The once-thriving UK town losing all its best shops – ‘cemeteries have more life in them’
EXCLUSIVE: In the heart of England lies a market town where medieval charm meets modern challenges as concerns grow over its fading vibrancy and the struggle to revive it.
The pretty town was quiet, even on a market day (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
With its medieval heritage and picturesque riverside setting, the historic market town of Newark-on-Trent should represent something of a jewel in the crown for UK tourism. But locals fear for its future, with vape shops and empty properties littering the warren of streets leading towards the once-bustling cobbled market square.
And even on a main market day of Friday, the majority of stalls stand as empty as a vow of loyalty from local MP Robert Jenrick, who last week jumped ship from the Conservatives to join Nigel Farage‘s Reform. In a sign of the times, the historic butcher GH Porter Provisions, a town institution since 1893, closed its doors at the start of 2026, sparking fresh fears for the future. “Cemeteries have more life in them,” moaned 50-year-old council employee Emma Woodford. Born and bred around the town, she says she has seen many changes during her lifetime – but the last quarter of a century has been a downward spiral.
Newark was once a bustling town (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
“I don’t like Newark anymore,” she admits. “It badly needs regeneration. I find it really dull, there’s nothing vibrant to attract you. I would say around 25 years ago it used to be bustling, but I guess online shopping has played its part in sucking all the life out of the town.”
Her daughter Annabel, 18, agreed. She said: “It’s rundown and nearly all the independent shops are shutting down. There is less and less reason to spend any time here, and when I finish my university degree, I won’t be moving back.”
Meanwhile, Alanya Diana, 22, said: “There is nowhere to go except pubs, it’s not a bad place, just boring. The nightlife is rubbish.”
Business owner Clare Parker who runs the Vintage Vixen clothing store with husband Darren believes anti-social behaviour among tearaway youths is a big problem in keeping locals away from frequenting the last few surviving independent traders such as herself.
Teenage anti-social behaviour is a big issue in the town (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
She said: “Newark is a great little town but there is a real problem with anti-social behaviour from kids. I don’t get much of a problem in the shop but around and about it’s not great but there is no visible police presence.
“We get lots of tourists visiting, which is great but it’s harder to get locals to come into town. There is doom and gloom about parking charges, but even when they are lifted at Christmas it doesn’t make much difference to numbers. We use to say a rainy day would mean our best day but since Covid people just don’t venture out the same.”
Clare says the council does occasionally put on events to pull more people in but believes more needs to be done to arrest the decline.
Annabel and Emma Woodford (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
She added: “I think we’d be perfect for the town of culture and with our huge history I would fully support making a bid. Something needs to be done because it’s getting harder and harder for us as an independent business to compete with out of town retail parks that have been allowed to spring up with no thought for the knock-on consequences for a town centre like ours.”
Despite their gloom, others are more optimistic. The town sits halfway between the cities of Nottingham and Lincoln, with the town of Mansfield to the north west and Grantham to the south east.
One of several English towns to share its name with an illustrious city across the Atlantic Ocean, Newark couldn’t be more different to its New Jersey namesake. More quaint market town than big east coast city, Newark’s detailed history includes the death of King John in the town’s castle in 1216 and three sieges during the English Civil War.
Empty market stalls in Newark (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
Richard Barnes (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
The town is dominated by the ruins of the aforementioned Castle whilst the Church of St Mary Magdalene features one of the tallest spires in England, standing at an imposing 236 feet.
It is also home to the National Civil War Centre, which explores Britain’s deadliest conflict, and the Newark Air Museum, boasting over 60 aircraft.
It was also named among the 25 best places to live in the UK in a 2020 survey, with property prices remaining below the UK national average despite the strong commuter links and well-performing schools.
Newark also sits between the Peak District National Park and Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, meaning lots of lovely open, green space right on the doorstep.
Graham Pickering (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
“Newark is a very underrated place,” argues agricultural consultant Neil Morton, 83. “We moved here from Chichester 15 years ago to be nearer to our daughter and we enjoy it very much. It has great character, a lovely river and the impressive castle. I feel there is so much potential and it really is trying hard to make the most of itself.”
“I’d describe it as a hidden gem,” adds wife Susan, 80, a retired physiotherapist. “It used to be a rich town and there still feels like there is quite a bit of money around about. It is a tourist destination andit’s only an hour and a quarter to London on the train so you can even got and see a show and get back home the same evening.”
Engineer Richard Barnes, 61, said: “This is a traditional English town which unfortunately has some problems – the main one being investment in the infrastructure – but it also has a lot of things going for it. The schools and housing are good but like everywhere else in the country, if local businesses don’t get support from local people then they struggle to stay open.”
Retired labourer Graham Pickering, 68, has lived in Newark all his life and has no desire to move anywhere else. “I’m born and bred here and it’s a nice place to live,” he says. “I like the old buildings and have never thought about moving away. Yes, there are too many empty shops but that’s the case everywhere isn’t it?”
Farmer Liz Hoggard (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
Newark needs urgent regeneration, locals say (Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Express)
Farmer and market stall holder Liz Hoggard meanwhile feels the Government have let places like Newark down. She said: “I am appalled at the Labour Government. They said they would help businesses and I was prepared to give them a chance but they have not done anything for us.”
Liz also called for a bigger police presence to “help people visiting the town feel safer.” She added: “When I’m by my own on the stall I don’t feel particularly safe, there’s never any police around. There are drunk people and druggies milling around which doesn’t help and the market feels like it’s getting quieter and quieter. We have a Royal Charter for markets throughout the week and on a Saturday. Friday used to be busiest but although Saturday is better it’s nothing like it used to be for trade.”
