Castlemead

Castlemead stands in central Bristol beside Castle Park, a large public green space on the site of the former Bristol Castle. The 80-metre tower was the tallest building in the city from 1981 until 2020. It has 18 storeys, with 17 used for offices. The building’s design mixes raw concrete verticals and narrow glazing strips that flare at the top like castle battlements. Brutalist architecture dominates the façade, though the 2021 refurbishment added modern touches such as a 24-hour reception and cycle facilities. The building is worth the journey for its place in Bristol’s recent history. It was completed in 1981 after a long pause caused by the 1970s property crash. The architect A. J. Hines created a structure intended for large office floors, reflecting the city’s 1960s and 1970s redevelopment plans. After changing owners several times, it was bought in 2018 for £44.7 million and later refurbished to Grade A standard. Today it holds 15 tenants including DPD, Regus and Marsh, with 94 per cent of space let. Inside, visitors find mostly open-plan office floors that can be subdivided. Six passenger lifts serve the upper levels, and a separate secure entrance with its own lift was added during refurbishment. The ground floor now has a remodelled reception and 374 cycle parking spaces, 18 showers and electric vehicle chargers. Outside, the building overlooks Castle Park and sits close to the Floating Harbour and River Avon. Its location links it to Bristol’s historic core and modern shopping areas like Broadmead and Cabot Circus.