‘Maybe it’s because we love the sesh’: how Wales is bucking Britain’s pub-closing trend

On a hot Thursday evening in Canton, a buzzy Cardiff neighbourhood, a steady stream of people in sunglasses, shorts and dresses went back and forth between bar and garden at the city’s newest pub, the Pig & Swill.Next door, in Victoria Park, the splash pad was still heaving with families making the most of the tail-end of the May heatwave. Many parents and carers stopped by for takeaway pints and small plates.“Business has been really good since we opened a few weekends ago. We are really blown away by the positive reception and how the community has responded to us,” said Lewis Dwyer, the Pig & Swill’s co-founder.Recently published industry futures suggest British pubs are in deepening trouble. A total of 161, or two a day, closed in the first quarter of 2026 amid higher taxes, inflated food and energy bills and regulatory costs. The closures were up 26% on the same period last year and equate to the loss of approximately 2,400 jobs, according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).The only part of the country to buck the trend was Wales, where three new pubs opened. At least three more – the Pig & Swill and nearby Vicino in Cardiff, and The Nelson in Rhyl – have followed in April and May.“Maybe it’s because we [Welsh people] love the sesh,” joked Dwyer.Dwyer and partner Andy Aston already owned Hiraeth, a popular Michelin Guide-listed restaurant on the other side of the road. Hiraeth’s focus on quality local produce has proved enormously successful but its small building meant there was no room for the business to grow.Dwyer greets customers at the Pig & Swill. He and Aston, already own Hiraeth, a popular restaurant on the other side of the road. Photograph: James PipkinDespite the economic headwinds, when a cafe space became available across the street, the pair took the gamble of opening the new taphouse. A Kickstarter campaign offering drinks and meal vouchers raised £29,000 towards the refit, most of which Dwyer and Aston did themselves.“Diners used to ask: ‘Where can we go to continue our night, or have a nightcap?’ and the short answer was there wasn’t really anywhere to recommend nearby,” said Dwyer.“We both have backgrounds in pubs and we wanted to give the neighbourhood a quality place that would complement Hiraeth and the park … Obviously it’s a big challenge. I work eight days out of seven at the moment. But we just thought: ‘We can do this, let’s go for it.’”Wales may be bucking the national trend of pub closures but its hospitality industry is still struggling overall, with more restaurant and hotel closures than openings, said David Chapman, the executive director of UK Hospitality Cymru.“The new Welsh government has a clear opportunity to change that trajectory and back the sector. It was encouraging to see Plaid Cymru recognise the importance of hospitality in its manifesto, but we need to now see action on those commitments,” he said.“Reforming business rates and easing cost pressures will be critical for hospitality venues, helping them to keep their doors open, protect jobs and continue to be at the heart of communities across Wales.”Annie Harding and Marcia Banner, friends sharing a bottle of wine at the Pig & Swill on Thursday night, said they were delighted the neighbourhood had a new taphouse.“I contributed to the Kickstarter so we’re here claiming my voucher,” said Harding, 55. “It’s great to be able to support a local business.”