Cardiff’s drinking culture is at risk, as pub closure crisis deepens across Wales.
Campaigners warn Cardiff’s drinking culture is at risk, as more pub set to close across Wales this year.
A popular Wetherspoons pub in Canton is at risk of closure by the end of 2024. The Ivor Davies, owned by Wetherspoons, is one of 17 branches across the UK that the company has put up for sale. This move reflects a troubling trend in the hospitality industry, as figures show that Wales lost more than one pub every week in 2023.
Campaigners are calling for urgent action to preserve Cardiff’s remaining pubs, warning that closures like this have far-reaching consequences. “Don’t mourn it while it’s gone,” says Nerys Lloyd-Pierce, chair of Cardiff Civic Society. “The best thing anyone can do to try and keep your local alive is… go and use it.” The Civic Society works to protect Cardiff’s natural and built environments, including its many historic pubs.
“There aren’t many (pubs) that haven’t been closed down or converted to flats,” says Lloyd-Pierce. This concern is supported by industry data. Real estate experts Altus Group reported that 305 pubs closed across England and Wales in the first six months of 2024—more than 50 a month.
For many residents, pubs like the Ivor Davies are more than just places to drink—they are vital social hubs. John Lamb, spokesperson for CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said: “It’s sad to note the intended closure of the Ivor Davies, which has played a significant role in the social and community life of Canton and the city of Cardiff for 20 years.” CAMRA is a leading advocate for policies to support struggling pubs and maintain British pub culture.
The challenges facing pubs in Cardiff aren’t new. Following years of campaigning by Cardiff Civic Society and CAMRA, the city council listed 71 pubs, clubs, and cultural venues under planning regulations in 2022. This status provides some protection against redevelopment, but it doesn’t guarantee survival. Many venues remain vulnerable. For example, the Rummer Tavern, Cardiff’s oldest pub (built in 1713), is privately owned and unlisted, leaving it unprotected. Even listed pubs aren’t immune. The Westgate, a listed pub, closed in 2016 and was nearly sold for conversion into a private home. Fortunately, new owners have stepped in, and it is now expected to reopen later this year.
The loss of pubs has broader implications than just empty buildings. Lloyd-Pierce emphasized that these establishments are integral to the city’s identity. “It’s a community and its memories disappearing entirely,” she said. The closure of a pub often erases decades of shared experiences, friendships, and traditions.
Locals are being urged to rally around their remaining pubs, not just to save individual businesses but to preserve a vital part of Welsh culture. The Ivor Davies is just one of many pubs under threat, and campaigners warn that the public’s support could make the difference between survival and closure.
As Cardiff faces the ongoing loss of these social landmarks, the message is clear: support your local pubs now, before it’s too late.
