A new bar and restaurant with a Welsh theme will soon open in Swansea Marina. After weeks of speculation, WalesOnline can finally confirm The Welsh House replaces Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Bar and Grill in the J Shed Arcade building in SA1 - and it's expected to open in time for the late May bank holiday.
The new restaurant will be the second Welsh House to open, coming three months after the brand opened a restaurant in Cardiff city centre. WalesOnline also understands management are gearing up to bring the venue to Neath in the near future, too. The Swansea premises will include a restaurant and bar area with a license until 2am and aims to become the go-to place for locals to go for dinner and late-night drinks.
The Welsh House is home to SA1's largest alfresco dining and drinking area which "has the sun all day and evening," management say, and it will host live music every weekend with performances from local Welsh artists.
Read more: The woman in a sombrero who has been collecting money for charity in a bucket in pubs for 65 years
The main focus for The Welsh House restaurants is supporting local Welsh suppliers and sourcing local produce whenever possible, whilst creating "core Welsh partnerships". Owners say the brand also focuses on sustainability and works to ensure all of its suppliers focus on this too.
Confirming the new restaurant, a spokesperson for The Welsh House said earlier this month: "Following the highly successful launch of The Welsh House in Cardiff city centre in February, The Welsh House brand has identified its second venue that will launch in Swansea SA1 in April this year."
The restaurant has not yet opened, however. A brief statement on the company's website gives May Bank Holiday as its new estimated opening date. "The venue has had an extensive refurbishment to give The Welsh House a cosier and welcoming vibe. The bar is now a proper bar and place that you'd like to enjoy a Welsh drink. The restaurant and bar will arrive in May just in time for the Bank Holiday celebrations," the website reads.
Outlining what people can expect from the restaurant's menu, a spokesperson said: "The chefs behind the brand have curated a menu that’s all about affordable quality familiar dishes. You can enjoy hearty dishes such as shepherds pie, Welsh Cawl, and proper freshly prepared Mac & Cheese. Not forgetting Celtic Pride, grass-fed farm-assured and quality Welsh cuts.
"Working with Welsh family-owned wholesale business Castell Howell and its many independent suppliers to give you the best quality and locally sourced ingredients. On Sundays you can indulge in traditional Welsh House carvery, freshly prepared by our head chef John Taylor. The produce is sourced locally and they [chefs] will also be working with businesses in Swansea market to ensure ingredients as fresh as possible.
"The Welsh House will have a bar offering that also focuses on drinks made in Wales, coffee by day, cocktails and wine by night. The Welsh House bar stocks Wales and British & Irish players Mike Phillips, James Hook, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne’s FabFour coffee and Welsh Perthyn low alcohol gin."
The spokesperson continued: "The Welsh House is the official home of recently re-launched local Swansea-born Cygnet [drinks company] owned by Katherine Jenkins. The drink menu will also heavily feature great Welsh drink brands including Penderyn whisky, Perthyn Gin, Gower brewery beers and various others.
"The Welsh House experience isn't high end or pretentious, it’s all about affordable quality experiences with family and friends. The business has hearty values, and the core offering is based upon value for money. Taking into consideration the current economic climate and cost-of-living crisis. HD screens throughout the venue will televise sporting events."
General manager, Joanna Davies added: "We use our specials board to offer changing dishes based upon availability and seasonality, sourced from local markets and our trusted suppliers. We love to make your experience even more memorable and let you try something even more special and suitable to your occasion, from speciality ingredients to premium sharing dishes and steaks."
Wales rugby player Lee Byrne added: "The Welsh House has been greatly received in Cardiff and the reviews have been phenomenal. It’s great to see this brand growing so quickly and to see the support independent Welsh businesses are receiving including our very own FabFour coffee and Perthyn gin. We look forward to seeing you down SA1 to enjoy some alfresco live music, dinner and drinks."
The Welsh House will open soon at Unit 5, J Shed Arcade, Swansea, SA1 8PL. It will be open from Monday to Sunday from 12pm to late, with food served from 12pm to 9.30pm/Sunday Roast 12pm to 5pm.
READ MORE:
- The packed out community café run by primary school children
- Fish and chip shop burned down in Mumbles pier fire set to re-open
- A new cabaret bar is set to open on Swansea's Wind Street this summer
- Wales' most prolific actor Steffan Rhodri on the 'steeltown murders' next to his school, bringing back Swansea's Top Rank club and the real bus driver he based Dave Coaches on
- Beaches in Wales: The 40 best beaches the country has to offer
