Whilst it is sad to say farewell to The Alchemist on St Mary’s Street, its replacement is a total winner: LUDO.
When I was invited down to visit LUDO’S grand opening on Saturday 27th September, I was filled with huge anticipation. Having visited LUDO in my home city, Bath, I had very high expectations – which were easily met!
Situated on St Mary’s Street, the sports bar is in prime location, just a stone’s throw away from the Principality Stadium.
As soon as my partner and I walked in we were met with a bustling, vibrant atmosphere and very hospitable staff. The venue consists of two bar areas and large outdoor area, which is conveniently covered for the customary Cardiff rain.
LUDO has a maximum capacity of 720 people, perfect for match days and the up-coming Autumn Nations Series. The bar is packed with TVs, and the outdoor section even features the largest HD TV in Wales (outside of stadiums, cinema or larger hospitality venues).
Andy Killeen, Head of Operations for LUDO, said their goal is to make the venue the next best thing to watching a match live in the stadium. He explained that throughout the venue, Ludo has invested heavily in tech with everything from ultra-high-definition screens to a world class sound system, to ensure an immersive experience throughout the venue.
He noted that LUDO’S offers draught beers from £5.25, cocktails at £12.50, 2-4-1 deals Monday to Thursday, and frequent promotions during major sporting events.
As we sat and soaked up the buzzing ambience, we watched the Brentford vs Man United game as well as the Ryder Cup, easily enjoying both due to the multitude of screens the bar holds. Perusing the menu, we couldn’t leave without trying a taste of the food. Andy explained that all the food is prepared fresh and on-site, providing high quality dishes at a decent price. With a huge range from pub classics like fish and chips and chicken schnitzel, to pizzas and steaks, LUDO’s menu is packed. Now feeling very hungry, we couldn’t resist a burger. Priced at £16, we ventured for the Classic Cheeseburger and the Chicken Burger, which truly hit the mark. Both burgers came in no time at all and accompanied with fries, crisped to perfection. The cheeseburger came with an abundant of onions, a big green flag for me!
As well as plenty to offer for viewing sports, LUDO also features two interactive dart boards, a basketball hoop in the outdoor area and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. We tried our luck with several of the darts games, resulting in some friendly rivalry but I unfortunately I hit everything but the target…
The Saturday opening event also featured a full- scale rugby scrum machine outside LUDO’S front door. The top ten scorers earned an invite to LUDO’S exclusive VIP launch party, while the top five claimed a round of drinks for four and the top winner’s prize walked away with a £250 bar tab! Regardless of your score, each entrant received a drinks credit to enjoy inside LUDO, courtesy of the launch partner Mimosa Rwm Espiritu.
I had the immense pleasure to speak with Alun Wyn Jones, rugby legend and the creator of Mimosa Rwm Espiritu. He explained that the inspiration for this brand came from his first cap in 2006, which he achieved in Patagonia. When he retired in 2023, he had the idea to get into business and create something that nodded to that achievement.
Alun explained that Mimosa was the name of the ship that took the first Welsh settlers to Patagonia in 1865. When the brand was launched in 2023, it was 158 years since the ship sailed; coincidentally, Alun had accumulated 158 caps by the end of his rugby career. Two and half years down, the business has grown massively.
Alun Wyn Jones also noted that the opening of LUDO is greatly beneficial for the city: ‘Cardiff is synonymous with sports…whether it’s rugby or any other sport, the opening of LUDO will boost Welsh supporters’
Reviewed by Helen Turnbull
Ludo Cardiff
117 St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1DY, United Kingdom
www.ludobars.com
