Donald’s Pies: New Trade St Cafe Opens 2026 

Key Points

• Donald’s Pies, a fast-growing Cardiff-based pie-and-coffee brand, began as a pie and coffee van at Radyr Cricket Club car park.
• The brand is opening its second bricks-and-mortar city-centre site on Trade Street, behind Cardiff Central Station, on March 30, 2026.
• This new venue follows their first city-centre hatch on Quay Street and marks their largest site to date.
• The expansion results from a public investment round where fans and customers “bought in” to own a piece of the company.
• The Trade Street location is in an up-and-coming area near new construction projects.
• Donald’s emphasises quality coffee, with founders linked to local roasters Hard Lines; the menu includes house espresso and filter options from top UK roasters.
• Previous milestones include opening a dedicated production kitchen on Penarth Road in late 2025, boosting production tenfold and revenue to nearly £250,000 in the first year.
• In October 2024, they took over a former coffee shop on Quay Street near Principality Stadium, becoming a staple for city-centre food scene and run clubs.
• Founder Gareth Owens, aged 31 at the time of the kitchen opening, leads the 18-month-old start-up specialising in grab-and-go pies and coffee.

Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) March 29, 2026 – Donald’s Pies, Cardiff’s rapidly expanding pie-and-coffee brand that started humbly in a car park, is set to open its biggest site yet on Trade Street behind Cardiff Central Station next week. The new cafe, launching on March 30, represents the second physical venue in the city centre after the Quay Street hatch and stems directly from a successful public investment drive where loyal customers became part-owners. This milestone underscores the brand’s meteoric rise from a van at Radyr Cricket Club to a key player in Cardiff’s indie food landscape.

What is Donald’s Pies’ Origin Story?

Donald’s Pies traces its roots to a modest pie and coffee van stationed at Radyr Cricket Club’s car park, where it first captured local attention with instant classics like the ‘Jerry Collins’ pie – a blend of mince, onion gravy, and vintage cheddar.

Word spread rapidly, leading to weekly sell-outs and building a cult following among Cardiff food enthusiasts. As reported in Business News Wales, the brand’s early success gave founders the confidence to expand, marking a transition from pop-up trading to permanent fixtures.

The van’s grassroots appeal laid the foundation for what has become a city-centre staple. By sharing stories of packed-out service days, Donald’s cultivated a community of fans who not only queued for pies but later invested in the business’s growth.

This origin in an unlikely car park setting highlights the entrepreneurial spirit driving the brand’s expansion into up-and-coming areas like Trade Street.

Where Exactly is the New Trade Street Site?

The new location on Trade Street sits behind Cardiff Central Station, positioning it amid revitalising developments and new construction projects that signal the area’s emergence as a vibrant hub.

This strategic spot aims to serve both local workers and passers-by, capitalising on foot traffic from the station. According to WalesOnline coverage, the site underscores Donald’s commitment to an area poised for growth, blending pie offerings with premium coffee to attract daily commuters.

Unlike the compact Quay Street hatch, this venue introduces a full cafe experience, expanding seating and service capacity.

The choice of Trade Street reflects calculated optimism about Cardiff’s evolving cityscape, where indie eateries thrive alongside regeneration efforts. Patrons can anticipate a space designed for lingering over filter coffee as much as grabbing a quick pie.

When Does the New Site Open and What Triggered It?

The grand opening is scheduled for March 30, 2026, just days from now, making it a timely addition to Cardiff’s spring dining scene.

This launch directly follows a public investment round that empowered fans to “buy in” and own shares, fuelling the bricks-and-mortar expansion. WalesOnline journalist detailed how this community-backed funding transformed customer loyalty into tangible support for the second city-centre site.

The timing aligns with broader trends of indie brands scaling up post-investment. Having already opened their first production kitchen in 2025, this cafe rollout ensures supply can match surging demand. No delays have been reported, with preparations focusing on a seamless debut.

Who are the Founders and Key Figures Behind Donald’s?

Gareth Owens, the 31-year-old founder, spearheads the operation, as noted in Wales247 coverage of the production kitchen launch. Both founding members have deep ties to Cardiff’s coffee scene, having played pivotal roles in local roasters Hard Lines.

Their expertise ensures Donald’s coffee menu – from classic house espresso to specialty filters from leading UK roasters – stands alongside pie innovation.

Owens’ vision has propelled the brand from start-up to revenue generator of nearly £250,000 in its debut year. While specific quotes from Owens on the Trade Street opening remain forthcoming, past statements emphasise community and quality.

The team’s anonymity in some reports preserves focus on the product, but their Hard Lines connection adds credibility to coffee claims.

Why Did Donald’s Choose Trade Street for Expansion?

Trade Street’s up-and-coming status, bolstered by nearby developments, makes it ideal for Donald’s growth ambitions. The area behind Cardiff Central Station offers accessibility and potential for high footfall, contrasting the brand’s car park beginnings.

As per WalesOnline, this site caters to Cardiff residents incorporating “a coffee from Donald’s” into daily routines, targeting both foodies and coffee aficionados.

The move builds on the Quay Street success near Principality Stadium, where run clubs and match-goers adopted the hatch. Expansion here diversifies from event-driven sales to everyday trade, supported by tenfold production increases from the Penarth Road kitchen. It positions Donald’s as a bridge between Cardiff’s traditional and regenerating districts.

How Has Donald’s Grown Since Its Quay Street Debut?

In October 2024, Donald’s took over a former coffee shop on Quay Street, a stone’s throw from Principality Stadium, cementing its indie food scene status.

Glowing reviews poured in, with the site becoming a regular stop for local run clubs and city-centre dwellers. Business News Wales reported this as a bold step after just months of van trading, scaling operations significantly.

The Penarth Road production kitchen, opened within 12 months of launch, boosted output tenfold to meet demand from fans, stockists, and stadiums across Wales and the South West. Wales247 highlighted nearly £250,000 in first-year revenue, underscoring financial viability. These steps paved the way for Trade Street, blending hatch-style efficiency with cafe comforts.

What Can Customers Expect from the Menu?

Donald’s signature pies, like the ‘Jerry Collins’, remain central, paired with a curated coffee selection honouring founder links to Hard Lines. Options span house espresso to filter brews from top UK roasters, emphasising thoughtful sourcing. WalesOnline noted the new site’s aim to draw coffee ritualists alongside pie lovers.

Grab-and-go remains core, but the cafe format introduces space for sit-down enjoyment. Past hits sold out weekly from the van, suggesting Trade Street will feature expanded pie varieties and seasonal specials. No menu changes have been announced, preserving the brand’s instant-classic appeal.

What Role Did Public Investment Play?

The public round allowed customers to “buy in” and contribute to success, directly funding the Trade Street venue. This model turned loyalists into stakeholders, mirroring crowdfunding triumphs in indie food. As detailed by WalesOnline, it reflects genuine fan investment in Donald’s journey from car park to cafe.

Such initiatives have proven vital for rapid scalers like Donald’s, enabling production kitchens and sites without traditional venture capital. The approach fosters advocacy, with owners now cheering openings like March 30. It exemplifies community-driven growth in Cardiff’s competitive scene.

How Does This Fit Cardiff’s Food Scene Trends?

Cardiff’s spring 2026 openings, including Japanese spot Kokoro on St Mary Street and Tonkotsu Ramen on High Street, highlight a boom in diverse quick-service options. WalesOnline grouped Donald’s with these, noting renovations and debuts revitalising the centre. Trade Street’s pie-cafe niche complements ramen and sushi trends.

Donald’s indie ethos contrasts chains like McDonald’s new outlets elsewhere in Cardiff, prioritising local roasts and pies. Its rise parallels other Welsh start-ups scaling via kitchens and investments. This positions the brand as a homegrown success amid global imports.

What’s Next for Donald’s After Trade Street?

With production ramped up and a second city-centre site, Donald’s eyes further partnerships and stockists across Wales and the South West. The investment round’s momentum suggests more sites, potentially beyond Cardiff. Business News Wales foresaw expanded stadium supply post-kitchen opening.

Challenges like maintaining quality during scale loom, but early sell-outs indicate resilience. As the March 30 launch nears, anticipation builds for how this “biggest site yet” cements Donald’s legacy from car park van to Cardiff institution. Community ownership ensures fans remain central to future plans.