Newport city centre has been the site of enormous development and investment over the last few years. One street that has been the recipient of much of the change is High Street. Home to the brand-new market and a refurbished arcade, High Street is also home to a scattering of pubs, independent shops, and music venues.
If you pop along for a Saturday lunchtime bite in the brand-new market, you'll be hard pressed to find somewhere to sit. The popularity is testimony to the range and quality of food on offer; you can get your hands on everything from vegan Thai cuisine to cheesecake in a jar.
The newly-refurbished market opened just a couple of weeks ago, but it has already become a destination. Boasting an impressive range of eateries and around 130 covered seats, the market is already attracting foodies and families every week. On weekends, the whole building is buzzing, and you will need to join a queue to grab food from any of the stalls.
Read more: The impressive pictures that show just how good Newport Market looks after huge refurbishment.
You'd be forgiven for believing that you were stepping into a swanky European shopping centre, with sleek and modern design - courtesy of Loft Co - and dark colours giving an exclusive feel. If you manage to grab a seat inside, you will be sat amongst stylish lighting and classy bench-style seating. There are a number of classic market traders alongside the new foodie offerings. You can pop to the butchers, pick up a gift from the florist, or grab you essential fruit and veg from Rae Barton.
Step out onto High Street and you can pop into one of the many pubs and bars for an afternoon drink. On warm days, you can sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. And there's plenty to do on a rainy day, with new venues like Geek Retreat offering hours of entertainment whatever the weather.
As the evening draws in, you can drop in to new venues like Rewind Retro Bar and Cocos that are open late into the night. If you're lucky, there will be live music on McCann's or Le Pub, or you can grab a bite to eat and a few beers at Tiny Rebel.
The multi-million pound regeneration of Market Arcade and Newport Market has brought a new buzz to the city centre. Locals report more people traffic in the city, particularly on weekends.
Sam Dabb runs Newport independent music venue Le Pub. She says that the changes are bringing more people into Newport's city centre. She said: "It's making a difference. The town centre is buzzing and gets really busy. It's a good thing for the area."
Owner of neighbouring bar McCann's, Amy McCann, agreed. She said: "It's increased footfall, definitely. I like the market and on the weekends it is really busy."
The hope for other local businesses is that the buzz will be shared amongst shops, too. The arcades off High Street boast some fantastic small businesses. In Newport Arcade, you can grab a cup of coffee and breakfast from The Pot Cafe, pick up some craft beers from Bwrw Cwrw, and skating supplies from Freestyle Skatestore.
Darran John Ward is the owner of Freestyle Skatestore. He said: "The new development brilliant. It's brought a lot of people into Newport city centre.
"It would be interesting to see if that is people from Newport or further afield. It's almost like Newport is always on the edge of getting there - we had Friars Walk which looks amazing, then we had a recession. Then Covid hit. I'm hoping that this will succeed."
Owner of Bwrw Cwrw, Dominic Mayer, said that his business is still recovering from the pandemic. He said: "I opened just over two years ago - immediately before Covid hit. I sold online during lockdown but I'm glad to be back in the shop. I've seen more people in the centre and I'm hoping that independent stores will feel the benefit of that too."
Across the road, and opposite the brand-new market, is Market Arcade. The formerly tired and vandalised arcade was fully refurbished over a two-year period, finally being completed in January. The Victorian grade II listed structure is the city’s oldest surviving arcade and the second oldest in Wales.
Proprietors include a tattooist, a record store, a barbers, a photo gallery, a camera expert, and a gift seller. The arcade feels modern yet traditional, with Victorian features giving it a historic credibility. There are still a number of shops yet to move in, and businesses hope that footfall will increase now the market is thriving.
Den Beddis owns Kriminal Records in Market Arcade. He moved into the new venue after leaving Newport Market. He said: "It is a really positive thing. The market looks great and the arcade was in need of work. I like having the physical store where people can come in and chat to me. People used to use this arcade as a cut through to the market - so I am hoping that will start happening again soon, as it does not seem to be the case yet."
Newport is a historic city which has changed a lot over the decades. New investment into the city centre gives local businesses and investors hope and excitement for the future. Whether the city will become a tourist destination is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure: Newport city centre is the place to go for independent shops, bars, and eateries this summer.
