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Porthcawl is growing in status as a destination for shopping in South Wales. With the informality of coastal living, this is the place to visit this season.
PORTHCAWL
Some people rush from A to B without so much as a glance either side of them. Taking the quickest route (often the least interesting), is a symptom of the high speed world we live in, which begs the question - What has happened to going off the beaten track?
It's an offence that once I would have admitted to; nowadays, however, (call it age or wisdom) I prefer to see what's around me and to explore anything unusual, odd or niche. I like going where no-one else seems to go and relish the thrill of uncovering somewhere that feels like a secret - even if it's not!
These days, my biggest guilty pleasure is doing just that - being seduced down side streets and little lanes in the hope that I may learn something new from what I discover. There is a point to all this. Well Street in Porthcawl is one such place. Just off the main 'drag' in the town, is this delightful little street packed with individual shops, small businesses and eateries; and with shop owners trying to earn an honest crust to provide locals and visitors with their needs and wants (mine are all wants).
Friendly customer service is a selling point all too often unreliably quoted by companies desperate to encourage custom. In this instance, be assured that you'll be treated like an important customer the minute you walk through the door.
Sometimes, we feel more exposed in a small shop, and more obliged to buy. In all honesty, Well Street provides something a bit different, at reasonable prices and with a genuine invitation for you to visit. Today, take the slow road - you'll love it.
Eden’s Coffee Shop
A medley of winter-warming food awaits and nothing beats the promise of a bowl of steaming Welsh Cawl after a bracing walk along the sea front esplanade.
Manager Anne Horton entices everyone from holidaymakers to locals with her home-cooked stews, pies, soups and hearty breakfasts. What's not made on the premises is sourced from independent local suppliers such as cakes, including ingredients from Welsh cheese to vegetables. Open seven days a week, you'll find every reason to pop in for coffee, hot chocolate, a festive mince pie or a seasonal twist on baguettes and sandwiches.
15 Well Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BE
01656 773101
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Home Emporium
If you're waiting for a reason to be seduced into Porthcawl's Well Street, then wait no more!
Home Emporium is a true delight if you're stuck for Christmas gift ideas, with many items available exclusively. There's an eclectic mix of homeware, greetings cards, stocking fillers, Gisela Graham festive decorations, garlands, wreaths, toys and gifts. Favourites include slate picture frames, colourful Zeal kitchen utensils, Littlecote handmade soaps, Aromahome hot water bottles, snow globes, finger puppets and notebooks. There's also a Christmas Club service available.
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KoKo
Your accessory and jewellery-loving friends and family will adore anything from KoKo this Christmas.
Owner Sophie Page hand makes pieces that are designed with your loved ones in mind. Whether it's a delicate pair of earrings or a statement necklace, you're sure to find a beautiful gift or stocking filler here. Reasonably priced costume jewellery, scarves, bags and gloves vie for your attention, as do smaller gifts such as Juicy Lucy notebooks, compact mirrors and charm beads. Sophie can also repair, remodel or restring your favourite costume jewellery pieces in time for the festive party season.
2d Well Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BE
01656 773736
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Richard Davies Kitchens
Fitting a new kitchen can be an exciting yet daunting experience and with so much choice to consider it's a wonder we ever get the project off the ground.
That's when Richard and Eryl Davies of Richard Davies Kitchens step in to offer a personal service that is guaranteed to provide you with the kitchen or bedroom of your dreams. Let New Year be the time to freshen up your home with quality units, wardrobes and appliances. Whether you're looking for a total redesign or just some stylish new taps and worktops, you'll find a style to suit your home and budget.
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Waves Hair and Beauty
When a salon can claim to being the longest standing in Porthcawl, you know that it must be down to hard work and passion.
Waves Hair and Beauty has come a long way during the past 50 years. Loyal customers return for the professional unisex haircare service offered by Allison and her team and for Louise's beauty treatments. As the sole retailer for Bed Head products in Porthcawl, Waves can guarantee you glossy tresses. Vale Life readers are being offered £5 off full foil colour, including cut and blow dry and acrylic nails from December to February - just mention the magazine.
5 Well Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BE
01656 783711
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Whites Letterpress
Whites Letterpress combines traditional printing techniques with a flair for design, quality and craftsmanship.
Owners Susan Stride and Helena Reimann specialise in bespoke party and occasion stationery that is as unique and as special as the event itself. The current desire for Vintage styling is popular and the new Deco and Coco Deco ranges carry the theme through from the invitation to the reception with matching menus and placecards. Plan now for your spring wedding with 'Save the Date' cards.
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Ambience
As thoughts turn to creature comforts and festive gatherings, it makes sense to get our homes looking gorgeous this season.
Ambience is an interior design company offering a full home design consultancy service such as full house remodelling, room makeovers and professional soft furnishing design. Offering a sumptuous mix of fabrics, wall coverings, trimmings, home accessories and giftware, their luxury selection of Mindy Browne lamps, vases, sculptures and mirrors add a touch of sophistication to any home - and you can be sure to find a stylish trinket for your Christmas wish list.
8 Well Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BE
01656 771190 |
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Elegant Bridal Boutique
All the glitz and glamour of Hollywood has come to Well Street with the arrival of the award winning wedding dress collection 'Hollywood Dreams', designed by Marina Adanou.
Elegant Bridal Boutique has recently opened in the heart of Porthcawl and it is proud to be an exclusive stockist for Hollywood Dreams. In addition, you will find beautiful designs by Benjamin Roberts, Mori Lee, Pure, Veromia, Dessy, Jim Hjlem, Liza Designs and Ultimate Formal Hire. Attentive, friendly service awaits you in their light and spacious showroom; call to book your exclusive viewing of the gowns.
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Bellissima
This is fashion with attitude. If you love a bit of edgy detail to your clothing then head to Bellissima.
Now in its eleventh year, the boutique is awash with vibrant accent colours as well as faithful wardrobe neutral shades. Decidedly chic French labels such as Pause Café have customers returning each season and the latest brand from Save the Queen will see a new stunning collection in the Spring. There's no woman that Joseph Ribkoff pieces don't suit and savvy shoppers belonging to the Wardrobe Club are able to reserve and pay for items over an eight week period.
48 John Street
Porthcawl CF36 3BD
01656 772571
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BLISS
Bliss is a welcome source of
unusual and affordable homeware
accessories and gifts, and it seems
that shoppers can't get enough!
Eye-catching framed prints and paintings are ideal for creating impact in a room and a new vase, or ceramic can do wonders for ringing the changes without the expense of a total makeover. If it's a cosy glow you want for the winter months then lighting will be high on the agenda and you'll love the unique handmade ironwork lamps and candlesticks. Complete the look with a shaggy textured rug and you are all set up for seasonal hibernation.
50 John Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BD
01656 772620 |
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The Crazy Humbug
For a trip down memory lane take a wander to the Crazy Humbug sweet shop for good old-fashioned service. Row upon row of sweets, chocolates, and humbugs are sold by the quarter ounce in the way you probably remember as a child.
Owner Ashley Pryczka has recreated the spirit of sweet-shop nostalgia with 830 different lines of sweets such as sherbet pips, toffees, and chocolate raisins and has certainly found his niche in the market. Unsurprisingly, most of Ashley's customers are adults wanting to relive their school days. After all, who can forget the classic sherbet lemon - the boiled sweet with a tangy, fizzy sherbet centre, coconut teacakes, sherbet pips, toffee bonbons and butterscotch or liquorice gums? Fast becoming a thing of the past, it's such a treat to find this retro-style candy store offering sweets galore all under one roof, including a large Pick & Mix section, Christmas novelties, tins of biscuits, tray toffees, Belgian chocolates and three flavours of the popular Welsh humbugs Lossin Dant.
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NEWTON
St. John's School Celebrate the tradition
It's time for celebrations at St. John's School in Porthcawl as preparations are underway to mark the 90th anniversary of the day the school opened with just two teachers and fourteen pupils - all of them boys.
Today is a far cry from the days when lessons would take place in the Headmaster's house, formerly the rectory for St. John's Church. A few building extensions later and we find ourselves approaching 2011 when St. John's pupils plan to break an, as yet, undisclosed world record on a Welsh theme.
The 'boys only' school that became co-educational in 1985, wouldn't be where it is today if not for the generous support of the Friends of St. John's - a fund-raising body that to-date has provided a number of facilities, including a hard play area, a swimming pool, the Friends Study Centre, a second ICT laboratory, two mini-buses and various smaller items and pieces of equipment for use in the school.
In 1990 The Crampton Hall was opened on the site of the old orchard as a commemoration of Mr. Crampton, a former headmaster whose vision was to increase pupil numbers and create a truly modern school of its time. Through the establishment of the St. John's Foundation, the most recent building project has been the replacement of the old pre-Prep block with a purpose-built facility.
Nowadays, St. John's is a day school, no longer with boarding pupils; yet the school's objectives are to maintain a modern up-to-date educational establishment that continues in the traditions in which it began - with a strong family ethos that nurtures its pupils' talents, whether academic, sporting or cultural and within a happy and well-disciplined community.
Meanwhile there is a hushed air of excitement at St. John's as plans take hold to beat a world record and to commemorate the successes of the past 90 years with a thanksgiving church service, a reunion of past pupils, and a big party. Sounds like fun and who can blame them?
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