A charming market town has earned recognition as home to one of Britain’s finest independent high streets.

Crickhowell in Wales has established itself as a haven where small enterprises flourish. Having claimed the UK’s Best High Street award, it bucks the national trend with its well-loved and frequently patronised establishments. The town boasts zero vacant premises along its High Street, whilst family-owned ventures that have served the community for generations continue to prosper.

For those seeking a tranquil spot to enjoy a pint, The Bear pub comes highly recommended. With over six centuries of history behind it, the establishment features a cobbled forecourt and a historic archway that opens onto an interior courtyard.

The Good Pub Guide bestowed upon it the Inn of the Year accolade in 2010. Though considerably more recent, Webbs has become woven into the fabric of the town since 1936.

The enterprise began when its founder launched a paraffin delivery service, which then transformed into a hardware and ironmongers before steadily growing over the decades into the department store that stands today. According to local guides, Webbs represents “the grande dame of Crickhowell’s shopping scene.”

The town genuinely offers an impressive array of superb retail destinations worth exploring, such as Black Mountains Smokery, Minster Auctions, the acclaimed Bacchus Off Licence, and Antur Brew, a microbrewery featuring a tap room and bottle shop situated on the Elvicta Estate just outside Crickhowell. In a time when traditional high streets are declining, increasingly overtaken by chain stores, vape outlets and bookmakers, towns like Crickhowell – where independent retailers genuinely dominate the centre and enjoy strong local support – are becoming increasingly rare.

Visit Crickhowell highlights what sets the town apart. “Crickhowell High Street is one of the few shopping streets left in the country where local businesses sell local produce and local products. It recalls a long lost era when all high streets reflected the character of their town and had their own identity. Here you will be welcomed by friendly and knowledgeable shopkeepers who take a real pride in what they sell,” according to its website.

The Telegraph has recently ranked Crickhowell amongst the nation’s top ten high streets. “Crickhowell is tiny, but you’ll nevertheless stop every few metres to nose around its shops… Locals have staunchly resisted the tidal wave of chains and here the great British high street lives on, with a butcher, baker and a sprinkling of independent shops from delis to art galleries and bookshops. A vision of pastel-painted Georgian loveliness, Crickhowell feels especially festive in the blue of dusk, when there’s a nip in the air and the lights are aglow in its houses and pubs,” the newspaper reported.

Crickhowell boasts a rich historical heritage stretching back centuries. Originally constructed as a motte-and-bailey fortification, likely during the 12th century, Crickhowell Castle was later rebuilt in stone by Sir Grimbald Pauncefote in 1272.

Whilst the castle itself now stands in ruins, the impressive Grade I listed Porth-Mawr two-storey gatehouse remains remarkably preserved and merits a visit.

These characteristics have endeared the town to residents, who shared with WalesOnline their affection for the area. One resident remarked: “It’s no surprise to see Crickhowell on the list, considering the Brecon Beacons town was crowned Best High Street of the Year in 2018.”

Another resident enthused: “It may be small but it is mighty! In 2022 there was just one chain shop, with locals preferring to put their money behind local butchers and bakers. The town has spent years attempting to block plans for a Co-op (which sadly failed to beat the conglomerate) but locals say that the high street’s late-night shopping is like a street party.”

According to Crickhowell’s tourism board, the town serves as an ideal base for discovering the southern Black Mountains and surrounding areas. Throughout the festive period, the town hosts a well-attended late-night shopping event alongside a Christmas market, featuring stalls, crafts, gifts and music.