Ropergate florist celebrating 20-years in business says Pontefract is blooming
A Pontefract florist celebrating 20 years in business in 2026 says the town is enjoying a revival.
Liz Abbott, who runs Flowerworks on Ropergate, said new independent businesses are attracting more visitors to Pontefract.
Flowerworks is next to new independent cards, gifts and homewares shop Twine.
Independent coffee shop and eatery Fract has recently opened on Ropergate.
Liz said: "I do think there's a feeling of a bit of a revival in Pontefract - Ropergate in particular. People are taking pride in their shops.
"So many people have commented that it has helped revive Ropergate with Twine and Fract coming. It has brought a new lease of life to Pontefract.
Liz, who studied floristry at Wakefield College, started her business Flowerworks in Featherstone in 2006 and in 2011 moved to a shop on Front Street - now the Haribo shop.
Flowerworks moved to its current shop on Ropergate in 2016.
Liz said: "I have got a really lovely, loyal customer base that have stuck with me so I'm really lucky in that respect.
"There are families who we have done everything from christenings, weddings and funerals so you get to know customers."
Ropergate has seen major changes in recent years after the closure of the Post Office and the Yorkshire Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Bank and NatWest
The former Post Office and the old Yorkshire, HSBC and Lloyds bank buildings have been transformed and are now among a string of bars and restaurants on Ropergate.
Liz said: "After the banks left we were literally just a street of bars but now the footfall has increased. There is more reason to come down.
"We came through Covid and after that it was dire. It just completely changed the way people shopped.
"Everything went online - people just didn't come out to the shops after Covid. We managed to ride that out and now there's so much more positivity.
"A mum and daughter have been in this morning and said you can now come to Pontefract and have a mooch about.
"They had been for brunch at Fract and popped in Twine and got gifts and then come in here for some flowers.”
"It's a new lease of life with the independent shops and businesses. People are starting to appreciate what we do here in Pontefract. There are a lot of positives.
"It has brought younger people in and it's a different vibe on the street."