Historic Welsh café expands with £260,000 support from Development Bank of Wales
Historic Welsh café expands with £260,000 support from Development Bank of Wales
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A Carmarthenshire café with roots stretching back to one of Wales’ most famous uprisings has completed a major expansion after securing £260,000 in backing from the Development Bank of Wales.
Caffi Beca, based in Efailwen, has been run by owner Robert James since 1993 and is well known for its home-cooked food and views across the West Wales countryside.
The café has now moved into a larger, modern building following the demolition of its former premises, a redevelopment that marks the business’s most significant upgrade in its 60-year history.
The expansion includes a £50,000 micro loan recently awarded by the Development Bank to help support growth in the new building, following a £160,000 loan for the initial refurbishment.
A further £50,000 via the Green Business Loan Scheme enabled the installation of an air-source heat pump and solar panels, ensuring the upgrade delivered long-term sustainability benefits.
The site’s heritage remains central to the café’s identity.
Efailwen was the birthplace of the Rebecca Riots, the mid-19th-century rural protests against tolls and taxes that saw local farmers destroy turnpikes while disguised as women, earning them the name Merched Beca.
A mural commemorating the uprisings, formerly displayed on the old café’s exterior, has been relocated to the new building.
Robert James, owner of Caffi Beca, said: “I’m really pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve with the support we’ve had from the Development Bank of Wales.
“The new café building gives us a bigger space to welcome diners, while also preserving what locals have enjoyed at Caffi Beca for more than 30 years, with our 33rd year in the new building.
“The recent micro loan has allowed us to grow our business at a pace that’s right for us, and given us scope for further development, while the Green Business Loan meant we could install energy-saving measures as part of the creation of the new building.”
Nakeja Howell, Portfolio Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said: “It was a pleasure to work with Robert and everyone at Caffi Beca. They provide a much-loved venue in a beautiful and historic setting, and the micro loan has allowed them to grow with minimal disruption to their business.”
Funding for the redevelopment was provided through the Wales Flexible Investment Fund and the Green Business Loan Scheme.
The Wales Flexible Investment Fund, financed by Welsh Government, supports deals between £25,000 and £10 million, offering loans, mezzanine finance and equity investments with terms of up to 15 years.
The Green Business Loan Scheme provides discounted interest rates and consultancy support for energy-efficiency and decarbonisation projects, with funding ranging from £1,000 to £1.5 million.
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