The closure was described as ‘unavoidable’
North Star in Cardiff will close for good on December 31(Image: North Star)
A much-loved independent community pub has announced it is to close its doors for good. North Star, at 131 North Road in Cardiff, says it will call last orders and close its doors permanently on New Years Eve.
The closure brings to an end more than five years of trading under the North Star name, following its opening in August, 2020, and marks the end of a pub site that has served Cardiff for well over a century.
Despite extensive efforts to continue trading, owners said rising costs and cost-of-living pressures had forced the closure of the pub, in a move described as “unavoidable.” From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.
Owner Tom Edwards said: “This is without question the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make, and it’s not what we wanted.
“We’ve explored every possible option to keep North Star going, but in the current climate we feel this is the only responsible choice left to us.”
A busy night inside the North Star(Image: North Star)
Since opening, North Star has built a reputation as a strong community pub and a safe, welcoming space for all, particularly for students, local residents, creatives and musicians.
Mr Edwards said: “North Star has never just been a pub — it’s been a community.”
The venue became best known for its Sunday roasts and food offering, quiz nights, karaoke, and for supporting local independent music, while also providing a consistent, inclusive space for people to gather.
Manager David Rowlands said: “We’re immensely proud of what this pub has stood for. This place meant something to people — and that’s what hurts the most.”
Originally established as the Maindy Hotel, the site received its first provisional licence in October, 1888, meaning it has operated as a pub for more than 135 years.
Over the decades, the venue has been known by several names, including the Maindy Hotel and later The College Tavern, before becoming North Star in 2020.
Mr Rowlands said: “From the Maindy Hotel to the College Tavern to North Star, this building has always been a place for people.
“The site’s longstanding role as a community gathering place — spanning generations of locals, students and visitors — underscores why its closure is more than the loss of a single business; it marks the end of a century-plus chapter in Cardiff’s social history.
“This isn’t just the loss of a business — it’s the end of a pub site that’s served Cardiff for more than a century.”
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