Social
Gert lush
gert lush
Very good. 'Gert' is the West Country intensifier and 'lush' the approval. Used half-ironically by everyone now, but genuinely local.
Alright?
or-ITE
The standard greeting, not a question about your wellbeing. The correct response is 'alright?' back.
Mind
mynd
'Remember' — 'mind you lock it'. A West Country usage that survives strongly in Bristol.
Daily life
The CAZ
kaz
The Clean Air Zone — a charging zone covering the city centre since November 2022. Non-compliant vehicles pay daily, including private cars.
RPZ
ar-pee-zed
Residents' Parking Zone. Most inner Bristol is covered; without a permit you cannot leave a car outside your own house.
Council Tax
—
The local property tax paid by the occupier, banded by property value. Bristol's rates are among the higher ones in England, and it is billed separately from rent.
Periodic tenancy
—
Since the Renters' Rights Act, every private tenancy in England rolls month to month with no fixed end date. You can leave on two months' notice.
Over the water
—
South Bristol, across the harbour — Southville, Bedminster, Totterdown. A real dividing line in how people describe the city.
Culture
The Fiesta
—
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta each August, when a hundred-plus hot air balloons launch over the city at dawn. The whole city gets up for it.
Gromit
GROM-it
Aardman Animations is from here, and Wallace and Gromit are effectively civic mascots. The trails of painted sculptures are a recurring city event.
Emergency
999 / 111
—
999 for emergencies. NHS 111 for urgent but non-emergency medical help. Both free from any phone.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.