Skateboarders breathe new life into a huge abandoned department store.
The ground floor of the building that previously housed Debenhams in Bristol, in the south-west of England, which opened in 1957, has been transformed – albeit only temporarily – into Shredenhamsan indoor skate park and creative hub.
Long forgotten planks, wood and a host of other materials left behind and destined for the rubbish have been rescued and reused.
“The bottom half of the old escalators were turned into quarter pipes,” says Tim Noakes of the non-profit organization Skate parks on campuswho manages the location, told HuffPost. “It’s probably the best metaphor for this whole project: taking something that was built for consumerism and turning it into something playful and expressive.”
The store closed its doors in May 2021 after Debenhams administration introduceda process similar to entering Chapter 11 in the US
It lay empty as controversial plans to demolish and replace the building with a 28-storey tower block – including 500 apartments and business premises – is coming forward. These were approved in April 2024.
Campus was approached by the developer shortly afterwards with the idea of filling the space with a so-called “use in the meantimeproject, to keep it in use until the demolition crews move in, Noakes explained.
“The landlord would have been under a lot of pressure to keep the space occupied and open to the community. … So the relationship worked both ways,” Noakes said. “We had the opportunity to bring our vision to the high street, and they got an active, community-oriented use of a space that might otherwise have lain dormant. It became a true partnership.”
Work started in December last year. The building, which has remained untouched since it closed, was a cold, dark shell with no water, electricity or heating. “Honestly, to say it was worse than a car park is an understatement. At least car parks have lighting,” Noakes recalls.
The Campus’ small team transformed what was “an empty concrete box full of leftover shop fittings and dust” into “something full of energy, life and movement” in just six weeks, reusing everything they found in the abandoned building, saving money while preserving elements of the store and the city’s history.
“Recycling wasn’t just a cost saving, it became part of the design language. Everything has a story,” he said.
Ben Birchall – PA Images via Getty Images
Previous Campus projects in the city, near a swimming pool and youth center, were hidden away. In stark contrast, Shredenhams is located in the city centre. Ping pong, football and pool tables, pinball machines and a café bar make it the most socially integrated space they have created, says Noakes.
The launch event in June attracted 300 skaters and was “absolutely wild,” he recalled. “It felt like we’d cracked the code, like we were about to become the hottest venue in Bristol. The next day a heatwave hit. Footfall naturally dropped as everyone went outside, which brought us right back down to earth. But that’s the nature of a new business: highs and lows.”
Feedback from visitors has been positive, he said. “We’ve had lifelong skaters tell us this is the best indoor setup they’ve ever ridden, and we’ve had complete beginners come in and feel right at home. That’s always been the goal: to build a space that feels open and welcoming whether you’re skating or not.”
But managing expectations is crucial. “We are still in the phase where we have to prove that this concept works, both socially and commercially,” he said. “The team has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes, listening to feedback, adapting our offering and staying flexible so we can respond to what the community really needs. It’s early days and we’re learning quickly.”
The park is accessible to everyone aged 14 and older. Events already include a graffiti battle, a shoe launch party and regular community days. Plans include live judged skate sessions, art installations and brand collaborations.
“The space was built for this kind of thing; we want it to feel as much of a venue as a skate park,” said Noakes.
How long they will remain there remains uncertain due to their ‘in use’ status.
“Maybe 12 months, maybe longer. But if we can prove the concept, this could open doors to other spaces too,” argued Noakes, who admitted the financial risks but said these were mitigated by keeping costs low, being careful with cash and accessing support “that commercial operators can’t get.”
“Some things are worth the risk,” he said.
The bigger idea? “Shredenhams shows that even a dead department store can be reimagined. The high street is not dead, it just needs to change direction.”
The main highlight so far? The Skateboard GB “Keep rollingevent for wheelchair skaters and adaptive skateboarders, he said.
“Seeing accessible skaters using the space in their own way, completely owning it and feeling welcome… that was huge. It reminded me why we do this,” Noakes said. “It’s easy to get caught up in the construction, branding and logistics, but moments like that cut through everything. It was emotional, in the best way, and made me very proud of what we created.”
