From a corner of Bristol that was a no-go area only a few months ago, the walkway underneath the St James Barton roundabout – more commonly known as the Bear Pit – has changed almost beyond all recognition, with more positive changes promised in the coming months if funding is secured.

It’s as if the Bear Pit has eaten a banana, because a remarkable transformation has occurred. Eric from 29 Acacia Avenue can now even get his bananas from the Bear Pit, at the fresh fruit stall that is helping to lead its transformation.

The other catalyst to attract businesses to an area that now has a noticeable increase in football is Bear Pit Coffee. Set up by the couple behind Coffee House, my favourite cafe in Weston-super-Mare, it sells coffee from some of the UK’s best roasters including Extract, Union, Small Batch and Monmouth.

Fancy something more substantial than a skinny latte? Try a sausage from Morgan & Schultz, whose grilled goods might be familiar to those who have attended Bestival on the Isle of Wight.

Table tennis tables will soon be appearing across Bristol as part of Ping, a street ping pong project which next month will see 40 tables installed in public locations across the city for a month of free play. But the Bear Pit is already leading the way, with its own table already proving popular for several weeks. Check out that text book forehand.

The transformation of the Bear Pit is down to several organisations who include the Bear Pit Improvement Group, the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft and surrounding businesses such as the Soil Association who overlook the roundabout, now well worth a detour to visit rather than avoid.