Bristol City Council has worked with local businesses, business advisors and traders groups to produce a toolkit on establishing an independent retail business (pdf, 153 KB).
The toolkit will be a live document and updated on a continuous basis, any comments or amendments should be emailed to retail@bristol.gov.uk.
Make More Margin offers all Bristol Independent retailers a discounted rate throughout July on standard rates. We offer Food Safety / H&S + business growth strategies get in touch for free 1 hour initial consult.
The first customer of the day on 4th July claims their free Bristol Independents bag at Malik’s on Stapleton Road.
While Americans hang out stars and stripes flags for Independence Day, celebrations take place on this side of the pond to mark Independents Day. Suzanne Savill discovers how small shopkeepers are rising to the chain store challenge
Back in the early 1950s, an Austrian called Victor Gruen, who had emigrated to the United States, envisaged a retail utopia. He wanted to create a shopping destination where people would gather in a central area and vehicles would be banished.
The result was what’s Read more [...] 
5-8 pm
Meet local artisans and artists, see the new arrivals, chat and browse over drinks and nibbles, make the most of our special summer offers, enjoy taster menus and more… Continue reading
Going out for the evening this 4 July? What about some independent entertainment at an independent cinema, or pub theatre? Why not try a local brew in an independent pub or bar. Who wants to eat and drink exactly the same things, wherever they go in the country? Celebrate Independents Day by raising a glass of West Country tipple.
It is especially fortunate that we have such a wealth of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)-supported pubs in the Bristol and Bath area. In Bristol alone we have five CAMRA-nominated Read more [...] 
Swinky’s sweets offers a café of confections set in a carnival atmosphere – celebrating all things sweet from cupcakes, cakes, gluten free/vegan options and we also make possibly THE BEST HOMEMADE ICE CREAM this side of Italy. For 4th July we’ll be offering 10% off any HOMEMADE cake, cupcake, ice cream or confection, to anyone asking for the Bristol Independents discount.
Swinky’s Sweets, 20 Park Street · 0117 929 7512 Read more [...] 
Shop independently on 4th July and enter our free prize draw!
How to enter
1. Shop or eat out on 4th July at one of Bristol’s many independent outlets (Bristol Independents include market stalls, cafés, pubs & shops).
2. Keep your receipt, or take a photo of yourself shopping independently.
3. Send us a copy of your receipt or photo by post or online, saying where you shopped on Independents Day.
Go to our competition page for more details and to enter the draw. Read more [...] 
Ashton Court Producers Market, a joint venture by Sophie Bowden of Mullion Cove and Bristol City council are about to celebrate their first year anniversary in May.
This popular monthly market has grown from a small select group of stalls to a busy and vibrant market with up to 25 food, drink and craft producers selling high quality and locally made products. The market has also recently changed its name from a ‘farmers’ to a ‘producers’ market to reflect the wide variety of products available Read more [...] 
From the Communities and Local Government website:
Summary
As part of the growth agenda, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister commissioned retail expert Mary Portas to conduct an independent review of the high street's future. The Portas Review set out what Mary Portas thought had led to the decline of the high street and made 28 recommendations about what could be done to breathe life back into them.
The Government's response to the Portas Review lays down a challenge for local Read more [...] 
