East Street will be officially back for business next week. Bristol City FC captain Louis Carey and a team of local schoolchildren will open the street and kick off the celebrations at 11am on 8 May 2010. 

It promises to be a great event. A Circomedia stilt walker will help to get the party started and stores the length of East Street will be offering activities, prizes and deals promised to give us a taste of local shopping at its best, including:

- The Bake Away - free samples

- The Fruit Market - a high-value prize raffle

- The Assembly - a raffle for a meal for two with wine and cash prizes

- Wilkinsons - face painting and freebies

- Salvation Army music from the band

- Fone Shop - free gifts with each phone bought and half price accessories

- Miss Millies - tasting sessions and money-off vouchers

- Pets Plus - bring in your dog to say hello and the dog gets a free doggy sausage

- Bon Marche - 10% discount

Simon Dicken, Chair of the East Street Traders Association (ESTA), said: "The main works have been disruptive, but the end result is really worth it.

“We want to thank all our customers, some of whom have put up with all the mess and noise to keep shopping local.

“Like us, they think local shopping districts offer a far superior shopping experience to boring out of town centres, and East Street is one of the best.

"Come on down and see for yourself."

The council and local traders have been working with ESTA to make improvements to give East Street a clean, smart new look and improved security at night.

The £400,000 revamp includes the replacement of seats and bins. The road and pavements are being resurfaced. The design of the new lamp columns has drawn criticism from some locals, but the lamps will provide brighter light to make the street a safer and more welcoming environment for evening restaurant and bar visitors.   

Further improvements to the street environment include a thorough deep clean and the planting of trees, which should be completed by the end of May.

Well done to ESTA!