Prepare to be bowled over as renovations at The Cricketers take shape

Just a few short weeks since Croeso Pubs took over The Cricketers, the venue is getting a new lease of life as renovations steam ahead.

Croeso Pubs, the Cardiff-based pub chain, which already runs eight venues including The Philharmonic, Blue Bell and Brewhouse in the city centre, took over the lease of the Cathedral Road pub on July 31st. Since then, its team has been working hard to give the venue a spruce up before opening its doors again to the public in September.

Renovations include some major work in the bar area, extensive refurbishment of the kitchen, new toilets, new furniture throughout, some much-needed TLC to The Cricketers’ famous beer garden, as well as giving the whole pub a lick of paint. Croeso will also be unveiling a new addition to The Cricketers, a private dining and meeting room called The Pavilion, which will be available for private hire.

Croeso Pubs area director, Michael Haygarth, said of the renovations: “The Cricketers is such a great venue in Pontcanna, and we know it’s well loved by regulars. We have really enjoyed working with interior experts in the hospitality trade to give it a new lease of life, while making sure the interior matches the Edwardian exterior.

“With plenty of international rugby around the corner and Christmas approaching fast, we’ve made sure that work is carried out to a high standard, so it can withstand the busy season. We are now really looking forward to showing people this fresh new look when we open the doors in the next month.”

Along with the refurbishments, customers will be able to watch selected live sport from Sky and TNT Sports, as well as enjoy a new range of popular draught beers and traditional Welsh cask ales.

The Cricketers is also having a menu revamp, with Welsh produce taking centre stage on every plate.

Croeso Pubs Ltd has a great track record of breathing new life into city centre venues and turning failing community pubs into local hubs. In 2017, it took over the lease for The Philharmonic following a £1 million refurbishment, transforming it into Cardiff’s most popular nightspot. Croeso Pubs also took over the former Brains’ pub 33 Windsor Place in December 2022 and reopened it as the Daffodil, and in 2021, it refurbished the former Goat Major pub on High Street, opposite Cardiff Castle, and reinstated it to its original name, Blue Bell, further extending it in 2024.

For more information about Croeso Pubs Ltd and its venues, visit: https://croesopubsltd.co.uk/