Spitfire Hangar at Brabazon Opens Its Doors: A Landmark New Destination for Bristol

Today marks a major milestone for the transformation of North Bristol as Spitfire Hangar at Brabazon opens its doors. A restored landmark, dating back to 1915, once part of the historic Filton Airfield. Today, it becomes a place for people to come together, with food, culture and community at its heart.

A new home for Mokoko Bakery

At the centre of the Hangar’s opening line‑up is Mokoko, the much‑loved South West bakery and coffee brand known for its artisan sourdough, small‑batch pastries, and meticulous approach to craft.

Spitfire Hangar becomes Mokoko’s largest site, reimagining an historic industrial space through a lens of nostalgia with a retro twist. The design is set against the warm, honest textures of wood, featured tiles and bold graphic murals. From the bespoke powder-coated frames to the curated feature lighting, every detail is crafted to make Mokoko’s largest bakery to date feel like a grand yet soulful community hub.

The interior blends booth seating with a playful mix of feature tables and chairs. By pairing industrial scale with retro-inspired accents, they have created a space that honours the building’s aviation heritage while offering a fresh, modern space for pastry and coffee lovers alike.

Sarah Ballinger, Managing Director at Mokoko said of the launch: "After many months of preparation, from the initial design to the incredible work of the team, we are delighted to be part of the iconic Spitfire Hangar. Opening in Brabazon represents a milestone for us - an opportunity to share our passion for artisan baking and showcase our signature collection of products, designed to delight this vibrant new neighbourhood."

Flexible event spaces for a new cultural quarter

Spitfire Hangar also introduces a suite of flexible event spaces, designed to host everything from community gatherings and creative workshops to exhibitions, pop‑ups, and private celebrations. Whether you have 3 or 300 guests, the restored industrial architecture - complete with soaring ceilings with original Belfast trusses - provides a dramatic backdrop for events of all scales.

These spaces will play a key role in establishing Brabazon as a new cultural quarter for Bristol, supporting local creators, businesses, and organisations with a venue that is both characterful and highly adaptable.

A landmark Moment for the new town north of Bristol

The opening of Spitfire Hangar marks another milestone in Brabazon’s transformation - its first restored historic building and a new space for community life.

Delivered by YTL Developments and built by YTL Construction UK, Brabazon new town is being created as a place where history inspires the future, with thousands of new homes, acres of parkland, a new rail station, and the forthcoming 20,000-seater arena all part of the vision. The restoration of Spitfire Hangar celebrates the site’s extraordinary aviation story while delivering spaces designed for modern living.

A new chapter begins

“We’re incredibly proud to open the doors of Spitfire Hangar,” said Naomi Easy, Venue and Events Manager at Spitfire Hangar. “We can’t wait to see this building come to life and be used by residents at Brabazon, local businesses and wider community.”

Spitfire Hangar, operated by YTL Live is now open to the public, with further announcements about upcoming events, tenants, and community programming to follow.

Visit the www.spitfirehangaratbrabazon.co.uk to view event listings and hire one of the event spaces.