Questions remain over the future of a town's indoor market which was enjoying a bustling revival. The indoor market in Bridgend was forced into close after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which has been classed as dangerous, was found in the building’s roof in September 2023.

Traders were forced to stop working inside the indoor market immediately, and were left unsure of what their future would hold. Lots have recently found positives in the closure, and found homes in empty shop units with the support of Bridgend County Borough Council. But when is the roof likely to be fixed?

The council has not been able to promise that they will re-open so far, as a question mark now hangs over the indoor market’s future due to cost. For the latest Bridgend news, sign up to our newsletter here

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A spokesperson for Bridgend County Borough Council told WalesOnline: “We are pleased to see that many of the traders from the original indoor market have now reopened either at our new ‘Market Hall at the Rhiw’ or at other units around the town centre. Feedback from traders has been positive and many have reported an increase in footfall and sales.

“We are now awaiting the final findings of a specialist survey which will determine the cost of repairing or replacing the Market Hall roof, which will allow us to consider the options available to us and their affordability. It has already been indicated to us from the initial inspection that the scale of any works will be significant.

“As with all works of this nature, any future decision on the way forward would go through a detailed process which will include engagement with a variety of key stakeholders. It’s important to note that the council leases and does not own the building and therefore requires full landlord’s consent to undertake any work.”

Woman in a café with cake, a pot of soup and is wearing an apron. The woman pictured is in Bridgend indoor market which was closed due to dangerous concrete concerns
Sophie Morris from the Kind Human Club which was based in the market said this time last year that trade was "definitely picking up a little bit more, and the new stores are definitely doing it some justice."
Market where people are buying food. The market is in Bridgend, South Wales and in this image two women and a man are pictured.
People were only just starting to re-discover the market in Bridgend before it shut

Bridgend indoor market shut just a few months after traders told WalesOnline that they wanted to push everything that it had to offer, and it seemed to be enjoying something of a revival as new faces added to the old were helping it gain a growing reputation as somewhere to visit. Try WalesOnline Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.

When asked how Bridgend would feel without the market, Barry Reid, who runs opticians Speccies and used to be based in the indoor market, said: "The thing I miss was the sense of community in the market which was nice, and being around the other business owners. But business wise choice, trade footfall is actually better."

Barry was in the market for 10 weeks with his business before he got the news that it was going to close down, a time when many other traders there said they felt like they had been left "in limbo", and did not know what was next. He noted: "It did come as a surprise at the time and I don't think it was handled well but we are now moving forward.

Man wearing glasses who works at an opticians. He is wearing a black t-shirt and runs a shop called 'Speccies' which is in Bridgend, South Wales. He is pictured sitting next to a dark wooden table with a plant on it in a light room.
Barry Reid, who runs Speccies in Bridgend town centre and was based in the indoor market for 10 weeks before it closed down

"But if the market didn't open again I don't think the general public will care. And I think most traders are now settled. They certainly wouldn't be able to get people back in there. But a lot of businesses have moved into shop units and sort of rejuvinated parts of the town in some ways."

The traders who have relocated at other town centre units include:

  • Fone Xcellence- 20 Wyndham Street

  • Nips and Tucks- 12 Dunraven Place

  • Bakestones- 9 Market Street

  • Speccies- No1 Old Bridge

  • The Craft Cwtch- Unit 22 Rhiw Shopping Centre

  • Peter Wood & Sons Butchers- Unit 18 Rhiw Shopping Centr

There is also a unit in the Rhiw shopping centre called ‘Market Hall’, which a number of traders have now gathered to work in. This is now home to:

  • Candy Corner
  • Pen-y-bont Pet Supplies
  • Sandra's Jewellers
  • Tilly's Rawsome Pet Food
  • Cookmate
  • Memorable Moments Vintage Toys
  • Wheelys
  • The Kind Human Club