Cardiff Life - Issue 191 by MediaClash

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property Issue 191/ October 2018 / £3

@CardiffLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

ISSUE 191 / OCTOBER 2018 / GET A ROOM

REJUVENATE YOUR ROOMS THIS AUTUMN DISHING THE DIRT

ON CARDIFF’S VEG-TASTIC POP-UP

GRAND OPERA

THE MAKING OF WAR & PEACE

KEEP IT IN CHECK

THIS SEASON’S HOT TREND

EDITOR’S LETTER

Places please! In rehearsal for War and Peace; INSET: Listen up – it’s all about the wood. See page 64

wonderful meal in a restaurant, a gripping book, a spell-binding show, even something as simple as sitting in a park surrounded by beautiful ﬂowers – it’s easy to forget just how much work goes into creating these things that we so regularly enjoy. But very often there’s a cast of, if not thousands then certainly dozens of, people working away behind the scenes doing jobs that we’ve probably never even thought of. This issue I was allowed behind the scenes of the Welsh National Opera, during rehearsals for War and Peace that’s being performed at the Wales Millennium Centre this week before setting off on tour, and I had the privilege of meeting a few members of the creative team that is bringing the show to life. (Read all about it on page 50). The talent and dedication of everyone that I spoke to was remarkable, and it served as a real reminder that at the end of the night we shouldn’t just be applauding the stars of the show up there on stage, but also the people that most of us will never see, but without whom none of it would have even happened.

yd blasus o fwyd mewn bwyty, llyfr gafaelgar, sioe wefreiddiol, neu hyd yn oed y cyfle i eistedd mewn parc llawn o flodau bendigedig – mae’n hawdd iawn anghofio cymaint o waith sydd ynghlwm wrth greu’r pethau hyn yr ydym yn eu mwynhau mor rheolaidd. Ond yn amlach na pheidio, mae yna ddwsinau os nad cannoedd o bobl sy’n gweithio y tu ôl i’r llenni yn cyflawni tasgau nad ydym erioed wedi’u hystyried, mae’n siŵr. Wrth baratoi ar gyfer y rhifyn hwn, cefais fynd y tu ôl i’r llenni gydag Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, yn ystod yr ymarferion ar gyfer War and Peace. Bydd y sioe’n cael ei pherfformio yng Nghanolfan y Mileniwm yr wythnos hon cyn bod y cwmni’n mynd ar daith, a chefais innau’r fraint o gwrdd â rhai o aelodau’r tîm creadigol sy’n cynhyrchu’r sioe (gallwch ddarllen yr hanes i gyd ar dudalen 50). Roedd talent ac ymroddiad pawb y bues i’n siarad â nhw’n rhyfeddol, a chefais fy atgoffa y dylai ein cymeradwyaeth ar ddiwedd perfformiad fod nid yn unig i’r sêr sydd ar y llwyfan o’n blaenau ond hefyd i’r bobl na fydd y rhan fwyaf ohonom byth yn eu gweld, ond na fyddai’r sioe yn gallu mynd rhagddi hebddynt.

EMMA DANCE Follow us on Twitter @CardiffLifeMag Instagram @cardifflifemag

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natuzzieditions.co.uk

Issue 191/October 2018

Cover Clarke and Clarke’s Lavico fabric in Kingfisher from the Lusso 2 collection. Available from Curtain Raisers in Cardiff

featureS

18 interiors Revamp your home this autumn

the arts

41 INTRO It’s ballet, but not as you know it... 44 WHAT’S ON Your month of entertainment, sorted 50 War and Peace We go behind the scenes of the

Welsh National Opera’s production of the epic opera

60 State of the Arts What’s going on at The

Other Room this autumn

shopping

64 Editor’s Choice Wood – it’s the natural

selection

68 FASHION Checks make it hip to be square

opinion

73 A man’s world Robin Sowden-Taylor talks the

importance of planning ahead

food & DRINK

76 Restaurant All the love for all the veg at DIRT 78 DAYS OUT Eat and drink your way around Cardiff

Business

95 business insider Who’s moving, shaking,

inventing and innovating this issue

106 Wealth management Expert advice on how

to take care of your cash

Property

114 showcase A gorgeous Glamorgan grain mill

Regulars

8 sPOTLIGHT Newsy nuggets 88 sNAPPED Adventures in partygoing around the city 122 CARDIFF lives Joanna Chinnock shares her secrets

Editor Emma Dance emma.dance@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Contributors Charlie Rose, Charlie Metcalfe, Dan Jones, Robin Sowden-Taylor Advertising manager Mark George mark. george@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Kate Butterfield kate.butterfield@mediaclash.co.uk Advertising executive Louis Grey louis.grey@mediaclash. co.uk Production/Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@ mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash. We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag). Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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advertising feature

The dragon’s den...

Everybody’s talking about…

King of the castles Visitors to Caerphilly Castle will now have the chance to, quite literally, get lost in history. Gilbert’s Maze is one of two new attractions at the historic site near Cardiff and invites daring knights to conquer the Castle’s unique defensive system by navigating hidden passageways and challenging obstacles – all without getting caught by its 13th century owner, Gilbert de Clare. Meanwhile, the mystical Dragons’ Lair will be a permanent home for the

Cadw Dragon family, promising to delight visitors with a full audio-visual display, with smoke, snores and a magical reading of the Dragons’ epic tale available at the touch of a button. The new attractions – which were meticulously designed, built and installed over a period of eight months – are accompanied by a complete re-brand of the 750-year-old site and an array of exciting historic events and onsite activities for visitors to enjoy, from digital dragon spotting

with the Little Dragons app to the Castle’s popular treasure trail, Castle Quest. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord Elis-Thomas, says, “The unveiling of Gilberts’ Maze and the Dragons’ Lair at Caerphilly Castle marks a brilliant new chapter in our efforts to bring new experiences and interpretation to Wales’s historic monuments – and where better to start than at Wales’s biggest castle, Caerphilly?” For more: www.cadw.gov.uk

Environment

Fill it up

St David’s Cardiff has launched a campaign to reduce single-use plastic in the city. Refill Me allows shoppers to easily identify where they can refill water bottles for free in restaurants and cafés in and around the shopping centre. Visitors can pop into any of the shops or restaurants who are displaying the Refill Me sticker in a window, and fill up their bottle with cold tap water, reducing single-use plastic consumption. In the UK, 7.7 billion plastic bottles of water are purchased each year, and only 43 per cent are recycled, with the rest heading to landfill, incineration and our oceans and waterways. Steven Madeley, general manager for St David’s Cardiff says, “Refill Me is a brilliant way of reducing the amount of waste we produce from single-use plastics. We’re really excited to be able to offer our guests a more sustainable shopping experience when they visit us.” Among the St David’s restaurants and cafés participating in the scheme are: BBs, Caffe Nero, Costa, Krispy Kreme, Crepe Affaire, Starbucks, Auntie Annes, Muffin break, Pret a Manger and Insomnia (Debenhams). Big Moose Coffee Co on Frederick Street also offers to refill water bottles for free and Cardiff Youth Hostel has joined the national Refill scheme. For more: www.refill.org.uk Hit the bottle. (Of water, that is)

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

spotlight Sport

Pedal power

Young cyclists had the chance to meet their heroes when Team Sky’s cycling team visited Better Cardiff ’s Maindy Centre ahead of the Tour of Britain. One hundred and seventy five children and young people from cycling teams across Wales were invited for a question and answer session and autograph signings with the team, which included Tour de France winners Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome. The young cyclists cycled alongside their sporting heroes on the Better Cardiff cycling track, Cardiff ’s only dedicated arena for cycling. For Geraint Thomas, it was an opportunity to meet current members of his former club the Maindy Flyers, who regularly train at the Better Cardiff cycling facility. He says, “I was looking forward to going back to Maindy. The support I’ve received from everyone there, not just since the Tour de France win but throughout my career, has been amazing. It was nice to go back there with the Team as part of the countdown to the start of the Tour of Britain in Wales.” Twelve-year-old Jess Hoskins, member of the Cardiff Jif, says, “It was great to meet the stars of Team Sky in person and chat about how we are doing in our own training. They had time for everyone and we all got autographs which was great. The event inspired us to try harder.” For more: www.better.org.uk Smile for the selfie

Arts

Winner, winner

Waste not, want not

Two Cardiff Met graduates are celebrating after being recognised for their creative art pieces and being presented with prestigious awards. Jason Gregory, from the current Cardiff Art of School and Design (CSAD) Graduate Incubation Unit, was the joint winner of the BEEP Printing prize, which is a contemporary painting prize that brings in artists from all over the world and supports imaginative and vibrant practice in contemporary painting. The second Cardiff Met graduate to win an award was Gweni Llwyd who won the Eisteddfod’s Young Artist Scholarship. Gweni, who graduated in Fine Arts from Cardiff Met and is a current CSAD Artist Benevolent Fund Step Change Fellow, was awarded the scholarship for her moving image work that explored ideas around the everyday, the sensory and the absurd. For more: www.cardiffmet.ac.uk Winner Gweni Llwyd

Charity

Help the homeless

If you’ve got hoards of unused soaps, shampoos and shower gels cluttering up your bathroom cabinets then now is the chance to clear them out for a good cause. On 20 October Orchard Media and Events Group will be setting up a donation station on the lower level of St David’s Shopping Centre to collect unused toiletries which will then be passed on to the Huggard charity to be distributed among homeless people in the city. Richard Edwards, chief executive of Huggard says,“We’re really grateful that Orchard are helping raise awareness of our work in and around the city centre. It’s important that people know that it’s not only volunteer time and cash donations that help people – it’s also the little things that we all take for granted – toiletries being a key one. Even if it’s one bar of soap, it makes a difference to someone.” For more: www.huggard.org.uk

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interiors

Home help It might have been one of the sunniest summers on record, but now autumn’s here it’s time to drag yourself in from the garden and turn your attention back inside your home

By Emma Dance

f you fancy giving your home a bit of a facelift but you’re not sure where to start then fear not, help is at hand. We’ve asked a bunch of Cardiff interiors experts to share their insights on what’s going to be hot in the cooler months ahead.

Blues and greens in the new Clarke and Clarke Lusso 2 collection available from Curtain Raisers

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“Add luxurious textured velvets for style and luxury”

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

What materials are proving popular in kitchens this season? Copper is the metal of the moment for A/W 2018 and many people are turning to it to add a touch of sophistication and earthy glamour to their kitchens. Its warm metallic hue makes copper a surprisingly versatile option. It pairs well with dark colours, adds contrast to light colours and even matches perfectly with natural wood and shaker style units. Not only does copper give a luxurious finish to surfaces, it also has natural antimicrobial properties which makes it a practical as well as beautiful choice for your kitchen. Lana Boocock, marketing and communications manager at The Kitchen Bureau

A copper kitchen from The Kitchen Bureau

What advice would you give to someone who is looking for a new kitchen? Think about your lifestyle, your processes and your priorities. The importance of movement, ergonomics and practicality is the starting point. Colours and finishes are the elements that will create the feel, but the components and their placement create the functionality. A picture will help us develop the character you want and our conversation will help build a layout that simplifies all kitchen related tasks such as cooking, cleaning and socialising. Be honest, state your expectations and consider your budget. Designers take great pride in reaching and surpassing your specifications within budget. It is our aim to give you a space that is future proofed, timeless and yours alone. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to let the designer have free rein â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they know more about you and your lifestyle than you think! Dan Hughes, owner at Classic and Modern Kitchens

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interiors

Integrated lighting can make a kitchen shine!

What are the most important things I should consider when choosing a new kitchen? Kitchens aren’t just kitchens anymore – many people are creating dynamic open-plan spaces for cooking, living, and dining, and this is where lighting can really improve both the overall look, functionality and ambiance of the room. Under cabinet lighting can help with task areas, while integrated lighting under worktops can create a unique eye-catching feature. Lighting above cabinets can help give a more diffused and relaxed lighting option, whilst lighting in the base plinths can be a great way to reflect lighting off the floor and elevate the kitchen. At Kutchenhaus, we advise customers to consider at least three areas of lighting; Your main ceiling lighting, working-zone and ambient. All our cabinets are made in our factories in Germany, which means that our integrated lighting is all preinstalled and fits seamlessly within the cabinet. Shahab Bari, design consultant at Kutchenhaus What are the advantages of having a kitchen made bespoke? When you choose to have your kitchen furniture manufactured bespoke, it provides many more advantages than just being able to have the odd cabinet at a random size. Your new kitchen should reflect both your style and your surroundings and bespoke gives you the flexibility to create truly individual furniture specific to you. The initial design process is where it all begins. You decide the look and functionality of your kitchen. You can explore the many possibilities available to create your bespoke furniture and you take charge of the process driving it in whichever direction suits your taste and environment. Another advantage of bespoke is the many options that are available with a wide range of raw materials at your disposal – solid timber, hand veneered, bespoke solid surface, it’s your choice. Going for the bespoke option isn’t for everyone as it possibly requires more effort on your part, but ultimately you will get exactly the kitchen you want, both aesthetically and practically, without having to compromise. Peter Adamec, partner at Adam Elliot

“Kitchens aren’t just kitchens any more”

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

What colours are currently big in kitchen design? Grey has been top of the bestseller list for some time but it’s all changed with the arrival of the dark blue kitchen, a real show stealer, especially when paired with a crisp white worktop for contrast. Deep, warm shades of indigo and midnight are perfect for adding drama to a scheme, whilst are still practical enough to withstand sticky little fingers and the odd splash of vino. Quartz worktops that mimic the beauty of Italian marble, but without the maintenance, are very much in vogue and complement this crisper, cleaner style of handpainted Shaker kitchen. So when interior trends change in the future and the colour wheel turns again, a quick coat of paint will update your kitchen, so it will always be in fashion. Ceri Hill, designer at Chalkhouse Interiors

DESIRE

def: DESIRE: a strong feeling of wanting to have something; to set one's heart on; to crave; to aspire to; to feel passion for..."

Beautiful handmade kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and more... 3 Bessemer Close Workshops, Cardiff CF11 8DL telephone: 029 2023 3308 | www.chalkhouseinteriors.co.uk

interiors ALL IN THE DETAILS

What fabrics and colours are you predicting will be popular for curtains and walls this season? The story of most schemes is grey leading the way this season. Go for a sophisticated scheme by adding distressed textures, swirling marble and metallic highlights or luxurious textured velvets for style and luxury. Or why not add a bit of colour? We are seeing a lot more colour being introduced with dark blue and copper tones and also green being introduced this autumn. Pattern has also been introduced in a big way for a while with floral prints and embroidery, with blues coppers and greens being leading colours. Sheers are also popular with a relaxed feel perfect for bi-fold doors or French doors creates a great window solution. Whatever your style you can be sure there is something to make your home a bit special. Janet Bezant, owner at Curtain Raisers What is a key colour trend for this season? We are seeing a lot of warm tones this season – a return to the colours of the earth, to the warmth of nature that envelops and inebriates with its fragrances. Look for colours inspired by nature, like burnt orange, sage green, salmon, warm shades of wood and terracotta. Liz Mynett, store manager at Natuzzi Cardiff Gate I don’t have a chimney, but I’d love to install a above: Cosy nights in; below: Navy is a key colour this season stove. Is that possible? Certainly – we can install a twin wall chimney through the inside or up and take up little space in the room, they are very efficient and comply the outside of your property. It has a stainless steel external finish but a with current/future regulations. If the pipe is visible in the room we powder coated or painted appearance is also possible. In most cases the usually paint it to match your chosen stove colour, but again the choice stove can sit in the middle, corner or even offset from centre of a room is yours. If you prefer a more a traditional look we can even build a the choice is yours! In a modern timber framed property a freestanding fireplace or work in conjunction with you/your builder to advise on the cylindrical style stove such as Contura or Hwam create a great feature most effective course of action.” Simon Higgins, sales manager at Topstak What are the three biggest interiors trends for autumn/winter 2018? The new season is the perfect opportunity to refresh your home and one trend that continues to flourish for the autumn season is the industrial look. Blending contemporary styling and modern functional materials such as metal, glass and reclaimed wood will create a room full of character, ideal for modern interiors. Bold and bright colours are transcending the seasons and work well in any room either as an accent colour or as a main feature. With a wide range of shades available, if you’re looking to transform your space consider mixing bold colours with furniture and decoration. Add texture into your interior by introducing velvet. A tactile and luxurious addition whether you’re incorporating a sofa or simply enhancing your space with accessories such as cushions and throws. Dawn Llewellyn-Jones, Leekes Interior design manager

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I have a much-loved sofa that’s starting to look a bit tired. What can I do to give it a new lease of life? Providing the internal structure of the sofa is sound, it can be given a new lease of life by making some cosmetic changes depending on its design. Any show wood can be revitalised by re-polishing to restore its natural lustre or stripped and stained to your chosen colour. Castors can be replaced to update the overall style while new seat cushion inserts instantly refresh any sofa and will enhance both itss look and comfort. Reupholstering the sofa using a fabric that reflects your style and personality is a must. The possibilities are endless. Plain or patterned, contrasting panels and decorative details make for a bespoke look. Scatter cushions are a great accessory. If there are structural problems however, these can be rectified with new webbings, springs and stuffings using traditional or modern techniques and materials. Susie Cobbledick, upholsterer/company owner at Rosehip Upholstery

“Deep warm shades of indigo and midnight are perfect for adding drama to a scheme” 24 I cardiff LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

This dark blue Chalkhouse kitchen is a real show stealer

interiors

Natuzzi’s “Phantom” table combines natural, classic wood and contemporary design

“What colour palettes and materials are you predicting will be big this autumn/winter?” Navy is without doubt the hottest colour this season but unexpected shades are changing how people consider their looks for autumn and winter. Accessorise rich navy with subtle soft pink and again, continuing from the spring, are the bold floral patterns to bring colour to your home this autumn. The combination of different materials from modern glass mixed with natural-looking furniture in dining bring warmth yet clarity to the new season. There remains a focus on natural wood timbers showing the beauty of the grain which can be teamed with soft grey chairs and neutral rugs and cushions. Rhian Francis, managing director of The Place for Homes

BATHING BEAUTIES

What trends are popular in bathroom design at the moment? We are huge fans of simple, architectural design. There is a trend for such design at the moment, influenced by high end architects and industry leaders in construction. The less is more look is very strong at present, and we believe that there is beauty in simplicity. By adding a

touch of colour to a stripped back design, whether that is in the lighting, a tinted glass shower screen or accessories, you can create something that will stand the test of time, but that also has a personal feel to it. The best way to achieve this look is to choose a base which is a neutral, and a colour which you love. Keep the colour to one element within the bathroom so not to feel gimmicky. Justine Bullock, designer and co-owner at The Tap End

WINDOWS TO THE SOUL

I’ve got a period property, but I’d like new windows. What are my options? Before starting any project we would always recommend checking with your local council to determine whether your property is located in a conservation area. If this is the case, special permission may be required to make even minor alterations. There are several options available – solid timber, engineered timber, uPVC and aluminium. There are some excellent products on the market that have been manufactured to simulate solid timber, with an extensive range of colours available. John Spragg, owner of Cardiff Windows and Doors

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interiors

“We believe that there is beauty in simplicity”

I’m considering installing some blinds. What would you recommend? Over the past decade the blind and curtain industry has experienced dramatic change with new technologies being introduced in exciting and innovative ways. Here at Meridian, we are most enthused by the Vision Blind. These versatile blinds offer greater privacy as well as improved light control through the advanced double layered fabric which operates similar to a standard roller blind. Ryan Davies, director of sales and marketing at Meridian

BRIGHT LIGHTS

Clean yourself among clean lines

What lighting styles are popular at the moment? Let’s shed some light on the ever-evolving illumination industry, a few years ago there was a real demand for the more traditional type of fitting. Brass, chrome and crystal pendants were incredibly popular. Recently however, there’s been a dramatic shift toward the industrial and grungy type of lighting fixture. Matte distressed and darker finishes are on the rise, with many modern lighting fittings bringing attention to the vintage style lamp. This style of lighting design is being perpetuated by modern coffee shops and craft beer outlets. This stripped back, raw style makes the lighting fixtures a real central point for many design projects. In contrast, various modern design schemes are also making use of invisible and avantgarde lighting styles; utilising LED mood lighting to create an ambience. With halogen lamps rapidly becoming obsolete this bluetooth phase of customisable lighting, is certainly here to stay. Erica Fleming, EMA Lighting showroom manager

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interiors

INTERIORS DIRECTORY

Inspired to make a change? Here’s your little black book of top local experts and suppliers KITCHENS

Adam Elliot, Unit 51, Vale Business Park, Cowbridge; www.adamelliot.co.uk

Industrial-style lighting is on the up

Classic and Modern Kitchens, 8 Greenway, Bedwas, Caerphilly; www. classicandmodernkitchens. co.uk The Kitchen Bureau, 4 Stadium Close; www. thekitchenbureau.co.uk Kutchenhaus, 10d Queens Arcade; www.kutchenhaus.co.uk

SMC Kitchens, 5B, Hepworth Business Park, Coedcae Ln, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Pontyclun; www.smckitchens.co.uk

How can I use lighting as part of my design scheme? Lighting can be used as a focal point or as an enhancer to the setting. The most perfect and well-balanced lighting design schemes will include a mixture of the both. Strong architectural features and certain furniture is best emphasised by simple customisable illumination and inconspicuous fittings. Multicoloured LED bluetooth technology, impowers designers to tailor and update projects with the click of a button. Although every design is dependent on the space or area, a seamless design will often incorporate one or two, striking fittings or lamps. By utilising the lighting as a central part of the furnishing, it seizes attention immediately. Just make sure your lighting design is consistent and in tune with the space. No matter the size of the project, when perfectly implemented, the mixture of subtle mood lighting and stand out lighting pieces will create a faultless lighting design scheme and an atmosphere worth talking about. Jacob Crofts, marketing supervisor at EMA lighting

COMPLETELY FLOORED

What flooring materials do you think will be popular this season? Although it’s associated mainly with wine stoppers and pinboards, cork is a natural material also known for its elasticity, buoyancy and near impermeability and is in keeping with the trend for interiors that have been inspired by nature. Sean MacIntyre, managing director at Floored Genius.

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FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES

Strictly Sash Windows; www.strictlysashwindows. com

FLOORING Floorcraft, 25 Manor Drive; www. floorcraftcardiff.co.uk Floored Genius, The Business Centre-Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, Barry; www.flooredgenius. com

LIGHTING EMA Lighting, Ocean Way; www.emalighting.co.uk

BATHROOMS The Tap End, 57 Llantrisant Rd, Pontyclun; www. thetapend.design

SOFT FURNISHINGS

Chalkhouse Interiors, 3 Bessemer Close; www. chalkhouseinteriors.co.uk

Curtain Raisers, 2 Kelston Road; www.curtain-raisers.co.uk

Leekes, Llantrisant Department Store, Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun; www.leekes.co.uk

Meridian Blinds, Unit 3B Crossways Retail Park Caerphilly; www. meridianblindsandcurtains. com

Natuzzi, Natuzzi Cardiff Bay, Havannah Street and Natuzzi Cardiff Gate, Cardiff Gate Retail Park; www.natuzzi.co.uk

Rosehip Upholstery; www.rosehip-upholstery. com

The Place for Homes, Unit 1, Sutton Rd, Llandow, Cowbridge; www. theplaceforhomesltd. co.uk

Charles James Developments, 13 Wellfield Road; www. charlesjamesdevelopments. co.uk

The Pumping Station, Penarth Road; www. thepumpingstation-cardiff. co.uk

HEATING & STOVES

WINDOWS & DOORS

Topstak, Unit 42, Vale Business Park, Cowbridge; www.topstak.co.uk

Cardiff Windows and Doors, 8 Field Way; www. cardiffwindows.com

DEVELOPMENT & INTERIORS

Limegreen, Gripoly Mills Retail Park, Sloper Road; www.limegreenuk.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Light of your life EMA LIGHTING is a family business, run by the Evans Family. For 15 years we have sourced the finest lighting options and supplied the best quality designs to South Wales and the surrounding areas. So long summer

The days are now growing shorter than your patience was in the six-week holidays. The nights darker than your coffee in the morning. The boiler is on standby for your next bubble bath. The lights are warm, dimmed, customisable and energy efficient. Autumn can be dark, gloomy and an expensive season! It’s the little things that brighten up the day. We all appreciate the precision that goes into adjusting the thermostat, but what about fine-tuning the warmth of your illuminations? What about the perfect mood lighting? What about simply turning on your favourite lamp to read a book? We feel lighting is underrated. We’re going to change that.

Who are we?

With more than a decade of experience and industry knowledge EMA Lighting’s service is impossible to match. Our keen eye, professional team and sourcing capabilities are second to none. We pride ourselves on sourcing unique lighting options from the most highly regarded manufacturers in the UK and the world. We are honoured to be exclusive Brand Partners with the illustrious David Hunt – a prestigious manufacturer based in the heart of the Cotswold’s with more than 20 years of experience. Their award-winning craftmanship goes hand in hand with our astounding service. EMA Lighting is also a part of the LH Evans group; a family run electrical wholesale distributor with more than 50 years of trade.

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Under our enormous umbrella we offer a variety of services, including professional lighting design options, energy saving / LED advice and a lot more. Basically, we know or our onions and no, that’s not a bulb pun.

We don’t get old, just wiser

This year marks our 15th year of trade on Ocean Way, so we feel this calls for a transformation and a little celebration. We will be reshaping our showroom and highlighting some of our brand-new displays, exhibiting some of our latest LED technology, as well showing off some of our most exclusive ranges. We will be celebrating in style; this doesn’t mean you need to dress to impress but expect some complimentary food and beverages. As birthdays are a mark of generosity; we want to say thank you for a decade and half of support, by offering incredible discounts on a variety of our lighting options. Parking is also not an issue, as we have extensive free car parking available. So please take this as a personal invite to join us on Saturday, 6 of October at EMA Lighting on Ocean Way to celebrate with us. Allow us the opportunity to do what we do best. Consider collectively creating the lighting design scheme you’ve always desired, indulge in a stunning design and get your home perfect

“WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON SOURCING UNIQUE LIGHTING OPTIONS” just in time for Christmas. Please let us assist you in your latest lighting venture, no matter what the project maybe, we can ensure that you have the perfect lighting to compliment it. As the weather gets colder and the mornings darker, brighten up your day, with EMA Lighting. ■

EMA Lighting, Ocean Way, CF24 5HH 02920 336 665 | www.emalighting.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

A Diﬀerent Window and Door Company Nicky and John Spragg of CARDIFF WINDOWS AND DOORS, tell you a little bit about themselves and their business.

he couple first met in 1989 and married in 1999 so next year is their 20th wedding anniversary! John was in the double glazing industry for more than 30 years, manufacturing, installing and surveying, whilst Nicky was in the financial services and utilities industry working in customer services and HR for most of her career. Work situations changed for both of them and in 2011 Cardiff Windows and Doors Ltd was created. They wanted to put their own spin on double glazing, keeping the things they liked and changing the things they didn’t. They started the business at home but in 2015 acquired their business premises in Heath in Cardiff. After extensive renovation and investment by them, they finally opened their office and showroom. They wanted any potential customers to be able to view their range of products before placing an order. They felt that it was important for customers to be able to see first hand the quality of the products before making any outlay. Both of them were extremely passionate about offering their customers something a bit different to their competitors. They don’t employ any sales people, just offering their customers an advisory service and consultation. This is the reason they have

become so successful in the last seven years They have even written their business values to reflect this; Open and Honest, Simplicity, Quality Comes First and finally Our Price is Our Price. At their showroom they have bi-folding doors, sliding doors, composite doors, french doors, casement windows and box sash in a number of different materials including aluminum, uPVC and timber. They offer a relaxed service at your pace. It’s so important that a customer gets what they truly want and if that means waiting a bit longer, they’ll still be there.

CASE STUDY

BOX OUT Deles ut volut ut exero exceaquis quaturem eat atur, volori ulpa core, aut eariaesto elibustem sed et earion ea vendipsus nos nem ea dus soluptas quamust isimusdamus, tecus aut At unt. Ebis moluptatur? Qui sitatin veliam, tem sunt, te enda sum core net etur sunt utem di cum a parum, volor repernam rerum enistion nostrum, arum aborrorecest ommos re poreictem lab inulpa sint reium que lam sam vid es endae. Imus.Acestibust aut alit harum sumquis ut liquam, que minum fugia vellorum.

Ann gave us a call as she wanted to talk about a potential project, knocking down a kitchen wall and opening up the space in a more social way for her friends and family. After setting up an appointment, we sat with an in her home for an hour or so. We usually only stay 30 minutes unless the consultation is to be longer at the customer’s request. We spoke with our builder and made Ann feel at ease with the project. We talked her through every step of the way. We could order and deliver the bi-folds within three working days so Ann was very pleased not to be left with a gaping hole at the side of her house for several weeks. Working closely with the builder we had the doors on standby. The next thing the doors were in. Ann was so pleased she also ordered box sash windows, casement windows and a new front door!

“If you are thinking of having your windows or doors replaced then I would highly recommend Nicky and John at Cardiff Windows and Doors. The service they provide is second to none, their attention to detail impressive and all at a reasonable cost. The boys doing the installation are some of the most polite and courteous I have encountered and their workmanship is faultless. They arrived promptly and got on with the job and always made sure they cleaned up after themselves. We are absolutely thrilled with our windows and doors - thank you!” Ann Jones Cardiff. ■

Cardiff Windows and Doors, Unit 8, Fieldway, Heath, Cardiff, CF14 4HY Tel: 02920 692690 Email: info@cardiffwindows.com www.cardiffwindows.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 33

Our best selling true handless kitchen

Kitchen rules High quality, hi-tech and highly customisable, KUTCHENHAUS kitchens are something to covet!

utchenhaus is the UK’s fastest growing German kitchen company, and a retail arm of Nobilia, the world’s largest kitchen manufacturer which produces more than 3,000 kitchens a day. To this day it is still family owned with no shareholders. In Europe, German branded kitchens have been dominating the market for decades, outselling other contenders, even expanding their reach in to Asia and the US, and more recently making a serious impression here in the UK. But what makes a German kitchen so popular? A quick internet search will tell you why; German kitchens have a strong history within manufacture and engineering, dating back to the late 1800s. Over time, we have developed

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

a solid reputation for continuing to build wellmade and well-designed kitchens, and more importantly, kitchens that last.

prices are typically 30 – 40 per cent less than any other German kitchen specialist.

Our Factory Our kitchens are assembled using state-ofthe-art machinery, only use high quality materials and components – all of which are rigorously tested before use – and must live up to our high standards. Everything is made to order, and components such as worktops are cut to size in the factory. We even use the wastage to heat the factory in winter! We have our own fleet of delivery vehicles direct from Germany to our warehouse and then straight out to you. All of our German efficiency and company structure means there is no middle-man adding costs along the way and our

Our Niko hob gets all the thumbs up from our masterchef. An extractor and hob all in one! See it live in store

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Riva; Warm concrete, comes in three distinctive shades

understand their vision.We believe your kitchen should have the same individuality as you.

OUR COMMITMENT Kutchenhaus manage your entire project locally, from measure, design, installation and aftercare, eliminating the need for big call centres. We also work closely with a wide variety of branded suppliers to bring you luxuries at the best prices within the UK. Our supply partners include Bosch, Miele, Neff, AEG and CDA to name but a few.

OUR PRODUCT All our kitchens arrive fully assembled, with handles drilled and lighting seamlessly wired within the unit, eliminating the need for extra wire or motor casings on show. Worktops are cut to size and even hobs and sinks can be pre-cut. Our automated units can open with the wave of a hand or lighting zones controlled by an app. We can pretty much create anything you want. Benefits of such customisation means that we create a truly unique kitchen with the end user in mind whether tall, short or disabled.

THE TEAM From designers to part time staff, the whole team have a design background which means our focus is to create beautiful German Kitchens. Our multi award-winning team has more than 35 combined years of design and fitting experience, we are always on hand to advise you how to make the best of your space and budget. Our aim is to provide affordable luxury, regardless of project size. We appreciate that buying a kitchen is a big decision, which is why we like to really take the time to get to know our customers and

“WE BELIEVE YOUR KITCHEN SHOULD HAVE THE SAME INDIVIDUALITY AS YOU” COME SEE US We are Wales’ first kutchenhaus showroom located in the heart of Cardiff city centre. If you’re looking for ideas for your new kitchen, our showroom in Queen’s Arcade is packed with clever design solutions and a wide variety of sample options, so you are sure to find something to suit your project. If you want an ultra-modern, sleek gloss handless design with hidden lighting solutions and top of the range appliances, we can create that in store! But of course, we can create more traditional shaker-style kitchens with clever interior space organisers too. Nothing is off limits here, we just want to create brilliant designs that reflect our customer’s needs and budgets. You can view our worktop options from premium laminates, exclusive quartz, granite, Corian and Neolith ranges. We can demo our state of the art gadgets - be sure to ask us about our self-opening servodrive cabinets, a MUST for

From left, meet our des ign team, Shahab Bari, Catrin Ric hards, Holly MacInnes

those tech geeks amongst us! We’re also very fond of our live cooking station to show you how to get the best out of our appliances, our fan favourite is the Tesla inspired hob which combines cooking & extraction in one smart appliance. Keep your eye on our social media for event dates but feel free to ask us for a demo. ■

Kutchenhaus Cardiff Unit 10d, Queens Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 2BY. 02920 235562 showroom@cardiff.kutchenhaus.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 35

At Rosehip Upholstery we create bespoke, hand-crafted items for your home. With an eye for period styles and aesthetics, we carefully combine the traditional with the contemporary. All our pieces are restored using highly skilled, traditional upholstery techniques and materials. The fabrics we use are carefully selected for each piece of furniture, to ensure a truly unique piece to add to your collection. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a treasured family heirloom, antique fair find, charity shop bargain or your contemporary sofa, we can restore, renew and re-imagine.

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THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F C A R D I F F ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

TWINKLE TOES They’re fun, fierce but decidedly not female. For more than 40 years, the all-male comedy ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (affectionately known as “The Trocks”) have been delighting audiences of all ages at sell-out performances featuring their fabulous sense of fun and their flawless dance. Established in New York, the Trocks are now loved worldwide for their sassy spoofs and hilarious homages to classical ballet, where 18 dancers each transform into two personas, both male and female. Every performance frivolously froths with tutus and testosterone, blush-pink ballet pumps, fierce false eyelashes and prima ballerina attitude however, what makes this company extraordinarily special, is their immaculate technique, daring physicality, surpassed only by their impeccable comic timing. 16 & 17 October, Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Let's get digital

PIXAFUSION DIGITAL is a full service digital marketing agency based in Cardiff

o your company needs some digital marketing. Sure, you could go to one company to build your website, another for the SEO (the magic that gets you to the top of a Google search), another to write the content, and so on and so on. Or, you could just go to PIXAFUSION, a full service digital marketing agency in Cardiff that can do it all for you. PIXAFUSION was founded by Darshan Patel in his small bedroom back in 2010. Since then, it’s grown into an award-winning business which has built more than 3,500 websites and which

works with everyone from small start-ups to FTSE 100 companies turning over hundreds of millions of pounds a year. One of the things Darshan believes really sets PIXAFUSION apart from other digital marketing agencies is its ability to cover the full spectrum of requirements in-house. “We really are an A-Z full service, digital marketing agency,” he says. “We do everything from marketing and branding, to consultancy, to printing business cards and designing logos, to getting you to the top of Google and even press, PR events and telesales campaigns.” Basically, everything you need to get the word out there about your company. If you think that you’ll need to shell out a load of cash to employ PIXAFUSION then think again. “We work differently from many other companies,” says Darshan. “By streamlining our processes we are able to deliver costeffective, but still high level marketing solutions. Our aim is always to deliver a good return on investment, whatever size your budget. “Of course there are other companies that do what we do, but it’s how we do it that sets us apart,” continues Darshan. “We have an extensive consulting period where we will sit with clients, free of charge, to establishing exactly what is required.

“WE REALLY ARE AN A-Z FULL SERVICE, DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY” Often what people think they need, isn’t what they actually need and we don’t want to sell people anything more than is necessary to help them achieve their goals. We will guide every single client through the whole process, and since our project managers are only ever working with a maximum of five clients at any one time we are able to give everyone the attention that they deserve.” ■

PIXAFUSION Digital, Lakeview Business Park, Lamby Way, Cardiff CF3 2EP; 02920 091 321; www.pixafusion.digital

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 43

What’s on

21 September - 21 October

Kylie is the golden girl

PLAYS/SHOWS 21, 28 & 30 September

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA: LA TRAVIATA This classic production with sumptuous mid 19th century costumes features some of Verdi’s most evocative music. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

22 & 29 September WELSH NATIONAL OPERA: WAR & PEACE Based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel, the narrative of War and Peace follows the tribulations of Russian society as Napoleon edges closer to the country’s borders. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

25 – 27 September LET’S TALK ABOUT DEATH, BABY What will be left of us when we are gone? In this follow up solo show to What Midlife Crisis?, Dick Johns hovers busily above his own funeral like a bald angry bird that has somehow learned to talk. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

29 September one man stranger things ‘One Man’ legend Charles Ross’s hilarious brand new show parodies both seasons of the 80s-based Netflix horror/sci-fi phenomenon. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

3 & 4 October RUBY WAX, THE MONK AND THE NEUROSCIENTIST: HOW

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

TO BE HUMAN Ruby Wax invites you to use more of your mind for compassion, instead of just chasing what’s ‘better’, like a hamster on a wheel. With a little help from monk Gelong Thubten, who explains how the mind works, and neuroscientist Ash Ranpura, who explains where everything that makes us ‘us’ can be found in the brain.. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

3 – 13 October 2023 Cardiff, 2023 – a law passed in Westminster in 2005 has just come into force. Children told they were born from donated eggs or sperm, upon turning 18, are now entitled to know the identity of their donor parent. Chapter; www.chapter.org

5 & 7 October Welsh National Opera: La cenerentola Rossini’s delightful retelling of Cinderella but with a few twists along the way. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

5 October Not about heroes Stephen MacDonald’s Fringe First winning play about the unique friendship between celebrated World War I poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

9 – 13 October The comedy about a bank robbery A priceless diamond has been

what’s on entrusted to the city bank, an institution so corrupt that even the security guards are on the take. Can it be safely stored or will it all go horribly wrong? New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

comedy show packed with stand-up, song, sketch, and inevitably a sideways swipe at society. Glee Club; www.glee.co.uk

3 October

11 – 20 October

above:

Fel Anifail Daniel O’Donnell below: Nick Holly is one of the artists exhibiting at the Albany Gallery left:

Fel anifail Defi and Mair have spent their whole lives living at the same farm house, on the same mountain. As the prospect of leaving their home becomes inevitable, thoughts turn to stories of years gone by. Of their friends who have gone before them, their children who are no longer around and the secrets they have kept. Those secrets conceal the ghosts of the past. Who was to blame? What exactly happened on that fateful day? All will become clear when their time comes to leave this world. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

17 – 20 October Stick Man Touching, funny and utterly original, this award-winning production features a trio of top actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves. New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

20 October joanna lumley: It’s all about me Joanna will take audiences through her hilarious and interesting adventures from her incredible career spanning more than four decades, recounting some never heard before stories.Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

COMEDY 22 September

MARCUS BRIGSTOCKE: DEVIL MAY CARE A new stand up show from multi-award winning comedian Marcus Brigstocke. Snowflake, Nazi, Remoaner, Trot, Libtard, Brextremist, Feminazi, Piers Morgan... As we divide each other up into more and more unpleasant categories of evil, it is time to establish, once and for all, what is good and what is bad. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

30 September Rachel parris: It’s fun to pretenD Viral sensation Rachel Parris, star of BBC’s The Mash Report, presents a

Ross Noble Ross Noble returns to dance around the stage spinning out all the nonsense in his head into a hilarious stand up show. At some point, he may wander into a shadowy part of the stage and look a bit shadowy. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

5 October Chris Ramsey A new stand up show from critically acclaimed and award winning stand-up comedian, host of his own TV entertainment and stand-up show on Comedy Central, Celebrity Juice regular and the only person to ever put Katie Hopkins in her place; Chris Ramsey brings his brand new 2018 live tour to Sherman Theatre. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

8 – 14 October rob brydon: I am standing up A welcome return to the Centre for one of Wales’ greatest comedy exports, on his first stand-up tour since 2009. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org

14 October Jimeoin An evening of world class stand-up as the Irishman from Australia brings his brilliantly observed, ever-evolving and hilarious comedy to the Glee. Glee Club; www.glee.co.uk

Music

24 September kylie: golden tour Kylie, who always raises the bar with her live performances, promises a brand new extravaganza for this production which will be centred around her new album Golden. Motorpoint Arena; motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

25 September Blowzabella Blowzabella is a genuinely unique band that makes an inimitable, driving, drone-based sound played with a fabulous sense of melody, rhythmic expertise and sheer feeling. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

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

What’s on 8 October

middle:

Daniel O’Donnell See one of the best-loved artists of our time in concert. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

top: Nicola Benedetti Funny man Rob Brydon; below: Only Men Aloud

14 October Nicola Benedetti Nicola Benedetti joins the Royal Welsh College Chamber Orchestra in one of the greatest of all violin concertos. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

14 October Step Back 90s Concert Some of the biggest hits of the 90s will be brought to life at a revival concerts. Motorpoint Arena; motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

ART

Until 13 October Gerald green, lou moore, gareth thomas An exciting collection of new work by three prestigious British artists.The Albany Gallery; www.albanygallery.com

28 September – 28 October Giant paper sculptures Jaw dropping creations from the RWCMD’s theatre designers in this annual exhibition of giant paper sculptures made from all things used! Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

SPORt

Friday 21 September CARDIFF Blues VS MUNSTER RUGBY Guinness Pro 14, KO 7.35pm Cardiff Arms Park; www.cardiffblues.com

Saturday 22 September CARDIFF CITY VS MANCHESTER CITY Premier League, KO 3pm Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

Saturday 22 September CARDIFF DEVILS VS COVENTRY BLAZE Challenge Cup, face off 7pm Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffdevils.com

Friday 28 September CARDIFF Blues VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS Guinness Pro 14, KO 7.35pm

Cardiff Arms Park; www.cardiffblues.com

Sunday 30 September CARDIFF CITY VS Burnley Premier League, KO 4pm Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

Sunday 30 September CARDIFF DEVILS VS glasgow clan League, face off 6pm Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 6 October CARDIFF DEVILS VS manchester storm League, face off 7pm Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffdevils.com

Tuesday 16 October CARDIFF DEVILS VS vaxjo lakers Champions League, face off 7.30pm Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 20 October CARDIFF DEVILS VS Sheffield steelers League, face off 7pm Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 21 October CARDIFF City VS Fulham Premier League, KO 3pm Cardiff Arms Park; www.cardiffblues.com

Sunday 21 October CARDIFF Blues VS glasgow warriors Heineken Champions Cup, KO 3.15pm Cardiff Arms Park; www.cardiffblues.com

Sunday 21 October CARDIFF DEVILS VS fife flyers Champions League, face off 4pm Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffdevils.com n

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

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advertising feature

Sobeys Vintage

Wyndham Arcade

Arcade City

Spillers Records

Rules of Play

When did you last explore the city’s seven unique Victorian and Edwardian arcades? They’ve been attracting shoppers for more than a century.

ollowing the announcement of the FOR Cardiff City of Arcades Top 10, as voted for by you, we’ve been falling in love with these historic arcades all over again. Here we share some of our favourite stores, but with over 100 independent shops, eateries and bars, there really is something for everyone in Cardiff, the City of Arcades.

Brunch to Cocktails

Start the day with breakfast at one of the many independent cafés, such as Waterloo Tea, recently voted the Cardiffian’s favourite arcadebased business, in Wyndham Arcade. Alongside a breakfast menu including smashed avocado

“with over 100 independent shops, eateries and bars, there really is something for everyone” 48 I cardiff LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

and Turkish eggs, they also serve a range of more than 60 teas sourced from India, China, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Japan. Lunch is an international affair, with American style subs and hoagies at New York Deli, Italian pasta and pizza at Café Minuet or Viennese pastries and open sandwiches at Wally’s Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus. Vegans will love plant-based options at Crumbs, serving up everything from brunch to their delicious fresh salads. Spend the evening dining at the Marco Pierre White Steak House Bar & Grill, located on Hotel Indigo's top floor, before finishing off with a bespoke cocktail at Gin & Juice in Castle Arcade.

Love Cardiff

Brides-to-be are spoilt for choice, with several bridal stores and jewellers including Perfection Bridal and contemporary jewellers Brooklinde Designer Goldsmiths. Grooms-to-be should head to Hawkes Essentials to find their perfect suit, with The Brogue Trader providing the dancing shoes, whilst the mother-of-the-bride and bridesmaids will enjoy a glass of prosecco at Nine Yards.

Cardiff Style

Housing some of Cardiff’s unique clothing stores, fashion lovers will find everything from the vintage styles of Princes and Paupers and Sobeys Vintage, through to more contemporary designs at boutique designer store Dot Clothing, alongside big names like Pretty Green and Fred Perry.

Unique

Stroll through the many specialist shops, stocking everything from art supplies at The Pen and Paper and board games at Rules of Play through to music store PMT and Cuban cigar shop Havana House. Take in a piece of Cardiff history with a visit to Spillers Records, the oldest record store in the world. n Still need help planning your visit? Go to www.thecityofarcades.com to explore the full list of businesses and hear from some of the owners themselves. Share your stories, photos and memories with FOR Cardiff by using #cityofarcades and see Cardiff from a new angle.

A night at the opera

“It’s impressive and it’s emotional” 50 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

THEATRE

Emma Dance goes behind the scenes at Welsh National opera’s new production of War and Peace

utting on any piece of theatre is a massive task. Quite apart from the weeks of rehearsals, and the performances themselves, even for a small play, there can be months – sometimes even years – of planning to ensure that it’s all a seamless experience for the audience. So, then, a production like Prokofiev’s War and Peace, often described, in keeping with Tolstoy’s literary work with words like “sprawling”, “epic” and “masterpiece” was never going to be an easy task. Even as I sit in the corner of one of the Welsh National Opera’s rehearsals room watching what’s going on, the sheer scale of what’s trying to be achieved is pretty apparent. Even the room is big – big enough to contain the actual set that will be used for the performances, as well as everyone involved in the rehearsals, which is many, many people. I try to count the number of people in the room – as well as the WNO artistic director and director of this production, David Pountney, there’s a chorus of maybe 50, a desk where five or so members of the creative team are sitting making notes on everything that’s going on, a couple more people flitting around the edges, handing out props etc, music director Tomáš Hanus is conducting, occasionally disappearing to be replaced by his assistant, there’s the chorus master and there’s a pianist. So there’s in the region of 60 people in that rehearsal room alone, while elsewhere there’s a whole costume department, lighting, props, scenery, not to mention the teams in charge of marketing and the like, oh, and of course, a full orchestra, all working to bring the production to life. It’s a lot of people, and a lot of work, but then Welsh National Opera could never be accused of having a lack of ambition. And with David’s tenure coming to an end in the spring, it’s perhaps not surprising – especially given his reputation for bold productions – that he chose something like War and Peace as one of his final WNO projects. I spoke to David, and some of the other cast and crew, to find out more about what goes into staging such an epic piece of theatre.

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

THEATRE

“It was a few years ago that I thought we should plan this landmark piece for us to do,” David tells me. “It’s a piece I have known for a long time, I had records of it when I was a student in my late teens.” It’s one thing though, knowing the score and the libretto inside out and, I can’t help thinking, quite another to stage it – even for someone with David’s experience and expertise – especially when it’s an opera

that’s renowned for having vast numbers of cast members. But when I ask him about the challenges, David seems unfazed. “It’s not daunting to me because I’ve done a lot of big pieces in my life,” he says. “The last time I saw War and Peace was in Moscow and there were 500 people on stage, but of course I realised that that wasn’t something we could do. And I realised that I couldn’t do a piece that had massive scene changes so we had to find a different way of imagining it.

David Pountney holds sway in rehearsals

“It could well be a once in a lifetime opportunity” 52 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“I very much saw it as a piece of collective theatre – so the community comes together to narrate their collective stories. Initially I was thinking of a rather Shakespearian stage, a kind of wooden stage with a kind of amphitheatre – the arena where society comes together then I remembered that we had a set from a previous production – In Parentheses – that with some modifications, would work. We’re also having a lot of video going on which means that we can refer to a whole lot of the subject without actually having to have it in 3D, and part of this way of telling the story is that people play lots of different roles.” David’s clearly got a very clear vision for what he’s trying to create, but I’m curious about the process bringing his ideas to fruition. “We spend three, maybe four weeks here in the rehearsal room, getting a sense of the running and establishing how the music is working in relation to the drama. It’s a terrific benefit to have a purpose-built opera house with a full-sized rehearsal room where we can fit the whole set fully. “We do a full run through in here, and then we move it to the stage and then it feels like the whole thing goes backwards a bit because of things like the fact that the conductor is further away and we introduce the element of costume which affects how the cast moves around the stage. “We introduce lighting which is an essential element to the whole end product and then the final piece of the jigsaw is the orchestra. “My job is really to make myself redundant. Of course I’m always keen to see how the piece will connect with the audience, but strictly speaking, by the time we get to the first night I’m unnecessary.” Since War and Peace has something of a reputation of being rather heavy going, and opera isn’t necessarily viewed as the most accessible of mediums, I wonder how David thinks that audiences will relate to it. “I don’t think people should be in any way nervous of it,” he says. “It’s a hugely engaging piece and an impressive piece and something that gives people a lot of pleasure. “We all know that War and Peace is an epic tale, and we expect something grandiose. It’s impressive and it’s emotional and Prokofiev doesn’t fail to deliver those moments of vocal drama. What’s not to like? “And because putting on War and Peace is such a big undertaking to see a live performance could well be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

DAVID POUNTNEY Artistic director

THEATRE

Although, despite the full opera being staged relatively rarely, the score is much more well known but Tomáš says that there’s still scope for original interpretations. “The source is Tolstoy and Prokofiev, so of course we don’t change that, but interpretation will always be different, because people are different. I work with the performers to make

it work for them, and to make it work with the type of staging we have. It’s important to be true to the source, but at the same time have our personalities in it too. “That’s one of the things that’s wonderful about music – it’s never the same. “It’s not a museum piece, because the people performing it are alive.” And, aside from the huge amount of preparation, what’s the biggest challenge in the process, I ask. “The big thing about any opera is that it needs to be working perfectly on stage in terms of acting, but also should be working perfectly in terms of music too. It’s two things to put together and that’s why to do opera in a great way needs a lot of work and a lot of patience. You have to love it, and I’ve loved opera since childhood. Everyone in the company of War and Peace is so dedicated and sets themselves such high standards, you can tell that they love opera and they love what they are doing which means that everyone is such a pleasure to work with. “I hope that people from all over Wales feel like they can come and see what we have created. Opera has such power that you don’t need to know a lot about music to appreciate and enjoy it.”

As music director Tomáš needs to be more intimately acquainted with every note of the opera than, perhaps, anyone else. Even before the very first rehearsal he needs know the score inside out so he’s ready to bring out the best in the performers, and when it comes to the show night, from the moment he takes his place at his conductor’s stand, the eyes of every member of the cast and the orchestra will be on him from start to finish, relying on him to ensure that what goes on on-stage, and underneath it in the orchestra pit is, quite literally, in perfect harmony. So, then, for Tomáš, preparation really is key. “The work at home is essential,” he says. “It takes a really long time – weeks, months, even years sometimes. It entails really studying the score, page by page, bar by bar, note by note. “The hardest thing is always finding how to interpret a piece, and this piece needs great dedication to every idea, every phrase, every sentence. “You can’t do it with every opera, but with a work like this reading the book can be very helpful as it shows the inspiration behind the music and helps you to understand how Prokofiev intended it to sound.”

Tomáš Hanus

TOMÁŠ HANUS Music director

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 53

THEATRE

SAVA BELL Deputy stage manager

“So,” I ask Sava. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what exactly does a deputy stage manager do?” “It’s a good question,” she laughs. “A lot of people don’t really know what stage managers do. To put it simply, my role is pretty much to collate the whole show.” I look puzzled and she shows me a huge version of the score, with music on every right hand page, and every left hand page blank. Or, at least, the left hand pages used to be blank, but now they are heavily annotated. “I reference everything that’s happening in the show,” she explains. “Things like when people are coming on and off, and from where, and cues for lighting and for flying [when scenery is coming and out]. During rehearsals David might give me notes, or they might ask for props that haven’t been requested before. Everything gets recorded, so this book is kind of like a bible for the show.

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

Joe Roche as Abbe and Jurgita Adamonyte as Helen

“I’m like ground control – I plan the show and make sure all the other departments have the right information so that everything comes together, and that people are safe. You

don’t want someone in the wrong place when something’s flying in!” It all sounds pretty complicated and, if I’m honest, rather more high-pressured than I had perhaps anticipated but Sava takes it all in her stride. “It is what it is,” she shrugs. “I like working on the larger shows and with this there’s a lot of people coming on and off which keeps it much more fun. “The toughest thing about this show is going to be the costume list for wardrobe because people have multiple roles and some of the changes are quite quick. “Trying to create a document that’s clear enough for people who haven’t been in rehearsals to follow is probably going to be the biggest challenge. That and keeping the chorus quiet during rehearsals – that’s the bane of my life!” She smiles. “Actually though, one of the best things about this is working with such lovely people. It’s a real team effort.”

THEATRE

“The aim is to create costumes, but based on real clothes”

The designs on which the final costumes are based

SIAN PRICE Head of costume

Anyone who’s ever read War and Peace (or seen it on TV) will have an idea of just how many characters there are. If you’re not familiar then let me tell you – there’s a lot. An awful lot. Quite a lot more than you’ll find in your average opera. In fact, if you want to be precise, there’s 23 names on the cast, of which 16 are singing more than one role (some are singing four), plus there are 60 chorus and extra chorus (26 ladies and 34 men) and seven dancers, all of whom require costumes. So, that means that altogether there’s 52 principal costumes, 108 chorus and extra chorus costumes, plus seven dancers and more than 100 hats, hair scarves and decorations which complement the overall costume look. And Sian is the woman in charge of making sure that all of these not only fit the intended recipients, but are also authentic and in keeping with the overall vision for the show. No mean feat I’m sure you’ll agree. Especially when you consider that more than 85 per cent of them will be made specifically for this production. But where do you even start when you’re putting together a wardrobe of this size? “Marie-Jeanne (the costume designer) and I first had a conversation back in November last year,” explains Sian. “We started looking at the logistics of having the principal uniforms made and how we could possibly costume everyone in such a short time. Since March I have been in contact with Hero – in Poland; they are a company which produces amongst other things historical uniforms. They work to a very tight schedule as they are constantly making or hiring to both the film and TV world as well as theatre (they were involved with the BBC’s

production of War and Peace). I have also been in contact with Siam Costumes in Thailand who are making our Rubaska’s (Russian shirts), jodhpurs and skirts for our chorus plus basic costumes for our extra chorus. All of the traditional Russian ladies and gents costumes are made by WNO. “We then had to play the waiting game for audition results to find out who would be a French soldier and/or a Russian guard. Once all of this was sorted it we then started sampling fabrics, braids and feathers choosing colours and textures and seeing what we can source from our dead shows in the costume stores. A lot of research is involved since all the costumes and accessories are based on realistic clothes. The aim is to create costumes, but based on real clothes so all the reference is taken from photographs of Russians in towns and villages and we also looked at websites for Russian hats, boots, fabrics and braids. The process continued by meeting freelance makers, ordering the fabrics, washing and drying – this was particularly fun during that very hot spell. The laundry room was as they say like sauna. Finally, we were able to start fittings at the start of August. “The biggest challenge has been tracking down accurate measurements for all the principal men’s uniforms as they will arrive made, plus then making the toiles (an early version of the finished garment made up so that the design can be tested and perfected) of the chorus costumes for Siam as they also will arrive in a more or less finished state. Also making sure each maker has everything they need. Besides the WNO team, Hero and Siam there are another 10 freelancers helping us build the wardrobe for War and Peace, and as freelancers they can work very strange hours and the shops are not always open!”

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

THEATRE LAUREN MICHELLE Natasha

Young, glamorous and gorgeous, not to mention super-talented, Lauren Michelle is a leading light of the modern opera scene. She’s performed with opera companies all over the world (Cardiff opera fans might remember her from her 2016 WNO debut as Jessica in The Merchant of Venice) and has even featured on the Fox TV show Empire. Now the alluring LA-ite has returned to Cardiff to take on the role of Natasha – the heroine of War and Peace and she’s throwing herself into the part wholeheartedly. “It’s really nice to see a real 360 degree perspective of a female character on stage,” she says. “That’s what I find really refreshing about Natasha. A lot of times you get this really pretty soprano who comes on and ‘la la la’ and then they go off, and that’s it, you only get to see once aspect of their personality. But we all have multiple facets of ourselves. We’re not always happy. “Even if you are generally a beautiful, happy person, there are times when you get sad or angry. We all experience things that are not delightful, and it’s interesting to see Natasha go through everything that she goes through and how it affects her. She gets pushed to limits and discovers things she didn’t know about herself and is forced to make difficult choices but doesn’t mean she’s not still that beautiful, exuberant woman you see at the start. She goes through all these different aspects of being a human being and you see all of her. She’s a fully developed character.” “It’s really my job to live within the world – the world that’s created by the director, the conductor, the lighting designer – and in order to become Natasha all I have to do is respond to the other characters and what’s going on around me and what people are saying to me. That’s why I love rehearsals, because that’s where I can explore in depth who she really is. “You can plan the phrasing, but it’s not going to give you that context. You need to feel like it’s actually happening. If you base your performance on what you decide ought to be true there’s no way you can relate to it in real time. That’s when it becomes fake, and that’s when the audience clocks out and goes to sleep.” I ask if that’s something that happens frequently. “It happens all too often, but not when I’m on stage,” she laughs. She might be joking, but I doubt Lauren for a second. There’s something wonderfully captivating about her that commands the attention and I’ve no doubt that it will translate into a fantastic stage presence. “People come to opera to see a world that’s not their own. And if I’m not present, how can I expect them to be present?

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

Lauren Michelle as Natasha and Jonathan McGovern as Andrei

THEATRE

“Of course sometimes it can be difficult, especially if you’re tired or you have health issues. There’s all sorts of different elements that can distract you from being in the present, but of course there’s tricks. “My first opera was Dido and Aeneas when I was in high school. The guy playing Aeneas decided that he was going to take every moment that we were not singing together to say the most horrible things he could think of to me, all under his breath so that no-one could hear. It was awful, but I just thought ‘This is my opportunity to stay completely, utterly present. He still has to do the choreography, I’m still responding to his hands, I can still hear the orchestra, I can still hear the chorus.’ The main thing is just to always be right there in moment. “I think it’s amazing to be a singer. There’s nothing I’d rather do than to gracefully get on stage and to scream at everyone – in a good way, of course! “To be able to mould that into something that moves people is an honour. It’s quite a task, but it’s an honour. “I’m always really grateful that people are willing to trust us to take them somewhere.”

“You need to feel like it’s actually happening” www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 57

THEATRE

top: Hanging out backstage at rehearsals; middle: The cast assembles;

bottom: Getting into the part

War and Peace is being performed at Wales Millennium Centre on 22 and 29 September; www.wno.org.uk

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“It’s going to be far more fun an evening than people are expecting” © Jimmy Swindells

For many people reading War and Peace is one of those “I’ll get around to it when I have more time” kind of things. But when Jonathan landed the role of Andrei he had no excuse to put it off, as it was a key part of his preparation for the role. “For this role in this opera I couldn’t really get away without reading the book!” he says. “But I also watched a few TV adaptations and did chunks of the audiobook if I was running around a lot. I also got lost in Spotify listening to lots of Prokofiev to try to get inside his music again.” And how does Jonathan relate to the character of the Russian prince? “Andrei is a little younger than me at the start of the novel; it’s interesting to explore the things that were being asked of him compared to that of our generation today. On the other hand for Andrei, the pressures from his family, his duty to society and his own personal turmoil are no different to something we might cope with nowadays. It’s just all the more distilled because of the historical context of such a tumultuous time in European history. Where Andrei and I do differ I think, is I’m not that sure I’d choose to put my life on the line in such a foolhardy way as he did. “The biggest challenge with the role is portraying a character in scenes in one evening, that span more than a decade in the book. It seemed a bit daunting at first but with David Pountney’s guidance we’ve managed to hone in on the real core of each scene in which Andrei appears. In most cases our instincts are backed up by Prokofiev’s. “Andrei gets some stunning music. A highlight for me is his final scene, where he’s re-united with Natasha on his deathbed – I love singing that scene.” But, Jonathan says, audiences may be pleasantly surprised to discover that the opera isn’t as heavy going as they might think. “The show has everything. Beautiful melodies, wonderful orchestral colours, huge choruses and stunning ballet music for the ball scene. David and Tomáš have also been really keen to embrace the comedic colours and irony that’s everywhere in Prokofiev’s music. It’s easy to think of War and Peace as something incredibly serious but it’s going to be far more fun an evening than people are expecting. “I’d encourage people to come along and make up their own mind up! Opera is for everyone and anyone and there’s so much in this piece, I guarantee there’s something for them to enjoy. We’ll also be singing in English so you’ll not be all at sea with the words.”

JONATHAN MCGOVERN Andrei

STATE OF THE ARTS

right: The Awkward Years; above: We Are Ian

Homegrown talent The Other Room’s artistic director Dan Jones talks us through the pub theatre’s season

utumn at The Other Room is where we step back slightly (not completely!) from producing our own work, and showcase some of the other amazing homegrown talent we have here in Wales alongside the most innovative and exciting touring companies from throughout the UK. It will come as no surprise to those who know me best that fitting in has never been my forte. Perhaps this is the root cause of an unofficial theme that has crept in to autumn 2018 unnoticed, or perhaps an insight into our time. How do we negotiate the fires of youth, the impossibilities of intimacy and our place in the world? These are just a taster of the questions posed throughout this season. This year we are delighted to host a diverse assortment of companies and creatives; with a refreshing contingent of female artists at the heart of it, which we are immensely excited about. First off the blocks is Matthew Bulgo’s The Awkward Years (17 – 29 September), which I’m delighted to be directing. There are tons of inspiring artists here in Cardiff, but very few are as elemental as Matthew Bulgo. For a writer to independently produce his own work in Cardiff is inspiring and we are proud to be supporting him in his endeavour. I regard Matthew as a national treasure of Welsh theatre and believe championing his work to be deeply important. The Awkward Years is a

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

brilliant example of Matthew’s craft. It’s going to be a breakneck-speed show about grief, hope and staying alive, and the introduction of both a physical and sonic dimension will hopefully mean a whole new flavour of Matthew’s work for Cardiff to enjoy. From 4 – 6 October, In Bed With My Brother bring their award-winning show about the British rave movement, We Are Ian, to The Other Room. A technicolour trip through the highs and lows of Britain’s last proper youth movement, We Are Ian is a rallying cry to the disenfranchised and disengaged to band together when society seems, well, screwed. On 8 – 13 October, Rive Productions present Skin A Cat. Putting a young woman’s struggle with her sexuality front and centre, Skin A Cat is a personal, unflinching and funny look at the pressures of fitting in; an alternative coming of age story about going all the way. On 18 – 20 October, the brilliant Antler bring their sell out Edinburgh Fringe show Lands to The Other Room. With two performers, a mini trampoline and a 1,000 piece puzzle, Lands is a playful, intimate dissection of a relationship teetering on the edge of collapse, and explores our inability

to understand one another and the hills we’re willing to die on. On 30 October – 11 November, Red Oak Theatre present Cardiff Boy by Kevin Jones at The Other Room. Originally presented by Chippy Lane productions at their ‘Chippy and Scratch’ Night, when it was selected as overall winner, Cardiff Boy is a dynamic one-man show set in Cardiff in the 90s. A study of male friendship, the love and the violence, the codes, the loyalties and rituals, Cardiff Boy follows a group of young lads, desperate to make an impression in an ever-changing city. The show’s director (and Red Oak co-founder) Matthew Holmquist is The Other Room’s associate director, and this will be his first full production in our little space – I can’t wait! A brand new anarchic anti-panto Cheer will be presented by close friends of The Other Room, Big Loop Theatre Company, as our Christmas show (27 November – 15 December). Set in a world where the elite purchase extortionately priced Christmas licenses from the state, while the poor resort to the synthetically produced ‘Cheer’, a black market substance dealt in pill form, Cheer is a challenging display of how far people will go in order to get their festive fix. I’m so excited to see what the Big Loop-ers come up with, but a sure bet is that it will round off the season in style. We’re really proud of how this season has shaped up, and the whole team is looking forward to welcoming both new and previous audience members to our little space, within the walls of one of the best bars in Cardiff, Porter’s. So do visit our website for more info on us and the shows, and I’ll see you at the bar! n

“For a writer to independently produce his own work in Cardiff is inspiring”

For more: www.otherroomtheatre.com

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

GERALD GREEN, LOU MOORE, GARETH THOMAS 20th September - 13th October View the exhibition on our website

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

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Create Amazing Andrew Owen, Managing Director

See how one Cardiff company is using the latest technology to showcase their passion for print

enesis Marketing is the first company in Wales to purchase the Roland DG Versa LEJ 640 S-Series, a state-of-the-art printer, capable of delivering stunning quality graphics, textures and embossed effects onto almost any materials. It even prints braille. In 2007, with nearly 30 years’ experience in the print, marketing and branding industries, Andrew Owen set up Genesis Marketing and Events Ltd. With a proven track record in producing and installing high quality items for retail and commercial premises as well as grade II listed buildings such as Cardiff Castle, National Museum of Wales and Cardiff Market. Branding major events is also another sector in which they specialise including the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final and recent Volvo Ocean Race. Andrew highlights that “the new equipment offers cutting edge technology to clients and allows us to showcase contemporary and innovative ways to promote their products and services” “Previous machines had limited capability, printing directly onto a relatively small range of materials or onto an adhesive vinyl which is then subsequently applied to those surfaces. We are now able to print directly onto acrylic, glass, wood, plastic, canvas, MDF, leather and metals. The possibilities are endless, as we can apply graphics onto media as thin as window film and objects up to 235mm in height, 1625mm wide and up to 100kg per sqm in weight, so we can

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print onto boxes, ceramic tiles, doors, tables, cabinets, counter tops…!! In fact, one of our latest projects is at Cardiff Castle, where we are utilising the technology to print logos for The Keep Terrace Bistro directly onto dining tables” “The numerous application opportunities perfectly complement our core business as it’s ideal for producing promotional items such as eye-catching POS displays, innovative interior decorations, unique accessories, customised packaging and the machine can also build up layers of ink on any surface to create a 3D effect, the spot gloss feature, without colour, can even produce textured finish when printing on glass” It’s unparalleled print quality, using advanced ECO-UV ink, delivers stunning graphics and photographic images for premium products, all durable for indoor and outdoor use. By utilising the White ink functionality, we can add a touch of brilliance and vivid colour quality onto dark and transparent surfaces, whilst the High Gloss ink produces stylish textured and embossed effects (both gloss and matt finishes) Andrew says “anyone looking for innovative, impactful print need look no further than Genesis, as we have both the knowledge and expertise to work with clients to design and create bespoke quality products and finishes”. ■

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B4 South Point, Foreshore Road, Cardiff CF10 4SP. Tel: 029 2048 3111 www.genesis.wales | info@genesis.wales www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 63

HAND CARVED WOODEN BASKING SEAL, £35.99 How can you resist that little face? From Shore, Windsor Court, The Esplande, Penarth; www.shorecoastal.co.uk

WOOD YOU? We’re going natural with these wonderful wooden pieces

TUDOR INDUSTRIAL STYLE WINE RACK, £149.99 A pretty gorgeous way to display your wine collection, we reckon. From Trendy Products, Unit 4, Havannah Street; www.trendyproducts.co.uk

INDIAN ROSEWOOD WEDDING BAND, £65 Here’s a ring that’s much less about the bling and much more about understated elegance. And it’s handcarved right here in Cardiff. From WoodenGold, www.etsy.com

DSQUARED2 HE WOOD INTENSE EAU DE TOILETTE, £70/100ML Immerse yourself in the great outdoors with this olfactory interpretation of wood, air and water. From Central Pharmacy, 63-67 Wellﬁeld Road; www.escentual.com

MARTIN 000-15M ACOUSTIC GUITAR, £1,399 The solid mahogany of this guitar not only makes it look great, but gives it a great tonal quality too. From Gamlins Music Centre, 56 St Mary Street; www.gamlinsmusic.co.uk

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

SPHERY 50 WOODEN LIGHTSHADE, £195 So striking, it’ll light up a room even before you ﬂick a switch! From Home By Kirsty, 64a Glenroy Street, Roath; www.homebykirsty.com

ED’S CHOICE OLIVE WOOD HEART-SHAPED BOARD, £16.99 Use it for serving, slicing, or just for looking pretty around the place. From Hamptons, 10 Ludlow Lane, Penarth; www.hamptonspenarth.co.uk

T&G OBLIQUE WALNUT WOOD SALT MILL, £45 May your food be perfectly seasoned, and your table be perfectly stylish. (There’s a matching pepper mill available too, just BTW). From Kitchens Cookshop, 14 High Street; www.steamer.co.uk

AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-W5000 AUDIOPHILE CLOSED-BACK DYNAMIC EBONY WOOD OVER-EAR HEADPHONES, £1,100 The unique ebony wood casing teams up with the stateof-the-art audio gadgetry to deliver insane clarity for your listening pleasure. From John Lewis, The Hayes; www.johnlewis.com

OTTONE MARBLE AND ACACIA WOOD BEDSIDE TABLE, £295 Formed from dark acacia wood, inlaid with stripes of golden brass and topped with a solid marble top this is an heirloom piece which is as eyecatching as it is functional. From Oliver Bonas, 37 The Hayes; www.oliverbonas.com

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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Oliver Bonas, £30.40 (originally £38)

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t the St David’s Student Night on Tuesday, 2 October, the centre will come to life with exclusive offers and discounts of up to 30%, giving students the chance to re-vamp their look for less as the new term begins.

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Leather, quilt or faux-fur – get the outerwear look of the season for less. We love the All Saint’s jacket, and you can save over £60 with 20% off at St David’s Student Night. ■ www.stdavidscardiff.com

River Island Crossbody Bag, £32 (£26 with discount)

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

FASHION

KEEP YOUR WARDROBE IN CHECK With autumn just around the corner, it’s time to invest in one of the hottest trends of AW18, the check! PACK A PUNCH The great thing about check is that you can’t overdo it – from the classic blazer, to 80s style button-downs, and even stylish accessories, the print can be incorporated into every detail of your look. Show up to meetings with the elegant Vivienne Westwood Prince blazer (4), giving you a sophisticated touch. Pair with this subtle but chic white check top from Whistles (5), available at John Lewis, and tailored trousers, like this pair from Reiss (6). We also totally adore these check dungarees from Vivienne Westwood (8), a look that is perfect for any occasion but still packs a punch. GET COMFORTABLE Now that the cosier seasons are settling in, it’s time to start thinking about what outerwear we want to invest in! We love this check cape (1) from Karen Millen, its graceful grey can be matched with any colour and will keep that cold breeze away. Alternatively, don’t miss out on the form-fitting check coat from Whistles (7), available at John Lewis, which comes with a belt to seamlessly accentuate your waist. If you’re going for the same classy look but don’t like the tight fit, go for the Magdelina belted check coat (3) instead, also from Whistles available at John Lewis. ACCESSORIES, CHECK! We all know a good accessory can is key to bringing an outfit together! Add this stylish embellished shoulder bag from Kurt Geiger (10) to your outfit to give you a perfectly polished look. Or how about snuggling up in this dark wool scarf from Reiss (9) on those colder evenings? We also adore this cosy Oliver Bonas (2) scarf, with its perfect autumnal burgundy tones it’s definitely one we have our eye on this season! All items available at St David’s Dewi Sant in Cardiff or online at the time of writing. To keep up to date with the latest trends, news and offers, see St David’s on Instgram, Facebook and Twitter (@StDavidsCardiff) or at www.stdavidscardiff.com

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

Jacket £79, Jumper £35, Jean £35, Bag £29.50, Shoes £29.50, M&S

SHOPPING LIST

1. Dogtooth Check Cape, £140, Karen Millen 2. Wine check scarf, £35, Oliver Bonas 3. Magdelina Belted Check Coat, £325, Whistles 4. Prince jacket, £550, Vivienne Westwood 5. Jenni Check Textured top, £99, Whistles 6. Milan check skinny trousers, £120, Reiss 7. Penelope Belted Check coat, £285, Whistles 8. Check dunagrees, £645, Vivienne Westwood 9. Lambwool Scarf, £85, Reiss 10. Kensington embellished large shoulder bag, £149, Kurt Geiger

7 8

9 10

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Amanda Carroll Beauty Salon

Crystal Clear Frozen Facial Treatments.

The most advanced anti-ageing system yet and the celebâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite. Its time to see what all the fuss is about...

Located at: Errol Willy

32 Wellfield Road, Cardiff. 02920 491800 / 483979

advertising feature

Don’t take our word for it At Pontcanna Dental Care we do everything to ensure we meet your individual needs. Here's what some of our clients have to say... I feel extremely comfortable going to this practice, and have had no problems organising appointments, even in emergency situations. All the staff within the practice are lovely and make you feel really welcome, even though you may only go every six months, all the staff know your name and this is important to me as it reduces any anxiety I may feel going to the dentist. Alyn and the dental nurses make you feel comfortable and are in tune to you when you are in pain and adjust to your needs – my previous dentist did not do this and put me off going to the dentist for years. Alyn’s dental suite is a relaxing environment, with a number of wildlife photos on the wall that Alyn took himself. I really don’t want to know what Alyn is doing to my teeth, I have trust in Alyn to carry out what is required without going through the details of the treatment, so instead we talk rugby!! I have recommended this dental practice to a number of people and will continue to do so. I would also recommend signing up for the dental plan that the practice offers, especially if you require a number of treatments. C Calder A couple of months ago I needed emergency treatment for a broken crown, I was very fortunate to locate Pontcanna Dental Care, who immediately repaired it for me within hours. Since then I have received very professional and

exemplary care in having dental implants to re-balance my dental bite with great success. An investment for the future with great benefits. G Wheeler When I first visited Charlie I was suffering with a raging gum infection, I was so phobic about dentistry that I had not seen a dentist for over 15 years. From the moment he greeted me, sat down opposite me and listened to how I had been extremely traumatised by a school dentist, I started to feel at ease and reassured. By the end of our chat I had a true feeling of calm and understanding. It was quite obvious he was dedicated to his profession. From then on, his expert attention, pain-free treatments, constant reassurance, caring and understanding have enabled me to re-establish regular visits. I would not hesitate in recommending Pontcanna Dental Care. T Holland Charles is not only my dentist but also my friend. This statement coming from someone who, from the age of six, was terrified of the word ‘dentist’ must be a revelation! Having moved into the area five years ago, I had no idea where to find a good dentist. I was recommended to go to Charles because he was so kind and caring – this certainly proved to be true. Nothing is ever too much trouble and I can honestly say that my ‘fear’ has completely

disappeared – for the first time in almost 50 years! As you can imagine, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be able to sit in a dentist’s chair and laugh, but I do – frequently! S Carruthers I was thrilled by the level of expertise, support and customer service I received both prior to treatment and throughout. To be able to smile and laugh without the fear of people looking at my teeth sticking out or gaps on the side of my teeth is phenomenal. I feel a free spirit, I finally feel confident enough to talk, laugh and smile just as I want to and my teeth now match my smiley, bubbly personality. Being insecure about the gaps in my teeth since I was a young girl, has more or less ruined my life and ruined my confidence. I always doubted myself, tried not to smile when people were to the side of me and would never like pictures taken from my side profile. The difference to me is above and beyond what I was expecting. J Kemp

If you'd like to come and meet one of our dentists for a chat please give us a call on 029 2038 7683. Pontcanna Dental Care, 102 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 9LP; www.pontcannadental.co.uk

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man’s world

Robin Sowden-Taylor looks to the future

I decided to take! Towards the end of my playing career, I knew the direction I wanted to pursue and worked towards obtaining the relevant qualifications needed in the world of strength and conditioning. When I retired from my playing career I went to Texas for few months to coach the Frisco Griffins rugby team in Dallas, a fantastic experience that also allowed me the opportunity to spend time at a number of highprofile strength and conditioning facilities that laid the foundations for my own gym business, ION Strength and Conditioning – it’s certainly developed greatly over the past five years and last year we were able to open our second facility in Skewen, Neath. The gyms offer high end coaching to the general public of all levels of fitness but I believe what makes ION really unique is the camaraderie and team spirit we have developed among our members and staff. Being part of a team is something I feel fortunate enough to have experienced being part of most of my life and understand the importance and benefits it has on individuals in all aspects of their lives. Having a positive impact on people’s lives is the main objective of what we do at ION Strength and Conditioning. Running a business alongside

Look to the future

ROBIN SOWDEN-TAYLOR, the Cardiff Blues’ head strength and conditioning coach, talks the importance of planning ahead

ith the 2018-19 season now well underway, the working life is relentless and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have been involved in the game pretty much my entire life, starting out as a seven-yearold boy with Pentrych RFC, progressing into the Cardiff Age Grade system and then on into the senior squad. I feel content with what I have achieved in my professional career, making 124 appearances for the Blues, captaining them on a number of occasions and winning eight caps for Wales. It was also an incredible experience playing and being involved in Wales’ Grand Slam winning campaigns in 2005 and 2008. Today I combine my role as head strength and conditioning coach at Cardiff Blues and running my own gyms in

Llanishen and Skewen – ION Strength and Conditioning. It has taken eight years of hard work and many lessons along the way to get to this point. I learned early on in my career that it was important to consider what my next step would be when my rugby career ended, and this is something that I am desperate to see our players at Blues do too. I regularly encourage them to make the most out of any opportunity that comes their way – whether it is educational, with sponsors or other commercial duties, it is all of huge benefit in the long run. There is considerable support available to our players these days with the WRPA providing an excellent full time personal development manager for the squad in Phil Davies. Welsh Rugby has invested a huge amount into the area to ensure players are making the most of these opportunities because the transition from rugby is daunting and hard, as I well found.

As a player, pretty much every facet of your life is regimented. Your days are all structured and organised, you are told where to be, at what time, what to wear, when to eat, when to sleep etc but, your career can be over in a moment and then you are thrust into the real world and

“Your career can be over in a moment and you are thrust into the real world and have to stand on your own two feet” have to stand on your own two feet – something you have not necessarily have done before. While I was coming through the Cardiff Age Grade rugby system, before the Regional Academy was formed, I studied criminology and sociology at Cardiff University, a strange choice considering the career path

a full-time job with the Blues is hard work and a lot of long hours go into both but it is incredibly rewarding when I get up every morning at 5am to have a career I love, whether its working with professional athletes or the general public.n www.cardiffblues.com

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Lord Alan Sugar is coming to Cardiff The INTROBIZ EXPO 2018 is coming to Cardiff and it’s going to be a truly unforgettable day for Welsh businesses

aking place on Thursday, 22nd November at the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, the Introbiz Expo will welcome two global entrepreneurs – Lord Alan Sugar and Grant Cardone. Lord Alan Sugar is one of the world’s most influential and successful entrepreneurs, media personality and politician. Having founded Amstrad, a specialist in consumer electronics and other ventures, he is now a billionaire. Based in the USA, Grant Cardone is the world’s leading sales trainer and bestselling author, having built a portfolio of multifamily properties worth over $566million. Grant and Lord Sugar will be hosting an exclusive Q&A session at the Introbiz Expo this year where they’ll be discussing their journey to success and answering some of your business related questions. The event will also welcome a number of BBC’s The Apprentice winners, including Climb Online founder, Mark Wright, Ridiculously Rich founder,

Alana Spencer and last year’s double-winners, Sarah Lynn, founder of Sweets in the City and Right Time Recruitment founder, James White. The headline sponsor for the event is Paul McFadden Wealth and during the day, you can browse hundreds of exhibition stands, attend a networking breakfast, a free speed networking session sponsored by 123 Divorce and a number of seminars presented by the likes of Google and WalesOnline. There’ll be thousands of visitors to connect with throughout the day, making the event a fantastic networking opportunity. New for 2018 is an exclusive VIP networking lunch which is sponsored by Hunter Jones and will see Lord Alan Sugar and Grant Cardone hosting a Q&A session. There’ll also be The Pitch sponsored by Cardiff Council, which is a competition for start-ups and SMEs who are looking for growth. The day will end with a VIP gala where there’ll be an auction and raffle where all funds raised will

be donated to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Held at the Vale Resort, guests will dine on a delicious 3-course dinner and enjoy an evening filled with entertainment, including the presentation of the Introbiz Business Awards. There’ll be a number of categories to enter, including the Introbiz Networker of the Year and the Best Exhibition Stand. Tracey and Paul Smolinski, founders of the Introbiz Expo said; “We’re extremely excited to be bringing the Introbiz Expo back for another unforgettable year and we can’t wait to welcome you.” ■

It’s completely free to attend the Introbiz Expo so make sure you register your interest. You can ﬁnd out more about the Expo by visiting the website www.introbiz. co.uk or call the team on 02920 291 002

Down and dirty Emma Dance pays a visit to DIRT – the pop-up supperclub that’s making veg the star of the show

t might sound like a bit of an odd thing to say, but I can’t remember the last time I got excited about a vegetable. I’ve exclaimed over the delicate marbling in a fine bit of beef, and marvelled at a plump, pink fillet of salmon, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been in raptures over the orangeness of a carrot, or the leafiness of spinach. That’s not to say I don’t recognise the value of vegetables in my diet or that I don’t enjoy eating them because I absolutely do. It’s just that, as a meat eater, I feel like I’ve been conditioned primarily see vegetables as members of the supporting cast on the plate, rather than the star. And, if I’m brutally honest, it always feels like it takes a lot more work (and probably skill) to make a really, properly tasty vegetable-based dish than it does to toss a steak in a pan and most of the time I just want to take the easy way out of cooking dinner. Fortunately chef John Cook doesn’t share my kitchen apathy, quite the opposite in fact, since he’s launched DIRT, a pop-up vegetarian restaurant that aims to

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celebrate the humble veg. It’s only been going a couple of months and is already proving massively popular with every date so far selling out. I managed to bag a couple of places though when DIRT took up residence for the evening at the Dusty Knuckle in Canton. A plate of sourdough, toasted kale and salted butter was simple, but so very tasty. There’s always something wonderful about bread and butter at the best of times, and this was the pairing at its finest with the bread soft in the centre with just the right amount of chew on the crust and plenty of butter to slather over it. The kale – crisp, salty and faintly reminiscent of the crispy seaweed you get in Chinese takeaways – was wonderfully more-ish. Up next was tomato, preserved citrus, feta and watermelon. The watermelon seemed a surprising addition to the dish, but the result was an explosion of bright summery flavours – all at once sweet, sharp and salty, the flavours dancing together on the tongue in a perfectly choreographed formation. The dish of cucumber, mint, buttermilk and peas

“The result was an explosion of bright, summery flavours” which followed was a delightful melange of delicate and fresh flavours and textures, perhaps more subtle than its predecessor, but no less enjoyable. A summer tagine with labneh and black onion bread was a hearty dish with just the right amount of spice to complement the natural flavours of the vegetables and make them sing while the pudding of garden apples, blackberries, meringue and yoghurt custard was the kind of comforting dish that greats you like an old friend and practically leaps out the bowl and gives you a hug. The final treat of the evening was the DIRT carrots (that I believe are becoming something of a signature of the supperclubs) – chocolates shaped like carrots beautifully presented on a bed of chocolate soil. I’m not ashamed to say that most of the soil was consumed too! With DIRT, John has proved that it’s more than possible to have a veggie meal without sacrificing anything on the flavour front, and that vegetables can indeed be exciting. So, if you need me, I’ll probably be waxing lyrical about a carrot somewhere… n

restaurant

Dining details DIRT; www.dirtpopup.co.uk Dates, times and venues visit the website or follow @dirtpopup on Twitter Vegetarian choice It’s all veggie! Drinks depends on the venue, but wine, beer and most spirits are usually available. Service and atmosphere fun and friendly Prices £40 for six courses

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days out

The eat is on

Fancy a weekend eating and drinking your way around Cardiff? Yes? Then read onâ&#x20AC;Ś. 78 I cardiff LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Michelin-starred magic at Restaurant James Sommerin

days out

Good libations from The Dead Canary

here are lots of fab places to find fantastic food and drink in Cardiff. Lots. And lots. And lots and lots and lots. From street food, to fine dining and craft beers to crazy cocktails our city’s got it well and truly covered. If you’ve got an empty weekend ahead, and you want to fill it filling your face then we’ve worked out a bit of a plan. So ditch Friday afternoon at the office and prepare for a glorious gluttonous few days. Just make sure you come hungry! (And yes, we know there are tons of other amazing places to eat and drink, but we can only fit so much into two-and-a-half days….)

Friday

Afternoon: If there’s a better way to start a weekend than with afternoon tea at the Admiral St David then we’re yet to find it. The pastry chefs here (Mikey and Rebekah) made it to the semi-finals of the last series of Bake Off: The Professionals and their culinary creations are to die for. Afternoon tea service starts at 2.30pm and we’d recommend getting in there early (who says afternoon tea can’t be lunch?), y’know, so there’s more time for eating elsewhere…. Late afternoon: Take a walk around some of the fine foodie establishments in the arcades and Cardiff Market (there’s nothing wrong with a bit of window shopping and planning your next foodie escapade!) and maybe stock on up on a few treats to take home from Wally’s

One to watch

Tommy Heaney is set to open is much anticipated Pontcanna restaurant on 10 October. If reviews of his pop-up that has been running while he refurbs the restaurant are anything to go by you’ll want to make a reservation there asap, if not sooner. Seasonal cooking at Manor Parc

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days out Deli, Madame Fromage or Holy Yolk, or pause your shopping for a cuppa at Waterloo Tea. If you run out of time, no matter. Just pop back again tomorrow! Dinner: La Cuina offers a real taste of Catalonia in Cardiff with dishes like pigs trotter carpaccio, cod croquettes and artichoke, conill de pages (rabbit, silky white wine vinaigrette, crushed potato, romanesco broccoli), slow-cooked octopus and braç de gitano (traditional roulade of soft sponge with berries and cream). So dig in, and imagine you’re in Spain for the evening! After dinner: Friday night calls for cocktails – are we right? Fortunately Cardiff is pretty well stocked in this department. Don’t miss the imaginative creations at Lab 22 and The Dead Canary, both of which were named among the UK’s top 50 cocktail bars dontcha know.

Saturday:

Breakfast: So much choice, but we reckon you can’t go wrong with a freshly cooked plate of loveliness at Milk & Sugar in The Old Library. Morning: Learn how to create some kick-ass Indian cuisine at home with a cookery class at the Purple Poppadom. Chef Anad George has earned a glowing reputation for his modern Indian cookery and this is a chance to learn some culinary secrets from the man himself. So, spend the morning cooking, and then eat the fruits of your labour. Sounds good to us. Afternoon: Pay a visit to Cocorico Patisserie. Owner Laurian Veaudor is another Bake Off veteran, having come runner up in the 2017 Crème de la crème series.

DINING DELIGHTS

Admiral St David (fine dining and afternoon tea): Havannah Street; www.admiralstdavid.co.uk Bar 44 Penarth (Spanish tapas, wines and sherries): 14 Windsor Road, Penarth; www.bar44.co.uk/penarth Brød (bakery and café): 126 Wyndham Crescent; www.thedanishbakery.co.uk Cocorico Patisserie (patisserie), 35 Whitchurch Road; www.cocoricopatisserie.co.uk Corner Coffee (coffee shop): 13 High Street; Twitter @ CornerCoffee_Co

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Catalan cuisine at La Cuina

The French delicacies produced here are things of beauty (and therefore infinitely Instagrammable) and taste just as good as they look. Dinner: Dining doesn’t get much more special than the Michelin-starred Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth. We’d recommend pushing the boat out and going for the ninecourse bespoke tasting menu (with matching wines – natch). A bespoke menu is created for every table so you’re sure to have a truly memorable experience. After dinner: A sip or two of sherry at Bar 44 Penarth is always a very good thing…

Sunday

Morning: Coffee and a Danish pastry at Brød while perusing the papers is what makes a perfect start to a Sunday. While you’re in the area stock up on some essentials at Cardiff ’s

The Dead Canary: Barrack Lane; www.thedeadcanary.co.uk Dusty Knuckle (pizza): 70 Llandaff Road; www.dustyknuckle.co.uk Ffwrnes: First floor, Cardiff Central Market; www.ffwrnes.co.uk Holy Yolks (Scotch eggs): Cardiff Central Market; Twitter @holy_yolks La Cuina (Catalan cuisine): 11 King’s Rd; www.lacuina.co.uk Lab 22 (cocktails): 22 Caroline St; www.lab22cardiff.com

first zero-waste store, Viva Organica but don’t forget your bags, bottles and containers! Lunch: Head out of town for Sunday lunch at Manor Parc Hotel. The setting, nestled beneath Caerphilly mountain, is just stunning, and on sunny days you can eat on the terrace overlooking the sea. If it’s chilly though, no matter as the Orangerie restaurant with its glass-domed ceiling is pretty spectacular. And anyway, let’s face it, a delish roast, made with fresh locally sourced ingredients is going to taste good wherever you eat it! Late afternoon/early evening: Chill out with a lazy pint at Twenty Nine Park Place which has just been refurbed, relaunched and reopened. Dinner: You can’t possibly still be hungry, but just in case, then you’ll get some of the best pizzas in town at the Dusty Knuckle, just FYI.

Madame Fromage (cheese): 21 Castle Arcade; www.madamefromage.co.uk Manor Parc Hotel (country hotel with restaurant): Thornhill Road, Thornhill; www.maorparc.com Milk & Sugar (café and bistro): various locations; www.milkandsugarplease.com Park House (fine dining): 20 Park Place; www. parkhouserestaurant.co.uk Restaurant James Sommerin (Michelin-starred fine dining): The Esplanade, Penarth; www. jamessommerinrestaurant.co.uk

Science Cream (liquid nitrogen ice cream parlour): 8 Castle Arcade; www.sciencecream.co.uk Twenty Nine Park Place (gastropub): 29 Park Place; www.knifeandforkfood.co.uk Viva Organica (zero waste organic wholefood store): 79 Pontcanna Street; Twitter @VivaOrganicFood Wally’s Deli (deli & bottle shop): 38-46 Royal Arcade; www.wallysdeli.co.uk Waterloo Tea (teahouse): various locations; www.waterlootea.com

@ La Cuina Welcome to autumn Bona tardor Croeso i’r Hydref

from Montserrat, Samir & La Cuina Team

Catalan restaurant La Cuina, 11 Kings Road, Cardiff, CF11 9BZ 029 20190265 – info@lacuina.co.uk

WWW.LACUINA.CO.UK

The Orangerie Restaurant @ Manor Parc

Lunch Menu

Monday - Saturday Two courses £16.50 | Three courses £21.00

Evening A La Carte Monday - Saturday

Afternoon Tea £17.00 Monday To Saturday

Sunday Lunch

Three courses & coffee £25.00

Thornhill Road Cardiff CF14 9UA | www.manorparc.com | 02920 693723 | enquiry@manorparc.com

advertising feature

Meet the Headteacher

These are the people in charge of shaping Cardiff’s bright, young minds Clare Sherwood

DR Gerard Griffiths

The Cathedral School, Llandaff, Cardiff 029 2056 3179; www.cathedral-school.co.uk

Westbourne School, penarth 02920 705 705; www.westbourneschool.com You have been principal at Westbourne less than a year – what have the last 10 months been like? Thankfully, the best experience of my career. I was appointed principal in November 2017 and, in that time, I have had the privilege to oversee the school’s best ESTYN inspection ever and external examination results at both GCSE and the IB at sixth form continue to be amongst the school’s finest. However, I appreciate that during my first year all that was good has been the result of the amazing support from both staff and parents, and the dedication of our fantastic students. What is important in making Westbourne successful? I have believed for a long time during my 30 years in education that this career is hard but simple. Everybody works hard, and everything and everybody is important. If I can continue with this belief at Westbourne, it will continue to be a phenomenal success. How would you sum up your time at Westbourne? To quote a famous song “If I hadn’t seen such riches, I could live with being poor”. Fundamentally, I have seen the very best that a school can be at Westbourne, and I would be disappointed with anything less.

Clare Sherwood

Dr Gerard Griffiths

Sally Davis

Howell’s School & Co-Ed College, Llandaff GDST 029 20261832; www.howells-cardiff.gdst.net www.howellscoedcollege.gdst.net

Mr Francis Taylor

St John’s College, Cardiff 029 2077 8936; www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com What is paramount to picking a good school? A great school is somewhere safe, secure and nurturing; a place where children feel confident to develop as individuals and explore their strengths. A school’s cocurricular provision can also help develop skills outside the classroom. It is often these experiences, such as drama productions and field trips, that enrich children’s lives and provide cherished memories of school life. Describe the sense of community at the school? The school’s strong, close-knit family community ensures that all of our pupils from nursery through to sixth form receive the care and support necessary to develop their full potential. Estyn noted this during our recent inspection and it underpins everything that St John’s College is about. What makes you most proud? Having now worked at St John’s College for 20 years, it has been incredible to watch the school grow. The opening of our new Sixth Form Centre at Eastern Business Park this September is the latest development in the school’s evolution, ensuring we continue to provide the highest quality education in both modern and traditional environments.

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What is paramount to picking a good school? You need to be confident that your child will be happy! A good school celebrates the joy of learning – inside and outside the classroom. Nurturing and strengthening a child’s confidence in their unique and many talents is essential. Describe the sense of community at The Cathedral School? CSL is a family school where girls and boys work together, inspiring each other and learning to respect and enjoy our differences. We are an inclusive community which welcomes and seeks the very best for all. What makes you most proud? When a child achieves something that makes them smile; whether it be in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage in a drama production or musical performance, or trying something new for the first time. Our wonderful staff encourage each one of our pupils to aim high and achieve their potential. What scholarships and bursaries are available for students? We offer a range of academic, sport and music scholarships for pupils joining the school at Year 7 and 12 as well as means tested bursaries.

Sally Davis

Francis Taylor

Describe the sense of community at the school? At Howell’s, everyone knows that they belong; from the parent collecting their daughter from the nursery to the groundsmen cutting the grass, from the catering staff singing along to the radio in the dining room to the students themselves, dashing from morning lessons to lunchtime drama rehearsals, hockey matches and book club meetings, everyone considers themselves a member of our Howell’s family. What is your top tip for parents visiting a school? Speak to current A-level students, and imagine your child as one of them. Our Co-Ed College students are warm and articulate individuals, with a demeanour that will stand them in good stead in the next stage of their lives. What scholarships and bursaries are available for students? Scholarships up to a maximum of 50% are available at Year 7 and Year 12, and 100% bursaries are available at these points of entry, too. In Year 7, scholarships are awarded for academic excellence and music, and in addition in Year 12 for drama, sport, product design and art.

Reach the best in the west AďŹ&#x201E;uent, active and inďŹ&#x201A;uential and just a call away

Jungle Babies: Monday 11.00am & Friday 3.00pm Jungle Tots: Monday 9.30am & Friday 2.15pm Jungle Friends: Monday 10.45am & Friday 1.30pm

Cardiff Life team 01225 475800

SNAPPED

BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens ahead of his set

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

Chloe Smith and Wayne Courtney Rhodri Lewis, Branwen Llewellyn, Gwenno Uhi, Lois Dafydd

Rhiannon Jenkins, Louise Czekaj and Siwan Blockwell Liam Bevan, Katie Hall, Zac Mather (Chroma)

A BIG SECRET

Jamie Cole, Harry Bird and Rosie Brown

SHWSH! â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a series of free, exclusive live music events in unexpected and undisclosed locations, aimed at introducing new audiences to Welsh language music, kicked off with a gig at Portland Place on 2 August. There were DJ sets from Gwenno and Huw Stephens, and a performance by CHROMA. SHWSH is part of Dydd Miwsig Cymru, the annual day that celebrates Welsh language music, and the series of secret gigs ran until 11 August.

Gwenno and Pydew ahead of their DJ sets

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Adam Whitmore, Mark Ball, Richard Samuel and John Collins

SOCIETY

Garry French, Harriet Dow, Zoe Law, Jai Eastwood, Malcolm Reid

Enjoying the exhibition

CHOOSE LIFE

A champagne reception was held to mark the opening of the LIFE exhibition in the Senedd recently. The LIFE exhibition, curated by Ab Rogers Design, with photographs by Zoë Law, is a presentation of photographs of people living with cancer who visit Maggie’s Cancer Centres across the UK. Each image represents their joy for life and their resilience during and beyond cancer. Eleven out of 21 of the photographs were displayed at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay – the ﬁrst stop on the exhibition’s tour to raise awareness of Maggie’s and the support needed for people with cancer and their friends and family. The event was sponsored by Assembly Member Julie Morgan. Looking on with interest

Photos by Morgan Divine

Garry French and Susan Peart Jai Eastwood

Elaine Pratt, Danni Watts Jones, Vanessa Jones, Matt Jones, Terry Watts Jones and Andrew Pratt

Zoe Law and Julie Morgan

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Colin Charvis, Peter Sidwell and Jonathan Davies

Ron Blount and Glenn Webbe

Glenn Webbe, Theresa Grech, Jessie Blaine, Caroline Vanner and Kathy Annandale

WHAT’S COOKING?

Robert Williamson, Michael Boland, Michael Wileman, Kathy Annandale, Stuart Garmston, Bethan Evans, Jeremy King and Glenn Webbe

The Kitchen Bureau in Stadium Close hosted a launch event on 7 July. TV Chef Peter Sidwell oversaw a cook off between Rugby legends Gareth Thomas and Colin Charvis, while The Kitchen Bureau's own legend Glenn Webbe judged their dishes and Michelin-starred chef Hywel Jones prepared delicious bites. The evening was compered by stand up comedian, raconteur and rugby commentator Phil Steele and during the event a range of appliances were rafﬂed with the proceeds going to PTSD Resolution, a charity that takes on those struggling to integrate into civilian life following life changing trauma as result of active service or disasters such as the Grenfell Tower ﬁre.

Keir Hazlehurst, Glenn Webbe and Colin Charvis

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

Clare Kieft, Sion Hughes, Yaingy Chan, Danielle Huish, Lana Boocock, Huw Menear, Rhiannon Perry

businessinsider cardiff GEts serious

Quote of the issue

“Showing your support not only means involvement with a remarkable event but also reaps the benefits of months of highprofile marketing”

She’s got skills!

Valuable experience Cardiff YHA is offering traineeships to help young people gain employment

nemployed young people throughout Cardiff are being given the opportunity to gain employment in the travel and tourism sector through a new traineeship programme launched by a leading youth charity. YHA (England and Wales) is offering 18 – 24-year-olds the opportunity to undertake a traineeship at YHA Cardiff Central, based on East Tyndall Street, which, it is hoped, will enable them to gain paid employment. No qualifications are needed, just energy, enthusiasm and commitment. The youth hosteling charity is also offering travel costs of up to £15 a day to help ensure the opportunity is available to all young people. Young people who are ready to work, can undertake an eight to 12-week traineeship at one of 25 youth hostels throughout England and Wales, gaining front and back

of house experience as well as customer service training. As part of the traineeship, they’ll be given training at the youth hostels and also have access to online learning modules relating to health and safety, safeguarding and food hygiene. Everyone who completes a traineeship programme with YHA will be given a reference, certificate and exit interview, paving the way for them to gain employment and kick-start a career. The new YHA traineeships builds on YHA’s long running successful volunteering programme for 16 – 24-year-olds which has seen young volunteer numbers grow to 25 per cent of all active volunteers at the charity over the past five years. James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales), explains, “Our new traineeship programme takes volunteering

for YHA to a new level, enabling unemployed young people to gain the vital skills and experience they need on their CV to get that all important paid job. “Transforming the lives of young people has been YHA’s purpose for more than 85 years and I am delighted that we are able to reach even more 16 – 24-year-olds and enable them to broaden their horizons.”

Who said this and what are they talking about? To find out turn over the page.

The Big Number

3000

The number of table tennis players that will be coming to Cardiff in 2021. For more, see over the page.

To apply to gain work experience or for a traineeship with YHA, visit www.volunteer.yha.org.uk/event/ TraineeshipsWorkExperience

Cardiff YHA

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Redrow graduates go back to school

Another sold-out glittering event is just six months away…

Another recordbreaking Awards anticipated!

School days Redrow South Wales has brought together graduates from across the UK to help a Cardiff primary school in need of bit of a boost. As part of the Redrow Graduate Programme, a team from the most recent intake spent time at Ysgol Gymraeg Coed y Gof – a Welsh medium primary school in Pentrebane, near to Redrow’s Cae St Fagans development at Plasdŵr – helping to renovate their outdoor learning areas, which were in much need of repair. The graduates were set the task of renovating

these areas and also of engaging as much as possible with the school children; running various workshops including ‘Lego House’ building, brick painting and disk decorating. Beverley Wookey, sales director for Redrow Homes South Wales, says, “We were delighted to be able to support the school in such a practical way as well as give our Redrow graduates from around the UK the opportunity to help improve the school environment and the learning experience.” For more: www.redrow.co.uk

On the table Table Tennis Wales in partnership with Cardiff Metropolitan University has successfully bid to host the European Veterans Championships in the capital in June/July 2021. The Welsh bid beat off strong competition from both Spain and Norway and it will be the biggest event that Table Tennis Wales has been awarded with around 3,000 competitors visiting the city. Two years of hard work culminated in the winning presentation which was delivered by Steve Eades, Mike Watts, Owen Rodgers and Ryan Jenkins to the European Table Tennis Union Executive Board in Cluj, Romania at the European Youth Championships. Table Tennis Wales vice-president Steve Eades says, “Table Tennis Wales (TTW) is thrilled that its organising committee’s

A table tennis championship will be happening here

bid to host the 2021 European Veterans Championship in Wales has proved successful. We look forward to delivering a wonderful championship in conjunction with its partner Cardiff Metropolitan University.” Entries to this event will open next year once the 2019 championships are hosted in Hungary. For more: www.ttwwebsite.co.uk

Momentum continues to build for the Cardiff Life Awards as category sponsorship opportunities open up, with supporters reaping the benefits of the high-profile event. Organisers are anticipating another sell-out celebration for the 2019 Awards, which will be held on 21 March at City Hall. The 2018 Awards saw hundreds of nominations and an evening event with more than 400 guests in attendance and more on the waiting list. The Awards were trending on Twitter, such was the huge interest in them. Tickets have just gone on sale on a firstcome, first served basis, and are expected to sell out well in advance of the glamorous night. Sponsorship provides an unrivalled business marketing showcase, and there are several ways in which businesses can get involved. “From sponsoring a category to supporting our shoulder events, showing your support for the Awards not only means involvement with a remarkable event but also reaps the benefits of months of high-profile marketing, peaking in March,” says MediaClash events director Steph Dodd. “We’re thrilled to have had such a positive response already from local companies, a whole six months before the big night.” Shoulder events which support the Awards include the Finalists’ & Sponsors’ Reception, the Champagne reception on Awards night, 21 March, and the Winners’ Dinner after the event. Businesses can also benefit from sponsoring individual categories. Already showing support through sponsorship are headline sponsors Cardiff Airport, platinum sponsors Jelf, and an impressive list of category sponsors which includes: Cardiff BID, Genero, Savills, Robertson Solicitors, Chapel 1877, WSET and Hotel Indigo. Nominations open on 14 November, and ticket sales are now open via the site. Those who wish to attend the glittering ceremony are urged not to delay, as last year the Awards night itself reached a record attendance and sold out well in advance of the night. For sponsorship enquiries and to benefit from the Awards, please contact Mark George on mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk

For more: www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

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business insider

ARTS WINNER

cardiff life awards 2018 CHAPTER

From exhibitions to films to cutting edge performances, Chapter has got it all covered. We find out more from chief executive Andy Eagle

So how did it feel to win a Cardiff Life Award? Proud and delighted. Cardiff Life is an extremely well read and valuable media publication for Cardiff that always covers the arts in depth. Why do you think Chapter won? Chapter is an extraordinary arts organisation that effortlessly combines community and social activities with the production and presentation of contemporary cinema, visual arts and theatre. We also house 32 resident arts and creative companies within our buildings. I’ve been working in the arts for fast approaching 30 years and there are very few similar venues to Chapter across the UK. It really is pretty unique. How did you first get into working the arts? My first job working seasons in

Blackpool can be considered more entertainment than arts but it was an extremely valuable insight into how theatre operates, in this case commercially.

Looking pretty pleased with the win!

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given? Understand your audiences. What plans do you have for Chapter? We are currently working in partnership with Cardiff Council, Chapter’s landlords, to develop the site. This will involve increasing capacity to house arts and creative companies as resident within Chapter. It will probably be 2021 before completed but it’s going to happen. Who are your heroes in the arts world? Michael Clark and Stephen Petronio

“Chapter is an extraordinary arts organisation that effortlessly combines community and social activities with the production and presentation of contemporary cinema, visual arts and theatre”

dancing together is still one of the most extraordinary theatrical events I have ever seen. It was described by critics as being a “testosterone fueled arabesque of a rock show” and it got me hooked on contemporary dance. What advice would you give someone looking to go into this sector? Think hard about your pension. What do you love most about being in Cardiff? The great arts scene – but you’d expect me to say that! And also its close proximity to mountains and beaches. Tell us your favourite bit about working at Chapter… Our fantastic program of exhibitions, theatre, cinema and the diversity of audiences that use Chapter. From morning through to night it changes in profile. Right now, the social space is filling up with red shirted football fans having a drink before a Wales game at the Cardiff City Stadium.

For more: www.chapter.org

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business insider

BUSINESS SERVICES WINNER

When it comes to recruitment the New Directions teams really know there stuff – which is why they scooped the Business Services award at this year’s Cardiff Life Awards. Ruth Dalton, group head of communications and marketing tells us more… So how did it feel to win a Cardiff Life Award? Our team was absolutely elated to win our Cardiff Life Award. We had been shortlisted a number of times previously, so this was our year! The awards are so revered in and around Cardiff, so to be part of the magic was really important to us. Why do you think New Directions won? Our business has grown significantly over the last decade. In that time, we have matured professionally. Our values, culture and ethos are stronger than ever before and we believe in what we do. We believe that we can make a difference to the communities we work to support. Additionally, we have the best in the business working in our teams. We continuously invest in our people and they are ultimately our super power. Competition is high in our industry, so we know we have to be continuously evolving, I think this self-awareness as a business has helped us to submit and win this award. How did you first get into recruitment? Personally, I started my working life in recruitment for a large agency. Straight

NEW DIRECTIONS

Celebrations for team New Directions

out of university, it was quite the culture shock and a massive baptism of fire. I was a girl from the north east of England working in construction recruitment in the south east – to say the banter was high would be an understatement. I soon recognised that my strengths were actually within the creative industries and so I transferred my skills over to communications and marketing within recruitment. How did New Directions come about? New Directions is the brainchild of our chief executive, Jeff Tune. It all started in a small office in London. Jeff had a wife and young family to support back home in Cardiff – and in the early days of the business he would sleep on his office floor to drive outgoings down. His dedication and commitment paid off, it wasn’t always easy but here we are more than 20 years on, winning awards like this and with more than 200 staff employed across 12 offices! What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given? Be prepared to challenge! Those who have the best successes are not afraid to ask questions in

“The awards are so revered in and around Cardiff, so to be part of the magic was really important to us” 100 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

challenging situations. You can be respectful, but never waiver with your own values if you think there is an alternative solution. Also…my Nan once wrote to me (pen and paper…imagine) in the very beginnings of my career and warned me ‘be careful of the hands you step upon on the way up your ladder, they may be the ones to catch you should you ever fall from grace’. Solid northern advice. What plans do you have for New Directions? Our business has a huge presence in Wales and we are exceptionally proud of our Welsh roots. For us 2018 it will be about our online businesses – we founded onlineDBS in 2014 – an exclusively digital operation that allows organisations to apply for a criminal record check for new and existing staff, and in the very near future we are hoping to offer checks for individuals as well. We want to innovate and continue to be thought leaders within the recruitment sector…and a couple more awards would not go amiss! Who are your business heroes? A little off the commercial track – but Aneurin Bevan is one of the most tenacious and driven individuals I have ever had the privilege to learn about. His balance of creating social justice and striving for access to free healthcare for all (whilst attempting to navigate choppy financial waters) is inspirational. For me, heroes of business balance profit and positive outcomes for all.

What advice would you give someone looking to go into recruitment? Choose your sector carefully, ensure you can be passionate about it. Our education recruiters are the best in the business because they live and breathe their schools and candidates. Our social care team have the hearts of lions and are so protective of their community it is infectious. Our pharmacy guys are driven and fastpaced, making them a preferred supplier with so many big organisations. The critical factor that links them all is their passion and knowledge for their sectors. What do you love most about being in Cardiff? It is a capital city with the community vibe of a small town. Businesses support one another and there is so much opportunity. Cardiff really is one of the UK’s most interesting cities. The Cardiffian folk are open and welcoming, both personally and professionally. I have felt completely cherished during my time in the city, it is a very special place. Tell us your favourite bit of recruitment trivia … Did you know that recruitment has its roots in World War II? As early as the 1940s agencies began to spring up as young men were called to action and skills gaps and staff shortages began to arise. On return from duty agencies worked to support veterans into the workplace with the new skills they had acquired during their time at war.

For more: www.new-directions.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Financial peace of mind in retirement Rachel Debono, a financial planner and pension specialist at TILNEY, explains why professional financial advice isn’t just about numbers, but also helping people achieve their goals

What do you enjoy most about your work? As a chartered financial planner, I’m entrusted with my clients’ personal wealth and financial security. It is a real privilege to get to work with them on a financial plan that helps them achieve their goals. What are the most common questions you get asked? • Have I got enough money to retire? • Can I pass my pension on tax-free? • Will my family pay inheritance tax? Changes in pension legislation mean we now have more ﬂexibility in how we use our pensions, but for many it also means that retirement planning is a more complex and stressful process. However, despite the changes one thing that has stayed consistent is the need for a sustainable income for as long as we live. How do you help to build a retirement plan? Once I have established my client’s goals and collected all the necessary information on their income and outgoings, I build them a bespoke ‘cashﬂow model’ that creates a long-term

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projection of their finances. This helps us better understand their financial situation and illustrates what their future retirement goals could cost. It also allows us to test a variety of scenarios that show the financial impact of different decisions, such as an early retirement. Cashflow modelling also helps me determine my client’s most suitable retirement options. The plan will always take into account their entire financial situation, not just their pensions. For example, by combining a number of different tax reliefs and allowances it may even be possible to reach their desired level of income without paying any tax. Some clients may also prefer to take advantage of the new flexible pension access rules, whereas others may want to pass their pension on tax-free and use other assets to fund their retirement. Prevailing tax rates and reliefs depend on your individual circumstances and are subject to change. What steps should people be taking to ensure the retirement they want? Most of us have more than one pension as we

change jobs over the course of our working lives, but are we keeping track of them? If not, it may be more cost-effective and easier to consolidate them with one provider. This may not always be the best option as there may be some guarantees associated with the plan. It’s important to regularly review your pensions – if you haven’t, you may well find that it’s not on track to achieve what you want it to. ■

If you’d like help with your pension or retirement plans, why not book a no-obligation initial consultation by calling Rachel Debono on 029 2072 9080 or emailing Rachel.Debono@tilney.co.uk. To learn more about Tilney, visit tilney.co.uk

advertising feature

Independent financial advice – the costs and charges Mulberry Wealth Management Ltd is a firm of independent financial advisers specialising in providing advice on pensions, investment, protection and mortgages What does your firm typically charge for financial advice? All Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) firms will have a Client Agreement or Fee Charter to explain their fees. We try to keep it simple as we have found over the years a tiered percentage basis is easy to understand and provides fair remuneration for the level, type and risk involved with the advice. For advising and arranging pension or investment work up to £100,000 our charge would be 3%. The higher the sums involved this initial charge will come down and may be only 1%. Our advice would be to shop around and find these details and costs out before you commit. What are the ongoing charges? Put simply there are usually three charges to

“It is important to have the chance to meet and discuss your position and requirements first”

take into account. There are the provider’s annual charges and for a pension or ISA, for example, a competitive rate with a leading insurer could be 0.30% of your fund per annum. The second charge is the cost of the fund or investment solution. A tracker or passive fund could be as low as 0.10% per annum, rising to a risk rated model portfolio at around 0.50% or full discretionary investment solution being the top end around 1.20%. The final element is the Financial Advice or IFA charge. Mulberry Wealth Management charge 0.50% per annum, which is very competitive for a full advice service. Many IFA firms levy 1.00% or higher of your fund value per annum, so for double the cost you really need to know what your getting. How do I know I need financial advice? Our clients come to and use our services for a variety of reasons. First and foremost it is for help and advice in a myriad of complex choices, products and terminology. Some have already done a bit of research themselves or in many cases have existing plans and policies, but may have lost track or direction. Not only do we provide market wide research to evaluate what you have but will be able to save you time and effort focusing on the providers and products that are applicable to you and then arranging the full transaction. As a large and long standing

IFA practice we have very competitive terms with the industry’s leading providers and we ensure you benefit from these discounts. Do you charge for a first meeting? Like most IFAs we don’t charge for an initial meeting. It is important to have the chance to meet and discuss your position and requirements first to understand what’s involved, if it’s achievable, how long it might take and the cost involved. Many eventual clients are referred from a fellow professional, such as accountant or solicitor or a fellow client so they’ve had the opportunity to sound them out first but we usually find an hour meeting will allow for plenty of questions and answers and will be a valuable investment of their time and effort. n

Mulberry Wealth Management Ltd, 366-370 Cyncoed Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff CF23 6SA 02920 023 333; 02920 373 124; www.mulberrywealth.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I cardiff LIFE I 105

business insider

left: Craig Palfrey from Penguin Wealth;

right: Philip Payne from Mulberry Wealth Management

On the money

Cardiff’s sharpest financial minds tackle some of the pertinent money matters By Charlie Rose

ith issues like Brexit, pensions and interest rates in the news on a regular basis we’re all trying to keep an eye on our personal finance health. We offered two of Cardiff ’s sharpest financial brains – Craig Palfrey, a certified financial planner at Penguin Wealth, and Philip Payne, managing director and financial consultant at Mulberry Wealth Management. What makes a good wealth manager/investment manager? Craig Palfrey: The ability to listen, the ability to ask good questions and

the ability to solve problems. We have to be more qualified and the various accreditations that Penguin hold, and that are available, we believe are important – but ultimately a good planner has to listen first and, as someone famous once said, “Start with the end in mind.” Philip Payne: It might sound obvious but first and foremost you have to have an interest in money! You’ve also got to be able to read between the lines when meeting with clients and interpret and challenge what it is they want and what they are aiming for. It goes without saying that you need the technical knowledge but you’ve got to be a good listener and soundboard and also have the conviction to agree a plan with

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a client and commit to it. Like any plan though it is subject to change as circumstances and the economy add external influences so an ongoing dialogue and timely reviews will ensure the client/ investment manager relationship works. What’s the public perception of your profession do you think? And is it correct? CP: The financial service profession is dealing with some of the major human issues of our time: 1. Keeping a business or family going in the event of premature death 2. Offering a retirement income that cannot be outlived 3. Protecting incomes if someone becomes sick or disabled 4. Providing a legacy when people die

This is what the business of financial services is all about. Our job is about the people we serve. As a profession we need to become more vocal about the impact we have on our clients. The public seem to have a mixed view of what we do. Those who have used the services of an independent financial adviser over the last 20 years will usually think highly of the profession but those who haven’t don’t know the value we add and, unfortunately, see us as pension advisers or insurance salesmen. We do arrange pensions and insurance but only as part of addressing the human issues mentioned above in line with helping the business, the family or the individual achieve their short, medium and long term goals.

BUSINESS INSIDER

“YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS SAVE WITH A LONG TERM VIEW ” Are we in an economic slowdown? CP: Who knows? We try not to make bold predictions. We have a process to manage our clients’ money and we have someone looking at this every day. We have started to make some defensive changes to our portfolios given the 10 year bull-run we have had in investment markets so you can read into that as you see ﬁt. Pensions keep changing! What’s the best way to ensure a comfortable retirement? CP: The earlier you can start saving the better. That ﬁrst pound saved will be the best pound you save as it will have a long time to grow. We would usually like to start by asking the client one simple question – “What is your number?” This involves helping someone understand what they have, what they will have and what they think “retirement” looks like and also helps them to understand what they will do, where they will go, what it will cost and what they want to leave behind. We can then work backwards to see what they need to save to be able to live that life. PP: You have to accept change and that has been constant with pensions over the years and I can’t see that trend changing. Rules and legislation however have changed considerably for the better over the years and pensions are now

one of the most flexible and tax efficient products on the market, offering a variety of attractions to the investor. Because of the changes over the years and with the current focus on defined benefit or final salary schemes pension planning can be complex. There are a host of online support and government websites to assist with directing you and explaining terminology but taking the time to meet with a well recommended pension specialist or IFA, sooner rather than later, will help you clearly assess where your current pension planning is, relevant to your circumstances and what retirement, hopefully comfortable, will look like. There’s a lot of focus on sustainability at the moment? Is this a growth area? CP: In the long-term most areas will experience growth, you have to always save with a long term view. What about space travel? CP: Absolutely! But who will be first to crack this – Richard Branson, Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos? We’ve heard about robots infiltrating the wealth management scene. Does your firm use them, and how should potential investors feel about it? CP: Robo-advice will grow in popularity for those who need

simpliﬁed investment or savings products. We don’t use them currently as we believe that advice is key but anything that helps people save for their future is a good idea. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned during your time working in finance? CP: Invest in yourself. PP: Sometimes it takes a number of years of practice or unfortunately involvement in mistakes or decisions you’ve regretted in hindsight to heed the good advice to keep it simple. The ﬁnancial services world is awash with complicated products, structures and funds, which often can unravel and lead to increased administration, tax implications or other burdens. Over the years many clients have come to see us having signed up for what they thought was a wonder product or investment and it’s turned out to be the exact opposite. It takes time to accumulate wealth through prudent pension and investment planning and sticking to simple principles and tried and tested products and providers will ensure you avoid the pitfalls. What drew you to this work and what keeps you here? CP: I fell in to this profession but

I feel blessed that I have found the best job in the world. The joy of helping people live the life they want and deserve and making a difference is what keeps me here. PP: I started as an Independent Financial Adviser back in 1997, pretty much straight off the back of university. I’d obtained a first class degree in management science so everybody expected me to enter the corporate world working for a large company in or around London. I actually stumbled across the world of financial services by meeting a former school friend who had just qualified as an adviser. I was intrigued as pretty much you were self-employed, working right at the coalface with clients and success appeared to be directly proportional to the work and effort you put in. School and university courses at the time give you very little insight into the world of personal finance and financial planning and I wanted to understand more about how mortgages, pensions and savings actually worked along with areas like personal taxation and interest rates and the economy. I was drawn in and the more insight I gained the more interesting and involved the industry became to pursue a serious career. What makes your way of doing things special? CP: Our Plan – Perform – Protect approach is what makes the Penguin way special. For more: www.penguinwealth.com; www.mulberrywealth.co.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Left behind

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

was married for 26 years. My husband left me three years ago for a woman with young children and, last year, they bought a house together. He says he has no money to help me out but, while I have been unable to afford any holidays since then, he has taken his new family to Spain for the fourth time. He refuses to tell me where he is living and my children are grown up and do not have a good relationship with their father and therefore, I do not know his current address and consequently am unable to divorce him. What can I do?

Once you have his address, then you can start the divorce process and ask for financial disclosure from him with a view to resolving your mutual finances. If he fails to engage, then you would also be able to issue financial proceedings which would then oblige your husband to disclose and cooperate. Whilst it does add complications if he and his new partner have spent joint monies on providing a home for themselves, further delay will not help your situation. I would recommend that you see a solicitor immediately. â&#x2013;

A: If you are unable to locate his address through friends or family, a solicitor would be able to employ a tracing agency, relatively cheaply, to track down his new address. The solicitor would then be able to apply, for a minimal fee for copies of the Land Register and discover when the house was bought, for how much and in whose names it is held, which will inform and assist you in negotiations.

Please feel free to contact our family team for advice on a whole range of family matters on 02920 345511. www.berrysmith.com

Katie McColgan

The Old Mill Charlie Metcalfe takes a turn around this old Glamorgan grain mill

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he currents of the Nant Llancarfan once moved the water wheel of this 17th century corn mill, but by 1938 it had come to a standstill. Store rooms were turned into family rooms, and the old mill room was transformed into a sitting room, leaving the property with an enchanting history and physical remnants seeped throughout the woodwork. Approaching the property, a gated stone archway frames a footpath that leads to both back and front doors. Overarching gates front the driveway, which twists around to a detached two-storey garage with a useful workshop area and upper studio. An area beside the garage allows room for dinner party guests to park. A storm door provides the perfect place to haul off muddy wellies after long walks in the Welsh countryside, and once inside the front door, the reception hall opens out beneath a beamed ceiling some 17-feet high. Downwards delves a spiralling oak staircase, and more stairs climb to the upper-ground floor. Taking the stairs

property

down leads to the converted mill room and a utility room. The mill room houses the original milling machinery built into the far wall, which has been refurbished and illuminated elegantly by wall lights. Back up the staircase and onto the ground floor, the kitchen is completed in more of that beautiful oak that brightens up the house, and a central island leaves ample room for cooking up a family meal on the electric hob, with ingredients stored in the walk-in pantry. Just along the hallway from the kitchen, a drawing room begins to express the true size of this house. Immense beams lead across the length of the ceiling and join with the brickwork that encases a fireplace with inset wood-burning stove. It’s the perfect spot for a game of cards with a hot chocolate on a cold winter evening. Up a short stairway, a hall leads to three double bedrooms, one with a shower, and all with towering walls forming into beamed ceilings. Up further stairs and a landing leads to the last three bedrooms, one of which is the master suite. The suite itself is flooded with fresh air when the doors to the balcony are opened up, and the

oak floors, candle lights, and high pitched ceiling give the room a castle-like atmosphere when the lights are dimmed. Outside, the gardens display a marvellous use of space. Beautifully landscaped paths twist around in a maze, passing seating areas and flowerbeds to the rear terrace and the pool, which is run from a cabin adjoining the planked outdoor seating area. A summerhouse is also nestled somewhere among the shrubbery at the back of the plot. If snuggling up beside the fire, or, weather permitting, lounging beside the pool aren’t the order of the day, Llancarfan village provides plenty of excuses to be out and about. With the local Fox and Hounds Inn, a tennis club, and a golf course all within a stone’s throw away, you really can’t go wrong. A little further afield, but still within an hour’s drive, the coast, Cardiff airport, and Cardiff itself present numerous opportunities for weekend adventures, and a taste for it is what the new owner of The Old Mill will need. n

House numbers Bedrooms 6 Bathrooms 3 Living rooms 3 Pool 1 Summerhouse 1 Guide price £975,000 For more: Brinsons, 67 High Street, Cownbridge CF71 7AF; www.brinsons.co.uk

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Semi-detached Victorian style residence built in 2004. Golden Oak PVC double glazed windows. Stunning generous living space throughout with bespoke fittings. Five large bedrooms, fitted kitchen & breakfast room, downstairs cloak room, large utility room. 20ft Dining room, 16ft Lounge, Three bathrooms two ensuite, double garage, 80ft rear gardens, private gated entrance drive. No chain! Truly outstanding.

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Large detached four bedroom double fronted bungalow with exceptional surrounding gardens and grounds, beautifully landscaped and secluded providing room to extend further if required. Stunning location level walking distance to Rhiwbina garden village. Whitchurch high school catchment. 24ft new kitchen & breakfast room. 17'6 Lounge. Two bathrooms. Double garage. Private double drive. Truly unique. Must be seen!

CARDIFF LIVES

“I think it’s great that we teach children about topics that, even 10-years ago, would not have been discussed” nothing would come out. I stood there, in front of more than 150 people balling my eyes out!

Joanna Chinnock The head of Westbourne prep school and nursery talks lipsticks, George Lamb and crying in public Where in Cardiff do you live and what makes it special? I live just outside Cardiff in part of the restored Talygarn Manor. A beautiful building, dating back to the 13th century, Talygarn was a family home for many years until it was turned into hospital for miners after World War II. I absolutely love it there, come rain or shine, pulling in to the sweeping driveway after a long day at work, I instantly relax. What has been the highlight of your career so far? It has to be Westbourne’s recent Estyn inspection, where we were awarded excellent in all five inspection areas. Having worked at Westbourne for 13 years, I have always known it is a very special

place but having this officially recognised by the National Inspectorate is so rewarding. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you? It would have to be my inability to not cry at the end-of-term assembly when I say goodbye to our Year 5 pupils! At Westbourne, the children join the senior school in Year 6 to give early access to subject specific teachers for all lessons. At the end of term assembly, we usually make a film montage of Year 5 pupils through the years, accompanied by the Take That song Never Forget. This year, when I went to introduce the film to the audience of pupils, parents, and grandparents

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When did you last cry, and why? That is an easy one – last Sunday. My son and I cuddled down to watch A Street Cat called Bob, a film about a homeless man who is befriended by a stray cat. He is trying to get off the streets, and the cat’s devotion and love gives him purpose to make a better life. I feel so passionately that everyone needs somebody to believe in them, somebody to love them, somebody to support them and this movie just encapsulated all that. Last year, our school collected food and clothing for The Huggard Centre – a charity in Cardiff that helps homeless people. We will be supporting them again this year. Even the very young children in our school understood the importance of supporting such a worthy charity. What’s on your bookshelf at the moment? I am currently reading The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson. It is a book I will be studying with my Year 5 pupils this term so I like to know the story well before sharing it with the children. The book is about a 12-year-old boy who has OCD. I think it’s great that we teach children about topics that, even 10 years ago, would not have been discussed. Who’s your celebrity crush? Very easy – George Lamb. Tall,

funny and has a great style. His dad, Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell in Eastenders), is still pretty hot too. What’s your guiltiest pleasure? Mac lipsticks – my favourite shade is Chatterbox. If you have a spare five minutes in the day, what are you likely to fill it with? Taking my dog, Paul, for a walk. He is a Chorkie, and the ugliest little thing ever. But we love him! Tell us about a secret/ underrated Cardiff spot we might not be aware of… I really recommend Parc, an indoor, outdoor play centre which is perfect for children. For adults, I love the drinks and décor at Gin & Juice on St Mary’s Street. But if you did want to venture outside of Cardiff, there is an amazing new craft bar in Pontyclun called Pipeworks Bar. They serve lovely craft ales that my husband loves, and they also have an awesome selection of premium gins. We’d better let you get on…. What are you doing as soon as you’ve done this? Straight back to work. There is never a quiet time of year in teaching. I know this sounds very corny, but I work with such a great team, the pupils are just fantastic, as are our parents. I love my job! n www.westbourneschool.com