Agent appointed on Newport’s revitalised market quarter

Shops and restaurant operators are being sought for Newport city centre’s Victorian Indoor Market and the surrounding market quarter.

Working in partnership with Newport City Council, urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited is nearing completion on a £3m, two-year city centre redevelopment programme which has significantly enhanced the High Street area of Newport and refurbished the Grade II Listed Indoor Market.

The refurbishment works include creating new units for use as shops and restaurants, restoring the market’s High Street entrance and revitalising the public space with new seats and terracing in a bid to attract restaurants and cafes to create a café quarter for the city. Construction is due to be completed in the summer.

EJ Hales has been appointed to market the scheme which includes 260 m2 of accommodation for a flagship restaurant or bar operator.

Phil Morris of EJ Hales said: “High Street has always enjoyed fantastic buildings. The new bar/restaurant is centrally located within it and benefits from new folding shop fronts and outside seating so its customers have the best possible outlook across it. It is also very close to the new Admiral building and all the new jobs associated with that.”

Hamish Munro, head of regeneration at Newport Unlimited, said that the market quarter will strengthen Newport’s centre and provide a welcome boost for the community: “The city centre is the main priority for us. We are working to develop a diverse, local retail and leisure economy of national stores, independent retailers and other businesses to create a vibrant improved city centre and widen appeal to shoppers and visitors.

“Along with the Friars Walk retail and leisure scheme, these investments in the city centre form a key part of our wider strategic regeneration programme to attract further businesses into the heart of the city and a broader range of uses as well as encouraging people into the city centre.”

Other projects which will give a boost to the market quarter include the new bus terminus under construction in Lower Dock Street which is being funded by the Welsh Government.