If you grew up in Cardiff, went to university there or were simply passing through for a night on the town, you will have probably visited - or at least heard of - the much-loved bar, beer garden and magnificent music venue Buffalo. Now, three years after it was forced to close its doors in 2019 (becoming Wow! bar for a short time), Buffalo is returning - but not as you know it.
Sharing the same name and building, the new Buffalo will not be a replica of the iconic venue, but one which pays homage to it.
And instead of the venue being spread over the building's two floors, the top will solely be used as a bar and music venue, while the bottom will be turned into a swanky new Japanese restaurant named Koi.
Read more Cardiff bar Buffalo to close following 'massive increase' in business rates
Both led by the team behind Pennyroyal on Cardiff's St Mary Street - which turns five this summer - Buffalo and Koi's owner and creative director, 32-year-old Alexander Taylor, announced the happy news on his social media, writing: "Oh hey big news. @pennyroyalcardiff turns 5 this summer so it's about time I got on with the next one... I get keys for this beaut next week. Like most Cardiff locals I loved this bar from my first visit as an 18 year old - it's been desperately missed.
"Firstly, and importantly. This building is essential for the live music scene for this city, and that is absolutely going to be respected. @buffalocardiff will reopen upstairs in September with disco drinks, cold beer, and total commitment to showcasing local talent. The ground floor however will make better use of the kitchen."
Speaking to WalesOnline about this latest venture, Alex says: "The original idea was to invest in [the restaurant] Koi. I was initially looking for a site so I started scouring around town - I basically went on a massive walk - and peered around every corner and just stood in front of Buffalo."
Having found out there were talks of turning the building into residential properties, Alex says: "I just immediately wanted to have the conversation [of buying it] because that bar being closed... it's been far too long. I know it's only been since 2019 but it's such an iconic Cardiff venue that it didn't really take much convincing myself to go for it."
Of splitting the building into two "quite different" concepts, both having separate entrances, Alex from London, who came to Cardiff at 18, explains: "When we looked at it, it was about half an hour of questioning: 'What are we going to put in the top floor though because we don't need two floors for a restaurant?' and I just stood there and thought 'It kind of feels wrong to do anything other than 'Buffalo'.'"
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With the likes of Adele, James Blake, Glass Animals and more having played there in the past, Alex says of keeping the top level a music venue: "There's been so much history with, not just random nights out, but also with the music they've hosted over the years as well."
While the upstairs is inspired by the venue Buffalo once was, the restaurant downstairs, however, will be a celebration of Alex's favourite food, filling a culinary gap he'd noticed was missing from the capital: Japanese Izakaya. It will feature "delicious, modern, naughty Japanese-inspired small plates and bento boxes".
And it’s safe to say that the people of Cardiff are buzzing with excitement for its opening. Neighbourhood Cardiff wrote in support: “Amazing news”, alongside fans and former workers of the old haunt, who showered the comments section with love.
“This makes us happy! The good old days of buffalo returning,” said one user, while another wrote: “I am absolutely thrilled with this. Buffalo one of my old fave venues and sorely missed, and Japanese food and beer my two favourite things. Nail on the head, can’t bloody wait.”
As for when the two hot spots will open, Alex hopes he and the team can get the restaurant up and running by "late June, early July". For Buffalo bar, Alex is "pretty determined" to open in time for Freshers week, bringing Buffalo's classic "trashy disco drinks" back to life for the students of Cardiff.
"I'm excited for my first shift," he laughs. "Jumping behind that bar and having it back open... It's gonna be a fun day."
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