Look: How Friars Walk changed Newport riverfront

As well as changing Newport’s retail, dining, and leisure landscape, it reshaped the image of the city too.

Previously, anyone looking out across the river towards the city centre would see a brutalist paradise.

With the bus station and the Capitol car park occupying prime real estate, a big part of the city was taken up by ageing, concrete eyesores.

But, in the years leading up to the opening of Friars Walk, all the way through to present day, it is clear to see just how much things have changed.

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Below, you can see just how much this area has changed, from 2008 to 2021.

For long term residents of the city, it serves as a trip down memory lane.

Meanwhile, younger readers and newcomers to Newport will be able to see the foundations on which present day Newport was built.

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July 2008

How the area looked in July 2008

Before the shopping centre reality came into existence, brutalism was something commonly associated with Newport.

The crown jewel in this architectural concept was the Capitol car park, which towered over much of the city centre – bathing it in ugly gloom.

While the bus station remains in place to this day, it certainly looks slightly more appealing today.

In the background, an honourable mention goes to Chartist Tower. Before it was redeveloped some years later, it had started to look a sorry sight.

August 2012

Behind the scenes, plans were being drawn up

Not much had changed in this time period.

Perhaps the city centre was starting to struggle though, with signs plastered up along the main road reminding people that Newport was still open for business – perhaps in the hope that motorists might stop and stay a while.

Bubbling in the background was news that the initial Friars Walk development had fallen through, and city bosses were scrambling to find a new backer for the scheme.

Meanwhile, the Capitol car park had closed to the public, and its days were numbered ahead of demolition.

August 2014

Work finally started to bring Friars Walk to life

Barely 24 months later, and all changed.

The Capitol car park was no more, and a revamped Friars Walk plan had been secured, approved, and started.

This time period was a rare moment where unobstructed views of the city could be seen.

But, with construction starting on the first section of Friars Walk – where Debenhams would later occupy, it would soon be set to change again.

June 2015

The centre as we know it starting to take shape

To their credit, the developers and the contractors for the project did not mess around.

In no time at all, Friars Walk was looking more and more like the finished product.

The iconic Debenhams cladding was in place, a good chunk of the main shopping arcade too.

From the outside, it appeared as though it was just the completion of the car park away from being ready to rock and roll.

October 2015

Finishing touches ahead of the grand opening

The shortest time jump so far – taking us to just a matter of weeks before Friars Walk opened.

At this time, the finishing touches were being made – such as putting the Debenhams sign up.

It was seen as a real coup for the city to be able to secure the department store as the flagship brand of the development.

Meanwhile, construction of the new and improved bus station below was continuing.

May 2016

Friars Walk - six months in

Six months into its life, and Friars Walk was moving full steam ahead.

Open for business, it attracted all kinds of attention, as people travelled into town to check it out for the very first time.

On the outer wall, a list of some of the more impressive tenants was proudly put on display, for all to see.

It meant that locals no longer had to travel in to Cardiff to access some of the more popular brands and outlets of the day.

April 2021

Friars Walk, one month into the Covid-19 pandemic

A significant time jump, and with good reason.

An argument can be made that very little changed in this time – and many of the changes that were made, might not have been for the better.

Some retailers came, and some left.

Certainly, the addition of Superbowl UK to the wall of tenants was an impressive coup.

But that list also offers a painful reminder of what the city has lost.

At the time of this picture, Topshop was long gone.

Just weeks later Debenhams – the flagship store of the whole development, would follow.

As for Cineworld, it has been closed for over a year, with no suggestion that it will reopen any time soon.

Certainly, there are positives. The arrival of Damaged Society in recent times, and the thriving food quarter are major plus points for the city.

But, the empty retail space, including the vast Debenhams store, are a real concern.

With the high street in a vulnerable place post-pandemic, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Friars Walk.