Owner hopes menu will make his venue stand out from the crowd
A RIVERSIDE pub will soon be offering a draught range of vegan, gluten-free and organic beer as it looks to appeal to a wider market.
Jamie Taylor, general manager of The Cricketers, believes there is a growing market for vegan and gluten-free products and this initiative will make his Cathedral Road pub stand out.
“I think the demand for gluten-free now is just becoming crazy. It’s massive. We’ve already got the full bottle range of gluten-free beers but to change it to tap beer then it will be much better.
“I don’t think around this area there’s a vast selection of gluten-free beers so I’m guessing that’s where we could be a little bit different.
“Because we brew it ourselves in the brewery down in Llandeilo, if something isn’t quite right they can tweak it, so we’re quite lucky.”
The Cricketers has received praise for its efforts, winning Pub/Inn of the Year at the 2018 Welsh Hospitality Awards and being nominated for the 2019 award on Monday November 11.
It was beaten by The Gwaelod y Garth Inn, near Pentyrch.
“For us these awards are really good because we’re only a small business, still family-owned. We’re not part of a big chain or anything like that,” Mr Taylor said.
“This is the only pub we’ve got in Cardiff and then we’ve got a pub in Llandeilo as well, so it’s quite a big thing for us.”
The pub was also recognised at the Food Awards in 2018, winning Gastro Pub of the Year for the south east region of Wales.
The Food Awards, among other things, recognises establishments that provide fresh food.
“Because we’re a fresh kitchen then we’re able to accommodate for basically anyone’s needs really, because everything is made fresh on the day,” Mr Taylor said.
“If someone comes in and they’re coeliac, for example, and there’s something on the menu that they can’t have but they really want, then we’ll try and do that dish for them without them being ill.”
Rob Pearson, owner of the victorious Gwaelod y Garth Inn said he was “proud, honoured and overwhelmed” at winning the Pub/Inn of the Year category at the Welsh Hospitality Awards, held in the Exchange Hotel, Cardiff Bay.
The Butcher’s Arms, Canton, was the third Cardiff pub in the south east region nominated for the prize.
