New tenants announced for Bridgend Indoor Market

A plan to revitalise Bridgend Indoor Market has kick-started a turnaround in its fortunes just a few months after it was launched.

Five all-new businesses have signed leases for stalls at the market where they will offer goods ranging from vintage vinyl, protein health food and Welsh gifts to boutique fashions and specialist wool and knitting supplies.

At the centre of the indoor market, a new ‘market square’ is being created to provide space for specialist events, family entertainment, children’s play facilities and more.

The exterior of the market is receiving a fresh new look with a series of illustrative panels which will advertise some of the available stalls and provide information about its rich history.

As part of this revamp, the historic market bell which dates back to 1837 is being relocated from its position within the Rhiw Shopping centre to create a new iconic landmark feature which will help raise the market’s profile.

A new rent system and flexible lease terms are in place for new stallholders, and existing stallholders are benefitting from significant rent reductions until at least April 2020.

In June earlier this year, we promised to take radical action to bring the buzz and vibrancy back to the indoor market, and I am delighted to see how our plans are starting to deliver positive results within just a few short months.

Leases have already been signed on five of the stalls, and we are receiving strong interest in the five stalls that remain available. Market traders, the Rhiw Shopping Centre, Bridgend Town Council, the CF31 business improvement group, Watts and Morgan, local elected members and Bridgend County Borough Council have all worked closely together to tackle the unique challenges that this project has posed.

This partnership approach has been crucial in the development and delivery of the plan to breathe fresh life into Bridgend Indoor Market, and I am looking forward to seeing how it generates further successes.

Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education