Editing Caernarfon (section)

==Economy==
Caernarfon's historical prominence and landmarks have made it a major tourist centre.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gareth Edwards |url=http://www.visitcaernarfon.com/ |title=Caernarfon Tourist Information |publisher=Visitcaernarfon.com |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805124828/http://www.visitcaernarfon.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result, many of the local businesses cater for the tourist trade. Caernarfon has numerous guest houses, inns and pubs, hotels, restaurants and shops. The majority of shops in the town are located either in the centre of town around Pool Street and Castle Square (Y Maes), on Doc Fictoria (Victoria Dock) or in Cei Llechi (Slate Quay).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Makers {{!}} Cei Llechi Regeneration project, Caernarfon |url=https://www.ceillechi.cymru/eng/the-makers.html |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=www.ceillechi.cymru}}</ref> A number of shops are also located within the Town Walls.

The majority of the retail and residential section of Doc Fictoria was opened in 2008. The retail and residential section of Doc Fictoria is built directly beside a [[Blue Flag beach]] marina. It contains numerous homes, bars and bistros, cafés and restaurants, an award-winning arts centre, a maritime museum and a range of shops and stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.docfictoria.co.uk/information.htm |title=Doc Fictoria Victoria Dock Caernarfon |publisher=Docfictoria.co.uk |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220022729/http://www.docfictoria.co.uk/information.htm |archive-date=20 February 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

Pool Street and Castle Square contain a number of large, national retail shops and smaller independent stores. Pool Street is pedestrianised<ref>{{cite web|author=Your name |url=http://www.cyclestreets.net/location/28490/ |title=View a photo in the Photomap » Rising bollards, Pool St, Caernarfon (photo #28490) |publisher=CycleStreets |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> and serves as the town's main shopping street. Castle Square, commonly referred to as the 'Maes' by both Welsh and English speakers, is the market square of the town. A market is held every Saturday throughout the year and also on Mondays in the summer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=28427 |title=Caernarfon Market, a Market in Caernarfon, North Wales. Search for North Wales Markets |publisher=Information-britain.co.uk |date=16 October 2005 |access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> The square was revamped at a cost of £2.4 million in 2009. However, since its revamp the square has caused controversy due to traffic and parking difficulties. During the revamp, it was decided to remove barriers between traffic and pedestrians creating a 'shared space', to force drivers to be more considerate of pedestrians and other vehicles. This is the first use of this kind of arrangement in Wales, but it has been described by councillor Bob Anderson as being 'too ambiguous' for road users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caernarfonherald.co.uk/caernarfon-county-news/local-caernarfon-news/2009/06/11/controversy-over-y-maes-in-caernarfon-88817-23844877/ |title=Controversy over y Maes in Caernarfon |publisher=Caernarfon Herald |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-date=19 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619182605/http://www.caernarfonherald.co.uk/caernarfon-county-news/local-caernarfon-news/2009/06/11/controversy-over-y-maes-in-caernarfon-88817-23844877/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another controversy caused by the revamp of the Maes was that a historic old oak tree was taken down from outside the [[HSBC]] bank. When the Maes was re-opened in July 2009 by the local politician and Heritage Minister of Wales, [[Alun Ffred Jones]] AM, he said, "the use of beautiful local [[slate]] is very prominent in the new Maes."

There are many old [[public house]]s serving the town, including The Four Alls, The Anglesey Arms Hotel, The Castle Hotel, The Crown, Morgan Lloyd, Pen Deitch and The Twthill Vaults. The oldest public house in Caernarfon is the [[Black Boy Inn]], which remained in the same family for over 40 years until sold in 2003 to a local independent family business. The pub has stood inside Caernarfon's Town Walls since the 16th century, and many people claim to have seen ghosts within the building.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.black-boy-inn.com/history.htm |title=History :: Black Boy Inn &#124; Caernarfon Hotels &#124; Accommodation North Wales |publisher=Black Boy Inn |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-date=8 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808081452/http://www.black-boy-inn.com/history.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In and around the Town Walls are numerous restaurants, public houses and inns, and guest houses and hostels.<ref>{{cite web |author=Things to Do |url=http://www.caernarfonhotels.com/things-to-do/ |title=Things to Do |publisher=Caernarfon Hotels |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129073614/http://www.caernarfonhotels.com/things-to-do/ |archive-date=29 January 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>