The awards, organised by Oceanic Awards, highlight venues that represent excellence, innovation and dedication in the food industry.
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Willmore’s took recognition in the Best Café Ambience category, reflecting its reputation as a friendly, community‑focused spot with stunning views over the Bristol Channel.
Owners Matt and Charlotte have built a loyal following since relocating the business from its former Stanwell Road premises to the refurbished cliff‑top kiosk, transforming the old golf kiosk into a stylish deli‑style café.
That move was far from straightforward. After closing the Stanwell Road shop, the couple faced months of delays getting the new clifftop site ready, with infrastructure issues and a restarted tender process pushing back their planned opening by six to seven months.
Despite the setbacks, Willmore’s finally opened at Cliff Top in 2022, quickly re‑establishing itself as a local favourite.
More recently, the café has had to contend with the impact of new parking charges at Penarth Cliff Walk car park, introduced by the Vale of Glamorgan Council as part of wider changes to coastal parking.
Matt has previously warned councillors that the fees have hit trade hard, reporting around a 30 per cent drop in business and the difficult decision to cut staff hours and let two employees go.
Against that backdrop, the Welsh Café & Bakery accolade is being seen as a morale boost for the independent business and its team.
Oceanic Awards CEO Yasmin Mahmood said the awards are designed to recognise the “hard work, dedication and innovation” of venues like Willmore’s that play a vital role in their communities.
Willmore’s future in Penarth is set to grow further, with plans progressing to open a second site in the town’s former HSBC bank building on Herbert Terrace.
The prominent corner property in the heart of the town centre is earmarked to become a lively New York–style deli and café operated by Willmore’s, with proposals including a cold‑serve counter, refurbished terrace space and restoration of original stonework on the historic façade.
The scheme, which has been backed in principle by Penarth Town Council, aims to breathe new life into the long‑vacant bank and strengthen the independent food offer on the high street, complementing the existing clifftop Willmore’s 1938 site.
