Planning permission has been granted for a a change of use and revamp of a vacant nightclub which will form the new home of a much-loved Cardiff bar. The vacant building on Charles Street will become the new home of Porter's, a bar currently situated in Harlech Court which is set to be demolished to make way for Wales' tallest building.
The news of the redevelopment of Harlech Court first broke in 2021, with proprietor Dan Porter confirming it in a statement in early 2022. With offerings both as a coffee shop and a cult favourite fixture in Cardiff's nightlife scene, Porter's has become a familiar name - so well-known that Hamilton creator and Encanto songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda turned up at one of the bar's singalong nights in 2018.
But the bar now looks set to move to a new venue, 46-48 Charles Street, with planning permission approved by Cardiff Council on February 2, 2023. Plans show that the venue will include a bar, live music area and kitchen on the ground floor, with a theatre on the lower ground floor.
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The upper floors look to include offices, studios and a 'film screening/rehearsals/exhibitions' space. When Dan Porter announced that Porter's would need to move, he said: "We want to continue to put on shows in our onsite theatre, which in Porter’s 2.0 will be a bit bigger. Beyond that we want to offer out rehearsal and performance space for free, and put on even more events in a THIRD space that the new building has. We want to be open and alive night and day.
"Our aim is to be a part of the promotion and preservation of the identity of Cardiff as a centre of culture, creativity, talent, innovation, good behaviour, and good times; to help make Cardiff a benchmark for other cities. We want Porter’s 2.0 to represent everything that we feel a 21st Century building and business, especially in a capital city, should be. We want to do you proud."
A covering letter attached to the application and since deleted from the council's planning website, the nature of the site was made clearer: "This will be a replacement premises for Porter’s which has traded since 2012 and will continue to be an entertainment led venue, aimed predominantly at the students, professionals and admirers of music, theatre, film, TV and art.
"The ground and first floor areas propose to operate as rehearsal, meeting and café space in the day, switching to a space for performance of live music and occasional performances of comedy/cabaret/film screenings with bar in the evenings.
“The basement will operate as a small 100 capacity theatre space with scope to accommodate similar cultural activity. Entry and egress will be primarily via Barrack Lane.”
The new site was used as a nightclub until 2012, and in 2017 the ground floor was opened as a cafe inspired by Charles Dickens, which has since closed.
Several people logged comments and objections after the application was submitted in December 2022, with Ms Victoria Aldridge saying: "I live in Charles Street and the council tax is very high for the very few amenities provided by the Council. So even more noise is something I will not be looking forward to. I am, unfortunately, stuck in the apartment as cannot find another to rent to due to the high rents since Covid and the much higher cost of living in the past year."
And Miss Toni Sexton added: "From living right in this area, it is already loud enough from the clubs and bars open, and with drunken people... nobody cares to think people live in this area as well as shop and party, it's hard to settle at night, I cannot support adding to the noise I already have to deal with."
Andrew Giles, director of Park Estates at 36 Park Place said the company was "supportive of new businesses in the area," but "concerned by this application given its propensity to cause noise and nuisance."
He added: "We are naturally apprehensive regarding the use of the premises as a bar," citing worries about noise and late-night disturbances. He said the street had become a "quiet city centre location" and asked that noise and security restrictions could be put in place, citing the number of noise complaints when Carpe Noctem opened at 42 Charles Street, thanking the club's proprietors for closing their Charles Street entrance.
Janet Barlow, a member of Cardiff Quaker Meeting House's steering group, said that the bar would be several doors down from the Meeting House at 43 Charles Street, and that silence was a "core element" of Quaker religious observance.
She added that the Meeting House has an average footfall of 250 per week and that other groups used the venue too, saying: "Whilst we welcome the use and improvement of all the buildings in Charles Street, we are concerned that the proposed activities (especially bar, live music, entertainment, rehearsal and screening ) will increase noise in the street and therefore impact on all users of the Meeting House.
"We support the request from Park Estates that if approved, acoustic restrictions will be imposed such as acoustic limiters and sealed window and lobby areas. We welcomed the proposal that the main entrance will be on Barrack Lane and ask that this will be a condition of approval."
The current home of Porter's is set to be demolished to make way for a 35-storey apartment building, although this was supposed to happen in October. At the time of writing, it is still open.
In April 2022, Dan Porter announced: "Now then, some of you know that Porter's is faced with a bit of a problem. And that problem comes in the shape of the end of our 10-year lease, demolition and a high rise accommodation block. We’re being bulldozed. October. Yay!
"It would be easy to see this as a disappointment, or be angry about it, and to some it would perhaps feel like an insurmountable obstacle. But to us, it feels like an opportunity- an opportunity to evolve who we are, what we do and have always done, what we stand for, and what we can contribute from a new home."
He announced that "we have found a building," and said he wanted to use it to "continue to look like, sound like, and be the Porter’s we always have…but better. Much, much better."
He continued: "At Porter’s 2.0, we still want to put on gigs, and singalongs, and bandaokes, and open mics, and other such things, like we do now. We want to continue to be able to support and promote talent as you pass through on your way to bigger things, as we have since day one (and as many have).
"We want to keep our steadfast policy of free entry at all times to all of our events. We want people to continue to come and relax, or meet friends, or have a dance. We want to continue to provide everyone with a safe and respectful environment, where they can feel comfortable and themselves."
A crowdfunder launched by Dan Porter to raise money for 'Porter's 2.0' has already raised £14,790 from 378 supporters, with many commenting to support the new venue. One well-wisher said: "I love Porter's and am sad to see it go from its original venue but good luck with the new venue, can't wait to see it!"
Another added: "I started my career in Porters behind the bar and then they let me photoshop stupid pictures of Dan and write silly jokes and put them on the internet to promote the bar. I do what I love because of this place and so do so many other people. Long may Porters continue and long may Dan Porter continue to be a indefatigable and brilliant pain in the bum & an extraordinary boss. We love you."
You can donate to the crowdfunder here.
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