The pubs, bars, and restaurants that have closed in Cardiff this year

It’s been a tough year for the hospitality industry in Cardiff.

The coronavirus pandemic meant that for large parts of 2020 bars, cafés, and restaurants were forced to close up. Once-thriving businesses and packed establishments were left empty with customers forced to stay at home and owners left needing to put staff on furlough.

Although there have been periods of something closer to normality, with many spots in the capital able to re-open when allowed, many closed for good.

Here are all the bars, cafés, and restaurants that have shut down in Cardiff over the past 12 months.

Garlands Coffee

The long-established venue was a favourite in the arcades
The long-established venue was a favourite in the arcades

The café had traded in Cardiff’s Duke Street Arcade for nearly 40 years but closed up for good at the start of the year.

Garlands was set to celebrate its 40th year in 2020 and its loyal customers enjoyed Welsh-themed breakfasts, fluffy pancakes, homemade lunches and coffees in the cosy café, which closed its doors for the final time on Tuesday, February 4.

A message was posted on the café’s Facebook page but at the time no reason was given for the closure. You can find out more here.

WOW Bar

The Churchill Way venue was much-loved
The Churchill Way venue was much-loved

In June WOW Bar released a statement on its Facebook page with the news that, due to coronavirus restrictions, it would not be re-opening.

The post, which thanked customers for their support, read: “Sadly we won’t be re-opening Wow in its current position but we are looking for another venue in the city. Whether or not this will happen I don’t know.”

Read more here.

Minsky’s Showbar

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It had been entertaining Welsh drag-lovers for more than a quarter of a century but now Minsky’s Showbar is no more.

The owners of the bar, which opened every weekend for cabaret shows, claimed the closure was because the landlord of the building has refused to renew the lease.

The bar celebrated its 25th-anniversary in 2019 and closed for the final time on Saturday, May 9.

Read the full story here.

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Roath Park pub


In October plans were submitted to knock down the former Roath Park pub in City Road and build a block of flats.

The applicant said the pub was “one of several deemed surplus to requirements in the light of reduced demand” and had been sold.

Find out more here.

Carluccio’s

The Italian chain has two locations in Cardiff: one in Mill Lane and one in Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay.

The dining chain Carluccio’s was purchased in a rescue deal which was expected to save 30 of its 71 UK restaurants, administrators announced in May. The two Cardiff sites remain shut.

Read more here.

Cafe Jazz


For 25 years Cafe Jazz in St Mary Street saw many nearby venues in the Welsh capital come and go as it stood the test of time with its loyal crowd of jazz and blues fans.

But in August, under the title of ‘Time to Say Goodbye’, a statement on the Cafe Jazz website read: “It is with regret that we announce Cafe Jazz has closed for good.”