Bristol’s successful CARGO indie retail hub at Harbourside could be expanded again with the addition of eight more converted shipping containers.
Developer Umberslade announced the plan just weeks after officially opening CARGO 2, the second phase of the scheme at its Wapping Wharf mixed-use neighbourhood that is now home to an eclectic mix of retailers, bars and restaurants. 
Some 38 businesses occupy a total of 46 former containers at CARGO 2, with mainly shopping on the ground floor and restaurants above. Umberslade said it expected to attract some for lifestyle and fashion businesses to the new units.
CARGO 1, which opened shortly before last Christmas, is made up of 18 units. Bristol’s first retail and food and drink scheme made entirely from shipping containers, it proved an instant success and brought trendy East London-style shopping, dining and drinking to the city.
Umberslade has let all CARGO containers to independent retailers, offering many of Bristol’s up-and-coming businesses the chance to try out a permanent base for the first time or expand a successful concept into a larger unit.
A number had only previously operated pop-up venues at festivals while others had run smaller venues. The two CARGO schemes have been built next to Wapping Wharf’s Gaol Ferry Steps food-and-drink development, which is home to a number of more established businesses in larger units such as the Better Food Company, Wild Beer Co and Mokoko.
Umberslade’s expansion plans include eight containers in total, two of which will form a double-size unit, plus some storage space.
Director Stuart Hatton said: “We’re really excited about our plans to extend CARGO which we expect to have more of an emphasis on independent lifestyle and fashion businesses, whilst adding to the eclectic food and drink offering at Wapping Wharf.
“We have had huge interest in CARGO from across the city and beyond, and this new extension would give us the opportunity to meet this demand. It’s already shaping up to be another exciting summer for Wapping Wharf; it is fantastic to see people from Bristol and beyond really embracing CARGO and the wider independent retail offer within the quarter.”
The extension would be located at the far end of CARGO 2 along Museum Street behind M Shed.
CARGO 2 retailers include Big Juice, Cargo Cantina, CUPP Bubble Tea, Gopal’s Curry Shack, John Kelly 1880+, Loop Massage, Mabboo, Pure Yoga, Oliver’s Ice Cream, Spuntino, TARE, Salt & Malt, Sholay, The Athenian, The Pickled Brisket, The Bristol Cheesemonger, and Harbour & Browns.
CARGO 1 occupiers include Woky Ko, Chicken Shed, Shambarber, The Mighty Quinns Flower Emporium, PIGSTY, Bristol Cider Shop, BOX-E, Lovett Pies and Corks of Cargo.
When complete, the Wapping Wharf neighbourhood will have around 600 homes. The phased development will also retain and restore several key listed buildings and the old jail gates. The homes are being built in two phases by Umberslade in a joint venture with Muse Developments. The first 194-home phase is now complete.
