A NEW restaurant offering private dining and a luxurious bar experience is opening in Penarth this October.

Courts restaurant will open in the former Barons Court pub in Penarth Road.

New owner Alex Mules hopes to turn the medieval and former Tudor mansion, which once belonged to the Herbert family, into a luxury dining and bar combining history with modern luxury.

Penarth Times:

New owner of Courts in Penarth Alex Mules has big plans for the venue. Picture: Alex Mules 

Mr Mules said: “I have always admired the building and always wanted to be the owner, so when I had the opportunity to buy it, I took it.

“It is a beautiful building with a lot of history.

"We want to appeal to a wide audience not just people of wealth.

“It’s not solely VIP, it is a restaurant that will appeal to all, people can come in and have a drink on the way home from work.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Courts (@courtscardiff

Instagram post by courts which will open this autumn

The venue, due to open in early October, will have spaces for up to 100 people to hire out to enjoy special occasions or gatherings.

Inside the new bar and restaurant will feature a baby grand piano, crystal chandeliers and upholstered furnishings.

The site is the oldest standing building in Penarth, dating back to the 15th and 16th century, boasts a huge rooftop space with beautiful views overlooking the Cardiff Bay marina.

Mr Mules has plans to transform the rooftop area into a champagne terrace, with an outdoor lounge area due to open next summer.

He added: “There are loads of quirky spaces here which we can transform, we have saved space for the private dinning experience.

“The areas will be hired out for different occasions for people to want celebrations of any special event as there aren’t many spaces that cater for that."

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Courts (@courtscardiff)

Customers will soon enjoy this view of the Marina next summer Picture: Courts

The outside space around the restaurant will also be refurbished, including two outside dining areas, shrubs and greenery, and a 30-year-old olive tree from Italy.

Courts is already taking bookings for Christmas.

Mr Mules added: “I certainly have my work cut out, and this will be no mean feat to turn this medieval Grade II-listed building into a luxurious dining and bar experience.

“It will be challenging, but I have an amazing team behind me and together we will deliver something extremely special.

“I am excited for the future of what this brings to the local area and can’t wait for the big reveal.”