco Tapas in their article.

Outlet: Group Leisure and Travel

Reach: 1k

Headline: Inspiration for Group Trips to Bristol

Date: 1/2/2021

Link: Inspiration for group trips to Bristol | Features | Group Leisure and Travel

Mentions: At the end of last year, Visit Bristol sent out a press release with dates details of planned events for 2021, which got picked up by Group Leisure and Travel who mentioned Harbour Festival, Upfest, Planet Ice and International Balloon Fiesta.

Outlet:  Bristol Direct

Reach: Unknown

Headline: Celebrating Valentine’s day in lockdown

Date: 3/2/2021

Link: Bristol Direct Local Magazine 4th -11th February 2021 by Direct Local Bristol - issuu

Mentions: Local magazine Bristol direct reported on Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Zoo Gardens and Bristol Blue Glass in their Valentine’s Day spread.

Other coverage 

Bristol’s biggest music fan, Big Jeff launched an art exhibition in collaboration with Bristol Beacon (formerly Colston Hall), which gained lots of media attention, including a piece in The Guardian.

Bristol was mentioned as part of the Atlantic Highway road trip in Condé Nast Traveller UK.

Cheddar Gorge listed number 7 in Daily Mail’s list of Britain’s stunning views. Glamour Magazine mentions Bristol Harbourside and Clifton in their piece on Best City Breaks. Bristol was fourth in a survey of most vegan friendly UK cities. Clifton Suspension Bridge came number 3 and Brandon Hill number 9 in a survey of terms used in Tripadvisor for best views and vistas, covered by Bristol 24/7.  The Guardian featured the South West Coast Path between Weston-Super-Mare and Porlock in Somerset. Bristol was named the best place in UK to stargaze, according to research by Parkdean. Bristol locations were featured in ITV’s latest series of McDonald and Dodds, which is on ITV this month. The city’s vast A Bond Tobacco Warehouse on Cumberland Road was transformed into a wartime bunker for episode two, whilst filming also took place on Berkeley Square and at City Hall, in the Lord Mayor's Reception Room. As the Sea Shanty craze took over at the start of 2021, Bristol band Longest Johns gained huge media attention and released their video, aptly filmed on the SS Great Britain. On February 11, BBC Radio 1’s Scott Mills and Chris Stark asked for tips on a night out in Bristol – listen back at 13:45, 13:55 and again at 15:25, when Visit Bristol was name-checked too.

Press releases 

Visit Bristol sent out a press release focusing on online events for  February half term and another press release on Bristol businesses delivering nationwide for Mother’s Day. The former release included information on Wallace and Gromit’s The Big Fix Up, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Underfall Yard, Bristol Old Vic Theatre, RWA, Arnolfini, Big Jeff and Bristol Beacon, Bristol From Home and Somerset Rural Life Museum. The latter included 6 O’clock Gin, We the Curious, Bristol Old Vic Theatre, Home Cocktails, Paco Tapas, The Real Greek, Pieminister, Papadeli, Aldwick Estate, Bristol Museums shops, Visit Bristol online shop, Martin Parr Foundation, Room 212, RWA, The Original Bristol Blue Glass, Jekka’s, Tyntesfield National Trust, Visit Bristol blog, and Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Press trips and enquiries (where coverage is forthcoming) 

Following the press release about new accommodation openings in 2021, a writer from Daily Express got in touch and is keen to run a feature later in the year. Prima Magazine is writing a city break double page spread on Bristol (set for May) and Visit Bristol gave several suggestions of places to include. Finally, Bristol Post got in touch asking for short bios from Destination Bristol CEO Kathryn Davis and Visit Bristol’s Digital Marketing Manager Shonette Laffy to include in their piece on local influential women for International Women’s Day. The media team at Visit Bristol also gave input into Visit Britain’s upcoming campaign on cities springing to life.