Brand new restaurant and bar, Hickmans will officially open in Penarth on September 27.

A local investor, Stuart Reid acquired the ‘derelict’ building on Windsor Road, which was previously occupied by Blockbuster, in 2022.

Stuart envisaged creating a bar and restaurant with "elegance and a vibrant atmosphere" for the Penarth audience.

He rebuilt the building ‘from the ground up’ alongside Sean Murphy of the newly-created Gastro Food Groups. 

In his early career, Sean worked under the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Marcus Wareing.  

“Hickmans has most certainly been an incredible project to be involved with, we have essentially taken a derelict building and re-built it from the ground up,” said Sean.  

The renovations include a new rooftop terrace and state-of-the-art kitchen, all with lavish features.

There is a private function room for up to 40 people, with an exclusive use option of the upper floors available for up to 150 people.

Sean added: “The menu includes incredible dishes, and I will return to the kitchen weekly to prepare handmade lobster ravioli.

“Our head chef, Rhys Apreda, also has a signature dish of lamb ragu with parmesan espuma and not to be missed, we will also have a rotisserie for slow-cooked, fall-of-the-bone meat.

“You can get a real sense of how proud we, as the culinary team, are to bring this restaurant to life with exceptional quality food in a fantastic setting.

“I am eagerly anticipating the culmination of this 18-month-long project and the opportunity to have everyone join us for their next dining experience.

“It will also be wonderful to see many of the Penarth locals and businesses celebrating with us as we achieve a new level of success together,” added Sean.

Speaking of the venture and partnership, Stuart said: “I am thrilled to be bringing Hickmans to Penarth.

“As a local myself, I wanted to create a place that is affordable without compromising on quality or atmosphere.

“My main goal is for everyone in Penarth to feel welcome and to know that they can always expect a fantastic experience at Hickmans, with friendly faces to greet them.

“Partnering with Sean for this venture was a natural choice. I have witnessed his success with the previous 'Knife and Fork' group and more recently Gastro Foods.

“After experiencing many of his past and present venues, it became clear to me that we should work together as a local partnership to bring Hickmans to life."