Bristol Crown Court Listings

Bristol Crown Court Listings — Today’s Cases, Hearings & Sentencing

The Bristol Crown Court listings page publishes the official daily cause list for Bristol Crown Court at The Law Courts on Small Street, in the heart of Bristol’s Old City. As one of the busiest Crown Court venues in the South West, Bristol hears jury trials, sentencing hearings, plea and trial preparation hearings (PTPH), bail applications and Crown Court appeals from across Avon and Somerset. Our schedule is refreshed daily from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), so legal professionals, journalists, defendants and members of the public can see exactly what is happening in the courts in Bristol today, tomorrow, and across the week.

About Bristol Crown Court

Bristol Crown Court occupies an Italianate stone building originally completed in 1868, designed by architect James Williams and built in ashlar to serve as Bristol’s main General Post Office. After the post office relocated, the structure was sensitively converted into a courthouse between 1989 and 1993, reopening as the Crown Court in December 1993 with ten courtrooms. The Grade II listed frontage on Small Street preserves the symmetrical 15-bay façade, while the modern interior provides full jury, video-link and accessibility facilities. The court has hosted some of the most widely reported trials in the region, including the 2022 acquittal of the so-called “Colston Four” over the toppling of the Edward Colston statue, and the convictions arising from the 2021 Bristol “Kill the Bill” disorder.

Address, Contact Details & Opening Hours

• Address: Bristol Crown Court, The Law Courts, Small Street, Bristol, BS1 1DA
• Telephone: 0117 976 3030
• Court building open: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm
• Court counter: 10:00am – 4:00pm
• Cases handled: Crime, Single Justice Procedure

How to Get to Bristol Crown Court

Bristol Crown Court is a five-minute walk from the city’s major transport hubs. Bristol Temple Meads railway station — served by GWR, CrossCountry and South Western Railway — sits roughly a 20-minute walk or short taxi ride east of Small Street. The MetroBus m1, m2 and m3 routes stop on The Centre and Colston Avenue, both within two minutes on foot. There is no parking at the court, but paid off-site parking is available within 500 metres at The Galleries (Nelson Street) and NCP Rupert Street. The building has level access to every floor, lifts to all courtrooms, hearing-loop facilities, a quiet/prayer consultation room available on request, and welcomes assistance dogs. All visitors and possessions are searched at the Small Street entrance.

Types of Cases Heard at Bristol Crown Court

• Indictable-only offences — including murder, rape, armed robbery and large-scale drug supply
• Either-way offences committed for trial or sentence from Bristol Magistrates’ Court
• Sentencing hearings in Bristol courts following conviction or guilty plea
• Appeals against conviction or sentence from magistrates’ courts in Avon and Somerset
• Bail applications, custody time-limit extensions and case management hearings
• Confiscation and Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings

What You’ll Find in Today’s Cause List

Every entry on the Bristol Crown Court list shows the case reference, defendant or party names as released by HMCTS, the hearing type (Trial, For Sentence, PTPH, Mention, Application for Bail), the scheduled start time, the courtroom number, and where named, the presiding judge — typically the Resident Judge of Bristol or a sitting circuit judge. HMCTS publishes tomorrow’s list around 4:00pm each working day; this Bristol Crown Court website page is refreshed multiple times throughout the day to capture floating cases, vacated hearings and late additions. If you are attending in person, allow at least 30 minutes for the security search before your scheduled hearing time.

Bristol Crown Court Public Gallery, Press & Sentencing Results

Most hearings at Bristol Crown Court are open to the public, with seating provided in the gallery of each courtroom. Reporters from the BBC, Bristol Live and other accredited outlets cover the press bench daily. Photography, audio recording and filming are prohibited under the Criminal Justice Act 1925 and the Contempt of Court Act 1981. Bristol Crown Court results and sentencing outcomes are not formally published in the cause list — for high-profile cases, sentencing remarks are often posted on the Judiciary website, while day-to-day Bristol Crown Court news is reported by local media.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bristol Crown Court?

Bristol Crown Court is at The Law Courts, Small Street, Bristol, BS1 1DA — in the city’s Old City quarter, near Corn Street and a short walk from St Nicholas Market.

What cases are at Bristol Crown Court today?

Today’s Bristol Crown Court cases are listed above, drawn directly from the HMCTS daily cause list. Hearing types include trial, sentence, PTPH, mention and bail applications.

What sentencing is happening in Bristol courts this week?

Cases marked “For Sentence” in this week’s Bristol Crown Court listings indicate scheduled sentencing hearings. Tap any case to see its courtroom and judge.

Can I attend a hearing at Bristol Crown Court?

Yes — the public gallery is open to anyone aged 14 or over, subject to reporting restrictions and seating capacity. Photo ID and a security search are required at the Small Street entrance.

What time does Bristol Crown Court start?

Hearings typically begin at 10:00am or 10:30am, with afternoon sittings from 2:00pm. The court building opens at 8:30am to allow time for security.

How do I contact Bristol Crown Court?

Call Bristol Crown Court on 0117 976 3030 during opening hours, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm. For listing queries, ask to be put through to the listing office.

Are Bristol Crown Court listings published for tomorrow?

Tomorrow’s Bristol Crown Court listings are published by HMCTS around 4:00pm each weekday. Refresh this page after that time for the next sitting day’s cases.