A shopping arcade in Newport has seen an amazing transformation since new owners quickly set about working on it in October. Just in time for Christmas a host of new traders arrived at the almost forgotten Newport Arcade off the city’s High Street, which has undergone a stunning renovation leading some shoppers to regard it as a “destination for visitors” that the city was crying out for.
It comes months after the reopening of Newport Market following a multi-million pound regeneration there. Darren Ward, who owns Freestyle skate shop in the arcade, said the replenished arcade has attracted new people to the city at a desperate time for businesses.
“It’s a good place to be,” he said. “The bars up this way are good too and attract an alternative crowd. This end of town really is becoming the independent side now. The change has been phenomenal. It’s turned into a really positive place.”
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A couple who took over the ownership of the arcade earlier this year - who want to be anonymous - have an independent traders only policy and have managed to fill five vacant units already. New shops include a plant store, an antique dealer, a photo gallery and a coffee shop. Darren says he’s been particularly impressed that the new owners got all the traders onboard to paint the arcade with them.
“We’ve obviously seen a lot of businesses come and go over the years, but in the short period of time that the new owners have been here they’ve really rallied everyone. We had a painting party which was really nice because it made it feel like we’ve done it too and it’s a bit of ours.
"You walk down the arcade now and take a bit of pride in it as our own. It’s a nice atmosphere, all the traders are great people to work alongside, and it’s nice to to pay your rent to someone you like. When you pay the rent now you feel like you’re investing in something bigger than just your shop. I’ve been here 27 years and I can’t remember the last time we had Christmas lights. Yet it’s taken them just a couple of months to brighten the place up and fill the units.”
Darren says he has seen a significant upturn in footfall in his own shop since October, partly due to the work in the arcade and partly due to the opening of No Comply skate park at Friars Walk in the city centre. “We’ve certainly seen an up - and what’s really nice is we’ve seen a lot of new people too - especially girls getting interested in skateboarding,” he explained.
Above Darren’s shop is new barber Nathan Pritchard, who at 28 has opened his own barber shop for the first time. “I’ve been here six months and I’ve been pleased with how it’s gone,” he said. “I’m really impressed, it’s got loads better in here. In recent months this part of the city has really picked up - especially with the market too. It’s a great place to be.”
Maria Castaldo, who manages the new coffee shop in the arcade - called Arcadia - said: “Lots of people just come for the skate shop, but then they look around and see all the great things here. We get lots of people who have been to the skate shop and then pop in here. That’s what happens when you’ve got lots of independents like this, you all knock off each other. I think it’s fantastic - there are loads of quirky arcades elsewhere, so it’s about time Newport got one. I think it’s just what Newport needed.”
Since the coffee shop opened in November Maria said she’s been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who’ve spent all day there. “It’s gone really well - and that’s what it’s about. We want people to enjoy coming here and not feel rushed,” she said. “We’re finding a lot of people are saying this is going to be their new place to go.”
Emma Hargreaves, who realised her passion for plants during the pandemic and bought Newport plants business Nettle and Bark this year, moved into the arcade in November. “Things have been really good,” she said. “We’ve had loads of positive feedback about the location. It’s an independent hub, so all the units are fully independent and support each other, and we all complement each other too - it works really well.”
Sonia Lloyd, who has owned her jewellery repair workshop in the arcade since 2018, said: “I think it’s gorgeous. I love what they’ve done with it. It is attracting people, we’ve seen footfall improve a little bit. We just want to spread the word really that it’s something a bit different down here now and it’s a nice hub for independent businesses with a bit of everything.”
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