Bristol pop-up shows huge impact on sector

A recent impact report undertaken by the team behind Bristol tipi village Breaking Bread has highlighted the socio-economic and environmental impact of the project within the local hospitality industry.

Breaking Bread, a pop-up site launched in July 2020, was a collaboration between some of Bristol’s most established hospitality venues and key events organisers, including The Pony & Trap, The Love Inn and The Pipe and Slippers. It ran up until October of 2020, providing much needed activity for the region’s hospitality industry and supply chains.

One of the most illuminating statistics from the trading period is that by employing 100 staff and taking them out of the furlough and Universal Credit process, Breaking Bread saved the government an estimated £220,000 through direct employment.

The project was also a huge benefit to local suppliers, with a direct spend with local contractors and suppliers sitting at £561,000.

“The whole premise of Breaking Bread was to provide a circular economic boost for the region," explains project co-founder Josh Eggleton from The Pony & Trap. "These kinds of numbers show the potential here. At a time when the UK had nearly 10m people on furlough, it was crucial financially, as well as emotionally, to do everything we could do to bring that number down."

Breaking Bread also provided a significant boost for the city's residents - 37,000 people visited the outdoor restaurants on Bristol’s famous Downs, with the operation selling out tables for its restaurant and pub gardens months in advance.

The initiative is scheduled for a return in spring of 2021.