Arcades to open in evening for diners

TWO of Cardiff’s historic arcades are to open late to serve food and drink at weekends.

Duke Street and High Street Arcades will stay open until midnight from the end of this month after a string of successful pop-up events such as alfresco cinema screenings.

An official launch event is set to take place on Friday, March 30, which will run from 6pm until 11.30pm. It promises food, drink, live music, an art gallery and plenty of independent retailers unique to the Welsh capital.

Ruin, a new vegan cafe bar and art gallery, is also set to open in the Duke Street Arcade to coincide with the changes.

A Romanian cafe and patisserie called Papa Nash is also set to open, although this will initially appear as a pop-up until its official launch in several weeks’ time.

Eateries including Bwyta Bwyd Bombai, which serves Indian street food, and Garlands cafe are also due to be open in the evenings.

Giles Murray, from Mansford – the investment group which bought Castle, High Street and Duke Street arcades for £25m in 2014 – said: “Whether you’re looking for Indian street food at 3Bs, fresh locally sourced specialities in Garlands or just an amazing sandwich at New York Deli, the arcades are full of great places to meet up and relax.

“They really are becoming a destination for fans of great food, coffee, craft beer and cocktails, all in a stunning location with a bit of music thrown in for good measure.”

The three arcades are made up of around 70,000 sq ft of retail space and are home to more than 100 tenants.

Among the retailers in the arcades at the moment are art galleries, jewellers, fashion stores, bookshops, toy sellers, antiques shops and restaurants and cafes.

The Grade II listed structures were built in the late Victorian era between 1882 and 1902 at the height of Cardiff’s prosperity as a coal exporting port.

They rise to two and three storeys with the upper levels providing city centre office space for small businesses and charities.