'Unprecedented times ahead’ - Welsh high street under threat of complete closure

Lower end of Bangor High Street | Credit - Jack Michael Taylor

Settled between the Menai Straits and the hills of Snowdonia lies the city of Bangor, known as the ‘city of learning ’. It boasts the university, the cathedral and the largest hospital in Gwynedd.

Despite these economic growths and attractions, Bangor High Street remains plagued with empty shops and buildings.

Many calls have been made to save Bangor’s high street after the closure of many high street brands.

Bangor High Street, the longest high street in Wales, boasting a distance of 1265m, has been struck by the epidemic of closures hitting high streets across the UK.

Worries come after how COVID-19 impacted high streets up and down the UK; Bangor was hit exceptionally hard, with businesses going bust and buildings falling apart. Calls have been made to save the once thriving high street.

Big names have since left the high street after the pandemic, such as H&M and Peacocks, leaving buildings empty; the once bustling high street, now a ghost town.

Claire’s - the notable leader in accessories, jewellery and toys dedicated to young children, now stands afraid of losing their spot on the notable Welsh high street.

Claire's in the Deiniol Centre, Bangor. - Photo by Jack Michael Taylor

Standing within the Deiniol Centre in the city of Bangor, the leading retailer worries ‘there are unprecedented times ahead for us’.

Claire’s - an American brand has distributed its products through stands in nearby supermarkets and other retailers.

This worries staff - including Miss Gibson, a supervisor at Claire’s Bangor who worries the branching out will lead to an ‘untimely closure’.

‘All the stores closing around the town centre could affect our trade as parents are less likely to want to bring their children to our store.’

'Having stands within shops (even if they are small) that are big supermarkets or known for being popular could affect our trade. We have had customers come into our store under the impression that these stores are within our power,’ says Miss Gibson, a supervisor at Claire’s Bangor branch.

Asda, Bangor. - Photo by Jack Michael Taylor

Stands have since been distributed in retailers such as New Look and Asda; these easy-access stands leave Claire’s desolate and empty.

Claire’s worries these stands will drive customers away from the high street due to the easy access and convenient locations.

Claire's stand pictured in ASDA, Bangor. - Photo by Jack Michael Taylor

'They have told us how it is very convenient that we have smaller stands for purchasing small items they need for their children, such as hair bands whilst doing their main family food shop.’

‘They have followed by stating that this therefore means that they do not need to venture towards the centre of town where our store is. However, this is not the case at all.’ Gibson continued.

This doesn’t come as a surprise to the city’s community, as another popular high street bar ‘Y Ranch’ has recently closed its doors due to the impact of Covid-19 on their business.

Owner Mark Chenery told North Wales Live, ‘Sadly, the situation is only likely to get worse. The problem stems much further back than just the energy crisis. Hospitality as a whole is still very much in recovery mode from months of lockdown.’

Y Ranch, Bangor. Photo by Jack Michael Taylor

The closure of ‘Y Ranch’ has become a shock to many within the community. Speaking to Grace Wright, a Zoology and Conservation student at Bangor University, said, ‘It’s sad to see the high street so empty, and as a student I want to see what Bangor has to offer. Compared to other cities, there really isn’t much to do.”

The closure of many shops on the high street has left Bangor city centre a ghost town, leaving students and the local community dismayed.

Amid the closures, the community are fighting back by hosting markets weekly, hoping to draw back the public and restore Bangor to what it once was.

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