LAST ORDERS AT THE WESTGATE
AFAMOUS Cardiff pub closed its doors for the last time last night after it was put up for sale last year. The Westgate pub, on Cowbridge Road East, ceased trading yesterday – and could soon be turned into a home.
The historic grade II-listed building was put up on the market last year, with its owners, SA Brain, blaming a decline in customer numbers for the decision.
After learning that yesterday would be their last day of trade just days earlier, staff, locals who have been going there for decades and visitors at the Westgate were hoping to have a memorable last day in their beloved pub.
They said it was sad to see the end of an era with the pub closing, but said it was a sign of the times.
Popular with sports fans, residents in Riverside and Canton, as well as those heading over from the city centre, the Westgate has proved popular in more recent years with fans heading to the Principality Stadium, the SSE Swalec and Cardiff City stadiums – as well as music fans heading to concerts in the city.
Built in 1932 and sitting near Bute Park and Cardiff Castle, it was designed by Sir Percy Thomas – the man behind the Temple of Peace in the city’s Cathays Park.
The centrally-located pub has served the city of Cardiff well since it was built, becoming the setting for many memories and providing the perfect spot to watch events pass by, like the recent World Half Marathon Championships, while regularly capturing the match day atmosphere when Cardiff City or the Wales rugby team played at home.
This piece of Cardiff’s history sure to be missed by many.
In more recent years, memories include locals and staff tucking into Sunday roasts together, the whole pub turning Japanese for Japan’s win over South Africa in the Rugby World Cup last year and Georgia fans coming in one door and out the other in a convoy, chanting “Georgia!” – without even buying a drink.
Just a week before the pub’s closure, the Westgate was said to be “bouncing”, with plenty of fans on their way to Cardiff City Stadium to watch the Stereophonics play, while on its last day of trade, Rod Stewart was set to rock the same stadium and they were showing Wales’ win over Slovakia in the Euros.
Just five members of staff were put on shift for its last day, and they were hoping to have a celebratory atmosphere, with closing speeches at the end of the night included.
Manager Dan Goodall, 32, said the closure had come round a lot quicker than anticipated.
He said: “I thought through the Euros.
“I’ve got an attachment with the place, I’ve got to know the regulars.
“Sadly they’ve got to look elsewhere now.
“They all understand at the same time that it’s a sign of the times.
“You can’t survive on match days we’d is get and concerts alone. It’s not enough.
“I’m not going to allow everyone to be dull and moping around.”
Barman Elliot Lee, 23, who has worked at the pub for almost a year, admitted the locals were feeling quite sad about the closure.
He said: “Now they have to go even further for a local. I know a lot of people are sad about it.
“They are just sad everything in Canton and Riverside is shutting down.
“They all understand why it’s closing. They are just really, really gutted.
“There’s always something going on in here. It’ll be a good send-off, I know that.”
Barmaid Phoebe Thomas, 18, said: “I’ve got settled, got to know my regulars and everybody and have to shoot off again now.”
Despite the inevitable sadness around the closure, they were determined to give locals a day to remember and be positive about their last day.
The Westgate is currently the subject of a planning proposal which could see it turned into a single residential property or family home.
Tony Dowse, 56, from Riverside, has been going to the Westgate for around 20 years and was gutted when he heard about the closure.
He said: “It’s just sad, really. It’s our local pub.
“Now we’ve got to go further up away from Riverside.
“The supermarkets can offer now what the pubs can’t.
“The father and son side of it, they don’t go for a pint any more. “It’s just a different environment. “It’s not just Riverside – it’s