The brand, run by Slawon Brewery co-founders Andrew Traynor and Aaron in partnership with Mr Croc’s Street Food Traders, launched its Penarth pop‑up on April 2 and says regulars are already treating it as their new neighbourhood spot.
Early weekends have seen the beer garden packed, with one sunny Saturday described as the venue’s “busiest day by far” as customers spilled out onto the prom.
Traynor said the team always hoped to build a loyal local following, rather than relying solely on visitors. Many Penarth residents have told staff the seafront has long been missing somewhere to enjoy quality craft beer and food later into the evening, and that Kegbelly is filling that gap.
“As far as I can tell, they’re happy we’re here,” he said, adding that customers have been returning week after week since the launch.
Kegbelly began cautiously, trading Thursday to Sunday while the team recruited staff and settled into the new site. But strong demand means the bar is already gearing up to extend hours for summer.
From early May it will add Wednesdays, before moving to seven days a week from May half-term, with opening hours set for 12pm–10pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12pm–11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12pm–8pm on Sundays.
Locals say one of the big draws is the venue’s beach‑side takeaway hatch. As well as ordering food, customers can pick up takeaway pints and cocktails to enjoy on the pier, the beach or along the prom an offer that has quickly become part of Penarth’s weekend routine in good weather.
Alongside a rotating selection of Slawon Brewery beers, the bar has leaned into fun, seaside‑friendly options that have already taken off with regulars, including cocktail slushies and alcoholic ice pops, with ice‑cream tubs also set to join the menu.
Co-founder Andrew Traynor said the team had been eyeing up the location for months before the unit became available and jumped at the chance to take it on as a six‑month pop-up.
“We didn’t want to rush into a second venue,” he explained. “We’re a small team, so the key was finding somewhere with a genuine gap in the market, somewhere people would really appreciate good beer and good food.”
Penarth seafront, he said, had long been missing a place that stayed open into the evening and focused on craft drinks and street food.
