ONE of the last Blockbuster stores to close in Wales will soon be opened as a brasserie-style restaurant.

The Blockbuster store in Windsor Road in Penarth closed along with the chain’s other remaining UK stores in December, 2013, and the building has been empty since.

Nearly two years after plans were put in for the new restaurant, called Hickmans Bar and Restaurant, it finally looks set to open.

Restaurant operator, Sean Murphy, said they were looking to do some soft launches in the week commencing September 16 before opening to the public in the following week.

Mr Murphy said: “It has been an amazing project. We have had a lot of expenditure obviously due to the condition of the building, so we have gone roof to basement, all new flooring.”

He went on to say that the kitchen would be “state of the art”  and that the dining room finish will be “phenomenal”.

He added: “It has been a really exciting project. Not only from an operator’s point of view, but from a construction point of view as well.

“[I have] really enjoyed the project and [I am] just looking forward to getting it open now.”
Mr Murphy said the restaurant would offer affordable home-cooked food in a “nice environment with… a nice, friendly team”.

The redevelopment of the old Blockbusters is extensiveThe redevelopment of the old Blockbusters is extensive (Image: Newsquest)

The development could help transform Penarth's high streetThe development could help transform Penarth's high street (Image: Newsquest)

The bar and restaurant will be on the ground floor.

The upper floor will also have a bar, an outdoor roof terrace and private dining area.

Local councillors welcomed the plans for the bar and restaurant when they were first announced.

Vale of Glamorgan Council ward member for St Augustines, Cllr Neil Thomas, said at the time that the former Blockbusters had been “moribund for far too long”.

He added: “Any attempt to bring it back into beneficial use is to be welcomed.

“There are already a high number of hospitality venues in the vicinity and a number of other businesses have closed or are closing recently as mentioned in the application.

“Concern for the health of Penarth town centre is increasing as more businesses fail and this could be seen as contributing to the offer of the area hopefully encouraging other independent businesses to follow suit.”