Trotters Ethnic Tours

I’m sure Judith Chalmers  would not take her holiday programme to Bristol. After all it’s not known for its tropical climate, scenic splendour or wildlife. Although it does boast the landmark Clifton Suspension Bridge, The SS Great Britain ship and Cabot Tower. However for Fools fans it’s an essential destination. Since 1988 all location shots for Fools have been filmed here. The infamous argument between Raquel and Del outside the pub, the riot from ‘Fatal Extraction’, Del selling his ‘iffy gear’ at the market, and the Batman scene were all filmed in this wonderful metropolis. So for those of you who plan to attend the next Convention on 25^th October, here is what amounts to our ‘Trotter Ethnic Tour’ of Bristol. We will tell you where to go and what to look out for. We are indebted to Richard Clark who sent us the relevant information.

Richard writes. As I live in Bristol, I often find myself stumbling across many of the places that the BBC used while filming the show. After I had sent Perry a map of all the locations, I decided to follow it up with some photographs.

I began my journey in the St. Paul’s district of Bristol, taking in Alan Parry’s printing works, in York Street. Next it was on to Brunswick Square to find the place where Rodney told Del to visit the dentist during ‘Fatal Extraction’. Just around the corner in Upper York Street is Councilor Murray’s car park that was used while filming the famous Batman & Robin scene. I had to delay taking the photo for a few minutes, as three tramps were sat in the car park. They reminded me of the blokes in the ‘Mutton Vindaloo’ scene in ‘Danger UXD’.

I then stopped for a quick Bailey’s & Cherryade in the Waggon & Horses in Stapleton Road. This posed as the Nags Head in ‘Dates’, in the scenes where Raquel finds out the truth about Del, and when Del is taken away by the police. A mile down the road in Old Market Street, is the shop that was the computer-dating agency. Up until recently, the shop had been run as a furniture design studio.

My next stop was the Italian restaurant that Trigger visited in ‘Dates’. I found the Restaurant (Known as ‘Pasta Park’) in Gloucester Road, Bishopston. The Red, White and Green canopy is still there to this day. Directly across the road from the restaurant is The Bristol Flyer Pub (Featured when Del say’s “I don’t believe it…that’s a woman!”). Next door to the Bristol Flyer is the Bristol North Baths that was used as a decoy for the police station in ‘Dates’. This building was previously used by the BBC while filming the Young Ones’ in the episode entitled ‘Summer Holiday’.

I moved on to Clifton and had some lunch at ‘Henry Africa’s Hothouse’ in Whiteladies Road I magaged to sit  at the table where Del and Jules had a chat about England v Yugoslavia and Elizabeth Taylors’ cheek bones . I kept a close watch on the BP filling station across the road in case Alan Parry turned up in his BMW.

Next stop was ‘The Old Granary’ building in Welsh Back, by the City Docks. This building featured as the wine bar in ‘Yuppy Love’, and the casino in ‘Fatal Extraction’. Across the road in Queen Charlotte Street is Charles Fox House that was Rodney’s Adult Education Centre. There was a BMW parked outside, maybe Cassandra was inside on detention. Del’s parking meter situated across the road had been removed by the local council in 1997. Around the corner we find Rodney and Cassandra’s flat at Guild Court, Redcliffe Backs. I got a few strange looks from the residents when they saw me taking pictures of their home!

Back to central Bristol, where I took a photo of the lane that leads to Dirty Barry’s shop. I also took a photo of the site of the Studio Nightclub, which is where Raquel and Tony sang their duet. The club had been demolished in March 1998. The next stop was Shoots Floating Restaurant in Hotwell Road, where Rodney asked Cassandra if she fancied showing him her tan.

The scene where Del and Rodney dump the blow up dolls was filmed at Canons Marsh. This gasworks site has been derelict for decades, and is due for redevelopment. I was unable to get a photo of the actual place where they left the dolls as the whole area is fenced off. Then I drove to Bristol’s Broadmead shopping precinct to find the ‘Sport & Ski’ shop where Del’s van broke down in ‘Heroes & Villains’.

The afternoon was spent in South Bristol, taking in the Broadwalk Shopping Centre, where Del and Albert were selling the talking dogs in ‘Rodney Come Home’. I also visited the White Horse Pub in West Street which was featured in ‘Chance of a Lunchtime’ in the scene where Cassandra notices Rodney struggling with Trudy. Then it was on to Fiddlers Club in Willway Street which had been the venue for Tony Angelino’s Tom Jones act at the ‘Down By The Riverside Club’. I also took a stroll down the streets of Hill Avenue and Oxford Street which is where Rodney chased the thief in ‘Heroes & Villains’. Next stop was the Ashton district to visit the famous Whitemead House (Nelson Mandela House). I also had a look at Boycie’s car showroom in Marsh Lane.

I was planning to meet a few friends for a drink that night, and had arranged to meet them at ‘Liberty’s Venue Bar’ which is part of The Parkside Hotel in Brislington. This is where Rodney met Cassandra in ‘Yuppy Love’ and was also where Rodney, Mickey and Chris spent the night on the p…,booze in ‘Rodney Come Home’. Unfortunately the DJ refused to play ‘Lady in Red’ and none of the girls had heard of Jevon.

As it was raining, one of my friends kindly offered me a lift home. I asked him if he could drop me off halfway home as I fancied the walk. The day had been Cos-Bloody-Mic!!!!