As someone who has lived in both cities, and regularly goes back and forth, I feel I can give my two cents. This is all my own perception I hasten to add so no-one get mad if they don't agree with it.
Cardiff felt like a far more happening place in the late 90s and up until maybe a few years before the start of the last financial crisis in 2008. Bristol felt like it was resting on it's laurels and was much more complacent, in fact downright declining and grim in parts. Admittedly, like others have said, much of the development taking place in Cardiff during that period Bristol already had established years before.
Bristol has made a lot of positive strides and improvements, whether that could be considered as one surpassing the other, is up for debate. Just purely in terms of population Bristol did grow at a larger total amount between 2001-2011.
I remember lots of buzz when Torchwood and Dr Who set up shop in Cardiff. Meanwhile in Bristol they were lamenting the loss of the TV show Casualty and the potential damage this would do to the local economy. Yet nearly a decade later Bristol probably sees a greater output of shows than it ever did when Casualty was based there, due to the The Bottleyard studios. There's some irony in that Bristol and The SW have probably featured more in major BBC Wales productions as visible filming locations than Cardiff and Wales.
There's a greater level of business creation and relocation going on where the city also seems to be currently riding a wave of growth and buzz that Cardiff experienced about 10-15 years years ago. It feels very international. On the flip side there's been a huge increase in poverty and homelessness that are back to to 1990's levels, not helped or caused by gentrification and a housing crisis which threatens the city's growth. By comparison Cardiff never seemed to have as much of stratification of wealth, which is what I enjoy about the place.
There's definitely a difference in attitude between the two cities, although as both cities have become more successful and cosmopolitan this has diminished from what I used to experience. Cardiff still has a certain higher level of provincial-ness to it, for obvious reasons, and as seen by some of the comments here, there's a certain parochial "stay off our bit of turf" mentality that seems to be more pervasive in Wales, and even in Cardiff. Whilst In Bristol and much of the south west, people don't seem as bothered/aware about this outside of major sporting leagues; local businesses don't see a problem expanding into or having clients or operations in Wales, nor other regions, or different parts of The SW. You could see it as people in Wales as being more loyal, which is a good thing, but on the flip side it can make things a bit myopic and parochial at times.
Despite what the critics say, devolution has been a very good thing for Cardiff. It is what has given the city a massive boost in civic pride, economic clout, and much of it's excellent sporting infrastructure; Bristol is very far behind here, and can only dream about the same levels of investment. Bristol does have a lot going on development wise but projects in Cardiff do seem to be that much more speedier in getting through the planning process. Maybe this is a result of having a better and a more substantial local government than over in England.
I wouldn't say it was overly biased to suggest that Central Bristol is larger both in feel and in actual area; it's a bigger city; in population it's bigger than Cardiff, Barry and Newport combined and covers some 50-60 square miles. Redcliff, Broadmead, Park Street, M-shed etc covers a good square mile at least. Central Cardiff is probably less than half that depending on your definition, and the surrounding inner districts aren't as 'integrated' with the CBD as the former. There used to be lots of problem areas of shabbiness and outright dereliction in central Bristol that Cardiff never had to nearly the same extent, but most of this has already been or will soon be redeveloped along with some of the worst offenders such as Redcliff Quarter and Callowhill Court in Broadmead; the latter of which looks to be as big as Cabot Circus or St Davids 2.
Bristol built a lot of 'tall' buildings in the post-war period and damaged a lot of it's historic fabric in the process hence the resistance to build new talls. Cardiff lacked this history so it was easier to get taller things built. That said Bristol is more of a ''high-rise'' city than Cardiff even though none of the former's tall buildings are as tall as Cardiff's tallest. The new mayor of Bristol seems keen for more tall buildings, but I highly doubt this will manifest in many new builds -beyond those that have already been planned- due to the nature of the city.
Not sure I'd classify Cardiff Bay as the centre i.e. what someone would describe as going into town. It's largely disconnected from the CBD, and is quite diffuse and disjointed as an area. No more a part town than say Cathays or Canton, or Clifton Village or Bedminster are to Central Bristol.
Personally I think Brexit will probably make it harder for both cities to function well, so any talk of one surpassing the other these days is probably pointless. One thing that the voting results of that referendum have revealed is that both cities have as much, or more, in common with one another as they do with their own hinterlands.
Peiriannydd wrote:Perhaps I spend too much of my time in London and other major cities because I think that Bristol is a cultural dive! Yeah, it’s got some lovely old buildings, some nice bars and clubs, the Old Vic, Tobacco Factory and Colston Hall, but not a huge amount. In fairness, some of my European colleagues appreciate it a lot more than I do.
We do have a lot of stuff in Cardiff, perhaps we don’t make the most of it and maybe these things could do a lot more.
Cultural dive is a bit strong -it's not- and comparing with London is a bit of a non-starter even for the very biggest of cities. There's also St George's Hall, Hippodrome, RWA, Arnolfini, Watershed, Spike island, Hamilton house, O2 academy. Museums like M-shed, SS Great Britain, Georgian House, city museum and gallery, Zoo and safari park etc.
The city has quite a big 'small theatre' and mid- to small live venue scene which Cardiff still lacks; e.g. Wardrobe Theatre, Little black Box, Trinity Church, Anson Rooms, The Fleece, Smoke and Mirrors, Alma tavern, QEH etc and of course The Tobacco factory.
I do agree both cities could do much better with what they have. Particularly the museums, with thousands of artworks and artefacts that are stored away that the public are never allowed to see.
Anyway, about this new tower...
Sun Mar 12, 2017 1:59 pm