Bristol launched the Bristol Pound in 2012 as a local currency for businesses and residents.
The currency was created to encourage spending within Bristol and nearby communities. Users could exchange pounds sterling for Bristol Pounds and spend them with participating independent businesses. The scheme offered paper notes and electronic payment options, linking local commerce with a visible regional identity.
The Bristol Pound was not a replacement for the pound sterling. Its value was fixed at one Bristol Pound to one pound sterling, and participating organizations accepted it voluntarily. The currency attracted attention as part of the wider local-currency movement in the United Kingdom.
The scheme ended in 202 Bristol Pound ceased issuing new currency and closed its exchange services. It is often confused with the Totnes Pound and the Brixton Pound, which were separate local currencies launched in other English communities.