As regular visitors to Bristol’s Old City will know, the streets around St Nicholas Market have been a frequent hotspot for location filming in recent years – filming that runs smoothly thanks to the cooperation of the Markets and its community of traders.
This Summer, St Nicholas Markets is proud to be hosting its very own specially-designed ‘Aladdin’ Gromit as part of the spectactular movie-themed Gromit Unleashed 3 Trail – very apt, given that St Nicks is packed with treasures just like Agrabah Bazaar in the Disney classic!
And we’re pleased to say that this gem of a Gromit arrived at St Nicks following a unique creative collaboration between the Markets Team and Bristol Film Office.
To help productions give back to the local community, Bristol Film Office liaised with four TV dramas recently filmed in the area to arrange sponsorship contributions towards a Trader Fund set up to cover the costs of hosting the sculpture in support of The Grand Appeal.
The Trail’s official description of Aladdin, who was created by artist Rachel Bennett, sum him up perfectly: “Inspired by the classic tale from Arabian Nights, [he] twinkles at every turn with jewels, gold and riches, inspiring magic and joy through the realms of his wondrous adventures.”
In partnership with the Bristol City Council’s Joinery Shop, a previously unused trading stall has been transformed into a charming Aladdin-themed Gromit Dog House, offering a novel attraction for visitors and locals alike.
To celebrate, St Nicholas Markets have installed a paw print trail guiding visitors from the Corn Exchange main entrance foyer directly to the Gromit Dog House.
Opening hours have also been extended to include Sundays for the entire duration of the trail, transitioning the Market from a six-day to a seven-day trading week.
Janine Jones, Film Liasion Officer & Adela Straughan, Bristol Film
Office Manager with Aladdin
Of course, if you want to discover Aladdin for yourself, you’ll have to get down to St Nicholas Markets in person! The Trail will run until Sunday 31 August 2025. Make sure you check Aladdin off your list on the official Gromiit Unleashed 3 app – and don’t forget to donate!
For more information about Gromit Unleashed 3, visit www.grandappeal.org.uk/gromit-unleashed-3