Welsh Bistro & Shop
Honest Welsh food, made with care. Celteg fruit wines pressed on our doorstep, Welsh spirits, local ales and a shop full of things worth taking home. Nestled in the heart of Ceredigion.
Open Wednesday – Sunday · Lunches from 12 noon · Last orders 3.00 pm · Winery tours available
The Leeky Barrel sits within the grounds of Celtic County Wines, a working winery producing Celteg fruit wines from Welsh-grown ingredients in the rolling hills near Cardigan. We opened our doors because we believed the winery deserved a kitchen and a shop to match its character.
Our menu draws on the finest Welsh produce — salt-marsh lamb from the Pembrokeshire coast, artisan cheeses from creameries across Ceredigion, vegetables from local growers, and bakes that come out of the oven every morning. We serve lunch only, and we serve it well.
Everything on the table, in the glass, and on the shelf has been chosen for a reason. We are not a chain. We are not a franchise. We are a family kitchen attached to a working winery in one of the most beautiful corners of Wales.
Local suppliers across Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire
Made on-site by Celtic County Wines
Cakes, scones and pastries fresh each morning
Gifts, preserves, wines and Ceredigion curiosities
Celtic County Wines has been producing award-winning fruit wines in West Wales for over two decades. Their Celteg range draws on native Welsh fruits — elderflower, blackcurrant, damson, apple and more — fermented and bottled right here on the Cardigan hillside. When you visit The Leeky Barrel, you visit the winery too. Ask us about tours; we run them regularly.
We pour Celteg fruit wines from the winery next door, cocktails made with Welsh craft spirits, and a rotating selection of Welsh ales and ciders. Our bar has no televisions, no background noise and very good company.
Made on-site at Celtic County Wines, Cardigan
Rotating selection of Welsh craft producers
Mixed with Penderyn, Aber Falls and Dà Mhìle
The Celteg range is the heart of Celtic County Wines. Each variety is made from Welsh-grown fruit, pressed and fermented on site, and bottled without artificial additives. They do not attempt to imitate grape wine; they are something else entirely — distinctly Welsh, honest, and very good.
You can try any Celteg wine by the glass in the bistro, or take a bottle (or a case) home from our shop. We also use Celteg wines in our kitchen, in our cocktails, and in our baking.
Our small shop stocks the things we love most: Celteg wines to drink at home, Welsh food products that are genuinely hard to find elsewhere, and gifts with a sense of place. No souvenir tat. Everything earns its place on the shelf.
The full range of Celtic County Wines fruit wines and fruit liqueurs. Gift boxes available. We can ship selected bottles via our online order form.
Jams, jellies, chutneys and pickles made by small Welsh producers. Many use Celteg wines and local fruit. Excellent as gifts or for your own table.
We stock a rotating selection of whole Welsh artisan cheeses to take home: Black Bomber, Perl Wen, Gorwydd Caerphilly and seasonal specials from small creameries.
A curated selection of Penderyn single malt whisky, Aber Falls gin and vodka, and Dà Mhìle organic spirits. Gift-wrapped on request.
Handmade ceramics, prints and textiles from Welsh artists and craftspeople. Each piece is chosen for quality and character. No factory imports.
Welsh-grown and Welsh-blended teas, loose-leaf and in gift tins. Includes our own house blend, used in the bistro. Popular with visitors and locals alike.
Take home our house bara brith loaf, a jar of Welsh cakes mix, or a tin of our own biscuits. Produced in small batches from the same recipes we use in the bistro.
Set within a working winery in the Ceredigion countryside, The Leeky Barrel has a character that is hard to replicate. Come once, you’ll understand.
Our kitchen follows the seasons. Our bar follows the harvest. What you eat and drink in June is not what you’ll eat and drink in November, and that is exactly as it should be.
From May through September, weather permitting, we open the terrace overlooking the winery. A glass of Celteg sparkling apple, a ploughman’s board and a view of the Ceredigion hills. Hard to beat.
When the weather turns, we put the slow-cooked dishes front and centre: deep cawl, braised lamb, bread-and-butter pudding. Settle in, order a pot of tea and stay as long as you like. That’s what the barrel is for.
We host regular tastings, winery tours with lunch, and occasional evening suppers. Private hire is available for groups of up to 30. We also welcome coach parties with advance notice.
A guided tasting of six Celteg wines with paired Welsh bites, led by the winemaker.
A celebration of Welsh producers with talks, samples and a special menu for the day.
A guided tour of the Celtic County Wines production facility followed by a three-course bistro lunch.
An evening of Welsh craft cocktails with Penderyn and Aber Falls representatives on hand to talk distillery.
A self-guided tour of the winery with a complimentary glass of Celteg wine. No booking needed on Saturdays.
The bistro is available for private events, corporate lunches and celebrations. Up to 30 guests seated.
The cawl was extraordinary — the kind of dish you can taste long after you’ve left. The Celteg elderflower wine was a revelation. We came back the following Saturday and brought the whole family.
Stopped in on a cycling trip through Ceredigion. Best decision of the week. The lamb pie was superb. The Celteg blackcurrant wine with it was exactly right. Staff were warm, the room was lovely. We’ll plan a proper visit next time.
We brought a group of twelve for a winery tour and lunch. The team were so accommodating. The menu was adapted beautifully for our dietary needs and the food was genuinely impressive. Bought four bottles from the shop on the way out.
Join our occasional mailing list for news of events, seasonal menus, new Celteg wine releases and the odd exclusive offer. We send perhaps one email per month. No noise. No nonsense.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
We are tucked into the countryside near Cardigan, on the grounds of Celtic County Wines. Worth the drive — the approach alone is worth the trip.
Kitchen closes 30 minutes before closing time. Last orders for cakes and coffee to the end.
Telephone:
01239 000 000
Email:
hello@theleekybarrel.co.uk
Website:
theleekybarrel.co.uk
We recommend booking for weekend lunches and for groups of 4 or more. Walk-ins are always welcome, subject to availability.
Near Cardigan town centre, off the A487.
Follow signs to Celtic County Wines.
Ample free parking on-site.
We take bookings by phone, email or the form here. For groups of eight or more, or for private hire enquiries, please give us as much notice as possible. We will always do our best to accommodate you.
Use this form to book a table, enquire about events, or ask about private hire.
Croeso i Gymru — Welcome to Wales. We are proud to serve you in English and Welsh. Mae croeso i chi siarad Cymraeg gyda ni.
The Leeky Barrel operates a Challenge 25 policy. Please drink responsibly. Drinkaware.co.uk · We do not serve alcohol to persons under 18. Think, don’t drink and drive — our car park is free; you can always come back for your car.