{{Short description|Former municipal building in Bristol, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Use British English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox building | name = Bristol Guildhall | image = Bristol Guildhall.JPG | caption = | pushpin_map = Bristol | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|51.4553|-2.5945|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | location = Bristol, England | years_built = 1846 | architect = Richard Shackleton Pope | architectural_style =Gothic Revival style | embedded = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Grade II* Listed Building | designation1_offname = Guildhall | designation1_date = 4 March 1977 | designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1282368|short=yes}} }} }}
'''Bristol Guildhall''' is a former municipal building on Broad Street in Bristol, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.<ref name=listed>{{NHLE |desc=Guildhall, City of Bristol |num=1282368 |access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> It was built in the 1840s on the site of the previous guildhall and used as a courthouse from the 1860s to 1993. Various plans for its use as an art gallery and hotel were then proposed. In March 2020, it was damaged by a fire which led to its roof collapsing; as of 2025 it is being converted into a spa hotel and due to open in early 2026.
==History== thumb|left|The earlier Guild Hall on Broad Street, Bristol An earlier guildhall was built for a Guild of Merchants on the site in the 13th century.<ref name=cotswoldarch>{{cite web |url=https://cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/4728-Bristol-Guildhall-eval-report-rev-May-15-FINAL.pdf |page=5 |title=Guildhall Chambers, Broad Street, Bristol |publisher=Cotsworld Archaeology |access-date=26 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826202124/https://cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/4728-Bristol-Guildhall-eval-report-rev-May-15-FINAL.pdf |archive-date=26 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The current building, which was designed by Richard Shackleton Pope in the Gothic Revival style, was completed in 1846,<ref name=listed /> incorporating fragments of the earlier Guildhall on the site.<ref name=cotswoldarch /> The building included statues created by John Thomas of Bristol and stained glass from Rogers of Worcester.<ref name=listed />
It was extended, to designs by T. S. Pope and J. Bindon, to accommodate the assize courts in 1867.<ref name=listed /> After judicial activities transferred to the new Bristol Crown Court building in 1993, the guildhall was converted into an art gallery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Court rooms are sentenced to life – of art |url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Court-rooms-sentenced-life-ndash-art/story-19540818-detail/story.html |access-date=14 November 2015 |work=Bath Chronicle |date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117040510/http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Court-rooms-sentenced-life-ndash-art/story-19540818-detail/story.html |archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Guildhall and Assize Courts to re-open as an Arts centre |url=http://www.bristollawsociety.com/guildhall-and-assize-courts-to-re-open-as-an-arts-centre/ |publisher=Bristol Law Society |access-date=15 March 2020}}{{dead link|date=August 2025}}</ref> Some of the old court rooms were panelled with varnished plywood.<ref name=cotswoldarch /> The building, particularly 'Leech's Room' suffered bomb damage during World War II and was rebuilt in 1960.<ref name=cotswoldarch /> In 2013 plans were unveiled to turn the building into a hotel.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harmer |first=Janet |date=20 March 2013 |title=Bristol Guildhall to be transformed into five-star hotel |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/hotel/bristol-guildhall-to-be-transformed-into-five-star-hotel |publisher=The Caterer |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=5 February 2013 |title=£10 million project for Bristol's Guildhall |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south-west/84262-10m-project-bristols-guildhall |publisher=Insider Media |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref>
On 15 March 2020, a fire occurred in the building.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite web |date=15 March 2020 |title=Bristol fire: Crews tackle Guildhall blaze |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-51895596 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=15 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315085029/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-51895596 |archive-date=15 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=bristpost>{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Kate |date=15 March 2020 |title=Updates: Police close Bristol city centre roads after major fire |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/updates-police-close-bristol-city-3951815 |publisher=Bristol Live |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=15 March 2020 |title=Police close Bristol city centre roads after large fire |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2020-03-15/police-close-bristol-city-centre-roads-after-large-fire/ |publisher=ITV News |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref> Around 50 firefighters and ten appliances from Bristol and the surrounding area attended and pumped water from Bristol Harbour to tackle the blaze. Because of structural damage the firefighters were withdrawn from the building and tackled it from outside. The fire started in the roof space. The roof collapsed spreading the fire to the rest of the building. The fire was extinguished by 09:00 and no-one was injured. The fire was treated as suspicious by Avon and Somerset Police.<ref name=bristpost /><ref name="BBC News" />
In 2023 restoration works began to transform the fire-damaged Guildhall into a spa hotel with 75 bedrooms and a rooftop pool.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Mary |date=25 January 2023 |title=Work begins to Bristol's fire-hit Guildhall building into spa hotel with rooftop pool |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/work-begins-bristols-fire-hit-8071163 |work=Bristol Post |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> It is scheduled to open in early 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hotel Gotham Bristol |url=https://www.hotelgotham.co.uk/bristol |website=Hotel Gotham |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref>
==Architecture== The three-storey limestone building with an attic and basement has a slate roof. The symmetrical front of the building has a plinth, cornice and parapet.<ref name=listed /> The statues on the first floor are of Queen Victoria, Edward III, Michael Foster and John Dunning, and Edward Colston and John Whitson.<ref name=listed /><ref>{{cite book |last=Morgan |first=John |title=A Brief Historical Sketch of Bristol, with the New Picture of Clifton, and Strangers' Guide: Containing Topographical, Antiquarian and Biographical Notices, Together with a Descriptive Account of the Delightful Promenades, Rides and Drives in Clifton and Its Environs, Including a Circuit of Fifteen Miles Round the City |year=1849 |publisher=H. & A. Hill |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NqCOTWUBFjQC&dq=bristol+guildhall+statues&pg=PA58}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Chilcott |first1=John |title=Chilcott's descriptive history of Bristol |year=1849 |page=252 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rqkHAAAAQAAJ&dq=bristol+guildhall+statues&pg=PA252}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Guildhall, Small Street, Bristol |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/educational-images/guildhall-small-street-5670 |publisher=Historic England |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref>
==See also== *Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol
==References== {{Commons category}} {{reflist}}
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol Category:Court buildings in England Category:History of Bristol