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Apple Store in Bristol Permanently Closing Next Month

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Apple is permanently closing its retail store in the heart of Bristol, England next month, and there is no replacement store in sight.

Apple-Bristol-Current.jpg
Apple Bristol in 2023​

The store's final day of business will be Saturday, August 9.

Within the past few days, Apple updated the store's page with the following message:
Thank you, Bristol. Apple Bristol is closing on 9 August at 5 pm. We're still here for you. Please visit apple.com/uk/retail to find your nearest store.
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Apple Bristol is closing due to redevelopment plans at the Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, and the adjacent Bristol Shopping Quarter.

In a statement shared with MacRumors in April, Apple said affected employees will be able to continue their roles at the company:
At Apple, we're always focused on providing an exceptional experience for all of our customers. Due to the redevelopment plans at Cabot Circus Shopping Centre, which include the closure of the section where our store is located, Apple Bristol will close on August 9, 2025. We've loved serving the Bristol community for over 15 years, and our valued team members will continue their roles at Apple.
Click to expand...
Apple Bristol first opened in 2008, with the location formerly known as Apple Cabot Circus. The two-floor store still had a classic design that was due for a facelift. The lower level serves as a product sales area, while the upper level provides space for Genius Bar appointments and Today at Apple creative sessions.

Apple-Bristol.jpeg
Apple Bristol in 2008​

The company has two other stores in the surrounding areas, including Apple Cribbs Causeway on the outskirts of Bristol, and Apple SouthGate in Bath.

Article Link: Apple Store in Bristol Permanently Closing Next Month
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/07/21/apple-store-bristol-closing-next-month/
Moonjumper said:
It does seem odd there is no store in the country when Apple has their European headquarters there. And as I just discovered when checking this, they actually build iMacs in Cork, apparently the only Apple self-operated manufacturing plant in the world.
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Odd indeed, moonjumper.
😎🇮🇪☘️
 
Moonjumper said:
It does seem odd there is no store in the country when Apple has their European headquarters there. And as I just discovered when checking this, they actually build iMacs in Cork, apparently the only Apple self-operated manufacturing plant in the world.
Click to expand...
Apple manufacturing, European headquarters in Cork opened about 45 years ago. I've been using Macs over 20 years, perhaps 22. Still no official store in this land. There's one in the north (a different country legally) but that's hours away.
 
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Apple was very clear in their statement. With the redevelopment plan, Apple discovered at the very last minute that the Bristol store just wasn't quite able to be a game-changer that truly delighted customers, particularly ultra pro customers. So, Apple had to pull the store, to give their tiny startup team a bit more time to refine. Not to worry, because Apple still ships to customers in that area, allowing customers to continue to do incredible things that Apple can't wait to see. Stay tuned for exciting new announcements from the fully-stock, best pipeline ever! Apple thinks you're gonna love it.
 
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I sometimes walk past the vacant stop where the Atlantic City store use to be, and think it would be funny to put flowers there. The next closest one is over an hour away, and not easy to get to. I really wish there was one nearby. Even though I hate going to Atlantic City in general, it was better than nothing.
 
Mac Fly (film) said:
Apple manufacturing, European headquarters in Cork opened about 45 years ago. I've been using Macs over 20 years, perhaps 22. Still no official store in this land. There's one in the north (a different country legally) but that's hours away.
Click to expand...
It’s only hours away if you don’t live in, say, Dundalk, when it’s just over an hour away. Just saying.
(Yes, I once lived in Dundalk and had the joy of going to the opening of the first Apple Store in Ireland).
😎🇮🇪☘️
 

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goonie4life9 said:
Apple was very clear in their statement. With the redevelopment plan, Apple discovered at the very last minute that the Bristol store just wasn't quite able to be a game-changer that truly delighted customers, particularly ultra pro customers. So, Apple had to pull the store, to give their tiny startup team a bit more time to refine. Not to worry, because Apple still ships to customers in that area, allowing customers to continue to do incredible things that Apple can't wait to see. Stay tuned for exciting new announcements from the fully-stock, best pipeline ever! Apple thinks you're gonna love it.
Click to expand...
ha umm, what is an 'ultra pro customer' actually? I do certainly hope and pray I'm in that category and gain the respect it surely deserves.

And yes don't panic everybody - Apple still sends their stuff out to the Bristol area so you can continue to do incredible things, thank goodness. They literally can't wait to see what emojis you'll be using in the next text to your Mum.

Nah so they just weighed up their bottom line and found people mostly fiddle around in there without buying much.
(But I'm guessing I'm just replying to an Apple Bot now anyway so that'll probably do.)
 
dan98 said:
ha umm, what is an 'ultra pro customer' actually? I do certainly hope and pray I'm in that category and gain the respect it surely deserves.

And yes don't panic everybody - Apple still sends their stuff out to the Bristol area so you can continue to do incredible things, thank goodness. They literally can't wait to see what emojis you'll be using in the next text to your Mum.

Nah so they just weighed up their bottom line and found people mostly fiddle around in there without buying much.
(But I'm guessing I'm just replying to an Apple Bot now anyway so that'll probably do.)
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No bots here, friend, just some lighthearted humor.

To answer your question, an "ultra pro customer" is a customer for whom the MacBook Pro, iPhone Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro were developed. These are truly the pro devices for ultra pro customers, who need to be truly delighted and take things to a whole new level with their devices.
 
goonie4life9 said:
No bots here, friend, just some lighthearted humor.

To answer your question, an "ultra pro customer" is a customer for whom the MacBook Pro, iPhone Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro were developed. These are truly the pro devices for ultra pro customers, who need to be truly delighted and take things to a whole new level with their devices.
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OK I didn't know that about an 'ultra pro customer' - never heard about that one.

Well I own some of that stuff, and it's fine, does the job - but definitely far from perfect and Mac OS sucks in many business environments so I have to keep a Windows PC for that.

Overall, not sure if they take my life to a 'whole new level' so I guess I fail as an 'ultra pro' :/
 
As a Bristolian I am not overly surprised by this. The Cabot Circus store is really quite small, consisting of two central tables (1 table wide by 2 deep) and counters on each side. It was quite difficult to squeeze past customers and go upstairs if you wanted to get to the Genius bar or accessories section. Having said that, it was usually busy at weekends - however that section does get less footfall than other parts of the shopping area

The store up the road at Cribbs Causeway is much larger... from memory 3 tables wide by 3 deep plus side counters and a genius bar. Plus it has free parking.
 
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dan98 said:
OK I didn't know that about an 'ultra pro customer' - never heard about that one.

Well I own some of that stuff, and it's fine, does the job - but definitely far from perfect and Mac OS sucks in many business environments so I have to keep a Windows PC for that.

Overall, not sure if they take my life to a 'whole new level' so I guess I fail as an 'ultra pro' :/
Click to expand...
Not to worry, friend. If you use these pro devices, you are taking things to a whole new level. Congratulations, you are an ultra pro!
 
SidricTheViking said:
It’s only hours away if you don’t live in, say, Dundalk, when it’s just over an hour away. Just saying.
(Yes, I once lived in Dundalk and had the joy of going to the opening of the first Apple Store in Ireland).
😎🇮🇪☘️
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I wouldn't mind an Apple Store but there's no way I'd be going to one of those openings. It's four hours from me.
 
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Moonjumper said:
It does seem odd there is no store in the country when Apple has their European headquarters there. And as I just discovered when checking this, they actually build iMacs in Cork, apparently the only Apple self-operated manufacturing plant in the world.
Click to expand...

Perhaps there might be an employee’s only store within the headquarters? like they have on other Apple campuses, just a guess.
 
Looks like multiple stores across the world are being relocated or being closed down. Maybe Apple will open another one in the same region in the not so distant future.
 
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That's a shame, I went to that one late last year to try out the (then new) Watch 10. Seemed busy.
 
Hopefully a premium reseller will step in. Seems odd that apple is not in operation in Bristol. Last time I looked it was pretty big.
 
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