Tobacco Factory Theatres
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
A proper theatre programming circus and street performance shows, with a bar that opens well before curtain up.
This is a working theatre rather than a soft play or a farm, so the deal is simple: you check what's on, you book a show, you turn up. The category here is circus and street performance, which tends to mean physical, visual stuff that doesn't rely on kids understanding a wall of dialogue, useful if you've got a child who fidgets through anything too wordy.
The building itself is straightforward once you're in. The Theatre Bar on the first floor opens an hour before every performance and stays open through the interval and afterwards, so you're not stuck queuing at the last minute or trying to keep a restless kid entertained in a cold foyer. There's 10% off drinks after the show too, which is a nice touch if you fancy a proper sit down once the kids have worn themselves out watching someone juggle fire or walk a tightrope.
Getting there needs a bit of thought. It's a decent walk from Temple Meads, twenty minutes from Bedminster station and closer still from Parson Street, and there are bike racks on site if that's how you're arriving. Parking nearby exists but the site is upfront that it gets properly difficult on Ashton Gate match days, so if Bristol City are playing at home, build in extra time or avoid it altogether.
What you won't find here is a soft play frame or an animal enclosure. It's a theatre that happens to programme circus and street performance work, and the whole point is sitting your kids down for something that's genuinely a show rather than a romp about. That's either exactly what you're after or a reason to look elsewhere, depending on the day you're having.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Available in local area. Check for restrictions
- Food
- Theatre Bar on first floor open one hour before every performance, during interval and after the show
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bristol Temple Meads 40 mins walk, Bedminster train station 20 mins walk, Parson Street 15 mins walk, Centre 20 mins walk
- Bike racks are on site if you're cycling in as a family.
- The bar opens a full hour before curtain up, handy for beating the queue.
- Match days at Ashton Gate make parking nearby much harder, plan around the fixture list.
Plan your visit
What kind of shows do they put on?
Circus and street performance is the category here, so expect physical, visual shows rather than straight drama. What's actually programmed changes, so you'd want to look at what's booked in before picking a date.
Is there somewhere to get food or drink?
The Theatre Bar on the first floor opens an hour before the show, through the interval, and afterwards. Post-show drinks get a 10% discount if you fancy sticking around.
Is parking easy?
There's parking in the local area but it's worth checking restrictions, and it gets genuinely difficult on match days since you're near Ashton Gate stadium.
How do we get there by public transport?
Bedminster station is about 20 minutes on foot, Parson Street closer at 15 minutes, and Temple Meads is a 40 minute walk if you fancy stretching your legs first.
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