Why I Built bristol.dev: A Curated Directory of Bristol's Best Web Talent
The story behind bristol.dev - an invite only directory connecting Bristol businesses with handpicked local web designers, developers, and creatives. Why I started it, how it works, and our vision for the future.
Simon B
Freelance Web Designer & Developer
Finding reliable web talent shouldn't feel like a gamble. That's why I built bristol.dev - a curated, invite only directory of Bristol's best web designers, developers, and creatives.
In this article, I'll share why I started it, how the curation process works, and where we're heading next.
The Problem: Finding Trusted Web Talent is Hard
If you've ever needed a website built or redesigned, you know the struggle. You could go to Upwork or Fiverr and scroll through thousands of profiles, reading reviews that may or may not be genuine. You could ask around and get recommendations that might be outdated. Or you could Google "web developer Bristol" and hope for the best.
None of these approaches give you confidence that you're hiring someone who will actually deliver quality work, communicate well, and understand your business needs.
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Development
Here's something we see constantly: businesses come to us with websites built by inexperienced developers that are now causing problems. Broken functionality, messy code that's impossible to maintain, poor SEO foundations, security vulnerabilities - the list goes on. What seemed like a bargain at the time ends up costing more to fix than it would have to build properly in the first place.
Most of the web projects we inherit have these kinds of issues. It's frustrating for clients who trusted someone and got burned, and it's extra work for us to untangle the mess before we can move forward.
Why Generic Platforms Fall Short
Large freelancer platforms optimise for volume, not quality. They're designed to connect as many buyers with as many sellers as possible. The result? You spend hours vetting candidates, and even then, there's no guarantee.
What's missing is trust. Real, earned trust from someone who has actually worked with these people and can vouch for their skills.
The Solution: Invite Only Curation
bristol.dev takes the opposite approach. Instead of listing anyone who signs up, we handpick every single creative on the platform.
How the Curation Works
Every freelancer on bristol.dev has been personally vetted. I've either worked with them directly on client projects or have seen their work firsthand over an extended period. This isn't about checking portfolios and ticking boxes - it's about knowing how someone actually operates when deadlines get tight, when requirements change, or when problems arise.
Currently, we have three members:
Matt Jenkinson - A full-stack web developer specialising in ReactJS, NextJS, TypeScript, and Tailwind. Matt also has extensive Shopify experience for e-commerce projects.
Simon Brown (that's me) - Covering Webflow, WordPress, web design, frontend development, and VueJS.
Pascoe Dzambo-Sinclair - A graphic designer with expertise in web design, UX design, and Figma.
Between us, we cover most web project needs - from design through to full-stack development.
Why "Invite-Only" Matters
The invite only model keeps quality high. We're not trying to be the biggest directory; we're trying to be the most trusted. Every addition to bristol.dev is a deliberate choice, not an automated sign-up.
This approach means slower growth, but it also means every recommendation we make comes with our reputation attached.
The Matchmaking Service
Not everyone knows exactly what they need. Is your project a web design job, a development job, or both? Do you need UX expertise? Should you be looking at Webflow or custom code?
That's where our matchmaking service comes in. If you're not sure who you need, you can fill out a form with your project details and we'll connect you with the right freelancer - or team of freelancers - for your specific requirements.
This removes the guesswork. Instead of trying to figure out whether you need a "frontend developer" or a "web designer," you tell us what you're trying to achieve, and we point you in the right direction.
Why Bristol?
Bristol has become one of the UK's most exciting tech hubs. We have a thriving startup scene, established agencies, and a strong community of independent freelancers. But despite all this talent, there wasn't a simple way for local businesses to find trusted local creatives.
The Local Advantage
Working with Bristol-based freelancers offers real benefits:
- Local market understanding - We know Bristol's business culture and what works here
- Face-to-face when needed - Sometimes a coffee meeting solves problems faster than a dozen emails
- Supporting the local economy - Keeping work within the Bristol community
We work remotely by default, but being locally based means we can meet in person when projects benefit from it.
What We've Achieved So Far
Since launching bristol.dev, we've already collaborated on some brilliant projects together. We're not quite ready to share the details yet - watch this space - but it's been great working as a collective rather than solo.
Having a trusted network means we can take on larger projects that would be too big for one freelancer, while still maintaining the quality and communication that clients expect from working with independents.
The Vision: Beyond Web Development
While we started with web-focused services, the long-term vision for bristol.dev is much bigger - in two ways.
Expanding Services
The same curation model that works for developers and designers can work for other creative disciplines. We're planning to expand into:
- Photography - Product, lifestyle, and commercial photography
- Illustration - Custom illustrations for brands and publications
- Copywriting - Website copy, content strategy, and brand voice
- Video production - Promotional videos, animations, and motion graphics
Expanding Beyond Bristol
Bristol is where we started, but it won't be where we stop. The model works because of trust and curation, not geography. As we grow, we'll be looking to connect with talented freelancers across the UK and eventually beyond.
The name might say Bristol, but the vision is to build a network of trusted creatives wherever they're based. The principles stay the same: invite only, quality first, and every recommendation backed by real experience.
The key is maintaining our standards. We'll only add new disciplines and new locations when we have freelancers we genuinely trust and have worked with.
How to Work With Us
If you have a web project and want to work with trusted Bristol talent, there are two ways to get started:
1. Browse Profiles Directly
Visit bristol.dev and view the profiles of our current members. Each profile shows their specialisms, so you can reach out directly if you know what you need.
2. Use the Matchmaking Service
Not sure who you need? Head to our freelance matchmaker page, fill out the form with your project details, and we'll recommend the right freelancer (or team) for your requirements.
The Future of bristol.dev
bristol.dev is still young, but the foundation is solid. We're building something different from the generic freelancer platforms - a trusted network where quality comes first and every recommendation is backed by real experience.
As we grow, we'll add more talented Bristol creatives to the directory. But growth will always be deliberate. We'd rather have ten freelancers we completely trust than a hundred we've never worked with.
If you're a Bristol-based creative and think you'd be a good fit, get in touch. And if you're a business looking for reliable web talent, we'd love to hear about your project.
Bristol has incredible creative talent. bristol.dev is here to help you find it.
Ready to start your project with trusted Bristol talent? Visit bristol.dev or get in touch to discuss your requirements.