0:00:03 > 0:00:05'Built in the heart of the city,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08'Swansea market is Wales' largest indoor market.'
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Here you are. £16.82, that's fantastic,
0:00:11 > 0:00:12thank you very much indeed.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15'Everyday, more than 700 people
0:00:15 > 0:00:18'compete alongside each other for business.'
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Get your chestnuts and your satsumas.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21Cockles!
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Come and get your fishies.
0:00:23 > 0:00:28'Their stalls will trade with the communities of modern Wales...
0:00:28 > 0:00:30£4.79. £4 to you.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33We'll think about it. Leave it here, first.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34We'll think about it.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37'..and service its oldest institutions.'
0:00:37 > 0:00:40- The first time I've ever shook hands with royalty.- I know.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43'In the grip of a recession, this is the one place
0:00:43 > 0:00:47'where a small idea can still turn into a big profit.'
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The total business turnover is forecast is to be
0:00:50 > 0:00:52just over £5 million.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54'But the way we shop is changing.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57'City centres are losing business
0:00:57 > 0:01:00'to large supermarkets and retail parks.'
0:01:00 > 0:01:03I've never seen it as tough as it is now.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05You're destroying the livelihood of 700 people
0:01:05 > 0:01:07if you destroy Swansea Market.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10So how can it be right, how can it be right for the country?
0:01:10 > 0:01:14The market has to pull together as a unit, as a team I guess.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22'Filmed over the busiest period of the market's year,
0:01:22 > 0:01:27'this series explores the fortunes and fates of the city's traders
0:01:27 > 0:01:31'as they try and keep their business dreams alive.'
0:01:31 > 0:01:32Three minutes late.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34You know, Paul, it's not good enough, is it, son?
0:01:34 > 0:01:37You've just got to pray that somebody wants what we've got, basically.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41That's all we can do.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Well, look, look at all these lovely happy people.
0:01:44 > 0:01:45You don't get that in Tescos.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57'It is mid-December in Swansea.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59'Footfall in the city centre is expected to double
0:01:59 > 0:02:00'over the coming fortnight
0:02:00 > 0:02:03'as people rush to buy their Christmas provisions.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08'For the market's food producers,
0:02:08 > 0:02:09'this will culminate
0:02:09 > 0:02:12'in the most intense trading weekend of their year.'
0:02:13 > 0:02:15It's starting early today, isn't it?
0:02:16 > 0:02:19'The three fishmongers are working especially hard,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23'for securing profits means outdoing their rivals.'
0:02:25 > 0:02:27This is our lovely conga for the day.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29Good bit of weight to that
0:02:29 > 0:02:31and if you don't pick it up properly
0:02:31 > 0:02:33it'll either go that way or that way.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36'Neil Morgan of Tucker's Fish Shop
0:02:36 > 0:02:38'is beginning the first of his Christmas displays.'
0:02:40 > 0:02:42You've got these small pin hake.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Then we've got a one to two hake, which is there.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Large hake, there's just hake everywhere.
0:02:48 > 0:02:49Hake, hake and hake.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53'Each business must decide which fish to buy in,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56'when to purchase them and how to stand out from the crowd.'
0:02:57 > 0:02:59We raise this up a little bit.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01We've got a lot of offers on salmon and hake,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03so, we like to make it all stand out.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06'Neil's rival at the Market Plaice is Paul Raeburn.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09'He's offering customers something a little different.'
0:03:09 > 0:03:10We do a lot of offers,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12so that's what's got us noticed over the past four years
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and that's how we're going to carry on doing,
0:03:15 > 0:03:16obviously, prices permitting.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17People walk past
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and they see hake cutlets on the counter for £15.98 a kilo
0:03:20 > 0:03:21and it means nothing to them.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23What we've done is pre-weighed them
0:03:23 > 0:03:25and when they walk past they see three for £5
0:03:25 > 0:03:28and that stops them, the price per kilo doesn't,
0:03:28 > 0:03:29so, we simplify things.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32'Adrian Coakley-Greene has adopted another tactic,
0:03:32 > 0:03:36'bringing in expensive shellfish for the Christmas platter.'
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Well, it's the full range of fish but what do people go for -
0:03:39 > 0:03:41for the luxury end of the market -
0:03:41 > 0:03:45lobsters, king prawns, oysters, smoked salmon.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47That's what they're looking for.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49'Of all the trades in the market,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52'competition is fiercest between the fishmongers.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55'Nobody wants to run short over Christmas.'
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Have you got any cod left, two to three pounders?
0:03:58 > 0:04:00About 20 kilo, if you've got it, please?
0:04:00 > 0:04:02One case of salmon fillets.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05And we're going to have plenty of this all the way through?
0:04:05 > 0:04:08We've got plenty to go through, yeah? OK.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12Hake fillets, I think, are going to be a good seller
0:04:12 > 0:04:15because we bought loads of them in
0:04:15 > 0:04:17and I know the suppliers haven't got any more,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19so, hopefully the other guys will run out
0:04:19 > 0:04:21and we'll have all the trade, hopefully.
0:04:21 > 0:04:22That's the plan anyway.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29There is rivalry, like any business, you know what I mean.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32We're always looking out for the next customer.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35We all want to put the money in the till at the end of the day.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38I couldn't care less what they do and I don't care less what they do.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40My prices are what they are and my margins are what they are.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42I'm not going to come down and undercut
0:04:42 > 0:04:43just to try and make the sales.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44We are the best.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48We are the fishmongers of the future.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56'Across the market, other food producers are stocking up.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00'Trying to predict how much business there will be in the final weekend.'
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Well there's 200 turkey crowns by here.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Come on, Cody. Any time today, boy!
0:05:08 > 0:05:11The first job is to get them in, the second job is to sell them.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20Next two days, we'll most probably shift a ton of sprouts,
0:05:20 > 0:05:24a ton of parsnips, seven ton of spuds.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Best case scenario is we're going to be rushed off our feet,
0:05:30 > 0:05:35no time to talk, no time to think, just keeping going all day long.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40Worst case scenario, we won't be quite as busy as that,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42but hopefully we'll still be very busy.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47'As the high street begins to fill up with shoppers,
0:05:47 > 0:05:52'every business in Swansea is trying to cash in on the Christmas spirit.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55'But news of a very different festive event
0:05:55 > 0:05:57'has also filtered down to the market floor.'
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Prince Charles is coming here Friday.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Ooh. I'll have to put my clean knickers on then!
0:06:07 > 0:06:10'On 14 December, the Prince of Wales has decided
0:06:10 > 0:06:13'to make his first ever visit to Swansea Market.'
0:06:13 > 0:06:16"One shopper will certainly stand out in the crowd
0:06:16 > 0:06:18"in Swansea Market on Friday.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20"The Prince of Wales will be visiting.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24"He will meet stall holders during a guided tour that will culminate
0:06:24 > 0:06:29"in the unveiling of a bilingual plaque to commemorate his visit."
0:06:29 > 0:06:33So that'll be nice, I'll just have to wear my best frock now.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38'With the market being the Prince's only engagement
0:06:38 > 0:06:42'in Swansea city centre, this is a chance for the council and traders,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45'to show off the market in its full splendour.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07'For market superintendent John Burns,
0:07:07 > 0:07:10'the Prince's visit brings new responsibilities,
0:07:10 > 0:07:14'as everybody has to learn the dos and don'ts of meeting royalty.'
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- Do you shake hands or not? - Hold that out.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19That's good.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Does it matter which leg goes behind?
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- I think it's the left. - Left is it?
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- You only shake hands with the Prince if he offers his hand.- Right.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30OK, so. How are you?
0:07:31 > 0:07:34- And it's a very weak sort of handshake.- Right.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Because, apparently, he shakes hands with so many people a day
0:07:36 > 0:07:38he must get like repetitive strain injury.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- So it's nice and light. OK, that's great.- OK, got that?
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- Got the rules.- I can count on you. - Thank you, sir.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47I think if Prince Charles came here,
0:07:47 > 0:07:51he'd just have to have one of our lovely roast dinners.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Unless he wanted a breakfast.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55If he was calling early in the morning,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57he could have a lovely breakfast.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01But I wouldn't be all starry eyed, I'll keep that for George Michael.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08'Sandy Ellis' carvery has had a busy period up to Christmas,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12'but with only days to go, Sandy has decided to review her festive menu.'
0:08:14 > 0:08:15Well I've decided that
0:08:15 > 0:08:19because it's only a couple of days before Christmas
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I haven't cooked turkey today.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Everybody in Swansea is going to be eating turkey on Tuesday,
0:08:24 > 0:08:29so, I did beef, honey-glazed ham and I've done pork today.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33If I was coming out for lunch today, maybe I wouldn't choose turkey.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36So I speak for my people.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42'Whilst the turkey might have gone, Sandy has still found other ways
0:08:42 > 0:08:45'of bringing the Christmas spirit into her lunchbox.'
0:08:46 > 0:08:51Well, I did ask them to participate in any way they wanted to.
0:08:53 > 0:08:59- I've got mine on.- Robert's decided to wear Sandy's pinny
0:08:59 > 0:09:02because he just wants to be me for the day.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Jade should be wearing the 'Bah Humbug' hat.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Oh, why? Because I woke up late?
0:09:08 > 0:09:10Because she won't dress up.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12I woke up late.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Deborah, the hairdresser in the outfit,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19has decided to wear a hat with plats
0:09:19 > 0:09:23because her hair looks not so good today.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24Oh, cheers.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28'The end of the year is also a chance
0:09:28 > 0:09:31'for her to thank her regular and loyal customers.'
0:09:33 > 0:09:36- You knew it was for him, didn't you? - Of course, I knew.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39It's off all of us. So, you can open it now.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- I can open it now? - You can open it now.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46I'm sure you'll like everything. All goodies.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48All this from all my friends here, you see.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53That's the gift and all this is appreciated.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55I won't be able to look after you.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58It will keep you going for a few days while I'm not here.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Oh yes. What do you think? Really nice eh?
0:10:01 > 0:10:04That's how much they think of me and I appreciate that, too.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09'But for the market's other new businesses,
0:10:09 > 0:10:10'the vital Christmas period
0:10:10 > 0:10:14'is delivering fewer customers than expected.'
0:10:14 > 0:10:15So far today, I've had one.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18What did they buy?
0:10:18 > 0:10:22Four Christmas puddings, the chocolate Christmas puddings.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26'Emily Poole's handmade organic chocolate shop
0:10:26 > 0:10:27'only started three weeks ago.'
0:10:27 > 0:10:29It's a bit worrying.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33It should be the busiest time of year but not everyone knows I'm here yet.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36I guess the worrying thing is for January, I just hope that
0:10:36 > 0:10:38everyone who bought the chocolates tell other people,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41I just hope that they still come back and not just for Christmas.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44'Further down the aisle,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46'Edward and Sarah Lewis' discount perfume stall
0:10:46 > 0:10:50'is experiencing teething problems with their new clientele.'
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Do you sell knock offs here or are these real?
0:10:52 > 0:10:55They're real. We wouldn't be allowed to sell them otherwise.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57OK. I'm looking for the One Million for my boyfriend.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00- We're out of stock. - You're out of stock. Um.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Our biggest problem is people think
0:11:02 > 0:11:05it's knock offs or copies of fragrances,
0:11:05 > 0:11:11maybe because we're in the market and we're reasonably cheap.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Loads of people come and they go, "Are they real?"
0:11:14 > 0:11:17And some of the time they believe us, a lot of the time they don't.
0:11:19 > 0:11:20That is a problem.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22That is £22.50.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23Right, OK.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- So, it's quite cheap. - I thought they were knock offs.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29When you generally go to a market they're normally all dodgy stuff.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34'But for one shop, the lack of Christmas custom
0:11:34 > 0:11:38'has been the final straw in a year of declining business.'
0:11:39 > 0:11:41We've been having very, very poor sales.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44One day, we had £2.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50Another day, we sold the grand sum of £7-worth of stuff.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54And another day, we sold £10-worth of stuff.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02'After five years in the market,
0:12:02 > 0:12:07'David and Janet Court are closing down I Do Wedding Favours.
0:12:08 > 0:12:09That's what makes me sad.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13We had that logo designed
0:12:13 > 0:12:16especially for the shop
0:12:16 > 0:12:19and it actually says, "I do".
0:12:19 > 0:12:22You've got your little groom and your little bride.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25That was the beginning of our dream.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27That was the beginning of our dream.
0:12:29 > 0:12:33People are buying online far more than they ever used to.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35We're a bit like a museum.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39People come in, they look at stuff, they see it and they think,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42"Oh, that's what it looks like. Now I'll go and buy it on eBay."
0:12:43 > 0:12:46'David and Janet had invested £30,000
0:12:46 > 0:12:48'in improving the shop's interior.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52'An investment they now have to walk away from empty handed.'
0:12:52 > 0:12:58What I see is all what could have been and we're losing.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01It was a dream, yes, all right, but you can have your dreams shattered,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05that's just too bad in a way. I suppose.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09This isn't just a dream, it's real. It exists.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11But it won't be.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13I was looking at this counter earlier on, thinking,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16"This belongs to me, this belongs to me,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19"all that and this all belongs to me."
0:13:19 > 0:13:23And I'm going to go out that door and leave it all behind.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Somebody once said that the nature of an entrepreneur
0:13:30 > 0:13:32is someone who,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36while they're cracking open the bottles of champagne to celebrate,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40at the same time they are conscious of the possibility
0:13:40 > 0:13:43of going into administration the following day.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49If you're not prepared to face at least a certain amount of that,
0:13:49 > 0:13:52you'd struggle to make a success of a small business.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09I'll miss the shop, I'll miss the shop a lot.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13I'll miss having an active part here as well.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17I've enjoyed being a retailer.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19I've enjoyed being a market trader.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23I've enjoyed meeting people and discussing things
0:14:23 > 0:14:25and doing things
0:14:25 > 0:14:27but it's come to its end.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42'The morning of the royal visit has arrived.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45'Across the market, traders have made a special effort
0:14:45 > 0:14:48'to give the Prince a proper Swansea Market welcome.'
0:14:50 > 0:14:54This morning I thought I'd put on my pinstripe suit, stiff collar
0:14:54 > 0:14:56and a nice clean white coat.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00So, maybe that would be quite fitting for the royal event.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05I thought I'd give the tiara an airing for Prince Charles.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Also, I'm wearing this top
0:15:08 > 0:15:11which is this length, Will.
0:15:11 > 0:15:18Sometimes I wear it as a dress when I'm feeling very daring.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23'News of the Prince's arrival has spread throughout the city.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27'An extra 3,000 people are now crowded into the market.'
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Oh, very excited. Can't wait.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Is this quite a big deal for Swansea, do you think?
0:15:32 > 0:15:34Yes. Look at all these shoppers.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37I didn't even know he was coming.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39I was in town shopping, Sunday dinner.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43We're very proud of our market.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45We've been waiting a long time now.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47Ten to nine I was in here, mind.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51There we are, this is what
0:15:51 > 0:15:53the market used to be like every weekend.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It was full all the way up there and all the way down there.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58This is what the market is supposed to be like.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04'At 10.30 precisely, the royal cavalcade arrives.'
0:16:04 > 0:16:06CHEERING
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- How tall is Charles?- 6'2". - Is he 6'2"?- He's over six foot.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23I just saw the top of his head there. There he is.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26It's a bit surreal to be honest.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29You see him on the telly and there he is.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32'Charles' itinerary gives him only 45 minutes
0:16:32 > 0:16:35'to visit all the market's major food producers.'
0:16:37 > 0:16:38How many years have you been here?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- I've worked in here 34 years... - 34 years.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43..and I've owned it for 20 years.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46- Is it a good site to have? - Oh, it's fantastic.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- Really busy.- Yeah, nice.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51No, I'm not nervous, it's just nice to see him.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53I'm not nervous, I'm never nervous, am I?
0:16:53 > 0:16:55'With only limited time,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57'everybody wants their moment in the spotlight.'
0:16:58 > 0:17:01- What are these crabs here? - These are river crabs.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04You can steam these, you can use them as bait. They're all alive.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07They sell very well. It's something you don't over cook.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09No, no, no, exactly.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Happy Christmas and congratulations.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- Thank you, you're very kind. - I'm delighted.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16- Are you a granny yet or not? - Not yet, not quite, yet.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18There's a hell of a lot of grannies around today.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22- All the very best, enjoy. - Happy Christmas. Thank you so much.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24Oh, no, I hope you're not going to stand in my way.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25No, you're all right.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28Because I'm going to stick you over there.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31My legs are shaking a little bit because you don't know what to say.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35But it's always a pleasure you know. Same time next week.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39'Congestion is the market means that moving anywhere
0:17:39 > 0:17:40'has now become a problem.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Are you trying to get out?
0:17:42 > 0:17:44You'll have to go out that way.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Go down there, turn to the left.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Right, we're moving on guys, please.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Yeah, it's all good so far. It's amazingly busy here today.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57But fair play to Charles,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00he is just doing a fantastic job shaking people's hands.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04He must soak his hands in salt water at the end of every night, I think.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08- I'm going to keep the glove, Will. - We're going to keep it.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12I was trying to get my glove off and then I thought, oh.
0:18:12 > 0:18:13What a lovely man.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15There they are, on the shelf.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19'After 40 minutes, the Prince has met all the selected stallholders
0:18:19 > 0:18:23'and has only a few, very patient hands left to shake.'
0:18:23 > 0:18:28Your highness. We've waited a long time to see you.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32- Very nice to see you. - Very, very nice to see you.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35- Are you sisters? - No, we're neighbours
0:18:35 > 0:18:39- Do you come shopping together quite often?- Yes, quite a lot.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Then have a jolly good coffee or something.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- You have a lovely Christmas. - And you.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46That was lovely, fantastic.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50You got quite a chat out of him, didn't you?
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I did, and he shook my hand and he held it.
0:18:53 > 0:18:54That was really lovely.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59APPLAUSE
0:18:59 > 0:19:04'By 11.15, the royal entourage has departed.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07'Swansea Market's regal moment has come to an end.'
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Yeah, that's it. Been and gone. Back to serving people now.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20'The final weekend of trading is about to begin.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25'Over the next two days, thousands of supermarket shoppers
0:19:25 > 0:19:28'will abandon their trolleys and visit the market
0:19:28 > 0:19:33'in search of Wales' finest and freshest Christmas produce.'
0:19:33 > 0:19:35It's going to be pandemonium.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Everyone getting last minute veg, total pandemonium.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Running around.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Hustle, bustle. Bumping into people, trying to get stock in,
0:19:44 > 0:19:45trying to get it up.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48It's chaos because you've got a lot of people waiting.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51We'll have turkeys along there, along the main rail by there.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Chickens and capons over there.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Geese behind me and ducks in this corner by here.
0:19:57 > 0:20:02'15 hours of trading will see 1,200 turkeys being sold,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05'250 lobsters boxed up
0:20:05 > 0:20:09'and over 4 tons of sprouts bagged and weighed.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11'Traders and customers will experience
0:20:11 > 0:20:14'the most stressful weekend of the market's year.'
0:20:16 > 0:20:17Radish, spring onions, tomatoes,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20cucumber, lettuce, boiling potatoes, roasting potatoes.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- OK, I'll check on the lettuce. - Ten live lobsters.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25There you are. That's for Jay, right.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28One beef dinner, Jade, for the lady and she doesn't want swede
0:20:28 > 0:20:30and no sprouts because we haven't got sprouts.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33- Do you want me to skin it?- Yes, please.- Both sides?- Yes, please.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Thank you. How are you, all right? One crown 5 or 6 kilos.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40- OK, there's five there. Are they big enough?- Yeah, yeah.- Yeah?
0:20:40 > 0:20:43'The first morning sees numbers in the market treble
0:20:43 > 0:20:45'and behind the shop front,
0:20:45 > 0:20:46'an army of other workers
0:20:46 > 0:20:49'are charged with keeping stock levels up.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52'Standards of presentation must remain high.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55'No-one will buy from an untidy stall.'
0:20:55 > 0:21:00I keep the green bit of the tomato, the calyx, it's called the calyx,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03I keep that showing that way, facing the customer, yeah.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05And it gives it a nice display.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08You can't have gaps appearing in your fruit and veg.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Yeah, you can't have gaps appearing.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Like asparagus for instance, the tips cannot be touching things
0:21:14 > 0:21:17or they knock the ends off, positioned in a certain way, yeah.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20If it looks attractive, people will buy it, yeah.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22If it's looking down and flat, people ignore it.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26'But for one of the market's fishmongers,
0:21:26 > 0:21:30'early trading has been complicated by their ice machine breaking down,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33'forcing them to buy in a hundred kilos of ice.'
0:21:33 > 0:21:35It should last us today and tomorrow.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37And then, that'll see us through Christmas
0:21:37 > 0:21:39and afterwards, I think, we've got to sort it.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45'Instead of asking for help from his market rivals, owner Paul Raeburn
0:21:45 > 0:21:49'sent one of his staff out of town to pick up emergency supplies.'
0:21:50 > 0:21:51I won't ask the other two.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53I don't know whether that's me being too proud
0:21:53 > 0:21:56but I won't ask for their help,
0:21:56 > 0:21:59just because I know...I know what the answer would be anyway.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02At the end of the day if I'm not working,
0:22:02 > 0:22:03if I'm not trading, it's more for them
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and I can't fault them in that respect,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07at the end of the day, but there we are.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12- £1.50.- How much?- £1.50. - £1.50 in money?- Money, yeah.- OK.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16'For the other fishmongers, ordering fish has become a nightmare
0:22:16 > 0:22:18'as the nation's ports have decided to close
0:22:18 > 0:22:21'four days before Christmas Day.'
0:22:21 > 0:22:25No brill, no turbot, no scallops, no pollock. This is the way it works.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28We're a couple of days before Christmas
0:22:28 > 0:22:30and everybody just stopped.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33We've got four more trading days.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36But they'll have their feet up tomorrow.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38'All three businesses have risked
0:22:38 > 0:22:40'tens of thousands of pounds on produce.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44'But not everybody has got their order in on time.'
0:22:44 > 0:22:45When is your last day, Mark?
0:22:46 > 0:22:47Oh, Christ.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51I didn't know that.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Bloody hell, I didn't know that. Well, we've had it.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59Thanks very much buddy, take care. Bye.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Oh. We've lost out.
0:23:05 > 0:23:06Transport has gone.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Should have spoken to him this morning.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Just made my mind up now. He can't get it on, transport's gone.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17'Paul and Adrian will have to work extra hard over the next two days
0:23:17 > 0:23:21'to catch up with Tucker's, whose weekend has had a flying start.'
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Yesterday, I thought we were going to have too much.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Today, I think we're not going to have enough now.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28But I can live with that.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32In fact, I'm going to change my sign to, "Get your fish fast",
0:23:32 > 0:23:33because we're selling out.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37Come on you're all right, come on.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39'As the weekend wears on,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42'the pressure begins to show on some traders.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44'They have now worked over a hundred hours in one week.'
0:23:46 > 0:23:48Go by there now, go back,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51let him come out and you go straight back in there.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Yeah, that's what we're doing.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Come back, straight, then.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Problem is we've got...there's no parking regulations here today,
0:23:59 > 0:24:00so, everybody's just free for all.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Problem is you've got 100 stalls and nine parking spaces.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05100 stalls and nine parking spaces.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08Come on, Jan.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Tempers do flare at times, but, you know, it can't be helped, I suppose.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14You know, personality clashes as well, isn't it!
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- I'm not picking all the fish up today.- Sorry, they said, "No good."
0:24:18 > 0:24:21What do you mean it's not good, what's wrong with them, then?
0:24:21 > 0:24:25'Inside the market, customer service is being stretched to its limit.'
0:24:25 > 0:24:29- Four of them?- Please.- Sure? - Yes.- Are these any good?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33- Do you want them cleaned? - Yes, four big ones.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Well, these are all roughly the same size.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37That's why they're four for ten, see.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- You want them cleaned, yeah? - Yes, please.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Hard work. They make you pick up every single fish,
0:24:43 > 0:24:44change their minds.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48I've been going crazy in here.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Just don't give up.
0:24:50 > 0:24:51Done this for 30 years,
0:24:51 > 0:24:54you just push yourself on and on till it's done.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Christmas time, Christmas Eve, you go home
0:24:56 > 0:24:59and probably fall asleep in the chair by 7.30pm, but it's done then.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01£10.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04'In the last few hours of the weekend,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06'trade builds up to a fever pitch.'
0:25:06 > 0:25:08- There we are, thank you. - That's great, thanks very much.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11- Have a good Christmas. - And you. Thanks a lot, goodbye.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13'This is the last time for another year
0:25:13 > 0:25:15'that so many people will be in the market.'
0:25:15 > 0:25:17Keep the change, is it?
0:25:17 > 0:25:18Yeah. No!
0:25:18 > 0:25:19Thank you very much.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24There he is. There's the man.
0:25:26 > 0:25:2782, OK?
0:25:27 > 0:25:30This one by here? That's beautiful that is.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35We need Christmas because we go very quiet January, February.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38So this, it seems great that we're making loads of money,
0:25:38 > 0:25:41but it all goes January and February because we do much less trade.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Five-a-day, nice one. Keep the doctor away, yeah.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53There we are, £22.15. Thank you very much.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01I haven't got any £5 notes, all right. So, £18.50, OK.
0:26:01 > 0:26:0299 each.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- The last one.- The last box again. - We got him.
0:26:15 > 0:26:1619.68.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21- Thank you very much. - Merry Christmas, mate.
0:26:29 > 0:26:34May I have your attention, please? Swansea Market is now closing.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36I'd like to take this opportunity
0:26:36 > 0:26:38to wish everyone a very happy Christmas.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39Thank you.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Done. My work is done. Ah.
0:26:45 > 0:26:51'After 46 continuous days of trading, Swansea Market is closed.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56'The food producers will have two days to recharge their batteries.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59'But almost all the traders have made a profit.
0:26:59 > 0:27:00'Even the fishmongers,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03'who have perhaps worked harder than anybody else,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06'have done enough to relax over Christmas.'
0:27:06 > 0:27:08I am absolutely bollocksed,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11to put it nicely, yeah.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14It's been hard, I mean eight days on the trot, it's been hard, it has.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16We've done very well. Everybody's happy.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19The boss is happy, we got our bonus.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21It's time to just kick back now and have a couple of pints.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29The Christmas rush this year has been phenomenal.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32We've never seen so many people here in Swansea Market.
0:27:32 > 0:27:37I can't understand where these people go for the rest of the year.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39We see these people, maybe, once a year.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Yes, we've got good regular customers
0:27:41 > 0:27:44but I'm talking about the mass throng of people.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48'At her Lunchbox, Sandy and Rob have done enough
0:27:48 > 0:27:51'to survive their first festive season.'
0:27:51 > 0:27:55It's been a tough old week, month, six months.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57But we're ready for a little break now.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00A few days off, you know, family time.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03And...that's it,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06just waiting for the big guy in the red suit to come, innit!
0:28:20 > 0:28:22'Next week in Swansea Market,
0:28:22 > 0:28:26'a quiet new year threatens Emily Poole's chocolate dreams.'
0:28:26 > 0:28:30If I carry on from now then I'll be getting into quite a bit of debt.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34'The food traders do business with Wales' new big spenders.'
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Wow, very fresh.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39'And a Christmas mini-break
0:28:39 > 0:28:42'gives Sandy new inspiration at her Lunchbox.'
0:28:42 > 0:28:44- Would you like to try one sir? - What is it?
0:28:44 > 0:28:46- It's a Moroccan tagine.- Ooh.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd