'There are so many like-minded people and everyone looks after each other,' says Gemma Bradley on the community spirit inside the arcade(Image: John Myers)

Inside one of Wales' oldest arcades that's become a gothic shopping hotspot

17 May 2026, 07:29 by Lois McCarthy · Wales Online

Newport's oldest arcade has gone from forgotten relic to gothic hotspot in just four years - and the transformation has been anything but subtle. A couple - who would prefer to remain anonymous - took over the fading Victorian arcade in the heart of the city with an ambitious idea: turn this neglected passageway into somewhere people would actually travel to visit.

At the time, many locals barely gave the place a second glance. Parts of the Grade II-listed building had fallen into disrepair, vandalism had taken hold and several units stood empty behind tired shopfronts. However, fast forward to today and the mood inside the arcade could hardly be more different.

A multi-million pound renovation, backed by major funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2022, breathed new life into the Victorian landmark, which is the oldest surviving arcade in Newport and the second oldest in Wales. Ornate features were restored, empty units revived and shoppers suddenly had reason to linger again.

Now the once-forgotten arcade has become something of a destination in its own right, albeit one with a distinctly dark side. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here

The restored Victorian walkway is packed with quirky independent businesses embracing the weird and wonderful. Visitors can browse vintage clothing, skull ornaments and occult curiosities, stop for coffee in delightfully eerie cafés or wander into taxidermy shops that look lifted straight from a Tim Burton film. And while the aesthetic may lean towards the macabre, traders say business is very much alive.

Shop owners describe a steady stream of curious visitors drawn in by the arcade's unusual atmosphere, with many travelling from outside Newport simply to experience its growing reputation as one of Wales' most distinctive shopping spots.

A key part of the arcade's identity is, of course, its music - and the city has an incredible history on that front. Dean Beddis, owner of Kriminal Records, has been selling music in Newport since the 1980s and moved into the arcade in 2022.

"I started working for my mate Simon in the market when it was Rockaway Records from 1986 onwards," he says. "I've been trading as Kriminal Records for 18 years now."

For Dean, the arcade's independent ethos was a major draw. "The couple who own and run the arcade are both really into music themselves," he explains. "Their personalities and what they’d already done with the arcade attracted me to it - as well as the location and the other traders already there.

"Their approach is very hands-on and they really support individuality and small businesses."

He contrasts that with the decline of larger chain stores on the high street. "Councils have always tried to bring in the big shops like Debenhams, but they've failed and left massive gaps," he says. "Smaller traders bring individuality. Every record shop is different, every vintage shop is different. That's what gives a place character."

For Dean, record shops have always been about far more than music sales alone. "I've always been in bands and still do gigs now," he says. "Record shops have always been meeting places - people putting up posters, looking for band members, selling local band's CDs and records."

Visitors to Kriminal Records, he says, can expect "a warm welcome, a sense of humour and people being down-to-earth."

And while collectors can browse bargain bins for a few pounds, there are also some serious rarities tucked away among the shelves. "You can buy a record for four pounds or one for £600," Dean says. "It's not always the oldest records that are worth the most. You can get records that are 100 years old that aren't worth anything.

"But then you get something like Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins, which can go for £200 because it came out in the 90s when most people were buying CDs instead of vinyl. It's all about collectability."

Meanwhile, fellow music lover Kyle Haggerty works just a short distance away in Newport’s Arcadia gothic café. A lifelong Newport local, Kyle has been part of the quirky coffee spot since 2023.

Step inside Arcadia and it quickly becomes clear this is not your average café. With its maroon walls, eclectic lighting and gothic figures dotted throughout the space, the venue has built a reputation for its distinctive alternative style.

"I think in today's industry, you've got to stand out somehow because there's a lot of coffee shops about today," Kyle says. "So that's how we do it. We put our twist on it - gothic and quirky - and that's the way we stand out to everyone, I guess."

Music played a big role in Kyle finding his place there. As a bassist in local band Fail State, he says he immediately connected with the owners through a shared love of music after years of working in coffee shops. "We've got a lot of music playing in the café as well, so when I met the owners, we kind of connected instantly over our mutual love of music," he shared.

After joining the team, Kyle worked his way up and has now been manager for around a year. But despite Arcadia's gothic aesthetic, Kyle says the café attracts a wide range of customers.

"We get all walks of life in here," he says. "You'd think it'd be exclusively alternative people, but we get all types of people here, to be honest."

The café also places a strong focus on supporting local businesses. Its cakes are supplied fresh by Newport-based baker Cult Cookies rather than bought frozen or pre-packaged.

Arcadia's drinks also reflect the café's alternative identity, with details including skull-shaped ice cubes in iced lattes and pentagram stencils dusted onto cappuccinos.

Also under the same roof is Retro Central - one of the five businesses renting space within the arcade. "We're a collective that sell vintage and pre-loved clothing, mostly vintage," Gemma Bradley explains. "Each section is a different person and each of us does a day a week manning the shop. It's been open for just over a year now."

For Gemma, one of the arcade's biggest attractions is the sense of community it has created. "There's something special about the arcade - something a lot of other places are trying to replicate," she says. "There's a real sense of community there and that's something that's lacking in a lot of places now. It's something a lot of people are looking for.

"There are so many like-minded people and everyone looks after each other. I love being part of it."

Part of the appeal, she says, is the sheer variety packed under one roof: "You've got food, you can get haircuts, buy gifts, go to the photo lab - there are so many things all in one place."

Retro Central itself reflects that eclectic spirit. "Because there are five different sellers in one small space, we sell such a vast range of things," Gemma shares. "Obviously we cater to people who are a bit quirkier - I'd describe myself as alt - and a lot of people in the arcade are into rock music and alternative culture.

"But I'd defy anyone to come into our shop and not find something they like because there's such a mix of stuff."

The arcade's Victorian setting is also a huge part of its charm. Gemma adds: "It's a beautiful building - stunning. The couple who bought it have put so much of their own time and effort into restoring it closer to how it would have looked in Victorian times."

She pauses, before saying with a laugh: "Apart from the massive skeleton."

"They sourced a lot of the fixtures from auctions and it's really been a labour of love for them. It shows."

Despite its growing reputation online, Gemma believes the arcade still feels like one of Newport's hidden gems. "We've had Instagram influencers visit from other parts of Wales and say they'd love something like this in their towns," she says. "Katie Tradie, the TikToker from Llanelli, visited and said she'd love somewhere like this there.

"But it's still a bit hidden away, so the more people who know about us and realise we're here, the better."

Here are some of our favourite pictures from this unique spot:

With gothic décor, skull-shaped ice cubes and dark red interiors, Arcadia has become one of Newport arcade’s most eye-catching independent cafés(Image: John Myers)

Inside Arcadia, the alternative interior mirrors the wider atmosphere developing throughout the increasingly popular Victorian arcade(Image: John Myers)

Arcadia manager Kyle Haggerty says the café’s gothic aesthetic was designed to help it stand out in Newport's growing independent coffee scene(Image: John Myers)

A touch of humour inside Arcadia(Image: John Myers)

The dramatic décor includes gothic figures, low lighting and maroon walls that give the café its distinctive identity(Image: John Myers)