Cafe to close until the new year

ONE of Cardiff’s most popular delicatessens, Wally’s, is closing its cafe for the rest of the year.

The Kaffeehaus’s closure from tomorrow follows on the back of the staffing crisis which has hit Welsh hospitality hard.

With workers having turned their backs on the demanding sector, it’s led to a number of Cardiff’s top restaurants having to reduce their opening hours.

Posting the news on Facebook, Wally’s said: “We regretfully announce that due to acute staff shortages in our Delicatessen and Kaffee we have had to take the very difficult and sad decision to temporarily close our Kaffeehaus from the end of business on Saturday, November 6, until the end of the year.

“We sincerely hope to reopen again in the New Year.”

It added: “Thank you for all your custom this year since we reopened after lockdown and we hope to see you all again soon in our Kaffeehaus when it reopens.

“Wally’s Delicatessen and Wally’s Liquor Cellar remain open as usual.”

Responding to the news on Facebook, people expressed their sadness, with one commenter saying: “Very saddened to hear this but totally understandable.”

Another person added: “So sorry to hear this. Hope things improve for you to reopen again in the New Year. The cafe will be missed very much in the meantime.”

Wally’s, which has been a fixture of Cardiff’s Royal Arcade since 1981, is known for its wide selection of cheeses, cured meats, chocolates, preserves and beers.

Its upstairs Kaffehaus is a more recent addition to the shop, having opened in 2011.

It’s inspired by the coffee shops of Vienna and serves a menu of continental breakfasts and open sandwiches, cakes and patisserie, including Bavarian sausage platters, Viennese salads and marinated sweet herring open sandwiches.