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Kidwelly

Kidwelly is a picturesque historic coastal town set along the banks of the Gwendraeth River, celebrated for its striking castle and charming town centre. It supports a sustainable, flourishing economy that fosters a lively, well-connected community, making it an appealing choice for young people and families alike.

The town offers a wealth of opportunities, welcoming new enterprises while supporting the growth of established local businesses. With its rich heritage, stunning natural surroundings, vibrant culture, and strong Welsh language traditions, Kidwelly is an inviting, year-round destination.

Discover Kidwelly

Ten Towns Project

The Square in Kidwelly was identified by the town as their key focus for investment from the Ten Towns fund. Newly completed, the square has been re-developed to a high standard, being sympathetic to its surroundings and Kidwelly’s heritage. The purpose of the re-developed area was to support the town’s successful monthly market which is currently situated at the Glan yr Afon car park area.

By creating a more fit for purpose, spacious town square that includes electrical hook up points, the market and any future event held at the square will have the opportunity to utilise this new space and be more central to the town’s high street.  

 

 

Ten Towns Revenue project 

The Kidwelly Growth team decided to use part of the 10 Towns Revenue fund to commission a study on the need for improved active travel links in the town and surrounding area. The study will provide evidence to support an application for an Active Travel route connecting Kidwelly, the Carmarthen Bay Holiday Park, and Ferryside, boosting tourism and economic opportunities. 

CETMA, Community Engagement, Technology, Media and Arts, a Kidwelly based social enterprise, has been supported to coordinate events within the town to maximise Kidwelly’s tourist potential and build community cohesion. Caru Cydwelli was established to support businesses and other groups to create their own community led events, that encourages the community to work together to promote what is great about Kidwelly. 

You can read more about Caru Cymru here: Home | Love Kidwelly

Ten Towns Circular Economy Fund

CETMA Kidwelly is the central hub for many projects in the area, home to the foodbank and Kidwelly Community Fridge as well as providing sanitary supplies and baby boxes to those who need it most. SPF support has been given to CETMA to expand its circular economy project, which gives local residents the opportunity to purchase second hand equipment as opposed to buying new.

 

Revitalising Rural Town Centres

Local business owners expressed a need for support to improve the vibrancy of the exterior of their premises.

A dedicated grant fund was created to support this activity with several high street premises in Kidwelly.

Jenks Art

Local artist Steve Jenkins, also known as Jenks Art, has created a stunning mural that has received positive reactions from both visitors and residents. The mural features iconic rugby legends Ray Gravell and Gerald Davies, two stars from the golden era of Welsh rugby in the 1970s. It also beautifully showcases landmarks such as the castle, monument, church, and the black cat, an emblem of Kidwelly.

 

 

Ten Towns Event Fund

Kidwelly is working to enhance its reputation as a hub for summer festivals. The town received approval for the Ten Towns Event Fund to support a local arts festival celebrating the performing arts. The event featured live music, comedy acts, DJs, and various other art forms, taking place over the course of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Capel Sul, with additional performances across various venues in Kidwelly. These events were free, family-friendly, and inclusive, providing entertainment for both locals and visitors alike.

Tackling Towns

The focus in Kidwelly has been on strengthening the connection between the Castle, a key tourist attraction, and the town centre. A wayfinding project has been successfully implemented, with improved directional signage installed from the Castle to the town centre, along with additional signs to highlight other local attractions, such as the Canal. Other enhancements for the town include:

  • New bus stop at the Town Square.
  • Cleaning of the former slaughterhouse.
  • Upgrades to furniture in Glan yr Afon and along the Castle footpath.
  • Installation of banners procured by Kidwelly Town Council.

Meanwhile Spaces

A vacant commercial property in Kidwelly has opened thanks to support from the Ten Towns programme. The Means were commissioned to explore accommodating small independent businesses into vacant high street premises. Pretty Sip Boutique has benefited from a pop-up shop in the town.

                         

Town Centre Loan

Fruitmedia at 16 New Street, Kidwelly, has been approved for a Town Centre loan from Carmarthenshire County Council (not SPF funded). The project will transform a vacant chapel into a mixed-use space for Fruitmedia and the new charity Rest & Create. The development will include a creative studio, conference facility, and retreat accommodation, while maintaining the chapel's original purpose for spiritual reflection and creativity. This project aims to support Kidwelly's regeneration and growing creative industry.

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