Our history
Our history
The Custom House sits on the site of the former Penarth Head Inn, home in the 1700s to the notorious smugglers and Penarthian Pirate, Edward Edwards.
Home to El Puerto and La Marina, serving the finest locally-sourced seasonal ingredients cooked and finished in the perfect Galician style.
Find out moreHistory
In the late 1850, as a result of increased demand for coal from South Wales overcrowding Cardiff docks, attention shifted to the shipping potential offered by neighbouring Penarth harbour.
This is where the grade 2 listed, Renaissance -style dock building makes its grand entrance. The Custom House was erected in 1865 to cater for Penarth’s Flourishing shipping trade.
In June 2000, the Martinez family purchased the custom house, which was in serious need of love and attention. After an extensive refurbishment and a touch of European flare the Custom house was revived.
Our restaurants
The custom house has since become the established restaurant it is today, home to El Puerto and La Marina, both offering the same brasserie style concept, serving the finest locally-sourced seasonal ingredients cooked and finished in the perfect Galician style.
Dine in the bustling El Puerto and enjoy the charm and friendliness of our open plan restaurant.
Dine at El Puerto
Dine in the bustling El Puerto and enjoy the friendliness & noise of our open plan restaurant.
Book a tableEl Puerto
Perfect for lunch or dinner, especially on Sundays.
A wide range of wine and beer at our 45 foot long bar. Overlooking the sea, with an enviable sun terrace, El Puerto is ideal for couples, families and friends alike.
Full a la carte menu available, plus our great value fixed price lunches and dinners. The same great ingredients as in La Marina, cooked in our open kitchen. Seven starters and mains always on offer for fixed price menus, as well as daily specials.
La Marina
Sea Bass in rock salt. Guilt Head Bream or Local Cardigan Lobster. Choose your fish and we’ll cook it to perfection.
Meat and game rival the fish here: choice cuts fresh from our kitchen to your table, cooked exactly how you like it. Relax and enjoy the exceptional views of Penarth Marina, and the iconic landscape of Cardiff Bay.
We have free parking facilities on site exclusively for our restaurant customers.
Our baby changing facilities are located in the disabled toilets based on the ground floor restaurant El Puerto. Unfortunately we do not supply highchairs, customers are more than welcome to bring their own portable high chairs, booster seats or pushchairs.
We have full wifi coverage available, just ask a member of staff for the code.