Pontefract is one of the 'Five Towns' in the district of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with a population close to 29,000 people. Castleford, Knottingley, Featherstone and Normanton are the other surrounding towns and each providing their own unique contribution to the financial and social development of the ‘Five Towns’ area.
Pontefract has been a market town since, at least, the Middle Ages; the main market days are Wednesday and Saturday, with a smaller market on Fridays. There is also a covered market, which is open all week, except Thursday afternoons and Sundays. Thursday afternoon is half-day closing in Pontefract. However other well developed retail business’s also thrive within the ‘Five Towns’ area and these range from small business holdings to major suppliers such as ASDA, Tesco , Morrison’s and the retail park Freeport with its close neighbour the Xscape complex which offers restaurant’s, bars, shops, cinema, bowling and not forgetting skiing as some its attractions.