The Easter Holidays are here! Have a look at our guide to some of the best hidden gems in Pontypridd town centre!

Princes Café

Dominic and Glenys Gambarini opened a cafe in Pontypridd 65 years ago, Princes Café is now one of Pontypridd’s most famous landmarks.

Princes Café lies in the heart of Pontypridd town serving a fantastic range of baked goods, cakes which are displayed in the window enticing the customers. Customers can expect an efficient friendly service and be greeted by the famous art deco design, with food freshly made in the bakery downstairs.

Visit them at 74 Taff Street, Pontypridd

Amplified Studio

Amplified Studio was established in 2013, and is based in the heart of Pontypridd town centre.

Centrally located to the South Wales Valleys, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and even further afield.

At their studio they specialise solely in newborn, baby, and maternity portraiture, with Jordan - their studio photographer being one of the UK's most qualified photographers specialising in newborn portraiture. Jordan is a winner of multiple national awards in his specialist field, and is the only photographer in Wales and one of only a small handful in the UK with the Associate qualification in Newborn Portraiture with the Master Photographers Association.

Amplified's ethos is to create a luxury and bespoke service to our clients, with incredible fine art gallery quality products as an end result.

The studio is owned and run by Jordan and Sally Gillard.

https://www.amplifiedwales.co.uk/

The Chain House

The Chain House is a simple but intimate space on Bridge Street, Pontypridd offering great coffee, quality food and classic cocktails as a priority. The restaurant was recently featured in Wales Online, read their review here

https://www.facebook.com/chainh0use11/

Pontypridd Museum

Pontypridd Museum occupies Tabernacl Chapel, at the north end of Pontypridd. The chapel was built in 1861, and still houses its pipe-organ decorative interior, it was purchased by Pontypridd Town Council in the early 80’s and was re-opened as the town’s museum in 1986.

The museum showcases the industrial, social and cultural history of Pontypridd, emphasizing the distinctive history of the town. Take a look at the paintings and other works of art celebrating the construction of the famous Old Bridge which was built in 1756 and became famous as the first in Europe to exceed the span of the Rialto in Venice. Personal items belonging to Evan and James James are also on view reminding us that “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” was written and composed in the town in 1856.

Visit Pontypridd Museum on Bridge Street, Pontypridd

https://pontypriddmuseum.cymru/

Connect Hub at St Catherines Church

CONNECT is the Church's hub of mission operating out of the recently renovated St Catherines Church church hall for children’s and adult groups, the community cafe is open Monday to Friday with free WiFi, there are also conference rooms to rent and activities on a regular basis.

https://www.facebook.com/connectponty/

Clwb Y Bont

Clwb Y Bont is the one of the most popular venues in the town centre, famous for it’s promotion of the Welsh Language, and offering opportunities to those who wish to speak Welsh, Clwb Y Bont offers a warm cosy environment with lots of friendly faces and a great place to meet new people. Clwb host regular events including lots of bands, festivals and vintage clothing fairs attracting an audience both young and old. If you are interested in learning the Welsh language you are likely to find someone to whom you can speak in Welsh, with many of the regular customers happy to go to great lengths to patiently help out newbie Welsh learners.

Visit them at 85a Taff Street

https://twitter.com/clwbybont

Alfreds Bar and Grill

Alfred's Bar and Grill is a brasserie style restaurant where the emphasis is on sleek service, quality ingredients, exceptional food and an ambiance akin to a New York brasserie but set in the heart of Pontypridd.

Alfred’s Grill is unique with fresh and quality produce, all products are sourced locally and Alfreds chefs create experimental dishes which satisfy the taste buds and creates a wonderful experience for diners. Alfreds Bar is wonderfully designed and is an excellent venue with live music on a Friday night throughout the year making one of Pontypridd’s most exciting places for a night out.

Visit them at 3-4 Market Street

https://alfredsbarandgrill.com/

The Blueberry Inn

The Blueberry Inn is a unique hotel located in the centre of Pontypridd, South Wales. The Blueberry will blow you away with its incredibly unique design. All rooms are fully equipped and all the comforts of a quality hotel. The building itself is host to a superb bar and restaurant serving a variety of exquisite cuisine, with breakfast available from 7am, lunch specials from 12pm and a la carte from 6pm.

The Blueberry Inn is a real gem in the heart of the Valleys and worth a visit, whatever the occasion.

Visit them at 6-8 Market Street

http://www.blueberryinn-pontypridd.co.uk/

Trattoria

Trattoria Pontypridd, is Trattoria Group’s second restaurant, with a unique setting celebrating the Italian culture and serving authentic Italian food. Trattoria’s a la carte and Early bird menus offer authentic Italian food influenced by the campana region of Southern Italy and served in a relaxed friendly atmosphere in the heart of the town centre.

Visit them at 9 High Street, Pontypridd

Mill Street derived its name from various mills in the area, such as the Rhondda Flour Mill. Mill Street also leads on to the stone railway viaduct an important landmark and the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the Taff Vale Railway. Mill Street features many wonderful independent shops and places to eat including KooKoo Madame - a ​ladies boutique which attracts fashionistas from Wales and beyond to view their special gifts, dresses, funky jewellery, gorgeous footwear and must have handbags. Organic Wholefoods and Homebrew is Mill Street’s Aladdin’s cave filled with spices, herbs, nuts, sauces and much more. Visit Café Fresco for a modern dining experience with beautifully presented meals, Mill Street also offers unique services with the recently opened Scott and Rachel Photography Studio, the street is also home to Pontypridd’s Post Office which is important to residents, visitors and business owners in the town.

The Drinking Fountain

The famous stone drinking fountain was built and unveiled in 1895 by Sir Alfred Thomas, MP for East Glamorgan, (later Lord Pontypridd). The fountain provided fresh drinking water to passers-by and animals. The inscriptions on the undersides of the projecting bowls read as follows: DUW A DIGON / HEB DDUW HEB DDIM (God is Everything Without God Without Anything).

Addo Studio

Café Royale

Café Royale is one of two famous Italian cafés in the town centre that have survived and thrived in to the 21st century giving Pontypridd big part of its character.

Giovanni Orsi at the age of thirteen travelled to South Wales to work for the Bracci family in Cafe Royale. Giovanni eventually inherited Café Royale which was then passed down to his son who in turn passed it down to his own sons who are the current owners and operators, Marco & Giovanni Orsi.

Since then the Cafe has become a prominent part of the high street and continues to provide and quality eating experience in the heart of Pontypridd.

Current owners Marco and Claire Orsi have been running offer a warm friendly welcome to visitors and loyal customers alike and offer homemade welsh and Italian food to eat in or takeaway and great coffee!

Platform 11

Platform 11 was established by cousins Alex and Craig mead to give the opportunity to give locals a place to enjoy their favourite music right on their doorstep. Attracting upcoming and local DJ's the club is renownedfor it's brilliant atmospheres and electrifying events, have a look at their latest updates and upcoming shows on the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/platform11pontypridd/

Globetrotters Bar

Globetrotters is located behind The Llanover Arms and is the perfect place for live music, relaxed atmosphere, continental beers and real ales! Keep an eye out on their Facebook for upcoming events or to get in touch if you would like to hire for a private party or to hire the venue for functions and meetings!

https://www.facebook.com/globesbar/

Mid Glamorgan Goldsmiths

Mid Glamorgan Goldsmiths is one of the few remaining active working goldsmiths in Wales, specialising in traditionally forged wedding rings, bespoke engagement rings and other fine jewellery. Visit them at 8b Taff Street, Pontypridd.

https://www.facebook.com/Mid-Glamorgan-Goldsmiths-486562801521926/

Pontypridd Market

Ok you got us Pontypridd Indoor Market isn’t a secret, A market has stood on the site of the present Market since 1805, The present Market was built in the late 1870's following the incorporation of the Pontypridd Markets Company, but the new tenants and upgrade of the pitches and interior have given one of Ponty’s most famous landmarks a new lease of life.

The market has something for everyone whether it’s food at the award winning Tucker’s Bakery, Soul Spice offering fresh, soul satisfying vegetarian and vegan foods and refreshments. Cortille Coffee with its own brand coffee and tea and Gaggia Coffee machine for sales, Bevan’s Quality Meats who make their own sausages or the famous Siop Y Bont selling welsh books, greetings cards,DVD's, Cd's plus a selection of coal, slate and glass products, love-spoons, Welsh pottery, china, jewellery, clothing with a Welsh slant and Welsh souvenirs and loads more great stalls

The Market Company resisted the temptation for wholesale development, opting instead for gradual refurbishment of the original buildings, thereby retaining both Indoor and Outdoor Markets in their traditional style.

Pontypridd Railway Station

Pontypridd Railway station has a rich history dating back to 1840. It’s located on Broadway and currently serves the town with two stations, the Station is located at the junction of the Merthyr line and the Rhondda line and for many years been the only station serving the town.

The station was built by the Taff Vale Railway (TVR) and opened on 9 October 1840. It was known as Newbridge Junction until March 1866 when it was renamed Pontypridd.

It was progressively remodelled during the 19th century, but its present appearance derives largely from reconstruction carried out between 1907 and 1914. Reflecting both the narrow steep sided topography of the valley, and the need to accommodate many converging passenger routes and passing coal trains, it is effectively designed as two back-to-back termini. This gave it the then longest island platform in the world, around which were arranged seven platforms.

The station is must visit and not only for the train enthusiasts and history buffs, but also for its amazing architecture and early 20th century decoration and design features.

The two statues are made of bronze and depict two figures in Celtic robes – a man holding a harp representing music, and a woman representing poetry.