Sofa Riot owner, Joe Wookey is currently refurbishing his shop at the top of Stokes Croft. Having repainted the exterior, Joe intends to remove much of the interior panelling to reveal the original Victorian skylights, thus demonstrating a growing confidence in the future of the area as a centre of excellence, where independent local businesses can thrive. Joe also intends to run courses in his workshop on upholstery and making furniture, under the working title of “Sofa School”. Another clear indication that Stokes Croft is growing from within.
Below: Sofa Riot Exterior gets a lick of paint.
Below: Joe makes sofaframes in his workshop.
Below: “Nudge” works for Joe as an apprentice.
Err, not really like this actually. Sofa Riot used to have some of the finest most eccentric graffit in bristol over the side of it, a proper graf collab long before it the Peoples Republic got started. I’m afraid that all I can see here is a palette of corporate greys and a Nu-Logo re-branding. I thought the point of all of this – Peoples Republic – was to keep and promote what makes this area a bit interesting and distinctive. So I fail to see how this “lick of paint” (greys over colours) and a swanky new shop badge sign are an advancing of the Stokes Croft position, or that good…
any thoughts, gladly appreciated
Yes, it is true that there was a piece of old school graff on the side of the building. Joe decided that it was time for this to go. He has decided to invest in the building, which he rents, and it was his decision to repaint the exterior. Sofa Riot is precisely the kind of business that keeps Stokes Croft interesting and distinctive, being a craftsman based business producing bespoke furniture, keeping the idea of local industry alive. And the fact that he is aiming to run workshops also is exciting, offering to people the opportunity to learn new skills…
We may have lost a key piece of graff, but we have retained a strong local business whose future was far from certain.
Win a bit, lose a bit, I guess…
I want to do an upholstery course….fantabulous!
Nice workshop! Really like it!