Blaenavon
Template:Infobox Wales place Blaenavon (Welsh: Blaenafon) is a town and World Heritage Site in southern Wales, lying at the source of the Llwyd River. The town lies high on a hillside and has a population of 6,349 people.
Blaenavon grew around an ironworks opened in 1788, part of which is now a museum. The steel-making and coal mining industries followed, boosting the town's population to over 20,000 at one time, but since the ironworks closed in 1900 and the coal mine in 1980, the population has declined, and now consists mostly of older citizens. However attempts have been made recently to turn the town's image around by introducing it as Wales' second "book town" (the first being Hay-on-Wye), however after over a year of attempts to attract visitors it seems that it has not succeeded. This can be attributed to a combination of the town's remote location and its local reputation as an undesirable destination. This is an unfair opinion of the town, as investment and local interest have completely transformed the town's main thoroughfare (Broad Street) and the book shops stock good quality and excellent value books. There are many thriving community groups within the town, including Future Blaenavon, which has helped to create a community garden at the bottom of the town.
Attractions in the town include the Big Pit Mining Museum and the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway and the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir.
Blaenavon is twinned with Coutras, France.
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Bars & Restaurants
Butterflies - Queen Street. Restaurant and Bar. Excellent food and service with a great menu.
Riflemans Arms - Rifle Street. Restaurant and Bar. Good food and service. Also a B&B.
The Pottery - Llanover Road. Bar.
The Market Tavern. Broad Street. Bar.
The Lion Hotel. Broad Street. Bar.
Queen Victoria Inn. Prince Street. Bar. Also serves sunday lunches and B&B
The Castle Hotel. Broad Street. Bar.
The Fountain Inn. King Street. Bar.
Clubs
Blaenavon Rugby Club, Mid Coed-Cae. Tel: 01495 790446
Forgeside Rugby Club, Broad Street.
Elgam Working Mans Club, Rifle Street.
High Street Club, High Street.
Blaenavon Constitutional Club, Old James Street.
Shops
Davies Newsagent (also Paypoint agent for all your utility bills, phone top-ups etc) 31 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790341
Post Office & Bread Shop Prince Street Tel: 01495 790238
Glynnis Hairdressers 100 High Street Tel: 01495 790695
Co-op Supermarket Ivor Street Tel: 01495 790284
G Spencer Electrics 6 Commercial Street
IT Learning Centre 4 Commercial Street Tel: 01495 792013
Co-op Pharmacy 14 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790293
Jane White Antiques & Collectables 19 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790696
Morris Butchers & Delicatessen 24 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790243
Phillips Electrical 25 Broad Street Tel: 01495 791241
Spar Supermarket 26 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790301 Blaenavon Clockworks
(Antiques/New/Repairs) 29a Broad Street Tel: 01495 791025
British Legion Shop 30 Broad Street Davies Newsagent 31 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790341
Phillips Opticians 34 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790495 Troubleshooters Accountants 36 Broad Street Tel: 01495 793190
Blaenavon Health & Sports Supplements 37 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790749
The Dog House (Dog Grooming Services) 38 Broad Street Tel: 01495 793077
HSBC Bank 40 Broad Street Tel: 08457 404404 Post Office
King Street Tel: 01495 790300
Head to Toes Therapy Clinic 57 Broad Street Tel: 01495 791469
Nappiland Fancy Goods 63/64 Broad Street Tel: 01495 792348
Redz Hairdressers 67 Broad Street Tel: 01495 792355
His ‘n’ Hers Hairdressers 68 Broad Street Tel: 01495 791553
Inspirations Jewellery & Gifts 74 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790144
Jan’s Hairdressers 75 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790079
Davis Estate Agents 79 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790899
The Card Shop 82 Broad Street Tel: 01495 793083
The Barber Shop 83 Broad Street Tel: 01495 792552
M&M Care Services 85 Broad Street Tel: 01495 792793
Hawkins Corn Stores Cross Street Tel: 01495 792018
Cost Cutters Supermarket 2 Market Street Tel: 01495 792282
Poppy’s Florist & Clothes 95 Broad Street Tel: 01495 791735
Owen Jenkins Turf Accountant 95 Broad Street Tel: 01495 790391
Waldrons Estate Agents 97 Broad Street Tel: 01495 793200
J&M Fruit & Vegetables 99 Broad Street Tel: 01495 792156
Jane’s Hair Salon 99a Broad Street Tel: 01495 790434