Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 168 / JUNE 2017 / £3
CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE
ISSUE 168 / JUNE 2017 / ANI GLASS / RUSSELL KANE / COOL COCKTAILS / FATHER’S DAY GIFTS
MAKING THE CUT
FASHION DESIGNER NATHAN PALMER
RUSSELL KANE RIGHT MAN, WRONG AGE
TOP TIPPLES FROM CARDIFF’S COOLEST BARS
YOUR PA’S THE STAR!
FATHER’S DAY GIFTS
MEET ANI GLASS, CARDIFF’S RISING ELECTRO POPSTREL
large version
OF GLASS
editor’s letter / Issue 168 / JUNE 2017
34 ANI WHICH WAY Meet Cardiff’s Ani Glass, an electronic music starlet in the making...
Music to our ears Cardiff seems to have become a real hotbed for cool electronic music of late. If that sort of thing is your bag, then you’re no doubt already aware of the city’s various ace musicians, producers and knob-twiddlers doing their thing – R.Seiliog, Twinfield, Conformist and, of course, Gwenno, winner of last year’s Welsh Music Prize with her brilliant debut Y Dydd Olaf, a hugely captivating concept album of blissfully woozy synth-pop. As you’ll have seen from this month’s rather arty cover, the latest starlet-in-waiting is electronic popstrel, artist and photographer Ani Glass – Gwenno’s younger sister, no less. Singing in Welsh, her infectious, socially conscious songs are a real journey of self-discovery, reflecting her reconnection with Welsh language, history and culture – read our revealing interview with her on page 34. In some ways, this also feels rather like an ‘unofficial’ men’s issue – we talk to Penarth-based fashion designer Nathan Palmer, MasterChef finalist Imran Nathoo and flamboyant stand-up Russell Kane, suggest a few choice Father’s Day gifts, and focus on colourful fella fashion for the months ahead. We’ve even got a few cocktails that’ll put hairs on your chest... Until next time, chin-chin!
Caerdydd yn ganolfan gerddorol Yn ddiweddar, mae Caerdydd fel pe bai wedi troi’n fagwrfa ar gyfer cerddoriaeth electronig ffasiynol. Os dyna’r math o ˆ eich bod yn gerddoriaeth sydd at eich dant chi, mae’n siwr ymwybodol yn barod o’r amryw gerddorion, cynhyrchwyr a thechnegwyr gwych sy’n creu cerddoriaeth yn y ddinas – R.Seiliog, Twinfield a Conformist, heb anghofio am Gwenno a enillodd y Wobr Gerddoriaeth Gymreig y llynedd am ei halbwm cyntaf gwych, Y Dydd Olaf, sy’n albwm cysyniadol hudolus o gerddoriaeth synth-pop hynod o swynol. Byddwch wedi gweld o’n clawr eithaf artistig y mis hwn mai’r seren nesaf ddiweddaraf yw Ani Glass – cantores cerddoriaeth bop electronig, arlunydd a ffotograffydd sydd hefyd yn chwaer iau i Gwenno. Mae ei chaneuon Cymraeg heintus sy’n myfyrio ynghylch materion cymdeithasol yn siwrnai sydd wedi’i galluogi i ddod i’w deall ei hun yn well ac sy’n adlewyrchu ei chysylltiad o’r newydd â’r iaith Gymraeg ac â hanes a diwylliant Cymru – darllenwch ein cyfweliad dadlennol â hi ar dudalen 34. Mewn rhai ffyrdd, mae’r rhifyn hwn hefyd fel pe bai’n rhifyn ‘answyddogol’ i ddynion. Rydym yn sgwrsio â Nathan Palmer – y cynllunydd ffasiwn sy’n gweithio ym Mhenarth; Imran Nathoo a gyrhaeddodd rownd derfynol MasterChef; a Russell Kane – y comedïwr lliwgar. Rydym hefyd yn awgrymu ambell anrheg arbennig ar gyfer Sul y Tadau ac yn canolbwyntio ar ffasiwn llachar i ddynion yn ystod y misoedd sydd i ddod. Mae gennym hyd yn oed ambell goctel cryf ar gyfer ein darllenwyr mwyaf dewr... Tan y tro nesaf, iechyd da! Velimir Ilic Editor vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk Follow us on Twitter: @CardiffLifeMag
CONTENTS / ISSUE 168 / JUNE 2017 M EET T H E T EAM
MAIN FEATURES
Editor Velimir Ilic vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk
18 Summer Cocktails The mercury’s rising, and the cocktail hour is upon us
Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Hugo Ball, Andrea Byrne, Owen Davies, Katie Kissoon, Elisabeth Mahoney, Jamie Rees, Rhys Williams
24 Making The Cut With an increasingly diverse list of celeb clients, Penarth-based fashion designer Nathan Palmer is a man in demand
Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@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
OPINION 15 A Man’s World Watch out for those seagulls...
55 Girl About Town Andrea’s been in the city of love
THE ARTS 30 What’s On
18
June’s most unmissable arts, theatre, music and more
34 Ani Glass Gwenno’s little sis on electronic pop, music inspirations and the influence of Welsh culture
38 Russell Kane Is the flamboyant comedian finally growing up?
FOOD
PROPERT Y
41 Film Preview
57 Food News
78 Property Showcase
This month, it’s all about the little people at Chapter
Cheese Pantry and Cardiff’s latest food pop-up, Food by LG
Katie Kissoon uncovers an exceptional four-bedroom beauty in sought-after Cyncoed
SHOPPING 47 Shopping Intro
58 Restaurant Refurbished boozer The Grange
This electric range cooker will add a burst of colour to your kitchen
GREAT ESCAPES
48 Ed’s Choice
Elisabeth Mahoney saddles up
Father’s Day is fast-approaching – forget at your peril
62 Horsing Around
DEPARTMENTS 9 Spotlight
Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager and production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW; 01225 475800, 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
Champions League Final, Dorothy Squires, Street Food Circus etc
67 Snapped!
BUSINESS
Were you papped?
52 Fashion
73 Business Insider
82 Cardiff Lives
It’s the turn of the fellas
The Wolf is coming...
Imran ‘MasterChef’ Nathoo, no less
On the cover Artwork by musician, artist and photographer Ani Glass – read all about her on page 34
MICROSUCTION EAR WAX CLINIC & INDEPENDENT FAMILY RUN HEARING CENTRE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF SERVICE AND AFTERCARE.
Scott Wroe Hearing & Ear Care Clinic | 10 Royal Buildings, Penarth CF64 3ED | Telephone 02920 707760 Open: 09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday, Saturday 9:30 - 12:30. Visit our website for more information - www.scottwroe-hearingcentre.co.uk
C A R D I F F: I T S L I F E A N D T I M E S
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Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale – will he be fit to play in the Champions League Final?
EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT...
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
(Above) Footballing legends such as Luis Figo (pictured), Lothar Matthäus and Roberto Carlos played at last year’s Ultimate Champions match
All eyes are on Cardiff for the biggest football event of the year. But will Gareth Bale, the city’s prodigal son, play? Taking place on Saturday 3 June at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium – renamed the National Stadium of Wales for the occasion – the final will see local boy-done-good Gareth Bale’s Real Madrid side take on Italian giants Juventus. Currently sidelined with a calf injury, it’s touch and go as to whether Bale himself will actually figure, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed. Whether Bale plays or not, it promises to be a lavish and prestigious affair, as befits one of the biggest football matches on the planet. Whether you’re a supporter of one of the teams competing in the final, or just want to soak up what will be an incredible atmosphere, there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved in the action outside the stadium. More than 170,000 people are expected to arrive in Cardiff for the final, as the best players in Europe bid for Champions League glory. Work to prepare for the big weekend has been going on behind the scenes for many months, and the city is pulling out all the stops to make it an event to remember. There’s plenty going on, including a free,
four-day UEFA Champions Festival, staged in Cardiff Bay from 1-4 June, with a whole host of attractions for visitors to enjoy, including an amazing, floating five-a-side football pitch, the UEFA Champions Gallery football museum, the official UCL Final Megastore and live entertainment from global and local artists, DJs and bands. Visitors will also have the chance to have a free picture taken with the Champions League trophy itself. A festival highlight will see legends of the beautiful game playing in the UEFA Ultimate Champions Match on Friday 2 June; last year’s participants included Brazil and Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos, Portugal’s Luís Figo and Germany’s Lothar Matthäus. And the football doesn’t stop there: don’t forget that the UEFA Women’s Final is at Cardiff City Stadium on 1 June, kick-off at 7.45pm. “Playing host to the UEFA Champions League Finals will create a huge and lasting economic legacy for Cardiff,” said Neil Hanratty, City of Cardiff Council’s Director of Economic Development. “Staging such a world-class
sporting occasion will generate a massive boost for the whole city – its people, businesses, hospitality, tourism trade, and its universities.” “The Champions League Final is a massive coup for the city, and we’re working closely with our city centre partners to deliver the world’s greatest Champions League experience for sports fans coming to Cardiff in June,” said Mark Williams, general manager at the National Stadium of Wales/Principality Stadium. “Visitors to the city never fail to be blown away by the unique central location occupied by Wales’ national stadium, and collectively, we want to create that vibrant carnival atmosphere that Wales is known for when hosting major events, and leave a lasting impression on visitors and the people of Wales.” So, it’s gonna be a goodie. The stage is set for Bale to come off the bench and nab an injurytime winner, Roy Of The Rovers-stylee. Tickertape at the ready! For a full list of Champions League Final activities in Cardiff, see cardiff2017.wales
www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 9
SPOTLIGHT
Dorothy Squires and then-husband Roger Moore
STAR POWER
HELLO, SQUIRES! From a caravan to the heights of Hollywood stardom, a new biography reveals the dramatic rags-to-riches story of inimitable Welsh singer Dorothy Squires Written by her friend, Wenvoebased Gavin & Stacey star Johnny Tudor (Squires was also friends with his father, Bert, a pianist), and with access to her letters and diaries, My Heart Is Bleeding (£12.99, The History Press) charts the Welsh singing star’s rise, from a young girl toiling in Llanelli’s tin works, and her turbulent marriage to actor Roger Moore, through to the glitz and glamour of 1950s Hollywood, triumphant comebacks, corruption charges, bankruptcy and her final days, back in the Welsh valleys. For more: thehistorypress.co.uk
STREET FOOD
ONE FOR THE ROATH The Street Food Circus crew unveil their latest project, Roath Yard Set to take over a defunct milk dairy off City Road on 10-11 June, SFC’s Roath Yard event promises to transform it into a colourful street food fiesta – a weekend of street eats, all-day music, street art and a vintage kilo sale. Confirmed food traders so far include Dusty Knuckle, Science Cream, Anand George’s Indian Tuk-Tuk, Brother Thai, Milgi, and more. “We’re going back to our roots for this event, slap-bang in the middle of one of the most exciting culinary areas of the city,” said Matt The Hat from event organisers, Something Creatives. “The discovery of the forgotten dairy yard got us thinking about creating a one-off street food fiesta, with music and a market that supports the independent and DIY culture of our neighbourhood.” SFC’s Roath Yard takes place from 10-11 June. For more: streetfoodcardiff.com 10 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Anand George and his Indian street food tuk-tuk will be at SFC’s Roath Yard
SQUIRES CONFIDENTIAL Johnny Tudor on his relationship with troubled Welsh diva, Dorothy Squires When did you first meet Dorothy? She was walking down Wardour Street in London’s West End in 1961 with her thenhusband, Roger Moore, when she spotted my father and me. “My lovely Bert,” she squealed, totally ignoring Roger, and gave my father a smacker of a wet kiss. As an 18 year-old star-struck kid, I was blown away, not only by Dorothy’s mesmerising personality, but by meeting ‘The Saint’ himself. This was pre-Bond and Roger was already a big star. Why have you chosen to write this book now? After the success of the play I co-wrote about Dorothy [Say It With Flowers] with Meic Povey, a lot of people wanted to know more about this fascinating, talented and sometimes difficult Welsh woman. Tell us a little secret about her... Although she lived the full Hollywood lifestyle at the height of her career, and could have dined on champagne and caviar, she loved beetroot sandwiches and a cup of strong builder’s tea.
SPOTLIGHT
The Golden Cross in Cardiff, as painted by artist Christopher Langley
ART
ALE TALES A new exhibition by artist Christopher Langley shines a colourful light on the pubs of Cardiff, old and new
Pioneering spirit: contemporary large-scale ballet P.A.R.A.D.E. will be staged in Cardiff later this year
ARTS/DANCE
JUMP TO IT National Dance Company Wales and Marc Rees’ P.A.R.A.D.E. will bring a spark of revolution to Wales Exactly 100 years on from the Paris premiere of Ballet Russes’ momentous Parade, National Dance Company Wales and installation/performance curator du jour Marc Rees have announced details of their large-scale, multi-platform re-staging of this extraordinary ballet, to be performed in Cardiff Bay on 24-25 October this year. P.A.R.A.D.E. will be a flagship event in Wales’ Russia ’17 programme, which marks the centenary of the Russian Revolution. And like the original Parade, it will see a supergroup of artists and companies – NDC Wales, Rees, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Rubicon Dance and Dawns i Bawb, plus internationally renowned choreographer Marcos Morau, graffiti artist Pure Evil, architectural designer Jenny Hall, aerialist Kate Lawrence and composer Jack White – joining forces to recreate, with a Welsh twist, one of the most revolutionary episodes in 20th century culture. “The premiere of Parade in Paris in 1917 was one of the most groundbreaking and revolutionary productions ever staged,” said Marc Rees. “The original creative team behind Parade were imprisoned for being cultural anarchists, and it sparked a riot. I want to capture their pioneering spirit and give it a surreal backdrop, but with a contemporary Welsh twist.”
The solo exhibition, entitled ‘Cardiff Pubs – Past Present’, includes pubs such as The Cow & Snuffers, The Vulcan, The Golden Cross and The White Swan Hotel, and will be on display at Insole Court, Llandaff, until 30 June. Artist Chris is hoping people in South Wales will contact him with their memories of the featured hostelries. “My aim is to tell the story of the pubs of the city in a historical and cultural context,” he said, “so it would be wonderful to find out more about their interesting histories or stories attached to them. “Cardiff’s pubs have been at the heart of the city’s life for centuries, and with many pubs closing or facing an uncertain future, it’s important that their role is recognised and documented.” Anyone with interesting information about the pubs in the exhibition can email Chris at art@christopherlangley.net. For more: christopherlangley.net
The Cow and Snuffers
For more: r17.wales
www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 11
A MAN’S WORLD
RHYS WILLIAMS
WINGING IT Prepare for an invasion, says Rhys – the seagulls are coming...
I
have lived in Cardiff for almost 20 years and always enjoy spring. As a rugby player, and especially a back, there is nothing better than coming through the winter months – where you train and play in cold, blustery and wet conditions on heavy grounds – to a welcome bit of warmth and sunshine on a firmer pitch. Today, as a business professional, spring mornings are great, and the city really does come alive when the weather shows a bit of promise. There is nothing better than taking a walk into work on a sunny morning through Bute Park, over the Taff and into Cardiff Arms Park. We are so lucky in Cardiff to have many beautiful green spaces through the heart of the city. But – and there is a big BUT to my story – this time of year does unleash that pest of the skies: the seagull. Now, as someone who grew up in Cowbridge, you only expected to see seagulls at the beach, in Barrybados, Southerndown and Ogmore. I’m not sure if they have always been part of city life, or whether their proliferation is a result of our
growing population and the popularity of Chippy Lane after a big night out. I’ve been guilty of the odd late night on Chippy Lane, and it can definitely resemble a scene from Finding Nemo, with seagulls lined up and chanting ‘mine, mine, mine’ at every spill of a chip bag.
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THEIR SQUAWKS ARE RELENTLESS At this time of year, the seagull ‘squawk’, and its volume, is relentless, right from dawn to dusk. If that isn’t enough, I recently had a seagull in my kitchen, helping itself to my cat’s biscuits! The back door was open, and the cheeky blighter just decided to help itself. This was compounded by the fact that my cat was watching the events unfold but chose, quite rightly, not to intervene. Judging by the size of these ‘city gulls’, the cat could possibly have been the next snack.
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The icing on the cake – and I’m sure every Cardiffian has experienced or seen this – is refuse collection day. Like most, I place my bin, recycling and food waste bags out the night before collection, and wake up to what can only be described as a massacre. The gulls seem to have a special knack of choosing the bag with the worst contents – in my neighbourhood, they like to target nappies and cat litter. Needless to say, cleaning up the aftermath is not the best start to the day! Some days, it is difficult to view them as nothing but vermin, which seems a bit harsh. There are currently 3,500 seagulls in Cardiff, and by 2020 it is estimated that there will be more than 5,000! Seagull attacks, whether pinching a sandwich or dive-bombing a dog-walker, have become commonplace in the city, and as the weather warms up, such incidents are surely set to increase. Helmets at the ready... Rhys Williams is an ex-Wales and Cardiff Blues rugby star, now commercial director at the club. For more, see cardiffblues.com
MIXING IT The mercury’s rising, and the cocktail hour is upon us... To mark the start of summer, we asked four of Cardiff’s coolest bars to mix us up a cocktail manly enough for the fellas, and alluring enough for a girls’ night out. Here’s what they came up with – enjoy!
THE DEAD CANARY
CAPRICE “Styled after a classic gin Martini, this Old Tom variation comes from George J Kappeler’s 1895 book, Modern American Drinks, and includes the added touch of the herbal liqueur Bénédictine,” says Mark Holmes from The Dead Canary. “I love these old cocktails because it feels like going back in time to see what gentlemen in members clubs were drinking at the turn of the century. Luckily, these days, such cocktails can be enjoyed by all!”
Ingredients: 2oz Old Tom gin 1oz Dolin dry vermouth 1/4oz Bénédictine liqueur 2 dashes orange bitters Method: Combine all the ingredients and stir with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish by expressing the orange oils over the drink and then discarding the peel. We finish ours off with a small stem of gypsophila pegged to the glass. The Dead Canary, Barrack Lane, Cardiff; thedeadcanary.co.uk
18 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
SUMMER C O C K TA I L S
DIRTY MARTINI
WHITE GRAPE & KAFFIR PISCO & TONIC “Everyone loves a good gin and tonic, but we think our new range of pisco (a South American brandy) and tonics will take Cardiff by storm!” says Dirty Martini’s Luke Gallea. “Refreshing and thirst-quenching, it’s the perfect tipple to see you through summer.”
Ingredients: 25ml El Gobernador Pisco 15ml Briottet Bergamot liqueur 2 whole white grapes, sliced 2 kaffir lime leaves 100ml Fever Tree Elderflower tonic Silent Pool Kaffir Lime mist Method: Add the raw ingredients to a glass, then pour over the liquid ingredients, and add cubed ice to fill. Top with tonic water, stir slightly to combine, garnish with sliced white grapes, kaffir lime leaves, a spray of the kaffir lime mist, and serve. Dirty Martini, Imperial Gate, St Mary Street, Cardiff; dirtymartini.uk.com
LAB 22
TOUGH AS OLD BOOTS “This is a classic twist on an old-fashioned cocktail,” says Elliott Skehel from Lab 22. “The inspiration for it comes from popular culture and shows like Mad Men, which personify a swaggering masculinity.”
Ingredients: Ruby grapefruit Brown sugar Strip of grapefruit peel 4 parts Wild Turkey rye whiskey 1 part reduced India Pale Ale (IPA) syrup 3 dashes leather and tobacco bitters Method: Muddle some ruby grapefruit with brown sugar (to your taste) in a mixing glass, add ice, then measure in the IPA syrup, the leather and tobacco bitters, and pour over the rye whiskey. Stir it all down, and serve in a fresh rocks glass with a large block of ice, and garnish with a thick grapefruit twist. Lab 22, 22 Caroline Street, Cardiff; lab22cardiff.com
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www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 19
SUMMER C O C K TA I L S
LAGUNA BAR
GIN NEGRONI “The negroni is a well-balanced and simple cocktail,” says Laguna Bar manager, Rimante Svedarauskaite. “We added our own twist to this classic in the form of sloe gin and rhubarb bitters. The result is a strong, bitter cocktail, complemented by the fruitiness of the sloe gin and rhubarb bitters and engulfed in the signature dark red of the Campari.”
Ingredients: 25ml Sipsmith sloe gin 25ml Campari 25ml Martini Rosso Dash of rhubarb bitters Orange peel for garnish Method: Combine all ingredients in an ice-filled mixing glass. Stir for approximately 30 seconds until well-chilled, then strain into an old fashioned glass. Garnish with orange peel, and serve. Laguna Kitchen & Bar, Park Plaza, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff; lagunakitchenandbar.com
20 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
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FASHION
MAKING the CUT Having made bespoke and made-to-measure suits for an increasingly diverse list of high-profile clients and celebs, Penarth-based fashion designer NATHAN PALMER is a man in demand By V E L I M I R I L IC
F
M a i n photo s by OW E N M AT H I A S
or most of us, having a bespoke designer suit made is just a pipe-dream or an unattainable luxury. So when I get the opportunity to have one made by Penarth-based fashion designer and tailor Nathan Palmer, it definitely feels like one of those bucket list moments-in-waiting. Previously a professional rugby player and athlete, Palmer began offering his services towards the end of 2014, after training at the University of South Wales. Inspired by established suit designers such as Tom Ford, Oswald Boateng and “even old films”, he now makes bespoke suits, shirts and trousers for a host of clients (“I’ve just made a tuxedo for a seven year-old – he even wanted his initials embroidered onto his shirt cuff!”), and an increasingly expanding list of celebs that includes luminaries such as Graham Norton, Ian Wright, Tinie Tempah, Jason Mohammad, and others. “I’m so passionate about my work,” he beams, as we take tea at Holm House in Penarth. “Being able to make clothes that are as unique as the men who wear them has always been my life’s ambition.” Bespoke tailoring, he reasons, gives his clients the ultimate choice in terms of cloth, fit and detail. “It’s always a pleasure meeting new clients and working with them to create clothes that reflect their personality and make them look their very best,” he says. “I offer a made-to-measure and bespoke service, giving them the best cut for their silhouette, using exclusive cloths and linings. I just love every part of the process, from the initial consultation, where we discuss fabrics and design, to pattern-making, fabric-cutting, hand-sewn construction and the final finishing details – all key stages of a suit’s creation.” One of his favourite suits is a glitzy number he made for Mel ‘Bake-Off’ Giedroyc (see pic, opposite). “One of my stylist friends approached me with an unusual but exciting brief for Mel,” he says. “Sequins, neon pink, David Bowie and tuxedo were mentioned, so I designed and made a black sequin jacket with velvet collar and tuxedo-style trousers, and also a traditional tails suit which she wore with a silk top hat. She was a really fun client.” His ‘passion for fashion’, he explains, stems from his godfather, also a tailor. As a youngster, Palmer would sit and avidly watch him
work. “He would encourage me to help sometimes, which I really enjoyed,” he recalls. “When he passed away, I inherited his sewing machine, which is when I really started to learn. I got into athletics when I was 15, which gave me a good platform to start my rugby career. But as my thighs began to grow, it was virtually impossible for me to shop on the high street. I would alter my clothing to fit better, and one thing led to another.” These days, he’s a busy man. Business, he says, is really good, with the majority of his clients coming through recommendations and word of mouth. Strong interest in his work even inspired Palmer to organise his first VIP fashion show last year, at Hensol Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan, with the likes of rugby legend Gareth Thomas, TV presenter Matt Johnson and others modelling his clothes. He’s now planning a second show, to be held at National Museum Cardiff on 8 December this year. Anyway, back to my suit... at the initial consultation, the process of being measured up and choosing my preferred fabric is much simpler and easier than I imagined. As we talk – he’s friendly and chatty, no designerly airs or graces – I give him a rough idea of the sort of thing I’m looking for, and he nods approvingly while making notes, before measuring me up. Later, back home, he sends me snapshots of various suggested fabrics. I choose a mid-greyish wide-checked pattern, made from a lightweight wool and cashmere blend, and he approves. I’m happy to leave the finer details (stitching, pockets etc) up to him. “You’re going to look super-sharp,” he says via email. It’s difficult not to feel a frisson of excitement... and a little trepidatious. I needn’t have worried. Made at his home studio in Penarth, the finished article, expertly cut and fitted in all the right places, is even better than I expected. I knew it’d be good, but wow, it really does feel like a second skin. I love the pattern, the double-breasted jacket with wide, peaked lapels and contrasting inner lining, the slimming, tapered trousers, and the attention to detail with buttons and pockets. He’s even made a shirt and a polka-dot tie to add another bit of contrast. Feeling like a million dollars, it certainly turns heads when I wear it at our Cardiff Life Awards at City Hall. Nathan Palmer is a fashion designer going places, no question – and a lovelier, more down-toearth fella you couldn’t wish to meet. More power to his elbow.
EXPERTLY CUT AND FITTED IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES, THE SUIT FEELS LIKE A SECOND SKIN
24 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
For more info, see nathanpalmer.co.uk
(This pic) Some lanky interloper in his bespoke Nathan Palmer suit at the Cardiff Life Awards; (Left) Mel Giedroyc (with Sue Perkins), wearing one of Nathan’s bespoke sequined jackets; (Remaining pics) Meticulous measuring up
www.mediaclash.co.uk I cardiFF LIFE I 25
C H A R I T Y a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e
Llamau’s fundraising ‘Sleep Out’ project
Homelessness charity Huggard’s Café ‘H’
The Wallich ensures that vulnerable people develop skills to improve their life
Nik, a volunteer for Wallich
The charities supported by We Loves The ’Diff help homeless and vulnerable people get the support they need
26 I cARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
ad v ertising feature C H A R I T Y
We Loves the ’Diff! Raising awareness and funds for homeless and vulnerable people, a new joint appeal by St David’s and I Loves The ’Diff is making a real difference to lives in Cardiff
T
hroughout April and May, St David’s Cardiff and I Loves The ‘Diff partnered up for We Loves The ‘Diff, an appeal to raise awareness and funds for the city’s homeless and most vulnerable. Cult Cardiff brand, I Loves The ‘Diff, created five exclusive prints of the city that were sold to St David’s customers for a minimum £3 donation, with all proceeds going to three leading homelessness charities in Cardiff – Huggard, Llamau and The Wallich. With a fundraising target of £20k, we caught up with the three charities, to find out what a difference these sums will have on the homeless community…
Mike Cowley Fundraising & Partnerships Senior Manager, The Wallich
With St David’s & I Love’s the ‘Diff leading this appeal, we can make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our community. The number of rough sleepers in Cardiff has doubled during the last three years and during May this year, our Rough Sleepers Intervention Team made contact with 60 rough sleepers in Cardiff during just one morning’s outreach. This is the highest number we have ever seen and is a very concerning sign that the increasing numbers of rough sleepers in the city is likely to continue. Therefore, it is vital that we are able to provide adequate provision to reduce the number of people forced to sleep rough each night. The We Loves The ’Diff appeal will help to provide a safe place for someone to sleep each night for a year, by funding a bed at our Cardiff Nightshelter. The 12-bed hostel is funded solely through the generosity of our supporters, providing safety and warmth for people who would otherwise be forced to sleep rough. We believe everyone deserves the right to a home, but more than that, that everyone deserves the right to feel safe, to feel valued and to feel positive about their future. With the support of the community, we believe that this can be achieved.
Elin Evans Corporate and Community Fundraiser, Llamau
At Llamau, we believe that no young person or vulnerable woman should ever have to experience homelessness. But for thousands of the most vulnerable people in Wales,
homelessness is a frightening reality. Most homeless people have problems that are far more complex than not having a place to live. The people we support have often been abused as children, lived in dozens of care homes, and dropped out of school because of issues at home or developed mental health issues. The We Loves The ’Diff appeal will help us make sure that the young people and women who we support can enjoy a happier life and brighter future. People like Francesca.
Francesca’s story
My childhood was really tough. My mother had drinking issues and my father was abusive towards me. There were so many bad things going on when I grew up, but I didn’t know it was wrong until I was older. It affected me massively. I couldn’t go to school and I didn’t know how to socialise. I had no confidence, no self-esteem. I just felt like a shadow. I had no-one to rely on, except myself. By the time I was 17, I had to leave home. That’s when I moved into one of Llamau’s houses. Llamau didn’t just give me a roof over my head, they looked after me and helped me cope with everything that had happened to me. I can’t imagine where I would be without Llamau’s support. They’ve helped me to move on with my life, and to have hopes for the future. I really want to pass university and eventually help people with their mental health. I just want to be happy. That’s the main thing in life, isn’t it? Just to be happy.
donation to Huggard can do. £3 will provide practical help for a rough sleeper to keep clean, including a shower, toiletries laundry and a change of clothes. £10 will provide volunteering opportunities, training, and skills and confidence-building opportunities through Huggard’s development team. And £25 will help our clients look for work, assisting them with job searches and advice on job applications and training. The work we do is about addressing homelessness, and the support from We Loves The ’Diff will make a profound difference to people’s lives.
GET INVOLVED with WE LOVES THE ’DIFF
The final print release is on 27 May, but you can still donate to the appeal after this date has passed via GoFundMe. For more information, go to: www.gofundme.com/welovesthediff.
Richard Edwards Chief Executive, Huggard
Huggard runs the leading centre for rough sleepers in Wales, and is one of only a handful of centres of its kind across the UK. Our facility, based in Cardiff, is open every day of the year, not only meeting the basic needs of rough sleepers but helping them to address the issues that are preventing them from leaving the streets behind them. The money that is raised from the We Loves The ’Diff campaign will help us to keep these doors open – it really is amazing what a small
Head to stdavidscardiff.com/diff for more information, or keep up to date via the St David’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages using #WeLovesTheDiff
www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 27
St John’s College, Cardiff
A leading independent day school for boys & girls aged 3–18 Choir School to Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral
Top School in Wales in The Sunday Times ‘Parent Power’
Estyn Inspection - ‘Excellent’ including the seldom awarded ‘Excellent’ for Standards of Teaching (2012)
Nursery & Infants
●
Juniors
●
Seniors
●
Sixth Form
Please contact Admissions to arrange a visit:
02920 778936
www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com
Charity No. 701294
T H E A L B A N Y G A L L E RY CHRIS PROUT 9th June - 1st July Ceramics by PAUL WEARING
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
26 May – 27 June
Comedian Arthur Smith sings Leonard Cohen at WMC; acid-tongued stand-up Jimmy Carr plays St David’s Hall; a new production of The Graduate is at the New Theatre
Plays/Shows/ Performance U N TI L 2 J UNE
THREE DAYS IN THE COUNTRY Patrick Marber’s electric retelling of Turgenev’s classic A Month In The Country, a passionate, moving comedy of romantic obsession. Chapter; chapter.org U N TI L 2 4 JUNE
DIE FLEDERMAUS Welsh National Opera present Johann Strauss II’s life-affirming operetta, as opulent as a Viennese chocolate cake. Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk
years – comedy and poignant drama in equal measure. Sung in German with surtitles in English and Welsh. Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 5 JU N E
KILLER CELLS A story of life, loss, resilience and hope, inspired by first-hand experiences of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. Sherman Theatre; shermantheatre.co.uk
20-24 J UNE
THE GRADUATE Stylish new production of the landmark novel and Oscarwinning film, in which a disillusioned college graduate is seduced by an older woman. New Theatre; newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 22 J UNE-3 J ULY
6 - 1 0 JU N E
THE WOMAN IN BLACK Susan Hill’s acclaimed ghost story, a dramatic study of atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror. New Theatre; newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
3- 1 7 JUNE
DER ROSENKAVALIER Welsh National Opera again, this time with their first performance of Richard Strauss’ sumptuous and beautiful masterpiece in 15
tale of free will, friendship, love and honey. Sherman Theatre; shermantheatre.co.uk
8 - 1 0 JU N E
CONSTELLATIONS Touching and funny, Nick Payne’s acclaimed play tells the story of Roland and Marianne, a
30 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
SPAMALOT Everyman Theatre present Monty Python’s uproariously witty spoof of King Arthur and his knights’ quest for the Holy Grail. Part of the Cardiff Open-Air Theatre Festival. Sophia Gardens; cardiffopenairtheatrefestival.co.uk
Theatre join forces for a bold, innovative re-imagining of Charlotte Brontë’s trailblazing 1847 classic. Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk
Comedy 28 MAY & 1 1 , 1 8 , 2 5 J U NE
THE GATHERING A new, regular Sunday night of stand-up, sketches, festival previews and featured acts, hosted by Mark Olver. Glee Club; glee.co.uk 6 J UNE
JIMMY CARR Um, best leave your moral compass at home... St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 9 J UNE
27 J UNE-1 J ULY
JANE EYRE Bristol Old Vic and the National
ED ACZEL The acclaimed anti-comic runs through the major foreign policy
W H AT ’ S O N
ARTS
conundrums of our age. Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 1 3 -1 4 JUNE
MARK THOMAS Everyone’s favourite political activist returns with a new workin-progress, Predictable, based on the audience’s predictions of the future. Chapter; chapter.org 2 1 -2 2 JUNE
RUSSELL KANE Enfield’s finest on growing up, and why farts will always be funny. See interview on page 38. Glee Club; glee.co.uk
Music 3 0 M AY
SIMPLE MINDS Jim Kerr and co perform acoustic versions of their era-defining rock and pop anthems. Support comes from multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, The Anchoress, whose Confessions Of A Romance Novelist was nominated for the Welsh Music Prize. St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 3 0 M AY
THE BESNARD LAKES Dark-hued Canadian psych/ space rock collective – think My Bloody Valentine entwined with Led Zep. The Globe; globecardiffmusic.com 3 JUNE
ST ETIENNE Expect classic singles and cuts from their forthcoming album, Home Counties, due out 2 June. Tramshed; tramshedcardiff.com 7 JUNE
CHAKA KHAN I’m Every Woman, I Feel For You, Ain’t Nobody... ’Nuff said. Motorpoint Arena; livenation.co.uk
A contemporary reimagining of Charlotte Brontë’s trailblazing classic, Jane Eyre, is coming to Wales Millennium Centre 9 JU N E
TINA MAY CELEBRATES ELLA FITZGERALD Jazz singer Tina May pays homage to the American ‘First Lady of Song’, performing a selection of the diva’s renowned hits, in what would have been her centenary year. Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; rwcmd.ac.uk 1 6 JU N E
SWEET BABOO Gloriously twee, cockle-warming indie-pop gems from the North Walian-born, Cardiff-based singer otherwise known as Stephen Black. Clwb Ifor Bach; clwb.net 1 7 - 1 8 JU N E
ARTHUR SMITH SINGS LEONARD COHEN The veteran comic, backed by the glamorous Smithereens, reprises his affectionate and acclaimed tribute to the much-missed Canadian troubadour and poet. Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 1 8 JU N E
8 JUNE
BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES The Orchestra’s Rite Of Spring concert features key pieces by Stravinsky, Ravel and Prokofiev. St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
BBC CARDIFF SINGER OF THE WORLD Grand final of the worldrenowned singing contest, featuring classical singers from around the globe. St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
24 J UNE
THE CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA Our live pick of the month – possessed of an emotional gravitas that transcends genre, TCO’s new single To Believe is typically beautiful and uplifting. Tramshed; tramshedcardiff.com
Art UNTIL 31 MAY
DIFFUSION Cardiff’s biennial celebration of world-class international photography returns, themed around ‘revolution’. Various venues; diffusionfestival.org
UNTIL 1 1 J U NE
THESE ROTTEN WORDS Artists explore the physicality of communication via painting, sculpture, photography, sound and moving images. Chapter; chapter.org UNTIL 1 7 J U NE
25TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION Showcase of 20th century and contemporary Welsh art. Martin Tinney Gallery; artwales.com UNTIL 1 9 J U NE
BLOOM Annual, nature-based affordable art showcase. Cardiff MADE; @CardiffMADE UNTIL 9 J U LY
UNTIL 2 J UNE
CARDIFF SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN: SUMMER SHOW Fine art, ceramics, illustration, textiles and more from CSAD’s final year degree students. Cardiff School of Art & Design; cardiffmet.ac.uk/csad UNTIL 3 J UNE
SEVEN PERSPECTIVES With pieces by Peter Brown, Andrew Douglas-Forbes, Mike Jones, Euan McGregor, William Selwyn, Peter Wileman and Kyffin Williams. Albany Gallery; albanygallery.com
VOICES FROM THE EDGE: MURMURATIONS Showcasing five visual artists – Emma Prentice, Michal Iwanowski, Prue Thimbleby, Ticky Lowe and Claire Cawte – all of whom have spent two years working with care home residents across Wales. Craft In The Bay; makersguildinwales.org.uk UNTIL 3 S EP T EM B ER
GILLIAN AYRES One of the leading abstract artists of her generation, no less. National Museum Cardiff; museumwales.ac.uk w
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ARTS
W H AT ’ S O N
Untitled work by Peter Doig, part of ‘Bacon To Doig’ at National Museum Cardiff U N TI L 3 1 JANUARY 2 0 1 8
BACON TO DOIG: MODERN MASTERPIECES FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION Featuring work by prominent 20th-century British artists and sculptors, including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Barbara Hepworth, David Hockney, Frank Auerbach, Grayson Perry, Peter Doig, Ben Nicholson, Anthony Caro, and more. National Museum Cardiff; museumwales.ac.uk
Family ONGOING
DOCTOR WHO EXPERIENCE Experience mind-blowing special effects, face up to Who baddies and fly the TARDIS through time and space. Porth Teigr, Cardiff Bay; doctorwhoexperience.com 1 7 J UNE
GWYL FACH Y FRO Free Welsh festival presented by Menter Bro Morgannwg, with music, food, local Welsh produce, play area, circus skills and more. Barry Island; menterbromorgannwg.org 1 8 J UNE
PPODD Contemporary market with jewellery, designer-makers, home accessories, vintage clothes, top tunes, craft beer etc. The Paget Rooms, Penarth; ppodd.com
Book Now 2 7 N OV E MBER
BANANARAMA The gals are back, back, BACK! And with the original 80s line-up, natch. Get ready to bop-bopshoo-be-doo-wah... St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
Sport SATU RDAY 3 J UNE
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL The European football showcase promises to be a ticker tape Cardiff homecoming for Gareth Bale, as his Real Madrid side take on Juventus. Kick-off 7.45pm. See also Spotlight news, page 9. Principality Stadium; principalitystadium.wales TU E SDAY 6 JUNE
ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND ICC Champions Trophy, 10.30am. SSE Swalec; glamorgancricket.com SU N DAY 2 5 JUNE
ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA NatWest International T20, 2.30pm. SSE Swalec; glamorgancricket.com MON DAY 2 6 JUNE
GLAMORGAN v DERBYSHIRE Specsavers County Championship, 2pm. SSE Swalec; glamorgancricket.com
32 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
WANT MORE? Sign up now for the Cardiff Life newsletter As editor of this fine mag, 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 about what’s happening in Cardiff, we send out a 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 just not like that!) So if you’d like a friendly hello from us in your inbox as the weekend beckons, please sign up today: mediaclash.co.uk/cln
MUSIC
ARTS
The GLASS HURRAH Singing in her native Welsh, Cardiff’s ANI GLASS – Gwenno’s little sister, no less – is an electronic music starlet very much on the rise By V E L I M I R I L IC
I
Photo s by OW E N M AT H I A S
f you’re a fan of Welsh Music Prizewinning electro-popstrel Gwenno, then her younger sister Ani Saunders – who makes her own sublime synth-pop as Ani Glass – is no doubt already on your radar. Her majestic new EP, Ffrwydrad Tawel (‘Silent Explosion’) – six electrifying, swirling, euphoric, sociallyconscious electronic pop gems (think early Goldfrapp meets Visage), released on Cardiffbased Welsh language label, Recordiau Neb – documents her artistic evolution, “reconnecting” her, she says, with Welsh language, history and culture. We recently caught up with Glass at Sunflower & I, a quaint little flower studio and café in Cardiff Bay, a few days after her EP launch gig at Clwb Ifor Bach... Obvious question to kick off – why did you choose ‘Glass’ as a persona? Is it some sort of powerful artistic statement? I just really enjoy that late 70s/early 80s New York music scene, and composers such as Philip Glass [hence the pseudonym], Steve Reich, Arthur Russell etc. I went there for the first time last year, and loved it. The new EP, Ffrwydrad Tawel, is named after a major exhibition by leading Welsh contemporary artist Ivor Davies, held at the National Museum last year. Why did that show strike such a chord with you? It was the first really large-scale exhibition I’d seen from a Welsh artist in Wales. It was just a combination of the scale of it, the colours, and his use of the Welsh language. And because he’d heard I was working on an EP inspired by his work, he invited me to play at the museum as part of the exhibition.
BEING FIRSTLANGUAGE WELSH, THERE AREN’T MANY REASONS WHY I SHOULDN’T
MAKE MUSIC IN WELSH
You’ve said the EP was a journey of selfdiscovery, a way of reconnecting with Welsh language, history and culture after returning home. What drew you back to Cardiff? It was an accident! I went to uni in Liverpool, then lived in Brighton and London. I came home with a view to getting a job, paying off debts and going back, but never did. It shocked me to see how much Cardiff has moved on. Growing up, Welsh wasn’t widely spoken, but that has changed. In Grangetown, for example, there’s a big Welsh language community. Even kids on the bus are speaking Welsh – it’s brilliant. And being firstlanguage Welsh, there aren’t many reasons why I shouldn’t make music in Welsh. The songs on Ffrwydrad Tawel have a real depth and sheen to them – was it always in your mind to go down the electronic route? I’ve always liked electronic stuff, but not above anything else. Sonically, it’s worked out that way because of the practicality of being a solo artist. Having taken more of an interest and delved into it, I felt like we found each other, me and electronic music. Musically, who/what have been your primary touchstones, in the main? When I was in [all-girl indie group] The Pipettes [with sister Gwenno], Human League producer Martin Rushent produced our Earth Vs The Pipettes album in 2008. I learned so much from him, and about the machinery he used. When writing a song, I always have to ask myself, ‘What would Martin say?’ – he was very influential. And my previous girl band in Liverpool [Genie Queen] was managed by Andy McCluskey from OMD, so both those experiences have really had an impact on me. w www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 35
ARTS
MUSIC
What are you listening to at the moment? My friend, Robert, who is Maltese, posted about a Lebanese artist called Yasmine Hamdan, and I’ve literally fallen in love with her. Her song, Aleb, is so atmospheric. It’s made me want to find out about other electronic artists in Europe and beyond. Language really isn’t a barrier, particularly in the arts. What about local music/sounds? I really like pop band, Parcs – they’re electronic, with a female singer. And I played a gig recently at Cardiff MADE with Swansea Laptop Orchestra; they are brilliant and bizarre, which I like – we need more bizarre! Your mum’s quite musical too, right? Yes – she would definitely be my first musical influence. She sings soprano at Côr Cochion Caerdydd [Cardiff Reds], a socialist/political street choir in Cardiff. They sing in various languages, so music for me is about singing for a reason and singing with your heart. How do you go about composing your material – do you have a set approach? I usually get the idea for melodies first. I’ve always liked strong melodies. I love Paul McCartney – he’s always been the best Beatle – and he’s always had strong melodic lines. And I suppose with machines, you just find the sounds you like. But the melody tends to create its own theme – it’s different every time.
(Above) Artwork for Ani Glass’ new EP, Ffrwydrad Tawel, designed by Glass herself; (Below, left) Another example of the singer’s art, part of her ‘Cardiff Collage’ series
Are you happy with the final sound and feel of the EP? Yeah! I didn’t want it to just be four to the floor all the way through – that would be tiresome. I’ve got an interlude in there, Mor Hapus, which is essentially just me recording sounds around
AN IDEA I HAVE IS TO
MAKE
SHORT ANIMATION FILMS USING COLLAGES, AND HAVE MUSIC TO GO WITH IT
Cardiff Bay and Grangetown, where I live. Because I work full-time [in arts-based roles in Cardiff], they’re the sounds I hear walking back and forth to work every day. Your sister, Gwenno, has obviously gone down a similar route, singing in Welsh over electronic music. Do you sound her out about your music, and vice versa? She’s actually just finished recording a new album, so she’s sending me things and it sounds really great. It’s nice, because we haven’t actually done that for a while. You’re a photographer and artist, too, with a very defined illustrative style – where do you draw creative inspiration from? It all happened by accident, really. I did a fashion illustration degree, and started using watercolours, but it was all quite patchy, so I started adding more lines, and it just turned into something really detailed. I’m just doing a drawing of [American fashion icon] Iris Apfel, but I’ve got other ideas that I want to merge with my photography, to make more collage-based pieces. So, what’s next for you? I’m slowly trying to draw everything [music, art, photography] together, so that I’m not doing them separately. An idea I have is to make short animation films using collages, and have music to go with it. But that’s for the future. Ani Glass plays Welsh language festival Tafwyl on 1 July, followed by Buffalo Bar (7 July) and Gwdihw (16 July) in Cardiff. For more, see Twitter: @AniSaunders
36 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
ARTS
COMEDY
COMING
of AGE Having ditched the eyeliner, spray-tan and tiny pants, is comedian RUSSELL KANE finally growing up? By BR I A N D ONA L DSON
R
ussell Kane is a changed man. For his Right Man, Wrong Age tour, you may encounter someone with a new look, fresh perspectives and a different approach to his comedy. “In the last year, I’ve been married and had a baby. I’ve changed my hair, I’ve changed my look, I’ve thrown all my eyeliner in the bin. I literally went to my wardrobe one day and got all my ridiculous clothes and took them to the Sue Ryder shop for some other man having a midlife crisis, then bought the four exact same suits in different colours from Topman. Then I got my hair as flat as it can go and I thought, ‘That’s it: this is me now’.” In fact, Kane can pinpoint the exact moment when he needed to alter his outlook and write a new show. It started with somebody at the door… “I’m always looking for the moment that can make me look ridiculous in a way that is compelling,” he says. “I was in the middle of spray-tanning myself upstairs in these tiny pants when the doorbell went. I went downstairs in my dressing gown and this window cleaner was touting for work. He leaned in and said, ‘I’m really sorry to disturb you: is your mum or dad in at all?’ Initially, you might have thought this was a compliment, but it’s really not. He could be talking about how I’m putting myself across so I thought: ‘clothes in the bin’. And at that moment, there was Right Man, Wrong Age.”
38 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
COMEDY
ARTS
I’M ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR THE MOMENT THAT CAN MAKE ME LOOK RIDICULOUS
Taking stick: “I’ll keep changing,” says Russell Kane. “I don’t ever really want to stand still.”
In the world of stand-up, acts are continually expected to evolve and grow and turn over a significant amount of material every one or two years. It’s a challenge Kane relishes. “I’ll keep changing, and I don’t really ever want to stand still,” he says. “I don’t care if it confuses people about where I’m coming from. I’m protean – I don’t want to be recognisable in five years’ time; that’s what keeps my writing going. One day I’m learning Spanish, the next I’m learning survivalism. I might do my maths GCSE next week – who knows?” For now, though, Kane is focused on making Right Man, Wrong Age the best show it can possibly be. His topic this time around is how we never quite feel our age or life-stage, whether we’re 18 or 80. “When you’re 18, you look in the mirror and think ‘I know what I want to do, so why am I trapped in this 18-year-old body?’, while the 80-year-old is still waltzing and dancing around in her head. That’s going to be my jumping off point and from there I’ll do lots of accessible observations as well as the odd thinky bit. But I don’t want to disappear up my own bum with this show, I just want to go on in my suit, like Michael McIntyre or Peter Kay, and be funny and have lots of big laughs. My only job in life is to be funny.” Inevitably, Kane addresses his new fatherhood status in the show, but don’t expect easy clichés and tired stereotypes. “It’s so hack to talk about having babies that I need to find another way in,” he says. “It’s like walking into Pret at 5pm and there’s one boiled egg left: that’s what’s left to say about childbirth. But when you’re coming at it from a male point of view, you need to find a way in. I’ve never heard a man talk about caesarean section, so that might be the way to go.” In the run-up to a touring show, Kane would normally have almost a month of preview gigs
under his belt. This time around, he had to ditch most of those to film his BBC series, Stupid Man, Smart Phone, for which he jetted off to various inhospitable parts of the world, to see if he could survive purely with the aid of a constantly fullycharged mobile device with a permanent Wi-Fi connection. It’s just another example of a man who constantly wants to stretch himself, both physically and intellectually, whether it’s going on Radio 4’s Saturday Review to discuss the new Julian Barnes novel or writing his own next literary work. In 2012, lest we forget, two years after he won the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Kane published The Humorist, the tale of a tormented comedy critic who discovers the secret blueprint for humour, and he is continually working away on future literary projects. Kane also has ambitions to tap into the online market, doing stand-up straight down the barrel of a camera, posting it and seeing what happens. “I did a thing recently, called The Kaneing, where I looked at a celebrity news story and put it on my Facebook wall. I was worried it might seem a bit embarrassing and desperate, but it got 64,000 views overnight.” The popularity of Russell Kane is in little doubt, but he’s keen to make the most of his time at the top of the British stand-up tree. His sense of gratitude for the job he’s doing is palpable, and he confesses that touring and making people laugh is something he will never tire of. “I love it. If I ever have a bad day and feel miserable, I think about the things my family have done for a living. The fact that I can walk into a hotel, lie on the bed, watch a sci-fi movie, and then go and do an hour’s work on stage is incredible.” Russell Kane’s Right Man, Wrong Age show is at Cardiff’s Glee Club on 21 and 22 June. For more, see glee.co.uk
www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 39
FILM
ARTS
THE BOSS BABY IS AN AUTHENTIC, ORIGINAL COMEDY FOR THE CHILD IN ALL OF US
(Clockwise, from left) The Red Turtle, The Boss Baby, and NT Live: Peter Pan
DOING IT FOR THE KIDS This month at Chapter, it’s all about the little people F I L M O F T H E MO NT H
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: VOL 2 Marvel Studios’ American superhero flick is big on action, high-octane visuals and irreverent humour More adventures from Marvel’s motley crew of misfits and reformed outlaws, as the team roams the cosmos to unravel the mystery of Star-Lord’s true parentage, whilst trying to stop an enemy who threatens to destroy the entire galaxy. Thrills galore from a galaxy far away, with an ensemble cast that includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper and Karen Gillan. Showing at Chapter from 17-24 June, certificate 12A.
By JA M I E R E E S
E
very weekend, come rain or shine, Chapter has a family feature screening on Saturday and Sunday, and June sees another packed programme. Let’s start with DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby (U, until 4 June). Made by Madagascar director/animator Tom McGrath, we’re invited to meet a most unusual baby – he wears a suit, speaks with the voice and wit of Alec Baldwin. It tells the hilariously universal story about how a new baby’s arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator – a wildly imaginative seven year-old named Tim. With a sly, heart-filled message about the importance of family, this is an authentic and broadly appealing original comedy for the child in all of us. Another new cinema experience for young people arrives in the form of The Red Turtle (PG, 2-15 June), a French animation offering children
the perfect introduction to foreign language film. The lone survivor of a shipwreck is washed ashore on a tropical island and learns to survive amongst the birds, animals and a giant red turtle, in yet another immersive and meditative fairy tale from Studio Ghibli. And finally, there’s NT Live: Peter Pan (PG, 10 June), part of Chapter’s ‘Stage On Screen’ series. Recorded live at the National Theatre, JM Barrie’s much-loved classic – a co-production with Bristol Old Vic theatre – is a riot of magic, music and make-believe. When Peter Pan, leader of the Lost Boys, loses his shadow, headstrong Wendy helps him to reattach it. In return, she is invited to Neverland, where Tinker Bell the fairy, Tiger Lily and the vengeful Captain Hook await. A delight for kids and big kids alike. For more: chapter.org
www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 41
ad v er t i s i n g feat u re P R & M a r k e t i n g
Meet the AGENCY If you’re serious about promoting your business, you need a great PR/marketing/comms agency. We quizzed some of Cardiff’s finest, and asked: what sets you apart from the rest?
Lyndsey Jenkins
ZARA COTTLE & ERYL JONES
jamjar PR Tel: 01446 771265 www.jamjar-pr.co.uk
Equinox Tel: 02920 764 100 equinox.wales
What sets you apart from your competitors? What’s inside our jam jar, of course! When you lift the lid, you will find a team of extremely talented and passionate jammers, overflowing with creative ideas and content that packs a punch, in order to deliver fruitful results for our clients. If that’s not enough, we’re the only agency in Wales to make our own jam, which we bring to meetings with scones and clotted cream! Which clients are you working with at the moment? We’re fortunate to work with some really exciting clients, including Cardiff Life Awards winners Greenaway Scott, Wales Millennium Centre, Hare & Hounds in Aberthin and Mrs Bucket Cleaning Services. We’ve also just started working with Moksh, which for us foodies is an absolute delight.
Tell us a bit about your background... Equinox was established in 1996, so we celebrated our 20th birthday last year. This gives us great experience and case studies of working with a wide variety of clients and sectors across Wales and the UK. We started off as a PR agency but quickly realised that the industry was changing fast, so we expanded our offer 10 years ago to include marketing, design, digital (including an in-house multimedia division to generate digital content), training, database marketing and crisis management. We’ve also worked hard to establish strategic partnerships with other specialist creative organisations in Wales so we can deliver the very best campaigns for our clients. Our team is 16-strong today and we are changing and growing each year in line with industry and client needs.
What has been your biggest achievement to date? Winning the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ Outstanding Small Consultancy for three consecutive years was pretty special, as was winning the Excellence in Marketing & Communications Award at the Welsh Business Awards.
What’s the oddest thing you’ve done in your job? Working in communications, we all have stories of strange things we’ve had to do. For us, this includes touring Britain promoting sausages, reading the longest train announcements for Arriva and many others we don’t want to mention. This week
alone, we’ve been co-ordinating launches of dragons and dinosaurs in Wales for client Cadw. Our work is never boring! Which clients are you primarily working with at the moment? Our clients range from small, independent businesses to large organisations and Welsh Government departments. We have up to 35 live clients at any one time across all our divisions, and they currently include STAEDTLER, Cadw (you may have heard of our dragon campaign!), Organ Donation, nurse recruitment, Savills and regeneration experts St. Modwen. We have always aimed to keep a diverse mix of clients and have intentionally not specialised in one particular sector. The Equinox team are communication experts and we believe those skills and experience can be applied to any client. What has been your biggest achievement to date? Our business targets around growing the business are our priority, so our success is seeing at least 10% growth each year and pushing into new sectors to widen our experience. We have carved a niche in our healthcare campaign offer over the past five years, which was a business aim, and lead the way in tourism campaigns in Wales – both huge achievements.
Jim Carpenter
Orchard Media & Events Group Tel: 02920 100888 www.thinkorchard.com
What sets you apart from your competitors? Orchard is a full service agency but we’re truly unique in offering so many services in house such as production and events. We were finalists in this year’s RAR awards for four categories including media planning & buying, effectiveness and value for money, so clients like what we are doing here. We have a great relationship with some of our local like-minded agency partners – we believe in collaboration as well as healthy competition. Which clients are you primarily working with at the moment? Across Orchard we have probably got more than 100 projects running at any one point in time. Current highlights are working with some Champions League sponsors, filming the latest Visit Wales commercial, and planning a UK wide media launch for MotoNovo Finance. We’ll also be filming 360 content at some of Ibiza’s superclubs! What motivates you? Our strapline is ‘bringing ideas to life’, and ultimately that is our biggest motivation.
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P R & M a r k e t i n g ad v er t i s i n g feat u re
Vicki SpencerFrancis
Cowshed Tel: 02020 789321 www.wearecowshed.co.uk Tell us a bit about your background... My first job in PR was to promote an unknown presenter, Dermot O’Leary. I went on to manage press for The Big Breakfast, launched the UK’s first digital channels and CBeebies and CBBC. Since moving back to Wales, I’ve worked for the Hay Festival, Comic Relief, Welsh Government, Torfaen Council and Tenovus Cancer Care, before setting up Cowshed in 2014. What sets you apart from your competitors? We use our combined experience in producing integrated campaigns to only work with clients that we believe in and feel passionate about. If a client doesn’t pass our ‘Cowshed test’ then we won’t work with them (it’s not as scary as it sounds!). Describe the best client/ project you ever had? I’ve worked with Comic Relief since 2001. The experiences I’ve gained through them are the reason we do what we do. We are lucky that all of our clients trust us to be bold and brave with their brand. As National Trust’s agency in Wales, we have created some standout work, including sending shire horses on a tour of North Wales and devising a campaign to find a new bull to impregnate the herd of White Park Cattle!
Clare Morgan
Sean McMahon
Marketing Clarity Ltd Tel: 02920 351552 www.marketingclarity.co.uk
What sets you apart from your competitors? Marketing Clarity is not your typical agency; we are an outsourced marketing department that allows SMEs to deliver their marketing objective with a small budget. Rather than me waffle on though, here’s what our client Lovemore Free From Foods says: “Marketing Clarity has become our external marketing department. We originally looked at employing a full-time marketer but it made sense to work with an experienced team. More experience and more hands for half the price! They manage all aspects of our marketing and it doesn’t cost us the earth – highly recommended!” How has media/PR changed over the past year? We’re seeing a number of our clients engaging more in social media as an entry point to their marketing and we are helping them deliver this from copy writing to full social media management. We know from our insights that social media is growing. For example, the 3544 year old age group has seen the biggest growth, with 12% of Internet users having a social media profile in 2007 compared to 80% now. This is proving a real marketing opportunity for our clients. Where’s your favourite place to eat in Cardiff? I’m always eating on the go or grabbing a coffee and cake
44 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Degu Media Tel: 02920 026562 www.degumedia.net with clients (although I know I really shouldn’t!), so for me taking time out for freshly cooked, quality food is what I love. Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth is my fave, and surprisingly not as expensive as people think! What would you change about the perception of marketing in Cardiff? The perception is that marketing is expensive. When I talk to potential new clients they are pleasantly surprised at how reasonable our services are. They have an expectation that using agencies is expensive and so they revert to employing a full-time junior member of staff. From experience, you can make a significant impact with clients’ marketing on a small budget – that’s why we are successful! What the best brand you’ve worked on? “It has to be Heinz” – see what I did there? Everyone knows the brand, has eaten the beans and it’s a staple food in everyone’s cupboard. So to be responsible for creating and signing off packaging and TV advertising for this British icon was a pretty scary, yet rewarding experience. And yes, I do eat beans by the bucketload!
What sets you apart from your competitors? Degu Media specialises in PR and marketing for the hospitality industry – bars, restaurants, pubs, hotels. We have variety in our portfolio, from independents such as Mamma Linas to nationals such as Turtle Bay and global brands such as Coyote Ugly Saloon. What bespoke services do you offer your clients? We offer a true in-bound marketing strategy which includes social media, databasing, email marketing, public relations, advertising, video and photography as well as brand management. We’re also very well known for our launch events. Why should businesses engage with a PR agency? A good PR agency will take away a big workload from the client and help free them up and concentrate on the day to day running of their operation. It’s about making sure clients’ goals are exceeded and they can see a good return on their investment, whether it’s to attract new customers, a venue launch, build brand awareness or keep their customers coming back for more. Which clients are you working with at the moment? We’re working with a broad range of clients throughout South Wales, but Seafood Shack in Cardiff seems to be the one that consumers are most excited about.
ad v er t i s i n g feat u re P R & M a r k e t i n g
Sarah Thomas
James Robinson
Tell us a bit about your background... I’ve been at Mela for five years. I joined when the company was starting out and have loved playing a part in its development.
What’s the oddest thing you’ve done in your job? Whether dressing up as nuns, cycling around Cardiff handing out bottles of Brecon Carreg or hanging out the passenger seat of a moving vehicle, taking photos of client’s billboards – every day is full of weird and wonderful surprises.
Mela Tel: 02920 229993 mela.cymru
What sets you apart from your competitors? We are Cardiff’s only fully bilingual communications agency – all of our staff are fluent in Welsh and English. We also have French, Spanish, Punjabi and Hindi speakers in the team, so I suppose you could actually call us multilingual! Describe the best client/ project you’ve ever had? We’re all big football fans in the office, so working with the FAW during Euro 2016 was pretty special. We were the ‘home team’, supporting them with content gathering and social media while their own media team was in France. One of the highlights was setting up a live link between Gareth Bale’s old school and the Wales team base in Dinard, so pupils could ask him questions during a press conference. What motivates you? Good old storytelling. We have so many tools at our disposal now – digital, social, video – but it still reigns true that if you have a good story and tell it well, it will travel.
ALISON DEBONO
Hello Starling Tel 02920 440022 www.hellostarling.com
Why should businesses engage with a media/PR agency? Some people work with us because they wouldn’t know where to start when it comes to planning and running an advertising campaign. Some do, but don’t have enough of the right hands on deck to make it happen. And some simply acknowledge that creating a campaign that has a lasting, positive impact on their business is better left in the hands of a group of people who specialise in doing this day-in, day-out. I’m sat in the office right now. Within eyeshot, I can see marketers who speak brand language and can help dissect a client’s business problem into something actionable. I can see designers who’ll interpret this business problem and draw out a creative solution – from TV ads to billboard posters and online banners. And I can see media planners who’ll take this creative work and put it wherever it needs to be, so the right message reaches the right audience. These people are all in the same room, and we bring their brains
The Media Angel Tel 02921 320200 www.themediaangel.co.uk together every day. The total, as they say, is greater than the sum of the parts. That’s why businesses should hire an advertising agency. How has media/PR changed over the past year? Marketers have done a 360-degree turn on our obsession with online advertising. At one point, it felt like digital was all clients wanted and, for some agencies, all they were offering. But now we’re acknowledging that digital advertising doesn’t fit every brief. It depends on the objectives of that brief. And we’re starting to see clients and agencies alike tapping back into that train of thought, refocusing on where our audiences are and how best to speak to them. What motivates you? Knowing that the work we do makes a genuine difference to the people and organisations we work with. We want to be completely accountable for every campaign we execute, where there is a traceable line showing clients what we did, how we did it and the difference it has made to their brand or the bottom line of their organisation. Knowing there’s been a job well done and that our contribution has helped someone achieve their goal is not only rewarding, but is also our greatest motivator for getting up in the morning.
Tell us a bit about your background... I’ve always worked in media in South Wales, starting my career at Red Dragon Radio (now Capital South Wales) followed by publication sales and on to television sales at S4C. I then went on to work for a local agency and finally set up The Media Angel in 2008, almost ten years ago. What motivates you? This has to be seeing our clients’ campaigns doing well. A couple of weeks ago, we asked a client how their recent campaign had gone, and were delighted to see they’d had a staggering response and were over the moon. “We’ve (you’ve!!) only gone and doubled our April numbers, Alison. We’re flat out here but, suffice to say, it’s been a mega month. Nearly 5,000 admissions over the four-day Easter Bank Holiday weekend and an unprecedented 20,000 for April. We had 9,362 in April in 2016... #wowzers Love you! What has been your biggest achievement to date? We have been finalists and won several CIM marketing awards for success with our clients’ campaigns, as well as being up for a CIM national award in 2016. We’re also representing Wales at this year’s Drum Marketing Awards, for a campaign we ran for National Botanic Garden of Wales.
www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 45
Gifts/fashion/stores/more
HOB TO IT
This fabulous, cast-iron 110i electric range cooker – with induction hob – from Everhot certainly brings a welcome burst of colour into the kitchen. Available from family-run firm Topstak, which has showrooms in Cowbridge and Monmouth, it’s renowned for controllability and efficiency, combining all the benefits of a traditional range cooker with none of the drawbacks – it just plugs into a 13-amp socket, and needs no flue or concrete base. It comes in a variety of sizes to suit your space, and in various hues, including black, aubergine, green, tangerine and blue (pictured above). Now, which one to choose...
The Everhot 110i is priced from £8,425, and is available from Topstak, Vale Business Park, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7PF; Tel: 01446 771567, topstak.co.uk
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SHOPPING
ED’S CHOICE
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DADDY COOL
FATHER’S DAY IS ON 18 JUNE – NO EXCUSES!
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1. JOG ON
2. COMME AS YOU ARE
3. SOLE TRADER
4. RED ALL ABOUT IT
5. A HEADY BREW
Garmin vivosmart HR+ Sports GPS Activity Tracker, £149 Inspire your dad out of his favourite armchair From John Lewis, St David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff; johnlewis.com
Black Pepper eau de parfum by Comme des Garçons, £59.50 (50ml) A sensual, intense fusion – typical CdG quirkiness in a bottle From Central Pharmacy, 63-67 Wellfield Road, Roath; escentual.com
Loake Burford boots, £245 The king of boots, no less From The Brogue Trader, 27A Morgan Arcade, Cardiff; thebroguetrader.com
KitchenAid Artisan Nespresso, £349 For a bit of barista flair From Kitchens, 14 High Street, Cardiff; kitchenscookshop.co.uk
Pipes craft beers, various prices A beer revolution – and a local institution From Pipes Brewery, 183A Kings Road, Pontcanna (and various local stockists); pipesbeer.co.uk
48 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
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6. PERFECT SKIN
7. GO APE
8. BLUE IS THE COLOUR
9. LIGHT MY FIRE
10. BOXING CLEVER
2-in-1 moisturiser and aftershave by John Masters Organics, £26 What it um, says on the tin. Your mum will definitely approve... From Goji Hair, 6 Pontcanna Street, Pontcanna; gojihair.com
Gorillaz: Humanz, £21.99 (2LP), £12.99 (2CD) Damon Albarn and chums return with a stonking set of electronic soundscapes From Spillers Records, 27 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff; spillersrecords.co.uk
Bakers indigo overshirt by Universal Works, £9 Instant cool. He’ll be top of the pops From Morgan Menswear, 17 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff; morganmenswear.co.uk
Niklas Ekstedt: Food From The Fire, £25 All dads love a good barbie, right? From Waterstones, 2A The Hayes, Cardiff; waterstones.com
Grey metal toolbox, £40 Almost too nice for your old man’s rusty spanners From Home By Kirsty, 16 Castle Arcade, Cardiff; homebykirsty.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON CARDIFF LIFE LIFE II 49 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69
Open 7 days a week
HELLO MR. VERSATILE AVEDA grooming clay can give you lots of different styles.
An upmarket and friendly Aveda concept salon in the leafy Waterloo Gardens area of Penylan. 7am breakfast appointments on Thursdays | 8am breakfast appointments Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday Wednesday late nights until 8.30pm
Waterloo Gardens, Penylan, Cardiff, CF23 5AA | 029 2046 4611 | www.sands-hairdressing.co.uk
SHOPPING
FA S H I O N
BOYS of SUMMER Yep, it’s the turn of the fellas... As summer beckons, revamp your wardrobe with perfect patterns, brilliant brights and stylish lights
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ith all that gorgeous warm weather to come (hopefully!), we’re looking forward to all those summer soirees and garden parties. But how to dress for such smart-casual occasions? The best way is to embrace the ultimate summer trend – the 50s-style short-sleeve shirt. There are many great examples out there, but we particularly love the ranges at All Saints and Vivienne Westwood. Think graphic prints and bright colours – be bold and brave! For the truly wild at heart, try rocking a patterned suit. Or if that’s a step too far, pair patterned or red trousers – again, Westwood is just the ticket here – with a crisp, plain shirt. To accent your summer wardrobe, cool cufflinks are the perfect accessory. We adore the flamingo ones by Ted Baker (available at John Lewis – see opposite), a great way to add a bit of character and shot of colour to a killer white or nude suit. And to complete your summer look, don’t forget the sunnies. You can’t go wrong with the sporty, aviator-style Milo range by MICHAEL Michael Kors – assuming the Welsh weather co-operates, of course.
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 at stdavidscardiff.com 52 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Autograph shirt, £35; M&S Collection suit, £213; and Autograph trainers, £39.50; all at Marks & Spencer
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1. Oaker er floral print, slim fit, emerald green shirt, £85, Reiss 2. Nike Pre Montreal Racer suede trainers, £70, Size? 3. Wasco short sleeve shirt, £80, All Saints 4. Squiggle iggle Rattle shirt, £265, Vivienne Westwood 5. Made & Crafted tack slim selvedge jeans by Levi’s, £160, John Lewis 6. Mountain zip bomber jacket, £250, Reiss 7. New Classic trousers, £315, Vivienne Westwood 8. Sahara flamingo cufflinks by Ted Baker, £55, John Lewis 9. Milo sunglasses, £149, MICHAEL Michael Kors 10. Tan Hammerhead trainers, £470, Vivienne Westwood www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 53
GIRL ABOUT TOWN
ANDREA BYRNE News a nchor
SNAP TO IT In the face of snap elections and political pledges, Andrea’s personal manifesto seems to involve food, more food and a little trip to the city of love...
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or journalists and politicians alike, it has been a rather busy couple of months. Most of us were looking forward to winding down for the summer when the small matter of a snap election came into play. Like many media types, I ended up with much of my life consumed by travelling around Wales, trying to find out from the entire population if, how and why they were voting. As part of my ‘Election Road Trip’ series, I found myself
Andrea’s supercute pooches, Hank and Marcy
baking in Wrexham, rapping in Newport and rolling beer barrels in Gower – don’t ask. It’s all in a day’s work! But all work and no play certainly isn’t good for the soul – everyone needs some election relief. So, what better recipe for relaxation than some good company, a bit of Welsh countryside, plenty of fine food, and a decent dose of rugby, combined with a little romance. And the great thing about our capital is that it’s all either on our doorstep or just a hop, skip and jump away. I really should work in tourism... The splendid food was super-easy to come by, of course. Working in Cardiff, we’re blessed with a tasty culinary scene to dip into after a long shift sifting through policies. And the other week, my colleagues and I came across a mouthwatering new addition. Asador 44 – from the owners of the ever-expanding Bar 44 tapas chain – is a new Spanish eatery on Quay Street, specialising in food cooked over charcoal, with the main event being its steaks of Welsh beef and Spanish rare breed old cows. The steaks – with enough to share – were perfect. Essentially, old cows are the hot new thing in town. Well, I thought it only right to give myself the chance to
OLD COWS ARE THE HOT NEW THING IN TOWN work up a fresh appetite before indulging in any further foodie delights. So, the next chance I got to escape to the country, my hubby Lee and I headed up the A470 towards the rolling hills of Mid Wales with schnauzers Hank and Marcy, and diligently hiked our way over the commons to the one and only Llangoed Hall near Brecon. By then, I felt I was just about deserving of further indulgence, and we duly treated ourselves to a delicious Sunday lunch at what is most certainly a gem of a country house hotel. So... Food, check. Company, check. Countryside, check. I was doing pretty well with that old work/life balance conundrum. Just the rugby and romance to go. Not necessarily an obvious combo, unless you jump on a couple of trains from Cardiff and arrive a mere five hours and one change later in the city of love, to cheer on some rugby mates playing in Paris and vying for a top spot in the French League. Okay, not wholly romantic in itself, but top that off with a whistle-stop night-time tour of the sights and an obligatory Eiffel Tower snap (plus a chance meeting with legendary All Black Dan Carter!), and it was suddenly ticking the boxes. Perfect pleasures to escape political pressures! There was just enough time to whizz back for the next party manifesto launch. Perhaps these elections should happen more often... Follow Andrea on Twitter: @andreabyrnetv, or at andreabyrne.tv
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FOOD & DRINK W H AT ’ S M A K I N G T H E G O U R M E T N E W S I N C A R D I F F
CHEESE, PLEASE!
FAVE FIVE
DOWN ON THE FARM
Owen’s current pick of farmhouse cheeses
OWEN DAVIES, from Cardiff’s award-winning Cheese Pantry, on the importance of cheese provenance Provenance is a key word when it comes to food these days; we all want to know more about how and where our food is made or grown. This can only be a good thing. When it comes to artisan or farmhouse cheese, provenance is something that is quite the norm and easy to trace – there’s little to hide with one main ingredient! At Cheese Pantry, we select our cheese from small-scale British cheese-makers, of which many are farmers. Here, the milk used to make their cheese is gently transferred to the dairy only a few hundred yards from the milking parlour – often still warm and at the perfect temperature for making cheese. Where cheese-makers buy in their milk, they will generally source from farms nearby – this way, they know that the milk is fresh, they can build relationships with the farmers, and in turn make the best cheese. In recent years, we’ve also seen farm
Chef Laura Graham’s food pop-up is coming to Cardiff
and cheese-making partnerships. A recent example of this is King Stone Farm and Dairy in Oxfordshire, where cheese-maker David Jowett and farmer Antony Curnow have come together to produce the award-winning Rollright cheese. David says that not only is it better for the milk (not to travel so far), but it also means he has daily communication with Anthony on the welfare of the cows. Daily changes in the milk as a result of weather conditions, or where the cows have been grazing, means that David might need to make a few adjustments to the making of the cheese, but these can all be monitored easily when they are working together. There may only be one main ingredient in the making of cheese, but it’s never going to be the same every time – this is what gives us that unique taste experience! Cheese Pantry is located at Cardiff Central Market. For more: @cheesepantry
BARON BIGOD Fen Farm, Suffolk The only raw milk farmhouse brie made in the UK PERL LAS Caws Cenarth, Ceredigion Award-winning blue, made by Carwyn Adams BILLIE GOATS’ CHEESE Cheese Cellar Dairy, Worcester Made with local Hereford goats milk ISLE OF MULL CHEDDAR J. Reade & Sons, Isle of Mull The only dairy farmer on the Isle – this cheddar packs a punch! ROLLRIGHT King Stone Dairy, Oxfordshire A wash-rind cheese, wrapped in spruce
KITCHEN TAKEOVER Laura Graham, who trained at Leiths Cookery School in London, and has cooked for Middle Eastern royalty and celebrities at the Monaco Grand Prix, is hosting a pop-up restaurant on 10 June at the Boiler House in Canton, as part of her newly-launched catering business, Food by LG. Guests will be treated to a welcome cocktail, and a five-course menu of lamb cawl, ham hock, pickled mackerel fillet, Welsh shin of beef and Nom Nom chocolate brownies. There will also be coffee from Coal Town coffee roasters, plus a DJ.
“The menu reflects everything I love about coming home to Wales – good, honest, seasonal ingredients and stylish but simple home cooking,” said Laura. “I’m really excited by this new venture. Cardiff’s culinary scene has exploded in recent years and I can’t wait to contribute to the exceptional diversity of the food and drink scene in Wales.” Food by LG’s pop-up event is from 7pm until late on 10 June, at the Boiler House in Canton. Tickets are £45 per person. For more info, go to billetto.co.uk
Home Made Cakes, Cup Cakes, Muffins, Ice Cold Frappe
Independent Coffee House at Cardiff Bay
EspressoLabUK EspressoLabUK 20 James St, Cardiff CF10 5EX 029 2047 3636
58 I cARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
R E S TA U R A N T
FOOD
The Grange From the team behind The Potted Pig, Porro and The Lansdowne, this refurbished Grangetown boozer is enjoying a whole new lease of life By V E L I M I R I L IC Photo s by OW E N M AT H I A S
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ith more and more pubs closing all the time, decent boozers – you know, ones with a bit of soul, a good old community spirit, great beers and excellent homecooked food – are becoming increasingly rare. But those are exactly the virtues that The Grange in Grangetown hopes to keep alive. Refurbished and re-opened a few months ago by owners Tom and Cerys Furlong and Gwyn Myring – the team behind The Potted Pig and Porro restaurants, and popular Canton pub The Lansdowne – this independent freehouse looks and feels like a proper old-school watering hole, the sort of spit-and-sawdust social hub where punters and bar staff know each other’s names, with a good old knees-up always in the offing. It already seems to have taken the local community by storm, with popular pub quizzes and go-to Sunday roasts packing them in. And with a skittle alley out back waiting for refurbishment, plus planned Airbnb apartments for visitors upstairs, it can only get better.
THE PORK
FAGGOTS, PACKED WITH UMAMI OOMPH, ARE EASILY THE BEST I’VE EVER HAD
There are plenty of good gastropubs in Cardiff and the Vale doing their own modern twist on pub food, of course, but The Grange almost takes it back to basics. Don’t for a moment think that means bland and boring, however – anything but. The food here, all prepared and cooked on-site, is real crowd-pleasing fare, from bar snacks to nibble on with your pint (homemade houmous, onion rings, scotch eggs, even truffle and parmesan chips) and all manner of burgers (more of which in a moment), to sandwiches (fish
finger, Welsh rarebit, steak and red onion marmalade etc) and a glorious selection of mains, from beer-battered fish and chips with peas to a full rack of BBQ pork loin ribs with ‘lots of chips’ and trimmings, to share. Phew. I feel full just reading it all. The real thing is even better. First up is a homemade sausage roll – meaty and melt-in-the-mouth – that really hits the spot. “That’s like a Gregg’s for millionaires,” purrs regular dining chum, O-man. Next is a Welsh ‘black and blue burger’. Stacked high with a moist, hefty patty of beef, portobello mushroom, gherkin, lettuce, tomato and rich blue cheese, and served with golden chips, it’s loaded with a wallop of complex, full-on flavour. As is the incredible lasagne (“As loud as an Italian football manager,” says O-man), dished up with a garlic bloomer and roasted balsamic vine tomatoes that pop with hot sweetness in your mouth. It just keeps coming. Pork faggots – with more of those chips, mushy peas and slathered with melting onion gravy – are packed with umami oomph, easily the best I’ve ever had. And the South Indian-inspired coconut curry (veggie version, with toasted paneer) is a dream, with basmati rice and – you’ve guessed it – more fat chips to dip into its intense, fragrant sauce, heavy on the spice and all the better for it. Beyond what you’d expect of simple pub food, the dishes over-deliver both on flavour and portion size (no more chips!). We couldn’t see any pud options, but having demolished most of the incredible feast that was put in front of us, it was probably for the best. A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips, as they say, but with food this good, who really cares about that? Given the brilliant reputation of The Lansdowne, and how they’ve breathed new life into what was previously a tired old boozer, that intrepid Furlongs/Myring trio – let’s call them food heroes – are giving Cardiff’s already buzzing food scene yet another shot in the arm. At the risk of repeating ourselves – stick that in yer pipe, Jay Rayner.
DINING DETAILS The Grange, 134 Penarth Road, Grangetown, Cardiff; Tel: 02920 250669, @PubGrange Opening hours Noon-11pm, Mon-Thurs; noon-11.30pm, Fri-Sat; noon-10.30pm Sun Prices Bar snacks from £2, sandwiches (with chips) £8, burgers from £8, mains from £10 Vegetarian choice Good veggie/vegan options available Drinks list Great range of independent ales (Crafty Devil’s Sympathy For The Devil session IPA? Don’t mind if we do) and local craft beers Service/atmosphere Very friendly bar staff (we had a lovely chat with the chef, too), excellent, unfussy service, busy-ish for midweek lunch, much busier at weekends
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E AT I N G O U T A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
DINING in CARDIFF Cardiff Life’s selection of the best places to eat out in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan AMERICAN GOT BEEF 83 Whitchurch Rd, Cardiff CF14 3JP; 029 2061 7534; www.gotbeef.co.uk Burgers made from the best Welsh Black beef – try the full-on 'Hangover', with bacon, American cheese and bloody mary ketchup. HANG FIRE SOUTHERN KITCHEN The Pumphouse, Hood Road, Barry CF62 5BE; www.hangfiresouthernkitchen.com No-one does American Deep South-style barbaecue food – cooked 'slow and low' – like HF's Shauna Guinn and Sam Evans. SEAFOOD SHACK 5A High Street, Cardiff CF10 1AW; 07900 424644; @SeafoodShackCDF Themed restaurant based on American surf shacks, serving fresh seafood dishes in an open theatre kitchen, with over 100 wines to choose from, plus cocktails, craft beer and more. THE SMOKE HOUSE 77 Pontcanna Street, Cardiff CF11 9HS; 029 2034 4628; @SmokeHausWales Authentic, family-friendly American barbecue restaurant in Pontcanna, with amazing dishes made from local ingredients.
ASIAN CEN @ CELTIC MANOR Coldra Woods, Usk Valley NP18 1HQ; 01633 410262; www.celtic-manor.com/cen Fresh, exciting and inspired contemporary Asian cuisine, created by 2013 MasterChef finalist Larkin Cen.
BRITISH/EUROPEAN ARBENNIG 6-10 Romilly Crescent, Pontcanna, CF11 9NR; 029 2034 1264; www.arbennig.co.uk Family-owned restaurant in Pontcanna – fine dining for people who love real food. ARBOREAL 68 Eastgate, Cowbridge CF71 7AB; 01446 775093; www.arboreal.uk.com Award-winning boutique café/kitchen/bar, serving seasonal, honest and tasty food. 60 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
BARLEY & RYE 2 Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff CF10 3AD; 029 2034 5051; www.barleyandrye.co.uk Huge beer and whisky selection, served alongside inventive European dishes. BILL’S 27-39, Wyndham Arcade, Mill Lane, Cardiff CF10 1FH, 029 2023 1524; Pilotage Building, Stuart Street, Cardiff Bay CF10 5BW, 02920 499 957; www.bills-website.co.uk Contemporary European chain, dishing up crowd-pleasing food from breakfast to bedtime. EPICURE BY RICHARD DAVIES Celtic Manor Resort, Coldra Woods, Usk Valley NP18 1HQ; 01633 413 000; www.celtic-manor.com/epicure Exquisite, modern fine dining experience created by award-winning chef, Richard Davies. CHAPEL 1877 Churchill Way, Cardiff CF10 2WF; 029 2022 2020; chapel1877.com Swish restaurant and bar/bistro, located in a restored, exuberantly-decorated and ornate former chapel. THE CLASSROOM Dumballs Road, Cardiff CF10 5FE; 029 2025 0377; www.theclassroom.wales Cardiff and Vale College's unique restaurant, serving modern European food, with a focus on regional Welsh produce. Great city views, too. THE CLINK HMP Cardiff, Knox Road, Cardiff CF24 0UG; 029 2092 3130; theclinkcharity.org Stylish, award-winning fine dining restaurant run by prison inmates, championing fresh, organic local produce. FISH AT 85 85 Pontcanna Street, Pontcanna; 029 2023 5666; www.fishat85.co.uk British-caught fish, expertly cooked to your liking in a bright, modern space. There's an extensive on-site fish counter, too. FFRESH Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL; 029 2063 6465; www.wmc.org.uk Quality cooking and seasonal menus showcasing the best Welsh produce, with stunning views of Cardiff Bay.
LAGUNA KITCHEN & BAR Park Plaza, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff CF10 3AL; 029 2011 1103; www.lagunakitchenandbar.com Sleek, modern restaurant serving Welsh/ international cuisine, plus bar with terrace. LOCKE AND REMEDY 18-19 Trinity Street, Cardiff CF10 1BH; 029 2167 6982; lockeandremedy.com Bar/restaurant, serving wood-fired pizzas, burgers, adventurous cocktails and craft beers. THE MARKET PLACE 66 High Street, Cowbridge CF71 7AH 01446 774800; the-marketplace.co.uk Cosy and welcoming, this upmarket restaurant serves beautifully presented, cheffy dishes. Popular for Sunday lunches. THE POTTED PIG 27 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1PU; 029 2022 4817; www.thepottedpig.com Located in a former bank vault underground, expect modern British food, ever-changing seasonal menus, and wonderful gins. The whole suckling pig is amazing.
FINE DINING JAMES SOMMERIN The Esplanade, Penarth CF64 3AU; 029 2070 6559; www.jamessommerinrestaurant.co.uk Michelin-starred destination restaurant, serving highly innovative food. The tasting menu offers a bespoke menu created for each and every table.
FRENCH BULLY’S 5 Romilly Crescent, Cardiff CF11 9NP; 029 2022 1905; bullysrestaurant.co.uk Using seasonal and local produce, with a unique French wine list sourced from small, passionate growers. CHEZ FRANCIS 185 Cowbridge Rd East, Cardiff CF11 9AJ; 029 2022 4959; 21 Glebe Street, Penarth CF64 1E; 029 2070 2429; www.chez-francis.co.uk Cosy French restaurant, serving rich, bistro-style seasonal cuisine.
A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E E AT I N G O U T
ITALIAN CALABRISELLA 154 Cowbridge Rd East, Cardiff CF11 9ND; 029 2022 5839; www.calabrisellacardiff.com Authentic Italian café and restaurant, serving hearty, home-cooked food. CASANOVA 13 Quay Street, Cardiff CF10 1EA; 029 2034 4044; www.casanovacardiff.co.uk Modern techniques applied to regional Italian cooking in this discreet two-floor restaurant. ELGANO 58 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9LL; 029 2025 5853; elgano.co.uk/restaurant Fresh, authentic Italian cuisine – cooked with love, eat with passion, as they say. PORRO 22 High Street, Llandaff CF5 2DZ, 029 2056 5502; 57 Wellfield Road, Roath CF24 3PA, 029 2240 2200; www.porrocardiff.com Modern British fare inspired by Italian cooking and eating, embracing the Italian philosphy of simple, quality ingredients.
SPANISH ASADOR 44 14-15 Quay Street, Cardiff CF10 1EA; 029 2002 0039; www.asador44.co.uk The finest charcoal-grilled chuleton steaks, fish and veg, from the heart of northern Spain. BAR 44 15-23 Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1DD; 0333 344 4049; www.bar44.co.uk Award-winning tapas – a true taste of modern Spain. They recently won an award for best patatas bravas in the UK. Branches also in Penarth and Cowbridge.
THE DISCOVERY Celyn Avenue, Lakeside CF23 6FH; 029 2075 5015 knifeandforkfood.co.uk/venue/the-discovery Laid-back dining and drinking, as per The Conway (above). THE GRANGE 134 Penarth Road, Grangetown CF11 6NJ; 029 2025 0669; @PubGrange Independent free house with frequently changing menu of pub grub, including Welsh flat iron steaks, burgers, pies, curries with 'half and half', beer-battered fish and chips, and more. HARE & HOUNDS Aberthin, Cowbridge CF71 7LG; 01446 774892; hareandhoundsaberthin.com Thriving ale and food house, with a small, dailychanging seasonal menu, served in relaxed and informal surroundings. KINGS ARMS Church Road, Pentyrch CF15 9QF; 029 2089 0202; kingsarmspentyrch.com Cask ales and modern British food with a twist at this snug longhouse inn. THE LANSDOWNE 71 Lansdowne Road, Canton CF5 1LX; 029 2022 1312; thelansdownecardiff.co.uk Popular free house, serving real ales, good cider and proper pub food. Big on atmosphere, their Sunday roasts are legendary. LONGHOUSE The Tumble, St Nicholas, Cardiff CF5 6SA 029 2115 7754; www.longhousewales.com Cosy, award-winning 17th century watering hole. Chef/patron Andy Aston's feasting food is prepared with heartfelt soul, imagination and flair. THE OLD SWAN INN Church Street, Llantwit Major CF61 1SB; 01446 792 230; knifeandforkfood.co.uk/venue/ the-old-swan-inn Traditional pub bar with roaring fire and oak beams, plus recently revamped dining area.
LA CUINA 11 King's Road, Cardiff CF11 9BZ; 029 2019 0265; lacuina.co.uk Authentic, traditional and contemporary Catalan food, featuring recipes from different regions.
THE PILOT 67 Queen's Road, Penarth CF64 1DJ; 029 2071 0615; knifeandforkfood.co.uk/venue/the-pilot Located high on the hill, with spectacular views overlooking Cardiff Bay, expect pub classics with a twist and frequently changing guest ales.
GASTROPUBS
INDIAN
THE CONWAY 58 Conway Road, Pontcanna CF11 9NW; 029 2022 4373; knifeandforkfood.co.uk/venue/the-conway A daily blackboard menu offers modern Welsh/ European food, plus great real ales.
CHAI STREET 153 Cowbridge Road East, Canton CF11 9AH, 029 2022 8888; 15 High Street, Cardiff CF10 1AX, 02920 399 399; chaistreet.com Indian street food kitchen, offering a casual and authentic taste experience.
MINT AND MUSTARD 134 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 3LZ, 029 2062 0333; 33-34 Windsor Terrace, Penarth CF64 1AB, 029 2070 0500; www.mintandmustard.com Pioneering Indian cuisine, inspired by the Keralan philosophy of fresh, light and healthy food. MOKSH Bute Crescent, Cardiff CF10 5AN; 029 2049 8120; www.moksh.co.uk Modern Indian restaurant serving Goan-inspired dishes made with a nouvelle flair. PURPLE POPPADOM 185A Cowbridge Rd East, Canton CF11 9AJ; 029 2022 0026; purplepoppadom.com More imaginative, nouvelle Indian food, courtesy of the one and only Anand George.
MEXICAN WAHACA 51-53 The Hayes, St David's Dewi Sant, Cardiff CF10 1GA; 029 2167 0414; www.wahaca.co.uk Tasty tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more – moreish Mexican-style market food.
PIZZA DUSTY KNUCKLE The Printhaus, 70A Llandaff Road, Cardiff CF11 9NL; 07943 826701; @dusty_knuckle Incredible wood-fired pizza. 'Nuff said.
PORTUGUESE MADEIRA 2 Guildford Crescent, Cardiff CF10 2HJ; 029 2066 7705; www.madeirarestaurante.co.uk Portuguese restaurant and fish specialist in a cosy, colourful setting.
THAI THE THAI HOUSE 3-5 Guildford Crescent, Churchill Way, Cardiff CF10 2HJ; 029 2038 7404; thaihouse.biz Long-established restaurant, serving authentic, colourful Thai food.
VEGETARIAN MILGI 213 City Road, Cardiff CF24 3JD 029 2047 3150; milgicardiff.com Cool vegetarian/vegan eatery, offering 'plantbased' dining, natural cocktails and craft beer. www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 61
F E AT U R E
INTERIORS SPECIAL
HORSING AROUND ELISABETH MAHONEY gets back in the saddle on a three-day trail-riding holiday through the picturesque scenery of mid-Wales
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G R E AT ESCAPES
T
hat phrase about getting back on the horse that bolted has tormented me for a decade. It’s one of those things you only cheerily say if you’ve never been on a horse that’s actually bolted, causing you to fall. I was, until ten years ago, a keen rider, but was too scared to get back in the saddle after that. Then a landmark birthday came along and I devised a year’s worth of adventures that included facing fears, and spending more time with favourite people. This is how I find myself with my friend, Gareth – a complete riding novice, who is now urgently suggesting we should have gone on a spa weekend instead – at Freerein stables in Clyro, near Hay-on-Wye, learning how to tack up a horse at the start of three days’ trail-riding out on the hills. My horse is Alfie, a gentle copper beauty with a little bit of George Clooney about his eyes. I nuzzle him and sing, “What’s it all about, Alfie?” He adopts a weary look that tells me I’m not the first to do this. Gareth meets his beautiful silver pony, Mercury, and is alarmed by that name: “Was the name Thunderbolt already taken?” Twenty minutes later, and we are out on a quiet lane that leads to stupendous open countryside, with dreamy views of the Radnor Hills, Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons. We’re led by our guide, Marc, who is quite the cool gaucho in full chaps, and who can ride standing up or facing backwards, while taking photos and giving us encouragement and advice. The others in our group all have some riding experience – a mix of rusty, more confident and new to riding in the last few months – and the Learn To Ride trails (maximum six riders) are tailored to suit all levels. They offer guided rides for more confident groups (maximum eight riders) and, uniquely in the UK, self-guided tours with maps and luggage transfers to overnight accommodation all taken care of, as it is for us. I love that they recently had a 92-year-old fly in from Australia to do a self-guided ride with his family. He finds walking tricky these days, but riding a doddle. How brilliant. Riding, after ten years, isn’t a doddle. I’m
shaking with nerves and feeling sick, but the basics come back – lord, I reactivate some muscles that have had a decade off – and I gradually feel confident in the saddle, because Alfie is a dream horse and Marc tells me what I’m doing right. This is one of the best things about these rides: it’s the opposite of formal teaching – you learn tons through chatting with your guide and the other riders. I learn quickly that for a full day’s riding (our trails range from 15-23 miles), you give your horse a longer rein so they don’t get sore mouths. The horses are so well-schooled, happy and responsive, they react to the lightest touch. Gareth is given a few quick tips, and rides with our guide to start with, but makes incredible progress – he is trotting with us almost immediately, and does his first canter on the morning of day two. He no longer mentions spas. The days fall into a lovely rhythm. We groom and tack the horses up each morning, having caught them first in the field (this has comedy moments), ride out across dramatically different scenery, under big skies, noting curlews and red kites, wild ponies and endless cute tiny lambs in the surrounding fields. We stop for a vast packed lunch which sweetly includes carrots, apples and Polo mints for the horses, then ride on back to the starting point, take the kit off the horses, then walk them back to the field. A taxi takes us to The Roast Ox Inn in Painscastle, where we are staying, and we all relish the real ales and vast portions of hearty food. The evenings while away with stories from the day, laughs aplenty and anticipation about what the next day’s trail will bring. I loved being here with an old friend, but this would be a great holiday to do solo, too, as you’ve immediately got something in common with everyone. Our group was so nice to a complete beginner and a terrified returner, and the friendly staff very discreetly kept an eye on us both, to make sure we were okay. I can’t recommend this family-run Welsh business highly enough, and will always be very grateful that they helped me get back on a horse. I’ve already booked lessons back in Cardiff, and am planning a beach gallop this summer. Thank you, Freerein; and thank you, Alfie.
MY HORSE, ALFIE, IS A GENTLE
COPPER BEAUTY, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF GEORGE CLOONEY ABOUT HIS EYES
(Opposite page and above) Elisabeth and chum Gareth enjoy horsey adventures; (Top) Elisabeth with “dream horse” Alfie
TRAVEL DETAILS The three-day Learn To Ride trails are £543 per person, plus B&B accommodation, packed lunch and dinner. For more info, contact Freerein on 01497 821356, or see free-rein.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 63
More adventures in party-going
SNAPPED! AC ROS S CA R D I FF, O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E Chloe Smith, Matthew Cole and Wayne Courtney
PERK LIFE KIN+ILK cafe in Pontcanna – in conjunction with artist Nathan Wyburn – recently held a week-long fundraiser for Welsh mental health charity, Gofal. Nathan, renowned for his unique portraits of celebrities using food and household objects, painted various masterpieces using speciality coffee, including Michael Sheen (who nipped in to sign his!), George North, Matt Johnson and Derek Brockway. For more: kinandilk.com
Mandy Powell (GoodWash) and Kelly Davies (Viability)
Matthew Cole (another one!) and Debbie Green (Coastal Housing Group and Gofal trustee)
Steve Sulley (Stills) and Zoe Westerman (Cyclone24)
Nathan Wyburn and Ewan Hilton (Gofal)
John Jackson and Clare Morgan (Marketing Clarity)
Nathan Wyburn’s illustration of George North – painted in coffee
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SOCIETY
BEST FOOT FORWARD
Cory Allen and Francesca Melindo
The Brogue Trader in Cardiff hosted an Italian-themed evening at its Morgan Arcade shop, in aid of George Thomas Hospice Care, which cares for patients (and their families) with cancer and other lifelimiting illnesses. Local businesses turned out in force to support the event, organised by Brogue Trader owner Chris Macnamara. Photos by Laura Jayne Photography For more: thebroguetrader.com
Brogue Trader owner Chris Macnamara with Mike and Colleen Mycroft
Lindsay Doyle, Polly James and Nicky Piper
Liam Powell, Steve Harris (Riders Ducati Motorcycles), Claire Harris and Doug Astles (Riders Ducati Motorcycles)
Chris Bown and Rhian Hamana
Josh Turnbull, Steven Shingler (Cardiff Blues) and Alix Popham
Lorna Houston and Ellis Smith
SOCIETY
THE IN CROWD
Betina Skovbro (Brød), Julia Harris (The Sustainable Studio) and Mathew Talfan
Thriving creative hub The Sustainable Studio in Cardiff held a party to celebrate hitting its crowdfunding target of ÂŁ10,000, which will enable the studio to transform its top floor into a community events space for dance, theatre, music, workshops and exhibitions. For more: thesustainablestudio.com
The Verge provided live music
Jude Lau and Tom Whitehead Emina Redzepovic
Caro Wild and Sarah Valentin Gareth Daniel
Julia Harris (left) with Christian and Helena Amodeo
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SOCIETY
IN THE CLUB Chartered insurance broker Thomas Carroll’s Club Signature brand hosted an exclusive event for its high net worth clients and contacts, at the new Cornerstone venue in Cardiff. The event included a wine tasting with Laurent Perrier and Fine Wines Direct, and a rugby review with Rob Jones MBE and Ryan Jones, hosted by Adrian Davies.
Alison Davies and Claire Humphries
For more: thomascarroll.co.uk/club-signature
Rhys Thomas, Paul Hopkins and Rhys Williams Adrian Davies and Doreen Davies
Gareth Davies and Fiona Davies
Matthew Maunder, Huw Warren and Brett Thomas
Adrian Harries, Julien John and Pete Patel
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Ken Shaw, Paul Young and Richard Pask
Shake-ups/launches/successes/promotions
CA R D I FF G E T S S ER I O US
QUOTE OF THE ISSUE
“CARDIFF’S ON THE UP – THERE’S A REAL SENSE OF MOMENTUM AND CHANGE…”
Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter (Bad Wolf) with Ken Skates, pictured at the new Wolf Studios in Cardiff
THE BIG STORY
THE WOLF AT THE DOOR
Hurrah to that! But who said it? Find out on page 74...
One of the largest film and TV studios in Wales is set to be created in Cardiff by city-based production company Bad Wolf Designed to meet the high demand for studio space in Wales, the new world-class production facility – Wolf Studios Wales – will be based at Trident Park, Ocean Way, close to Cardiff city centre. Acquired by the Welsh government, it’s due to be leased on commercial terms, and will provide studio facilities for Bad Wolf’s production slate, as well as being able to accommodate other major TV productions. Bad Wolf – co-sited in Wales and the US – was set up in 2015 by award-winning TV executives Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner to secure, develop and produce a high-value slate of TV drama projects in Wales. The company will film all of its forthcoming productions in the studio, including A Discovery Of Witches and His Dark Materials, and with many other productions in development, it marks a significant investment in Wales as an international television production hub. On a recent visit to the site, Economy Secretary Ken Skates described it as a strategically important acquisition. “A facility of this size will ensure Wales
retains a competitive advantage, with enough large-scale studio space to service the productions wishing to film here,” he said. “It has real potential to generate a transformational impact on the Welsh creative industries sector, creating a large-scale film and TV production hub, and will deliver long-term sustainable economic benefits to Wales, strengthening the skills base and supply chain, and attracting inward investment and tourism.” “Wales has seen a resurgence in television and film production in recent years and studio space is much sought-after,” said Jane Tranter. “With so many Bad Wolf productions in development, we wanted a permanent base, and a user-friendly studio environment for the many other television series and films headed to Wales. “Working with the Welsh government on this new space is further evidence of the many opportunities that filming in Wales can now offer.” For more, see bad-wolf.com
36 THE BIG NUMBER
That’s the position Cardiff University has moved up to in Europe’s Top 100 most innovative universities list. And the university has maintained its spot as eighth in the UK, according to Reuters’ rankings, which identify the educational institutions doing the most to advance science, invent new technologies and help drive the global economy. For more: cardiff.ac.uk
Got a business news story for us? Email vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk
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BUSINESS INSIDER
CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS WINNER’S PROFILE
I LOVES THE ’DIFF Christian Amodeo, founder of the cult Cardiff brand – winner of the Special Achievement Award at this year’s Cardiff Life Awards – on why the city is cooler than ever
How did you feel, winning a Cardiff Life Award? Excited, proud, humbled and grateful to the judges whose bungs are in the post! What did you enjoy most about Awards night? It’s always nice to dress up a bit now and then. I don’t do it enough so it was a great excuse to ‘go Bond’ for the evening (tied my own bow tie and shoe laces – the lot). I really enjoyed [host] Nigel Owens’ jokes, and most of all, enjoyed the company on our table – we had a laff with our friends from St David’s and Grayling, and with the folks from unusually-named interior design firm Extravagauza. Where is your Award now? I gave it to Jamie Baulch to inspect, turned around, and he’d already done a runner. What’s new and exciting in the world of I Loves The ’Diff? The We Loves The ’Diff fundraising campaign with St David’s shopping centre has been the biggest thing happening recently – five limited edition prints from us created in collaboration with Hywel, Bec and Liz at St David’s and released on consecutive Saturdays, all to raise money for local homelessness charities The Wallich, Huggard Centre and Llamau.
As a business, what advantages does Cardiff offer you? People here are rightly passionate about their ever-changing city – just as I started this an expression of my own ‘loves’ for the city. It’s also small enough to make a splash and you can easily connect to loads of good people doing good things. Cardiff’s on the up, there’s a sense of momentum and change. There’s a vibrancy and confidence that more and better is on the way. For businesses in general, it’s so well-placed, being a small capital city with local talent and skills, geography, and quality of life all on its side.
IN CARDIFF, YOU CAN EASILY CONNECT TO LOADS OF GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS
How’s business at the moment? Good, ta. Can I interest you in an I Loves The ’Diff mug? Overall, what have you found to be the best tools for success in your industry? I’ve yet to work out which industry I Loves The ’Diff is in, let alone find the tool shed. I think timing is everything – perhaps you have to be lucky for this, but perhaps some people have a sense of what’s on the rise and what’s ‘now’. Regardless of sector, social media is a powerful tool for small independent businesses to shout louder than their budgets traditionally allowed. What’s the best piece of professional/business advice you’ve ever been given? Don’t work for yourself. Seem to be ignoring this nugget of wisdom, currently. Just like the person who gave me the advice. 74 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
What do you enjoy most about what you do? Getting to meet and hear from so many interesting people. Here in Cardiff, I meet so many inspirational folks, from independent shopkeepers, people working for charities, and customers (we have the best customers!), and on email we hear from Welsh folks worldwide who ‘loves’ what we do and often just want to say hi. It’s great fun connecting with the dai-aspora.
Which other local independent businesses do you admire? Too many to mention – I admire anyone striking out on their own in business, especially if they’re doing something a little different, or at top quality. Cardiff has many independentlyminded, creative and entrepreneurial people who are making the city an exciting and better place to be. I recently interviewed Bizzy at The Other Theatre, Kirsty from Home By Kirsty, Julia and Sarah at The Sustainable Studio and the Cheese Pantry people – I got an overload of inspiration in a week. I was in awe. The Morgan brothers of minichain Bar 44 also run a quality outfit. Having recently interviewed Owen for the same piece of writing, I was impressed by his ambitions to constantly improve his company as an employer, as well as his passion for great food, which is evident in his new Asador 44 restaurant. Tell us a secret or little-known fact about yourself… I often prefer spoof and fantasy over humdrum reality. Take the Jamie Baulch story above, for example.
For more: ilovesthediff.com
BUSINESS INSIDER
TRIPLE WHAMMY
Our pick of the most exciting, intriguing or important local business stories right now
1
GOOD THING GOING GoodGym, the community of runners who combine getting fit with doing good, recently launched in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Members of the new GoodGym group, which has a unique approach to building community cohesion, promoting fitness and reducing social isolation, will stop off on their runs to do physical tasks for community organisations, and to support isolated older people with one-off tasks they can’t do on their own. “It’s fantastic to have GoodGym come to Cardiff,” said lead trainer Ben Annear. “We’ve already received overwhelming levels of support, from runners wanting to sign up and community projects wanting our help, so it’s really exciting to think about the difference GoodGym will make over the coming weeks, months and years.”
GoodGym: Hit the ground running
For more: goodgym.org
3
Ty Llandaff has been named in the Top 20 care homes in Wales
CUTTING EDGE
Tyˆ Llandaff care home in Cardiff has been named in the top 20 recommended care homes in Wales for 2017, by leading UK care home website carehome.co.uk, after being open for less than six months. The luxury, ‘all-inclusive’ nursing, residential and respite care home in Pontcanna was included in the list following positive feedback by residents and family members. “We are naturally delighted to be ranked so highly,” said Tyˆ Llandaff care home manager, Janice Evans. “We have only been open a short while but all the staff have worked very hard. This is a fabulous endorsement for everybody at Tyˆ Llandaff.”
Celebrating a decade in business this year, leading Cardiff hair salon Guy Christian is marking its milestone birthday with exclusive offers for new and existing clients. Since the first salon opened on City Road in November 2007, the business has gone from strength to strength, expanding across South Wales with two further salons in Cardiff Bay and Cwmbran. “You’ll never be successful if The buck stops hair: your clients aren’t Guy Christian salon is happy,” said Guy. celebrating ten years “That means always in business providing great customer service and having a great team who love staying ahead of the trends, as well as working with the best products and creating contemporary spaces people enjoy coming to. There has been a lot of hard work involved and I’m immensely proud of what the team and I have achieved.” An exclusive video has also been released to mark the salon’s tenth birthday (see bit.ly/2rfyxjq), with various special offers, giveaways and competitions to be announced over the coming months on Guy Christian’s social media channels.
For more: tyllandaffcare.com
For more: guychristian.com
2 HOME COMFORTS
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The Bulmore, Bulmore Road, Caerleon Occupying an idyllic position, set back with panoramic views across the 5th Green of the highly prestigious, internationally renowned Ryder Cup course at the Celtic Manor Resort. This magnificent Grade Two listed Mansion House fronts a quiet and private select hamlet road, which travels through the manicured grounds of the resort, and backs onto the 18th Green. This is a charming detached stone built Victorian country residence dates back to 1840, for the past three years the present owners have extensively renovated and modernised to a very high specification and commands a truly picturesque position with an in and out gated entrance drive. Within the grounds is an orchard, a detached stable block with full planning to be converted into a two bedroom cottage providing excellent developement potential and surrounding gardens and paddock, approximately 3.85 acres. A secluded landscaped private sun terrace boasts a pretty garden vista across the surrounding gardens and there is ample space to convert the current wood store into several stables. The property consists of a detached double fronted five bedroom period home with extended living space, and a fully renovated basement cellar comprising four rooms with restored stone walls and original flag stone floors and a ceiling height of (7’3 FT), industrial lighting, a stone staircase and three windows. There are a total of five bedrooms with further attic space available to convert into a sixth bedroom. The master bedroom (23’9 x 13’1) includes a new ensuite shower room and a wrought iron decorative bespoke spiral staircase which leads to an attic dressing room. There is a further guest bedroom with ensuite and a generous re-modelled family bathroom. The bathroom fittings throughout were supplied by Arundel Bathrooms with mandarin stone tiles, including limestone tiling, traditional fittings including crosswater taps and stone shower trays and a cast iron bath from the Cast iron Bath company. The ground floor has been sympathetically extended and re-furbished to provide four principle living rooms including a bright bespoke lounge/garden room (23’3 x 14’7), a sitting room (18’6 x 13’2), a study and a large formal dining room (25’8 x 15’0) including reading area. There are three Chesney’s log burners installed within the lounge, sitting room and the dining room, and one original charming Bath stone solid stone period fireplace and one bespoke command imposing features. Wide splayed bay windows include original bi-folding shutters, and a new oil fired heating system was installed in 2015 with a new industrial Worcester boiler allowing instant hot water to each of the three bathrooms simultaneously.
For sale with PA Black Llanishen Branch 02920 618552 £1,295,000
Orchard Lodge, Boverton Road, Boverton. Llantwit Major. Extended south facing and modernised 4/5 bedroom detached family home offering flexible living. Overlooking converted 16th century farm house and barns in the attractive old Boverton. The entire property was refurbished and extended in 2011. Central heating is gas combi boiler, windows are double glazed and all flooring is high quality wood effect throughout. The property is also available with NO CHAIN! Outside there is a two car driveway with an elevated front terrace. The gate leads to a surprisingly large cottage style secure low maintenance side garden, leading to a further enclosed rear garden, paved with raised bed. Outside lights to front,side and rear and also water taps to front and rear. This property is situated one mile from the famous historical town of Llantwit Major and benefits from a railway station with connecting routes to Bridgend and Cardiff, beaches, schools, leisure centre, library, rugby club , tennis courts, doctors surgeries and a substantial collection of shops, public houses and restaurants. Cardiff International Airport (5 miles) and Cowbridge (5 miles) are short drive from Llantwit Major. The property is also located just 20 minutes to exit 35 on the M4. From our Cowbridge office head in a westerly direction up the high street turning left onto Llantwit Major Road. Follow this road before reaching a ‘T’ junction and turn left. On approaching Llantwit Major, and reaching the large roundabout take the first exit signed Barry and the Airport. Go straight on at the second small roundabout; continue through first set of traffic lights. At the second set turn right signed Boverton. On the bend turn immediately left up the NO THROUGH ROAD. 1 Orchard Lodge is the third house on the left set slightly back with ample parking.
For sale with PA Black Cowbridge Branch 01446 760850
£375,000 - £385,000 NO CHAIN
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ASHBROOKE HOUSE
78 112I I CARDIFF CLIFTONLIFE LIFE I I www.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk
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PROPERTY
A superlative, four-bedroom detached family home in desirable Cyncoed By K AT I E K I SSOON
www.mediaclash.co.ukI I CLIFTON CARDIFFLIFE LIFE I I 113 79 www.mediaclash.co.uk
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ocated in the highly desirable suburb of Cyncoed, Ashbrooke House is an outstanding detached property. Built to an exceptional standard around three years ago and superbly maintained by the present owners, its breathtaking design combines a contemporary aesthetic and specification with traditional materials and features. Offering just over 3,600 square feet of living space over two floors, the property is set back off Cyncoed Road, within a lovely plot bounded by mature trees. Double electric gates open onto a shared private drive which leads to a paved parking area, with space for several cars. Inside, you’ll find underfloor heating, an integrated Sonos sound system throughout and full height glazing, creating a light and airy space. On the ground floor are three luxurious reception rooms, two of which let in plenty of natural light. The principle living room is generously sized – a great space for entertaining – with a feature fireplace and bi-fold doors to the garden, and the family room, open-plan to the kitchen, is used as a spacious dining and living area, with tiled flooring and picture windows overlooking the rear and side gardens. There’s even – get this – a luxurious cinema room. The stylish kitchen, meanwhile, has been fitted with contemporary units and features a full range of integrated appliances, including a range cooker, two ovens and a fridge/freezer. There’s a handy utility room, too. And stairs lead from the double garage up to a games room, offering potential for a further bedroom or home office. A walnut cantilevered staircase takes you up to the first floor, where a generous landing – with more of that natural light – provides access to four good-sized bedrooms, all with fitted wardrobes. The main bedroom boasts a walk-in dressing room and quality en-suite, and the second bedroom also has 80 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
Ashbrooke House has plenty of space for entertaining and alfresco dining
HOUSE NUMBERS Ashbrooke House, 298 Cyncoed Rd, Cyncoed
4
bedrooms
2/3
reception rooms
3
bathrooms
1
an en-suite, while the remaining two bedrooms share a stylish modern bathroom. Outside, the gardens have been very thoughtfully landscaped. The private, formal rear garden provides a patio area – ideal for alfresco dining – and lawn, with a further wooded area at the side of the house to relax in. There’s a stream at the bottom of the garden, too, another charming touch. It really doesn’t get much better than this.
kitchen/diner
£1.45M guide price
For more info, contact Savills, 12 Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BY; Tel: 02920 368920, savills.co.uk
CARDIFF LIVES
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est-known around these parts for his Kitchen Clonc food blog (‘clonc’ is colloquial Welsh for ‘chat’), Cardiff dentist Imran recently made it to the final ten of BBC One’s MasterChef. Hugely passionate about food, he describes himself as a ‘culinary magpie’ – his cooking is inspired by his Asian background, classic British dishes and friends’ food from around the world. Read more about his culinary exploits below... Where’s home, and what makes it special? Pontcanna. We’ve lived in the area for the last 10 years and instantly fell in love with it. There are beautiful parks on our doorstep, the food and drink scene is great, and it has a real village feel. Congrats on reaching the final 10 of this year’s MasterChef! How did you find the experience? No-one can prepare you for the immense pressure of cooking in that kitchen. As you progress through the rounds, the pressure just increases. What was your standout moment on the show? I was over the moon with the comments food critic Amol Rajan gave my Thali dish, as that’s the food I grew up eating. But my standout moment was in knockout week when I got praise from both judges for my trio of desserts. Where does your interest in food stem from? Food was always at the heart of family life. We sat around the dinner table in the evening and there was always something going on – people visiting, extended family and everyone needing to be fed. Following your MasterChef adventures, any local food-related plans in the pipeline? I launched my first HOME supper club recently and was so happy that both nights sold out. That means a lot, as all the profits will go to three charities: The Wallich, Huggard Centre and UNICEF – Syrian refugee fund. I hope to host another supper club in June, and I’ll also be doing a cooking demo at Tafwyl (1 July, Llandaff Fields). Most famous person you follow on Twitter? My brother-in-law, comedian/actor Elis James, and his partner [comedian/actress] Isy Suttie. How do you relax? Going for a long walk from my house, through Llandaff Fields, down to Pontcanna Fields then along the Taff, to the castle and back. Great for clearing the head and getting in some exercise. Proudest moment so far? Being the first in my family to go to university – all my parents wanted was the best for my brothers and I when we emigrated from Kenya. Becoming a husband – it is so rare to find ‘the one’, and I was lucky to do so in Carys. And becoming a father to my son, Osian. Nothing prepares you for fatherhood but you instinctively have this overwhelming sense of love and pride when they do something for the first time. I’m very lucky. 82 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk
IMRAN NATHOO The MasterChef finalist talks food adventures, favourite local eats and being a proud dad When did you last cry? Since becoming a dad, I’m a mess whenever I see anything to do with the plight of children – Comic Relief, Sports Relief and Children In Need. Dream dinner party guests? Stephen Fry, Dr Dre, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and The Queen. If push came to shove, what would be your final meal of choice? The most perfect gin and tonic, followed by crispy, seasoned calamari, and fillet steak with triplecooked chips and béarnaise sauce. Dessert would be tiramisu and then the finest British cheeses, all washed down with champagne, malbec and port. Who would play you in a film about your life? Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. The body transformation alone would be Oscar-worthy! Guiltiest pleasure? Listening to BBC Radio 1Xtra and Babybel cheese.
chorus gets me every time. And Feel My Love – our good friend, actress Elin Llwyd, sung it at our wedding, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Must-watch television programme(s)? MasterChef, of course! Great British Bake Off, Saturday Kitchen – there’s a pattern forming here... Best thing about Cardiff? The people. I’ve had such amazing support on social media and positivity from people coming up to me in the street. Favourite shops in Cardiff? I love fine watches – I can often be found gawking in Crouch Jewellers or Watches of Switzerland. Locally, where do you like to eat and drink? Asador 44 is just nailing it on all fronts, with some of the best steaks I’ve ever tried. And Blue Honey Night Café – Korean fried chicken and waffles, and a banging choice in music.
Most important lesson life has taught you? There is no ‘right time’ to do something – life’s too short. If there is something you want to do, just do it.
Secret or favourite Cardiff spot? Dusty Knuckle at The Printhaus is my happy place – best pizzas around. I’m always in there, usually standing by the oven.
What’s on your bookshelf at the moment? Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama and Mo Farah’s autobiography.
Surprise us with a little-known fact... I had a very short stint doing stand-up comedy in my late teens.
Which piece of music always sends a shiver down your spine? Two Billy Joel songs: Piano Man – that rousing
For more: kitchenclonc.blogspot.co.uk, @KitchenClonc
www.icebodysculpting.co.uk - info@icebodysculpting.co.uk 02921 202 190. 122 Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff, CF5 5BT