Tobacco Factory

Tobacco Factory
The Tobacco Factory during cleaning work which saw a Union Jack flag covering scaffolding
Location within Bristol
General information
Architectural style	Industrial
Town or city	Bristol
Country	England
Coordinates	51°26′32″N 2°36′49″W / 51.4423°N 2.6135°W / 51.4423; -2.6135
Client	W. D. & H. O. Wills
Technical details
Structural system	Brick and Iron

The Tobacco Factory is the last remaining part of the old W. D. & H. O. Wills tobacco factory site on Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol. It was saved from demolition by the architect and former mayor of the city George Ferguson and through his vision has become a model of urban regeneration. It is now a multi-use building which houses animation and performing arts school, loft-style apartments, a café bar, offices and a theatre.

Inspired by the Manchester Independents campaign, George Ferguson decided to launch a Bristol-based campaign from the Tobacco Factory, the purpose is to encourage the support and patronage of independent outlets and businesses to help redress the balance that has swung strongly in favour of the multiples at the expense of local character and enterprise. Business at the Tobacco Factory epitomises this, with home grown enterprises, such as Fanatic Design,^[1] CLIK.