Penarth Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups.

We will be profiling some of these businesses and organisations in a feature called 'Up Close in Penarth'.

This week, we spoke to Bar 44 about what's been happening behind the scenes during the closure.

The pandemic has forced several of our favourite Penarth eateries to keep their doors closed this year.

One such location is Bar 44 Penarth , opened by brothers Tom and Owen Morgan in 2012.

Since its Cowbridge origins, the business has expanded to Penarth, Cardiff and Bristol and now into an online shop.

Nub News spoke with director of the 44 Group Natalie Isaac to find out what has been happening behind the scenes.

Natalie said that at their Windsor Road location, they've been able to trade 150 days out of the year. At Bar 44 Cowbridge, they were only able to trade for a staggering 78.

"It's not a viable business proposition, we'd be losing money. We know from operating the bigger sites like Penarth, how the takings are down to about 45-50%," said Natalie.

"Our customers range from children right through to adults aged 85-90, so we have to do the right thing for our customer base too."

"We do know the support will be there when we reopen, because we've been immediately full at our other sites whenever we did reopen," said Natalie.

"The reason we haven't opened is because we know the majority of our business is after 4pm. It's not specifically due to the alcohol ban.

"But we think that it reopening won't happen in January, it could be longer because the figures are so bad.

"I'm getting emails everyday asking when we're opening. We have amazing support from locals, particularly in and around Penarth and Cowbridge, where we're very much ingrained in the community there.

"We're using the time wisely to get better and stronger so when we can reopen everywhere, we'll be there with new menus and drinks.

"We always have millions of ideas, and loads of projects have been on the backburner, so we've had time to finish those, which is great," she said.

One of those ideas has been the online shop , stocked with a range of popular Bar 44 dishes, the brand's own jarred olives, olive oil, aioli and sauces, and luxurious gift hampers.

The team are especially proud of the new Manzanilla44 sherry, which is now available.

The 44 Group has teamed up with Crafty Devil to sell their own brand products.

"The purpose of running the shop is to help our suppliers who had already brought in the stock for December, and to keep our staff employed as well," said Natalie.

"The demand is amazing and is testament to the fact that we've been around for almost 20 years.

"It's running now as a Christmas shop. You can place orders until 12pm on Monday, which is when it will close.

"Then we'll be distributing the orders on 23-24 December. We'll arrange a collection point in Penarth to pick up all your fresh goodies ready to enjoy over Christmas," she said.

As well as the shop, the 44 Group has been running virtual parties including cocktail school sessions, paired sherry tastings and Spanish cook-alongs.

"If we stay shut from January to March next year, we'll offer things like that for birthday parties, and hen-dos," said Natalie.

So, while we may be pining for a platter of tapas and a glass of authentic Spanish sherry inside Bar 44, there's plenty of ways to enjoy and support the 44 Group in Penarth.