Wales - Hospitality

Tommy Heaney on toughing out Wales’ restrictions

09-Dec-2020 By Cameron Henderson

Unable to sell the hard stuff and forced to close at 6pm, many Wales-based operators have simply shut up shop. But Cardiff-based chef Tommy Heaney is pushing on.

Just 27% of Britain’s pubs reopen under new tier restrictions

03-Dec-2020 By James McAllister

Just 27% of pubs in Britain reopened yesterday (2 December), with many suggesting they could close again in less than a week if they are unviable under Tier 2 restrictions.

Wales bans all alcohol sales in hospitality under tough new Coronavirus restrictions

30-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Pubs, bars and restaurants in Wales will be banned from selling alcohol and be forced to close at 6pm every evening under tough new Coronavirus restrictions.

James Sommerin opens The Shed in Barry

11-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Four months after being forced to close his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant in the Welsh coastal town of Penarth, chef James Sommerin has opened a new site in nearby Barry.

Welsh hospitality begins to reopen following 'fire-break'

09-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars across Wales can reopen from today (9 November) following the end of the country's 17-day 'fire-break' lockdown.

Welsh hospitality gets greenlight to reopen with 'severe' restrictions following 'fire-break'

04-Nov-2020 By James McAllister

Restaurants, pubs and bars will be able to welcome groups of up to four people from different households from Monday (9 November) when the country's 'fire-break' lockdown lifts.

Woky Ko chef Larkin Cen returns to Wales

02-Nov-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Bristol-based restaurateur Larkin Cen is bringing his Woky Ko delivery service to Newport after securing a site within an industrial unit in the Welsh town.

Hospitality sector calls on Welsh Government for support

29-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

UKHospitality Cymru has written to members of the Welsh Government outlining proposals for the support of the country's hospitality businesses during the 'fire-break' lockdown and beyond.

Wales’ ‘fire-break’ lockdown confirmed

19-Oct-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has ordered hospitality businesses to close for two weeks to ‘break the rapidly increasing spread of Coronavirus’ in Wales.

Wales poised for 'circuit breaker' decision

19-Oct-2020 By James McAllister

The Welsh Government is expected to announce this morning whether it will impose a two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdown, which will see pubs and restaurants across the country ordered to close.

Welsh hospitality businesses call for emergency support

21-Sep-2020 By James McAllister

The Welsh Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC) has sent an urgent letter to the Welsh Government setting out the increasingly fragile financial position of the sector.

Kin+Ilk goes permanent at Cardiff’s St David’s

01-Sep-2020 By Joe Lutrario

Speciality Welsh coffee company Kin+Ilk has launched a café at the Intu-operated St David’s following a successful pop-up at the Cardiff shopping centre.

James Sommerin's Michelin-starred restaurant forced to close after landlord eviction

22-Jul-2020 By James McAllister

James Sommerin's eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant in the Welsh coastal town of Penarth is reported to have closed after the landlord told the chef to vacate the premises.

Restaurants and pubs in Wales to reopen indoors from 3 August

10-Jul-2020 By Restaurant

Restaurants and pubs in Wales will be able to reopen for indoor trade from 3 August it has been announced.

Podcast: James Sommerin on feeding the NHS

16-Apr-2020 By James McAllister

The Michelin-starred chef is preparing thousands of meals a week at his Penarth restaurant to feed hospital workers on the front line of the Coronavirus crisis.

Footballer Gareth Bale tees up Cardiff golf venue

11-Mar-2020 By Joe Lutrario

High-profile Welsh footballer Gareth Bale is to open a restaurant, bar and mini-golf venue in his home city of Cardiff.

Flash-grilled: Andrew Sheridan

09-Aug-2019 By James McAllister

Andrew Sheridan has appeared on Great British Menu and is best known for his stint at Sosban in Llanelli, Wales. Following its closure, he moved to Cornwall to oversee the Stargazy Inn.

Douglas Balish to take the reins at Pembrokeshire's Grove of Narberth

05-Mar-2019 By James McAllister

Douglas Balish is to take over from Allister Barsby as executive chef at the Grove of Narberth hotel in Pembrokeshire in early May.

Sosban restaurant blames closure on "rising costs"

06-Feb-2019 By Sophie Witts

Sosban in Llanelli, Wales has closed after eight years, with its owners blaming the “rising costs” of running a restaurant.

Welsh restaurant asks to hand back Michelin star

21-Sep-2018 By Sophie Witts

The Checkers restaurant in Montgomery, Wales, has asked to “hand back” its Michelin star ahead of a change in the direction of the business.

Byron hamburgers to open first Welsh site in Cardiff

27-Mar-2017 By Hannah Thompson

Byron, the burger group founded by Tom Byng, is to open its first Welsh site at Cardiff’s St David’s Grand Arcade this summer.

Ynyshir Hall rebrands as Ynyshir in new restaurant-with-rooms focus

17-Aug-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Ynyshir Hall, the 10-bedroom luxury hotel in Wales’ Snowdonia National Park, has rebranded as a restaurant-with-rooms named simply Ynyshir.

Wales' first art hotel opens in St Davids

21-Mar-2016 By Sophie Witts

Wales’ first contemporary art hotel has opened its doors in St Davids, Pembrokeshire.

Steak of the Art opens Cardiff restaurant

26-Jan-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Steak of the Art, the restaurant concept that serves steaks and other meats in an art gallery setting, has opened a second site in Cardiff.

Twr y Felin luxury hotel to open in Wales

16-Dec-2014 By Lauren Houghton

The Retreats Group will open boutique hotel Twr y Felin in the UK’s smallest city, St David’s in Wales, in the summer of 2015.

‘Bumper’ year for Welsh tourism and hospitality businesses

24-Oct-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Wales’ hospitality and tourism industries are thriving, with many local operators reporting their busiest year to date and a number of major business investments giving a clear sign that buyers are returning to the market.

Fat Cat Café Bars calls in the administrators

25-Apr-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Fat Cat Café Bars, which operates 10 bars and gastropubs, has been placed into administration and a property agent has already been instructed to find buyers for six of the chain's sites.

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts returns to Wales to manage Swansea's Dragon Hotel

23-Jan-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Scotland-based operator Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has announced it is making its return to Wales after reaching a management agreement with the Dragon Hotel in Swansea city centre.

New Llangoed Hall MD plans investment to restore hotel to ‘former glory’

13-Sep-2012 By Emma Eversham

The new managing director for Llangoed Hall, the former Von Essen hotel which went into administration last year, has outlined plans to restore the 23-bedroom hotel to its former glory.

Ruby Tuesday to open second UK site, first in England

14-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The team behind the UK franchise of American casual dining chain Ruby Tuesday has signed a deal for a site in Cheltenham which will become the first outside Wales for the operator.

Hotel development for 'Welsh Versailles' and largest private residential property in Wales

12-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Kinmel Hall, a Welsh mansion modelled on the Palace of Versailles in France and the largest private residential property in Wales, has been sold for around £1.5m and is set to become a luxury hotel after a development is completed.

Publicans in Wales given £1.3m funding to develop community services

26-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

Publicans in rural areas of Wales have been promised a share of £1.3m to help develop services such as post offices, shops and computer training clubs alongside their core business.

Cardiff the top UK city for socialising and going out

10-Jan-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Cardiff has been declared the most social city in the UK with residents of the Welsh capital most likely to go out and meet others in its restaurants, bars and pubs, according to social network CitySocialising.

UK hotel prices surge by up to 200% for New Year’s weekend

09-Dec-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Hotels across the UK are ramping up their tariffs over the New Year’s weekend, with Edinburgh hotels charging almost three times more for a one-night stay in a standard double room.

Llangollen Hotels' Bodidris Hall bought out of administration

16-Nov-2011 By Emma Eversham

Bodidris Hall, one of four freehold hotels formerly owned by Llangollen Hotels, has been bought out of administration by private owners.

Whitbread plans Premier Inn at Barry Waterfront development

23-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Whitbread is hoping to gain planning permission to build an 80-bedroom Premier Inn at the multi-million pound redevelopment of Barry Waterfront.

MPs support campaign to amend smoking ban in pubs

29-Jun-2011 By Emma Eversham

MPs from the three main parties are hosting a reception at The House of Commons later today to gain support for a campaign to amend the smoking ban.

Institute of Hospitality launches Welsh branch

24-Jun-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The Institute of Hospitality (IoH) yesterday established a regional branch in Wales, which it says will allow it to more effectively represent the industry and collaborate with other groups in the sector.

Extended opening hours for Royal Wedding

14-Feb-2011 By Lorraine Heller

The government intends to grant extended opening hours to restaurants and pubs during the Royal Wedding, allowing venues in England and Wales to serve food and alcohol until 1am on the festive weekend.

Two pubs to share CAMRA Best Cider & Perry Pub title

01-Oct-2010 By Rachel Johnson

Two pubs, one in Cumbria and one in Hull, are to share this year’s National Cider and Perry Pub of the year title, as competition organisers said it was “impossible” to separate the two winners