Simon Hancock 🦋
@newsmansimon.bsky.social
2.6K followers 4K following 130 posts
Freelance Journalist with BBC World Service. Previously heard on BBC Asian Network, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Wiltshire and BBC Somerset. Message me with stories. Available for freelance writing commissions. He/him.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
LOTO: "What on Earth is the point of us having a lawyer rather than a leader as a Prime Minister..."
PM: "...she's clearly not a lawyer or a leader."
#PMQs
If looks could kill #The CelebrityTraitors
NO! Not our national treasure 🤷‍♂️ #TheCelebrityTraitors
Another #BBC programme partially filmed in #Bristol. #FilmClub could have easily found some locations in #Manchester to use as a Bristol backdrop but they decided to be authentic & film around the #Harbourside & other areas. Impressive performance by the @bristolfilmoffice.bsky.social
How Are You (Bristol)? #AlanPartridge #SteveCoogan #Bristol makes it into the opening sequence of another BBC series.
So there we have it, HL is not leaving the Harbourside after more than four decades. It's (1) leaving the Harbourside (after about 15 years) and (2) not uprooting itself from "more than four decades" in Bristol.
The "Bristol roots" reference here relates to HL's previous offices at Kendal House and Pembroke House (both in Clifton) and then on the Harbourside (in Anchor Road).
The press release said that HL would "leave its current Harbourside office..." and here's the important part of that sentence; "but remain true to its Bristol roots where it has been based for over 40 years."
This is where I called in ChatGPT to assist me. It found a press release dated 22nd September 2025 that referred to HL moving to Welcome House at Temple Quay. That's when I found the "more than 4 decades" sentence.
So I looked on Companies House. HL changed its registered head office from Kendal House in Clifton in 2010 to One College Square South, Anchor Road, Bristol. But I couldn't understand why the articles mentioned "more than 4 decades..."
Almost all the articles used the same language, "more than four decades". I researched HL's history on its website but I couldn't find a definitive reference to its registered HQ for the last 44 years.
HL definitely had two offices in Clifton, I have been to both for interviews many years ago. I was sure Kendal House was their HQ before they moved to the Harbourside. But all the articles about their move to near Temple Meads mentioned them being at the Harbourside for "more than four decades".
This headline has been bothering me for several days now. Having worked in Bristol's financial services industry, I was pretty sure HL moved to its Harbourside location around 2010 (not 4 decades ago). So I decided to do some digging. Read on...
Hi Sally-Anne, thanks for your reply. Would you be able to DM? I'm unable to send you one. Thanks, Simon.
I know we are on season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race UK but does the rest of the world still have any clue as to why they give out RuPeter Badges?
South Gloucestershire Council co-leaders say Union and St George's Cross flags will be removed because they are "intimidating" and "divisive". They are also not allowed without permission under the Highways Act 1980
www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...
'Intimidating' and 'divisive' flags will be removed, says council
Unauthorised Union Jacks and St George's crosses will be taken down
www.bristolpost.co.uk
"Triple sabotage" - President Trump. The UN says the teleprompter belonged to the US delegation while the escalator safety mechanism might have been triggered by Trump's videographer.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump demands UN inquiry over 'triple sabotage'
The US president called the incidents that included an escalator and teleprompter mishap
www.bbc.co.uk
Nice to see Bristol in one of the opening segments of this season's BBC Strictly (that's La Voix in George's hand)!