Speaking in the Senedd, Conservative member for the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Andrew RT Davies warned that a lack of “joined up thinking” from ministers had contributed to the decline of town centres over the past two decades.
He argued that good transport and affordable parking are crucial to attracting people back to local high streets, saying parking charges “deter visitors” while “exorbitant rates put businesses under huge pressure”.
Mr Davies called on ministers to “break down the silos” between departments and work with councils to deliver “a rejuvenated high street that is the centre of civic pride”.
His comments come as traders and residents in Penarth point to a growing list of closures, from long‑standing venues to newer independents that have struggled to stay afloat.
In the past year, several well‑known names have announced they are shutting, citing rising costs and the challenges of running an independent business. A round‑up of restaurant closures in 2025 highlighted how even established venues with loyal followings were finding it difficult to keep going, with owners talking openly about energy bills, food costs and changing customer habits.
More recently, award‑winning gin bar Gin 64 on Victoria Road ceased trading without warning, baffling customers and neighbouring businesses.
Refresh Juice & Wellness Bar, tucked inside Windsor Arcade, also confirmed it would close after describing how it had become “so much more than a juice bar” for Penarth’s health‑conscious community.
Against that backdrop, the Vale of Glamorgan Council insists it remains committed to supporting Penarth town centre.
A council spokesperson said there are currently no parking charges in Penarth town centre itself and stressed the area is “extremely well served” by buses and trains, offering sustainable alternatives to private cars.
The council also pointed to its new Street Scene cleaning programme, which aims to improve the look and feel of Penarth and keep it an attractive place to “visit, work and spend time”. Officers say they will continue working with residents, businesses and partners to support the high street as it adapts to changing retail habits and economic pressures.
For many in Penarth, the turning point came with the loss of long‑standing venues that had anchored the town centre for decades. Tony’s Taste of Italy, which closed last December after 50 years, told the Penarth Times that rising costs and changing habits had finally made the numbers impossible, despite a fiercely loyal customer base.
In a farewell message, the family described the decision as heartbreaking, thanking generations of diners but admitting that “running a small independent business has become harder and harder” as energy, food and staffing costs climbed.
That closure followed a string of restaurant losses, including Burger Queen, Victoria Tearoom, Washington Gallery Café, Chef G’s Seafood and Grill, Am’s Italia and Severn View, all of which cited the struggle to make ends meet on a busy but compact high street.
Owners talked openly about customers tightening their belts, the impact of interest rates on household spending and how even long‑established names could no longer absorb repeated cost rises.
At the same time, some new operators are trying to breathe life back into Penarth’s nightlife and pub scene.
At the Albion, experienced publican Jennifer Rudd says she “fell in love” with the Victoria Square pub the moment she walked in and has set about “bringing life back” by opening the kitchen, refreshing the décor and turning it into a place for “food, music and a good night out” rather than just a wet‑led venue.
Jennifer Rudd on six months at the Albion in Penarth | Penarth Times
At Cefn Mably, new landlord Mike Armstrong has taken over a pub that had five landlords in two years and was closed for months, vowing to turn it from a “quiet pub” into “the heart of the community” with live music, pop‑up food nights and business networking events, and insisting that with “a good product, a good service” and strong sales and marketing, local venues can still be turned around.
New landlord sets out plan to revive Cefn Mably pub, Penarth | Penarth Times
Do you feel free parking and better public transport are enough to help independents survive, or should councils and ministers be doing more on business rates, promotion and practical support for small traders?
