Gala Opening of new shopping experience

One of the perks of being a local councillor is that you are invited to all sorts of lovely events with free food etc. Today I was lucky enough to be invited to the grand opening of the new Bristol shopping centre - Slave Trade Century 21 - in the leafy suburb of Hartcliffe. Prince Charles was due to cut the ribbon, but a stray fox was spotted at Highgrove and he was off hunting the fellow, his lovely wife Charlene standing in for him. Music was provided by local pop group, Pink Floyd, their singer Ponsonby writing a special song just for the day called 'Slaves to Asda'.

As it was a ticket-only event many people had to wait outside the protective barrier in the blazing sun, but their cheers could be held as Charlene cut the ribbon declaring the centre open. She was handed a bouquet of flowers by local girls Destiny Crouch (11) and Destiny Jacobs (10).

Slave Trade Century 21 has a fantastic range of shops, with an excellent Co-Op, a Ladbrookes, a Social Security Office and a huge branch of Pawnbrokers Muscle and Titt. Harvey Nicks were approached but declined due to the prohibitive levels of rent and business rates.

The photo above shows Charlene cutting the ribbon outside the fully-refurbished Haddock-a-Go-Go fish and chip emporium, as the crowds bask in the May sunshine on what was a very special day indeed for Bristol.