One of Penarth’s most historic pubs, The Clive Arms, has officially closed, with staff confirming the news in a post shared on Facebook.
In a message posted on the pub’s Facebook page on January 5, the team said the bar bell rang “for the very last time”, confirming that The Clive Arms has now closed for business.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that The Clive Arms has now officially closed for business,” the post read, thanking customers and the wider Clive community for their support over the years.
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A separate message shared by bar staff later added: “If those walls could talk, there would be millions of tales told. There will never be another place like it. It’s most definitely the end of a fantastic era.”
The post read:
"There's been so many amazing memories made in those four walls, and they have all been special to each of us as a team. Working at the Clive never came without fun and laughter; plenty of tears too, some of joy, some of sadness.
The Clive was a unique and special pub to us all, full of character and of course, not forgetting the 'characters' who drank there!
There will never be another place like it.
We will miss working at the Clive and serving you all your much needed pints, being a listening ear and most of all having a laugh. It's most definitely the end of a fantastic era!
Thank you for the wonderful memories
Dawn, Chantelle and Paul xxx"
The Clive Arms, located on John Street, is widely regarded as one of Penarth’s oldest pubs, with a history stretching back nearly 150 years.
Following the announcement, dozens of residents took to social media to share memories, with many describing the pub often affectionately referred to as “The Birdcage” - as a central part of their youth, friendships and family history.
Some commenters questioned the lack of clarity surrounding the building’s future, noting that the property is currently listed as “under offer”, while others expressed hope it could yet return in some form, potentially as a pub, community venue or hospitality business.
No details have been confirmed about what will happen to the building next, and no planning applications have been announced.
For many in Penarth, the closure marks more than the loss of a pub, but the end of a long-standing social space that played a role in the town’s dockside heritage and community life for generations.
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