Bridgend Shopping

About half an hour up the M4 on junction 36 is Wales' largest designer outlet centre - who says us men don't enjoy shopping!?

I was like a child in a candy store here and could have easily spent large, but managed to curtail it to only a few items - though I feel at least one new pair of Vans in my future... ;-)

There is also a large foodcourt to suit most tastes as well as a couple of cafes in the village itself. The village is well served entertainment-wise with an odeon cinema and plenty of play areas for kids to keep themselves amused.

Buses leaves from the bus station at regularly - not sure of the exact services that go to this retail park, but it seems that at least nos. 1,12 & 36 do. Expect to pay £2 return.

Yep, coming here makes for a great day out and definitely helps on the shopping therapy front! :-)

What to buy: Set out in an attractive village covered street style there are over 80 famous name designer stores here that offer discounts of at least 30-70%.

Most types of shopping seem well catered to here...

What to pay: Discounts of 30-70% are common

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The Rhiw Shopping Centre, right in the town itself, offers undercover shopping with around 22 shops many of which are famouse High Street names, plus a brilliant indoor market. This should be your first port of call when shopping in Bridgend. The town is often mentioned as having too many charity shops and mobile phone stores. I would agree with the too many mobile phone stores, but the charity shops are a real pleasure to browse around. Amazing bargains can be found in them if you know what you are looking for.

What to buy: Do try the indoor market and buy locally made 'Faggots' and local meat and vegetables.

What to pay: As little as possible, but don't confuse price with value

This lovely shop is in Veritys Court, a charming little haven off the main street. It shares its location with Oxfam, a bicycle specialist and a craft shop.
The cakes we saw were amazing.There was a 3 teir wedding cake with what looked like black snowflakes on it, that was most unusual. Their main speciality is Belgian chocolate cakes. And the shop is filled with shelves of chocolates - not the normal brand names, but chocolates wrapped in gold paper, dark chocolate, shiny and just inviting you to pop one in your mouth.
In the end we plumped for the ice cream- coffee, mango sorbet,and lemon were all delicious.

What to buy: Chocolates

What to pay: It all depends on what you choose, but a bit more expensive than unwrapping a Mars Bar!