New stores are moving in to a changing Penarth high street

Recently, Penarthians have seen a flea market open, a new charity store take over the old Shaws Drapers site, two new travel agents, a butchers reopening, and a café closing. There’s also plans for a new restaurant in town.

It sees the comings and goings of a high street that is transforming in order to remain relevant in a world where more and more people are relying on online shopping.

What changes have taken place to Penarth’s High Street?

Love Brownies Penarth – closed!

Love Brownies Penarth was a franchise of the Love Brownies chain, which started at the Brownie Barn in Yorkshire.

When we contacted the company they said Love Brownies Penarth had "struggled on" for a number of months after losing the franchise at the start of the year, but now, sadly, Love Brownies Penarth has closed its doors for good.

Love Brownies Penarth - closed! (Image: Newsquest)

Butchers is back by popular demand

David Lush Butchers in Glebe Street closed its doors last spring after owner Mr Lush decided to shut so he could care for his wife Maureen.

Now, back by popular demand, and ready to reopen, Mr Lush’s son Marcus is resurrecting the business - operating it from a timber-framed unit behind Penarth Heights.

A sprinkling of travel shops on the high street

Penarth is not getting one, but two new travel shops on the high street, with Thornton Travel, on Windsor Road, preparing to open, while Travel House, just round the corner on Glebe Street, has opened!

Travel House has arrived to Penarth (Image: Supplied)

Thornton Travel, opening soon on Windsor Road (Image: Newsquest)

New charity shops

Some people in take a breath when they hear charity shops are moving into the high street, however, with the cost of living crisis, there must be a place for them and, to be fair, this new charity shop is pretty snazzy.

Cancer Research Wales has opened their first store in Penarth on Glebe Street, in the site that was formerly Shaws the Drapers.

Another charity shop! (Image: Newsquest)

Watch the video below and see inside the new Cancer Research Wales store in Penarth

The ever-growing flea market

We first reported on the funky flea market in Penarth back in April – taking the site of the Kitcheners bathroom appliances store that was a stalwart of Penarth’s High Street.

However, Windsor Road seems to have stumbled on another gem, with the flea market selling vintage and new clothes at competitive rates, and check out the antiques store at the back selling everything and anything – including a giant zebra statue…

Watch the video below to see what you can get in the flea market!

Popular live music venue and pub under new management ready to serve food!

At the beginning of May The Albion, on the corner of Glebe Street and Salop Street, shut its doors after former landlord Mark Pearson said he was unable to negotiate a satisfactory deal with pub owners Marstons.

Now, under the Albion’s new manager Nick Walsh, he plans to introduce a restaurant to the venue as well as continue the great live music.

The uber-cool Touring Club wine bar

It’s not all doom and gloom when we mention the term ‘high street’ – in fact it can bare fruits, and what a fruit the Touring Club is - a super cool wine bar on Stanwell Road run by a consortium of hospitality owners who know what they are doing.

The Touring Club - open now! (Image: Newsquest)

Watch the video below and walk through the super sleek Touring Club

In the works and rumours

A new restaurant coming to town?

Work on 38 Windsor Road has seen intrigued members of the public watching the building being transformed, and what a transformation it might turn out to be!

Currently plans are submitted for a ground floor bar and restaurant, upper floor bars and private dining area, as well as an outside drinks terrace.

Plans for a new restaurant in Penarth (Image: Newsquest)

M&CO being replaced?

It was a sad day when M&CO closed its doors in the middle of the year, with a giant hole appearing in Windsor Road.

But excitement has started growing again, with Yours Clothing, which bought M&Co’s intellectual property when it went bust, planning on reopening M&Co stores.

However, there are rumours another major fashion retailer could take the site after members of the public spotted job adverts online.

What do you think about the changes to Penarth’s high street? Have you been to any of the venues mentioned? Did you like them? Do you think the high street is changing for the better or the worse? Let us know by emailing harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.

Editor's note: The original version of this article included a close-up photograph of Love Brownies Penarth's closed sign in the shop window, in which a business across the road - Funky Monkey - was visiable. We are happy to make clear that Funky Monkey is not closing and the image was never intended to suggest that. We apologise for any confusion.