WHEN Woolworths closed its doors for the final time on January 2, 2009, the closure heralded a slow and steady decline of what was once the commercial heart of the historic port town of Milford Haven.

Shops in Charles Street began folding on a regular basis and the properties remained empty as business people shunned what had been the town’s commercial pulse.

Now, thanks to the foresight and commitment of a band of local traders, Charles Street could soon be on the turn.  This week alone, two new shops have opened on Charles Street, which follow hot on the heels of several other businesses which have begun trading here over the last six months. And when one considers that the town holds the UK’s fourth largest port in terms of tonnage and plays an important role in the United Kingdom’s energy sector with its oil refinery and one of the biggest LNG terminals in the world, the news is hardly surprising.

One of these new businesses is ‘Moon Goddess and Captured Soul Photography’, run by business partners Nikki Jenkins and Jaimie Gurney.  The shop sells a range of spiritual items, giftware and incense, while photographer Jaimie specialises in children’s and family portraits, product photography and landscapes.

“This is Milford Haven’s town centre and always has been,” Jaimie told The Pembrokeshire Herald.  “Our whole purpose is to start drawing people into Charles Street and encourage more local economic growth.”

Nikki has worked in other Charles Street outlets for a number of years, and has witnessed its steady decline.

“When I first started working in Charles Street, around 12 years ago, things were looking pretty positive but then more and more businesses started to close,” she said.

“This is why we’re trying to do everything we can to raise people’s interest in what’s going on here, and start bringing the footfall back.”

Nikki’s comments were echoed by Lowrie Davies who runs ‘Cwtch Candles’, also on Charles Street.

“I’m a born and bred Milford girl and I remember walking the entire length of Charles Street when it took me forever, because there were so many shops to visit,” she said.

“It was a huge blow for the town when Woolworths closed and sadly, things started to go downhill from then on.”

Lowrie began running her candle, melts and bath bomb business from her home in Milford town centre and then, in November 2023, decided to move into one of the vacant shops in Charles Street.

“I’d been running the business from home for years, going to craft shows and having a shelf in a craft-related shop, and this is what inspired me to move here.”
As well as selling her wide range of beautifully aromatic products, Lowrie also offers shelf rental space to other local crafters, including beaded jewellery, glassware, baby knits and personalised wooden crafts.

“I want to give people the chance that I had when I started out, so each of the exhibitors keep 100% of their sales.  But it also means that I can stock a good range of items in the shop, so that there’s always something different for people to see.

“It’s so heartening to see the other new shops opening in Charles Street and I just hope that it will continue.  We’ve already got the most amazing wool shop that’s doing so well, but there are also several little independent shops in the side streets leading off from Charles Street, such as a fantastic butcher, the haberdashery shop and even an upholsterer.  Milford Haven town centre really has got it all.”

Another popular social hub is ‘Mabon Mana and Monsters’, run by Richard Morris and Mandy Brown.  The business has been trading since 2017 from Robert Street, but in June 2024, the couple decided to move to Charles Street.

In addition to their selection of 1980s retro items, gothic artefacts, their ‘witchy area’ and a fantastic selection of incense, they also host gaming sessions on Friday evenings with Dungeons and Dragons and the fantasy card game ‘Magic: The Gathering’.

“We started the gaming off with Dungeons and Dragons and it proved so popular we knew we had to branch out with something else, and this is how Magic: The Gathering started,” said Richard.

“It was obvious that this was what people wanted and it’s become a real social event that people of all ages come to.  It’s great that people are choosing to spend time chatting to their friends and playing the games, rather than going to the pub or staring at their phones or ipads.”

Richard, who is a native of Solva, is keen to continue raising Milford Haven’s profile as a thriving town for local people.

“This is what it’s all about,” he said.  “This is a local business for local people to enjoy, with the result that we’ve now got a really good hub.”

Mana and Monsters is the sole business in Pembrokeshire to be affiliated with Wizards of the Coast, who are the makers of Magic: The Gathering enabling them to get all their promotional stuff and pre-releases which can be followed on Facebook and the shops Youtube channel.

Two other new shops that have recently opened on Charles Street is Alf Seren Antiques and Collectables and The Vape Shop.