Through March, Bridge Street has been a hive of activity, not just on the street, but also behind doors. A new-look Bridge Street Studios is now open and ready to welcome Nelsonians into the city’s newest creative hub, home to 20+ makers, designers, artisans and small businesses.

“Opening the doors to the new Bridge Street Studios at this point in the Bridge to Better upgrade is fantastic news for Nelson,” says Chair of the City Revitalisation Taskforce Pete Rainey.

Decked out with industrial character and floor-to-ceiling glass visitors to the studios can start off with a coffee from Sublime Coffee Roasters paired with a petit four from K-Oui, traditional French pâtisserie with a Korean twist.

“While infrastructure work can bring short-term disruption, projects like this show exactly why we invest in our city centre, to create places where businesses can grow, people want to spend time, and new energy is drawn into the heart of Nelson. Seeing 26 businesses come together in one creative hub is a real vote of confidence in Bridge Street and a great sign of optimism for Nelson’s future.”

Other food offerings include roasted caramelised nuts from Nutty Delight or premium New Zealand mānuka honey from Bio Honey.

For the home, shoppers can choose from beautifully designed low-waste products from The Green Collective, handpicked antiques from The Workers Cottage, or get hands-on with ceramics at Kiln. Furniture designers MAKE showcases high-quality birch plywood kitchens and cabinetry.

Fashion and design is also featured with beautiful fabrics from Common Threads, sun-smart swimwear from hakinakina, and ethical jewellery crafted by Good Gold.

As well as retail businesses, Bridge Street Studios is home to a strong cluster of creatives and innovators. Plink Software develops technology that connects Māori to identity through language and whakapapa. Melissa Banks Photography captures rich visual stories of emotion, while Light Ltd works across photography, design and art. Beast Dance creates handcrafted pixel-art fantasy games, and Innit Creative brings stories to life across reels, music videos and commercials.

You’ll also find the New Zealand branch of Love & Money, alongside Culture Shock, Trakk Assets, Karbon, Fineline Architecture and Cultural Conversations — each adding to a diverse mix of enterprise, creativity and community.

Bridge Street Studios is packed with fresh ideas, local talent do yourself a favour and step inside.