Former Wales captain Gareth Bale has profited once again from a major football transfer by divesting himself of his two indoor golf venues, including one based in the Welsh capital.
The 36-year-old retired striker, who enjoyed spells at Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur, established the Par 59 brand four years ago initially in Cardiff before expanding to a second location in Bristol. These indoor golf facilities also featured dartboards, shuffleboard tables and cocktail-making sessions, which proved popular with groups seeking entertainment after launching in previously closed nightclub premises.
Despite his fortune estimated at £120m, Mr Bale and his business partners received a £300,000 interest-free loan funded by public money to assist with establishing the enterprise. Cardiff Council provided the funding and subsequently appointed Mr Bale as a representative for business development in the city. The venture has now been acquired by entertainment company Lane 7 for a sum that has not been disclosed.
The former international footballer, alongside co-owners Jamie Humphrys and Nick Saunders, has decided to part ways with the Par 59 venues. He continues to operate a sports bar called Elevens in Cardiff and was previously linked with a group attempting to purchase recently promoted Cardiff City football club.
Jamie Humphrys, who co-owns the Elevens Group, stated that the venue had been a tremendous addition to Cardiff’s hospitality sector in recent years and that everyone involved took great pride in what was established there. From the beginning, the objective was to bring enjoyable, high-quality and truly exciting offerings to the city centre, and it had been wonderful to see so many people visit and enjoy the experience. He thanked everyone associated with the venue, including Mr Bale, the staff and customers, and expressed pride in what the brand accomplished, believing this was the appropriate moment to pass it on.
Gavin Hughes, managing director of Lane7 Group, commented that Par 59 represented a strong business with two well-established locations, and they were delighted to be continuing operations in Bristol while expanding their Lane7 brand in Cardiff.
Just the previous year, Mr Bale received commendation for his investments in his hometown, with civic figures hoping he would leverage his profile to attract other business leaders to Cardiff. The proud Welshman was raised in Whitchurch, Cardiff, where his parents continue to reside in the house where he grew up, while he lives in the vicinity.
His career included stints at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and Los Angeles FC, during which he claimed five Champions League trophies before announcing his retirement in January 2023. Following his appointment as Cardiff Conference Ambassador the previous March, Mr Bale stated that Cardiff was an international city with considerable strengths and a supportive business community that had made his personal experience of investing entirely positive. He expressed delight at joining business leaders and academics to promote Cardiff as an excellent location for commerce, noting that collaboration would always provide a better chance of success and that he looked forward to what lay ahead for the city.