Cardiff Life - Issue 157

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 157 / OCTOBER 2016 / £3

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ISSUE 157 / OCTOBER 2016 / FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD / MIRANDA SAWYER / COOL CARS

!)

CELEBRATING RATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

THE

SWEETEST THINGS THE PICK OF THIS AUTUMN’S MENUS

editor’s letter / Issue 157 / OCTOBER 2016

18

STEAMY!

Eat your way through autumn at some of Cardiff’s best independent restaurants

Up in lights Phew – how good was that? After all those months of hype and anticipation, City Of The Unexpected – Cardiff’s magical, two-day celebration of Llandaffborn author Roald Dahl – duly delivered the craziest, most colourful spectacle, way beyond all our wildest dreams. Turn to page 10 for a few snapshots and relive a weekend that’ll surely live long in the memory of those who were there.

So, how to follow it? Well, we’re also going big on autumn menus, as we find out what’s cooking at our favourite local restaurants and food haunts.

Arts and culture are high on the agenda, too: ahead of her appearance at this month’s Cardiff Book Festival, journalist and broadcaster Miranda Sawyer tells us about tackling mid-life crises and how to handle them with humour and candour, as described in her book, Out Of Time. And we preview Sherman Theatre’s new production The Weir, a chilling contemporary classic that brims with heartfelt humour and confessions of deepest fears in the dead of night. Sleep easy, now...

Tipyn o ryfeddod Wel, dyna chi sioe! Ar ôl misoedd o gyhoeddusrwydd ac edrych ymlaen cafwyd y sioe fwyaf rhyfeddol a lliwgar, a oedd y tu hwnt i’n disgwyliadau ni i gyd, yn rhan o’r digwyddiad deuddydd cyfareddol a gynhaliwyd yng Nghaerdydd i roi teyrnged i’r awdur Roald Dahl a anwyd yn Llandaf. Trowch i dudalen 10 i weld rhai lluniau ac ail-fyw penwythnos a oedd yn fythgofiadwy i’r rhai a fu yno.

Felly, sut mae dilyn hynny? Wel, rydym yn rhoi tipyn o sylw i fwydlenni’r hydref wrth i ni ddarganfod beth sydd gan ein hoff fwytai a’n hoff leoedd bwyd i’w gynnig.

Mae’r celfyddydau a diwylliant yn cael lle blaenllaw hefyd: mae Miranda Sawyer, y newyddiadurwr a’r darlledwr a fydd yn ymddangos yng Ngwyl ˆ Lyfrau Caerdydd y mis hwn, yn siarad yn ddiffuant ac yn llawn hiwmor am y profiad o fynd i’r afael ag argyfyngau canol oed a sut i ymdopi â nhw, fel y disgrifir yn ei llyfr, Out Of Time. At hynny, rydym yn cynnig rhagflas ar gynhyrchiad newydd Theatr y Sherman, The Weir, sef clasur o ddrama gyfoes, iasol sy’n llawn hiwmor didwyll a chyffesion a wneir ym mherfeddion nos ynghylch ofnau dyfnaf pobl. Cysgwch yn dawel...

Velimir Ilic Editor vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk Follow us on Twitter: @CardiffLifeMag

REGULARS / ISSUE 157 / OCTOBER 2016

MAIN FEATURE

M EET T H E T EAM

18 Autumn Food

Editor Velimir Ilic vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk

It’s dark and chilly: hunker down at these fine local restaurants

Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Andrea Callanan, Hugo Ball, Katie Kissoon, Mal Rogers, Rhys Williams, Sam O’Sullivan, Sophie Rae

OPINION 15 A Man’s World Rhys Williams on why Cardiff is having a real moment

Advertising manager Andy Baker andy.baker@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Claire Hawkins claire.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Ian Fernando ian.fernando@mediaclash.co.uk Commercial director Steve Hawkins steve.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk

FOOD 26 Restaurant Sophie Rae is wowed by Barley & Rye: beer and food heaven

29 Recipes Two classic recipes from Angela Gray to warm the cockles

THE ARTS 33 Arts Intro Romance, tragedy and Rhys Ifans

34 What’s On Thrilling theatre, marvellous music, amazing art... you get the picture

40 Miranda Sawyer The arts critic and self-confessed ‘professional gobshite’, no less

44 The Weir Deepest fears confessed in the dead of night in the chilling new drama from Sherman Theatre

SHOPPING 48 Editor’s Choice Blue is the hue

52 Fashion Falling for autumn

HEALTH & BEAUT Y 56 Squeezed out The LBD regime – hup to it!

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Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Christina West christina.west@mediaclash.co.uk 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

MOTORING

PROPERT Y

60 City Slickers

84 Property Showcase

Three cool cars to be seen around town in

An immaculate five-bedroom semi in Penarth

62 The Swedest Thing Matt Bielby takes Volvo’s ‘safe sexy’ XC90 out for a spin

TRAVEL 66 Gower Trip A long weekend in the glorious Gower peninsula

BUSINESS 79 Business Insider More good news snippets from Cardiff’s commercial sector

DEPARTMENTS 10 Spotlight City Of The Unexpected, Cardiff Contemporary and Welsh Music Prize news

71 Snapped!

Party time in Cardiff and surrounds – did you get papped?

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.

About MediaClash We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrate the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs. (crumbsmag.com, @ CrumbsMag) and wedding title Vow (@VowMag).

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

90 Cardiff Lives Alexandra Wall, founder of sustainable contemporary fashion label Xandra Jane

On the cover All-out chocolate deliciousness from Epicure at Celtic Manor

C A R D I F F: I T S L I F E A N D T I M E S

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT…

CITY OF THE UNEXPECTED What a weekend! Cardiff’s gloriumptious City Of The Unexpected, a celebration of Roald Dahl, was a mass of fun, colour, excitement and jaw-dropping spectacles – here are the pictures to prove it…

A magical tribute to the much-loved and much-missed Llandaff-born children’s author Roald Dahl, City Of The Unexpected was undoubtedly a huge boost for Cardiff. There were crowds from all over Wales and beyond, performers from all walks of life took part, and the world’s media were focused on Wales’ capital city.

Sunday in Bute Park showed Cardiff at its best: hundreds of families gathered in their pyjamas, sharing their creative, Dahlian 10 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

picnics and joining in a giant twmpath. A fantastic tribute to the great man.

“The phenomenal response to City Of The Unexpected has proven how powerful the arts can be in engaging and inspiring communities, and in bringing huge social and economic benefit to our capital city,” said Kully Thiarai from National Theatre Wales and Graeme Farrow from Wales Millennium Centre, who co-produced the event. “It could not have happened without the talents of the

thousands who volunteered and took part, the commitment and passion of the many artists and technical teams involved, nor without the generous support of our many partners and funders. On behalf of Wales Millennium Centre and National Theatre Wales, we would like to extend a huge and heartfelt ‘THANK YOU’ to them all!”

The Roald Dahl centenary celebrations, marking 100 years since his birth, continue throughout the year. For more, see roalddahl.com

SPOTLIGHT

The mind goggles...

CITY OF THE UNEXPECTED: THE STATS We’ve been number-crunching…

Youngest participant: 7 The giant peach (seven metres in diameter!) took 60 hours to paint… …and six hours to inflate

34 Lindy Hoppers 18 synchronised swimmers in paddling pools 15 biker grannies Oldest participant: 84

NYD Cardiff

@nydCardiff

CARDIFF’S NEWEST BURGER, GRILL AND SHAKE BAR! Taking Christmas party bookings NOW Open – 12-2pm, 5-11pm Monday to Friday Saturday 12 -11pm. Sunday – 12 – 4pm

157 City Road CF24 3BQ | 02920489790

SPOTLIGHT

ARTS

CARDIFF CONTEMPORARY Get ready for 31 days of remarkable new work and ‘visual culture’ across the Welsh capital, as the city’s biennial festival of international contemporary arts returns Left a bit, right a bit: this year’s Cardiff Contemporary is themed around ‘communication’

SEVEN DEADLY SINS Our occasional mini Q&A with visiting and local performers. This month, artist ROBERT MONTGOMERY bares his wicked soul…

LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today?

My girlfriend, the poet Greta Bellamacina.

GREED: What should you be cutting down on (non-food and drink!)

Worrying too much.

GLUTTONY: What single thing could you happily eat or drink all day long?

Cheese. I could happily eat cheese for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. Sometimes I do.

From a bombastic night of collaborative performance at Cardiff Bay’s redundant Old Post Office, a bright sculptural welcome for weary travellers at Cardiff Central station, and a cameo appearance from comedian and writer Stewart Lee – these are just a few of the artistic and cultural discoveries you can expect at this year’s Cardiff Contemporary festival.

Themed around ‘communication’, the festival will draw together international and Wales-based artists to charge the city streets, galleries, forgotten spaces and communities with the crackle of new and exciting ideas in multi-disciplinary visual, sonic and performance arts. A temporary hub, ‘The Angel’, located across a derelict floor beneath the city’s Angel Hotel, will include five new gallery spaces, and brand new commissions will radiate across Cardiff.

Amongst the artists and groups confirmed so far are Megan Broadmeadow, Laura Ford, Robert Montgomery (see Seven Deadly Sins, right), Heather and Ivan Morison, Anthony Shapland, Rob Smith and Charles Danby, tactileBOSCH, Spit & Sawdust with Edwin Burdis, and a multi-format collaboration between Richard James, Angharad Van Rjiswijk, Andy Fung and comedian/writer Stewart Lee, who developed his spoken word contribution on long walks around Cardiff’s rural areas.

“People have never been so connected in the world, so it’s quite timely that ‘communication’ is the theme for this year’s festival,” said Cllr Phil Bale, City of Cardiff Council leader. “We’re hoping that the featured artists will inspire Cardiff and the world with the ideas they are presenting.”

Cardiff Contemporary takes place from 20 October to 19 November across the city. For more, see cardiffcontemporary.co.uk 12 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SLOTH: What single thing should you be really putting your back into right now?

Building the huge metal structure for my piece for Cardiff Contemporary, which is staring at me from the other side of the studio… instead of sitting here eating cheese and doing this interview.

WRATH: What/who makes you angry?

The way certain sections of the British media have been demonising refugees makes me really angry. As a country, Britain isn’t actually taking anything near our fair share of refugees, and I think that’s a national disgrace. We are leaving broken-hearted families to die in the sea or be held in freezing cold camps. We have to realise you don’t get on a dodgy boat from Syria with your whole family and just a few possessions unless your life is in danger and you have a broken heart. We have to realise these families are just the same as our families and we have to help them more.

ENVY: Who are you jealous of?

I can’t think of anyone. I think I have a pretty fortunate life.

PRIDE: What’s your proudest achievement?

I think I’m just most proud of managing to live and work as an artist, and run my studio and continue to make my work. That’s a big enough achievement for me.

Robert Montgomery will feature at this year’s Cardiff Contemporary festival (see left for further info). For more: robertmontgomery.org

THOSE 12 SHORTLISTED WELSH MUSIC PRIZE ALBUMS IN FULL:

(Clockwise from this pic) The Anchoress, 9Bach, Cate Le Bon and Meilyr Jones

9BACH Anian (Real World) ALUN GAFFEY Alun Gaffey (Sbrigyn Ymborth) CATE LE BON Crab Day (Turnstil/Drag City) CLIMBING TREES Borders (Staylittle Music) DATBLYGU Porwr Trallod (Ankstmusik) MEILYR JONES 2013 (Moshi Moshi) PLU Tir A Golau (Sbrigyn Ymborth) RIGHT HAND LEFT HAND Right Hand Left Hand (Jealous Lovers Club) SIMON LOVE It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time (Fortuna Pop!) SKINDRED Volume (Napalm Records) SWNAMI Swnami (Ika Ching) THE ANCHORESS Confessions Of A Romance Novelist (Kscope)

music

PRIZE TUNES Crikey, it’s that time of year already... The shortlist for this year’s Welsh Music Prize, championing original music from Wales, has been announced – and there are some real belters Celebrating the breadth of music emerging from Wales over the past year, this year’s Welsh Music Prize puts the spotlight on 12 artists, including Cate Le Bon, Meilyr Jones, 9Bach, The Anchoress and more. The WMP ceremony itself, at which the winner will be announced, will be held on 24 November at Depot in Cardiff.

“This is an incredibly strong shortlist,” said music promoter John Rostron, who co-founded the Welsh Music Prize with BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens back in 2011. “Twelve very different records, made by some well-established artists and some new emerging stars with songs that embrace a whole host of genres, sounds and influences – congratulations to them all. So many great albums are being released from Wales at the moment – it’s a really good time to be listening to new music and finding some new favourites.”

For more: welshmusicprize.com

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A MAN’S WORLD

CARDIFF NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME

RHYS WILLIAMS Ou r ma n at Ca rdif f Blues

PURPLE PATCH Roald Dahl’s City Of The Unexpected, Cardiff Blues’ dream start to the season, Street Food Circus... the city is having a real moment, says Rhys The finale of Cardiff’s rip-roaring City Of The Unexpected

C

ardiff never ceases to amaze me. I have always known Wales, and our great city, can put on a major sporting event like nobody else. I have been fortunate enough to go to the opening day of the Ashes, the Ryder Cup, Velothon Wales, the Cardiff Half Marathon, and, of course, numerous Heineken Cup Finals and international rugby matches.

But the recent City Of The Unexpected weekend, celebrating Roald Dahl’s centenary, was my first ‘cultural’ event, and it totally blew me away. As with any major event, there were some critical views; I understand it got incredibly busy at certain points, but that just shows the pull and attraction Cardiff now has.

I don’t think you could find anyone who didn’t read Roald Dahl books when they were younger, and it is so hard for me to nail down a favourite, but The BFG, The Witches and Danny, The Champion Of The World were all up there.

It’s amazing to think this unbelievable author, of world acclaim, was born and grew up here, in Llandaff; it’s something that we should continue to shout about from the rooftops. Cardiff did the centenary proud and I was lucky enough to attend the pyjama party at Bute Park. I thoroughly enjoyed it – the atmosphere was brilliant and it was great to be part of the show.

Turning our attention to a different Danny [Seamless – Ed]...

Danny Wilson has made a great start to the season with Cardiff Blues. We were targeting a flying start, and we have to be delighted with the way it has gone to date. When it comes to rugby, there is such a feelgood factor around the squad and the wider city at the moment. Whenever I bump into somebody, the first thing they want to talk about is Cardiff Blues – it just demonstrates the appetite for rugby here.

Our crowds are growing and building momentum, and it’s great to be looking to sell out key fixtures. Hopefully, we can continue to build on this initial success. It’s still very much early days, but we really couldn’t have asked for much more from the opening weeks.

Finally, it is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Cardiff’s fantastic Street Food Circus pop-up – another resounding success for our city. I wrote in my previous column about SFC’s unique buzz and my big love of meat, so I just couldn’t resist going back for more. Those Hang Fire ribs and that soft shell crab taco certainly didn’t disappoint – I’m already counting down the days until next year...

Rhys Williams is an ex-Wales and Cardiff Blues rugby star, now commercial director at the club. For more, see cardiffblues.com

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As the nights draw in, eat your way through autumn with the help of our guide to what’s cooking at some of Cardiff’s best restaurants. Wrap up warm, now...

By H UG O BA L L

Hot stuff: pop-up pizzaturned-permanent-venue Dusty Knuckle

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

AUTUMN FOOD

A

s you can probably feel from the crisp chill in the air and the golden leaves you’ve seen on the way to work, autumn has arrived.

We love this time of year: it’s all about wrapping up in a thick scarf, warming yourself by the fire and indulging in the sort of sticky comfort food that warms the soul. Bliss.

Around Cardiff and the Vale, of course, you’ll find all manner of fantastic independent eateries and award-winning quality restaurants to hunker down in – far too many to mention here, naturally, but here are some of our current favourites.

Go, dig in!

ARBENNIG

Hunker down because: It offers relaxed fine dining without any fuss, and seasonal dishes that change every week. Their Arbennig Food Emporium next door is great if you fancy something simpler – perfect for long Saturday morning brunches with the weekend supplements.

Fun fact: Bread is made daily to go with the week’s menu, using organic Welsh flour.

We’ll have the: Roast pork loin, rainbow chard, wild garlic dumplings and grain mustard cream. And, um, triple-cooked chips.

We can’t resist…

6-10 Romilly Crescent, Pontcanna; arbennig.co.uk

BAR 44

Hunker down because: Owners Owen and Tom Morgan’s (yep, they’re brothers) unbridled passion for modern Spanish food and drink really shines through in everything they do. Their unrivalled tapas, combining artisan ingredients from Spain’s finest independent suppliers and producers with high-quality local produce, is better even than we’ve had in Spain. There are branches in Cardiff, Penarth and Cowbridge, all with their own unique buzz.

Fun fact: Co-owner Owen is the only certified ‘sherry educator’ in Wales, having being trained in Jerez, Spain.

We’ll have the: Iberico pork fillet a la plancha, served rare, with black kale and romesco. Off-thescale delish.

15-23 Westgate Street, Cardiff (see website for other branches); bar44.co.uk

BULLY’S

Hunker down because: This is truly one of Cardiff’s little gems. Intimate, great atmosphere and innovative food. Given super-friendly owner Russell’s tendency to over-pour the wine, make sure you’re not driving…

Fun fact: The unique French wine list is sourced from small, passionate growers.

We’ll have the: Pan-seared grouse, confit leg, pancetta and pearl barley pithivier, and sautéed girolles, with port and blackberry sauce.

5 Romilly Crescent, Pontcanna; bullysrestaurant.co.uk

CELTIC MANOR RESORT

Hunker down because: Both the resort’s restaurants are gourmet treats. Cen, with former MasterChef finalist Larkin Cen in the kitchen, serves up inspired, stylishly-presented Asian fusion fare, while Richard Davies’ Epicure experience promises modern, luxurious, serious food. A Michelin star surely beckons.

Fun fact: Cen means ‘innovation’ in Chinese, apparently; and Epicure also offers a private dining room, for a more intimate lunch or dinner – if you thinking of proposing, perhaps?

We’ll have the: Cen’s sea bass ceviche, with lime, chilli, beetroot, fennel meringue and black sesame; and Epicure’s six-course tasting menu – total indulgence.

Coldra Woods, Usk Valley, Newport; celtic-manor.com

CHAPEL 1877

Hunker down because: You get to eat in an opulently restored, jaw-droppingly gorgeous Victorian chapel. Ensconce yourself in one of the plush velvet booths and enjoy a spot of luxurious dining from their gastro bar or a la carte menus.

Their Sunday lunches are really popular, too.

Fun fact: Built in 1877, the building was originally designed by young Penarth architect Henry C Harris, renowned for his incredible structures throughout Cardiff and Wales.

We’ll have the: Roast loin of Andrew Morgan’s venison with Parma ham, pearl barley, Jerusalem artichokes and wild mushrooms.

Churchill Way, Cardiff; chapel1877.com

CHEZ FRANCIS

Hunker down because: It promises delicious, authentic French country food by Francis Dupuy, the restaurateur behind Pier 64 and former Cardiff institution Le Gallois. They’re just about to open a much-anticipated second branch in Penarth too, with interior design by Beti Biggs owner Jan Williams.

Fun fact: They do a lovely ‘café gourmand’ for afters – coffee or tea, with a trio of minidesserts: mousse au chocolat, crème brûlée and tarte tatin.

We’ll have the: Pan-fried chicken livers with brandy sauce and Parmentier potatoes.

185 Cowbridge Rd East, Cardiff & Glebe Street, Penarth; chez-francis.co.uk w

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AUTUMN FOOD

THE CLASSROOM

Hunker down because: You’ll want to make the most of the incredible views across the city, as seen from the fifth floor of this überplush restaurant at Cardiff and Vale College.

Contemporary, European-style dishes are prepared in a teaching kitchen by trainee chefs, but you’d never know it – the food, seasonal and locally-sourced, is all top-notch.

Fun fact: The restaurant works in partnership with visiting professionals, who run monthly classes and guest chef takeovers.

We’ll have the: Pan-fried Cornish hake with fennel confit, saffron new potatoes, greens and dry sherry sauce, followed by mango buttermilk panna cotta, coconut snow, lime sorbet and mango tuile.

CAVC City Centre Campus, Dumballs Road, Cardiff; theclassroom.wales

THE CONWAY

Hunker down because: With its traditional bar, a living room-style dining room and cosy fireside sofas, Knife & Fork Food’s popular gastropub is always great to cosy up in. Try their other gastropubs, too: The Discovery in Lakeside and The Pilot in Penarth.

Fun fact: Knife & Fork Food director Sean Murphy once spent an hour discussing food with Bono from U2.

We’ll have the: Classic battered cod with chips, pea puree and tartare sauce.

58 Conway Road, Pontcanna; knifeandforkfood.co.uk Enjoy great tapas at Bar 44’s contemporary city centre restaurant

Cardiff and Vale College’s über-plush European-style restaurant The Classroom

DUSTY KNUCKLE

Hunker down because: The pop-up pizza venture-turned-restaurant has earned no end of praise, and its lip-smacking pizzas are second-tonone. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to witness co-owner Phill construct your supper right in front of you, before thrusting it into a blisteringly hot oven; proper culinary theatre.

Fun fact: Committed to provenance and sustainability, DP sources a whopping 80% of its ingredients from local suppliers.

We’ll have the: Signature Blas Y Mor pizza, with tomatoes, fior di latte, lardons, cockles, laverbread and samphire; great ingredients, and super-moreish.

The Printhaus, 70A Llandaff Road, Cardiff; dustyknucklepizza.co.uk

HANG FIRE SOUTHERN KITCHEN

Hunker down because: No-one, but no-one, does American BBQ-style food like these guys: this is full-on, authentic, Deep South-inspired ‘slow and low’ cooking. From soul food favourites such as smoked chicken and waffles to smoked and chargrilled St Louis spare ribs, it’ll definitely keep the chill from your bones.

Fun fact: Hang Fire gals Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn have even cooked for Dolly Parton – beat that!

We’ll have the: Pit Boss Plate, with brisket, Texas toast, St Louis ribs, Andouille sausage, Carolina-style pulled pork, warm cornbread and pit beans – well worth enduring the ensuing meat sweats for.

The Pumphouse, Hood Road, Barry; hangfiresouthernkitchen.com 20 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

WITH ITS

RUSTIC, HOMELY DINING ROOM AND BIG OLD WOOD-BURNER, THE HARE & HOUNDS IS AS CHARMING AS IT GETS

AUTUMN FOOD

HARE & HOUNDS

Hunker down because: This thriving old boozer (and *ahem* Cardiff Life Awards winner) in Aberthin is about as charming as it gets. It also has a rustic, homely dining room with a big old woodburner that will most definitely come into its own as the temperatures drop.

Fun fact: Aberthin-born owner/head chef Tom Watts-Jones learnt his craft at Fergus Henderson’s Michelin-starred St John restaurant in London.

We’ll have the: Baked lemon sole, with brown shrimp, salsify, mussels and dill.

Aberthin, near Cowbridge; hareandhoundsaberthin.com

RESTAURANT JAMES SOMMERIN

Hunker down because: Located on Penarth’s seafront, this award-winning destination restaurant is a fine dining experience you’re not likely to forget in a hurry. There are gorgeous rooms too, with lovely views over the Severn Estuary.

Fun fact: It’s just won its first Michelin star (congrats!) and was recently announced as the top Welsh entry in the 2016 Good Food Guide.

We’ll have the: Nine-course bespoke tasting menu, created for each and every table. Put the kitchen to the test!

The Esplanade, Penarth; jamessommerinrestaurant.co.uk

LAGUNA KITCHEN & BAR

Hunker down because: This longstanding city favourite, located at the Park Plaza hotel, consistently turns out beautifully presented modern dishes, packed with punchy flavour. Its go-to bar is still one of Cardiff’s buzziest spots after dark, too.

Fun fact: Not sure what to eat? Try the six-course Chef’s Table gourmet tasting menu, with handpicked wine to complement each course.

We’ll have the: 24-hour slow-cooked, honeyglazed pork belly, with crackling stick, Japanese baby apples, gratin potatoes, baby bok choi, butternut puree and cider sauce.

Greyfriars Road, Cardiff; lagunakitchenandbar.com

LOCKE & REMEDY

Hunker down because: This is comfort food central – sourdough pizzas, made with a secret recipe tomato sauce, and hand-crafted burgers, made from the best minced chuck, brisket and dry aged flank. Incredible cocktails, too.

Fun fact: It’s located on the site of Cardiff’s old library, in a grand, Grade II-listed Victorianbaroque building.

We’ll have the: Spinach and olive pizza, with mascarpone, spinach, black olives, soft boiled egg and grated nutmeg. And, naturally, a cheeky little cocktail: smoked cherry Manhattan, made with Bulleit Bourbon, Jim Beam black cherry, Cherry Heering liqueur, Lillet Blanc, Lillet Rouge and cherry syrup. Chin-chin!

18-19 Trinity Street, Cardiff; lockeandremedy.com

MILGI

Hunker down because: As well as being distinctly homely and welcoming, it dishes up all manner of modern, colourful and delicious veggie, vegan and gluten-free food, proving that meat-free doesn’t have to be boring.

Fun fact: It’s one of Cardiff’s coolest weekend venues, with a fab yurt out back.

We’ll have the: Aubergine fritters with minted yogurt, olive, almond and oregano salsa, steamed greens, goji berry and millet salad, preserved lemon purée and tahini dressing.

213 City Road, Cardiff; milgicardiff.com

PORRO

Typically intricate and colourful fare from Michelinstarred Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth

Hunker down because: The sister restaurant to The Potted Pig (see below) embraces the Italian philosophy of celebrating simple, quality ingredients. And owners/chefs Tom Furlong and Gwyn Myring should know all about that – the pair first met and bonded while cooking Italian food over a small stove.

Fun fact: Porro is just about to open a second branch on Wellfield Road in Roath.

We’ll have the: Pappardelle with braised Welsh ox cheek, followed by tiramisu parfait with chocolate sablé and coffee crumb – a twist on an Italian classic.

22 High Street, Llandaff; porrocardiff.com

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AUTUMN FOOD

PURPLE POPPADOM

Hunker down because: Cardiff is blessed with a holy trinity of great Indian restaurants (see also Keralan-influenced Mint & Mustard and the fun, Heston-ish fare at Moksh), to which Purple Poppadom’s nouvelle Indian cuisine is key.

Fun fact: PP’s award-winning chef Anand George is just about to publish his first cookbook, The 5000 Mile Journey.

We’ll have the: Tiffin Seabass: pan-seared fish, served on a bed of curry leaf-infused mashed potato, with a raw mango, ginger and coconut sauce and beetroot pachadi – Anand’s signature dish, no less.

Tempus at Tides at St David’s Hotel & Spa: informal dining in ritzy surroundings

185A Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff; purplepoppadom.com ‘Rib-roaring’ food at Hang Fire Southern Kitchen

THE POTTED PIG

Hunker down because: The menus are based on the sort of food that co-owners Tom and Gwyn love cooking and eating, so you always get a taste of what’s exciting them. There’s an unrivalled selection of bespoke gin, too.

Fun fact: The Observer’s Jay Rayner described it as “a gift to the city.”

We’ll have the: Er, potted pig with toast and pickles, of course. Or the whole suckling pig. Obviously.

27 High Street, Cardiff; thepottedpig.com

SOCIETY STANDARD

Hunker down because: This new bar/kitchen is seriously ‘now’, with a faux-industrial decor and an open kitchen knocking out relaxed, modern dishes to suit every mood; the menu tilts towards simple, feelgood staples such as truffled mac ’n’ cheese with pulled pork.

Fun fact: There are six beers on tap, showcasing great Welsh breweries such as Pipes and Mad Dog. We’ll have the: Latino Surf ’n’ Turf sharing platter, with chipotle-glazed chicken fillets, roasted sweet potato and grilled sweetcorn salad, Mexicanspiced prawn scampi, and smoked chicken presse with pineapple and chilli dressing. Yes, because we’re greedy; and no, we don’t share.

79-81 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff; societystandard.co.uk THE GOSSIP R UM O URS , N E W O PENING S ETC

The most exciting news is that Aberystwyth’s legendary restaurant and deli Ultracomida is bringing its deli/ pintxos bar Curado to Cardiff very soon.

We’ll keep you updated… And two of Cardiff’s hotel bars – The Goods Shed at Novotel, and Grey at the Hilton – have both had a bit of a makeover; good timing, with party season approaching… ffresh at Wales Millennium Centre is undergoing a refurb, too – expect it to

re-open in November with, we’re told, “a new concept”… And Andy Aston, formerly of The Kings Arms in Pentyrch, is set to take over The Long House, on the site of the old Traherne Arms in the Vale of Glamorgan – exciting!

We’re also looking forward to the longrumoured openings of Grillstock (get on with it!), and Marco Pierre White’s rooftop steakhouse, bar and grill (happening in May next year, allegedly) at the city’s new Hotel Indigo. Maybe even Raymond Blanc’s Brasserie Blanc, although we’ve been saying that for the last five years…

TEMPUS AT TIDES

Hunker down because: The bar and restaurant at the ritzy St David’s Hotel & Spa offers informal dining in stylish surroundings, with fantastic views across Cardiff Bay. Famous faces drop in all the time, so there’s always celeb-spotting potential.

Fun fact: It also does one of Cardiff’s finest afternoon teas – with a spot of champers, if you’re feeling flush.

We’ll have the: Grilled marinated halloumi with pomegranate and lamb’s leaf salad and citrus dressing – simple fare, while you concentrate on people-watching...

Havannah Street, Cardiff; thestdavidshotel.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 23

BOOK YOUR MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY HERE! Call 01446 775093, email info@arboreal.uk.com, or visit facebook or twitter.

WE ARE OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY AND BOXING DAY - BOOK NOW! KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR OUR LIVE MUSIC EVENTS TOO!

68 Eastgate, Cowbridge. 01446 775093

www.arboreal.uk.com

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

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

Barley & Rye Ditch the plonk [Are you mad? – Ed] and upgrade your tipple to the perfect pint at Cardiff’s bier bar and kitchen – beer and food-matching heaven, no less

By SOPH I E R A E

F

ancy a pint? The three key words that, for many, signal the end to a working week. Or if it’s been a particularly brutal one, a Wednesday night. As a capital city, Cardiff has its fair share of watering holes. For some, a stale beer mat and packet of Mr Porky’s finest will do; for others, it’s all about unwavering loyalty to Brains, Wales’ most iconic and longstanding brewer.

For the too-cool-for-school millennial tribe – who have influenced the unmistakable rise in craft breweries across the UK in recent years – Barley & Rye has no doubt been a welcome addition.

In terms of both its style and offering, the venue is pretty unique to Cardiff. A much-needed refurb to the former Fat Cat Café has transformed the once-unappealing space into a welcoming social hotspot, filled with neutral shades, natural wooden furnishings lined with hessian table runners and vases of wheat, and plush cream leather booths. It’s cosy yet spacious, and with the clever positioning of a low dividing wall, the small 30-seater dining area offers a secluded spot to enjoy a meal, while discerning punters line the bar and fill the sharing banquet-style tables.

If you’re venturing to the New Theatre opposite, the venue is really handy for pre-theatre dinner, too.

THE MENU OFFERS SOME

MAGICAL FOOD AND BEER PAIRINGS

Opened in January this year, a few teething problems were ironed out for a relaunch in the spring, with a tweaked menu from executive head chef Gareth Dobbs. It’s a menu that really stands out, thanks to the seamless balance of fine dining finesse – gleaned from Dobbs’ previous Le Gavroche residency – and a casual nod to Wales’ signature producers (Snowdonia’s Black Bomber cheddar and Tomos Watkin’s Cwrw Braf ale, for instance, both feature in our meal).

With 80 beers on offer from 20 countries, Dobbs’ menu offers some magical food/beer pairings. Starters

of mackerel toastie, served with fennel puree, cider and apple jelly, pickled apple, lemon gel and samphire, and a cheddar crème brûlée with tenderstem broccoli, tempura spring onion, broccoli and chive pesto and caramelised onion bread kicked off the night’s feasting, all of it topnotch. Once Instagrammed, the pretty ensemble was quickly washed down with a recommended half-pint of 4% Czech Pravha Pilsner (crisp, light and refreshing) and the American 6.2% Lagunitas IPA (mellow, caramel malt with a twang of hops).

Mains wowed even the couple next to us, who swiftly changed their order after catching sight of my herbcrusted cannon of lamb with a perfectly crisp shard of skin, smoked aubergine puree, moreish goat’s cheese and honey croquettes (the ultimate comfort food), and sweet potato and roasted shallots; a less-then-generous pouring of lamb jus was forgiven with the first bite of succulent, blushing meat. Dobbs’ signature Cwrw Braf-braised featherblade of beef tempted The Boy with a mountain of creamy chive mash, roasted veg and sticky, rich Cwrw Braf jus. I even managed to prize a forkful away from him, despite his ‘I don’t share’ steely glare. A sip of Whitstable Bay Blonde lager (spicy, floral overtones with a buttery biscuit base – ooh, I feel a song coming on!) and Chicago’s finest Goose Island IPA (fruity, dry malt and long hop finish) sealed the deal.

After what can only be described as a pretty faultless Friday night meal – if you’ve room to spare, share the lightest sticky toffee pudding with Whitstable Bay Black Oyster Stout ice cream and butterscotch sauce – the only downside, we reasoned, is the location: Barley and Rye is the designated driver on a street that reeks of the night before. Popular adjoining nightclubs Pryzm and Glam attract their own clientele; typically, they aren’t likely to be too bothered about seeking out the punchy aroma of a Beavertown Gamma Ray pale ale or the toasted grain and caramel scent of a Sleeman’s Honey Brown lager.

Nevertheless, if you’ve got the elbows to barge your way through those lively on-street crowds, then gastronomic treasure awaits inside. Trust me, it’s golden.

DINING DETAILS Barley & Rye, 2 Greyfriars Road, Cardiff CF10 3AD; Tel: 02920 345051; barleyandrye.co.uk Opening times Sun-Thurs noon-11pm (closed Mondays); Fri-Sat noon-midnight Prices Lunch: two courses £11, three courses £13.50; Sunday roast: one course £12, two courses £14.50, three courses £17; À la carte: starters from £4.75, mains from £12, desserts from £5.50 Vegetarian choice Good range of creative dishes for free-from/veggie diners; veggie-friendly cheeses, too! Drinks list If it wasn’t obvious already, beers are king here. Knowledgeable staff are happy to pair your food with a half-pint for each course Service/atmosphere Casual, warm and friendly service

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

RECIPE

FOOD

CARTE BLANCHE

As the nights draw in, warm your cockles with these two classics from celebrated local chef ANGELA GRAY, taken from her new book Winter Recipes, inspired by Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine

Roast partridge with pears and perry cider (Serves 4)

I

love game – it's just so flavourful and versatile; we use it at the cookery school in many ways, from tandoori on the BBQ to a classic raised pie. This recipe makes a lovely supper dish for friends.

Ingredients: 4 young, plump partridges 6 sprigs of thyme 12 juniper berries 1 level tsp sea salt 8 peppercorns 100g Welsh salted butter 8 thin rashers of good quality streaky bacon 2 small, firm (but ripe) pears 2 tbsps lemon juice 4 small, thick slices of rustic white bread, plus butter 2 tbsps redcurrant, blackberry, rowan or quince jelly 120ml perry cider (I love Gwynt y Ddraig Perry Vale) Method: 1. Check the partridges are in good shape – no stray feathers, broken bones or shot pellets. Preheat the oven to 220°C/180°C fan/gas 7).

2. Use a pestle and mortar (or a sharp knife and board) to prepare a little aromatic rub. Pull the leaves from the thyme stems and mash, pound or chop together with the juniper berries, sea salt and peppercorns. Mix with 3/4 of the butter. Spread all over the birds, heavily on the breasts.

3. Lay the bacon slices on your prep board then stretch them with the flat of a knife blade to make them longer and thinner.

Wrap them around the birds, forming an 'X' shape. Place in a roasting tin.

4. Cut each pear into six wedges and drizzle with the lemon juice. Melt the remaining butter in a non-stick pan, add the pears and sauté until lightly golden, then add to the pan with the birds.

5. Roast for 20 minutes, then remove the bacon (chop it up and keep to use at the end), and pop the birds back in the oven

for another 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can leave the bacon on as a garnish.

6. To make little bread croutons, spread the slices of bread with butter and bake in the oven for 15 minutes until crisp and golden.

7. To serve, remove the birds, place on the croutons and keep warm. Keep the bacon and pears warm too, while you make the sauce.

8. Put the roasting tin with the juices over a medium heat, stir in the jelly of your choice and let it melt and bubble, then pour in the perry and stir to dissolve any sticky residue – this will add to the flavour.

9. Plate the croutons and birds, add the pears at the side, sprinkle with chopped bacon, or leave the bacon on the birds and spoon over the delicious sauce. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 29

FOOD

RECIPE

Sticky almond cake with roasted spiced plums (Serves 6-8)

P

udding is one of those real winter essentials – I love to serve this moreish cake with a big dollop of strained yoghurt, scented with a few drops of orange blossom water and with a good drizzle of honey stirred through.

Ingredients: 150g unsalted butter 75g caster sugar 90g molasses sugar 4 large eggs 50g wholemeal flour 1 flat tsp sea salt (vanilla-flavoured is delicious) 120g ground almonds 50g skin-on whole almonds, chopped 100g marzipan, cut into small pieces For the plums: 10 plums, cut into quarters, stone removed 2 star anise 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla paste 6 thick strips orange peel 150g caster sugar

Method: 1. First, butter your tart tin (24cm), and line the base with a circle of baking parchment. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4.

2. Cream the butter and sugars together until the mixture becomes lighter in colour and texture.

3. Mix in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the flour, sea salt and ground almonds.

4. Fold in half the chopped almonds and half the marzipan pieces, then spoon into the cake tin, and top with the remaining chopped almonds and marzipan pieces.

5. Bake for about 30 minutes. The finished cake should be pale golden in colour and lovely and soft in the centre.

6. In the meantime, prepare your plums.

Line a baking tin with parchment, and put 30 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

the cut plums in the tin so they fit together quite tightly.

8. Remove the plums with a slotted spoon, put into a serving bowl; mix the juices and spices together and pour over the plums.

7. Mix together the spices, orange peel, vanilla paste and caster sugar, and rub together so that the sugar picks up some of the essential oils.

9. To serve, I sometimes like to decorate the top of the cake with the plums – it looks gorgeous!

8. Sprinkle over the plums and roast for about 15-20 minutes, until the juices start to ooze and form a yummy syrup.

Angela's Winter Recipes (£9.99, Graffeg) is out now. Her cookery school is at Llanerch Vineyard in Hensol – for more info, see angelagray.co.uk

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T H E A L B A N Y G A L L E RY

DAVID BARNES NICK HOLLY 13th October­- 5th November View the exhibition 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

Music/theatre/film/more

SUPER TROUPER

New work from Super Furry Animals man and critically-acclaimed solo artist Cian Ciarán is always a real treat, and the world premiere of his orchestral piece Rhys & Meinir looks to be another gem.

Featuring the full BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and almost two decades in the making, Ciarán’s magnum opus promises a mesmeric sonic experience, as he cuts his classical teeth to tell an ancient story of romance, tragedy and heartbreak in rural North Wales.

“This is a story told with ingenuity and passion in each word and every note, the perfect blend of contrasts, of happy and sad and sweet and sour,” says Hollywood star Rhys Ifans, who contributes Welsh-language narration to the production.

“The story is shocking, a real heartbreaker, but there’s real beauty in the prose and wonder in the music.”

Sounds like stirring stuff – and well worth the 20-year wait, we’d wager.

Rhys & Meinir is at BBC Hoddinott Hall, Wales Millennium Centre on 4 November. For more info, see wmc.org.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 33

7 October – 7 November

Specs appeal: comedian Stewart Lee, The Damned’s Captain Sensible and revered Italian pianist/composer Ludovico Einaudi

Plays/Shows/ Performance

and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk

U N TI L 2 2 O C T O B ER

1 4 - 1 5 OCTOBER

THE WEIR See arts feature, page 44.

Sherman Theatre; shermantheatre.co.uk 11 -1 5 O C TO B E R

DEAD SHEEP Tragedy and comedy clash head-on in Jonathan Maitland’s dramatic inside story of Margaret Thatcher’s downfall, starring Steve ‘Spitting Image’ Nallon.

New Theatre; newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 11 O C T O B E R – 1 3 N OV E MBE R

MAMMA MIA! Enchanting feelgood tale of family

COULROPHOBIA Dark, offbeat tale of two clowns trapped in a surreal cardboard world, promising slapstick and laughs by the bucketload.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 1 8 - 2 2 OCTOBER

A GOOD CLEAN HEART Alun Saunders’ dynamic, bilingual coming of age story – funny and moving in equal measure – tells the story of two brothers, raised apart in separate families and different languages.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk

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

25-29 O C TO BER

GEORGE’S MARVELLOUS MEDICINE Roald Dahl’s vivid story of a young boy who makes a marvellous new medicine to cure his grandmother of her terrifying temper.

New Theatre; newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 1-5 NO VEMBER

ALL OR NOTHING Musical celebrating the unique sound of iconic mod band The Small Faces.

New Theatre; newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

explores the rationality of his world view – and why everyone else’s opinion is wrong.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 22 O C TO B ER

JOSH WIDDICOMBE The Last Leg co-host and sitcom star finds minor things to get annoyed about.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 4 NO VEM B ER

Comedy

STEWART LEE More cleverly crafted routines and anti-populist shtick.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

15 O C TO BER

5-6 NO VE M B ER

ROMESH RANGANATHAN Comedy’s omnipresent big hitter

BILLY CONNOLLY Hugely influential, The Big Yin

W H AT ’ S O N

might be frailer these days, but his funny bones are still very much intact.

Motorpoint Arena; livenation.co.uk

Film 7 -2 0 O C TO B E R

THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS Post-apocalyptic zombie drama, based on the titular novel by M.R. Carey. Starring Gemma Arterton, Glenn Close and Paddy Considine.

Chapter; chapter.org 2 1 O C TO B E R

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN Rachel (Emily Blunt) spends her daily commute fantasizing about the seemingly perfect couple who live in a house that her train passes every day... until one morning she sees something shocking happen there, and becomes entangled in the mystery that unfolds.

Chapter; chapter.org 2 3 & 2 5 O C T O B ER

SCARFACE Classic, oft-quoted 1983 American drug trade flick, directed by Brian De Palma and starring Al Pacino.

Chapter; chapter.org

Music 1 2 O C TO B E R

FEWS Rising Swedish/American postpunk outfit.

Clwb Ifor Bach; clwb.net 1 4 O C TO B E R

MR SCRUFF The supreme selector, no less.

Clwb Ifor Bach; clwb.net 1 5 O C TO B E R

GEORGIA RUTH The Cardiff-based singer launches her new album Fossil Scale, signalling a switch from her favoured harp to a more expansive and layered sound.

Chapter; chapter.org

2 1 OCTOBE R

CONCERT OF THE UNEXPECTED: A CELEBRATION OF ROALD DAHL Featuring Mr Dahl, an orchestral suite by Welsh composer Bernard Kane, with live narration from acting royalty Michael Sheen.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 2 1 - 2 3 OCTOBER

ˆ SWN Cardiff’s flagship new music event, featuring Cate Le Bon, Betsy, Meilyr Jones, Melt Yourself Down and many more.

Various Cardiff venues; swnfest.com 2 2 OCTOBE R – 6 NO VEMBER

BRICKSTOCK Music and cultural festival, featuring James Dean Bradfield, Cassetteboy vs DJ Rubbish and more, plus arts projects, craft workshops, cinema screenings and food and drink stalls.

Brickworks, Trade Street; brickstockcardiff.com 3 1 OCTOBE R

BASTILLE The London quartet continue their upwards trajectory with new album Wild World, a rich, daring, bombastic and thrilling tour de force.

Motorpoint Arena; livenation.co.uk 4 N OV E MBE R

PAUL SIMON Legendary American troubadour calls in on the back of excellent recent album Stranger To Stranger.

Motorpoint Arena; livenation.co.uk

Exhibitions

MICHAEL KIWANUKA The soul man of the moment, channelling the best bits of Mayfield, Redding, Gaye et al.

Tramshed; tramshedcardiff.com

(Above) This Blind Sky Studios piece features in Germs & Bardo at The SHO

UNTIL 2 NO VEMBER

AUTUMN Exploring connections between Welsh and Chinese culture.

Boundary Art; boundaryart.com

JOHN KNAPP-FISHER Popular Wales-based artist, known for his striking depictions of the Pembrokeshire coast.

Martin Tinney Gallery; artwales.com MODELS & MATERIALITIES Exploring how contemporary painters approach still life through model-making and materiality.

BayArt; bayart.org.uk

the highly collectable artists, depicting traditional Welsh themes in contrasting styles.

Albany Gallery; albanygallery.com 14 O C T O B ER – 1 8 NO V EM B ER

UNTIL 6 NO VEMBER

DRAWING INSPIRATIONS Looking at approaches to drawing and its meaning to artists.

Craft In The Bay; makersguildinwales.org.uk

U N TI L 2 9 OCTO BER

U N TI L 2 9 OCTO BER 1 7 O C TO B E R

ARTS

ANDRÉ STITT: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD Contemporary, oil-based work from the Belfast-born artist. gallery/ten; gallery-ten.co.uk

15 O C T O B ER – 1 1 NO V EM B ER UNTIL 20 NO VEMBER

QUENTIN BLAKE: INSIDE STORIES A magical insight into one of the world’s most important illustrators, best known for his work on the books of Roald Dahl.

National Museum Cardiff; museumwales.ac.uk 13 O C TO BER – 5 NO VEMBER

DAVID BARNES AND NICK HOLLY Joint exhibition of new work from

GERMS & BARDO Group exhibition featuring work from deprivedanxiety and Blind Sky Studios.

The SHO; thesho.co.uk 15 O C T O B ER – 3 DECEM B ER

DAVID BARNES: IN SOLUTION Photographs capturing some of the particularities and peculiarities of South Wales life.

Ffotogallery; ffotogallery.org w

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

ARTS

W H AT ’ S O N

2 0 O C TO B E R – 19 N OV E MBE R

CARDIFF CONTEMPORARY Citywide festival celebrating contemporary visual culture (see Spotlight, page 12).

Various venues; cardiffcontemporary.co.uk

Llandaff-born storyteller, aimed at all ages from 7 to 107.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk

Other

2 1 O C TO B E R – 26 FE BRUA RY

2 8 - 3 0 OCTOBER

2 7 O C TO B E R – 26 N OV E MBE R

5 N OV E MBE R

3 1 O C TO B E R – 6 N OV E MBE R

Book Now

ARTES MUNDI 7 Contemporary art showcase, featuring work by seven outstanding international artists.

Various Cardiff venues; artesmundi.org THE LIGHT SHOW Exhibition celebrating the festival of light, featuring new sculptural light works by Cardiff-based artists and designers.

Cardiff MADE; @CardiffMADE EXPERIMENTICA Mini-festival of live and performance art.

Chapter; chapter.org

Family

MADE BY HAND Wales’ largest contemporary craft fair, featuring award-winning makers, jewellers and artists.

City Hall, Cardiff; madebyhand-wales.co.uk PPODD Pop-up contemporary market with artisan food, craft beer, jewellery, designer-makers, and more.

Paget Rooms, Penarth; ppoddblog.wordpress.com

2 0 N OV E MBER

LUDOVICO EINAUDI Haunting neo-classical vibes from the Italian pianist and composer.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk

ONGOING

DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE Experience mind-blowing special effects, fly the TARDIS through time and space, and face the Doctor’s scariest foes in 3D. Porth Teigr, Cardiff Bay; doctorwhoexperience.com UNTI L 1 4 JANUARY

THE WONDERCRUMP WORLD OF ROALD DAHL A magical, interactive experience inspired by the extraordinary life and boundless imagination of the

2 7 N OV E MBER

THE DAMNED The New Rose punk pioneers celebrate their 40th anniversary.

Tramshed; tramshedcardiff.com 1 1 MAY 2 0 1 7

OMID DJALILI: SCHMUCK FOR A NIGHT The British-Iranian comic calls in: expect nothing less than provocative, outrageous wit.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

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

(Clockwise, from top left) Emily Blunt in The Girl On The Train; popular stand-up Josh Widdicombe; Alun Saunders’ A Good Clean Heart; indie titans Bastille

W H AT ’ S O N

ARTS

Sport This month’s key sporting fixtures, at a glance…

F R IDAY 2 1 O CT O B ER

SATUR DAY 8 O C T0BER

CARDIFF DEVILS V COVENTRY BLAZE League, face-off 7pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com F R IDAY 14 O C TO BER

CARDIFF CITY V BRISTOL CITY Sky Bet Championship, 7.45pm kick-off. Cardiff City Stadium; cardiffcityfc.co.uk

CARDIFF BLUES V PAU European Rugby Challenge Cup, 7.15pm kick-off.

BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park; cardiffblues.com SATURDAY 2 2 O CT O B ER

CARDIFF DEVILS V EDINBURGH CAPITALS League, face-off 7pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com F R IDAY 2 8 O CT O B ER

SATUR DAY 15 O C TO BER

CARDIFF DEVILS V SHEFFIELD STEELERS Challenge Cup, face-off 7pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com

CARDIFF BLUES V SCARLETS Guinness PRO12, 7.35pm kick-off.

BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park; cardiffblues.com SATURDAY 2 9 O CT O B ER

CARDIFF CITY V WIGAN Sky Bet Championship, 3pm kick-off.

Cardiff City Stadium; cardiffcityfc.co.uk

W EDNESDAY 19 O C TO BER

CARDIFF CITY V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY Sky Bet Championship, 7.45pm kick-off. Cardiff City Stadium; cardiffcityfc.co.uk

AUTUMN RUGBY INTERNATIONALS

Book these into your diary...

5 NO VEMBER

WALES V AUSTRALIA Kick-off 2.30pm.

WANT MORE?

12 NO VEMBER

Sign up now for the Cardiff Life newsletter

19 NO VEMBER

As editor of Cardiff Life, there’s nothing I love more than drawing your attention to this great city’s choicest events, places and people.

To keep readers fully updated and clued-up about what’s happening in Cardiff, we’re launching a new, free, Friday email newsletter packed with news, tips and special offers.

(Please note: no way will we share your data with any third parties. We’re not like that!)

So if you’d like a friendly hello from us in your inbox as the

PARK PLAZA Soak up the pre-match atmosphere and watch the game live on the big screen.

Greyfriars Road, Cardiff; lagunakitchenandbar.com

WALES V ARGENTINA Kick-off 5.30pm.

CHAPEL 1877 Go posh and catch all the action at Cardiff’s opulently restored Victorian chapel. Churchill Way, Cardiff; chapel1877.com

WALES V JAPAN Kick-off 2.30pm.

26 NO VEMBER

WALES V SOUTH AFRICA Kick-off 5.30pm.

Principality Stadium; principalitystadium.wales

WHERE TO WATCH

No ticket? Catch the action at these city centre venues...

weekend beckons, please sign up today: mediaclash.co.uk/cln

wine, cheese board, post-match snacks? Don’t mind if we do.

Castle Street, Cardiff; thehotelcollection.co.uk/cardiff

URBAN TAP HOUSE All the key games will be beamed live on three projector screens.

Grab a beer, pull up a chair and get ready to cheer...

25 Westgate Street, Cardiff; urbantaphouse.co.uk

SODA Various table and hospitality packages available, with hot fork buffet and post-match steak baguette and chips. Result!

4-5 Mill Lane, Cardiff; sodabars.com THE ANGEL HOTEL Three-course meal, bottle of

The Autumn Rugby Internationals are coming – sing it loud and proud

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 37

a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e E D U C AT I O N

Indian summer

By Dr Caroline Pascoe, Headmistress of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls

H

elping pupils achieve the best academic marks they can is a top priority for us – but there is so much more to an HMSG girl than good grades.

Alongside co-curricular lessons in music, drama, sport or CCF, we teach our girls the importance of humility and encourage them to embrace adventure.

In the summer holidays, a plucky group of 40 pupils from HMSG and Monmouth School broadened their horizons and embarked upon a month-long expedition to India.

Accompanied by six members of staff including myself, the teenagers leapt at the opportunity to explore a new land and help make a big difference to less fortunate children.

Our life-changing trip began with a two-week stay at Upper Valley School in the village of Burua, where our caring pupils pulled up their sleeves and set to work revamping the rundown building. We painted, plastered and sanded to give the school a total makeover, and money

we collected through fundraising challenges before we left paid for local builders to finish building a third floor for classrooms.

The reward for our pupils’ hard work was a once-in-a-lifetime trek in the stunning Indian Himalayas, which included a visit to a Buddhist monastery.

After an eight-hour jeep ride along some hair-raising roads, we made it to our first camp at 4,600 metres. The trek was by no means easy, but it certainly brought with it laughter, teamwork and bonding in some of the world’s most inhospitable conditions, with snow and glaciers being a common sight.

Overcoming physical and mental challenges during those unforgettable four weeks was hugely character-building and humbling for our pupils, who returned with an exciting new outlook on life.

St John’s College, Cardiff

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CRISIS POINT Ahead of her upcoming appearance at the Cardiff Book Festival, acclaimed writer MIRANDA SAWYER talks about how she fought her way through a midlife crisis – and survived

By KATIE KISSOON

ONE-TO-ONE

WEAR WHATEVER YOU WANT. HONESTLY: NO-ONE CARES EXCEPT YOU

CARDIFF BOOK FESTIVAL T H RE E M O RE TO SEE…

OWEN SHEERS One of Wales’ best contemporary writers discusses his life and work.

28 Oct, 6pm, Yr Hen Lyfrgell RACHEL TREZISE & THOMAS MORRIS Two short story-writing masters on what makes the form so enduring.

29 Oct, 12.30pm, Central Library IOLO WILLIAMS: WILD PLACES IN WALES The writer and broadcaster offers his unique insight on the stunning Welsh landscape.

29 Oct, 3.15pm, Angel Hotel

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espected journalist, arts critic, broadcaster and selfconfessed “professional gobshite” Miranda Sawyer has written for the likes of Smash Hits, The Face, Select, The Guardian, Vogue and others, as well as appearing regularly on telly as a go-to cultural commentator.

Her new book, Out Of Time (£12.99, HarperCollins), a modern look at midlife crisis, delves into the truth, and lies, of the experience and how to survive it, with typically candid insight and oodles of humour. We caught up with her ahead of her appearance at Cardiff Book Festival, where she’ll be discussing how we change as we age – and the unexpected pleasures that getting older can bring…

Your book is obviously centred on your own midlife crisis – was there a specific moment you can pinpoint when your thoughts began to spiral?

Oddly, yes. I had my daughter late (I was nearly 44) and I had a moment in our kitchen when she was little. Essentially, I started working out how old I would be when she left (the flat, not just the kitchen). Even if she didn’t go to university, even if she stormed out when she was 16, I would be 60. She’d [likely] be with us until she was into her 20s… And I started doing the Death Maths.

Working out how much time I had left and what I could realistically achieve (given that I would be spending a lot of time bringing up my children).

From there, how did your midlife crisis manifest itself?

As a kind of panic. I’d wake up in the middle of the night and start tearing my life apart, deciding that I’d lived it all wrong, wasted opportunities, and that whatever potential I’d had was over. You look around at your life and it feels small and boring and not what you’d hoped. You realise that your dreams – whatever they might have been – are now unachievable. Because you’re too old to achieve them, and too busy with the relentless same-same of middle-aged life. And you can’t work out a way to change your situation that isn’t utterly dramatic, i.e. running off with a builder/ chucking in your job to find yourself in Thailand/ retraining as a baby whisperer.

You’ve said that people need a “different kind of energy to get through [their] 40s”, such as exercise or running – how has that helped you?

Running very slowly (I really want to emphasise the very slowly bit) has definitely helped me.

Any form of exercise helps lift your mood, of course. And, like swimming and cycling, running is something you did when you were young.

Toddlers and teenagers are always running. So the movement brings you into your body in the same way as when you were 7, 17, 27, 37… You feel ageless.

ARTS

Can you offer any other pearls of wisdom for dealing with midlife angst?

Wear whatever you want. Honestly: nobody cares except you. Listen to your body rather than beat it up for not being beautiful: keep it moving, fast and flexible. Go out, to gigs and art galleries – art will always make things better. Listen to music because it expresses emotions you can’t access.

Make tiny changes to your life. You can take on responsibilities that you might have mocked when you were young and find they open your mind. I started a Code Club for nine year-olds at my son’s school and I love it. I had no idea about computer programming before I started.

You’ve also said that part of your middleaged angst is caused by your love of pop music – how so?

If you like pop music, you have a fear of becoming irrelevant, of missing out on new sounds that you love. And if you find a new band that really moves you, then you feel young again, you’re back to the same feeling you had when you first saw a pop musician express something about you that you didn’t even know they understood.

So you go to see your new favourite band. But you’re twice the age of everyone at the gig, you don’t fit in, so you feel old again.

Being middle-aged isn’t all bad – what’s the best thing about being in your 40s?

Middle-aged people get upset that they’re not noticed as often as they used to be, that they’re not fancied. I really don’t mind this at all. Being invisible is a superpower and I would much rather be able to go about my business without some idiot loudly rating me on his shagability chart.

Conventional wisdom has it that you get more right-wing as you get older – true?

I’m still naturally left-of-centre, and I could never bring myself to vote Tory. But I would say that in middle age, I’m a lot less dogmatic about politics, as I am about most things in life. Adulthood teaches you that there are very few occasions when there is a right answer. Instead, there are points of view. You might think you’re right but really, you’re just giving an opinion. Except when it comes to maths. In maths, there is a right answer. Which is why I love it.

What do you think you’ll be like as an 80-year-old?

Happy. All research shows that if we’re lucky enough to live a long life, we are happiest at the beginning and the end of it. When we’re very young or very old, those are the best days.

Miranda Sawyer will be appearing at Cardiff Book Festival on 29 October at the Angel Hotel. The festival itself takes place at various city venues from 28-30 October. For more info and tickets, see cardiffbookfestival.co.uk

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

DRINK FLOWS AGAINST A

BACKDROP OF HOWLING WINDS AND THE WHISTLING OF THE SEA

The Weir brims with melancholy and humour, but segues into something “very dark”. Ulp.

T H E AT R E

ARTS

FAIRYTALE OF LEITRIM A co-production between Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre and Bristol’s Tobacco Factory, Conor McPherson’s chilling contemporary drama The Weir promises heartfelt humour and spooky goings-on, as deepest fears are confessed in the dead of night. One of the play’s stars, ORLA FITZGERALD, tells us more

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By M A L ROGE R S

cting is the shy person’s revenge on the world,” says Orla Fitzgerald, who plays the role of Valerie in The Weir. It’s a statement that initially seems surprising. After all, we tend to think of actors as, if not quite showoffs, then certainly not shrinking violets. But there is logic in what Fitzgerald says.

“As a youngster, the stage was the one place I could be myself,” she explains. “My mum thought that acting might bring me out of myself. She took me to Crawford Art Gallery [in Cork], where I’d do drama workshops on Saturday mornings. It was all about fun and being creative. I loved it.”

From then on, a career in acting was all that Fitzgerald wanted. And, it turns out, she was very good at it, with success on the big screen, television and stage.

Film roles have included Ken Loach’s The Wind That Shakes The Barley and BBC drama The C Word.

Her love of acting from an early age, she says, has engendered great confidence. “I’m very comfortable onstage. I suppose if I thought about it, Orla as Valerie in rehearsals for The Weir, thought about the audience, I might get with fellow cast members scared. But I don’t. And anyway, you’re Steven Elliott (as Finbar) far safer on stage than you are in real and Simon Wolfe (as Jack) life,” she laughs. “At least you know what’s coming next.”

This admirably sanguine approach explains why Fitzgerald is highly valued in stage work, indeed why she was given the pivotal role of Valerie in The Weir, widely regarded as a seminal work in the 20th century canon of Irish drama. The play brims with melancholy and humour, but segues — through various accounts of ghostly goings-on – into something very dark. It is, quite frankly, a bit unsettling.

Set in a remote, rural pub in County Leitrim, the story revolves round five people telling tales of the paranormal to each other. “But it’s also a terrific thriller – I enjoy that,” explains Fitzgerald. “And it’s a very collaborative piece. We’re telling ghost stories to each other, and not the audience.” Which, in a weird way, involves the audience more, because they’re transported back to Leitrim. They end up eavesdropping at the pub, as if they’re listening in through a window.

But be warned – the world the audience looks in on is not as it seems. As in any bar, there’s plenty of what is called in Ireland ‘ould pub talk’. Rather than confront realities, the regulars engage in drinkfuelled banter, leg-pulling and circuitous banalities about the weather.

Then things take a different turn, and what is uncovered ends up haunting the imagination.

The Weir has sprung from the same supernatural cauldron that produced Dracula. Tales of banshees and the undead walking the earth, and efforts to commune with the we-know-not-what, all helped to produce masters of the macabre such as Bram Stoker, Sheridan Le Fanu and Charles Maturin. So a night in a Leitrim pub swapping spooky stories is not as unlikely a scenario as it would be in, say, somewhere like Basingstoke.

Fitzgerald has, as you might expect, given this aspect of the play some thought. “Ghost stories are there alright,” she says. “But it’s a spiritual play as well. There’s something really deep going on. It’s partly the heritage thing. Religion is – or at least it was 20 years ago when the play was written – an integral part of Irish society.

“But it quite comfortably sat alongside what we would today call ‘pagan’ beliefs — banshees and fairies and so on.

Catholicism didn’t replace the old beliefs when it fetched up. I think it just merged with the old folklore. Like, when I was growing up in Cork, everyone would have had a ghost story, a party piece.

I think Conor McPherson has really tapped into that.”

The story is sparse, but laden with possibilities. Brendan’s Bar is a shelter, of sorts, for lonely souls. Drink flows against a backdrop of howling winds and the whistling of the sea; it’s not hard to imagine the undead arising from their graves on such a night. Four friends sit in the pub telling disquieting stories and trying to impress a stranger… who also has a story to tell.

McPherson was inspired to write The Weir after seeing David Mamet’s play Glengarry Glen Ross. And while the wilds of County Leitrim may seem far removed from the brash world of New York real estate salesmen, both dramas display the same dramatic power, and ultimately the same bleakness.

“McPherson is an extraordinary writer,” says Sherman Theatre’s artistic director Rachel O’Riordan, who has directed The Weir. “His work is layered and complex, and he has a rare ability of capturing how unpredictable, flawed and strange people really are.”

Fitzgerald, in turn, has nothing but praise for O’Riordan. “She’s hugely experienced, and I’ve really enjoyed working with her,” she says. “She’s very bright, innovative, and actor-friendly. And The Weir is an actors’ play. It’s all about characters, and this very deep thing that crystallises out of them.”

The Weir is at Sherman Theatre in Cardiff until 22 October.

For more info and tickets, see shermantheatre.co.uk

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

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OUT of the BLUE ACCORDING TO PANTONE, THIS SEASON’S COLOUR PALETTE IS ALL ABOUT THE ‘BLUE’ – AUTUMN’S HOTTEST HUE!

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1. SAVING FACE

2. THE SPICE IS RIGHT

3. ROYALLY GOOD

4. LETTING OFF STEAM

5. ZIP IT

Midnight Recovery Concentrate, £49 (50ml) One night, a few drops, younger-looking skin by morning...

From Kiehl’s, St David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff; kiehls.co.uk

The Saffron Tales by Yasmin Khan, £26 The British/Iranian cook’s debut tome teems with Persian pantry staples From Waterstones, 2A The Hayes, Cardiff; waterstones.com

Brompton hooded jacket, £110 Ultra-light and stylish, our autumn apparel of choice From Pretty Green, 22 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff; prettygreen.com

Kitchenaid 1.25 litre kettle (crystal blue), £79 Get the biscuits out, then...

From Kitchens, 14 High Street, Cardiff; kitchenscookshop.co.uk

Blue metal safety pin bum bag, £150 Produced in blue metal faux leather, with just a hint of punk From Vivienne Westwood, 55 The Hayes, Cardiff; viviennewestwood.com

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

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ED’S CHOICE

SHOPPING

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6. BLUE LINES

7. YOU SPIN ME ROUND

8. CROSSING PATHS

9. LEAF IT OUT

10. RING, RING

West Elm ‘Erased Lines’ rug, £449 Modern meets vintage with this hand-tufted and woven rug – perfect for those high-traffic areas From John Lewis, St David’s Dewi Sant, The Hayes, Cardiff; johnlewis.com

Echo & The Bunnymen Ocean Rain (collector’s edition CD £12.99, vinyl £17.99); DJ Shadow The Mountain Will Fall (CD £9.99, vinyl £21.99) Crucial sounds: something old, something new From Spillers Records, 27 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff; spillersrecords.co.uk

Hands stand, £12.99 With gentle, spring-loaded mitts, designed to hold books and tablets From Rossiters, 33 Royal Arcade, Cardiff; rossitersofbath.com

Palm Beach birch tray by Mariska Meijers, £50 Hand-painted loveliness from the titular Amsterdambased artist and designer From Pad Deco, 35 Castle Arcade, Cardiff; paddeco.com

Retro phone by Wild & Wolf, £49.99 In classic French Blue From Hamptons, 10 Ludlow Lane, Penarth; hamptonspenarth.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON CARDIFF LIFE LIFE II 49 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69

SHOPPING

FA S H I O N

FALLING for AUTUMN This season, fashion imitates nature with a beautiful array of autumnal hues, from caramel and toffee right through to plum and burnt orange.

Refresh your wardrobe with these key essentials from St David’s Cardiff

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bit of gorgeous hand candy in quintessential seasonal tones is the perfect way to bring your wardrobe to life. We love Michael Kors’ suede messenger bag; available in dark caramel, its relaxed style is perfect for a daytime look and will give you serious fashion creds. If a wallet is more your thing, look out for Mulberry’s canarycoloured zip-around version, available at John Lewis.

Capes are a huge trend this season, and you really can’t go wrong with burnt orange – which is why the orange Gaia cape from Vivienne Westwood is our key essential in the cover-up stakes. Whether you pop it on with jeans, your workwear or an outfit for the evening, you’ll be sure to look bang on-trend.

Textured outerwear also ticks the fashion must-have box, with the likes of Westwood and various others offering an array of fabulous options.

And plum, as you might expect, is everywhere this autumn. If woody reds and caramels aren’t your thing, then try rocking deep purple instead. This shade can be worn in various fabrics, from tailored trousers by Reiss (perfect for an office-to-bar look), or the stunning leather skirt from Jaeger at John Lewis – with its nod to the 60s and a zip front, this chic choice adds requisite edge to any outfit.

All items available at St David’s Dewi Sant in Cardiff at the time of writing. To keep up to date with the latest trends, news and offers, see St David’s on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (@ StDavidsCardiff), or online at stdavidscardiff.com 52 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Daveen cashmere rollneck jumper, £175, cutaway skirt, £110, Malva crystalembellished sandals, £165, Lilah chain detail bag, £270, all available from Reiss

FA S H I O N

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1. Kaelin high-neck garnet shift dress, £185, Reiss 2. Orange Gaia cape, £395, Vivienne Westwood 3. Nada tailored trousers (berry), £135, Reiss 4. Tan suede dress, £199, Karen Millen 5. Mulberry canary zip-around wallet, £275, John Lewis 6. Jaeger zip-front Bordeaux skirt, £299, John Lewis 7. Monogram square dark red scarf by Mulberry, £275, John Lewis 8. Demi mid-heel tan ankle boots, £176, Kurt Geiger 9. Bordeaux Mirror Ball bag, £395, Vivienne Westwood 10. Isadore medium suede messenger bag (dark caramel), £330, Michael Kors www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 53

H E A LT H A N D BEAUTY

PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON With party season fast-approaching, it won’t be long before you’ll be needing that sparkly little number from your wardrobe. If the thought fills you with dread, then fear not – SAM O’SULLIVAN from SOS Athletic Excellence shows you how to get into that festive little black dress (or tight tux!) in just 10 easy steps GO HEAVY OR GO HOME

Ditch the monotonous cardio and focus on doing intense bursts of activity, such as sprints. Combine this with lifting weights for 8-12 reps with heavy loads, using controlled tempo. I’d also prioritise multi-joint exercises over single joint movements – so think squats rather than tricep kickbacks.

PUSH YOURSELF

This is not the time to coast! A simple tip is to increase either the reps or weights you lift every week. But don’t spent hours in the gym. Keep workouts to under an hour as any longer will have minimal benefits in building lean muscle.

STAY HYDRATED

Water is the best fat-burner; dehydration will simply decrease workout performance and decrease your metabolic rate.

GET YOUR NINE A DAY

Make sure you eat tons of vegetables!

They’re full of fibre, are nutrient-dense, low calorie and will help to keep you feeling full for longer. I advise my clients to aim for two servings with every meal – including breakfast. Forget five: you need to eat nine portions a day – seven servings of veg and only two of fruit.

UP YOUR PROTEIN INTAKE

Protein is key to building muscle, as it will assist recovery and help the process of repairing damaged muscle tissue. As a starting point, aim for 3g of protein for every kilo of lean body mass.

DON’T BE SCARE OF FATS

Omega 3-rich foods play an important role 56 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

in reducing inflammation and make your body more efficient at shedding fat. Have fats with several meals every day. Great sources of good fats include avocado, olive oil and oily fish.

Learning the ropes...

CUT OUT THE BOOZE

I know, I know, it’s almost the party season.

But if you want to be serious about getting lean, the alcohol really has to go. The same is true for other calorie-laden drinks such as sports drinks, juice or fizzy pop.

EAT CLEAN

Ideally, you need to eat food in its most natural state, which means binning off all that refined and packaged stuff. Takeaways are also not on the menu, I’m afraid.

Instead, spend your time investing in some great home-cooked meals.

GET SOME FRESH AIR!

If you’ve had a successful week in the gym, then make sure you get outdoors on your rest days. Walk or cycle to burn calories and stress at the same time.

THE ANSWER IS NOT CALORIE REDUCTION

Most importantly, don’t starve yourself! If you’re eating insufficient calories, yes, you’ll lose weight, but the likelihood is that it will be muscle tissue.

“This will have a negative effect on your health and metabolism, and will likely leave you with just as much body fat as when you started your regime. CL Sam O’Sullivan is director of SOS Athletic Excellence, Lamby Way, Cardiff CF3 2EQ. For more info, see sospersonaltraining.com

“Increase your reps every week,” says Sam

OMEGA 3-RICH FOODS MAKE YOUR BODY MORE EFFICIENT AT SHEDDING FAT

CITY SLICKERS On the lookout for a brand new car? Need a bit of inspiration?

Take a look at this trio of sleek little beauties…

By H UG O BA L L

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fter getting married and buying a house, forking out for a new car is probably one of the largest purchases you’ll ever make. We all have our own fantasy motors, of course (for the record, ours is a Jensen Interceptor *drool*), but with the practicalities of city driving, value for money and family considerations to think of, we probably need to stay grounded.

These days, car buyers have more choice than ever, and there are some seriously sexy models around. We’ve nipped around Cardiff ’s dealerships and come up with three of the latest gems, all real lookers in their own right while, over the page, Matt Bielby test-drives Volvo’s mighty XC90. So… ready for a spin?

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

VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF Price: From £31,680 VW goes electric! Typically dynamic and stylish, the e-Golf has a range of up to 118 miles between charges, and a charge time of only 35 minutes. It’s a great everyday vehicle; whether driving round town or doing the school run, it delivers responsive performance, giving you plenty of driving enjoyment, while producing zero emissions.

It’s really efficient, too. The conveniently located ‘Powermeter’ shows the energy currently being retrieved, while ‘eMAX’ displays the maximum available acceleration performance.

And the car’s range efficiency can be increased by using the ECO and ECO+ driving profiles, both available at the touch of a button. Inside, you’ll find all the latest kit, such as the latest infotainment, whizzy apps, Isofix child seat fittings and a smart driver alert system. Cool, no?

For more: Sinclair Volkswagen, Wharf Road, East Tyndall Street, Cardiff CF10 4BB; Tel: 02922 350024; sinclairvolkswagen.co.uk

THREE TO SEE

MOTORING

MG GS Price: From £14,995 As striking as you’d expect from the iconic MG brand, this new SUV has lots going for it. An elevated driving position brings total comfort on the road, and there’s plenty of interior space for a family of five. All three models (Explore, Excite and Exclusive) have cruise control, automatic headlamps, air-con and an intelligent stop-start engine; go for the top-end Exclusive model and you also get 18” alloy wheels, a luxury leather interior, and a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT gearbox, amongst other things. And it handles like an MG should: it’s super-responsive, even when faced with the most challenging driving conditions. An adventure at every turn, as they say.

For more: MG Cardiff, 281 Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8YZ; Tel: 02920 223100; cardiff.mg.co.uk

MINI CLUBMAN COOPER S Price: From £22,895 Distinctive looks, a sophisticated array of equipment and communications tech, and that legendary go-kart feeling that is so typical of a Mini – the new six-door Clubman is seriously cool. It’s surprisingly spacious too, with 360-litre luggage capacity and the versatility of a large rear seat bench. And with the optional Comfort Access System and smart-opener function, its split doors open automatically when you move your feet under the boot and back again, making it easy to load and unload the car. With an extensive range of interior and exterior accessories, and capable of a seriously quick 0-62 mph in 7.2 seconds, this updated design classic is a real doozy.

For more: Sytner Cardiff, Hadfield Road, Cardiff CF11 8AQ; Tel: 02921 322628, sytnercardiffmini.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 61

SAFE SEXY Volvos have always been the sensible option, says MATT BIELBY, but with the new XC90 – a mighty SUV with a mild manner – the conventional looks belie original thinking across the board

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veryone remembers the Volvos of their youth – the classic, middle class estate car, often in mustard yellow with a similarly-coloured labrador as accessory-ofchoice – but plenty has changed since the ’70s. No longer linked to the original truck company, Volvo Cars was owned by Ford for a decade, and has of late been under the wing of a Chinese group, where it’s been enjoying a renaissance. And right at the heart of it is their big 4x4, the XC90 – in some ways the spiritual successor to all those mustard 240 estates.

The old XC90 – the letters stand for ‘Cross Country’ – was launched in 2002 and sold for a remarkable 12 years, second-hand values remaining off-the-charts throughout, but the new version ups Volvo’s game in every way. It’s a big, practical, boxy, somewhat conservative-looking five-door SUV with a commanding driving position and three rows of seats – in terms of size it slots in between the BMW X5 and Audi Q7 – but look closer and you can see it goes about its business in an admirably individualistic way.

This is a handsome car, the proud grill tempered by a sporting sleekness thanks to steeply-raked windscreen pillars, while the so-called Thor’s Hammer running lights (those narrow, T-shaped things splitting the headlights) are particularly striking.

THE SWEDEST THING

Inside, it’s vast, the sidewards-mounted engine meaning lots of the length can be given over to interior space. Thus you get decent headroom and a non-claustrophobic experience in all three rows of seats, plus a huge boot with a usefully low loading lip. Up front, the lack of buttons – an iPad-like screen does most of the work – makes for a crisp, decluttered layout. And it’s heaving with technology, from hands-free tailgate opening (just wave your foot under the bumper) to such optional cleverness as Queue Assist, where the car takes on those boring accelerate/brake/steer duties in slow traffic.

So this Volvo feels good, but the goes-its-own-way aspects don’t end there. The choice of engines is interesting, for instance.

CAR REVIEW

Volvo has come up with quietly distinctive features inside and out, from those tall, kinked tail lights to the virtually button-free interior

Back in the day, a big beast like this would demand a 3-litre V6 or a 4-litre V8, engines with bags of lazy low-end grunt. But Volvo has made the bold, perhaps strange, decision to go for 2-litre four cylinder engines only (in twin turbo-diesel, turbocharged-and-supercharged petrol, or petrol/ electric hybrid forms), which provide a very different driving experience, more high-revving when pressing on than you might be used to.

All options are powerful enough, but it doesn’t feel particularly fast on the road unless you really put your foot down. By inclination, this is a lightsteering, quiet car (with only wind noise from the big mirrors noticeable), and so one you’re much better off driving in calmer fashion. Do that, and the XC90 is one of the most relaxing cars you’ll find.

And it tows well, too – a 2,700kg maximum for the diesel D5, which is more than respectable (if not quite up to the ability of a Land Rover Discovery).

The small engines mean this is also a remarkably efficient thing – think 49.6mph and C02 emissions of 149g/km for the most popular diesel, and an amazing 134.5mph/59g/km for the hybrid. Okay, so you won’t get anything like that in the real world, but this is certainly a cheap-to-run car – not least since all the safety kit keeps insurance costs lower than they would be for an X5 or Q7.

MOTORING

Indeed, Volvos have long been sold on some very sensible virtues – reliability, solidity, safety – and have consistently innovated in these fields (they invented the three-point seat belt in the ’50s, for instance, then gave it away to every other manufacturer for free), and the XC90 heaves with this sort of kit, from a system that stops you turning in front of an oncoming car to probably the strongest-built passenger compartment on the market. (You can turn some of this stuff off, but given its way the car will warn you about everything, with a massive row of red lights on the dashboard flaring up if it thinks you’re cutting things a bit fine.)

It might be slightly nannying but, all told, the XC90 has a fair claim to being the safest car ever made.

In a market where everyone’s upped their game – and the modern luxury 4x4 has become a more logical, compelling choice than ever before – the XC90 offers a particularly impressive alternative.

It’s stylish, efficient, clever, immensely safe – and somehow less arrogant than most of its competitors.

This is the least aggressive, smartest, nicest, most calming – hell, most Swedish – big 4x4 I’ve ever seen. In every way, it feels like driving one of these would add years to your life expectancy.

More info: volvocarscardiff.co.uk

IT’S STYLISH, EFFICIENT, CLEVER, AND SOMEHOW LESS ARROGANT THAN ITS COMPETITORS

AT A GLANCE Car Volvo XC90 Prices From £46,850 Under the bonnet Three 2.0-litre options: the big-selling D5 diesel makes 222bhp, the T6 petrol 316bhp, and the T8 Twin Engine hybrid offers a mighty 395bhp combined. All come with an 8-speed auto Equipment specs Momentum spec gives a 10-speaker stereo, but sporty R-Design adds gear-shift paddles and the most expensive Inscription spec offers Nappa leather Performance Even the diesel gets to 60mph in 7.8 seconds; the petrol manages it in 6.4; and the hybrid in a very fast 5.6. Economy ranges from 35.3mpg to an incredible 134.5mpg. In a nutshell Classy Scandinavian cool, and the most sensible choice for those wanting a 4x4 mostly as a huge, useful family car Model tested D5 Inscription, £51,585 Dealer Volvo Cars Cardiff, 281 Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8YZ; volvocarscardiff.co.uk

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

BUYING A NEW CAR? WE DON’T JUST SELL USED CARS AT THE BEST PRICES, WE BUY CARS AT THE HIGHEST PRICES. WE WILL BUY YOUR PART EXCHANGE IF YOU’RE BUYING A NEW CAR! www.thepenarthmotorco.co.uk Windsor Road, Penarth, CF64 1JG | 029 2070 7090

LUST for GOWER

Beautiful bays, award-winning sandy beaches, dramatic views – yep, it’s a long, glorious weekend in the gorgeous Gower peninsula B y V E L IM IR IL IC

I

t’s Friday morning, and we’re on our way to the Gower for a long weekend break with friends. I was a student in Swansea back in the day, and driving through your old stomping ground for the first time in 25 years feels a bit weird. I recognise bits of it, but to be honest, it’s wildly windy and hammering down with rain, so visibility is really poor, and I’m more preoccupied with trying to drive in a straight line while my wife and daughter snooze on the back seat.

Finally, after what feels like a marathon journey of annoying stop-start traffic, we eventually arrive in Oldwalls around midafternoon. It’s still teeming down, so we bundle ourselves and a ton of luggage (we have a oneyear-old, it’s obligatory) into Mulberry House, our home for the weekend – our friends and their three-year-old are already ensconced – and begin to unwind.

Gorgeous Rhossili Bay beach in the sunshine

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Not that that’s difficult here. Located just a stone’s throw away from luxury wedding destination Oldwalls Gower (its parent venue), there’s much to love about this über-plush threebedroom cottage.

Inside, it’s a cosy haven of contemporary decor, huge sink-into sofas, a spacious, fully equipped farmhouse kitchen/dining area (the lounge and kitchen are open-plan), super-comfortable beds and state-of-the-art technology, with Wi-Fi, iPad, Sonos music system and satellite telly. Aimed at wedding parties and the general public alike, there’s plenty of space here, more than enough for a large-ish party of people to spread out and kick back; there are sofa beds too, if needed.

Anyway… later, with kids safely tucked up, indulgent food is cooked and good wine cracked open. As heavy rain continues to hammer on the windows, it’s easy to imagine hunkering down in here all weekend.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE OUTDOOR

HOT TUB WAS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR

ORDERED

WEEKENDER

BEACH HOUSE You’ll need somewhere good to eat, of course... Located right on the edge of Oxwich Bay’s golden sands, this recently-opened restaurant is just the ticket, says DERI ROBINS Oxwich, summer of 1975. The only catering outfit on the beach is the snack bar, peddling sugar-sprinkled FABs and salt ’n’ vinegar crisps to shivering youths in dripping beachwear.

Fast-forward to summer 2016. The kids are still shivering, but the snack bar is long gone, and in its stead is Beach House – a high-dining restaurant that’s a match for anything you’d find in Cardiff Bay. It opened in June, with the kind of philosophy you’d expect to find at any new restaurant worth its Halen Môn salt; local produce teased into stylish, skilful dishes, served with high levels of professionalism in a relaxed setting.

We’d only been seated for two minutes when sommelier Sylvio swept over, only to leave crestfallen when we requested two glasses of house white.

We were a little more adventurous when it came to the food. Shirley Conran may have decreed that life’s too short to stuff a mushroom, but chef Hywel Griffith has absolutely no problem in finding time to stuff crab into a courgette flower and deep-frying it, making for a spectacular and memorable dish.

Your Man’s fillets of charred mackerel, teamed with pomegranate and melon cubes, were no less imaginative. As the inevitable nod to Welsh cuisine, we had fresh laverbread to mop it all up – though ‘mop’ seems a crude phrase in the context of such careful, refined dining.

More Welsh wizardry turned up in the form of Gower lamb, cooked pretty in pink, and as tender as the night, while Your Man devoured a delicate lemon sole on smooth broccoli puree with toasted almonds.

Bara brith soufflé (yes, really) finished off one of the finest meals we’d had this year. Look out for chef’s new autumn menu – tandoori roasted scallops, perhaps, followed by partridge with creamed cabbage. Just don’t ask for a strawberry Mivvi; things have changed round these here parts…

A three-course set lunch menu at Beach House is £24. Oxwich Bay, Gower, Swansea SA3 1LS; Tel: 01792 390965, beachhouseoxwich.co.uk

Mulberry House, a luxury weekend home-from-home

The sandy beach kept the kids amused for hours

By morning, however, the weather has calmed down a bit, so we’re up for adventures. The package includes a substantial breakfast hamper every day (pastries, yoghurts, bread for toast etc), so we greedily fill up – and take doggy bags – before setting out.

There’s plenty to do around here, of course: explore the coastal path or various other walks (there are many short walks that criss-cross the Gower), see the nature and wildlife reserves, visit the castles and museums, and just swim, surf or enjoy its gorgeous bays and beaches.

For us, it was all about the latter. On Saturday, we wandered down to the stunning golden sands of Rhossili Bay, considered one of the world’s best beaches. As the clouds cleared, the outside world just melted away, and we went proper old-school: paddling in the sea, flying a kite and wandering for what seemed like ages, drinking in those incredible views.

Afterwards, we perched on a bench up at the Worm’s Head Hotel, beer in hand, looking out

over glorious Rhossili and beyond, to cap off the most idyllic day. There was also time during the weekend to nip over to the popular King Arthur country inn/hotel in nearby Reynoldston for a long pub lunch, and a quick trip into Swansea itself, just for food supplies and to reacquaint myself a little with the old place.

But Mulberry House was a real home-fromhome to come back to. And needless to say, the outdoor hot tub, with a bit of background music piped through the speakers as the late afternoon sun beamed down, was just what the doctor ordered. Bliss. One thing’s for sure: it won’t be another 25 years before I’m back…

A stay at Mulberry House in Oldwalls costs from £60 per person or £600 a night including rustic breakfast hamper.

For more details, see oldwallsgower.com/mulberry-house

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

More adventures in party-going

Getting stuck in at the Food Academy

SNAPPED!

Cyrus Todiwala

AC ROS S CA R D I FF, O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E

ABER GOOD ONE More than 30,000 food-lovers flocked to the beautiful market town of Abergavenny recently to enjoy the delights of its annual food festival. Over the weekend, thousands of hungry visitors rubbed shoulders with world-class chefs, joining in with tasting sessions and cookery classes, and sampling food and drink from more than 250 stallholders.

For more: abergavennyfoodfestival.com

Jose Pizarro and Monica Galetti

Crowds shop at one of the festival’s busy markets

Manuel Monzon and Owen Morgan (both Bar 44) RSVP Bhangra entertain the crowds

Soaking up the sunshine at the Castle

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 71

Cardiff Life

is now available to download. www.mediaclash.co.uk

SOCIETY

GLITTERING PRIZE

Nominees for Best Actress: Catherine Ayers, Mali Harries and Amanda Mealing

The BAFTA Cymru Nominees Party, held recently at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre, celebrated the nominees for the British Academy Cymru Awards across Welsh film and television production, craft and performance categories. (See next issue for all the pics from the glittering main event!)

For more: bafta.org/wales

Sam Price, Myfanwy Harris and Thamsie Thomas

Catherine Ayers, Hefin Owen and guest

Actor nominee Mark Lewis Jones and Lee Haven Jones, nominated for Director Fiction

Alued Jenkins and guest

Mad Dog Casting, sponsors of the nominees party

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SOCIETY

SUITS YOU Penarth-based bespoke tailor Nathan Palmer held his debut VIP fashion show at Hensol Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan. Guests got to see Nathan’s latest work being showcased by models including rugby legend Gareth Thomas, TV presenter Matt Johnson and others.

For more: nathanpalmer.co.uk Photos by Ritchie Rich

Staff from Juno Moneta Wealth

Darren Campbell and guest Naomi Hoang and Ozan Fauzan

Lindsey Doyle, and Jon and Anne Marie Saunders

Daniel Symonds and Polly James

Lowri and Sean McMahon (Degu Media)

Matt Johnson, Gareth Thomas, Nathan Palmer, Christian Malcolm and Shan Williams

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

SOCIETY

GROOVE IS IN THE ART

Karolina Godek

Cardiff School of Art & Design students marked the launch of this year’s Masters Degree Show with a private view evening, featuring work from across all the Masters programmes.

For more: cardiffmet.ac.uk/csad

Ciara McGuinness

Josh Christie Charlotte Burke, Dean Coates and Shruti Bansal

Olivia Kotsifa, Cath Roache, Olwen Moseley and Amelia Johnstone

Jay Young, Natalie Ramus and Bob Gelsthorpe Jodie Nicholson

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

Shake-ups/launches/successes/promotions

CA R D I FF G E T S S ER I O US Esteemed rugby ref Nigel Owens

The Cardiff Life Awards: “A glamorous and prestigious occasion”

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

“WE’VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE DON DRAPER WANNABES…”

THE BIG STORY

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS: HOST CONFIRMED! Rugby legend Nigel Owens to front our 2017 Awards Big news from the Cardiff Life Awards: World Cup Final referee and all-round rugby legend Nigel Owens has been confirmed as the host for 2017! The news comes as early bird associate table sales have opened via the Awards website.

As well as being a stellar star of rugby, Nigel is also a well-known TV presenter and fantastic after-dinner speaker. “I’m delighted to be hosting the Cardiff Life Awards on a night of great celebration of Cardiff’s businesses,” he said. “With Awards, like sport, the focus is on the winners – but they’re also about taking part and simply being there to experience the action. I’m looking forward to it!”

“We are delighted and very proud indeed to have Nigel as our host on 16 March at what are set to be our very best Awards ever,” added Jane Ingham, chief exec

Steady! Who’s putting the boot in? Find out on page 80…

of Cardiff Life’s publisher, MediaClash. “It’s sure to be a highly prestigious and glamorous occasion.”

The Cardiff Life Awards will be held at City Hall.

Sponsors so far include Cardiff Airport (headline sponsor), Martyn Prowel Solicitors, Cardiff Blues, Stills, Parkhouse Jewellers, Capital FM, Chapel 1877, Park Plaza and Vom Fass. Nominations for the 2017 Awards open on 10 November.

Various sponsorships are still available. For sponsorship enquiries, contact Andy Baker (andy. baker@mediaclash.co.uk). Or if you wish your company to be associated with the glitz, sophistication and prestige of the Awards, contact Stephanie Dodd (stephanie.dodd@mediaclash.co.uk).

For more: cardifflifeawards.co.uk, @CardiffLifeAwds

30 THE BIG NUMBER

Which Cardiff institution is celebrating its 30th anniversary?

Turn to page 82 to find out...

Got a business news story for us? Email vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk

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

BUSINESS INSIDER

ADVERTISING

HIT AND MYTH Forget all about Mad Men-style advertising myths – it’s time to give Don Draper the boot, says OLIVER BROWN from independent Cardiff advertising agency Hello Starling

A

dvertising, like lots of professions, seems to hold on to something of a self-perpetuating negative myth around itself. No young professional enters their industry with innate characteristics (bankers aren’t born greedy). Those are stereotypes, but like lots of stereotypes, they indulge lazy, backward thinking and actually help to feed the stereotypes, allowing the bad apples space to operate.

Think of the lawyer, sleazily commenting on a LinkedIn photo. Representative of the profession as a whole? No – but indicative that some within it are loath to join the 21st century. The boys’ club may be on the way out but the female legal professional is still more likely to be judged (and expect to be judged) on their looks as a result of this essential lack of respect.

The ad world has its own special set of types who seem rooted in the past. We’ve certainly come across

our fair share of macho, alpha wolves – the type of person who thinks the characters in Mad Men are ideal behavioural models. The type who, despite working in a creative industry, doesn’t allow for deviation from their line of thinking, who (often aggressively) shuts down debate and throws their weight around.

This type typically has an inflated sense of self-worth and isn’t shy about making others feel small to help boost themselves. Psychiatrist Donald Nathanson seems to have our stereotype in his sights when he said “attacking others not only halts any inclination to look within themselves, it can also be exciting as it stimulates the physical experience of power.”

This person exists in all areas of life, but advertising, with its hierarchical systems and often large accounts, seems to especially encourage it.

Well, not here. Respect, based on the crazy idea that we treat others as we’d like to be treated ourselves, is not just a throwaway word at Hello Starling. It’s a cornerstone of our business values.

We treat clients and suppliers with the respect they deserve, not just as valued clients or suppliers, but as people. Which is why we think it’s just as important that every cog of the organisation, from our cleaning team to our senior management, is treated with the same level of basic, human dignity. It doesn’t just make us feel happier about coming to work. We genuinely believe that it makes business sense too, ensuring that our staff and clients will enjoy longer, more fruitful relationships with us as a result of this shared respect.

Quite frankly – and we don’t think we are alone here – we’ve had enough of the Don Draper wannabes.

(Above) Mad Men – not ideal behavioural models; (Below, left) Hello Starling’s Oliver Brown: “Respect is a cornerstone of our business values”

THE AD WORLD HAS ITS OWN SPECIAL SET OF TYPES WHO SEEM ROOTED IN THE PAST

For more: hellostarling.com

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BUSINESS INSIDER BREAKING NEWS

TRIPLE WHAMMY

Hup, two, three, four...

Our pick of the most exciting, intriguing and important local business stories happening right now…

MUSCLING IN Leading Cardiff-based high performance sports nutrition brand MSC Nutrition has recently partnered with Volt Athletics, a global leader in sport performance technology solutions, to provide athletes with access to Volt’s intelligent training app.

The MSC Training Platform provides personalised sport-specific training plans customised to each person. Volt’s proprietary technology analyses simple inputs from the athlete to build a unique 52-week training plan, designed by leading sport scientists and certified strength coaches.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Volt, as it means we are able to offer this next-level training platform,” said Rhys Dyer, MSC Nutrition’s business development director. “Volt’s training was developed by experts in their fields, and as we are dedicated to supporting the athletes we work with, this partnership strengthens that support and reflects our belief of providing a high level of support to everyone who interacts with our brand.”

1

For more: msc-nutrition.co.uk

ALL GOOD BOOKS Leading academic bookseller Blackwell’s has selected Cardiff as one of two new university campus shops in the UK, to act as a pilot for a new format of academic bookshop.

Robert Wilson, dean for education innovation at Cardiff University, officially reopened the Blackwell’s shop in the Student Union building at Cardiff University. The entire look and feel of a traditional academic bookshop has been renewed and modernised, with a focus on creating a retail environment that students are comfortable shopping in – the new shop spaces feature digital displays, interactive touchscreens and a contemporary retail design.

Said Blackwell’s CEO David Prescott: “These new-format shops will provide a new experience with more space for students to sit down and take advice from our expert booksellers, and to browse multiple channels on interactive touchscreens that not only provide access to the stock in shop, but also to the eight million titles we have online for home delivery or collection on campus.”

For more: bookshop.blackwell.co.uk

2 Blackwells is piloting a new breed of academic bookshop in Cardiff

Matthew Hall (chief commercial officer, London City Airport), Deb Barber (MD, Cardiff Airport) and Saad Hammad (CEO, Flybe)

3 FLYING HIGH Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has started operating its multi-frequency daily schedule between Cardiff and London City Airports. The new route will provide convenient and affordable options for those travelling between South Wales and South-East England, particularly those who are being severely inconvenienced by the six-week closure of the Severn Tunnel (work is due for completion on 21 October). The airline offers a choice of up to three flights on weekdays, and two a day at weekends.

“The flights being offered by Flybe are a helpful way of ensuring that the Welsh capital, Canary Wharf and central London stay connected during the temporary closure of the Severn Tunnel,” said Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales. “Cardiff is growing in significance as a centre for financial services, [and] I hope we will see an expanding range of regional air services from London to Cardiff in the longer term. We need to make it as easy as possible for commuters to get here.”

For more: flybe.com, cardiff-airport.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 81

BUSINESS INSIDER

THE BIZ Q&A

LESLEY KIRKPATRICK

Lesley Kirkpatrick: “Never listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t do something”

The CEO of Techniquest, Cardiff’s science centre and independent educational charity, on why it has become a Welsh institution

FORWARD THINKING TAKEN ON TRUST

What does Techniquest do?

Techniquest is an educational charity, established in 1986 as one of the first science centres in the UK. Since then, it has become a much-loved Welsh institution and Wales’ largest provider of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) enrichment activity.

What makes Techniquest stand out?

We provide something unique to Wales, supporting teachers to deliver STEM subjects and inspiring the next generation of Welsh scientists. As a charity, we’re committed to ensuring that Wales develops a scientifically literate society through interactive STEM engagement. We also operate a pioneering Wales-wide programme of educational outreach in schools. And the charity has a world-wide reputation for creating and delivering programmes and exhibits to science centres all over the world.

How’s business at the moment?

We’re currently celebrating our 30th anniversary, so it’s a really exciting time! Our visitor numbers remain buoyant, and through outreach and visits to the centre, we will reach almost 300,000 people this year.

What’s new at Techniquest?

Over the next few months, visitors will start to see new, interactive experiences, including ‘Imagination Playground’, an innovative playground equipment system, encouraging learning, social development, movement and, most of all, fun. The coffee shop has also recently been refurbished as we look to extend our catering offer and opening hours to visitors.

You’re based in Cardiff Bay – why is it such a great area to work?

It has good transport links, a beautiful waterside setting, a number of places to go for lunch and is in the heart of Cardiff’s cultural and political hub.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy shaping strategy to help Techniquest achieve its vision to be the UK’s leading science and discovery centre. I also love seeing the impact Techniquest has on children, inspiring them to engage in STEM. Who has been your main career influence?

The American psychologist Susan Jeffers. The advice she gives about overcoming fears has really helped me to move forward in my career with confidence.

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

To instil total trust, be the best you can be, says teambuilding guru ANDREA CALLANAN, founder of inspireMe

Greatest professional achievement to date?

Becoming Techniquest’s CEO earlier this year – although working for HRH The Prince of Wales as The Prince’s Trust Cymru Director comes a close second.

Best bit of advice you could give a young person wondering what to do with their life?

Never listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t do something. If I had listened to the careers advisor of my all-girls grammar school back in Northern Ireland – who said I wasn’t cut out for university – I wouldn’t be where I am today.

If you weren’t working in this industry, what other field would you be in?

My husband Owen and I run a four-star holiday cottage, 2 Mill Street in Crickhowell (2millstreet.co.uk), so I’d probably be working in the tourism sector.

What do you do in your spare time?

I really enjoy walking my lovely rescue cocker spaniel along the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal, and sitting in my summerhouse with a glass of wine, watching the birds.

Finally, surprise us with a secret or little-known fact about yourself…

I’m a huge MotoGP fan and have been on the grid at Silverstone.

For more: techniquest.org

Any type of service or product we buy into requires a degree of trust for us to ‘sign up’.

Trust largely depends on the individual representing the service and our interaction with them – which is why it’s so important for individuals to be totally aligned with their brand. People who go against their brand values create uncertainty and discourse.

Having said that, our experiences as customers are priceless and we must always apply them to our own businesses. So, when looking at your team (and especially yourself), ask if you are trustworthy, and what that looks like as ‘behaviour’. Does your organisation deliver what you say it will? Customers vote first with their voices online and then with their feet, which can really affect the bottom line. In these days of online ratings, you can’t afford to be dishonest with clients.

Are you true to your brand?

If not, how can you expect your team to be? Take a good long look in the mirror, both as a business owner and as an organisation, and make sure your behaviour, quality and customer service are secondto-none.

Aim for five stars every time, and enjoy the success you create with that mindset.

Sing & Inspire are a Cardiffbased team-building and training company. For more info, see singandinspire.com and inspiremegroup.com

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

PLYMOUTH ROAD 84 112I I CARDIFF CLIFTONLIFE LIFE I I www.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk

SHOWCASE

PROPERTY

This impressive five-bedroom, semi-detached abode in Penarth boasts modern and Victorian features – the best of both worlds...

By K AT I E K I SSO ON

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CLIFTON LIFE I 113

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

O

h, Penarth, how much do we love thee?

Let us count the ways… Regular readers will know how much we adore the Vale’s desirable little coastal haven. As a town, of course, Penarth offers a multitude of advantages: beautiful parks and walks, great little independent shops and restaurants, the restored Art Deco Pier Pavilion, with its gallery, cinema and cafe, excellent transport links… you know the score.

This month’s showcase, located on sought-after Plymouth Road, is just a short walk from Penarth’s bustling centre. It’s a real gem, too: there are original Victorian features (coving, picture rails and ceiling mouldings), complemented by a modern luxe finish. And the entrance hall has an Italian porcelain-tiled floor and ornate decorative coving, while the feature staircase leading down to the cellar has a glazed panel, revealing an exposed stone wall.

There’s plenty of interior space to call your own, with three decent reception rooms, including a contemporary open-plan kitchen/family area with stainless steel and quartz worktops, a central island and various Smeg and Bosch appliances. From here, two sets of bi-fold doors open out onto the central courtyard and the rear garden.

Upstairs, the master bedroom, with its fitted dressing table unit, walk-in wardrobe and modern en-suite (featuring a double shower cubicle) is tailor-made for pampering and beautifying. There are two more bedrooms and a pristine family bathroom on this floor, with two further bedrooms up on the second floor, both serviced by a shower room with modern suite.

Outside, the front garden has a paved pathway and a shingle-stone driveway with parking for several vehicles.

The enclosed rear garden, meanwhile (with gated access to the front), includes a central courtyard, patio, lawn and a hi-spec summer house at the bottom of the garden.

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

Immaculate and pristine, with a modern luxe finish, this desirable home could almost pass as a high-end new build

HOUSE NUMBERS Plymouth Road, Penarth

5

bedrooms

3

reception rooms

4

bathrooms

1

summer house

£1.2M price

With its tasteful, neutral decor, high-spec finish and oodles of space waiting to be filled, this gorgeous des res is pretty much a blank canvas, just crying out for someone to come along and put their unique stamp on it.

It could be you…

For more info, contact Savills, 12 Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BY; Tel: 02920 368930, savills.co.uk

Smokey Cot Creigiau A capacious detached double fronted six bedroom modern country residence, occupying a large and private 0.75 acre ploy with the added benefits of a long stone entrance drive and a detached triple garage with self-contained studio suite above. Built in 1994 to a high specification by the present owners, completed with an architect’s certificate, and providing 4300 square feet, this magnificent family home includes five generous reception rooms, a well fitted (19’0 x 15’7) open plan kitchen and breakfast room with stylish Range cooker and Pine work surfaces, a large utility room, a downstairs cloak room and a ground floor shower room. Approached by a most impressive entrance reception hall with an Ash spindle balustrade staircase (18’1 x 14’8) leading to a gallery landing, there are six first floor double sized bedrooms, three with ensuite bathrooms together with two ensuite walk-in wardrobes and a further spacious white family bathroom. With exceptional and versatile accommodation, this charming home also includes PVC hardwood effect double glazed windows, Oil fired heating with panel radiators and a calor gas cylinders feeding the range cooker and the gas fires, Russian pine farmhouse internal doors with matching pine skirting’s and architrave’s, hardwood floors and a most sophisticated wireless intruder alarm system (linked to the police). Outside there are large well-manicured gardens with two sun patios and extensive lawns, a long private stone finished entrance drive providing dual turning areas to the front and rear of the house, and a large triple width detached double garage. The first floor above the garage comprises a large studio room (20’10 x 15’8), equipped with ensuite shower room, and approached by a self-contained entrance hall with staircase and landing. The property is constructed with cavity facing brick external elevations, the upper front inset with a relief of whitened render with dark wood timbering, all beneath a deep pitched roof of concrete inter locking tiles. The property benefits mains water, mains electricity and private Cess Pit drainage. Within minutes driving distance is an exit onto Cardiff/Llantrisant Road, enabling fast and economic travel to Cardiff, as well as exit onto the M4, providing excellent access to Swansea, Newport and Bristol.

For sale with PA Black Whitchurch Branch 02920 612328

£945,000

Clos Coed-Y-Dafarn, Lisvane A capacious detached double fronted beautifully re-furbished bungalow, occupying a delightful position, tucked away at the far end of a select close, comprising detached bungalows and enjoying a particularly quiet and private aspect. This unique three bedroom property has been extensively improved by the current owner and provides superb living space including a large square versatile lounge (18’7 x 17’8), a formal study with a pleasing rear garden view and french doors which open onto a private sun patio, and a bright 15 ft sun lounge. The open plan kitchen and dining room is a generous (23 ft x 12’8) fully fitted with stylish new units and stainless steel integrated appliances. The property benefits double glazed windows, white panel doors with stylish chrome handles, coved ceilings and gas heating with new panel radiators and a new gas boiler. The charming rear gardens are truly stunning, private and chiefly laid to lawn beyond a large paved sun patio, with views onto trees, southerly facing and boasting a secluded aspect. The accommodation also comprises a large utility room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, one being ensuite. The bathrooms are newly re-modelled with quality bespoke white suites and tiled walls and floors. There are newly laid carpets throughout the living space whilst the main entrance hall, the dining room, the garden room and the kitchen are ceramic tiled. Outside the front garden includes a stone private entrance drive providing off road parking.

For sale with PA Black Llanishen Branch 02920 618552

£599,950

CARDIFF LIVES

Q&A

Y

ou need something really cool and unique to stand out in today’s everchanging, fickle fashion industry, and Alexandra Wall, founder of new Cardiffbased label Xandra Jane, is certainly no shrinking violet. Her debut ZERO capsule collection of oversized, exaggerated, ‘eco-luxe’ chunky knitwear – androgynous and chic – is a real statement of intent. She’s recently been nominated for the Sustain Wales Awards too, celebrating sustainability and innovation. One to watch, clearly…

So – where’s home in Cardiff?

Victoria Park. My atelier is also a home away from home, within the gorgeous architecture of The Old Church [on Newport Road].

As a fashion designer, what makes you different/unique?

Apart from my contemporary aesthetic and design style, I would say my company’s morals and ethics.

My aim is to reconnect my customers to their clothing – each garment comes with its own journey card, listing things such as where I sourced the fabric, how many hours were spent creating it etc.

Your ZERO eco-luxe knitwear designs are gender-neutral, right?

Yes – half my personal wardrobe is menswear, and I became fascinated with the idea of blurring the lines. To me, clothes are an extension of someone’s personality, not something to define their gender.

‘Gender neutral’ is a natural progression, both of society and of sustainable design.

ALEXANDRA WALL The founder of sustainable contemporary fashion label Xandra Jane on breaking the mould... and her fear of balloons Dream dinner party guests?

Difficult... I’d have to say Lee McQueen, Genghis Khan, Robin Williams, Rosa Parks, Bob Marley, George Orwell and Anne Frank.

Karaoke choice?

Get The Party Started by Pink.

Must-watch television programme?

Making A Murderer. Best thing I’ve seen in a very long time!

If you could get up on your soapbox about a particular issue, what would it be?

People’s disconnect with their clothing.

If push came to shove, what would be your final meal of choice?

Easy – Sunday roast! All those incredible flavours on one plate. It would have to be cooked by my sister – she does the best roasties.

Most famous person you follow on Twitter?

John Cleese.

Who would play you in a film about your life?

Margot Robbie.

Best thing about Cardiff?

It’s one of the fastest-growing cities without losing its heritage and charm.

How do you relax?

I enjoy hiking and being outdoors. If I’m not outdoors, I will shut off all technology and pick up a book.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Love Yourself by Justin Bieber.

Favourite shop in Cardiff?

Troutmark Books.

Most important lesson life has taught you?

Value your loved ones and don’t get hung up on the small stuff.

Locally, where do you like to eat and drink?

Calabrisella, 29 Park Place, Milgi.

Proudest life moment so far?

I’m 24 and in the very early stages of running a business – to do what you love and make a living from it is a massive ask, but I am on my way to being there.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

I used to dance when I was younger, and during a rehearsal, I wore pink satin crossover tops that tied at the shoulders. I remember mine popping off in spectacular fashion, causing me to fling my arms up and cover my dignity – whilst still dancing.

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

What’s on your bookshelf at the moment?

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

Which piece of music always sends a shiver down your spine?

Father & Son by Cat Stevens.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Infinite memory.

Secret or favourite Cardiff spot?

My boyfriend owns The Garth Farm, so we’re often exploring areas on Garth Mountain, which is home to incredible views of Cardiff.

Surprise us with a little-known fact…

I have globophobia (fear of balloons) and would love hypnotherapy!

For more: xandrajane.com

www.icebodysculpting.co.uk - info@icebodysculpting.co.uk 02921 202 190. 122 Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff, CF5 5BT