A former Cardiff hostel which has been plagued by vandalism, litter and has facilitated drug use has been put up for sale. The former NosDa hostel and bar on Despenser Street in Riverside, Cardiff, has been shut for a number of years after the covid pandemic.
Once a virbant city centre venue, the building next to the River Taff has long been abandoned with its windows boarded up, the front door covered in graffiti, and the picnic table area left covered in litter and used needles. The drug paraphernalia on the site was so bad in November 2022 that Cardiff Council sent a specialist team to clean up the outdoor area.
When WalesOnline visited the venue one morning before the clean up occured two people could be seen on the site consuming drugs while visible to people on the nearby footpath.
The hostel, which opened in 2008, capacity was around 100 people in more than 30 private rooms and dormitories, but with the flexibility to accommodate 160 for the frequent crowd-pulling events in the Welsh capital. The hostel often hosted live music events as well as provided accommodation.
NosDa announced in March 2020 that it would be closing indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In November 2020, the company said the hostel was still closed, but added that it was looking to reopen in 2021. The hostel remained abandoned and according to Companies House, Nos Da Inn is now dissolved.
After WalesOnline reported on the dire state of the abandoned building and grounds, Cardiff Council said officers have issued a warning to the landowner, informing them that the waste at the property has to be removed within seven days. Failure to remove waste after such a notice has expired usually results in prosecution and the council obtaining a court order for the removal of the waste.
However, it has been confirmed that the outdoor space to the side of the former hostel, within the confines of the property's boundary, belongs to the council. Cardiff Council started their clean up operation of the small outdoor area next to the former hostel on Monday, November 21. The authority said that contact has been made with the agent who is selling the property in order to find an "amicable solution to the issues that have taken place".
Now, all areas of the property - including alcoves and facades - have been boarded up as it is confirmed that the building is to be sold. On January 6, 2023, a spokesperson for Christie & Co said: "Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co is marketing the NosDa Hostel & Bar on behalf of administrators."
Last year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has made efforts to get in touch with Cardiff Backpacker Caerdydd Ltd, who are the current landowners of 53 Despenser Street according to the Land Registry. The LDRS visited an address listed as the owner's on the Land Registry, but was unable to contact the owners.
Another address given on Companies House is a location at the Cardiff Gate International Business Park. When the LDRS contacted the business park, it was told that there was no record of a business called Cardiff Backpacker on the business park registry.
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