As St. David’s Day approaches, Welsh chefs are coming together for the inaugural Rarebit Fortnight (21 February–7 March) to celebrate an iconic national dish and raise vital funds for Cegin y Bobl (The People’s Kitchen). This new campaign led by Wales’ independent hospitality businesses supports the Welsh charity’s mission to transform the nation’s relationship with food from the ground up.
Restaurants and cafes in south Wales will feature a Welsh Rarebit on their menus in both classic and inventive forms, with a donation from the sale of each dish going directly to the charity.
Participating businesses include Cardiff’s Asador 44, Milkwood, Ogof and Hard Lines, The Shed in Swansea, The Felin Fach Griffin in Brecon, and Pitchfork and Provisions in Llandeilo. Dishes included in the campaign range from Asador 44’s Leek and Galmesan cheese rarebit gratin and chorizo crumb, to Ogof’s smoked pollack rarebit tart.
“The rarebit is an iconic Welsh dish, its history linked to our very sense of nationhood. I’m excited to see how the restaurants and cafes taking part put a rarebit twist on their menu as we come together to celebrate St. David’s Day.” – Cegin y Bobl co-founder, broadcaster and author Carwyn Graves.
Delivering hands-on cookery skills
Every donation made during Rarebit Fortnight will boost Cegin y Bobl’s work.
Since January 2025, the organisation has quickly become a leading voice in Wales’ food movement, having trained over 1,000 people face-to-face in Carmarthenshire, served over 3000 meals, and expanded its work to five Welsh counties. The charity champions the belief that delicious, nutritious meals that do the planet and people a tonne of good can be the norm in schools, communities, and homes when people gain the skills and confidence to cook from scratch.
Cegin y Bobl delivers hands-on food programmes that build knowledge and skills around food. Its work to date has engaged primary school pupils, parents in family and early years cook clubs, teachers in school leadership training, adults in home cookery courses, and more, showing the pride and passion that there is in every community to make food a force for good.
“Cegin y Bobl’s community cookery workshops are powered by the skills of amazing chefs from independent hospitality in Wales. These chefs share an infectious passion for food and unparalleled experience in preparing fresh food made from scratch. By sharing their top tips and know-how, they are empowering the nation to cook delicious, nutritious food. I’m thrilled by the support for the inaugural Rarebit Fortnight, demonstrating food’s powerful capacity to be a force for good in every Welsh community.” – Cegin y Bobl co-founder, broadcaster and restaurateur Simon Wright.
Rarebit Fortnight – Participating Businesses
Cardiff
- Asador 44, Quay St
- Hard Lines Coffee, Canton (taking part from February 28 – March 14)
- Milkwood, Pontcanna
- Ogof, Pontcanna
- The Lansdowne, Canton
- Waterloo Tea, (multiple sites)
- The Gwaelod y Garth Inn, Main Road Gwaelod y Garth
Swansea
- The Shed, Kings Road
Carmarthenshire
- Pitchfork and Provisions, Llandeilo
- Diod, Llandeilo
- Wright’s, Llanarthne
- Shire Coffee at Hywl, Llanelli
Ceredigion
- Medina, Aberystwyth
Pembrokeshire
- Top Joe’s, Narberth & Tenby
- Llys Meddyg, Newport
- Tides Kitchen & Wine Bar, Newport
Powys
- The Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon
To find out more, visit https://www.ceginybobl.co.uk/rarebit-fortnight
*Main image: Rarebit lunch special served on house sourdough – Tides, Newport, Pembrokeshire.
