The café at Quay Arts is one of the best places in Newport for breakfast, a light lunch or coffee and cake. It sits in a converted Victorian brewery warehouse on Newport Quay, next to the River Medina. It's open 9am to 4pm every day, it's dog friendly, and the lunch portions are huge.
AtmosphereSection titled Atmosphere
The café is in the old warehouse building, with exposed brick walls and brick arches. It's light and airy, with a relaxed atmosphere.
The large tables make it a popular spot for informal meetings as well as a coffee and cake.
FoodSection titled Food
The cafe serves a range of hot and cold drinks, cakes, and light lunches. The menu includes a range of vegetarian and vegan options.
We visit the cafe semi-frequently on our Saturday trips to Newport. The breakfasts are great and the coffee is good.
On our latest visit, we stopped for lunch and were shocked by the size of the portions. It felt like really good value for what we paid, even in 2024.
My wife had the seafood chowder and I had the halloumi burger. Both were delicious and we were both stuffed by the end of the meal.
One thing that was a bit surprising was the size of the portions. I was expecting cafe size portions, but the meals were huge. I was really impressed with the value for money and the quality of the food.
The halloumi burger was nicely prepared with roasted peppers and a homemade houmous.
PricesSection titled Prices
We paid £24.45 for the two meals (no drinks) on our visit in February 2024. The menu photos below are from that visit, so expect prices and dishes to have changed since.
HistorySection titled History
Quay Arts is in the old Porter Store, a Victorian bonded warehouse on Sea Street. It was used by the Mew Langton brewery, with island-brewed beer stored on the ground floor and spirits upstairs. Newport harbour's trade collapsed in the 1960s once lorries took over, and many of the Sea Street warehouses were demolished, but this one survived. The council bought the buildings in 1976, and the arts centre opened in 1982. The architect Tony Fretton refurbished the complex in 1997. Today it has two galleries, a 134-seat theatre, a shop and the café bar.
Personal anecdoteSection titled Personal anecdote
In 1996 the Quay Arts centre was extended to use more of the building, including a new bridge across the River Medina to connect the shop to the main cafe.
At the time of this bridge construction, my Grandparents lived in the neighbouring house at 15a Sea Street.
To build the bridge, the council had to purchase my grandparent's pantry as it was in the way of the bridge. My grandfather was a keen sailor and negotiated to sell it to the council for a 15-year lease of a mooring in Newport Harbour.
Art GallerySection titled Art Gallery
Quay Arts has two galleries, and every exhibition is free to visit. The exhibitions change through the year. The galleries are open the same hours as the café, but sometimes close for changeovers.
Getting thereSection titled Getting there
Quay Arts is at 15 Sea Street, Newport, PO30 5BD, on the quay at the bottom of town. It's a few minutes' walk from the High Street and the bus station. There's a paid council car park on Sea Street in front of the building, and a private car park in Little London at the side. There's a lift to the first floor, and accessible toilets on both floors (with baby changing on the ground floor).
More in NewportSection titled More in Newport
- The best cafés in Newport: our full shortlist
- Richmonds Bakery, for cake
- The Castle Inn, Newport's oldest pub, a short walk up into town
- Our guide to Newport
SourcesSection titled Sources
- Our own visits (photos are ours, February 2024)
- Quay Arts opening hours and FAQ: Quay Arts
- The Quay Arts: Wikipedia
- About us: Quay Arts
