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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Eve Rowlands

Private dining restaurant with champagne terrace is opening at a former Toby Carvery

A new restaurant offering private dining and a champagne terrace is opening at a well known grade II listed building on the edge of Penarth. Once a Toby Carvery, Barons Court pub and restaurant opened after a major facelift just a year ago but is now undergoing a change of management once again.

Posting on Instagram and Facebook, the new team says that the newly-named Courts, due to open in October, will be a new dining and bar experience "where history meets modern luxury" and will play host to "show-stopping parties" as well as introducing Penarth and the surrounding areas to a champagne terrace next summer.

Posting the news of this takeover to the new establishment's social media, Courts wrote: "OPENING THIS OCTOBER. Courts will bring a whole new experience to Cardiff! With private dining, an exclusive VIP area, show-stopping parties and a champagne terrace to follow in summer 2023! Follow our journey as we share sneak peeks during the renovation of this Grade II listed building, transforming it into a glamourous venue where history meets modern luxury. We're planning an extravagant Christmas, so get in touch."

Read more: The delicious places to eat tucked away in Cardiff's iconic Victorian arcades

Long before it was a restaurant, the building was a Tudor period mansion belonging to the Herbert family that went by the name of Cogan Pill House and is thought to date back to the late 15th or early 16th century. Over the years it has had various names and has been the home of several well known pub chains, such as Toby Carvery - which ceased trading there in 2018. The building came under new ownership, reopening in August 2021. Read more about the two former nurses who transformed the pub here but just a year later there are new plans for the venue.

The grand building is hard to miss and has stunning views over the River Ely. The formerly known Cogan Pill, which is prominently located just off the Cogan Spur junction and is one of the oldest standing buildings in the Penarth area, is newly owned by local 'Executive Developments & Interiors' businessman Alex Mules, who was tagged in the Courts' initial post announcing the new venture multiple times.

Sign outside what was known as the Barons Court Freehouse stating that Courts is coming soon (Eve Rowlands)

Writing on his own social media, new owner Alex posted an update regarding Courts which read: "MY SECRET IS OUT……

"I am the proud new owner of Courts (formerly known as BARONS COURT)to be launched in early October. I am utterly blown away with the reaction and support to yesterday's launch of our first glimpse on social media.

"I certainly have my work cut out and this will be no mean feat to turn this mediaeval grade II listed building into a luxurious dining/bar experience where history meets modern luxury.

"It will be challenging but I have an amazing team behind me and together we will deliver something extremely special. I am excited for the future of what this brings to the local area and can’t wait for the big reveal. Keep a keen look out on our socials with daily updates as to the extravagant progress here to come."

Fans of the building soon filled comments with exciting well wishes that this stunning and historical building will be, once again, opening to the public.

One wrote: "Oh my gosh - how exciting! Can’t wait to see the finished result, in such a lovely building too. Congratulations!!"

Another said: "This is going to be incredible!! So excited!! Huge congratulations"

Courts, which can be found on Penarth Road, CF64 1ND, is set to open in October.

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