Watershed’s managing director since 1998, Dick Penny talks to Shipshape about his passion for Bristol’s historic cultural quarter
Tell us a little bit about your role at Watershed.
My job’s all about tomorrow. Our strategy is to ensure Watershed is an organisation that’s always innovating and to make sure we’re sustainable. Part of our mission is to help make sure Bristol is a more interesting place.
What do you think makes the Harbourside such a great destination?
I think it’s a fantastic public space on a very human scale that can bring the people of the city together. There’s such a huge range of cultural attractions – Arnolfini, Architecture Centre, CREATE Centre, the Matthew, Watershed, the new museum [M-Shed] to come… and at the core of it is this really exciting historical public space. And because it’s an old river course, it’s quirky.
Parts of the Harbourside can get a bit rowdy from time to time. How are you and other local businesses trying to improve the area?
As a public destination, the Harbourside is still fairly new. It went from a working dock to a semi-derelict space before beginning regeneration in the eighties – and it was pretty slow progress until the millennium when a lot of stuff happened very quickly. But the result was that we ended up with a lot of the same kinds of places. In a funny way, what the recession is doing is filtering out that mono-culture and allowing a more sustainable mix to come through. It became a destination for stand-up evening drinking but we’ve now got the opportunity to move it to being more about culture: whether that’s art, going for a walk or sitting down and eating. Reputations build up and once somewhere has a reputation, people say they don’t want to go somewhere on a Friday or Saturday evening – and by default you get less diversity. But a group of us are really working hard to make the place more attractive and more diverse.
What improvements have particularly pleased you?
A lot more venues are getting active and working together to make the Harbourside a better environment and a destination for everyone. We don’t want to chase anyone away; we want it to be lively and safe and the heart of the city. Schemes like the Purple Flag (see panel right) and marshal scheme, which is there to assist not arrest people, have really helped. Improvements are happening gradually – it will take time but we’re feeling much more positive.
What’s your favourite spot on the Harbourside?
It very much depends on the time of year and weather. What’s great about the Harbourside is that it has lots of different textures. But I think my favourite spot is Queen Square – it’s a really magical place in the heart of the city.
Where do you like to go for a drink or something to eat?
If the sun’s shining, the terrace at Mud Dock is hard to beat. Bordeaux Quay is very close by and great. And these days Watershed is as good as any.
What one thing would significantly improve the Harbourside?
I think more restaurants and less drink-led outlets – a real mix. Food is very much part of our culture now.
What events are you particularly looking forward to this year?
Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride on 20 June. Cycling down a car-free Portway beneath the Suspension Bridge is simply stunning. What’s clever about this event is that it really is geared for families, not just serious cyclists. It’s just a brilliant, brilliant event. In fact, I’d like to see the area car-free every Sunday.
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