There was some wonderful news on Friday, 11th April, when Bwyd Da Bagor posted on their Facebook page the following message:
‘Bwyd Da Bangor, secured by Bangor BID and Investors, Ensuring a Sustainable Future
We are thrilled to announce that Bwyd Da Bangor has been saved from closure thanks to the support of Bangor BID and two committed investors. This crucial backing ensures that Bwyd Da not only continues its vital work in the community but also grows into a more sustainable and socially impactful business.
We would like to thank all interested parties for their proposals and kind offers of support, it was great to see how valued the project has become by the local community.
Bangor BID is committed to supporting the Food Club, which will remain under the North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC) umbrella, while ensuring that Bwyd Da’s core values, team, and purpose remain intact.
Our new direction is not about keeping Bwyd Da as it is but about making it stronger. We are focused on sustainability, increasing social value on the high street, and deepening our support for local suppliers and producers. Our close relationship with Growing for Change will continue, reinforcing our commitment to ethical and locally sourced ingredients.
To further benefit the community, all existing support meetings will still have access to the space from Monday to Wednesday. Additionally, we plan to open Thursday to Sunday evenings to bring another outstanding food venue to Bangor.
This marks a new chapter for Bwyd Da, and we are incredibly grateful for the continued support from Bangor BID, our investors, and the community. Together, we are building something even stronger—preserving everything that makes Bwyd Da special while securing its future for years to come.
The directors and staff team from NWRC would like to place on record their thanks to everyone involved in securing this deal and also to our friends and partners for all their support since we initially opened in November 2021.
We are sure that Bangor BID will carry on building and developing upon the strong foundations built during our tenure
Diolch Pawb (Thank you, everyone)’
Bangor BID (Business Improvement District), also known as Bangor First, is a non-profit organisation established in November 2015 by local businesses in Bangor. Its main goal is to enhance city centre vibrancy through projects that benefit the local community and economy. Bangor First is funded through a levy on local businesses within a defined area. This levy is typically a small percentage of a business’s rateable value and is used to finance the BID’s projects and services.
I spoke with James Deakin last week and he told me that he will remain in place as Operations Director of Bwyd Da for six to eight weeks, to facilitate a smooth transition.
Bwyd Da has been James’s baby, and his passion and drive must be greatly admired. He has done so much to first make Bwyd Da happen and then continue as a valuable community resource, despite the adversity he has faced and stress with which he has lived. James also used his personal funds on a number occasions to help ensure that Bwyd Da employees were paid their salaries on time and that the café could continue to operate.
James and colleagues are passing on their legacy to a group of people who they believe will help Bwyd Da move forward in a positive way. I wish everyone concerned with Bwyd Da Bangor the very best for the future.