Penarth Nub News is devoted to local business - we want our high street to thrive.

In this new feature, we take a peek behind-the-scenes as local businesses set up shop or make significant adaptations.

Today, a first glimpse at the new extended layout in one of Penarth's most beloved independents

Hamptons, the Ludlow Lane purveyor of all things lovely, is not a business afraid of change.

Every year their Christmas display morphes unrecognisably into something wholly new and magical.

They are always on the lookout for new, artisanal brands to keep their product range fresh and exciting - and have rolled with the punches throughout the pandemic.

Just prior to the first lockdown, they introduced their "Food Hall".

From biscuits, confectionary, tea, coffee, bacon curing kits, garlic dressings and Welsh honey-infused gins - the selection was a huge hit.

So, when in December Wales plunged into lockdown, it wasn't long before founders Peter Knowles and Andy Bradshaw began plotting their next big change.

"With the Food Hall, the focus was on small artisan food producers so we could showcase products that people won't have seen in the supermarkets," Peter tells Nub News.

"Customers really took to it. It was a big success. Then Christmas, with all the hampers we launched, was great as well."

The Food Hall was at that time restricted to a relatively small area at the back of the upstairs space.

When the current lockdown was imposed, the duo immediately set about planning how to fully capitalise on their fruitful foray into food.

"So, we thought, we have a lot of scope here. But how are we going to extend the Food Hall without sacrificing something else that we sell," continues Peter.

"So then we asked ourselves, is there anyway to extend the floor space?

"And we realised we had this big space that used to be Andy's [BAFTA award winning designer] workspace but we have just been using for storage.

"We're turning it into a space that will allow us to expand the Food Hall, the dining offering, and the fashion accessories as well.

"We just said, if we don't do it now... we'll ever do it."

Work on knocking through the wall and decorating the new space should end by the end of the week.

It will be ready for whenever lockdown restrictions on non-essential retail are relaxed.

Perhaps the most time-consuming part of the process was sorting through and rehoming many of the items they had been hoarding in the space for years - not least the famous Hampton's animatronic bear.

"He stayed in Penarth. He went to a customer who was always a big fan of the bear and her husband bought him for her.

"We raised £310 for Many Tears, which was great because the lady who bought him adopted her dog from Many Tears."

The shop has gained an additional 50 square feet (perhaps 1/3 of the upstairs space) to expand their range into.

"Everything up until now has been ambient food - jars, bottles and packets.

"But now we're moving into chilled foods, we've got a smokery from Somerset. We'll have a checkout upstairs as well and generally just a bigger more exciting range.

"There's a lot more choice for people when they come back in."

The last year has been a tough one for the High Street. But Peter is convinced the extension and the spirit of Penarth will help see them recover.

"So many people were desperate to shop locally and in a place that they felt safe and comfortable.

"I often think of the town and the shops in the town as being a bit like going back in town.

"It's a friendly place where you know the shop owner, they know you, and it's almost like going to see a friend. The experience of shopping is absolutely key. You can't replicate it online."