Popular restaurants and cafes in Cardiff and Swansea faced closures in 2024 due to various challenges and pressures encountered in the hospitality industry. While personal circumstances contributed to some shutdowns, many establishments blamed rising interest rates and energy bills for their closure. The year saw the end of iconic venues like The Conway, Bangkok, Poca, Nook, and Kindle, making way for new openings such as Mugshot and The Shed. Despite the closures, the dynamic food scene in Wales continued to evolve with fresh culinary experiences.
The Conway, a beloved Cardiff gastropub, bid farewell in January due to financial difficulties that had become insurmountable. Similarly, Swansea’s Bangkok restaurant closed its doors in November, with owners April and Chris Napier expressing gratitude to loyal customers and hinting at future pop-ups. Poca, a small plates venue in Pontcanna, shut down in August as the building it operated from was sold, hinting at a new project in the works. Nook, a Michelin Guide-recognised restaurant, closed in June after a successful run, passing the baton to new owners.
Deb and Phill Lewis, owners of Nook, also closed their sustainable restaurant, Kindle, in January, citing industry challenges. Chuckaboo, a late-night coffee shop and bar in Swansea, followed suit in April due to economic factors. Swansea’s Brass Beetle, known for its pizzas and cocktails, sadly closed its doors in January amid industry difficulties. Frampton’s tearoom in Swansea shuttered after four years to focus on family commitments, heralding a transition to online cake orders.
Cardiff’s Anna-Loka, a popular vegan restaurant, made the tough decision to close in February due to escalating costs and industry-wide challenges, reappearing as a trailer in November. The Smoke House, a Pontcanna barbecue joint, ended its decade-long run in January, blaming the financial climate for its closure. The Cardiff branch of The Coconut Tree served its last Sri Lankan meal after five years, while Wildflower Kitchen in Cardiff announced its closure due to mounting costs and industry struggles.
This wave of closures highlights the ongoing challenges faced by restaurants and cafes in maintaining operations amidst economic pressures. Despite the closures, the industry landscape continues to shift, with a blend of closures and new openings shaping the culinary scene in Cardiff and Swansea. The stories behind these closures demonstrate the resilience and adaptability required to navigate the ever-evolving hospitality sector, with owners making heartfelt decisions to move on to new opportunities or focus on personal commitments. As the dining scene in these cities evolves, patrons can expect a fresh array of culinary experiences to emerge, reflecting the dynamism of the food and beverage landscape in Wales.