Hotwells

An ever growing page of local links for Hotwells.

Hotwells is a community in Bristol, about one mile west of the city centre.  It takes its name from the hot springs which bubble up through the rocks of the Avon Gorge underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge.  In the eighteenth century the area was promoted as a spa, but it never could rival Bath (twelve miles away) and the waters were found to be polluted in the nineteenth century.  There is fine Georgian architecture, some great pubs, countryside within a mile, the city docks, a ferry service and lots of great people.

• Hotwells and Cliftonwood Community Association used to run the Hope Centre, but this has now reverted to being a Church run by Hope Community Church
• Ray Smith has produced the Hotwells Heritage Trail
• Local artist, Dirk Larsen has an interesting website, with some cool links.
• Local resident Geoff Leonard runs Play It Again Records specialising in film soundtrack compilations. The Hotwell Gallery, one of our newest local establishments is online.
• I run The Hotwell Press as well as working on the Bristol Packet, whose website I have just rebuilt.  Oh and I do a bit of acting as well!
• I am known to frequent "The Merch", the Rose of Denmark, occasionally the Adam & Eve, the newly re-opened Spring Gardens, The Bear (where The Be-Bop Club holds jazz sessions), The Orchard, The Pump House and the Nova Scotia. But not usually on the same day!
• Bristol City Council have been trying to impose a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in our area.  They say it is because of commuter problems, but actually it is a scam to raise their taxation income.  Despite mass opposition the plans keep getting reintroduced by the arrogant and complacent Labour group on the City Council.  Links to campaign group Access here.  Please note that I do not share all the aims of this group.
• Our local vet is now on the web!
• Local pages from The Bristol Index Guide to Bristol: The Hotwell, The Clifton Rocks Railway and Windsor Terrace.   The Bristol Index is rather useful for all sorts of information about Bristol.
• An extract from Fanny Burney's novel Evelina about Hotwells in the eighteenth century.
• The Rocks Railway used to connect us to Clifton
• St Andrew-the-Less - a church which has disappeared.
• Clifton Online - Clifton's the posh bit up the hill!
• List of pubs in Hotwells in the early twentieth century.  I'm suprised that anyone was ever sober!
• Just across the Cumberland Basin is the CREATE Centre, a City Council initiative.  All sorts of organisations are based here, with a common theme of sustainable living.
  These include: Bristol City Council's Record Office; The Forest of Avon; LifeSkills and the Centre for Sustainable Energy.  This is also the proposed site of a giant artwork, the Bristol Pyramid.
• Marcruss Stores sell camping gear, forces surplus goods and a good range of outdoor clothing. A few doors along the road is the Raj Bari restaurant.
• Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society
• Right at the edge of Hotwells is The Bag O'Nails (formerly The American Eagle) which is an excellent real ale pub.   Pity about the change of name though!
• Almost next door is Saffron Takeaway which is pretty good value.
• You can catch the ferry from Hotwells into the City Centre and Temple Meads railway station.
• Youth sail training is offered by TS Adventure sea cadets and Young Bristol has an activities centre at Poole's Wharf. At Baltic Wharf, there is Bristol Canoe Club and Baltic Wharf Sailing School.
• Adjacent to Hotwells to the east is Canon's Marsh, currently the subject of much debate as to it's future.
• Southville, an active community just to the South across the River Avon
• Badgerline Buses through Hotwells. Find Hotwells in the list and click on the service number
• City Line buses through Hotwells. Find Hotwells in the list and click on the service number
• Baltic Wharf Loop Bus Service
• Local Councillors: Barbara Janke and Brian Price
• Bristol West MP: Valerie Davey

• Donne's Plan - circa 1799
• Chilcott's Map - 1849
• City Council map of Clifton Ward including Hotwells -.pdf file (294kb) - you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for this.
• City Council profile of Clifton Ward including Hotwells -.pdf file (976kb) - you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader for this.

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