If you live in or around the beautiful coastal town of Llantwit Major, there’s a good chance you’ve dropped into Café Velo. A firm favourite with cyclists and locals alike, this warm and welcoming coffee stop has been at the heart of Church Street for over a decade. With a stylish revamp, a new (but familiar) partner to uphold the family run business, and continued community support, Café Velo is very much in gear for its next chapter.
Café Velo, the Llantwit Major café much beloved by touring cyclists across the Vale of Glamorgan, has had a revamp. It also has a new co-owner stepping in to join Jo Pyke, who took over the café alongside her husband Gary back in 2022. The café is staying in the family: new co-owner Rachel Davies is Jo’s niece and a familiar face for café customers.
The café has been a regular stop for cyclists since it opened in 2013 and is known not only for its warm welcome, great coffee and locally made cakes, but also for its range of quality cycling gear and essential kit.
With its recent revamp, Jo and Rachel, and the rest of Team Velo, have sought to freshen up the café and enhance all the things its loyal customers already enjoy. The bubbly and welcoming staff can now be found behind a newly expanded counter which has more space to display many of the locally produced cakes and bakes – all favourites of the regulars.
The large communal table, regularly frequented by cycling groups as well as community groups such as the Welsh Conversation Group, has been supplemented with an area of additional seating for those who come to the café to work. Those seeking solitude can enjoy peace and quiet in the Brake Room or hold a one-to-one meeting. In fair weather, there’s always the café’s walled garden filled with white-washed walls and lavender, evoking summer days in Provence.
Cycle kit is not forgotten and can now be found in Gary’s Corner. It was Gary’s passion for cycling and coffee that secured the café’s future, prompting him to step in and buy the café after the pandemic. When Gary sadly passed away, the cycling community showed its gratitude by honouring him with a peloton escort joining Gary on his final ride from St Illtud’s Church through the streets of Llantwit. They have also come to the aid of Jo and Rachel, who are on a steep learning curve about all things cycling, from self-sealing tyres and arm warmers to hydration and base layers!
Jo and Rachel are also well supported by the local business community. The café is located on Church Street, in the historic old part of town, which has a close-knit community of small businesses. One of the things that makes Church Street so special is the way they collaborate and support one another, all sharing a deep understanding of what makes this community thrive. Both Rachel and Jo are passionate about keeping Café Velo at the heart of the community, providing a place for everyone to catch up over coffee or for visitors to breathe in the unique character of Church Street.
You can often see customers welcomed into the café with a freshly toasted ciabatta purchased from Sarah at The Bakery next door, which is then plated up for them in the café to be enjoyed with a coffee and cake. Customers of Bardic Vintage Books regularly browse the shelves clutching a Café Velo coffee cup delivered by a member of the very accommodating Team Velo. A bustling community where they all work together to support each other.
As, allegedly, the only dog-friendly café in Llantwit Major, Café Velo also has a loyal following of the four-legged kind, fondly referred to as the Café Velo V.I.Pups, who can often be witnessed enthusiastically dragging their hooman along Church Street to disappear into the café for a well-earned treat!
Café Velo
3 Church St, Llantwit Major CF61 1SB
The café is dog friendly
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Cool cycling gear!
Café Velo merch was also featured in our Spring 2025 Man cave feature. Here’s the spread from the magazine.
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