The Bristol Cable

The Bristol Cable Pioneering investigative local media co-op, owned by thousands of people in Bristol, UK 🗞️

🔦 This is only made possible by people like you.

Together we hold power to account through groundbreaking investigations, campaign for change, and amplify marginalised voices. We are rooted in local communities, but a leader of the global movement to reinvent local media. Join the Cable co-op to support quality media in Bristol and beyond. thebristolcable.org/join

Link in bio for tickets or click here: https://bit.ly/4h3Z8s2At this People Just Do Something (PJDS), The Bristol Cable ...
22/09/2026

Link in bio for tickets or click here: https://bit.ly/4h3Z8s2

At this People Just Do Something (PJDS), The Bristol Cable will speak to Sarah Mason and George Devereaux, the Employee Ownership Trust representatives helping to guide Shambala through this new chapter, to explore how the transition happened, what employee ownership really means in practice, and what it could mean for Shambala’s future.

In April, Shambala became an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), with the festival’s shares held in trust on behalf of its 18 employees. The founders are stepping away from ownership while ensuring that Shambala remains independent and its future stays connected to the very core team who make it happen.

It’s a fascinating shift, and there are many nuances to an employee ownership festival. The existing management and organisational structures remain, yet how the culture of ownership develops among the team provides a new sense of responsibility that seeps into the whole festival.

And there’s a bigger question behind it: can alternative ownership models help protect independent cultural organisations from being swallowed up by increasingly commercial festival and entertainment businesses?

Come and hear the story, ask questions and join the conversation

Date: Tuesday 29 September
Venue: Unit 8 Studios, Parkway Trading Estate, St Werburgh's, Bristol BS2 9PG
Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm sharp
Price: ÂŁ8 General / ÂŁ5 members

Investigation CrowdfunderWater companies have long been the focus of public anger over pollution and the threat this pos...
15/09/2026

Investigation Crowdfunder

Water companies have long been the focus of public anger over pollution and the threat this poses wildlife and humans. While millions of litres of sewage is dumped into our rivers, lakes and coastal waters, the bosses of these regional monopolies are cashing in while much needed investment is slow.

Water executives, including in our region at Wessex Water, have been banned from receiving performance-related bonuses after serious pollution incidents or other environmental violations. And in the wake of a series of scandals, all are now required to collect and publish data on sewage spills to stop violations from being hidden.

But this recent regulatory action has been criticised for not going far enough. Gaps in reporting on the true scale of pollution incidents remain, and bonus payments to executives go unexplained. The need for proper, local and investigative reporting on such a serious issue is a clear as our waters are murky.

This reporting is both expensive and time consuming, and we need your help to make it happen.

Support us now! Link in bio or click here: https://bit.ly/4yBr0tc

Your contribution will fund:

- A year of dedicated reporting uncovering real-world consequences of water company failures for communities in Bristol and South West region

- Record requests and data analysis aimed at uncovering pollution incidents, corporate misconduct and regulatory failings

- A dedicated investigative reporter for the year-long project, and their training

21/08/2026

On Thursday 20th, Bristol’s streets saw coordinated action as ACORN members rallied for change.

The main target? OVO Energy. Protesters occupied their Redcliffe HQ, demanding a meeting with CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick to address claims of hidden costs and unfair prepayment meter policies.

Tensions rose as activists bypassed barriers, leading to a police standoff. Despite an initial promise of talks, protesters were eventually cleared by dozens of officers. But they didn't back down, they ended with a powerful rally right on the doorstep.

The day continued at Bristol City Council, where the group delivered a letter to Tony Dyer, pressing him to reignite the stalled “Boot Out the Bailiffs” campaign.

Two targets. One message: “We won’t stand for it anymore, we demand dignity not debt”

To stay tuned to latest updates on Bristol, susbscribe to our newsletter by clicking the link in bio or here: https://thebristolcable.org/newsletter/

18/08/2026

For a week, a boat called the Kate sat in Bristol's harbour, preparing for an extraordinary journey.

On 17 August she left for Gaza.

The Kate sails with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a grassroots movement that has challenged the blockade of Gaza by sea since 2010. From Bristol she heads to Sicily to join a larger fleet, then on towards Gaza, where the crew intend to break the siege and deliver humanitarian aid.

During her week in the city, the crew held talks, workshops and gatherings across Bristol. Two coalition boats attempted the same voyage this spring. Both were intercepted at sea, and the activists say their crews were detained and met with violence in custody.

They are sailing anyway.

We went aboard before she left to meet some of the people making the journey.

To track their journey or support the FFC go here: www.freedomflotilla.org

To stay tuned to latest updates on Bristol, susbscribe to our newsletter by clicking the link in bio or here: https://thebristolcable.org/newsletter/

06/08/2026

TODAY IN BRISTOL: A peaceful vigil outside HMP Bristol was broken up by a massive police presence. Over 50 demonstrators had gathered to sing and show solidarity with the "Filton 25". The "Filton 25" are a group of activists incarcerated for a 2024 direct action at an Elbit Systems weapons factory in Bristol, where protesters reportedly destroyed over 40 drones.

The speech you are hearing was made by phone by Lewie, who is currently on remand at HMP Bristol. He is one of the activists awaiting trial for his part in the direct actions against Elbit Systems and RAF Brize Norton in 2025.

Earlier this year, Lewie made headlines as one of the "Prisoners for Palestine" hunger strikers. He participated in a gruelling 73-day fast to demand an end to UK government military contracts.

But after an hour of peaceful songs and speeches, the atmosphere in Horfield shifted abruptly. Approximately 50 police officers and 10 vehicles amassed near the prison, swarming the crowd en masse.

Officers began arresting protestors for holding placards expressing support for Palestine Action. The direct action network was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation under anti-terror laws.

Witnesses on the ground reported that police failed to follow appropriate arrest procedures. Officers were seen aggressively dragging peaceful demonstrators across the area during the crackdown.

In one particularly bizarre moment showcasing the zero-tolerance approach, police arrested a man solely for holding a satirical, hand-painted placard. It read: "PLASTICINE ACTION GROUP."

Amid growing concerns about the dangers of energy drinks, the industry has funded research and used it to lobby against ...
05/08/2026

Amid growing concerns about the dangers of energy drinks, the industry has funded research and used it to lobby against restrictions around the world.

As the UK government prepares to ban the sale of them to under-16s, we look back at how research with ties to Red Bull shaped debate, delayed restrictions – and how Bristol academics played a role.

This story is part of the Behind the Buzz project, an investigative collaboration involving The Examination, The Bristol Cable, Daraj, Investico, Paper Trail Media, Der Spiegel, Der Standard and the Toronto Star.

Link in bio or click here: https://bit.ly/4fGAf56

21/07/2026

Link in bio for tickets or here: https://bit.ly/4aVBSZT

Has the war on drugs failed, and if so, what will replace it? Are corporations now cashing in on substances long considered illegal? And will there ever be justice following decades of mass incarceration and environmental destruction in the name of drug prohibition?

This month on People Just Do Something, Priyanka and Isaac will be joined by Professor Kojo Koram to discuss these questions as well as Kojo's latest book, The Next Fix: The Winners and Losers in the Future of Drugs.

Professor Kojo Koram is a writer and academic born in Ghana, raised in Merseyside and based in London. He is Professor of Law and and Political Economy at Loughborough University and has contributed articles to outlets including The Guardian, New Statesman, the Washington Post and Novara.

Kojo has also written several other books including Uncommon Wealth: Britain and the Aftermath of Empire, which won the English PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize and was chosen as The Guardian Book of the Year.

He has long been interested in the war on drugs and contemporary drug policy around the world. He is Co-Director of the Transnational Research Centre on Emerging Drug Markets, and was the editor of the book The War on Drugs and The Global Colour Line, published in 2019.

Hosted by Isaac Kneebone-Hopkins and Priyanka Raval, People Just Do Something is the podcast for people who want to change the world. Each episode attempts to untangle what it really means to effect change in Bristol, Britain, and beyond.

Date: Tuesday 28 July
Venue: Unit 8 Studios, Parkway Trading Estate, St Werburgh's, Bristol BS2 9PG
Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm sharp
Price: ÂŁ8 General / ÂŁ5 members

🥊 Kingswood’s rising starWe wrap up the Unpacked summer season with a chat that’s punchy in more ways than one as Neil s...
20/07/2026

🥊 Kingswood’s rising star

We wrap up the Unpacked summer season with a chat that’s punchy in more ways than one as Neil sits down with Kingswood’s rising boxing star Tiah-Mai Ayton.

The 19-year-old, who started out kickboxing aged six, has enjoyed a meteoric ascent in the boxing ring, unbeaten as an amateur and taking gold at the 2024 World Boxing Under-19 Championships.

She turned pro just over a year ago with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, since winning six straight fights, and has her sights set on becoming undisputed world champion.

So what lies behind that success? We talk to Tiah about her journey to the big time and the self-discipline behind it.

We get into family life, the sacrifices young athletes have to make while their mates are out partying, the benefits martial arts can bring to girls and to kids struggling at school – and of course the growth of women’s boxing and her ongoing part in that.

For the full episode, link in bio or click here: https://bit.ly/4hjWlv9

Link in bio for tickets or here: https://bit.ly/4aVBSZTHas the war on drugs failed, and if so, what will replace it? Are...
15/07/2026

Link in bio for tickets or here: https://bit.ly/4aVBSZT

Has the war on drugs failed, and if so, what will replace it? Are corporations now cashing in on substances long considered illegal? And will there ever be justice following decades of mass incarceration and environmental destruction in the name of drug prohibition?

This month on People Just Do Something, Priyanka and Isaac will be joined by Professor Kojo Koram to discuss these questions as well as Kojo's latest book, The Next Fix: The Winners and Losers in the Future of Drugs.

Professor Kojo Koram is a writer and academic born in Ghana, raised in Merseyside and based in London. He is Professor of Law and and Political Economy at Loughborough University and has contributed articles to outlets including The Guardian, New Statesman, the Washington Post and Novara.

Kojo has also written several other books including Uncommon Wealth: Britain and the Aftermath of Empire, which won the English PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize and was chosen as The Guardian Book of the Year.

He has long been interested in the war on drugs and contemporary drug policy around the world. He is Co-Director of the Transnational Research Centre on Emerging Drug Markets, and was the editor of the book The War on Drugs and The Global Colour Line, published in 2019.

Hosted by Isaac Kneebone-Hopkins and Priyanka Raval, People Just Do Something is the podcast for people who want to change the world. Each episode attempts to untangle what it really means to effect change in Bristol, Britain, and beyond.

Date: Tuesday 28 July
Venue: Unit 8 Studios, Parkway Trading Estate, St Werburgh's, Bristol BS2 9PG
Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7 pm sharp
Price: ÂŁ8 General / ÂŁ5 members

Issue 44 is here — and this time we're talking about Faith.It's something a lot of us on the left tend to roll our eyes ...
10/07/2026

Issue 44 is here — and this time we're talking about Faith.

It's something a lot of us on the left tend to roll our eyes at from our ivory towers. But with roughly 75% of the world's population professing some form of faith, maybe we're missing something. So this issue, we dove right in. In this edition you will find:

Isaac heads to the hills of Stanton Drew to meet the modern-day druids slowly coming to terms with Britain's health and safety culture.

Adam Quarshie continues his work investigating the far-right, this time looking at the role organised Christian Nationalism is playing in reviving ethnic hatred for a new generation of angry young men.

Marcus Smith spends time with the Humanists of Bristol, exploring what it looks like to live an ethical life without the eternal judgement so often associated with organised religion.

This issue also comes with a pull-out poster — so keep an eye out for it when your copy lands. It's got everything you need to know about our latest campaign.

Because this edition also marks the launch of something big: News You Own Can't Be Bought.

In an era where facts and honest journalism are under attack from the likes of Musk, Murdoch and Marshall, we're reminding everyone that The Bristol Cable is proudly community-owned. Not beholden to billionaires. Not for sale. The alternative.

We can't do this without you. If you believe in journalism that answers to its community and not to shareholders, now's the time to back it.

Become a member of The Bristol Cable. Link in bio or here https://bit.ly/3u9j6vn

Address

The Station, Silver Street
Bristol
BS12AG

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Bristol Cable posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Bristol Cable:

Shortcuts

Share

Category