The Festival Park in Ebbw Vale, South Wales, was opened to much excitement in 1992 but suffered such a stark decline that it became known as the country's worst shopping centre.
The Festival Park shopping centre in Ebbw Vale, South Wales, once dubbed Britain's worst and a "ghost town," has closed after losing over 40 stores, leaving only one Sports Direct chain. Opened in 1992 to much fanfare, it declined due to a retail slump, with major outlets closing. The site, purchased in 2021 by Mercia Real Estate, will be redeveloped into an industrial park with 39 units for trade and storage. Locals expressed sadness at the closure. Another shopping centre, Evesham's Riverside Shopping Centre, is also facing decline.
