What’s new and what’s on this Spring in Bristol

There is definitely a Spring in Bristol’s step this season, with a world-renowned immersive art experience coming to the city, a playful light festival, new hotels opening as well as Easter and May bank holiday events.  

Image: End over End by Studio Vertigo. Photo credit: Topher McGrillis.

Bristol Light Festival 
1-6 March 
After a hugely successful inaugural event in 2020, Bristol Light Festival returns 1-6 March 2022. A free, outdoor event aimed at bringing colour, light and play to the city centre with a series of commissions from local and internationally renowned artists. The light installations will illuminate both well-known and unexpected locations in this playful and engaging trail across the city. Think of a gigantic illuminated slinky toy that lights up to create the familiar flowing movement of the nostalgic toy (End to End installation, pictured above). Or playing on swings on College Green by Bristol Cathedral, with lights and music being triggered with each swing. Or see projected images of the windows surrounding Banksy’s famous Well Hung Lover on Park Street which will offer a peek into the lives of those living next door during the pandemic.  
https://visitbristol.co.uk/bristollightfestival  

International Women’s Day 

There are several events happening in Bristol to celebrate International Women’s Day in 2022. You can join The HandleBards for an all-female, bicycle-powered and hilarious re-telling of Shakespeare’s bloody tragedy Macbeth at The Wardrobe Theatre (1,5 and 6 March). Celebrate powerful female energy and creativity by going to ShangrilART International Women’s Day Market - an all-female art event - at Lost Horizon (5 March). Or visit the beautiful German-inspired Klosterhaus restaurant for their International Women’s Day wine tasting event, showcasing five exceptional wines all made by female winemakers (9 March). 

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience 
9 April – Oct  
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience has had a thrilling start in US attracting 2 million visitors and this year comes to Bristol. The immersive experience is 20,000 square foot light and sound spectacular featuring two-story projections of the artist’s most compelling works where people can encounter the brilliance of one of history’s greatest artists in 360 degrees. In addition to a spacious central area where Van Gogh’s works stretch floor-to-ceiling, the experience includes separate galleries that chronicle his life, technique, and influence thru informative panels, larger than life re-creations and engaging interactives. The experience features a one of kind Virtual Reality interactive, which guides you on a ten-minute journey through “A day in the life of the Artist.” Walk alongside Van Gogh during this peaceful, visually rich journey to discover the inspiration behind eight of his iconic works, including: Vincent’s Bedroom at Arles, and Starry Night Over The Rhone River. Venue will be in central Bristol (yet to be announced), but you can buy tickets now from Van Gogh Expo website.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience 

Easter Events 
Various dates 
With Spring fully in flow, there are many outdoor activities and trails to get the family involved in this Easter in Bristol including Superworm Trail at Westonbirt Arboretum (now-until September), Easter Duck trail at WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre (9-24 April) and Feathered Friends at Bristol Zoo Gardens (14 April). Or for a rainy day, Zog and the Flying Doctors is at Bristol Old Vic theatre (19-24 April) and the family friendly attractions such as SS Great Britain, We the Curious science centre, Aerospace Bristol and The Wave are all open over Easter holidays with themed, special events expected to be announced. For more information and updated listings of Easter events in Bristol, go to: https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/easter-holiday-events  

Royal West of England Academy re-opening 
30 April 2022 
Bristol’s oldest art gallery, Royal West of England Academy (RWA) has been closed for nearly two years as it has undergone a £4.1 million refurbishment to ensure this historic gallery can secure its future long term. With accessibility and inclusivity at the heart of the project, RWA will reopen on 30 April 2022 (early May bank holiday) with a new accessible lift to the side of the Grade II listed building for wheelchair users, digital welcome signs inside using British Sign Language for the deaf community and a Changing Places toilet for disabled people (carers will be given free admission to the gallery exhibitions too). Inside, the gallery spaces have been repaired and restored, as well as a new, inclusive family space added and an enlarged café with access to the terrace upstairs and outside on the ground floor, to help bring in 40% more visitors and community users to the gallery. World-class art exhibitions are set to return to RWA, with the re-opening exhibition being ‘Me Myself and I: Artists’ Self-Portraits’, which will include 80 works by major artists such as Grayson Perry, Tracey Emin, Sonia Boyce and Antony Gormley. 
https://www.rwa.org.uk/collections/events  

Hopyard 
14-15 April 
Having opened in summer 2021, Propyard (a former MOD torpedo testing factory warehouse) has become a leading cultural destination in Bristol, bringing together arts, music, food and events. To kick off this Easter bank holiday, Propyard has teamed up with 12 of the best brewers in Bristol to bring the playfully-named Hopyard. As well as brilliant beer, expect music curated by Maxxi Soundsystem and street eats by Loki Poke, Jafra Kitchen and Pizzarova. 
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/hopyard-p3063743 

The Matthew Ship 525 Anniversary Weekend Harbour Trips 
30 April – 2 May 
May 2022 marks the 525th anniversary of the departure of the original Matthew Ship from Bristol in 1497, and the 25th anniversary of the departure of the replica Matthew from Bristol in 1997, exactly 500 years later. The Matthew of Bristol Trust has a whole weekend of celebrations planned to mark the occasion. Enjoy a cruise around Floating Harbour on board The Matthew this May bank holiday weekend and experience beautiful Bristol from the water on this 45–50-minute round trip.  As well as morning harbour trips, they will be bringing you a taste of Tudor Bristol with music, activities and special guests. Visitor opening hours: 1pm-5pm, Saturday and Sunday. 

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery 
Until 4 September 2022 
An exhibition of works selected by leading artist Grayson Perry during season two of the popular TV series, Grayson’s Art Club when members of the public and celebrities alike were encouraged to send in their artworks made during lockdowns to document the pandemic.
www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/grayson-perry-art-club 

Image: CGI of Clayton Hotel exterior.

New accommodation update 

Art Noveau beauty becomes Clayton hotel 
March 2022 
The former Edward Everard printworks in Broad Street, an impressive example of Art Nouveau architecture and one of Bristol’s most distinctive buildings, is to become a four-star Clayton Hotel courtesy of the Dalata group. Built around 1900, the printworks closed in 1967, and later became part of a complex of offices built by Natwest bank – only the original façade remains. It is said that William Morris had some of his wallpapers and textiles printed here, including his familiar Strawberry Thief design. The new hotel will provide 255 rooms and a restaurant as part of a mixed-use development in the heart of the city. The building’s exuberant, Doulton-tiled exterior – Grade II* listed - will form the entrance to the hotel which is due to open in March 2022. 
Clayton Hotel  

Artist Residence 
Open now – restaurant opening in next phase, Easter 2022. 
Eclectic fusion of art and vintage chic, Artist Residence Bristol is in a former boot factory now fully restored with 23 stylish rooms, garden, events space, café/restaurant and bar. Housed in a former boot factory, adjoined to a Grade I listed townhouse in Portland Square (between St Pauls and Cabot Circus shopping centre in the heart of the city), the new hotel is a continuum of the bohemian Artist Residence style. The much-anticipated hotel opened in November 2021 with the initial phase opening bedrooms and guest lounge only, with the main restaurant and bar opening to the public in the next phase (set to be Easter 2022). 
Artist Residence 

Moxy Bristol Hotel 
Late April 2022 
Part of the Marriott group, Moxy Hotel is currently under construction in Bristol and set to open in April 2022 (after Easter). Located at the end of the M32 in St Pauls, the 214-room boutique, funky and affordable hotel will be in a convenient location for visitors looking to stay close to the city centre and Bristol Shopping Quarter with accessible travel routes nearby and the vibrant area of St Pauls to explore on its doorstep. Sustainability is key to the business and so we will see a focus on the building credentials and operation. 
Moxy Hotel  

If you would like additional information or high res images, please email press@visitbristol.co.uk   

Additional information:    
Famed for its passionate character, maritime history, and for the acres of parkland and sustainable approach that earned it European Green Capital 2015 status, Bristol has created its own distinctive identity. Visitors are attracted to the city’s year-round festivals, award-winning cycle tracks, gastronomy in rejuvenated shipping containers and behind secret doorways, stunning cityscapes, inspiring street art and lively music scene.    

About Visit West:
The Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It supports the visitor economy of the region which is worth £2.33billion and supports 45,000 jobs. Visit West operates the Meet Bristol & Bath Convention Bureau and Visit Bristol and Visit Bath consumer websites.