About The Shed
A small, but intimate & welcoming first floor bistro in the renowned village of Porthgain - small enough to provide a unique & local experience
With the creation of the bistro upstairs we now have additional tables and a fully licensed bar, and toilets! We have a small outside seating area so you can watch the world go by....
Our Staff are all local, many Welsh speaking and most importantly friends and family which assures you the best possible service.
Our license means you can also just pop in for a glass of wine or a pint of beer, without having to have a meal.
We have an extensive Wine List with house wines starting at £10.50, as well as a full range of lager, beers, spirits & soft drinks.
The Lunch time menu is a lighter and single
course reflection of our evening meals using the best local produce,
&lobster.
Home-made cakes, Fresh Coffee, Cappuccino, Latte, Hot Chocolate, Ice Creams
etc, are served.
The emphasis of our menu is fish and shellfish, however we always offer a meat alternative. The evening menu includes hor'deuves, fresh homemade bread, and homemade chocolates.
We think that'll be it for now as we have utilised every inch of our building and our only aim will be to work on continually improving and enhancing our venture.
But watch this space…………
2008
New Tapas style menu offered in conjunction with A La Carte menu. The Tapas was well received in the winter months and will return in the Autumn.
2007
We finally opened the new bar in late December. There are windows overlooking the harbour, an open fire and a comfy sofa. Our 'Pub' licence allows our customers to enjoy a drink without a meal. We also gained entry into The Michelin Guide.
2006
Wow - what
a year! Amazingly busy all year - a tremendous learning curve
- we seem to have moved into the 'league' without knowing. Not
without it's up & downs mind you - mistakes, complaints,
giggles, hair tearing & tears etc.
I'm still trying to become a 'chef' by attending the local college
and completing an NVQ2 in Catering, which has helped my amateur
skills - hopefully I'll move on to the higher levels in due course!?
Wwe learn by our mistakes & improve our service. Rob & I
are both astounded at the good feedback we get - and overwhelmed
by articles & attention in the National Papers - scary - expectations
have been increased which has been a challenge - to say the least.
Our aim now this winter is to remain open every week - both day & night
- albeit with reduced hours - and of course to - utilise knowledge
gained this year in improving all aspects for next year.
2002
The following year we started with all mod cons, and truly thought it was a doddle compared to the year before. We have to say without the patience and support of our staff, friends and family we would have given up quickly. We began the 'Evening Bistro' in late June, just opening three nights a week and operating a 'BYO'. In 2003, we opened with a Supper Licence and now had a wine list - relative sophistication. Our regular customers got used to coming through the kitchen to use the loo at the back and stopping for a chat on the way back! During the Winter of 2003, we began to develop the first floor and although we have only gained one table, and two toilets, we believe the 'experience' has been improved and refined.
The Beginning
The Shed Tearoom was opened in 2001 - shortly after the outbreak of 'Foot & Mouth', initially to improve the bookings for the boat trips. We began without mains water or electricity - using a generator for lighting and carrying in water on a daily basis! We borrowed tables & chairs, teapots, saucepans, went to Oxfam shops - and even climbed in skips to retrieve cast off picnic tables! Many thought we were mad, given the devastation caused by the farming plight and the lack of modern facilities, but it enabled us to prove that the tearoom would be viable. The following winter we invested in securing the lease for the building, as well as digging up half of Porthgain to lay in services.
View toward Strumble Head Lighthouse