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Aerospace Bristol in 'better place' after council rescue

Aerospace Bristol Brittania exhibition at Aerospace BristolAerospace Bristol
The museum is opening an exhibition telling the story of a failed test flight 70 years ago.

A museum that was given a rescue package of £470,000 says it is in a "better place" now.

South Gloucestershire Council let Aerospace Bristol off from paying back their loans in 2023 and 2024, following the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

Now, the museum has seen 30,000 more visitors in 2023, up from 70,000 in 2022.

During half term, the museum is exhibiting a plane that crash landed 70 years ago.

Sally Cordwell, the museum's CEO, said: "Opening a museum and then Covid hitting - times were pretty tough.

"We made some tough decisions and the council could see that we were improving, so they let us off from paying back their loan for 2023 and 2024.

"It's made a transformational difference."

Aerospace Bristol Brittania cockpitAerospace Bristol
People will be able to see the Brittania's cockpit for the first time

Ms Cordwell said visitor numbers had increased over the past year.

She added: "Things are looking up for us. We're really confident that we're a great day out.

"But things are still really challenging, with costs going up all the time. That is quite scary."

Aerospace Bristol Brittania in river 70 years agoAerospace Bristol
The Britannia, which was built at Filton, had a crash landing in the River Severn

During upcoming half term, the museum is opening an exhibition telling the story of a failed test flight 70 years ago.

At the time, the Britannia, which was built at Filton, had a crash landing in the River Severn.

The plane will be exhibited at the museum, and people can go into the cockpit for the first time.

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