A new deli has recently opened its doors on Cornerswell Road in Penarth. 

Griff's Deli officially opened on Thursday, June 30 and is owned by a family team which consists of Gareth Dawson, the driving force behind the business, his father, Chris and his mother, Sian. "We've always been in business, but this [Griff's Deli] is something completely different," says Chris.  

"It's a bit mad because we managed a recruitment business in the past, but our family has always been really big foodie people," Gareth adds. 

"We've always thought about opening our own place. The opportunity came up when this place became available. We all talked about it and we just decided to get off the fence and do it." 

Gareth, pictured, is the driving force behind the business which he owns with his father, Chris and his mother, Sian. (Image credit: Jack Wynn)

But where did the idea for opening a deli come from? Aside from the family's love of sharing platters, inspiration also came from a deli where they used to live in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, that became a mentor to the family. "Instead of just opening as a deli in the day, we really wanted to maximise the space and be open in the evening," says Chris. 

"We cater for breakfast, lunch and the evening. Charcuterie boards for people to sit in or takeaway, and there are vegetarian and vegan options on everything. Great coffee and wine are also available and our grocery shelves stock appetising deli products. 

"We've been granted an alcohol licence and we offer an extensive wine list to drink in or takeaway. So, the idea is we want people to come in, order a sharing board from the deli, have a glass of wine or a beer, and socialise any time of day in a casual setting." 

Gareth comments on the warm reception from the opening weekend. "We had lots of couples and groups in over the weekend and we just want to create a friendly relaxed atmosphere," he says.  

"We're not a late venue; the latest we open is 21:00 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so it's perfect here. Most of the people that have come are from the surrounding streets. Even if people are sitting in separate parties, it's quite an intimate space so people have been chatting to one another across the tables – it's been great!" 

People can feast on charcuterie boards as well as buy deli products. (Image credit: Jack Wynn)

The Cornerswell Road location may seem a unique choice for Griff's Deli, but the Dawson family saw this as an opportunity to cater to diners outside of the town centre. "There are a lot of houses in the area and there's not much like this [Griff's Deli] around here, so we thought we'd fit in quite nicely and we've had a lot of great feedback already," says Gareth. 

"We love all the food businesses in and around Penarth town centre, but the suburbs doesn't have much so people have to keep going back and forth. There was a gap in the market and, since we've opened, the demand has been amazing." 

The Dawson family took over the space in March. Before opening as Griff's Deli, the site used to be Gentleman Jim's barber shop and they have been busy ever since revamping the space. 

This includes enlisting the help of other local businesses, including WHILL Construction and Floors On Floors just across the street. For those wondering about the deli's name, it pays homage to Gareth's Welsh terrier. The logo was designed by Steve John, one of the artists at Artisans Corner on Glebe Street and previously worked as an animator on S4C's SuperTed as well as the book series, Mr. Men. 

Griff, pictured at The Esplanade, is Gareth's Welsh terrier. (Image credit: Griff's Deli - Facebook)

Local produce is also an important factor for the family – fresh fruit and vegetables at Griff's Deli are supplied by Windsor Fruit Stores in Penarth town centre. 

Nearby shop owners and businesses have also been very welcoming. "What we've been really impressed by is the local businesses in this part of Penarth," says Chris. 

"You've got the florist and Apothecary64; there's someone we met who is opening up their own interior design business soon – this area is very up and coming." 

Although Griff's Deli has only been open for just over one week, are there any plans for the future? "We've definitely thought about bringing more stuff to the menu," says Gareth. "But we're just going to see how this goes first. 

Fresh fruit and vegetables at Griff's Deli are supplied by Windsor Fruit Stores in Penarth town centre. (Image credit: Jack Wynn)

"We're going to put everything that we've got into this and see how that's received. It's early days, but we've already had a really good start and we want that to continue.  

"If everything carries on the way it's going, we may start to do different things and maybe open another Griff's Deli. We intend on developing our offering outside the deli in a few months and providing that great charcuterie experience in your home or workplace. 

"So, I think that will be the natural next step for the business." 

Follow Griff's Deli on Facebook.