THE Penarth Pier Pavilion Cafe will be under new management from February after the owner of Waterloo Tea agreed to take responsibility for the running of the cafe.

Tea house owner Kasim Ali has been working in partnership with Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd (PACL).

Mr Ali first started working with the charity when he took over the ground floor of the Washington Gallery on Stanwell Road, the charity’s original location, to open his second Waterloo Tea House.

PACL says he has provided “invaluable” advice on many aspects of the day to day operation of the cafe and from early February will take over responsibility for its management whilst continuing to work closely with the charity.

A spokesman for PACL said: “We are confident that our customers will benefit from the extensive experience which Waterloo Tea has gained from its growing range of tea houses, and that this exciting development will also be of great benefit to PACL as it will provide a more reliable and steady income stream which will enable us to continue to provide an increasing range of events and activities within the Pavilion for the local community.

“This partnership with Waterloo Tea is an example of a what we believe will be a successful strategic local partnership alongside those established recently with Glamorgan Voluntary Services and Rubicon Dance.”

In October, a new cafe manager was appointed along with the introduction of a new cafe menu consisting of sandwiches, toasties, jacket potatoes, sweet jacket potatoes all prepared to order with fillings freshly made daily as well as a daily homemade soup and homemade scones and cakes.

In November, PACL announced they would be recruiting a cook and food preparation assistant to take this forward and add hot dishes to the menu.

They have also planned a series of pop-up cafes, inviting Vale and Cardiff chefs to come and take over the café for an evening to present themed menus.