Womanby Street could get new Welsh craft beer bar to replace Castle Emporium

Alex Seabrook, local democracy reporter

A decision is due next week on a craft beer bar replacing the Castle Emporium on Womanby Street.

Traders at the shopping hub were “devastated” when asked by the landlord to leave in September.

Now the building is set to turn into a taproom for independent brewer Mad Dog Brewery, based in Penperlleni near Pontypool.

Cardiff council’s licensing sub-committee is due to decide on whether to grant a premises licence for the taproom on Friday, November 26.
New pictures of what the bar would look like have been revealed, as part of the licensing application.

The Castle Emporium was home to several small independent businesses, which have had to relocate. The business included radical bookshop Shelflife, Cardiff Skateboard Club skate shop, and Tropigaz plant shop.

Mad Dog Brewing Co, founded in 2014, faced closure at the start of last year and entered administration. Then the business, under new name Mad Dog Brewery Co, was bought in May this year by a father-and-son team who have since been looking to expand.

Tim Waters, chief executive of Mad Dog Brewery, previously said: “The family business brews high quality craft ales and will add a food offering within the taproom to complement these beers as well as special events and brewery tours.

“Our plan is to offer a family environment with no late night drinking license. If approved, the license will safeguard five jobs and create a further 10 new roles within the premises.”

If approved, the premises licence would allow the bar to sell alcohol until 11pm.