F Hinds opens Bristol city centre store after 50-year absence

After an absence of 50 years, Britain’s largest family jeweller F Hinds has returned to the city centre of Bristol with the opening of its 112th store. 

The store, which is located in the Galleries Shopping Centre, features five large, bright, environmentally-friendly window displays which will showcase the retailer’s range of jewellery, watches, gifts and services.

F Hinds’ original Bristol premises, located on Castle Street and open from 1927 to 1963, had a reputation for being lucky after a Second World War bomb narrowly missed the shop.

The firm returned to Bristol in 1998 with a store at Cribbs Causeway but chairman Roy Hinds, son of Frank Hinds who first set up the company, said the return to the city centre is “more than heartfelt”.

Hinds said: “There is a feeling of homecoming with the opening of this store. Interestingly, by estimation we think we are now located no more than 500m away from the site of our old store.”

Andrew Hinds, director and diamond buyer, said: “F Hinds is recognised for its excellent customer service as well as its history and relationship with Bristol customers. We are pleased that Chris and his team are now set to continue well into the future in their new city centre location.

“We are also very interested to find any memorabilia out there associated with our old Bristol store; simply bring it in for us to see.”