Cardiff’s Central Market is a place to be, especially if you are new to Cardiff.
When one walks through the doors of a market there is a certain charm in smelling all the herbs, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Unfortunately, in 2020 we can only rely on the pleasures of the eye. Nonetheless, we should not underestimate what the market can offer us.
The market is a home to culturally diverse and friendly people. One cannot help but be taken by the positivity and the energy of the shopkeepers. Even though the shadow of another lockdown is lurking in the corner and they are facing reduced working hours, the shopkeepers do not complain.
Fortunately, not everyone is scared of the pandemic and a new potential lockdown. Kelly Bridgeman, who is an owner of the Secret Garden Florist, has been in the floral business for 13 years. The reason behind her calmness is that they can afford to do home deliveries. Her only worry is if there is going to be more than one lockdown in the foreseeable future. Jokingly, if she can choose the next lockdown it would be in January as it is not the busiest month for her and her business.
“The actual day to day shop side of the business is okay.”
Kelly Bridgeman
Sadly, not everyone is as lucky as Kelly is. The pandemic has visibly marked the place as there are a lot of shops that remain closed. The ones that are still open shut their doors at 16:30pm or even earlier if it is not too busy.
Let’s put the pandemic aside for once. Cardiff’s Market background is quite interesting. It has been open to the public since the 18th century . One way of entering the market is through the Dead Man’s Allay. For a newcomer that might sound a tiny bit scary but in fact, it is not. The allay is situated between two cemeteries and if you look down you shall see numbers engraved on the pavement. The numbers indicate where bodies once laid in burial vaults.
If you are keen on fresh food, vintage clothes, or even vinyl records, it would be worth your time to check the Cardiff Market. Without a doubt, you can find secret treasures that make the whole experience much more valuable than just simply visiting the shopping centers.