Could Ipswich's Debenhams become our own 'Shredenhams'?

Why it matters: With dozens of abandoned retail spaces across the UK, Bristol has found a creative way to reinvigorate their high street.

Bristol's old Debenhams building has undergone a radical revamp — it's now a skatepark.

Now dubbed "Shredenhams," the once-iconic department store has swapped retail racks for ramps, thanks to Campus Skateboarding, the team behind Bristol's beloved Campus Pool and Park.

A hot pink "SHRED" sign now hangs over the old store logo as curious locals press their faces to the glass for a sneak peek.

Inside, you'll find: A full-blown skatepark, plus a bar, pool tables, dartboards and arcade machines.

What it costs: £10 gets visitors unlimited access to the space for the day, with the freedom to come and go as they please.

For context: Campus Skateboarding has a long history of revitalising unused spaces:

• It all started in 2011 on a derelict college site

• Campus Bedminster ran from 2011-2012

• In 2012, they took over the previously council-run skatepark "Sub-Side"

• The space became known as Campus Park after adaptations

• In 2014, they started the Bishopsworth swimming pool revival project, known as Campus Pool

• Campus Pool opened in 2015 with the help of Canvas

Meanwhile in Ipswich: The former Debenhams building has been vacant since 2021 and its owners, Unex, have been unable to secure a new tenant despite making improvements to the premises.

• It shut after online fashion retailer Boohoo bought the brand and its website for £55m, but closed the 118 stores

• The former Ipswich store sits within the four-storey Waterloo House building on Cornhill

• It was built in 1975 with Debenhams' tenancy agreement starting on 8 August 1977

The bottom line: As empty department stores continue to plague UK high streets, Bristol's innovative approach raises the question: Could Ipswich's Debenhams find a new purpose as a community-focused venue rather than waiting for another retailer to fill the space?

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