‘I hope it never changes’ – Scottish businessman mourns Valletta’s long-lost importers

Keith Bonnington, a Scottish businessman working in the drinks industry, was particularly struck by Valletta’s old and iconic shopfronts – some of which have fallen into disrepair – during his recent trip to the islands.

Mr Bonnington took to social media share a few thoughts inspired by this sight.

“Spending the past week in Valletta has given me an insight into how high street once was in old Malta. Long lost importers and distributors of OXO and Fray Bentos, boarded up premises of the city’s finest textiles stores, old wines, spirits and tobacco merchants replaced by modern kiosks,” he wrote.

“I suspect many of these old facias exist only because Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and even painting a doorway a new colour would take several jumps through several bureaucratical hoops,” Mr Bonnington added.

Valletta’s old shopfronts have inspired locals and tourists alike for years on end. They even serve as the main source of inspiration for the ‘maltatype’ project, a well-followed local art initiative curated by BloomCreative Creative Director Matthew Demarco.

Through said project, Mr Demarco photographs old shopfronts – particularly those showing off interesting typographical elements – and digitises their text.

“I love it though. I hope it never changes,” Mr Bonnington continued.

“I actually hope some of them reopen even more glorious than they once were. Wishful thinking?”

Mr Bonnington has spent around two decades working in the drinks industry, currently serving as Director and Co-Owner at Colonsay Beverages Ltd.

This British company is behind the Colonsay Brewery, which produced a range of high quality premium craft beers as well as small batch gin.