A housebuilder involved in the Barry Waterfront development recently joined forces with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to celebrate the opening of a new bar at the site.
Craft Republic, owned and run by husband and wife Tim and Claire Whalley, opened in August at one of the commercial units delivered by Persimmon Homes East Wales, an accredited five-star builder, on the site.
They marked the opening alongside the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood & Building Services, Cllrs Lis Burnett and Mark Wilson. Craft Republic is a multi-award winning, family-owned, independent business that originally opened at the Goodsheds in the summer of 2020.
Having weathered the pandemic – a journey chronicled in the Amazon Prime Video series, Business as Unusual – Claire and Tim have proved the business’ resilience and popularity, and have now moved to their new premises at Dockside on Neptune Road.
Dockside at Barry Waterfront is the new commercial development consisting of 23 units, and is already proving to be a vibrant go-to destination for the local and surrounding area. Planning is already approved for a combination of purposes including shops and retail, financial and professional services, food and drink, offices, assembly and leisure, and other commercial use.
The Barry Waterfront project is a major redevelopment of the town’s docklands, which includes nearly 2,000 high-quality, much-needed homes for local people. The consortium project also includes new retail units, offices, and a primary school. Persimmon also won a National House Building Council (NHBC) for excellence in construction on its final outlet on the site.
Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, said:
“We are delighted to celebrate the success of Craft Republic and welcome them to their new home on Barry Waterfront.
“The opening of Craft Republic not only adds to the exciting commercial offer on the Waterfront but also demonstrates the positive impact that the wider development will have on the town’s economy and culture. We look forward to seeing more businesses flourish in this fantastic space.”
Persimmon Homes East Wales’ managing director, Lee Hawker, added:
“It’s a real pleasure to see a local business take up residence in one of the dedicated commercial units Persimmon delivered at Barry Waterfront.
“It is very much part of our mission to leave a positive and lasting legacy wherever we build our much-need homes, and that includes laying the groundwork for job opportunities, economic growth, and community spaces just like this.
“So, we are proud to mark Craft Republic’s opening in Barry alongside senior members of the local council today.”
Claire Whalley, co-owner of Craft Republic, commented:
“We’re delighted we took the plunge and moved Craft Republic to the Waterfront. Since opening here, business has flourished — we’ve expanded our offering, welcomed new team members, and met so many fantastic new customers.
“As local residents ourselves, it’s important to us that Craft Republic is a positive presence in the community, somewhere people feel welcome and connected, and we’re excited to be contributing to the buzz of this new destination.”
