Step inside the latest offering in Cardiff Bay, The Club House - sister company of popular dinner spot The Botanist - and you'll see why it describes itself as "the perfect getaway you can keep coming back to". Opening next week to the public from Monday, August 29, we were lucky to have a sneak peek at Mermaid Quay's new holiday-inspired restaurant and bar, which is found where the former much-loved bar Salt used to be.
Spanning over two floors, it's in a truly prime location and overlooks the harbour across to where the barrage meets Penarth. And its view links in with the elegant nautical theme that is seen throughout the venue.
Both floors are complete with whitewash wood and deep blue walls - a colour combination often associated with the seaside - that are lit up by rustic ropes hanging from the ceiling as light fixtures. As well as these artistic lights, a gorgeous element of this new restaurant and bar is the natural light that pours through the first and second floor thanks to the building's large windows that line the walls.
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Boat oars, maps and twisted ropes dot around the newly renovated Club House, enhancing the seaside resort feel, as well as cabinets that are filled with seafaring and navigational tools and equipment.
The ground floor is kept for bar use only and is filled with natural, light wooden high tables and bar stools as well as booths. In the back corner of the ground floor sits a gorgeous piano - an indication of what this section will soon become: a stage for musicians and bands to fill the air with live songs on Fridays and Saturday nights.
Decorating the walls are a variety of beachy pictures such as boats - to hone in on the theme - and some familiar viewpoints of Wales, so says the general manager, Jack Robinson. Along one is painted an unmissable mural of a jellyfish which catches your eye as soon as you walk into this lovely open setting. Upstairs is a similiar mural, this time the picture of a deep sea diving helmet.
Just before punters reach the spiral staircase to make their way to the first floor - a feature that many people will remember from the building's Salt Bar days - there's a circular table which Jack explains is going to soon have a firepit feature in, perfect for those cosy winter nights.
Upstairs you'll find the dining area which not only boasts similar light and elegant furniture as downstairs, with the addition of some towering indoor plants - providing a exotic tropical feel - but an outside seating area which can cover over 40 people; ideal for a late summer evening tipple.
What's more is this new hot spot is dog friendly, so you won't have to leave your furry friend at home if you want to treat yourself.
Of the new addition to Mermaid Quay, Jack explains: "It's a prime location, beautiful light and very aesthetically pleasing throughout the venue. What we have here is a fantastic concept making a beautiful venue." As for being on the waterfront, he adds the choice of this particular spot is a perfect example of: "When the shoe fits".
"It's hard not to walk in this venue now and see what the idea of what the Club House is and feel the vibe of the venue and imagine it anywhere else but close to the water. They're synonymous with each other."
Having taken over such a well-loved location, the new general manager tells us that those around The Club House's latest venue have welcomed the team with open arms.
"It's been so nice for us to have so much suppport from local residents, whether it be people working here, restaurants, coffee shops or even the people residing in the flats around us, we've had a lot of support. We've been very lucky with the people around us."
The Club House, with its dreamy holiday feel throughout all of its locations - they have two others, one in Liverpool and the other in Plymouth - has a goal to create an escape for people from their daily lives. Of this, Jack says: "When people go out for food and drink, they do escape. We escape into what the place provides, whether that's the aesthetic, the music, the food...
"When people escape to us, we want to make sure that their entire experience is one that they want to continue coming back to. What we're trying to do is provide the best product we can. Get those guests leaving with smiles on their faces and we want the experience to be a memorable one."
And when it comes to food, we have no doubt that The Club House's dishes will be just as Instagram-worthy and memorable as the decor. With fully loaded cheeseburgers, fish and chips and Club House's famous hanging kebabs - that include both vegetarian and meaty versions - and drinks flowing, it's certainly going to be a popular hangout in the months to come.
As the official opening grows near - and a soft opening this week with only a small number of guests able to try out the new establishment - this fresh new team are excited to throw its doors open to all after months of preparation.
Jack explains that the staff, of which they have about 60-70 members, have been in training for a number of weeks to make sure the service customers receive is only the best quality.
"We believe so much in our talent, in our people coming through, that we're willing to spend weeks on nurturing these people to their full potential. So before we even open those doors, these guys have been with us for weeks now, training, learning the skills. We are in an industry that has been tough for a good, long while now and to be in a company that still puts this much time and effort into developing its staff, caring about how they feel, it needs to be shouted from the rooftops.
"It's a slow process with our openings and we do that to make sure that not only the customers have an experience that really is exceptional, but that the staff we have on board feel comfortable."
Of the experience The Club House, part of The New World Trading Company, hopes to offer the people of south Wales, Jack adds: "It's a home away from home. Providing an experience that suits day and night, it suits anyone from popping in for a coffee to coming in for evening drinks. We are an all accommodating home-from-home."
For more information, visit The Club House's website. To get more What's On stories straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter here.
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