After two years building the business, owner James Bell has completed a refurbishment that subtly resets the space. It feels more confident, more open, and more settled, less like a concept trying to prove itself, more like a place that knows its role on the street.
James took over the site just over two years ago, inheriting a space with a history and a reputation that needed work.
“We had to build on what was here previously, because it didn’t have the best reputation,” he says. “But now we’re in a very strong position.”
For James, taking on a Wood Street restaurant was not a speculative move. He has lived and worked in Old Town for many years and understood both the opportunity and the risk.
“I wasn’t looking to buy a business at that point,” he says. “But I understood Wood Street. I know hospitality, and I knew what was needed in the area at that time.”
That understanding comes from a long career in Swindon kitchens and pubs. James has worked his way up to executive chef level, spent time managing different hospitality operations, and previously looked after The Sun Inn. The experience shows in how Del Mundos has grown, steadily, deliberately, and without chasing fashion.
From the outset, food was about more than dishes on a menu.
“My love of tapas is about getting people around the table,” he explains. “Food, drinking, and service, all three matter. You don’t often get all three right at the same time, and that’s what I was aiming for.”
Originally operating as a small plates restaurant, Del Mundos has now widened its offer following the refurb and rebrand. Breakfasts, brunch, larger individual dishes, and Sunday roasts now sit alongside the sharing plates.
The shift is not about abandoning the original idea, but about making the space work for more people.
“Not everyone wants to share, and that’s fine,” James says. “Now there’s something for everybody.”
That inclusive approach reflects Old Town itself, a place where different venues coexist within a few streets, each offering different experiences. James is clear that competition is not something to fear.
“There’s more competition now, not just in Old Town but across Swindon,” he says. “That means everyone has to raise their game, and that’s a good thing.”
The reality of Old Town hospitality is collaborative as much as competitive. James talks about regular support from neighbouring businesses, local suppliers, and fellow operators who eat in each other’s venues on days off. Wine for Del Mundos comes from Magnum Wine across the road, part of a small, practical ecosystem that works because people know each other.
“I think Old Town is vibrant,” James says. “There’s a great community here, a lot of independent businesses, and always interesting stories.”
That sense of place also shapes his thinking about the future. Having seen Wood Street pedestrianised during nearby gas works, he believes there is potential to rethink how the area is used, particularly at weekends, though he frames it as opportunity rather than demand.
Outside the restaurant, James’s life is still rooted locally, pubs, live bands, friends, and family time squeezed in where possible. Like many hospitality owners, work and life overlap, and family often comes to him rather than the other way round.
The refurb at Del Mundos is not overly flashy, it’s considered, but that may be the point. It signals a business that has found its footing and an owner who understands that Old Town’s strength lies in steady improvement, not constant reinvention.
On Wood Street, that kind of confidence feels right at home.
