5 – 10 Church Street, Cardiff

Transformational Regeneration in the Heart of Cardiff: Creation of a Vibrant New Restaurant Quarter

Street scene with a restaurant named Honest displaying "Great British Burgers" on the awning. The outdoor seating is adorned with potted plants. Pedestrians walk along the cobblestone path, and a modern building with a triangular structure is visible
Interior of a stylish bar with lush greenery, decorative lights, and a curved iron railing. Several people are seated at the bar counter, and the space is adorned with hanging plants and warm lighting.
Interior of a restaurant with hanging lights, rope decorations, and wooden furnishings, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Exterior of "The Botanist" restaurant at night, featuring modern architecture, illuminated signage, and decorative greenery.

Situated within the St Mary Street Conservation Area, the regeneration of 5–10 Church Street has delivered a dynamic new destination for Cardiff's hospitality scene. This ambitious scheme focused on retrofitting and repurposing existing buildings through a sustainable, low-carbon approach, creating a series of modern leisure units spread over four floors—including a highly acclaimed rooftop terrace.

The works included a full reconfiguration of the existing three-storey structure (plus basement) at Nos. 5–9 Church Street, complemented by the construction of a new three-storey side extension at No. 10.

Access to the pedestrianised site was restricted to Church Street and St John Street, with limited vehicle access times. To maintain public safety while facilitating construction, a carefully managed hoarding was installed, temporarily narrowing the surrounding pavements without compromising pedestrian movement.

Following extensive internal demolition and soft stripping, a new steel frame structure was erected, complete with a new staircase and reinforced concrete ground floor slab incorporating the lift shaft pit. Full basement tanking was also carried out to ensure long-term structural resilience.

The regenerated development now houses a variety of prominent hospitality brands, including Mowgli, Pho, Honest Burgers, and The Botanist, contributing significantly to the vibrancy of the area.