Barry Island's Bier Keller: the reopening plans announced in 2021

Barry Island's old Bier Keller was back in the conversation in November 2021. The new owners of Dimes Amusements, Jamie Crole and his son Lewis, were reported to be planning a refurbishment and reopening of the Bavarian-themed bar.

The attraction of the story was the building's history. The Bier Keller had first opened in 1969 and had been closed for decades. Photographs shared in local history groups prompted residents to compare the venue they remembered with what remained inside.

Our report described a hoped-for reopening the following year. That was the plan being discussed in late 2021, rather than confirmation that the refurbishment had been completed or that bookings were available.

The Croles were already associated with other Barry Island amusement businesses, including Carousel Amusements and Caesars Palace. Reviving another familiar venue fitted into a wider interest in keeping the resort's older entertainment spaces in use.

For readers who remembered a night at the Bier Keller, the story was about more than a new bar. It was the possibility of seeing a long-closed part of Barry Island's social history open its doors again.

This is an archive report from 25 November 2021. Check current local information before making plans around the venue.