A popular Caribbean restaurant in Cardiff will close its doors for good, the owners have announced. Irie Shack on Woodville Road, Cathays, gained positive reviews and a reputation for its street food and cocktails but will now close due to rising costs.
The restaurant's food will continue in a new partnership with Bruno Pinho of Bruno's Pastéis de Nata, a Portuguese bakery in Roath, and through a new venue in Cardiff Bay.
In a statement on Facebook, Irie Shack confirmed: "I’m delighted to announce that Irie Shack will team up with award winning baker Bruno Pinho of Bruno’s Pastel de Nata to bring you Irie Shack Patty’s. We will also be opening a takeaway in Cardiff Bay.
READ MORE: The huge derelict manor in the middle of one of Cardiff's newest housing developments
"However the Irie Shack restaurant in Woodville Road is now closed for good. It just become unviable as we could no longer afford the rent, the rates, maintenance costs, the huge increase in utility bills, cost of the imported spices, vegetables etc plus the massive hike in the price of goat, chicken, lamb and red snapper.
"I would like to thank the team for all their hard work in the restaurant throughout these difficult times. For now we will be working in different venues until we find a new site within Cardiff which allows Irie Shack to be the fun restaurant it was.
"Thank you to all our patrons please continue to visit us at Bruno’s in Diana Street and our take away on James Street Cardiff Bay. Both trading within couple of weeks preparation."
Owner Iftekhar Haris previously ran a second branch in Cardiff Bay which has since closed. Several days before the statement, Irie Shack published a statement about how the "financial drain" of the pandemic and problems caused by being unable to play music outside had made the Woodville Road venue unaffordable.
The statement said the restaurant "can't afford the rent or the rates," and the gas and electric bills were "astronomical," continuing: "I would like to thank all the staff, management, suppliers and the customers who have kept as one of the best Caribbean restaurants in the UK. It’s goodbye for now but we hope to be back very soon.
"Our lease runs out on the 31st of March 2023 and we won’t be renewing it for various reasons. All staff will be offered jobs in our former Cardiff Bay Site, in our new Irie Bakery in Roath and our new restaurant in Newport."
Irie Shack first started in Cwmbran in 2013 and moved to Woodville Road in 2015. When the Covid-19 pandemic started, staff from Irie Shack donated food to the NHS so it wouldn't go to waste. Details of the Newport restaurant mentioned are not yet known.
READ NEXT:
The top chef who has launched a new market stall selling incredible wraps
Legendary jazz singer and activist becomes first Black woman to receive purple plaque
Fatboy Slim makes surprise appearance in Cardiff as flash mob recreates iconic music video
I went to one of the only Greggs outlets in Wales where food is less than half price
