Cinderford, one of the four principal market towns in the Forest of Dean, is a place of contrasts. While its surrounding natural beauty flourishes, the town centre itself presents a starkly different picture. Situated just a short walk or drive from scenic spots like Newnham, the River Seven, and the Blaize Bailey viewpoint, Cinderford should ideally be a gateway to the lush Forest of Dean. Instead, its high street looks as if time has stood still—caught in a state of near abandonment.
Walking through the town centre, boarded-up and derelict shops dominate the streetscape. The majority of open businesses are limited to takeaways and kebab shops clustered together. There are supermarkets like Tesco and Lidl at opposite ends of the high street, and a Sue Ryder charity shop stands out as one of the few places offering any variety beyond essentials. A smattering of independent businesses remain, such as Skoops—a greetings card shop—and Camerons Quality Butcher, but these are few and far between.
The Golden Lion pub, recently refurbished, serves as a rare highlight and local gathering spot. Its neighbor, a Domino’s outlet, seems like a deliberate attempt to draw some foot traffic into the area. Yet even these bright spots are overshadowed by a pervasive atmosphere of decline.
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Cinderford’s proud heritage as an 18th-century ironworks and mining town is commemorated by a statue at the town’s ‘Triangle’, paying tribute to its historic miners. It’s easy to imagine the town in its former prime, bustling with shops like The Original Factory Shop, The Real Deal, and Carpenter’s DIY and Homeware Centre. Today, however, these stores have vanished, leaving the area looking deserted and almost post-apocalyptic.
Longtime residents are candid about the town’s struggles. One local who has lived nearby for over 30 years recalled a vibrant marketplace, jewellers, banks, and thriving footfall—now replaced by empty streets and dwindling businesses. She noted the ongoing parking charges as a disincentive for visitors, comparing Cinderford unfavorably to the livelier nearby town of Coleford.
Christine Fisher, 76, a lifelong resident of the Forest of Dean, echoes these sentiments. She recalls the 1950s through the 1970s as a prosperous era packed with shops and social venues, including as many as seven or eight pubs where locals could dine and socialize. Over the past 10 to 15 years, the town has seen a sharp decline. Essential retail options like clothing, footwear, and DIY stores have disappeared, leaving Tesco as the main supplier and limiting consumer choice.
Barry Lawrence, 49, another forest native, bluntly describes Cinderford’s current state as “dead” and “boring,” underscoring the need for support to attract new businesses. He advocates for grants, reduced rents, business advice, and volunteer-led initiatives to spark local entrepreneurship and community engagement.
Among the few stalwart independent shops is Skoops, which recently downsized but continues to serve its customers. Manager Jane Burris, 60, born and raised in Cinderford, sums up the sentiment: the town “needs a good tidy up.” She fondly remembers when Saturdays were busy with shoppers and laments the apparent lack of enthusiasm from large businesses hesitant to invest due to low footfall.
Despite skepticism toward past council initiatives, there remains a quiet hope that Cinderford can be revitalized. The empty retail spaces stand ready, waiting for vision and investment to restore the town’s vibrancy and preserve its historical legacy.