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Bristol Leasing

Did You Know?

Bristol is a city straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England with a prosperous maritime history. Its former city-centre port is now a cultural hub, the Harbourside, where the M Shed museum explores local social and industrial heritage.

Ribena, the popular blackcurrant flavoured soft drink, was invented by a University of Bristol scientist in 1933 at the National Fruit and Cider Institute, and quickly gained popularity during the war as an alternative source of vitamin C.

Legendary pirate Blackbeard,(otherwise known as Edward Teach), called Bristol his home. He had a hideout in Redcliffe caves and the home of his birth still stands on the harbourside.

Bristolians are notorious for wanting to do things our own way, and in 2012 the Bristol Pound was launched. Designed to keep money in the local economy, it’s enjoyed a roaring success in keeping trade local since then.

Waterside Plaza in New York City was built upon the rubble of bombed-out Bristol. There’s a plaque to commemorate it next to the fountains on the harbourside.

Bungee jumping may be world famous today, but it owes its origins to the lovely city of Bristol. On 1st April 1979, David Kirke, a member of the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club was the first to take the plunge. Jumping from Clifton Suspension bridge harnessed into his bungee cord, Kirke would live to tell the tale

On the 31st July 1965, JK Rowling was born in Yate hospital on the outskirts of Bristol. The famed author then went on to create one of the most well known works of fiction the world has ever seen. This is, of course, Harry Potter.Many of the names and places you can find in the Harry Potter books were inspired by Rowling’s.

Bristol is a pioneer at many things, but did you know the city introduced the UK to the chocolate easter egg? It was during Easter 1873 that Bristol based chocolate producer — Fry’s first concocted the treat, which has been a tradition ever since. Shortly after the success of the Easter egg, chocolate rival Cadbury’s copied the idea which soon caught on across the country.

When you think of Wallace and Grommit, you likely imagine the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, cobbled roads and Northern accents. It may be a surprise to you then that Wallace and Grommit is actually produced at Aardman studios in Bristol.

David Prowse, who sadly passed away in 2020, was the original actor for Darth Vader. Before landing the infamous role, Prowse was a well known weightlifter and actor who grew up in Bristol.

Bristol’s street art scene is world famous thanks to the work of graffiti artist Banksy. Banksy’s work started to crop up across the city throughout the 1980s, many of which you can still see today.

You could say that Bristol is the one true Drum and Bass father. Growing fast out of the 90’s Jungle scene, legends such as Massive Attack, Roni Size and DJ Krust began to pioneer the genre throughout the city.