A delightful market town has been highly praised for its classic ‘old-school’ high street adorned with a myriad of independent boutiques.
The town of Crickhowell has been recognised as travel experts at The Telegraph have released a guide to Britain’s 20 best high streets, where small businesses are thriving despite the downturn elsewhere.
Surrounded by inredible scenery, Crickhowell is a charming town nestled in the Usk Valley in Wales, just south of the Black Mountains, which form the eastern range of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Telegraph bestowed plenty of praise on the town in its guide saying: “Crickhowell is tiny, but you’ll nevertheless stop every few metres to nose around its shops… Locals have staunchly resisted the tidal wave of chains and here the great British high street lives on, with a butcher, baker and a sprinkling of independent shops from delis to art galleries and bookshops.”
The Telegraph added: “A vision of pastel-painted Georgian loveliness, Crickhowell feels especially festive in the blue of dusk, when there’s a nip in the air and the lights are aglow in its houses and pubs.”
Among the recommended places to visit in the town, The Bear pub stands out as a place to enjoy a quiet drink in a pub that dates back more than six centuries.
According to the Visit Crickhowell website; “Crickhowell High Street is one of the few shopping streets left in the country where local businesses sell local produce and local products. It recalls a long lost era when all high streets reflected the character of their town and had their own identity. Here you will be welcomed by friendly and knowledgeable shopkeepers who take a real pride in what they sell.”
The town has been praised by locals at WalesOnline who aren’t surprised that it made it onto a coveted list. One local said: “It’s no surprise to see Crickhowell on the list, considering the Brecon Beacons town was crowned Best High Street of the Year in 2018.”
The commendations continued: “It may be small but is it mighty! In 2022 there was just one chain shop, with locals preferring to put their money behind local butchers and bakers. The town has spent years attempting to block plans for a Co-op (which sadly failed to beat the conglomerate) but locals say that the high street’s late-night shopping is like a street party.”
Adding another feather to its cap, Crickhowell’s tourism board suggests that the town is the perfect spot to explore the southern Black Mountains and nearby regions.
During the festive season the town also plays host to a popular late-night shopping event and Christmas market, complete with stalls, crafts, gifts and music.
