It has been a key fixture of the community since 1836 and has stood the test of time, providing a place for independent traders to make their mark. But, in a pattern seen by town centres across Wales, passing trade became a problem for Bridgend Indoor Market, not least when the pandemic hit, of course.
But the market and its traders are now fighting back. They feel now is the time to push what the market has to offer, especially during the cost-of-living crisis, when more people may be discovering the importance and benefits of shopping locally.
I went along to the market, located in The Rhiw Shopping Centre, to meet some of the people who make it tick. One of them was Tim Wood, mayor of Bridgend, who runs the longest standing business in the market - Peter Wood and Sons Butchers. It has been run by his family for over 50 years, and he took it over from his father who ran it 20 years ago. He told me: “People like the personal touch and what we can offer here."
He said it was a perfect place for start-up businesses. "It’s very low rent, very low rates. And I think if you’re on a day out wanting to try out something new or find something unique there’s loads to choose from. With social media and everything, when a new trader joins the market it’s a really positive thing because they’ll have their own clientele, and we all bounce off each other really. People come to me at the butchers but then they’ll go over and grab some fruit and veg.
“My father was in the old market in 1968, and I know that there’s always been such a sense of community here. It’s interesting to see how it’s changed because it used to be more of a food market but now there’s lots of different things - I can’t imagine being without it to be honest.”
Chris Pritchard who runs coffee store, Wheely’s, has been set up at Bridgend’s indoor market for six months now and has loved every minute. He said: “With new traders coming in, it’s starting to pick up. It's starting to feel a little bit more like the old market. It was busy.
“It was nice. It was always bustling with people in here. One of the things that really used to annoy me was the way people commented about how run down it looked, and how quiet it was in here, but now you don’t really hear those comments, people are starting to come to the markets and have a proper look around.
“And because I used to just serve coffee out and about and at events, it’s nice to have had the opportunity to get a permanent base right in the middle of Bridgend where customers can come and find me.”
Hayley, who runs the raw pet food shop, Tilly’s Rawsome Pet Food in Bridgend, has been at the market for five weeks and has also had a positive reception since joining. She said she benefited from being a business with a difference. “The customers have said that it’s amazing and that there was nothing like us around.
“Hopefully we can stay in the market for a long time because all the stores complement each other and bring the new people in, then I think it’s helping older store holders. When new customers come in, or if people that haven’t visited for a while come back, they either discover all the different things there, or they’re reminded of what’s on offer.”
There’s a central square in the market now, that was established in 2020, with the aim of creating a space for specialist events, family entertainment and children’s play facilities - part of an ongoing project to give the market a new lease of life.
Sophie Morris, who owns the Kind Human Club, a plant-based café, joined the market a month ago. She said she had also noticed a difference in the amount of people enjoying the space, noting: “It’s definitely picking up a little bit more and the new stores are definitely doing it some justice, it’s not quite what it used to be but we’re getting there.
“It would be good to get even more support in. I find a lot of people come in and just didn't know what was in here, but now people are actually coming and having a proper stroll around. Over Covid, it got very quiet and people aren’t actually aware that it’s starting to pick back up again. Hopefully word gets out.
“I’ve never run my own store before and always wanted to do for years, and this came up and I couldn’t miss the opportunity.”
Tia Elizabeth Robins brought her gift shop, where she sells her handmade items, to the market just before Christmas, and said she had found the comradery between the traders had made it a very positive place to work.
She said: "It's nice to have a base and interact with people and customers, and for people to actually see my stuff physically rather than just online. When I was working at home in a studio it was quite lonely and isolating, but actually being able to see people is much better. And there is actually so much going on in the market.
"You get people coming in who say they haven't been in for years and didn't realise there were so many new things. Obviously you've got the butchers, the fruit and veg shop and the teapot café that have been here for years but there's also loads of new stuff."
Demand for markets or food halls where independents can set up shop has been booming in south Wales. The revamped indoor market in Newport has been a huge hit, giving the Grade-II listed building a brighter future, and there is also the famous indoor market in Cardiff, as well as others that are still going in the likes of Swansea, Pontypool, Neath, Llanelli and Carmarthen.
So, if you haven't been to Bridgend's of late - it might be worth popping in. You might be surprised just how much is there.
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