The old shops and restaurants in Newport you might have forgotten about

Over time, Newport’s city center has undergone significant changes.

The city’s high street has changed recently, like many others in the ever-evolving retail industry.

The multi-million dollar Friars Walk shopping center, difficulties that forced big-name stores like Marks & Spencer to leave the city, and the national closure of Woolworths and Dixons are just a few examples.

But regardless of the city you’re in, stores and eateries are more than simply establishments; they’re locations that evoke special memories for many people, and Newport is no exception.

These are a few of Newport’s most iconic stores. Are all of them still fresh in your memory?

With its original opening on Commercial Street in 1874, Wildings was the oldest department store in Newport.

In the 1970s, there were fourteen Wildings branches spread across South Wales. But the store was hit hard by the high street crunch, and it was revealed in August 2018 that the original (and last) store in Newport’s downtown will be closing its doors after 144 years.

The Ferris Restaurant
This cafe, which was owned by Tory councillor Charles Ferris, was situated in the Newport bus station and provided service to many city commuters until its closure in 2009.

Ferris’ parents had previously had companies in the area, and it had been operational for 50 years at that point. The smoking prohibition and dwindling foot traffic were the reasons given for its closing.

British Home shops (BHS), one of the most well-known department shops in the UK, was housed at Chartist Tower, the tallest structure in the city. It was located on the ground level of the building until the summer of 2016, when it was controversially declared to be one of the most prominent casualties on Britain’s high streets, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and jeopardizing the pensions of several staff.

Developers Garrison Barclay Estates subsequently purchased Chartist Tower, and this year a number of office and retail spaces together with a four-star Mercure Hotel are scheduled to open in the structure.

For many years, Rocky’s, which is now The Queen’s Hotel Wetherspoon’s, was one of Newport’s most well-liked burger haunts.

Rocky’s was the place to go for some unusual, exotic spins on burger joint staples like beef enchiladas or even a Hawaiian burger.

Called ‘Woolies’ with affection, Woolworths was a highly cherished brand in the United Kingdom. For many years, the Newport branch of Reynolds, located across from the department store on Commercial Street, delighted customers with its assortment of Candyking pick ‘n’ mix candies, house brand kids apparel, and extensive inventory.

When the franchise failed in 2008, the Newport location had relocated to the adjacent Kingsway shopping center. It hasn’t returned to our main streets despite rumors that it might.

Throughout the 1980s, Scarlett’s on High Street was the place to go if you were craving a sugar-filled feast, such as strawberry milkshakes and knickerbocker joys.

Situated close to a thriving indoor market at the time, the cafe gained notoriety for being kid-friendly and vibrant due to its bright red décor.

Ben’s Bistro
Nestled in the vicinity of the Kingsway retail center on Emlyn Square, Mr. Ben’s Bistro gained popularity for its food; yet, its most recognizable aspect might be the terrifying lifelike dummy brandishing a knife in the window, which was constantly visible to passersby.

The Chandlery, a seafood restaurant that opened in 2002, garnered numerous accolades over the course of its 10 years of operation, including UK Seafood Restaurant of the Year. Located in the former Lower Dock Street ships’ chandler building, it ran into financial difficulties at the turn of the century and closed in 2013.

At a period when vegetarian and vegan diets weren’t as common as they are now, Hunky Dory’s café, which was on Charles Street for almost fifty years under many owners, had a menu of homemade food that was vegetarian and vegan friendly.

When it tragically closed in 2013, the beloved cafe—one of the few vegetarian-friendly establishments in Newport—was well-known for its delicious carrot cake and garlic mushroom pitta.

In the UK, in the 1980s, it was impossible to go down a high street without encountering a Wimpy. One of the original fast food restaurants in Britain, it was the spot your folks would go on Saturdays after their city shopping excursion to grab a quarter-pounder and chips.

At its zenith, the chain had 500 locations in the UK and was inspired by the patty-munching figure J Wellington Wimpy from Popeye in the 1930s. Sadly, it was eventually purchased, and as of right now, Wales is home to just one restaurant—Porthcawl.

For a while, Pretentious was one of the only establishments that continued the tradition of Welsh burger eateries, even though it closed in 2016. It was often featured on lists of the greatest Welsh restaurants, but after just a year in operation, it had to close due to a decline in sales and personal obligations. However, it reopened as a pop-up stand.

The Princess Tea Rooms was a well-liked location on Cambrian Road that offered a selection of foods, teas, freshly ground coffee, and handcrafted treats. Princess Tea Rooms was particularly well-known for its delicious omelettes, but it also provided a very affordable traditional breakfast.