There are a few things that make The Clink Restaurant stand out. The first thing is the food: it’s one of the best fine dining venues for miles around. The second thing is where it is: it’s right by the front gate of HMP Cardiff and is staffed by people serving sentences there, or at nearby prisons, or in the community. And thirdly, there’s no alcohol.
That third fact has surprised a few people over the years. I recently heard someone tell of a big party of French rugby fans – in town for an important Six Nations game – asking for the wine list at The Clink. I imagine they were a little taken aback at the total absence of any such list. But, like most Clink diners, they weren’t disappointed by what was on offer instead. That’s one of the funny things about visiting an alcohol-free venue: it can feel like missing out on something. Unless, of course, there’s something even better on offer. And the drinks offer at The Clink is exceptional.
The drinks menu is extensive. There’s all the usual teas and coffees and soft drinks, but it’s the cocktails that everyone talks about. The restaurant has recently been moving away from pre-packaged drinks, and even the cocktail syrups are made from raw ingredients onsite. As any chef will tell you, there’s no substitute for fresh ingredients in food, and the same is true of drinks. Here, we’ve reviewed just a few of the freshly prepared treats we sampled when we visited.