Microbrewery all set as pub changes hands

A POPULAR Cardiff pub has been taken over by a new company – and changes at Y Mochyn Du include its own microbrewery on site.

The pub, in Sophia Gardens, is also getting a name change and will become Bragdy a Chegin, the Welsh translation of new owners Brewhouse and Kitchen.

It’s the company’s first bar in Wales, despite co-founder Kris Gumbrell being “a born-and-bred local boy”.

Kris, who is originally from Cardiff, said: “As a Welshman I am looking forward to bringing what we do to this vibrant and unique market. As well as brewing more unique beers we will be looking to work with some of the great local craft brewers in the area.”

And growing up in the area, he realises the importance of the Welsh-language aspect that the pub incorporates.

“Apart from its location, one of the other very special features of this business is that it is a bilingual pub,” he adds.

“Brewhouse and Kitchen are committed to maintaining this important cultural link, our signage, printed media and website will all be bilingual.”

The pub will be taking on the Brewhouse and Kitchen (Bragdy a Chegin) name, but Kris is keen to stress that they won’t be losing the Y Mochyn Du identity entirely and it’ll still feature on the signs.

They’re also designing an ale which will be brewed at the pub, called Y Mochyn Du.

The company has already acquired the freehold for Y Mochyn Du – but for now it’s “business as usual”. However, the plan is to close in January 2018, when the venue will be refurbished and re-open under the new branding.

Kris added: “I am over the moon to have been able to buy this amazing business, especially as a born-and-bred local boy, we have been looking in Cardiff for a number of years and high-quality freeholds are difficult to find in this great city.”