In what would typically be the busiest time of the year for one Cardiff restaurant, footfall is at a continuing low.
Despite the opening of Cardiff’s annual Christmas market this past weekend, which seemed to offer some hope for hospitality in the city, one Cardiff business owner said it is going to be an extremely challenging winter.
“Each year the festivities bring in the crowds in what is always the peak season for us. Despite reduced capacity in the restaurant, we had hoped that the coming weeks would offer us some respite but customers are definitely still hesitant. This has meant we have had to really rethink how we increase trade through the winter – leading us to launching a market pop-up event during winter, something none of us thought we would ever be saying – but nevertheless extremely exciting,” said Jahan Abedi, Owner of The Potted Pig.
The Potted Pig will be venturing out and launching its first pop-up event at The Corporation Yard in Canton this weekend, serving a rotational menu of street-food twists of its in-house menu. Head Chef Harris Lloyd is also said to be debuting some new and exclusive dishes at the alfresco outdoor market.
The pandemic has been extremely hard on Cardiff’s independent businesses, but the markets scattered across the city have presented new opportunities for serving communities. From The Corporation Yard, to The Boneyard, and Riverside Market, Cardiff’s outdoor markets have been able to somewhat weather the storm and provide vendors with a new customer base.
Shaz Haris, from The Corporation Yard, said: “We’ve been so pleased to see our market grow in popularity, even throughout the pandemic. It’s hard to tell exactly what motivates people, but I think supporting independent traders, coupled with being able to shop in outdoor settings is a big driver. Since bringing our disused yard in the heart of Canton to life, we have been thrilled to welcome such a diverse range of traders. We can’t wait to see what The Potted Pig have to offer this weekend.”
The Corporation Yard in Canton brings together the finest street-food, coffee and craft beer in the area, as well as a fantastic array of market stalls. The Potted Pig pop-up will be at The Corporation Yard between 19th November and 20th December, Thursday & Friday 4pm to 10pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 12pm to 10pm. Bookings can be made via their website.
