Gareth Bale turns up on night out in Cardiff pub

Welsh footballing legend Gareth Bale stunned fans by turning up at a popular Cardiff city centre bar over the weekend, happily posing for pictures with punters. The former Wales international popped into the Temple Bar on High Street on Sunday, May 19, before paying a visit to his own bar Elevens on Castle Street.

The Wales legend retired from football in January 2023, after appearing at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. His busy post-retirement life has seen him compete at various golf tournaments and spend more time with his family, who still have a home in LA, but he has recently been back in Wales, where he has a property in the Vale of Glamorgan.

But despite his Hollywood status, the footballer made sure to get back to his roots while visiting some of Cardiff's watering holes. Manager of Temple Bar Karl Kruger Williams shared the photo of Gareth on n X (formally known as Twitter) with the caption "Who’s in the house , Temple bar."

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The bar is no stranger to famous faces - especially rugby players - who have often been photographed stopping in for a pint. Earlier this year, friends Gethin Jones and Jamie Roberts were spotted enjoying a Guinness in the bar ahead of Wales' Six Nations clash with Scotland.

As well as making an appearance at Irish-themed Temple Bar, it was only right that Gareth paid a visit to Elevens Bar and Grill where some lucky customers were able to pap a photo with the famous owner. The sports bar opened in May 2017 in collaboration with Brains Brewery and taking over the Dempsey's pub.

Filled with sporting memorabilia from the world of football, rugby, basketball and golf, and enough TV screens for everyone to watch the action, the pub has become a go-to for sports fans. The former footballer also has a stake in a mini -golf bar in the city centre. Opening in 2022 in conjunction with Depot, Gareth is one of the owners of Par59 on St Mary Street.

Speaking in 2020 about venturing into the hospitality industry, the Welsh legend said: “I’m not going to be playing football forever so we are interested in doing these kind of things, especially in Wales as we want to give back to the city I was born in and we want to grow Cardiff as much as we can,” he says.

“By putting Elevens [the city centre sports bar he already owns in partnership with Brains] and Par 59 there we are adding to the city, hopefully we are expanding it and making it more exciting for youngsters and people in general to do different things and have fun. If there are other opportunities we feel we would like to pursue then we will keep growing as a business and do other things.”

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