Cardiff Life - Issue 192

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property @CardiffLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

ISSUE 192 / AUTUMN 2018 / MELODY MAKERS

RAISE A GLASS

TO BEAUJOLAIS DAY

WORK IT OFFICE ATTIRE TO COVET

ISSUE 192 / AUTUMN 2018 / £3

SCREEN TIME

AT CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

OH BOY! BOY AZOOGA TALK SŴ N

THE ITALIAN JOB

JAMIE OLIVER ON WHY THE NONNAS KNOW BEST

LOOKING WICKED

DRESSING THE PEOPLE OF OZ

© ALE X LLOYD JENKINS

EDITOR’S LETTER

Boy Azooga with Clwb Ifor Bach’s Guto Brychan; INSET: Getting handy – a few highlights from Made By Hand.

For more, turn to page 40

T

here really is never a dull moment in Cardiff, is there? The sheer variety of events taking place on a pretty much daily basis means that it’s pretty much impossible not to find some sort of fantastic way to spend your time – whatever it is that floats your boat. Just look at the next few weeks for example. We’ve got the fabulous Sŵn festival which will see tons of great musicians performing in venues across the city (see page 24 for more), hit musical Wicked is once again returning to Wales Millennium Centre (more on that on page 30), Cardiff Film Festival is back in town showcasing all manner of cinematic talent (check out page 34 to get the lowdown) and the annual excuse to drink far more red wine than perhaps is strictly advisable – Beaujolais Day – is right aorund the corner too (more on that on page 62). And that’s just a mere handful of all the great stuff going on!

So go on, get out there and get stuck in.

Just as soon as you’ve finished reading Cardiff Life, of course!

A

ll neb ddweud bod Caerdydd yn ddinas ddiflas! Mae’r amrywiaeth anhygoel o ddigwyddiadau a geir yma bron bob dydd yn golygu ei bod bron yn amhosibl i chi fethu â dod o hyd i ryw ffordd wych o dreulio eich amser – waeth beth sy’n mynd â’ch bryd. Mae’r wythnos neu ddwy nesaf yn enghraifft berffaith o hynny. Bydd gŵyl gampus Sŵn yn denu llwyth o gerddorion gwych i berfformio mewn lleoliadau ar draws y ddinas (cewch wybod mwy ar dudalen 24), mae’r sioe gerdd boblogaidd Wicked yn dychwelyd i Ganolfan y Mileniwm (mae mwy am hynny ar dudalen 30), mae Gŵyl Ffilmiau Caerdydd yn ôl yn y ddinas ac yn arddangos pob math o wahanol ddoniau sinematig (trowch i dudalen 34 i gael y manylion i gyd) ac mae’r esgus blynyddol i yfed mwy o lawer o win coch nag sydd efallai’n ddoeth, sef Diwrnod Beaujolais, ar ddod (mae mwy am hynny ar dudalen 62).

A dyna rai’n unig o’r holl bethau gwych sy’n digwydd yn y ddinas!

Felly, beth am fynd i fwynhau rhai ohonynt.

Ond cofiwch ddarllen Cardiff Life yn gyntaf, wrth gwrs!

EMMA DANCE Follow us on Twitter @CardiffLifeMag Instagram @cardifflifemag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 3

Issue 192/Autumn 2018

30

© Mat t Crocket t

Cover Boy Azooga will be playing Saturday night at Sŵn festival. Image by Alex Lloyd Jenkins

84

Opinion

13 A man’s world Jason Navidi has his say

the arts

17 INTRO Sashay through National Dance Company

Wales’ latest performances

18 WHAT’S ON So much to do, so little time 24 S ŵN festival Our cover stars, Boy Azooga, talk

all things Sŵn festival

30 Wicked The inspirations behind the costumes for

the hit musical coming to Wales Millennium Centre

34 Cardiff International Film Festival

Film making talent from across the globe is set to descend on Cardiff 38 State of the arts Phil Scully on what’s up next for Ffotogallery

shopping

40 Editor’s Choice A few things to look out for at

Made by Hand in Cardiff

44 FASHION Work wear doesn’t have to be boring

56

food & DRINK

49 FOOD & Drink NEWS Tasty titbits to digest 50 restaurant It’s pub grub, but not as you know it,

at Twenty Nine Park Place

56 Jamie Oliver The celeb chef comes to Cardiff to

tell us about his latest series

62 Beaujolais Day Why we make such a big deal

over Beaujolais Nouveau

Business

73 business insider What have the movers,

shakers and innovators of Cardiff been up to?

Property

84 showcase An historic property to set your heart

a-flutter

Regulars

8 sPOTLIGHT News to peruse 68 sNAPPED Snaps from the city’s hot happenings 90 CARDIFF lives Savills’ Caroline Vanner shares

her secrets

Editor Emma Dance emma.dance@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Contributors Rachel Ifans, Charlie Rose, Dean Euden, Carl Marsh, Naomi Williams, David Cole, Josh Navidi, Phil Scully Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Kate Butterfield kate.butterfield@mediaclash.co.uk Advertising executive Louis Grey louis.grey@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/ production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg. ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag). Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 5

advertising feature

spotlight

You don’t have to be able to run like Mo Farrah to take part in the MoRun!

Everybody’s talking about…

Ready, steady…

MO!

Cardiff is hosting a MoRun again this November in a bid to raise awareness and funds for the Movember Foundation, the international men’s health charity tackling prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

The event – comprising a 5k, 10k and a 1.5k Mini Mo run for kids – will take place in Bute Park on 10 November, but if you fancy challenging yourself more, the charity is also encouraging supporters to commit to running 60 miles during Movember.

Unbelievably we lose 60 men per hour, every hour, to suicide, and setting this challenge is a way to get people thinking about outdated notions of masculinity and male mental health.

For more: www.mo-running.com

Preserving heritage

Insole instep with its past

above: The grand Insole Court right: The carriage house at Insole Court has been restored to create a versatile space

8 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Insole Court, a gothic Victorian mansion and gardens in Llandaff, has been shortlisted for a Heritage Angel Award.

The HAA recognises efforts by the community, campaigners, volunteers, trustees and staff to rescue historic buildings.

Now in the hands of a charity, Insole Court Trust, the house and gardens are open to the public, and the team has recently unveiled a new immersive audio drama, opening up the first floor of the mansion for the first time since the 1970s, to tell the story of the Insole family, and all their triumphs and tragedies.

The Heritage Angel Awards Wales are a celebration of people who make a difference to the heritage in Wales in various ways: through fundraising and restoring historic buildings, through the traditional construction skills they bring to projects, through training and inspiring others, through the ways that they bring historic places to life.

All the winners will be announced in November.

For more: andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com/heritage-angels

Doing it for the kids

FREE TIME A leading youth charity is urging disadvantaged groups of young people who live in Cardiff to take up the offer of a free holiday.

Only weeks remain for people to submit applications for YHA’s (England and Wales) Challenging Lives and Challenging Places Breaks Programmes. Applications will close on 1 November.

Young people aged 8 – 18 who live in areas of deprivation or are living with a disability, medical or mental health condition, or those who are recently bereaved, homeless or are a young carer, are all eligible to apply for a twonight stay at a youth hostel.

Underpinned by YHA’s ethos that ‘where Free holidays for you go changes who you become’, YHA’s youngsters are Breaks Programmes are an opportunity for up for grabs young people to have some quality time away from difficult circumstances and, instead, focus on improving their own physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Groups of young people can choose to stay in youth hostels located within city, rural and coastal areas that are easily accessible by public transport. During the break they will be provided with accommodation and meals throughout their stay.

James Blake, chief executive of YHA (England and Wales) says, “YHA has been supporting young people for more than 85 years so we

Helping the homeless

LEFT LUGGAGE RAISES BAGS OF CASH

understand first-hand the benefits a short break can bring to their lives, particularly those living in difficult circumstances.

“Our Breaks Programmes are designed to give these young people an enriching and much needed get away.”

Applications to YHA’s Challenging Lives and Challenging Places programmes are welcomed from social workers, schools and youth support workers. Support is available for groups of up to 12 young people.

For more: www.yha.org.uk/apply-support

Miss Wales, Bethany Harris, and Dreams and Wishes ambassador Wendy Hobbs

A Cardiff hotel has shown what can be done with a bit of innovative thinking. Sleeperz Hotel on Saunders Road partnered up with nearby homeless charity, The Huggard Centre, to launch a scheme whereby hotel guests could leave luggage after checkout for a £1 fee which would then be given to the day centre and hostel.

In only seven months, the hotel raised more than £2,850. Rob Milligan, social enterprise manager at The Huggard Centre, says, “A huge thank you to the staff and customers of Sleeperz.

“With this donation we will be able to continue to provide support and advice, clothing, washing facilities, accommodation, recreation, personal development, hot meals and where possible volunteering opportunities for our service users to regain their confidence before moving back into the local community.”

For more: www.huggard.org.uk; www.sleeperz.com Laura Peeroo, general manager Sleeperz Hotel Cardiff with Rob Milligan, social enterprise manager at The Huggard Centre

Doing good

BIG MONEY

Cardiff charity Dreams and Wishes has been given £10,000.

The donation was part of the funds raised by the 2018 Miss Wales finalists for the Miss World Foundation and Beauty with a Purpose, are being distributed to good causes in South Wales. The money was presented to the charity’s chairman, Tony Curtis, and ambassador Wendy Hobbs by Miss Wales – Bethany Harris from Newport. Bethany has already granted a princess wish to a child supported by the charity, and before she flies to China in November to take part in the annual Miss World contest, she will be attending the Halloween party, at Cardiff Castle to meet more of the children.

For more on Dreams and Wishes turn to page 79.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 9

a man’s world Josh Navidi – easily recognisable by his dreadlocks!

Double life

Cardiff Blues’ JOSH NAVIDI on why he loves Cardiff and why he loves living outside the city

I

t is safe to say the season is now in full swing and it’s great to be back on the pitch following the injury I picked up during the European Challenge Cup back in April.

I was gutted to come off so early into that game but it was a great occasion and in a funny way the injury couldn’t have come at a better time.

With the off-season it meant I had time to recover and only ended up missing one game. Of course it would have been nice to have gone on the summer tour, it’s always an honour to represent your country, but injuries happen and it’s better that it was at the end of a long season rather than the start.

Reflecting on last season as a whole, I was delighted with the amount of Wales games I had.

My first three caps came in Japan, New Zealand and Samoa so it was brilliant to have my family and friends at the Principality Stadium to watch me on home soil this time.

My parents have followed me to

my previous games but it was nice for them to go to the stadium and enjoy the amazing atmosphere there – and it was the first time my brother was able to come.

It was a really good season both for Cardiff Blues and Wales but nothing has changed for me too much. Having dreadlocks means I have always been pretty recognisable in Cardiff !

It’s a great area to live and I think I have the best of both worlds – living just outside Llantwit Major in the Vale and spending a lot of time in the city.

My parents are currently living with me, as they are building a new house, and my brother lives next-door so it’s lovely to have everyone close together. We’re a tight-knit family and eat together most nights with Dad doing a lot of the cooking.

He’s from Iran so it’s a lot of that Iranian-Persian type food, which I was brought up on. Troy’s on City Road is a great little place for that style of cuisine.

But I love living in the Vale, it’s

literally five minutes to the beach where I surf, 20 minutes to training and Cardiff is on my doorstep.

Cardiff has to be up there as one of the best places for a night out.

Any team that ever comes here loves it and stays over for the night to make the most of it!

Whether you are looking for restaurants, bars, coffee shops or anything in between, you’re spoiled for choice really, but for me, I think I’ve got the perfect balance – being able to dip in and out between the city and the Vale! n www.cardiffblues.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 13

the arts s n a p s h o t s o f C A R D I FF ’ S c u lt u r a l l i f e

Cooking up a storm National Dance Company Wales is kicking off its new tour in Cardiff on 5 and 6 November at Dance House in the Millennium Centre. The performance, called Roots, is made up of three short stories told through dance, and its multi-talented company will take the show on the road to Pontypridd, Carmarthen, Ysradgynlais, Pwhelli and Mold once the curtain falls on Cardiff.

The three discrete tales cover a range of topics and dance styles, the first of which – Bernadette – by the company’s resident choreographer Caroline Finn is as comedic as it is messy (emotionally and physically). The second (Omertá) is a dark and powerful tale of the role of women in Italian Mafia families and the third (Atalay) sashays through many dance styles, namely hip hop, ballet, contemporary and street.

Roots is also reaching out to Welsh communities by holding more than 40 workshops in primary and secondary schools, refugee groups, dance and theatre groups as part of the tour.

For more: www.ndcwales.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 17

What’s on

© Y vonne Schmedemann

12 October – 16 November

Gogo Penguin

Music 17 October

LETTERS I HAVEN’T WRITTEN Letters I Haven’t Written invites you on a voyage into the lost art of letter writing through music and film by award-winning composer/performer Gwyneth Herbert and leading video artist Will Duke. Royal Welsh College of Music And Drama, www.rwcmd.ac.uk

17 October

JOAN ARMATRADING Joan has spent the last 45 years touring and recording but 2018 is only the second time she’s ever toured solo. St Davids Hall, www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

17-20 October

SwN FESTIVAL 2018

Wales’ biggest multi-venue music festival returns for its 12th year! Four days to discover new music while exploring the city - see you at the front!

For more, turn to page 24.Various venues, swnfest.com

18 October

LORRAINE BAKER Drummer, percussionist and bandleader, Lorraine, is touring her debut album Eden. With drums at the centre she pays tribute to legendary drummer Ed Blackwell by re-arranging tunes he famously played.

Cafe Jazz, www.cafejazzcardiff.com

19 October

ROYAL AIR FORCE IN CONCERT CENTENARY TOUR A rousing musical centenary salute to the RAF.

18 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

20 October

LEVEL 42 ETERNITY TOUR Dust off mega-hits like Lessons In Love, Something About You, Running In The Family and It’s Over. St Davids Hall, www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

21 October

ONLY MEN ALOUD It’s 10 years since they won BBC’s Last Choir Standing. Celebrate with a Decade Gala Celebration concert.

Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

25 October

ROBERT PLANT AND THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS

Ahead of their headline shows at Bluesfest later this year, the band will perform a very special intimate show in Cardiff. Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

1 November

SOUL II SOUL 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR Iconic band Soul II Soul mark 30 years of success. Cue legendary debut album, Club Classics Vol 1. St Davids Hall, www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

6 November

FLASHER Formed in 2015, Flasher are a three-piece band from Washington DC who create melodic motifs, while overlapping intimate moments with aggression. Clwb Ifor Bach, www.clwb.net

what’s on 9 November

2-4 November

10 November

COMEDY

NELSON MANDELA: SONGS & STORIES Joined by local musicians and writers, Keith Murrell presents a night of songs and stories. Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk HERE LIES MAN Playing Clwb Ifor Bach as part of their European tour. Clwb Ifor Bach, www.clwb.net

20 October

16 November

above: It’s all about Joanna Lumley left: Zena Blackwell’s Seen Not Heard exhibition is at Cardiff MADE below: Flying Atoms answers big questions of the universe

GOGO PENGUIN Leftfield piano trio, still smiling from the success of their sold-out show at The Roundhouse London and barn-storming sets at BBC Biggest Weekend and Festival Number 6.

Royal Welsh College of Music And Drama, www.rwcmd.ac.uk

ART, CRAFT, PHOTOGRAPHY 5 October-18 November

NELSON MANDELA: THE CENTENARY EXHIBITION 2018 Exhibition about Mandela’s life, career, and commitment to equality and justice with a programme of supporting events. Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

18 October-10 November

Rob Piercy Welsh mountain landscapes form the basis of Rob Piercy’s latest solo exhibition, depicting their dramatic, powerful nature, rather than their calm picturesque persona from a viewpoint of one who knows them intimately. With ceramics by Richard Clarke. Albany Gallery, www.albanygallery.com

27 October

SEEN NOT HEARD The first solo exhibition by the 2017 MADE Summer Art Prize winner Zena Blackwell. Expect striking new paintings in oil and acrylic on canvas. cardiff MADE; www.zenablackwell.co.uk

27 October-21 November

MADE BY HAND Contemporary craft fair. Lots of Welsh makers – find out more on page 40.

City Hall, www.madebyhand-wales.co.uk

SARAH JANE BROWN SOLO EXHIBITION Brown is a contemporary Welsh landscape artist and her exhibition Blurring time and tide combines a mix of ‘old master’ and modern techniques.

Conceptually her paintings are an outpouring of personal feeling and a strong sense of place. Off The Wall gallery, www.galleryoffthewall.com

JOANNA LUMLEY - IT'S ALL ABOUT ME In It’s All About Me Joanna tells hilarious and interesting adventures from her incredible career spanning more than four decades. Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

26 & 27 October

DARA O BRIAIN: VOICE OF REASON Dara is one of the most recognisable faces on British TV, now’s your chance to see him in the flesh. Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

8 November

DAVID O’DOHERTY Unhook your mindbras. David O’Doherty is back on tour with a brand-new show made up of talking and songs played on a crappy keyboard from 1986. St Davids Hall, www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

THEATRE & SHOWS 16 October

SWISS AMBASSADOR’S AWARD CONCERT: ORION STRING TRIO The 21st anniversary of the Swiss Ambassador’s Award features Switzerland-based Orion String Trio, with South Korean violinist Soyoung Yoon, German violist Veit Hertenstein and British cellist Benjamin Gregor-Smith.

Royal Welsh College of Music And Drama, www.rwcmd.ac.uk

16 & 17 October

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO For more than 40 years, the all-male comedy ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo have been delighting audiences of all ages.

Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

18 October

NEIL OLIVER Neil Oliver, from BBC’s Coast, will be sharing his love of Great Britain on

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 19

What’s on his first ever UK theatre tour.

St Davids Hall, www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

18-27 October

Popular beat combo Soul II Soul below: Haunting tales at Insole Court

of lunacy, political incorrectness and macabre humour resulting in a hilariously funny play.

Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama, www.rwcmd.ac.uk

ALL MY SONS An unexpected visitor threatens to tear apart a comfortable American suburban family in this gripping and powerful play by Arthur Miller.

Royal Welsh College of Music And Drama, www.rwcmd.ac.uk

ROOTS Roots is a guided tour though contemporary dance; find out more on page 17. Dance House, www.ndcwales.co.uk

19-27 October

6-10 November

HEDDA GABLER Ibsen’s newlyweds are back from their honeymoon and Hedda is already bored of her new husband. Watch this compelling classic unfold.

Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama, www.rwcmd.ac.uk

23 October

PASSION Music Theatre Wales and National Dance Company Wales present a new dance-opera by Pascal Dusapin.

Springing from the myth of Orpheus, the work offers an intriguing contemporary take on the traditional tale. First time in the UK. Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

23-27 October

MURDER FOR TWO A hilarious high-energy musical whodunit in which two actors play all 13 characters – and a piano to boot!

New Theatre, www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

24-31 October

MYSTERIOUS MAUD’S CHAMBERS OF FANTASTICAL TRUTH A sophisticated haunted house experience for adults this Halloween

by Caroline Sabin. Insole Court, Landaff. Tickets from Chapter, www. chapter.org

5 & 6 November

JOURNEY’S END

& 13-20 November

BLACKADDER GOES FORTH This double bill sets one of the greatest war plays ever written alongside one of the most popular war satires. Both end with similar poignancy. Chapter, www.chapter.org

9 & 10 November

FLYING ATOMS Professors Gusto and Hitch work hard in the Laboratory of Curiosity answering questions: How do birds stay in the air? Where does the moon go in the daytime? Only one thing is certain – the universe is filled with wonder and not everything is as it seems. Dance House, ndcwales.co.uk

KIDS

17 October-3 November

LORD OF THE FLIES On a remote island, a new society is being created. A group of evacuated school children have crash landed and there are no adults to tell them what to do. This is a bold and contemporary staging of William Golding’s classic. Sherman Theatre, www.shermantheatre.co.uk

17-20 October

CARDIFF city V Leicester City Premier League, KO 3pm Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc. co.uk

9-10 Nov (& 3-29 Dec)

Sunday 4 November

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD Full of charm, songs and fun, this new version of the classic tale is the perfect Christmas treat for children aged 3 – 6 and their families. Sherman Theatre, www.shermantheatre.co.uk

SPORT

THE MESSIAH With an all-star cast, The Messiah promises to be the funniest and most magical Nativity you’ll see this year.

New Theatre, www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

STICK MAN Scamp Theatre’s delightful adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s children’s book!

Packed with full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves.

New Theatre, www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

31 October-24 November

31 October

Sunday 21 October

29 October-3 November

WICKED Winner of more than100 major awards, Wicked has been casting its magical spell across the world for over a decade. For more, turn to page 30.

Wales Millennium Centre, www.wmc.org.uk

1-3 November

LOOT Orton’s classic farce is a mix of acts

FILM ACTIVITY DAY: TIM BURTON Join Beth Morris for a day of Gothicinspired Fairytale Art, inspired by the films of Tim Burton. Ticket to the 11am screening of The Corpse Bride included. Chapter, www.chapter.org

31 October & 1 November PRINCESS CHARMING Some girls like football. Some boys

20 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Saturday 3 November

like pink. Everyone likes a good story. Exploring gender stereotypes in a fun, questioning way, Princess Charming is a celebration of being exactly who you are. Chapter, www.chapter.org

Saturday 20 October

CARDIFF city V fulham Premier League, KO 3pm Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

CARDIFF BLUES V ZEBRE RUGBY Guinness Pro14, KO 2.45pm Cardiff Arms Park; www.cardiffblues.com

7 November

CARDIFF DEVILS VS FIFE FLYERS League, Face Off 7.30pm Ice Arena Wales, www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 10 November

WALES V AUSTRALIA Autumn Rugby Internationals, KO 5.20pm. Principality Stadium, www.principalitystadium.wales

CARDIFF BLUES V GLASGOW WARRIORS Heineken Champions Cup, KO 3.15pm Cardiff Arms Park; www. cardiffblues.com

Saturday 10 November

Saturday 3 November

Sunday 11 November

CARDIFF DEVILS VS COVENTRY BLAZE League, Face Off 7pm. Ice Arena Wales, www.cardiffdevils.com

CARDIFF city V Brighton and hove albion Premier League, KO 3pm. Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk CARDIFF DEVILS VS BELFAST GIANTS League, Face Off 6pm. Ice Arena Wales, www.cardiffdevils.com n

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music

Music, man With four days of music across 17 venues all around Cardiff, Swn is the biggest multi-venue music festival in Wales. And it’s all happening this month – from 17 to 20 October to be exact. CARL MARSH catches up with one of the headline acts, Boy Azooga and Guto Brychan, chief executive of Clwb Ifor Bach, which has taken over ownership of the festival this year, to find out what makes the festival so special

I

t was back in 2007 that the Sŵn festival first burst on to the music scene.

Founded by Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and Cardiff-based promoter John Rostron in 2007, it was the first multi-venue music festival in the UK outside of London.

Since then it’s gone from strength to strength, welcoming both established and non-established artists to the Welsh capital. This year, however, marks a change for Sŵn as ownership of the festival has passed to Clwb Ifor Bach – the Womanby Street venue that has been a staple of the Cardiff scene for 35 years, initially opening as a private members’ club for Welsh speakers only, hosting Welsh language shows and films and music acts. Later, the programme diversified to include acts in English too, and now Clwb has become known as the place to spot up-and-coming bands on their trajectory to greatness.

One such band is Boy Azooga – the project of Cardiff-born frontman Davey Newington. The band’s debut album 1,2 Kung Fu! (released in June this year) has come in for praise from fans and critics alike, and they are just about to jet off on tour to the States, but before they go, the band is heading home to Cardiff to perform at Sŵn.

Davey tells me why he feels the festival is particularly special.

24 I cardiff LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“There will be loads of bands on that wouldn’t necessarily pass through as I always think that Cardiff sometimes gets a little neglected on the touring map, so it’s really cool to have them all coming down to Cardiff,” he says.

Being the front man must of such a new and popular band was not something Davey originally signed up for. In fact, he was a drummer when he first got into the music industry. Operating under the name of “Bongo Fury” he became the rhythmic pulse for Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon, performing with the star at Glastonbury and the like. He even used to have a job teaching the drums at the University of South Wales on a Monday morning, although he ditched the classroom when Boy Azooga began to take off, unable to commit time to both the band and teaching responsibilities.

On reflection, I reckon he has made the correct choice of career but I ask him if it was always his ambition to give up playing the drums to become a lead singer in a band? “Nah, I really miss playing the drums! It’s fun doing the front man thing but I wouldn’t say that I was a natural. I had to learn how to say ‘Ladies and gentlemen…’” he laughs. “I have been playing the drums since I was six or seven and that feels a lot more natural to me. I have done quite a few gigs now in Boy

“Cardiff sometimes gets a little neglected on the touring map”

© Ale x Lloyd Jenkins

Davey Newington (right), and the rest of Boy Azooga

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 25

Boy Azooga with Guto Brychan (back, centre)

26 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

© Ale x Lloyd Jenkins

“We’ve got ideas for where we see it going”

MUSIC DON’T MISS

WEDNESDAY On Wednesday, Gwenno will bring her psychedelic sounds to Tramshed with support from Adwaith, Audiobooks, Halo Maud and Heavenly Jukebox DJs in a show curated by the Welsh songstress and Heavenly Records.

THURSDAY The melodic, DIY aesthetic sounds of The Orielles are welcomed back to Cardiff following a sell-out show in Clwb last February. Part of Heavenly Records, the three teenagers share a love of alternative US bands from the 90s. They will open Thursday’s mammoth gig at The Great Hall with Sheffield’s grunge rock brothers, Drenge and Melbourne’s tough surf pop outfit, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever.

FRIDAY Alt-rock legend and Supergrass frontman, Gaz Coombes will unite his epic futuristic tones with lyrics to create a powerful political message when he performs material from his new album World’s Strongest Man. He will play Tramshed alongside The Go! Team and Boy Azooga on Friday 19.

Set to play at Jacob’s Market on Friday, Cardiff’s own Darkhouse Family will curate a night full of hypnotic, jazz and dance tunes with all-star crew Bugz in the Attic performing live, as well as Esther and Andromeda Jones.

Gwenno

Adwaith

Azooga, so I definitely feel a lot more confident doing it but, it may sound cheesy, I really do try and avoid the usual front-man thing.

“All we really want to do is, and this is genuinely, we just want to put records out, and tour. Anything else is a bonus. I have never really thought about fame. For me fame seems to be quite annoying. I’d love to be in a position where I had my own studio, and a dog! Feed the dog, feed myself, some kids and put some records out really!”

Sŵn Festival was originally inspired by the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas. And, in fact, Davey has performed at both having played drums for Charlotte at the US event. Does he think the two are similar?

“They are a similar kind of template where there are loads of gigs in a city, from the daytime right through until the night time,” he says. “SXSW is just that little bit bigger but, you also have such huge international artists, so if you are a small band just starting out, you may find it just that little bit harder to get noticed there as most people will only be going to see the main acts, rather than the newer bands.

One of the main similarities to the two festivals though is that you are going to discover a lot of music that you have not necessarily heard before. At Sŵn, you get artists playing in some unusual venues such as upstairs in O’Neills whilst at SXSW you get bands playing at peoples barbecues!”

Clwb Ifor Bach has been part of Sŵn since the very beginning, and with its place at the heart of Cardiff’s music scene it seems a natural choice to step in and take over. I took the opportunity to ask Clwb’s chief executive, Guto Brychan, about future plans for Sŵn? “Clwb has been one of the venues used throughout the 12 years that Sŵn has been running but it’s very different looking at the festival from the inside now and not just the outside,” he says.

“But one big advantage is that we have a huge in-house team with people specialising in the technical and ticketing and booking side of things, so we’ve got a lot of those skills already in place.

“The first year for us is just to see what works, and what doesn’t work and then to give us an idea of how to develop it towards the future. We are in a very lucky position where we organise a lot of events throughout the year here at Clwb Ifor Bach, and taking over Sŵn has given us a chance to do something a bit more concentrated over a good few days and where we can celebrate new music in Cardiff. We’ve got ideas of where we want to see it going and how we would like to see it develop over a few venues and with the kind of the artists we want to put on but essentially, this year it is just to get an idea of the flow of the festival and to see what works and what doesn’t.”

I wonder, if, given the roots of Clwb there may be a plan to select more Welsh artists going forward, but I am told by Guto that “the focus will still remain on new and original music, be it Welsh, UK or international. Some of the artists might be established artists, and some of them might be doing their first ever gig. Original music is key to that. Beyond that it is just making sure that we have a wide selection of music, so that we can offer something for everybody who would be interested in coming along to Swn.” Davey interjects to talk about what he loves about the festival and Cardiff in general, “it is a small city but one that has so much going on. It feels like there are a lot more people doing things, and I don’t just mean in music but also in video and visual arts. There is a lot of good energy here.”

For more: www.swnfest.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 27

MUSIC DON’T MISS

SATURDAY On Saturday, East London’s Alfa Mist will bring together alternative hip-hop and melancholy jazz in a blend of urban music. Joining Saturday’s line up will be 77:78, who’s dark and exciting new album shows the continued brilliance Aaron Fletcher and Tim Parkin brought when in The Bees.

Following a starlight performance in Clwb last April, Queen Zee are coming back to Cardiff for another night of punk tunes, anarchy and true showmanship. Soon to be touring with previously announced Swn artist, Dream Wife, Queen Zee are set to be big and their performance will not disappoint.

Be transported by the psychedelic and experimental music of the heavy riot band Grey Hairs, the transcending sounds of Bandicoot and the scratchy indie-pop classics of Yassassin, as Saturday brings with it an array of psychedelic and wig out tunes.

The line-up continues to boast the best in Welsh talent as Saturday includes the huge harmonies of Greta Isaac and the heartfelt lyrics of pop songstress Hana2k.

Carmarthenshire’s finest, Zabrinski, will also take to the stage for their first gig in over 10 years bringing the very best in neopsychedelia alt-rock sound.

Local band Al Moses, due to support Catfish and the Bottlemen in their upcoming Cardiff gig this summer, will play the Saturday alongside alt-pop Carolines and Tracy Island. Plus, the post punkers Perfect Body, electronica group Dead Method, singer songwriters Vince James and Christian Punter, and many more.

Welsh indie heroes Estrons have a reputation for their bold, electrifying and unforgettable gigs, which means they’re certainly not one to miss this year. Joining them is Canadian artist Boniface, who unites 80s synth-pop with contemporary The Go! Team 21st century indie-pop to create a rare and electrifying performance. ■

Breichiau Hir

Halo Maud 28 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Bo Ningen

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theatre

OUTFITTING

WICKED

30 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

THEATRE TOP: Susan Hilferty; MIDDLE: Elphaba’s

costumes were inspired by the earth;

BOTTOM: Glinda the Good

Susan Hilferty discusses the inspirations for her Tony Award-winning costume designs for Wicked – the musical which tells the untold story of the witches of Oz Words by David Cote Photographs by Matt Crockett

I

n Susan Hilferty’s bustling studio workshop on West 24th Street in New York, you will find shelves overflowing with books and drafting tables covered in papers. This is Hilferty’s invaluable “image library”, where the designer finds pictures that spark her imagination. Anything will serve: newspaper clippings, magazine photos, or illustrations in books. For the intensive research and visualisation needed to create the astonishing costumes of Wicked, Hilferty searched far and wide, from the contemporary fashion design of John Galliano to the Edwardian couture that she “twisted” to create many of Wicked’s unique Tony Award-winning costumes.

“In many ways, I consider myself a historian, a sociologist, and an art historian – in addition to all the other things that I do with clothes. To me, what was so exciting about Wicked was trying to understand a world that had a connection to the turn of the century as we know it. But I also had to incorporate the idea that animals talk, that there is magic, and that there are Munchkins in this place called Oz. So the design process meant researching history and creating a parallel universe.

“My research focused on the period in which Baum wrote the books, from 1900 to about 1920. So in a way, it’s centered on the Wizard, who is our representative in Oz. The Wizard is somebody from 1900 who has gone up in a balloon and somehow drifted over to Oz. So I created a style I call ‘twisted Edwardian’.

It’s Edwardian-era suits and dresses, but asymmetrical – the collar might be off centre, or the cut of the dress twists around crazily.

“For the student uniforms at Shiz University, I played with things that you recognise in school uniforms, but I put them together in

different ways. Somebody has one type of shirt, or their tie is out, or they’re wearing a crazy sweater with one arm in a sleeve and the other bare; men in skirts. It was all to get a “Shiz look”. Basically, I came up with the idea of a Shiz school store, where you can mix and match different tops and bottoms to suit your personality, even though everything still has the same Shiz pattern of blue and white stripes. That’s really at the heart of the play: the struggle between individuality and uniformity. It’s also a fashion issue in general.

People think they’re renegades, but they’re actually just following a trend. Back in the ’50s, leather jackets became a symbol of rebellion because bikers wore them. Now, of course, it’s a fashion thing.

“Of the whole show, the costumes in the Emerald City were the easiest thing to do, because it’s just no-holds-barred, delirious dressmaking. It’s like an imaginary runway show, and I could be 20 different designers in the Emerald City. One element I wanted to work in – besides all the different shades of green, the extravagant hats, and more of the twisted Edwardian formal wear – was the use of animals. If you look closely, many of the costumes have fur and feathers. Thematically, I thought it was important to show how people in the Emerald City, who have money and live the high life, have animal remnants in their couture. Obviously, that fits into the political issues of the play. Animals’ rights are being taken away, but the people of Oz let it happen because the Wizard keeps them wealthy and entertained. Politics are at the heart of this play, it was really important for all of us designers to hold on to it, instead of simply telling a funny story. I think it’s one of the reasons the show moves people: They’re

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 31

theatre

Susan Hilferty’s Wicked costumes in numbers • The production features 350 stunning costumes, 140 wigs, 244 pairs of shoes, 110 hats, 125 pairs of gloves and 30 prosthetic masks.

• Elphaba’s Wicked Witch dress uses 40 yards of fabric and the skirt alone takes three weeks to construct. There are nearly 50 layers of gathered ruffles in the skirt, which is made from 45 different fabrics.

• Glinda’s Bubble Dress is made up of 45 petals, each of which takes three days to bead, and a day and a half to hand sequin. There are 20 types of sequins and almost 100,000 sequins used in this one costume.

• 2,000 metres of ribbon are used in the Emerald City costumes.

recognizing a struggle between good and bad.

“Glinda is the epitome of good, so I did research by asking little girls what goodness looks like. They said like a princess, like a bride.

I collected and studied pictures of Queen Elizabeth II from her coronation, Lady Diana’s wedding dress, and all of the dresses that are emblematic of perfect femininity. When you look at any of the English coronation images, it’s hysterical, because it’s all about impressing in a certain way. Even Queen Elizabeth, in the 1950s, wore a crown and a long robe and held her scepter, and I wanted to tap into that.

Glinda is also connected to the sky, sun, and stars. That influenced her tiara and wand. The sparkles on her dress are all about that, too.

She symbolizes lightness, air, bubbles.

“Elphaba is exactly the opposite. I see her as connected to things that are inside the earth. So the patterns and textures I wove into her dress include fossils, stalactites, or striations that you see when you crack a stone apart. I mixed different colours into her skirt, so everything is literally twisted. Now, by the time she gets to the Emerald City, she feels she belongs. I change her shoes so that she has a lighter pair. We take her glasses away, her hair comes down, and she’s wearing a lighter color.

And suddenly she feels accepted and even, you could say, fashionable. Glinda tells her at the end of Act I not to be afraid and she answers, “I’m not.”

Wicked is at Wales Millennium Centre from 31 October to 24 November. ©Article by David Cote, used by permission and taken from WICKED: THE GRIMMERIE, the complete behind-the-scenes story of the musical, published by HYPERION

32 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

clockwise: A sketch of Fiyero’s costume;

Fiyero’s costume comes to life; Ginda’s famous bubble gown – from paper to stage

T H E A L B A N Y G A L L E RY A major solo exhibition of dramatic and powerful Welsh mountain landscapes by artist and mountaineer

ROB PIERCY Ceramics by Richard Clarke

18th October - 10th November View images on our website

www.albanygallery.com

74b Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RS | T: 029 2048 7158 | E: info@albanygallery.com Gallery open: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am-4pm

Lights! Camera!

Action!

Cardiff International Film Festival, Take Two Words by Naomi Williams 34 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

FILM FESTIVAL Action at last year’s festival

Honours are in order for Dame Sian Phillips

W

hether you’re a budding film director, producer or actor or simply a massive filmgeek, Cardiff will be the place to be between 19 – 21 October as Cardiff International Film Festival returns to Wales’ capital.

The clues to the Cardiff International Film Festival’s purpose are in its title. It is based in Cardiff as the capital of Wales but aims to showcase the whole of the country. Wales is rapidly becoming a Mecca for film makers with the advent of new film studios and an ever-growing popularity of film locations in unique areas of outstanding natural beauty and this festival is an opportunity to celebrate that and help the creative industries to grow and prosper in Wales. It is an expression of a shared ambition to showcase film and to showcase Cardiff and Wales at the same time.

The second Cardiff International Film Festival promises to be an even more impressive event than last year. Supported by the Welsh Government and Cardiff City Council, it will again be primarily hosted in the historical Pierhead Building in the heart of Cardiff Bay, with screenings held across the city including the Atrium building in the centre of the city.

The Cardiff International Film Festival is also “international” because it is outward

looking. The traffic isn’t only one way. It opens its doors across many countries. Last year winners came from Ireland and Italy, and this year films have been submitted in Macedonian, Serbian, Chinese, Kurdish, Arabic, Tamil, Malay and Afrikaans.

Thrillers, dramas, comedies, documentaries, sci fi, and romances: the genres of the films are also wide. There is an even a section of the festival promoting just the best in animation.

The length of the movies varies from just a few minutes to close on two hours.

Three days of screenings and celebration will culminate in a gala dinner hosted by Lucy Owen on the Sunday evening at which Dame Sian Phillips will receive a lifetime achievement award for her contribution to cinema in Wales. Her numerous credits include both Welsh and UK BAFTAs along with recognition of her many decades of performance on screen, stage and radio, perhaps being best known for her role in the 1970s BBC series, I, Claudius.

This year’s judging panel includes Welsh actors Maria Pride and Kimberley Nixon, Neath-based scriptwriter Keith Williams; alongside Florence Ayisi, a professor of international documentary film; Anurag Kashyap, an Indian film and TV director known for Gangs of Wassepur and Sacred Games

(Netflix); and Marc Zicree, an American science fiction author and scriptwriter.

Whilst the festival is still in its infancy, having only being established in 2017, it has drawn substantial support and interest and is on a growth curve. This year’s festival will be bigger and stronger than the first. The organisers have developed the brand and forged new partnerships and sponsorships with a wider range of organisations, including Qatar Airways and Welsh Women’s Aid. The University of South Wales and the Film and Television School Wales are also now working with the festival to bring together industry professionals and supporters from across the world and enable USW to showcase the amazing facilities and professional and academic expertise that they have in the school in Cardiff.

So this festival is about more than just culture, it is about the economy too. The festival supports some of the brightest young filmmakers in Wales. The festival also provides an opportunity for filmmakers from Wales to share their stories with the world. Last year’s submissions included some incredible homegrown talent. This is recognised in specific awards categories for Welsh film. It creates confidence, dynamism and opportunities.

And, for many of the international filmmakers who are coming, it will provide them with a chance to perhaps seek out new locations for their films and series.

Cardiff International Film Festival is all about showcasing Cardiff as a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a rich history and architecture. Many hundreds of people travelled to the Cardiff for the event last year, and the organisers are hopeful this year’s event will make an even bigger impact.

“Wales is rapidly becoming a Mecca for film makers”

For more: www.theciff.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 35

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Care home serenaded by Cardiff male voice choir Residents at a Cardiff care home enjoyed an evening of uplifting music and song when one of the city’s oldest choirs visited them for a special performance.

T

yˆ Llandaff, a private nursing, residential and respite care home in Pontcanna, organised for Cardiff Male Choir to come in and sing a wide variety of songs including Welsh hymns and arias, jazz classic and gospel numbers and choruses from songs and great operas.

The choir, which was founded in 1898, was led by musical director Emma Laidlaw Height and accompanist Valerie Roberts, and delivered a stirring and emotional performance rounding off with everyone joining in with the Welsh national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Tyˆ Llandaff activities co-ordinator Melanie Geoghegan says, “Musical events are always a

big success with our residents, and who better to come and sing for us than our local male voice choir, especially as Wales is the land of song!

“There was a real ‘moment’ when the choir sang the national anthem and everyone in the room was singing together. The volume was incredible and the sound was tremendous. It was something very special!

“Music, and in particular singing, is so good for lifting the spirits and has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure and improve mood. The benefits to our residents felt really tangible, and everyone has been buzzing about the performance ever since the visit. We can’t wait to arrange to have the Cardiff Male Choir back in.” ■

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STATE OF THE ARTS

left: Diffusion, the international festival of photography is back next year; above: Phil Scully; above right: Part of the Katrien de Blauwer exhibition

In the picture

the evening of 24 January for a dual exhibition launch. More info coming on the website soon.

Ffotogallery’s marketing and communications officer, PHIL SCULLY, gives a brief snapshot of what they’ve got going on in the coming months

T

his year has marked Ffotogallery’s 40th anniversary, and as the national agency for photography and lens-based media in Wales, we have celebrated reaching that milestone through a series of 40 special exhibitions, projects and events. As we enter the last few of the series of 2018, we are looking ahead as we continue the momentum of a fantastic year into 2019 and beyond. Here’s just a few things to look forward to…

Moving Home… Continuing developments to our new Cardiff City Centre gallery space.

After the overwhelming reception to Ffotoview – our inaugural exhibition at 29 Castle Street, we will be closing the doors for the last quarter of 2018 as we complete the next stage of our new home’s developments.

This is an exciting and busy time for the Ffotogallery team as we start to plan our sunset programme at Turner House in Penarth, and look forward to engaging with potential new audiences in the ever-growing creative hub of Cardiff city centre.

Katrien de Blauwer: Retrospective… at Turner House Gallery, Plymouth Road, Penarth from 26 October – 9 December 2018, Tues-Sat 11am – 5pm.

Curated by David Drake, director of Ffotogallery, in partnership with Charlotte Boudon, Galerie Les Filles du Calvaire, Paris.

De Blauwer’s first UK solo retrospective

38 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

includes work from all stages of her career, including previously unseen early work, artist notebooks and her newest work in which she has introduced painting alongside photography.

Join us for our special preview event on Thursday 26 October at 6pm and keep an eye out for a variety of workshops and talks aimed at all ages running through out the duration of the exhibition.

Women in Photography… Amak Mahmoodian and Lua Ribeira at Turner House Gallery, Plymouth Road, Penarth & 29 Castle Street, Cardiff from 25 January to 23 February, TuesSat 11am-5pm Join us in the new year at both of our galleries as we present the work of Amak Mahmoodian and Lua Ribeira to coincide with National Museum of Wales’ Women In Photography exhibition.

Mahmoodian was born in Shiraz, and currently lives in Bristol. Her work questions the identity and expresses personal stories which pertain to social issues.

Ribeira is a Spanish photographer living in the UK. She graduated from Cardiff’s University of South Wales, where she studied documentary photography. Her work discusses the human condition, while embracing the theatrical aspects of photography. Join us on

Save The Date… Ffotogallery launch the 4th instalment of ‘Diffusion’ – The Cardiff citywide international festival of photography.. 1-30 April 2019 Diffusion 2019’s theme is Sound+Vision. The festival explores the relationship between sound, photography and lens-based media, and how in contemporary visual culture the transmission, presentation and reading of images is influenced by sound, and likewise how music is experienced visually as well as aurally.

We will work across traditional boundaries between art forms and disciplines, and look to engage audiences in new ways and expand the creative possibilities of photography and lens based media.

Now in its fourth biennial edition, Diffusion 2019 features a month long programme of exhibitions, intervention, screenings, and performances with events and celebrations in both physical and virtual spaces and places. The activities will be supported through printed and online publications, websites, mobile content, and on social media platforms. All of this will be supported by an education and workshop programme. Keep up to date with the festival as we begin to announce events, artists, venues and opportunities by following us on our socials @_Diffusion We’re really excited for the next year at Ffotogallery, and with a jam-packed schedule of exciting projects happening, we look forward to welcoming audiences old and new through the doors. n

“We will look to engage audiences in new ways ”

For more: www.ffotogallery.org / www.diffusionfestival.org

COLOUR ME HAPPY, FROM £20 – £180 We can just imagine these lined up on a shelf in your kitchen, so go on, treat yourself ! Louise’s signature porcelain range manages to be colourful, fun and elegant at the same time.

From www. louisehallceramics.com

HANDMADE and HOMEGROWN A small selection of what will be on sale at Made by Hand at City Hall, 2 – 4 November (www.madebyhand-wales.co.uk)

GOING DUTCH, £225 – £275 Jackie Loves Clogs and we love Jackie’s clogs. Modern and quirky, the designs embellish traditional clog shapes with full-on fastenings and fringeing.

From www. jackielovesclogs.co.uk

40 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PIN IT, FROM £12 – £35 Brooches, earrings and necklaces, all made by layering silk paper on vintage ephemera and metal and then curing them with resin. Unusual, eyecatching and unlikely to break the bank.

From www.ellymental. co.uk

GOODE STUFF, FROM £90 – £250 Michael Goode is an artist and printmaker who uses architecture, landmarks and landscapes as his inspiration, and a mix of screenprinting, linocut, and collograph as his method.

From www.swanseaprintworkshop.org. uk/micael-goode

WYE OH WYE, £35 – £200 Chepstow-based jeweller Lynn Kirsten Clarke loves silver and the seemingly infinite number of ways you can work with it, from forging through to hammering and texturing.

Her pieces are inspired by wildlife in the Wye. From www.lynnkirstenclarke. co.uk

ED’S CHOICE SOFT OPTION, £60 – £80 APPROX Katie Victoria makes machine-knitted accessories – code for small purses, cotton socks, cushions and cardigans. Inspiration comes from all things Cymru.

From www.katievictoria-textiles.com

SWIT SWOO! PRICES RANGE FROM £5 – £3,000 This sideboard from Sibleysparling is so stylish.

Designer and maker Ella Mae likes clean lines and high quality materials but it’s her contrasts and colours that make the pieces pop.

From www.sibleysparling.com

I, THE VICTOR! PLATES START AT £95 Buddugoliaethus is the Welsh for victorious and Buddug is the name of this North Walian designer now based in Cardiff. We really fell down a rabbit hole exploring her work; we loved her enamel decorations, posters and wearables decorated with great quotes or delicate sketches.

From www.buddug.com

WILD BEAUTY, FROM £18 – £195 Heralding a new direction for Cardiff-based ceramicist, Lisa-Marie Tann, these pieces combine ceramics with collage. Focussing on plant and birdlife, the results she gets from cutting up old magazines are both delicate and beautiful.

From www.lisa-marietann.co.uk

ANIMAL MAGIC, FROM £125 Taking inspiration from surroundings in the Brecon Beacons and the rich literary history of Welsh myth and folklore, Helen Powell’s textile taxidermy sculptures are unforgettable.

From www.fauxidermy. co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 41

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Something in the air Give your wellbeing a boost with a visit to the OZONE THERAPY WELLNESS CENTRE

O

zone therapy is a regenerative therapy and refers to the process of administering ozone gas into the body to treat a disease/condition or wound. It is a natural solution that utilizes the body’s own healing process to repair damaged tissue, and bridges the gap between non-operative treatments and surgery.

Ozone is a colourless gas made up of three atoms of oxygen (O3).

Since the 1870s ozone has been used to treat medical conditions by stimulating the immune system. Furthermore it has been used to disinfect and treat diseases and conditions.

Ozone Therapy stimulates the uptake of oxygen by stimulating the DPG (diphosphoglycerate) enzyme. The DPG controls the movement of oxygen from red blood cells to body tissues.

It supports the release of oxygen from the hemoglobin molecule so that it can be used by the cell. When cells get the optimal amount of oxygen and function properly, they help to prevent or inhibit disease.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OZONE THERAPY? ✓ Anti-aging ✓ Strengthens the immune system ✓ Detoxifies and neutralises viruses, bacteria and fungi ✓ Can kill cancer cells ✓ It is anti-inflammatory and relieves pain ✓ Expedites post-surgery healing ✓ Decreases fat and improves metabolism ✓ Improves blood circulation

WHEN SHOULD ONE HAVE OZONE THERAPY? The human body is an exceptional and complex machine. Like all machines the body needs servicing (dusting, changing of oil, etc) to ensure optimum functioning. There is no stipulated time to have ozone therapy, however, it is better to have regular therapy to boost wellness and prevent infections. There are notable hot spots such as winter season which elevate the infection levels and as such preventative therapy is encouraged.

IS IT IN ANY WAY PAINFUL? Ozone therapy has been utilized and heavily studied for more than a century. Its effects are proven, consistent, safe and with minimal and preventable side effects. Ozone therapy is not in any way painful.

HOW LONG DOES A SESSION TAKE? A typical ozone therapy session last 30 minutes.

IS IT EXPENSIVE? While a single session may appear costly to the average household, the long-term health benefits far outweigh the financial cost.

Moreover, our interest in the wellbeing of our local customers has meant that our prices are cheaper than in most places in the UK. We at Ozone Therapy Wellness Centre are very compassionate and it is the reason we invested in the technology, because we believe in health and wellness for all and as such our prices reflect that. We welcome people to come and experience this technology.

ARE THERE ANY HEALTH RISKS? Uncontrolled inhalation of ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation. Inhalation of ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma

and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. However, the chance of inhaling ozone while undergoing therapy is negligible. We at Ozone Therapy Wellness Centre take strict precautions to prevent you from inhaling ozone. Your health, wellness and safety is our priority. ■

To book an appointment convenient for yourself visit www.ozonetherapy.wales or call or text 07810540488. Ozone Therapy Wellness Centre is located at 6A Dalcross Street, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4UB. www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 43

DRESS FOR SUCCESS Revamp your work wardrobe this season With temperatures starting to drop after a recordbreaking summer, the time has come to switch up your workwear wardrobe. Covering your outfit with the same big coat may feel repetitive, but that’s no reason to forget about what you wear underneath! From traditional blazers with a twist to trousers that offer style and comfort, we’ve found this season’s hottest workwear picks.

COMFY & CHIC If you spend a lot of time sitting in the office, comfort is just as important as style! Combine the two with this pair of relaxed, high waisted trousers from Oliver Bonas (3) that bring colour into the increasingly grey days!

Pair them with a short white Coast peplum jacket (2), to complete the look. Alternatively, you can opt for these gorgeous Vivienne Westwood cropped trousers (1) and throw on a comfy Cocoon jacket, like this one (4) from Oliver Bonas at John Lewis for an easy, chic look.

POWER DRESSING There’s nothing like power dressing to inspire a sense of authority to your workday. We adore this stylish Vivienne Westwood navy jacket (6) that effortlessly wraps around your waist for a feminine silhouette. Or why not opt for a long-line double-breasted blazer, like this one from Reiss (8) that will be sure to keep you warm in the chilly winter mornings! Pair with these white flares (7), available from John Lewis, and some classic loafers from Kurt Geiger (9), for a super chic look.

FINAL TOUCHES It’s worth investing in a long-lasting bag for work, one that will be able to withstand the daily commute and house your daily essentials. We are lusting after this luxurious Whistles number (5), with its on-trend resin handle and cross body strap, what’s not to love!?

Otherwise, we totally adore this hot pink bucket bag from M&S (10) that will brighten up any outfit you pick!

All items available at St David’s Dewi Sant in Cardiff or online at the time of writing. To keep up to date with the latest trends, news and offers, see St David’s on Instgram, Facebook and Twitter (@StDavidsCardiff ) or at www.stdavidscardiff.com

44 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Autograph jacket £129, Trouser £69, Top £29.50, Shoes £65, all M&S

FASHION 1

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3 4

5

8 6

1. James Bond Cropped Trousers Cream on Navy, £395, Vivienne Westwood 2. Deandra Short Peplum Jacket, £99, Coast @ John Lewis 3. High Waist Peg Trousers Pink, 59.50, Oliver Bonas 4. Depart Cocoon Jacket, £59.50, Oliver Bonas @John Lewis 5. Henrietta Resin Handle Bag, £199, Whistles @John Lewis 6. Jacket Navy, £785, Vivienne Westwood 7. Jigsaw Hoxton Crop Flare Trousers, £90, John Lewis 8. Double Breasted Blazer, £265, Reiss @ John lewis 9. Kenner Buckle Detail Loafers, £129, Kurt Geiger @ John Lewis 10. Pink bucket bag, £29.50, M&S

7

9

SHOPPING LIST

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www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 45

advertising feature

A life-changing Indian summer A group of 26 intrepid students from Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools broadened their horizons and embarked upon a month long expedition to India during the summer

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ccompanied by five members of staff, the teenagers from Monmouth School for Boys and Monmouth School for Girls leapt at the exciting opportunity to explore a new land and culture.

During the trip, students immersed themselves in a community project in Kais where they painted walls, completed murals and donated teaching materials to local schools.

The group also demonstrated outstanding teamwork and resilience during a once-in-alifetime trek in the foothills north of Manali in the Indian Himalayas.

Overcoming physical and mental challenges during the trip was character-building and humbling for pupils, who returned to Monmouth with an exciting new outlook on life.

"Working together and supporting each other was a key element throughout the trip,"

says Gerry Stentiford, Head of Geography at Monmouth School for Boys.

"The trek, more than any other part of the expedition, brought the students together. Being wet for a week made the physical challenge of the trek become a mental challenge."

Teamwork was needed from the start because the teenagers were given responsibility for their money and decisions over the places to eat and to stay.

"The expedition was unique, challenging and hard," says Mr Stentiford. "It was not a holiday but definitely a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

"The students will remember the hustle and bustle of Delhi and the Taj Mahal, the mountain pass at 4,300 metres, and the friendliness of the Indian people." n The schools have an established bus route, starting at Llandaff.

Students enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime trek in the foothills north of Manali in the Indian Himalayas.

For more information, visit www.habsmonmouth.org, call 01600 710433 for Monmouth School for Boys, 01600 711104 for Monmouth School for Girls, or 01600 713970 for Monmouth Schools Pre-Prep & Nursery.

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

WORLD-CLASS CUISINE Cardiff’s Alys Evans is prepped and ready to make her entrée, representing Wales at the

Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg in November.

Alys will join a team of five others from Wales in the quest for gold medals, including captain Danny Burke of Olive Tree Catering in Hawarden. The six kick off their title challenge with a cold buffet before moving on to a hot evening service two days later.

If you fancy trying some top nosh, why not grab tickets for the practice dinner at the Celtic Manor Resort on 5 November. Having had a peak at the menu, we can reveal that hot offerings include a starter of scallops, with ceviche, compressed cucumber and chicken skin granola and a main course of hay-smoked loin of Welsh Lamb with almond puree.

For more: office@welshculinaryassociation.com

Alys is cooking in the Culinary World Cup

Tommy Heaney has opened his hotly anticipated Pontcanna restaurant

TV CHEF GETS HIS SHOW ON THE ROAD Great British Menu chef Tommy Heaney has now opened the doors to his new Kickstarter-funded bar and restaurant in Pontcanna. The eponymously named eatery opened on 10 October and caters as much for big eaters as for casual diners, with a varied menu serving snacks to Sunday roast. Tommy got inspiration by looking within.

“I wanted it to be the kind of place where I would go to eat; not fine-dining, not stuffy, but somewhere where anyone could come and grab a drink and just eat tasty food.”

For more: www.tommyheaney.com Dean Milburn has crossed the pond to cook in Cardiff; INSET: Dean’s signature noriwrapped monkfish with kimchi

CHEF TO THE STARS ENTERS NEW ORBIT Dean Milburn from the US is the new head of restaurants and catering at The Vale Resort. An executive chef, he comes from Maryland and has cooked for Snoop Dogg, James Blunt and Barbara and Jenna Bush, daughters of former US president, George W Bush.

Dean says of his new role, “I’m excited to be returning to my culinary strength and speciality, which is creating unique and seasonal food on a large scale for the hospitality industry. Since joining, I’ve been developing menus that combine local, fresh ingredients to create innovative dishes with a US twist and a touch of Eastern fusion. One particular favourite that has gone down especially well is my wasabi and nori wrapped monkfish with kimchi.

For more: www.valeresort.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 49

Pride of place

Twenty Nine Park Place is more than just your average city centre pub, discovers Emma Dance

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ubs have had a bit of a change of image over the past decade or so. I remember when a pub was for drinking – beer mostly, some spirits, two colours of wine – and, if you were lucky, a menu of pie, fried things in baskets and maybe a steak.

Now though, most of the places that call themselves a pub have a bar that’s so well stocked it could rival an off-licence (I can’t remember the last time I went somewhere with less than 10 gins on the menu) and the food is just as important as the drinks – often even more so.

Twenty Nine Park Place is definitely one of this new breed of pubs.

The townhouse pub at, yep, you’ve guessed it, 29 Park Place, recently underwent a massive £200,000 refurb when it became the fifth in the Knife and Fork group empire, (the others are The Conway in Pontcanna, The Discovery in Lakeside, The Pilot in Penarth and the Old

50 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Swan Inn in Llantwit Major). So now it’s super-shiny – all on-trend teal and polished wood with pops of jewel tones and with an equally cool and contemporary menu to match.

I am immediately elated at the discovery that there’s soft-shell crab on the menu as a starter. It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to gorge on these all-you-can-eat delights and they don’t disappoint – crisp on the outside with plenty of tender meat that’s at the same time sweet but with the salty taste of the sea.

My dining companion meanwhile is tucking into braised pork belly with pickled mouli and soy and chilli broth. The meat is soft, almost melting, with the trademark slivers of fat which make this cut so particularly rich.

Perhaps the slippery layer on top could have been crisped, or at least rendered a little more, if only for aesthetic reasons, but there’s crunch from the mouli and the broth is rich with umami flavour and just a prickle of chilli.

restaurant

My main course of butternut and coconut curry exceeds my expectations – not too sweet, it has a real depth of flavour – not always easy to achieve in a vegetarian dish in my experience – with plenty of spice that builds to a satisfying tongue-tingling burn by the time the plate has been all but licked clean.

Across the table pan roast cod with chorizo and puy lentil ragout is very well received. The piece of cod is a hefty beast, but perfectly cooked – the soft, white flesh flaking at the mere hint of a fork, and the accompanying lentils are soft and comforting laced with a hit of paprika from the chorizo.

I’m intrigued by the chocolate dome, exotic fruit, praline and Anzac biscuit on the dessert menu, and when it arrives it is a perfectly pretty plateful. The sweet, tangy fruit is the perfect foil for the rich, almost bitter chocolate, while the biscuit adds a welcome crunch to the proceedings.

Sadly a crunch is missing from the top of the chocolate, vanilla and maple syrup crème brulée over the way as the sugar hasn’t been properly caramelised to give it that pleasing crack when it’s attacked with the spoon. That minor disappointment aside though, it’s very good indeed – rich and decadent and almost tooth achingly sweet, but in a very satisfying way.

So yes, Twenty Nine Park Place is a pub, and you could just swing by for a quick pint, but even better, put aside a bit more time and make a proper meal of it. n

“Now it’s super shiny, all on-trend teal and polished wood with pops of jewel tones and with an equally cool and contemporary menu to match” Dining details Twenty Nine Park Place, 29 Park Place, Cardiff; www.knifeandforkfood.co.uk; 029 211 57605 Opening hours Noon – 12pm. The kitchen is closed between 3-5pm Monday to Friday, but is open all day Saturday and from 12pm-5pm on Sunday Prices Starters from £5, mains from £7 at lunch time (with sandwiches £4.50), from £12 in the evening and puds £6.50 Drinks Everything you’d expect as well as a decent cocktail list Vegetarian choice A couple of choices from each course and, based on our experience, pretty good Service and atmosphere Friendly, informed staff and “make yourself at home” vibes

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 51

advertising feature

Wally’s latest adventure!

Cardiff retailing institution, Wally’s Delicatessen, has opened a new venture in St David’s Dewi Sant selling exclusively Welsh Spirits, including whisky, gin, rum and liqueurs.

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rands featured heavily in the new outlet include Penderyn Whisky, Eccentric Gin, Da Mhile Gin, Afon Mel Meads, Aber Falls Gin and Cwm Deri liqueurs as well as other spirits from small craft distilleries such as Dyfi and Foragers. This latest expansion for Wally’s comes nine years after they opened in St Davids Dewi Sant on its first day of trading in 2009. The new business, named Wally’s Spirits From Wales, is a kiosk situated on the ground floor near Hamley’s and has a fantastic range of bottles and gift sets displayed in wood encased glass cabinets.

Samples of most products are available upon request and, as in all its outlets, Wally’s is offering 10% discount to students.

This latest venture for Wally’s comes hot on the heels of them opening their Liquor Cellar in Castle Arcade where the range of products available is much wider, encompassing whiskies, gins, rums, liqueurs, wines and craft beers from around the world. Wally’s Liquor Cellar has successfully filled a gap in the Cardiff market for quality beers, wines and spirits.

Matthew Webster, manager of Wally’s Liquor Cellar, says that this was the perfect time to open the Liquor Cellar with the rise of the cocktail bar culture in Cardiff and more people drinking better quality drinks at home. The success of this business, in particular the Welsh produced spirits, persuaded Steven Salamon, the owner of Wally’s and son of the founder, Wally Salamon, to open his new kiosk selling exclusively Welsh spirits.

Bethan Owen, manager of Wally’s Spirits From Wales, says the kiosk has the perfect products in the perfect place. “Selling Welsh spirits in the heart of Cardiff is perfect both for locals and tourists alike. Whether you are interested in something new and exciting for yourself or are looking for that perfect present for a friend or loved one, Wally’s Spirits From Wales will have the answer for you”.

Steven thinks that Cardiff is a fantastic city in which to be located and is excited by the prospect of new businesses and institutions opening in the city in the coming years, including the BBC, HMRC as well as new hotel chains.

“Selling welsh spirits in the heart of cardiff is perfect for both locals and tourists alike” Wally’s has been trading in Cardiff city centre for more than 70 years since Steven’s grandfather first opened his shop on Bridge Street, a site now occupied by St David’s Dewi Sant, and with this latest addition to the range they are sure to be part of the city’s retailing landscape for many more years to come. n

Wally’s Spirits From Wales, 11 Grand Arcade, St. David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff CF10 2ER. Tel. 07958 394282 www.wallysspiritsfromwales.co.uk Wally’s Liquor Cellar, 10-14 Castle Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1BU. Tel. 029 20233748 www.wallysliquorcellar.co.uk 52 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

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Is there anything left to discuss?

REBECCA OAKLEY FAMILY LAW can help you move onwards after a relationship breakdown

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ou may feel this way when your relationship has broken down, whether with a spouse or a partner. The answer is often, "yes, there is." Even if you do not want to talk about the relationship or its ending, you may have to deal with arrangements for children, finances and even pets.

It’s never a bad idea to take some early initial advice from a solicitor who is qualified in family law, but that doesn’t mean you and your ex cannot still speak to one another directly – whether that’s around the dining room table, at a coffee shop or at a mediation session. For exes with children together the better your parental relationship and communication, the more easily

the children will be able to adjust to a new life with two homes and not feel they are being forced to choose by one parent or the other.

After all, you want the kids to invite you (both) to the weddings and graduations, don’t you?

You can also communicate directly with solicitors assisting whether using collaborative lawyers or a simple “round table” style meeting.

The most positive divorces and separated parenting arrangements come from people who want to find a way to keep working together towards an agreed outcome. After all, once the courts become involved, the decisions are effectively taken out of your hands.

At Rebecca Oakley Family Law our solicitors, Rebecca and Belinda, aim to advise separating spouses, partners and parents in these

circumstances quickly and efficiently so that you are aware of the options facing you and the homework you may need to do to support your case in the event of a court dispute whilst encouraging you to consider whether agreement is possible.

If you would like to speak to one of us about this, or any any other issue, then please contact us on 02920 532888 or by email at info@oakleyfamilylaw. com or by post at 5 Washington Chambers, Stanwell Road, Penarth, CF64 2AF and we will do our best to help you with your enquiry.

advertising feature

The People People ATLANTIC RESOURCE RECRUITMENT offers a client bespoke and individual service that ensures that you’ll always find the right people to help your business thrive.

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tlantic Resource is an independent recruitment consultancy based in the heart of Cardiff City Centre.

We are a small yet thriving consultancy specialising in permanent, contract and temporary recruitment solutions. Across a broad spectrum, Atlantic Resource is equipped to support all your recruitment requirements across your entire business. Whether you need a new HR Director, Support Worker or Head Chef; we have an enthusiastic, professional and talented consultant ready to listen and help you through the process.

Traditionally, Atlantic Resource has a reputation for its strong relationships supporting clients with Catering, Security, Cleaning and Healthcare staff. Over the last 12 months we have diversified; recruiting key consultants internally to develop the business in new and exciting areas, whilst maintaining a strong presence within the sectors that have helped to make us successful in South Wales.

Atlantic Resource offer a uniquely personal style of recruitment service that has progressively improved and expanded over the last 25 years; successfully working with some of the largest

businesses within the United Kingdom.

At Atlantic Resource, we believe it is paramount to develop strong working relationships and ultimately create on-going partnerships over months and even years. It is without a doubt that Atlantic Resource strives to be one with our clients for the long haul.

Our professional team work hard, smart and transparently and will care about your business interests as if they were our own. Your problems become our challenges, thriving upon the importance to overcome and resolve every client's staffing needs.

From the moment you start to work with us, you’ll get to know us as people: who we are, our motivation, what we value, what we strive to improve in and even what coffee we like to drink! Answering the phone around the clock; “if there’s a problem that needs resolving” Call the “AR” Team – We are here to help you.

Each consultant believes in and is invested in the business. Standing by our core belief that nothing is more vital within recruitment than the service we offer, that every candidate is important, and that every client deserves an honest, professional relationship with the consultancy they partner with – After all, we

are an extension of their business and the first contact that new potential employees may have with the company.

With an efficient, service-driven recruitment partnership in place, your business processes can be streamlined, productivity can be boosted, and tangible value can be added.

Looking for help finding your next key member of staff or do you need help finding your next role? Contact us today to arrange a meeting with one of our dedicated team. n

Atlantic Resource, Womanby House Jones Court, Womanby Street Cardiff, CF10 1BR 029 20 223 302 / 029 20 239 797 enquiries@atlanticresource.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 55

Nonna knows best

EMMA DANCE caught up with Jamie Oliver on his recent visit to the city to find out more about his latest TV show, and his plans for his Cardiff restaurant

Jamie Oliver and his friend, mentor and fellow chef, Gennaro Contaldo

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one to one

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hen you meet Jamie Oliver you can’t help but warm to him. It might be 20 years since he burst on to our screens as the Naked Chef proclaiming everything as “pukka” with that big wide grin, but he still exudes that same boyish charm and energy that back then won him an army of fans (and numerous subsequent TV series and book deals).

“It’s a very British thing to associate a love of food with middle class people”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 57

one to one He’s in Cardiff to talk about his latest TV show and book Jamie Cooks Italy in which he whizzes around Italy, accompanied by his friend and mentor Gennaro Contaldo, learning recipes from the true masters of Italian cuisine – the nonnas. And, although it’s a pretty flying visit (Jamie’s been in Birmingham that morning and our brief chat is sandwiched in between other interviews, a book signing and an event that evening) if he’s in any way tired he’s not letting on, and he chatters away nineteen to the dozen, pausing only occasionally to wave at a passer-by who’s spotted him through the window of his Jamie’s Italian restaurant on The Hayes. And he’s clearly so passionate about what he’s talking about that you can’t help but get caught up in his enthusiasm.

“The timing of this series was an interesting one,” he tells me. “I knew that were about to lose that last generation of proper old-school nonnas who grew up without gas, and supermarkets and all those things that we take for granted now, and with them all their knowledge and their experience.

“A lot of the things that we all talk about now – waste, costs, health – everyone thinks these are new challenges, but for the nonnas, 80 years ago it was all normal. We forget that years ago recycling milk bottles was normal. We forget to look back rather than forward.

“These nonnas epitomise that agile, streetwise cooking. It’s a very British thing to associate a love of food with middle class people. The best food I have ever eaten has always come from the poorest kitchens. You can create nutritious, really amazing meals with not much money and going around with these nonnas has really reaffirmed my belief in that.

And it’s great to be take the stories of these nonnas and to be able to share them here in Cardiff.

“Every single nonna that we spoke to was very clear about wanting us to spread the word and the recipes. Culture is very fragile, and food and food culture can die out very quickly and we have to talk

above: Jamie loves a pukka

bit of pasta

below: Jamie and Gennaro

have been touring Italy together for the TV show Jamie Cooks Italy

about it to keep it alive.”

Several of the dishes that Jamie is seen cooking on screen are now available in the restaurants.

“The waiters and waitresses have responded so well, they love feeling empowered to talk to the customers about the dishes and share the stories of the nonnas – and that’s what it’s all about really,” says Jamie. “We’re changing the menus every month and doing the specials slightly differently and it’s nice to bring some of the dishes that you see on TV into the restaurants. For me, it’s always about a balance of bringing something new and exciting and also giving people what they want.

There’s certain dishes, like Bolognese, that we just can’t take off – there would be uproar – and we never used to do pizzas, but people wanted them so we introduced them. But we also want to give people something different, especially somewhere like Cardiff where most of customers are locals who come back over and over again.”

And Jamie recognises that it’s not just a case of applying a “one size fits all” approach to his restaurants, and Cardiff is in line for a refit and relaunch next year.

“Every town and city has different needs,” he says. “It’s not about the brand, it’s about the place.

Cardiff is evolving, it’s not the same as it used to be – and that’s a good thing – but we need to keep people coming into the town centres to keep them alive. We’re looking at relaunching here next year and how we do that and what Cardiff needs.”

For more: www.jamieoliver.com

58 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Virtual Assistance is on the rise!

Virtual assistants are quickly replacing traditional secretaries and in-office personal assistants. But why? I hear you say…

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he benefits of employing a virtual assistant are easy to see. In simple terms, it comes down to cost effectiveness and flexibility. Employing a full time administration assistant can cost anything between £12,622 - £23,355 without including benefits, HR headaches, or absences.

Working with a virtual assistant means you can hire them for the hours you want, when you want. Not only this but LCVA Services has a vested interest with business growth and we are very passionate about this. Our main aim is to assist you and your business in order to reduce your workload and help you drive your business forward (and also have a cheeky holiday now and again).

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hours, ending the day just five minutes over schedule… calmly liaising with our celebrity MC and ensuring that our awards event ran smoothly… developing and managing a social media campaign to raise awareness of a high profile event. In addition, she’s also helped me out in a personal capacity – including relocating a boat, and looking after the dog! ■

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RED, RED WINE

DEAN EUDEN gives the lowdown on Beaujolais Nouveau, and why we have a day dedicated to drinking the stuff 62 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

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ight and vibrant” – no, not a description of me but how many would describe Beaujolais Nouveau, a wine that has become almost as much Welsh as it is French. On the third Thursday of November (this year, 15 November), when it’s released, you’ll find venues across Cardiff, Swansea and Newport packed with Beauj drinking merry makers celebrating a wine that no one really drinks any other time of the year, and to be honest if you still had some after 12 months I’d be tempted to give it to someone you really dislike.

What is Beaujolais Noveau?

Beaujolais Nouveau is what’s known as a “vin de primeur” or a wine that is sold in the same year it is harvested, basically that means a young fruity and simple wine produced for quick consumption. They are light in style because they don’t really get much maceration at all so all the tannins and colour usually extracted in that process tends to be very much toned down. Along with the absence of meaningful maceration there is also no oak maturation and without the oak influence the fruity nature of the wine is allowed to stand out. As for the grape variety all Beaujolais Nouveau is made from the Gamay grape, by nature a grape that creates light and fruity wines, though it has to be said it’s a grape that can deliver much more than ‘simple’ in the right winemaking hands.

Why do we celebrate Beaujolais Day? Beaujolais Nouveau would have likely been a drink to celebrate the end of the harvest, something to give to the vineyard workers so as to not delve into stocks of cellared wines

too expensive to hand out for a knees up.

Eventually it started appearing in cafés around the region (which is just South of Burgundy by the way). At some point in the 1960s a lot of the producers, many point towards the famous George Duboeuf as the instigator, saw a way to capitalise on this young wine. The producers set an annual contest to see who could get the first bottle of Nouveau to Paris.

This spread across the rest of Europe and over the pond to America in the 80s and even Asia by the 90s. Now more than 30 million bottles are produced and shipped to the well over 100 countries every year. Not bad for a wine some people look at with contempt and distain.

So is this an event to be celebrated or just

“It’s a grape that can deliver much more than ‘simple’ in the right winemaking hands” a great marketing ploy to sell a huge amount of basic wine that dies a death after less than a year? In my opinion a little bit of both, any event that celebrates the wine of a region across the globe is a good thing but yes, it’s also one of the most successful marketing ideas in the history of wine. As for the contents of the bottle it all comes down to personal taste, if you detest Beaujolais Nouveau then that’s fine but if you love it for its fruit driven simplicity that’s 100 per cent acceptable and all power to you.

Here’s where to find the Beaujolais Day celebrations:

from Gavin Sheppard and Nikki Pope. www.lanelayhall.co.uk

Where: Holm House Price: £45pp What to expect: A threecourse menu of French onion soup, braised blade of beef or garlic cauliflower rice and white chocolate crème brulée, accompanied by a large glass of Beaujolais Nouveau with live entertainment throughout. www.holmhousehotel.com

Where: Park House Restaurant Price: £59pp for a five-course lunch and half a bottle of Beuajolais. £75 for a seven course tasting menu.

What to expect: Fine dining, fine wine and fine entertainment.

Booking from noon to 9pm. www.parkhouserestaurant.co.uk

Where: Lanelay Hall Price: £45pp What to expect: Arrival from 11.30am, with a glass of Beaujolais to greet you. A threecourse set lunch will be served between noon and 3pm with entertainment throughout the day

Where: The Potted Pig Price: £39pp for a three course lunch and a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau or £45pp for a threecourse dinner, glass of Beaujolais and live entertainment What to expect: A specially selected menu including dishes like crab, cayfish and garlic soufflé, sun dried tomato, Lyonnaise

What food matches well with Beaujolais Nouveau?

If you are one of those that fall into the “love it” category what are you going to eat with your Beaujolais Nouveau? To be honest it’s a red wine so light that food isn’t an absolute necessity but if I wanted to drink and eat with a wine of this style I would have a simple charcuterie plate with some nice fresh pickles on the side. It’s a bright wine with good acidity and it will really cut through the fatty cured meats well. Also stick the bottle in the fridge for 30 minutes before you drink it and you’ll be surprised how much it brings the wine to life – it’s one of the few red wines where a little chill does it the world of good.

What other wines come from the region?

The region of Beaujolais produces wine that should be explored, away from the simplicity of Nouveau. It’s home to 10 named village “crus” (groups of vineyards) which produce wine varying from the light and elegant to the rich and complex. The cru names from north to south are: St Amour, Juliénas, Moulin-àVent, Chénas, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Régnié, Brouilly and Côte de Brouilly. Unlike the ‘drink it quick before it’s too late’ style of Nouveau some of the crus mentioned above produce wines that will age for 10 years. If you enjoy more complex wines then try wines from Moulin-à-Vent or Morgon if you enjoy the lighter style but want more complexity and structure than Beaujolais Nouveau then try wines from Brouilly or Fleurie.

Dean is a business development manager for the Wine & Spirit Educational Trust (WSET). www.wsetglobal.com

onion and gruyere cheese tart, beef bourguignon, confit duck casoulet, apple tarte tatin or cherry clafoutis, with evening entertainment by jazz band Bass 12. www.thepottedpig.com Where: Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill Price: £45pp What to expect: A specially created three-course French themed menu with some of Marco’s classic dishes. All of which are paired with French wines from the Beaujolais region – of course!

Available from noon – 10pm. www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk Where: Pier 64 Price: £49pp What to expect: A three-course meal with dishes like creamy

garlic snails, Roquefort and peach bruschetta, chargrilled Toulouse sausage and chocolate and walnut tart accompanied by a glass of Beaujolais and live entertainment. www.pier64.co.uk Where: Chapel 1877 Price: £49pp What to expect: A three-course menu of dishes like chicken liver parfait, whole grilled lemon sole Meuniere and tarte au citron, with a glass of Beaujolais. www.chapel1877.com Where: The Exchange Hotel Price: £45pp for three-course meal and entertainment, or £15pp for entry only, 7pm-1am.

What to expect: A three-course meal, live entertainment and prosecco on arrival. www.exchangehotelcardiff.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 63

advertising feature

Meet the Conveyancer

If you’re buying or selling a home these are the people you need to talk to

mick Fallon

howells solicitors 02920 404038; www.howellslegal.co.uk How long does the conveyancing process usually take?

I would like to say the length of every conveyancing transaction is the same but unfortunately this is not the case. We have acted on property sales and purchases that have completed in less than two weeks while others can take months. We always work on the front foot to identify and resolve any problems as early as we can to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.

What happens on completion?

We will call you to say, “Congratulations you can pick up the keys from the estate agents for your new property. Happy moving!”

What sets you apart from other firms?

We are one of the biggest and most successful conveyancing firms in the UK and have won all of the top industry awards. We do need technology to aid us in the process; however we also keep a very human element to

our conveyancing service! Our clients and introducers have open lines of communication and direct dial access to our conveyancers and their assistants and they have thorough updates throughout the process. We have more than 236 Google reviews with an average star rating of 4.8 out of 5. We believe that our knowledge, highly skilled staff, sensible approach, innovation and desire to do the job better sets us apart from all our competitors.

What happens if I change my mind part way through? Am I legally bound?

As long as we have not exchanged contracts on the property our client is buying or selling they will not be legally bound. An exchange of contracts occur when the buyer’s and seller’s solicitors run through the contract with each other over the telephone confirming the details and formally agree the move date. We always check with our clients throughout the transaction whether they have any queries or concerns about their sale or purchase and immediately before we formally commit to the contract we will check with the client that they are happy to proceed to exchange.

Sharon Thomas

Rhiannon Stevenson

Why is conveyancing important?

Buying a property is usually the most expensive item a person will buy during their lifetime. It is therefore important to ensure you, as the buyer or seller are adequately and legally protected. A conveyancing solicitor/lawyer who acts on behalf of the buyer will take the responsibility for checking the title deeds, searches and reports carried out on the property to ensure the buyer is aware of all the issues affecting the property before they make the commitment to buy or sell.

Can I pick my own firm of solicitors or do I have to use the firm my estate agent recommends?

A buyer or seller is free to use any conveyancing solicitor/ lawyer they wish to deal with their conveyancing transaction, and should not feel pressurised to use a firm recommended by either estate agents or mortgage brokers. The conveyancer will act for you in the transaction and no one else, unless you have a mortgage in which case they will also act for the lender in the majority of matters. There will be a variety of reasons for choosing your conveyancer, such as cost, location, recommendation or a firm which you have used in the past. Either way, you are free to instruct the conveyancer of your choice.

When does exchange of contracts take place?

You would usually exchange contracts between 7 and 28 days before completion. You should only exchange contracts once all legal issues have been addressed.

For example, if you are buying: • When all searches have been completed and have come back satisfactory • When your mortgage offer has been received • When the legal work has been completed • When you have your deposit available • When all parties in the chain are ready to proceed What is the difference between “exchange” and “completion”?

The main difference is that “exchange” is an exchange of contracts which makes the matter legally binding between the parties, whereas “completion” is the date the parties physically move and transfer legal ownership of the property.

What happens on completion?

On completion, the buyer’s solicitors will send the completion money through the banking system to the seller’s solicitor’s account. Once the seller’s solicitors receive the money, they will release keys and the buyer can make arrangements to pick up the keys to their new home, either from the estate agents involved in the transaction or directly from the seller.

JNP LEGAL 02920 763211; www.jnplegal.org

JNP LEGAL 01443 450561; www.jnplegal.org

Sharon Thomas

Rhiannon Stevenson

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 65

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Helen Barry

Hugh James 029 2267 5445; www.hughjames.com What is conveyancing and why is it important?

Put simply, conveyancing is the legal transfer of a property from one owner to another. It covers all the legal and administrative work that needs to be completed to ensure a property transfer is valid and legal. A property is the largest purchase anyone makes and there is a lot of responsibility involved in ensuring there are no issues either during the ownership of the property or when selling on.

What does “exchanging contracts” mean?

Exchange of contracts marks the stage in the transaction when a binding contract comes into force. Before exchange, no contract exists between the buyer and seller, and either party is free to change their mind about the transaction and can withdraw from it without any penalties. When exchange of contracts has taken place, a binding contract exists and neither party can withdraw without incurring liability for breach of contract. This is usually a financial penalty and typically includes the loss of the deposit monies. Where a deposit of less than 10 per cent of the sale/purchase price has been paid, the defaulting party is still liable for the full 10 per cent.

What happens on completion?

Completion is the day when the buyer becomes the legal owner of the property. The purchase monies are transferred from the buyer’s solicitor to the seller’s solicitor. When the monies are received by the seller’s solicitor, any estate agents are instructed to release the keys to the new owners, any existing mortgages are repaid and any title documentation is forwarded by the seller’s solicitors to the buyer’s solicitor.

What sets you apart from other firms?

We offer all the specialist knowledge you’d expect from one of the UK’s top law firms but a personal approach you might not. We understand that every client and transaction is different, and we tailor our advice to suit the individual’s needs.

Rachel Ip Fung Chun Sinclairslaw 029 2038 8398 www.sinclairslaw.co.uk

What is conveyancing?

The transfer of a property from one party to another.

66 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

How long does it all take?

Timescales can vary depending on whether you are part of a chain or not. It also depends on whether you are purchasing a freehold or a leasehold property but generally it can take a couple of months.

What are the common causes of delay?

When third parties are involved because it is out of the control of the buyer and seller, for example, waiting for management packs for leasehold properties.

What is the difference between “exchange” and “completion”?

“Exchange” is when each party legally binds themselves to sell/ purchase the property and a deposit is paid. “Completion” is when the transaction has completed and the keys can be handed over.

What happens on completion?

On completion the buyer’s solicitor will transfer the balance of the completion monies to the seller’s solicitors. Once the seller’s solicitor confirms that the completion monies have been received the seller’s solicitor will instruct the estate agent to release the keys to the buyer.

Can I pick my own firm of solicitors, or do I have to use the firm my estate agent recommends?

You can choose your own solicitor.

What happens if I change my mind? Am I legally bound?

Unless you have exchanged contracts you will not be legally bound to the other party.

What sets you apart from other firms?

We have the same person working on one file from start to finish and the client can always speak to that person and not be passed through a system struggling to find an answer to a question. We like to give clients a personal service and meet their needs. We are also accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

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James Pearn

Matthew Foley

Loosemores Solicitors 029 2022 4433 www.loosemores.co.uk

Neil Foley & Co Solicitors & Advocates 02920 230440; www.neilfoleyandco.co.uk

How long does the conveyancing process take?

The time frame from first instructing a solicitor to completion typically takes somewhere between six and eight weeks. However, this is an average and the timescales can vary depending on the circumstances of the parties involved.

Can I pick my own firm of solicitors, or do I have to use the firm my estate agent recommends?

You do not have to use the solicitor recommended by your estate agent. It is your decision as to which solicitor you instruct.

What does “exchanging contracts” mean?

The seller and buyer are legally bound to complete the transaction. Until this happens there is a risk of being either gazumped or gazanged. Gazumping is when another buyer offers more money and the seller decides to accept that higher offer instead.

Gazanging occurs when the seller decides to cancel the proposed sale and keep the property.

What happens on completion?

This is the day when all the money changes hands and the buyer becomes the legal owner of the property. When the purchase is completed the buyer can pick up the keys, normally from the estate agent, and the seller receives the sale proceeds.

Julie Miles

CJCH 02920 483181; www.cjchsolicitors.co.uk Why is conveyancing important?

The buying and selling of our home is one of the biggest and most expensive decisions most of us make. It is vitally important a good and marketable title to the property is obtained, all necessary rights are included and you are aware of any restrictions which may prevent your everyday enjoyment of the property. Attention to detail and accuracy are of utmost importance and it is therefore important to instruct an experienced property lawyer who specialises in this field and has experience to deal with this process for you.

How long does it all take?

It is difficult to provide an estimate as to how long a transaction will take as the circumstances of every transaction are different. However, it is our view a period of six to eight weeks to be a reasonable timescale.

What does “exchanging contracts” mean?

This is the point when the contract between the buyer and seller becomes legally binding and a completion date is fixed. Exchange will take place when all parties in the conveyancing chain are ready to proceed, all enquiries have been satisfactorily answered, search results are to hand, funding arrangements are in place and the completion date is agreed by every party in the chain.

James Pearn

Matthew Foley

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the process by which the legal title and ownership of a property is transferred. In the main, conveyancing involves transfers made by contract and agreement of the parties involved.

How long does it all take?

The timeline for a conveyance can vary greatly depending on each party’s circumstances and the nature of the property involved. A standard house sale should normally complete within six to eight weeks of the offer being accepted, if no unexpected complications arise.

What does “exchanging contracts” mean?

Exchanging contracts is the process solicitors undertake to make the sale contract legally binding for the parties involved. Once exchange has occurred, each party has an obligation to complete the transaction on the agreed completion date. After this has taken place, in most circumstances you can be confident that your proposed sale or purchase will complete and you can make arrangements accordingly.

Can I pick my own firm of solicitors, or do I have to use the firm my estate agent recommends?

You are always entitled to choose who represents you during your conveyance. This is important so that you can ensure your solicitor is always putting your interests first.

What happens on completion?

Funds are transferred from the buyer’s solicitors to the vendor solicitors and on receipt of funds by the vendor’s solicitors, the keys are released, and the buyer given possession of the property.

The vendor solicitor will then discharge any mortgages/loans on the property. The buyer’s solicitors will then prepare the necessary Land Transaction/Stamp Duty Tax Return and deal with registration of the property into the buyer’s name at H M Land Registry to complete the conveyancing process.

What happens if I change my mind part way through? Am I legally bound?

In England and Wales, you are not legally bound under a contract for the sale and purchase of land until such time as contracts have been exchanged. The time and date are recorded at this point to avoid any doubt of the point the contract becoming legally binding.

Until that point, either party is free to withdraw.

If contracts have been exchanged, either party can still withdraw although not without financial implications for breach of contract.

I need to complete as quickly as possible – how can thing be fast tracked?

It is important to provide your lawyer with as much information and documentation both at the outset and throughout the process and to respond to all your lawyers questions and return any necessary paperwork as soon as it is requested.

What sets you apart from other firms?

The CJCH conveyancing team have more than 35 years of experience in property matters and conveyancing. Whether you are purchasing your first home, a buy-to-let property or expanding your property portfolio, our specialist team will guide you through the process tailoring the service to your needs. Our reasonable fees, friendly service and expert advice turns the stress of purchasing a property into smooth sailing.

Your matter is expertly managed by qualified solicitors and conveyancers, meaning that you are in safe and experienced hands.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 67

SNAPPED AC ROSS C A R D I FF, O N E SH I N D I G AT A T I M E

Ant Marsh and Jenny Price

Hazel Smith and Ian Smith

Ellie Wilson, Katey Edwards, Rachel Williams, Victoria Carey, Esyld Watson and Bev Scott (Members of the 2 Wish Upon A Star Choir)

Smiling for a selfie Lisa Williams, Mel Williams and Georgia Critcher

TWINKLE TWINKLE

Michelle Bennett and Andrea Evans

Bereavement charity 2 Wish Upon A Star held its sixth annual ball, aptly named the Little Ball of Hope, on 1 September. TV star and charity ambassador Nick Knowles was on hand to add a little bit of extra sparkle to the evening which was held at Celtic Manor to raise funds to support families who suddenly lose a child or young adult. www.2wishuponastar.org Photos by Steve Pope

Steve and Becky Wallace

Joshua Phillips and Morgan Waters

68 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Rhian Mannings, Founder and Chief Executive of 2 Wish Upon A Star with 2 Wish Upon A Star Ambassador, Nick Knowles

SOCIETY

Alan Humphreys, Greg Petter, Marc Jaffrey, Jason Camilleri and Dan Edwards Sarah Roberts and Miranda Ballin

Valleys Kids perform in pop-up youth club #OurSpace

ALL TOGETHER

Ping-pong, performance and meeting new friends and colleagues were at the heart of the Together Stronger launch at Wales Millennium Centre on 21 September. The new partnership between Valleys Kids and Wales Millennium Centre will provide extraordinary creative experiences for more than 400 young people aged 11-25 living in the Rhondda Valley, Cardiff and beyond.

Guests enjoyed a rendition of This Is Me from the project’s new Glee Club as well as a performance and activities in Valleys Kids’ pop-up youth club, #OurSpace Photos by Polly Thomas

Alan Humphreys and Scott Thomas Amy Morgan with Together Stronger’s Glee Club

Nia Elias

Gemma Hicks and Rhiannon Williams

Richard Morgan, Graeme Farrow and Margaret Jervis

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 69

advertising feature

Introducing our global speakers The Introbiz Expo 2018, sponsored by Paul McFadden Wealth, held at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff is set to welcome two world-renowned entrepreneurs, Lord Alan Sugar and Grant Cardone.

W

ith the return of the hit TV series, The Apprentice, Lord Sugar has been busy but on Thursday, 22nd November, he’ll be making his way to Cardiff to share his journey to success, his experiences in business and how he’s grown in the media industry. Having sold his shares in his biggest business venture, Amstrad, Lord Sugar really is one of the biggest entrepreneurs in the world.

Grant Cardone is one of America’s leading entrepreneurs. He is a bestselling author, focussing on sales and expert business advice. He is a sales trainer, keynote speaker and business owner who has worked in the real estate and automotive industries. Grant has built a real estate portfolio that’s worth over $566million from scratch and in 2017, was named as the number one marketer to watch by Forbes Magazine.

The Introbiz Expo will begin with a networking breakfast which is sponsored by PIXAFUSION Digital, and is a great opportunity to build relationships with the speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and visitors. Opening at 9am to the general public, thousands are expected to walk

through the door. Visitors can listen to the speakers and browse hundreds of exhibition stands, showcasing their products and services. There’ll be a free speed networking session, sponsored by 123 Law and an opportunity to support The Pitch, sponsored by Cardiff Council and the Open University in Wales, which aims to support young entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners.

Brand new for 2018 is a VIP networking lunch, sponsored by Hunter Jones, where Lord Sugar and Grant Cardone will be sharing their expertise and advice.

There’ll also be a range of branded tables, promoting companies such as Rugbyshield, Hunter Jones and Paul McFadden Wealth.

The day will close with a VIP after party held at The Vale Resort, where the speakers, sponsors and exhibitors will be present to relax after a busy day. The event is sponsored by Godiva Insurance, a specialist insurance broker who act on behalf of many UK businesses to find insurance cover suitable to their exacting needs. Working with a wide range of commercial insurance companies, they supply insurance policies to a diverse selection of businesses, from sole traders to multi-national companies and ensure that their businesses are protected in the best

Elena and Grant Cardone

possible way. The evening will include a delicious 3-course dinner, an auction and raffle where all funds raised will be donated to ABF The Soldier’s Charity and live entertainment throughout the evening. n Tickets to attend the Introbiz Expo are completely free so make sure you register by heading to the Introbiz website or call the Introbiz office on 02920 291002.

businessinsider cardiff GEts serious

Quote of the issue

“This is a highlight of my professional career” Find out who said this and why on page 74

The Big Number

£6,000 The amount awarded to Techniquest to fund a project to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. For more, turn to page 75

Professor Andrew Walters, Jarred Evans, Kayleigh Mcleod, Professor Justin Lewis, Susan Wood, Sara Pepper, Professor Ruth McElroy, Tom Ware

A creative spark The three Cardiff universities have worked together to be awarded a multi-million pound research investment for the creative industries

S

creen industries based in and around the Welsh capital are set to benefit from new research and development opportunities.

Cardiff University has led on a successful bid to the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which has announced an unprecedented multi-million pound research investment into the UK’s creative economy. The Creative Industries Clusters Programme, which is part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, will bring together worldclass research talent from leading UK universities with companies and organisations from across the creative sector.

Working in partnership with the University of South Wales and

Cardiff Metropolitan University, as well as the Welsh Government, Cardiff Council, all major Welsh broadcasters and more than 60 screen industry businesses, Clwstwr Creadigol is one of nine projects in the UK to be chosen for the fiveyear funding stream.

With a focus on screen industries – film and television production and their supply chains – academics from Cardiff’s three universities

Lab (NIL) – the Research and Development (R&D) programme will also allow broadcasters, businesses and freelancers to apply for funding to develop innovative products, services and experiences in a drive to create economic uplift in South Wales.

These R&D initiatives will be designed to respond to changing technologies, shifting patterns of consumption and the benefits of creative fusion and collaboration.

Clwstwr Creadigol Director Professor Justin Lewis, who is based at Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture, says, “I am proud of our team’s hard work to secure this award for Wales.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to boost Cardiff’s profile as an

“It’s a fantastic Oppopportunity” will collaborate to provide research that can help the already thriving scene in South Wales reach its full potential.

Through a Screen Innovation System (SIS) and a News Innovation

internationally recognised centre for creative production.

“The foundations for success have been laid by some of our brilliant companies in the screen industry and wider creative economy. But to really thrive, we must invest in research and development to create a culture of innovation – that’s what Clwstwr Creadigol is all about.

“Many of our screen companies are independent SMEs and so, if we’re to compete with the global players, we need to work together.

That’s why we will be working with a range of partners in the creative industries and in local and national government to create new products, services and experiences to deliver economic uplift for South Wales.”

For more: www.cardiff.ac.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 115 73

Marco Gil-Cervantes from ProMo Cymru

Top tech A leading Welsh digital agency, ProMo-Cymru, has scooped a coveted technology award at this year’s Social Business Wales Awards.

ProMo-Cymru, based in Cardiff, has been recognised for its innovative use of technology to achieve its goals of providing bespoke digital solutions to the third sector.

With an expansive range of services such as marketing, media production, digital communications, skills training and community development, the agency has pioneered groundbreaking projects such as Meic, a national helpline

Triple success Howells Solicitors has won three awards at the conveyancing industries prestigious annual Law Firm Services Awards including the Best Direct Conveyancing Firm of the Year.

Howells faced stiff competition from law firms based throughout the UK all of whom were assessed by an independent panel of industry experts from market leading professional organisations including the Council of Licensed Conveyancers and the National Association of Estate Agents.

“This is a highlight of my professional career,” says Mark Hobbs, managing partner of Howells Solicitors. “To be named as the ‘Best Direct Conveyancing Firm of the Year’ for the whole of the UK in the conveyancing industries flagship awards is a fantastic achievement on its own, and to also win the silver award in the Overall Conveyancing Firm of the Year and to be Highly Commended in the Best Conveyancer for Wales and the West Midlands is quite unbelievable!

“I am delighted and extremely proud of all our teams in the six offices. These awards are testament to our dedicated, consummate professionals who deliver an exemplary service for our clients.”

For more: www.howellslegal.co.uk

74 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

service for Welsh children and young adults up to 25 years old.

It also spearheaded theSprout, a Cardiff-based hub for youth information which has provided an interactive magazine for young people for more than 10 years.

Prioritising innovative and creative solutions in an evolving digital age, the company supports individuals, families and communities with digital technology, meaningful conversations and community space.

The awards evening, delivered by Social Business

Managing partner Mark Hobbs

Wales, brought together more than 220 of Wales’ leading figures from the social business sector, to celebrate the positive impact that social enterprises, co-operatives, and employee-owned businesses are having across Wales.

During the night, which was hosted by Welsh TV star and celebrated tenor Wynne Evans, ProMo-Cymru was presented with the accolade for Tech for Good, by category sponsor Reason Digital.

For more information on the Social Business Wales Awards and the Wales Co-operative Centre, and all the winners, visit www.wales.coop

Movers and shakers etc Loosemoores solicitors has welcomed trainee solicitor Adam Munn to the team. Adam is starting his training contract in the corporate/ commercial department…

Aidan Lang has been appointed as the new general director of the Welsh National Opera. He will take up the position in July 2019…

Cardiff-based Coles Funeral Directors is going from strength to strength as it announces the opening of its second premises in the old Barclays Bank on Heathwood Road this month, creating between seven to ten new jobs.

The funeral directors was also named as a finalist in four categories at the prestigious Good Funeral Guide Awards… Westbourne School has come top in The Telegraph’s league table for 2018 A-level results for small independent schools for the fourth year running.

BUSINESS INSIDER

Techniquest’s planetarium

SPACE RACE Techniquest is set to take one giant leap into space exploration thanks to a special project marking the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

The educational charity, based in Cardiff Bay, is developing a bespoke show for the centre’s Planetarium to mark the historic event, thanks to new funding from a leading government body.

Techniquest has been awarded £6,000 from the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission in 2019.

The funds will be used to develop the innovative new show, which will take visitors on a 360degree journey through the solar system to explore the mysteries of the moon.

The funding was awarded after one of Techniquest’s science communicators, Martin Palmer-Smith, submitted the idea through its online ideas platform, Simply Do Ideas. The platform is a digital suggestion box which allows staff to pitch ideas and feedback opinions.

Following his submission, his idea was taken forward to the STFC where it received significant recognition, resulting in financial support of £6,000.

It has also received a £1,000 donation from Tula Trust to help deliver its school outreach programme, which reaches more than 50,000 school pupils in Wales annually with its inspirational STEM-focused programmes.

For more: www.techniquest.org

A SPACE TO GROW

The Griffiths team with staff and volunteers from Chapter

The staff at Chapter Arts Centre have been enjoying a lovely new garden thanks to Griffiths Civil Engineering and Construction company.

Griffiths staff spent three days regenerating a disused garden turning it into a welcoming break out space for more than 200 staff and volunteers.

Terry Davies of Griffiths Civil Engineering and Construction says, “Griffiths Construction will always try to help the community as a thank you for any disruption or inconvenience we may have caused. Chapter Arts is a beacon of light within the Canton community and when we found out the inner garden was in need of some refurbishment, it was a pleasure for Griffiths staff to help. Many volunteers and staff use the garden and now it is spruced up, we hope even more pleasure will be experienced.”

For more: www.chapter.org

BUSINESSES ENCOURAGED TO GET CREATIVE FOR AWARDS Wouldn’t you like to get your hands on a Cardiff Life Award?

© HANNAH TIMM

Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 Cardiff Life Awards, as momentum builds towards another spectacular business event. Local companies are encouraged to get involved – and there are a variety of ways to do so.

With the awards now less than six months away, businesses are able to show their support and align their brand with the Cardiff Life Awards in several different ways.

“Just one of the ways to get on board with Cardiff’s biggest business event is through sponsorship,” explains Steph Dodd, events director at MediaClash, Cardiff Life’s publisher. “Sponsors benefit from an unrivalled long-term marketing campaign, which peaks in March.”

The event’s organisers are also keen to hear from companies who may have creative ways to partner with the awards, such as through an interesting product or service.

“As well as backing one of our categories, businesses can also sponsor our shoulder events,” says Steph. “These include the Finalists’ & Sponsors’ Reception, the Champagne reception on Awards

night and our Winners’ Dinner.”

The 2018 Awards saw more than 250 nominations and a glittering ceremony with more than 400 guests in attendance, with more on the waiting list. The awards were

trending on Twitter, such was the huge interest in them.

Those hoping to become finalists are also encouraged to begin considering their entries, with nominations opening on 14 November. The awards are free to enter, and companies can enter multiple categories. Tickets are now on sale via the awards website.

Already showing their support for the awards is headline sponsor Cardiff Airport, platinum sponsors Jelf, and an impressive list of category sponsors which includes: Cardiff BID, Genero, Savills, Robertson Solicitors, Chapel 1877, WSET and Hotel Indigo.

To join the bill of our Sponsors and to benefit from the awards, please contact Mark George on mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk For more: www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 75

CARDIFF FESTIVAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

Saturday 3 November - Saturday 10 November 2018

N ATIO C U ED

PEO PLE

PS MA

2018 CARDIFF FESTIVAL of SOCIAL SCIENCE

Celebrating and raising awareness of outstanding social science research at Cardiff University.

Events include debates, film screenings and workshops for the general public, school students and third sector/policy professionals. Find out how social science influences our social, economic and political lives.

Various venues across Cardiff | Free admission www.cardiff.ac.uk/festival-of-social-science #ESRCFestival @CUSocSciFest

business insider

Great taste

Adam and Claire Pledger, owners of the Park House, take us behind the scenes of the fine dining restaurant When did you first take over the Park House?

Adam: I joined the business in 2005 with a former business partner.

Claire: And I joined in 2009.

What were you doing before then?

A: I owned a wine merchant in Cardiff for five years.

C: I owned and ran a beauty salon in the city. In some ways it’s a very different industry, however it’s similar in the sense that customer interaction and service plays such a big part at Park House and not only was I used to that from dealing with my clients, but it was also a part that I loved.

How did you first get into hospitality?

A: My family background was hospitality, however I did a degree in marine biology and had plans to study this further. On arriving in Cardiff as a student I ran a bar while the 1999 rugby world cup was on and somehow never made it to the sea!

C: I came to hospitality through Adam. I came on board initially to run the wedding side of the business after closing my salon. I felt I needed a change and a new challenge after being in the beauty industry for such a long time, and that’s what I got!

What are the best things about working in this industry?

C: The characters we meet and the stories they have – when people come

to Park House they are generally very relaxed and open up more.

This makes every day different and enjoyable, no two days are the same!

A: Because of our amazing wine list we get to try lots of incredible wines normally with new creations from our head chef Matt Waldron How has the industry changed since the start of your career?

A: We’ve seen a huge rise in chain restaurants within the city with sadly some of the smaller independent restaurants and bars going. We feel it’s important that people know where their food comes from and many chain restaurants do use frozen and pre-prepped food. At Park House, however, we make everything in house and we value the team’s expertise and talent that goes into each creation. In our fast forward culture we have lost the art of eating well and appreciating fine dining and the art of conversation. However, I feel that a change is coming and a return to these values is happening. I do believe there is a large amount of the population that desire something unique, and as so many people cook well at home, when people dine out they want to experience something exceptional. We believe that this luxury experience can be offered daily at Park House.

What advice would you give someone looking to work in hospitality?

“In our fast forward culture we have lost the art of eating well and appreciating fine dining and the art of conversation”

A: Find the area you truly love as this industry isn’t an easy one. But once you find your niche the rewards are great and your passion shines through.

If your motivator is money don’t get into fine dining because the only people who last in the industry are those who truly care about creating exceptional dining experiences with wonderful food and wine.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given?

A & C: Have passion and persistence.

Never give up on your dreams What plans have you got for the Park House?

C: Our sole purpose is to put Cardiff on the exceptional dining map, worldwide.

We want to be known as the house of great taste in Cardiff and effortlessly inclusive for anyone wanting to come and dine with us for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea or even our Sunday Roast which will be back soon by popular demand.

A: We have many goals, we have been taking on all of our customer feedback in efforts to constantly raise the bar and we are working on reducing our carbon footprint.

Our head chef Matt Waldron is a very popular choice and he has helped us reduce our carbon footprint

monumentally by bringing on board exceptional suppliers across Wales.

We are always working on sustaining and developing a wine list that makes us a destination restaurant and wine bar. We were overwhelmed to recently win two AA awards for not only the best wine list in Wales, but also the best wine list in the whole of the UK. This is credit to our team and supplier partners who have worked tirelessly to support our aspirations. This now gives us a platform to really go for some food awards in 2019.

What do you think sets the Park House apart from other restaurants in Cardiff?

C: There are many things! The setting is wonderful as we are a romantic Grade I listed building by Gothic revivalist William Burges. We also have the best wine list in the UK, all our exceptional staff have trained and worked at the highest levels and our young and dynamic head chef really cares about delivering extraordinary, authentic menus, flavours and food to the highest possible standard.

All of this amounts to an unrivalled dining experience in Cardiff, brought to you by a family business for more than a decade.

For more: www.parkhouserestaurant.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 77

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS 2018 CHARITY WINNER SPONSORED BY

For the last eight years, Dreams and Wishes has been working with families across the UK, helping to build happy memories for seriously ill children and their families by making wishes come true! We find out more from charity ambassador Wendy Hobbs How did it feel to win a Cardiff Life award?

I was overwhelmed that Dreams and Wishes won the prestigious Charity award and delighted that it received recognition for its outstanding work for seriously ill children and their families. The award has helped to raise the charity’s awareness, and it has highlighted the tireless commitment of the wonderful team of volunteers whose aim it is to grant as many dreams and wishes as possible.

Why do you think Dreams and Wishes won?

I believe that Dreams and Wishes won the award because it is a unique charity that is 100 per cent volunteer-based and 100 per cent of every single penny raised goes to seriously ill children and their families who suffer so much. The charity is very unusual as they have no paid members of staff, do not pay for advertising or premises, and no deductions whatsoever are made from the funds raised.

How did the Dreams and Wishes charity come about?

Dreams and Wishes was founded in

2011 by Mr Tony Curtis MBE, who is also the chairman and a full time volunteer for the charity.

In a few sentences can you describe what Dreams and Wishes does?

Dreams and Wishes is dedicated to helping seriously ill children by making their dreams and wishes come true. The charity works with families providing vital support throughout the child’s illness as well as helping to build happy memories by granting lifelong wishes. Whatever the child’s dream or wish is, the amazing team of volunteers are dedicated to making it happen.

What kinds of dreams and wishes have you made come true?

The charity has granted thousands of dreams and wishes to children and their families, and it is the aim to continue to ensure that every child it works with is able to fulfil their dream. Some of the children have met their favourite TV stars, flown in a helicopter, visited Legoland, had a bedroom makeover or their own playhouse built.

“WHATEVER THE CHILD’S DREAM OR WISH IS, THE AMAZING TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING IT HAPPEN”

© STUDIO 87

DREAMS AND WISHES

Wendy Hobbs and Jayne Pierson

What plans do you have for Dreams and Wishes?

As one of its volunteers, and an ambassador for the charity, I continue to work closely with Tony, and the team to help grant more wishes per month, and to keep raising the charity’s profile. Also, I take every opportunity to connect with more people, schools and businesses in the community, collaborate on fundraising events and suggest new and exciting ways of creating more memories for very special children.

Who are your fundraising heroes?

The charity regards all of its fundraisers as heroes and heroines, as they have very kindly given up their time to help grant the dreams and wishes of children who can often spend years in and out of hospital suffering painful treatments.

What advice would you give someone looking to start a charity?

I would encourage a person to find a cause that they are passionate about and then work for a charity before setting up on their own, as it is important to understand how they operate and how to register a charity.

What do you love most about being in Cardiff?

What I love about living in Cardiff is that it is a vibrant city, with a high concentration of cultural venues, its close proximity to beautiful beaches and vast countryside. The elegant civic centre is steeped in history with

an iconic medieval castle, a National Museum housing world-class art, and it has the coolest places to eat. It’s not possible to get bored in Cardiff with so many fun events, including smash hit musicals at the Millenium Centre, and exciting sporting events at the Principality Stadium. I love fashion, and Cardiff has fast become top of the shops with a combination of designer brands, high street names, and the unique boutiques that you can find in some of the oldest arcades in the country. There’s something for everyone in Cardiff, from catching a boat from Cardiff Bay to Penarth Marina, that offers beautiful views over the water, or visiting St Fagans, the number one go to destination for Welsh culture, architecture, history and traditions that is spread over acres of parkland. Cardiff is truly a desirable, welcoming and friendly place to live.

In what ways can people support Dreams and Wishes?

There are so many ways to help the charity. The community can support its events, share the website details and social media posts of the wishes granted, and encourage or organise fundraising, including bring and buy sales, auctions, coffee mornings, cake sales, competitions, dress down days, or fun activities like getting fit to help grant more special wishes to very sick children and their families.

For more: www.dreamsandwishescharity.org

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 79

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Caegwyn Road Whitchurch ÂŁ650,000 EPC = C pa black Whitchurch 02920 612328

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PROPERTY A PL ACE TO C ALL HOME

THE PLAS TO BE Properties like Llanmihangel come along once in a blue moon. It’s so special you feel it should be turned over to the National Trust rather than shown on the open market…

84 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

property

W

here to start with Plas Llanmihangel? Well let’s see – is it the 10 acres of grounds?

Or is it the house’s centuries-spanning history? Or maybe you go giddy at the illustrious list of erstwhile residents from Sheriffs, to Justices of the Peace and Lord Mayors? Or perhaps you thrill to a floorplan that incudes a Medieval Hall, a three-storey tower and turret?

Well don your hooped skirt and corset (or your codpiece and ruff, for that matter), let’s go on a tour of this gem.

Reported to date from the 12th century, the majority of this multi-layered pile was built in the mid 1500s with subsequent alterations through the 18th and 19th centuries.

Essentially the house is two suites of rooms, centred around an impossibly grand Medieval hall, which stands an impressive one-and-a-half storeys high and is rife with historic features, including the ceiling which is believed to be the finest surviving intact late Elizabethan decorative plasterwork ceiling in Glamorgan, carved frieze panels, gilded carved arms of Elizabeth I and an elaborate fireplace.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 85

property

And as you roam through the numerous rooms of the house, you will discover yet more clues to the history of the building with decorative ceilings, carved panelling everywhere you look.

On the ground floor you’ll find a kitchen/breakfast room, one of the bedrooms (there are 12 altogether) as well as a butler’s room (natch!), a workshop and oodles of storage space.

The first floor however, is where the living space really begins in earnest. As well as the historic hall, there’s a dining room, a further small kitchen, drawing room, another reception as three bedrooms.

The second floor is divided into two wings, with three bedrooms in each, and the third floor holds the final two bedrooms, as well as a study.

As you’d expect from a property of this nature, everything is on a grand scale so you certainly won’t find yourself short of space, and with so much room to play with there’s scope for plenty of flexibility to really make it work for you. Perhaps you’ve dreamed of a having your own cinema, wine cellar or games room – with this house just about anything is possible.

Outside you’ll find 10 acres, with beautiful gardens, which would make an ideal setting for an elegant soirée.

This country pile just oozes grandeur and possibilities, all it needs is a loving owner to help build on its history. Could that be you? n

86 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

House numbers Guide price

£1.3million

Bedrooms 12 Medieval halls 1 Towers

1

Sq ft

7,105

For more: Savills, 5th Floor, 2 Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3FD; www.savills.co.uk

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Where there's a will...

The experts at BERRY SMITH LAWYERS can offer advice on all aspects of family law

W

hen my husband got divorced in 2012, he made a will leaving everything to his two sons by his previous marriage. I have been married to him for 18 months after living with him for three years. My husband suffers from heart disease and I am concerned that he has not made a new will. If anything were to happen to him, would his two sons be able to claim our house, and would I be evicted?

A: No, they would not be able to automatically claim the house and evict you. Once you get married, any will that your husband previously made is then cancelled. The only exception is where the will was clearly made, “in contemplation of marriage” so that the intended spouse was taken into consideration.

So (assuming that your husband’s earlier will was not made in contemplation of marriage to you), your husband’s will would be invalid should anything happen to him. His estate would be

divided as if he had never made a will and under these rules, you would receive the first £250,000 of his estate and a life interest in half the remainder.

You do need to be aware however, that if his children are still dependent, it may be possible for them or their mother to make a claim on their behalf, if this does not leave them with reasonable maintenance provision. Given that this uncertainty is far from ideal, you should discuss your feelings of vulnerability with your husband.

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Katie McColgan

CARDIFF LIVES

“I couldn’t do anything which involved sitting at a desk all day – I absolutely love being out on site in my hard hat and boots!”

Caroline Vanner The head of residential sales and development for Savills Cardiff talks coats, coffee and her Radyr roots Hi Caroline! Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’ve worked in the property sector for my whole adult life and I love it – especially in Cardiff where the city is changing and evolving all the time. It’s an inspiring place to live. I thrive on being to help a wide sector of people and love that I’m involved in so much regeneration across the city.

Where in Cardiff do you live and what makes it special?

I currently live on the western outskirts but my roots remain firmly in Radyr. Despite travelling a lot when I was younger, our family always kept a home there and my mother, sister and close friends are all still there. I spend most weekends at the little Italian in the village or the new wine bar, which is equally enjoyable!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

It’s difficult to measure projects against each other as each scheme I’ve worked on has brought something new and I get attached to developments in different ways

and for different reasons. That said, there is always a joy in helping my clients and buyers make a fresh start in a new home or deliver the best scheme they have ever built or just advising the industry on what to build next. My role is massively varied and very rewarding.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I have a wonderful close circle of girlfriends and we regularly all get together on weekends to put the world to rights. If we could invite some strong opinionated women to debate with us – let’s say Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama and Victoria Beckham – that would make for an interesting night.

Who would play you in a film about your life?

I’ve been told al lot over the years that I remind people of Meg Ryan.

I’m never sure how to take that!

What job would you be terrible at?

I revel in the fast-paced, everchanging nature of my job and wouldn’t enjoy a repetitive role!

90 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

I couldn’t do anything which involved sitting at a desk all day – I absolutely love being out on site in my hard hat and boots!

What’s on your bookshelf at the moment?

I enjoy the challenge of being a professional woman in an industry dominated by men and find a lot of inspiration in books such as The Power by Rhonda Byrne and We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

by Gillian Anderson. I also love autobiographies for a holiday read – delving into other people’s histories and viewpoints is always an eye-opener.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Red Wine and cheese. I’m not a big foodie but I love popping in to one of the amazing delicatessens in the city centre and selecting a few treats for the cheese board and popping open a bottle to unwind. I love entertaining also so will always try something new with my friends.

What’s your favourite piece of clothing?

Not a single piece but a type – coats. I am perpetually cold and am therefore naturally drawn to additional layers. I have all kinds, from workwear trenches and duffels to denim and biker minis. I also love my winter boots! There is nothing better than a lovely walk or bike ride around one of our lovely parks in Cardiff on a crisp autumnal day.

What’s your earliest childhood memory?

My father was a captain in the Merchant Navy and I was fortunate enough to travel

extensively with my family when I was younger, and roaming the ships with my twin sister and getting into mischief is one of my earliest memories. I could never sit still or read a book quietly. I would always be climbing something or breaking something!

Favourite places to eat/drink and shop in Cardiff?

Coffee is an essential food group to me and Cardiff has a fantastic selection of independent coffee shops and tea houses such as Milk & Sugar and Coffi Co. They are also great for informal client meetings over breakfast or brunch.

Tell us about a secret/ underrated Cardiff spot we might not be aware of…

Cardiff has so many varied districts and suburbs, I think I’ve proved I’m partial to Radyr but I’ve also been known to do a military boot camp in Bute Park. We can take for granted having a beautiful green lung right in our city centre and there are a whole host of fun and quirky activities to enjoy in all of our city parks.

We’d better let you get on….

What are you doing as soon as you’ve done this?

As the UK’s fastest growing city, Cardiff is a residential development hotbed at the moment, between live site sales management, meeting with new clients to discuss upcoming proposals, consulting on architectural and interior design and signing up for our office charity Spinathon, I’m definitely going to need that coffee today – or a glass of something cold! n www.savills.co.uk

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