Cardiff's newest venue, Proud Mary Pub, has announced when it will be opening its doors. The "party pub" is taking over the site of the former Brains-owned Yard Bar & Kitchen in St Mary Street, and will offer live music and sporting action as well as a range of food and drink options.
The pub chain is owned by European nightlife group Rekom who are behind brands like Pryzm and Steinbeck & Shaw and recently helped bring Heidi's Bier Bar to Cardiff. While there are already branches in Denmark, Finland, and Norway the new pub will be the first Proud Mary branch to open in the UK.
Work began on the new venue earlier this year, with the £1.2 million transformation set to be completed in a matter of weeks. Get the latest What's On news from across Cardiff and beyond sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletter.
Read more: Cardiff pub to close as landlord says emotional goodbye to 'brilliant and loyal' regulars
The chain had previously spoken about wanting to open the new venue before Wales' autumn rugby international campaign gets underway against New Zealand in Cardiff on November 5. Work appears to be on schedule, with the pub now set to open on Saturday, October 29.
The venue, which has a capacity of 950, will operate over two floors and will be a "relaxed, party pub with the blended fun and festive atmosphere of a German bier hall". It will be open every day at 12pm, closing at 2am between Sunday and Thursday and at 3am on Friday and Saturday.
A range of drinks and beer will be on offer including traditional bar snacks, pizzas, and burgers as well as two draught ales from Tiny Rebel. The pub will show live sport, including football and rugby, on 12 TV screens with those desperate not to miss a moment able to book front-row seats with table service.
Local bands will be given a platform to perform with live music featuring on Friday and Saturday nights. Music bingo and quiz nights will run during the week while the venue will also feature a dancefloor for those wanting to enjoy a late-night party.
A new venue manager has also been appointed for the pub, with Mark Simons joining from Steinbeck & Shaw having worked for REKOM for 11 years. He and his deputy Paloma de Souza will be leading a team of 50 staff as the pub aims to follow the success of Heidi's on Mill Lane.
“Our sister venue Heidi’s Bier Bar has been a big hit and I am sure Proud Mary Pub is going to be equally popular," he said. "The concept was founded in the Nordics and as part of my training I have visited a Proud Mary Pub in Denmark and I can’t wait to see it open in the UK. It has that cosy, traditional feel of a local pub combined with modern appeal. Whether you want a quiet drink after work or are up for a late-night party, Proud Mary delivers.”
The venue is also recruiting for full and part-time positions, ranging from five to 35 hours a week, for front of house and kitchen staff. Mark added: "We are not necessarily looking for previous experience, but personality is everything."
The pub chain are set to expand even further in Wales following the opening of the new venue, with a second Proud Mary branch scheduled to open in Swansea's in early 2023. It will take over the former Idols club on the legendary Wind Street.
READ NEXT:
-
You can book a Halloween-themed spa day this October in Cardiff
-
I tried the new £1 pill that claims to banish hangovers for good and this is what happened
-
Pair quitting pub after 26 years because energy and wholesale food prices have doubled
-
The new youth-led Cardiff café that’s ‘better than Starbucks’
