| Caroline Street | |
|---|---|
| Chip Alley | |
| Length: | 200 m (700 ft) |
| Location: | Cardiff, Wales |
| North: | Old Brewery Quarter |
| East: | St. Mary's Street |
| West: | The Hayes |
Caroline Street is a pedestrianised street running east/west in the lower part of Cardiff city centre, located between The Hayes and St. Mary's Street. It is known locally as Chip Alley[1] due to the propensity of fast food shops that make the street their home.
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Located within the original walled city of Cardiff, and just south of the original Cardiff Gaol, much as though its modern form caters for the eatting needs of the public, a number of buildings in Caroline Street have listed building status.[2] Caroline Street was renamed in the Victorian era after Caroline of Brunswick, the well loved wife of King George IV.[1] The next street south is Charlotte Street, named after their daughter Princess Charlotte of Wales. In 1857, the year that the last public execution took place in Cardiff, records how that 150 died as a result of an outbreak of smallpox on Caroline Street.[3]
Up until the post-World War 2 period, the street was a traditional mixed-trading street, with occupants including butchers and cobblers.[1]
Since that time, the number of family and privately-owned fast food outlets has steadily increased, and as of 2011 only a single outlet for Greggs bakery is resident on the Hayes end of the street, keeping Caroline Street relatively free of national and international chains and franchises. Dorothy's claims to be the oldest resident fast food shop on Caroline Street, which is a Fish and chip shop. The favourite fair served by all shops includes the preferred South Wales delicacy of curry sauce and chips.[1]
It should be noted by visitors that locals have always called the street Chip Alley, and calling it anything else can often cause offence.[1]
Such is the reputation of Caroline Street amongst local residents and numerous college students, that it is normally a riotious but well behaved location, with premises staying open until past 02:00 on Friday and Saturday nights. Occasionally incidents will occur, such as on 12 January 2011 when locally raised and then Cardiff City F.C. striker Craig Bellamy was arrested and bailed on an alleged assault claim, in which two men suffered facial injuries.[4][1]
In 2011 Cardiff University Ph.d student, Polish national Maciej Dakowicz, released his collection of photo's entitled Cardiff After Dark, many of the pictures of which were shot either on or around Caroline Street.[5]
In 2003, after the development of the mixed-use Old Brewery Quarter from Brains Brewery former premises, and the proposed redevelopment of both the St David's Centre and The Hayes, it was decided to refurbish Caroline Street. Pedestrianised, the street floor structure was given a stone based easy-clean finish, although late at night this has still not resolved the problem of customers slipping over onto the street even when sober, due to the shear volume of food packaging and food waste which the street accumulates. It has however made it far easier to clean and keep clean.