A personal announcement about the future of PRIOR

For those of you who have followed our journey to bring independently and consciously made products to the commercial shopping district, we’re sadly on the brink of having to move out of Cabot Circus in April 2025.

The reason? Yet another Business Rates increase, effective 1st April 2025. The only way to stay is if the Council or Central Government steps in - or we achieve an exceptional Christmas sales period.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve had countless meetings (in person and over the phone) with Bristol Council and Central Government, exchanged nearly 100 emails, set up petitions, and drafted extensive documents challenging the Council (with legal advice). I even progressed plans with charity lawyers to set up a charity - but every step was met with yet another ridiculous “computer says no” hurdle.

You - our incredible customers - and the Cabot Circus management team have been nothing short of amazing. But Central Government and the Council are suffocating us. While I refuse to close PRIOR completely, I am preparing plans to continue in other areas of Bristol and the city centre. We’ve worked far too hard to lose everything.

It’s been an uphill battle keeping PRIOR alive amidst retail giants. My approach has always been one of “retail anarchy,” and I knew it would be risky and challenging. However, I didn’t anticipate it being this frustratingly hard. City centre retail is designed for large corporations, pushing small businesses out with outdated and absurd rules and charges.

No matter how hard me and my team fight, the reality is this:

• City centre retail isn’t what it used to be. More people are shopping online or locally.
• Central Government isn’t supporting city centre businesses.
• Bristol Council doesn’t seem to have the budget, capacity - or, at times, the interest - in making the quick changes needed to boost the local economy.

We’d love to stay in Cabot Circus, but surviving here is becoming impossible.

Summary of the hurdles we’ve faced and progress made:

1. Business Rates Basics: Business Rates for commercial buildings are determined by three factors: the intended use of the building, its location, and its size. The ‘intended use’ and location are assigned a ‘classification’ with a rate set per square metre, which is then multiplied by the building's size.

For example, small shops on local high streets are exempt from Business Rates. However, large retail shops in ‘desirable’ areas are charged an inflated premium (i.e Apple), while warehouses in suburban locations are charged less (i.e Amazon). Crucially, Business Rates are not based on profit or turnover, which I find utterly absurd. This system creates occupational segregation for small businesses - most of which are founded and led by women - because large, prime retail spaces are only affordable for global, profit-driven corporations, forcing growing, small businesses to stay on the sidelines. 

1. Our Journey:
• In 2021, we leased the unit in Cabot Circus under the understanding that Not-for-Profits were exempt from Business Rates.
• In 2023, this relief was removed without warning. We were told we’d need to register as a charity to regain the relief.
• After months of working with charity lawyers to divide PRIOR’s services and meet charity requirements, the Council blocked us, citing nonsensical classification rules. The rule given is we can only lease the shop as a charity if the business rates classification was a ‘department store’, we are currently classed as ‘retail’. 
• Over the last 12 months, my appeals to change our classification or reduce our rates have all been rejected, despite strong evidence.
• The recent Autumn Budget 24, cut Business Rates relief by nearly half. From April 2025, we’ll need to sell over £2,400 of stock each month just to cover the increase. The Government has also announced plans to reform Business Rates in 2026 to create a fairer system. However, we cannot afford to bear the increase while we wait. Additionally, the reform may not apply to all retail businesses, making it far too risky to rely on hope alone

If we can’t stay, our plan is to relocate to a smaller unit in Bristol and return to Cabot Circus as a Christmas pop-up each year. If Business Rates reform happens in 2026, we could consider moving back permanently.

I feel a little defeated but also incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in three years. Maybe, if it comes to it, relocating the shop was always meant to be and perhaps we are on the right path of long-term growth. I never see any part of business as a failure. If we have to move out, it will be an opportunity to recalibrate, strengthen our roots, plot a new path and grow stronger. 

If you live in Bristol and shop with us, please can you recommend areas in Bristol that you think PRIOR could do well in? I need to be active with plan B, just in case. Please add your suggestions in the comments below.

For now, we need an SOS push to stay here or fund our relocation: please spread the word, shop online, and visit our two stores and market in the city centre. Every bit of support helps.

Thank you all for being amazing,
Beck Prior xx

P.S. Don’t forget to grab your 2025 PRIOR calendar - it’s a great one!