Closing time for the Vulcan

From the WalesOnline website and the front page of today's Echo:

THE historic Vulcan pub has been ordered to shut its doors by June 25.

Campaigners had hoped site owner Derek Rapport would extend the brewery’s lease on the 19th-century pub and keep it open.

But Brian Smart, who runs the Adamsdown alehouse with his wife Elizabeth, warned it would soon be last orders at the bar.

Yesterday the 71-year-old said: “Unless something happens then the last beers will be served.

“We have been expecting it for a year or more, that was the date from the start, but we thought there might be, say, another six months or another couple of months on top, but that never happened. I phoned up the brewery today and they said the 25th.”

After that the building’s future is in the hands of Mr Rapport.

Full story here.

Needless to say this is very depressing news. I can't pretend to be a regular at the Vulcan, I don't even drink there that often (although I always have a great time when I do). It is just sad to think that another piece of Cardiff's rich history is being sacrificed for more parking spaces/shops/chain restaurants or what ever the developers wisely decide to build in its place.

Stay tuned for more news on June 13th's day of action.

Chris

Save the Vulcan - Day of Action

Date: 13 June 2009
Time: 12:00 - 15:00
Location: Vulcan, Cardiff

It's time for action now.

Please hold this date in your diary, and once we've confirmed details we'll send info.

Vulcan retreat urged

From the WalesOnline website:

THE architect behind the £106m Wales Millennium Centre says The Vulcan pub could easily be saved.

Jonathan Adams has insisted there is no reason for the Victorian bar to be knocked down next month so more flats can be built in the capital.

Mr Adams, who works at Capita Percy Thomas, in Cardiff’s Newport Road, said: “There are plenty of examples of buildings that were deemed worthy of being protected being incorporated into the plans of new developments.

“Howells, the department store, is built on top of an old church. If you go in the shoe department on the ground floor you’ll find you are in the middle of an old chapel.”

Read the full article here.

Guest Blogger - Joseph Conaghan

Today we have our first guest blog, kindly written by Joseph Conaghan. You can visit his blog here.

Save the Vulcan Pub

As soon as Kevin Dwyer (our branch internet expert) mentioned the Vulcan was in jeopardy he mobilised vast numbers of Ambulance signatures on the online peteition/Facebook/ letters to the editor etc to save this overlooked pub with a huge history that has always just been there (Adam St,Cardiff).

Well none other than Jeremy Vine popped in to pull a pint and chat with regulars to find out it’s fate and broadcasted the findings on his Radio 2 lunchtime show from Cardiff last week. It was pleasing to hear that Media students from the recently built Atrium faculty of the University of Glamorgan across the road have made the place their own and numbers of supporters are growing daily.

From an Ambulance 999 call point of view in my 20 odd year on the road answering shouts perspective (and I’ve checked with other colleagues) the main memory 999 wise from us is……NONE ……we never went there!

Even though it was on the route to or home from the actual city centre, there never seemed to be any trouble, fighting, incidents of any kind that stick in anyone’s mind. Remarkable really, maybe we should have our next Branch meeting there.

Literary Shindig Write Up

A brief write up of last night's literary shindig (a phrase that's catching on...) on the WalesOnline website.

Plenty of photos of the event courtesy of Dom Stocqueler here.

Save The Vulcan – the search for Spock

From the WalesOnline website:

ENTERPRISING Vulcan pub campaigners are boldly going where no drinkers have gone before by calling on Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy to save their bar.

More than 100 people have signed a letter to the 78-year-old Mr Spock star asking him to beam the pub from the clutches of developers who want to knock down the Victorian building next month and replace it with a car park as part of the St David’s 2 development.

The Echo has also made several attempts to reach Mr Nimoy. A letter has also been sent to Zachary Quinto, who plays Spock in the new Star Trek film.

Each reads: “If you would put your name to our campaign it might help save our beloved bar. Please help!”

The full article here.

Keeping with the Star Trek theme, here are a couple of photos from the recent Bar Trek event:

Bar Trekkers

Wrong night?

The winner

Literary Shindig

A quick reminder that the second literary evening to be held at the Vulcan kicks off tonight at 19:30.

The first one was really successful - in fact it was standing room only so get there early to get a seat!

Writers already confirmed:
Peter Finch
John Williams
Charlotte Greig
Ifor Thomas

Vulcan Memories

Students from the University of Glamorgan are hosting a performance of verbatim theatre this Friday based on people's memories of the Vulcan.

All are welcome:

Date: 15 May 2009
Time: 16:00 - 17:00
Location: ATRiuM Theatre, Adam Street, Cardiff

Pub of the Year - photos

As promised here are a couple of photos from the Pub of the Year presentation.

Landlady Liz Smart being presented with the Pub of the Year Award by Camra Social Secretary John Lamb

Cardiff Camra members enjoying a pint

Photos by Dom Stocqueler.

More Vine at the Vulcan

Thanks to everyone who phoned in to the Jeremy Vine show with messages of support - we are already getting comments on the blog from listeners which is brilliant. One thing wasn't mentioned though - the Vulcan is actually situated on the edge of a huge car park! It makes its demolition to build yet more parking spaces seem all the more pointless...

If you missed the show you can listen to an extract here.

Here's a recent photo that shows the pub and its surroundings in a bit more context:



And a few more pics from Jeremy's visit to the Vulcan:

Jeremy Vine interviewing Rachel Thomas.

Interviewing the regulars.

Pulling a pint.

You can get your Save the Vulcan T-shirt behind the bar at the Vulcan or here.

The Vulcan was also awarded Pub of the Year by Camra yesterday - photos coming soon.

Radio 2 and the Pub of the Year

Great couple of hours at the Vulcan tonight - it was good to finally put names to faces. Jeremy Vine and his team were really nice and the Vulcan piece should be on at 1pm tomorrow, you can listen online here. I have to admit to getting a little star struck - as a student who formerly worked nights, the Jeremy Vine show, 12 - 2, has been a highlight of the day for some time. I can also add him to the list of Egg Head presenters I have seen in real life (2 out of 2 - not bad).

Jeremy Vine and landlady Liz Smart

Also thanks to Camra who presented the Vulcan with their Pub of the Year award - more photos from tonight to follow.

Jeremy Vine at the Vulcan

A message from Rachel:

Hi guys,

The Jeremy Vine show (Radio 2) is being broadcast from Cardiff on Tuesday, so on Monday the Jeremy Vine team are coming to the Vulcan to pre-record some interviews. Feel free to come along :)

Jeremy Vine and team will be in the Vulcan from about 7pm on Monday.

Also on Monday, CAMRA will be presenting the pub with the pub of the year award :) I think they'll be there around 8pm.

Thanks for your continued support for the campaign :)

Rach x

On a seperate note I was kindly asked to write a guest blog for the Welsh Bloggers site which can be read here.

Pub of the Year!

The Vulcan has been named Pub of the Year by Members of the Cardiff branch of the Campaign for Real Ale!

From WalesOnline:

Branch social secretary John Lamb said the city centre pub was consistently the best in Cardiff.

He said:

“To win the award the pub has to have maintained an excellent standard, judged by a number of visits by members.

“Not only does the quality of the pint have to be very high, we also judge the quality of the atmosphere, service and other aspects.

“The Vulcan is a pub that is well loved by all our members.”

Read the full article here.

This is actually the second time the Vulcan has won the title, previously picking it up in 1997.

There will be an official award ceremony on Monday - more details on this when available.

Guest Blogs

It would be great to get some guest bloggers writing for the site about why they want to save the Vulcan. Is anyone up to the task? - save.the.vulcan@gmail.com.

Up and Coming Events

Bar Trek

First and foremost don't forget Bar Trek this Friday from 8pm. Save the Vulcan T-Shirts and 'Spock ears' will be on sale throughout the night with a chance of winning a life size replica of the Vulcan himself (or half Vulcan as I am now informed).

The Monte Dons

The Monte Dons gig on May 11th has been postponed - check their website for further announcements.

Save the Vulcan Literary Shindig

After the success of the first literary evening at the Vulcan (standing room only - I had to listen to Des Barry from the corridor) it is time for another. The next event will be on Thursday, May 14th and confirmed guests include Peter Finch,
John Williams and Charlotte Greig. More details to follow.

Welsh Bloggers in the Pub

It has now been announced that the first Welsh Bloggers in the Pub event will be held at the Vulcan on Wednesday the 15th July. This is a great chance for Welsh bloggers to meet up, socialise, have a couple of drinks and generally get to know each other better. More details here.

Something for the Weekend

Welsh Bloggers who voted us their Welsh Blog of the week this week officially launches a new blog today. They have proposed holding the first 'Welsh Bloggers in the Pub' event, a meeting of bloggers from all over Wales, at the Vulcan which is great news - more on this nearer the time.

Bar Trek Prize

The prize for the best costume at next weeks Bar Trek (Friday My 8th)has been revealed - a life size get up of Mr Spock. Drink long and prosper!








Twitter

We are slowly but surely building a following on Twitter (84 followers at last count). If you want to follow us you can do so here.

Orion IV

As part of my attempt to bring the best Facebook photos on to the blog here are some taken by Dom Stocqueler of last months Orion IV gig at the Vulcan (more of Dom's great photos of the Vulcan can be found here). The music is a short sample from their new album, String Quartets by Haydn and Dvorak, available from their website.