Cardiff Life - Issue 193

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property ISSUE 193 / NOVEMBER 2018 / £3

@CardiffLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

THE WOW FACTOR A CELEBRATION OF THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

ISSUE 193 / NOVEMBER 2018 / PUSHING BOUNDARIES

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

GET PREPPED FOR THE BIG DAY

GET COSY

ON A NIGHT IN

TAKING THE CAKE A SEASON OF BOUNDARY PUSHING PERFORMANCES

THE PAIR OF PASTRY CHEFS BAKING UP A STORM

CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER

EDITOR’S LETTER

Performances for the Curious at Wales Millennium Centre celebrates the different and the diverse. Turn to page 46 for more; BELOW: Long nights equal cosy nights in our books.

See page 56

I

t can be easy to slip into comfortable habits – only watching certain types of shows, listening to particular genres of music, eating the same meals over and over again etc etc, can’t it? And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it can be good to step outside that comfort zone from time to time, to challenge ourselves, face the unfamiliar and try something that perhaps makes us feel a bit uncomfortable.

That’s why the new Performances for the Curious season running at Wales Millennium Centre is such a good thing. This collection of boundary-pushing performances includes everything from drag queens and cabarets to familyfriendly shows and hard-hitting dramas dealing with some of the complex issues facing today’s society.

It’s a chance to broaden horizons and maybe think outside the usual box. Which, I think, can only be a good thing. Because it’s through pushing boundaries and effecting change that the world becomes a better place.

M

ae’n hawdd glynu wrth yr hyn sy’n gyffyrddus i ni – gwylio rhai mathau o sioeau, gwrando ar fathau penodol o gerddoriaeth, bwyta’r un prydau bwyd dro ar ôl tro ac ati. Ac er nad oes dim o’i le ar hynny mewn gwirionedd, gall profi pethau llai cyfarwydd fod yn braf o bryd i’w gilydd er mwyn i ni ein herio ein hunain, dod ar draws pethau anghyfarwydd a rhoi cynnig ar rywbeth sydd efallai’n gwneud i ni deimlo braidd yn anghyffyrddus.

Dyna pam y mae’r tymor newydd yng Nghanolfan y Mileniwm, sef Perfformiadau i’r Chwilfrydig, yn rhywbeth mor braf. Mae’r casgliad hwn o berfformiadau sy’n gwthio’r ffiniau yn cynnwys popeth o berfformiadau drag a chabaret i sioeau teuluol a dramâu deifiol sy’n ymdrin â rhai o’r problemau cymhleth sy’n wynebu ein cymdeithas ni heddiw. Mae’n gyfle i ehangu gorwelion a meddwl mewn ffyrdd gwahanol i’r arfer.

Ac mae’n rhaid bod hynny’n beth da, yn fy marn i, oherwydd dim ond drwy wthio ffiniau a sbarduno newid y daw’r byd yn lle gwell.

EMMA DANCE Follow us on Twitter @CardiffLifeMag Instagram @cardifflifemag

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Issue 193/November 2018 Cover The glamorous Le Gateau Chocolat.

Image by Eli Schmidt/Tracy Gentles

14

featureS

14 Christmas It’s time to get organised for the

festive season

opinion

23 a man’s world Nick Williams has all the love for

his adopted home of Cardiff

the arts

27 INTRO It’s back to the 90s for Cardiff Boy 28 WHAT’S ON That’s the next few weeks sorted...

34 Women of the World festival The

fabulous, feminist festival that’s coming to Cardiff

Hijinx is making a difference

delectably diverse season at Wales Millennium Centre

41 state of the arts Clare Williams on how

46 Performances for the curious The

70

shopping

56 Editor’s Choice Snuggle down for a night in 60 FASHION It’s time to party!

65 Try 5 Cardiff health and beauty experts to help you

look and feel fabulous

food & DRINK

69 FOOD & Drink NEWS Bite sized chunks of info 70 A tasty pair Meet the St David’s Hotel pastry

chefs

Business

81 business insider News from the movers,

shakers and innovators of Cardiff

Property

98 showcase A piece of Penarth history

34

Regulars

8 sPOTLIGHT News to peruse 76 sNAPPED The parties and the pictures 106 CARDIFF lives Mia Kowsor 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, Nick Williams, Clare Williams Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@mediaclash. co.uk Deputy advertising manager Kate Butterfield kate.butterfield@mediaclash.co.uk Advertising executive Louis Grey louis.grey@mediaclash.co.uk Production/ Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash. co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

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

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

advertising feature

spotlight Everybody’s talking about…

Walking in a winter wonderland

Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland is reaching new heights this year with a new ride attraction that will provide the best ever views over south Wales and beyond, the biggest site in the event’s history, and the return of the undercover open air Admiral Ice Rink November.

The new Drop Tower will take riders a breathtaking 90m into the skies, dwarfing all other buildings in Cardiff, and offering terrific views over the city, before dropping them vertically at startling speed to land back on safe ground. Here they can enjoy skating undercover, numerous fairground rides throughout the expanded site, and all the food and drink on offer in the authentic Alpine Village. This year that includes sweet and savoury crêpes, a variety of traditional sweet treats including a fire pit for toasting marshmallows, a converted tram serving grilled sausage and burgers, plus a double decker ‘Sur La Piste’ French ski lodge themed bar complete with ski gondolas, bringing après-ski to the heart of the city.

Norman George Sayers, operator of Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland says, “Each year we look to introduce exciting new elements to improve the visitor experience at Winter Wonderland, and I think these thrilling new features and enhanced hospitality for 2018 will make it even more popular with the 250,000 plus audience we expect – but with my head for heights, you won’t find me up the Tower this season!”

The Admiral Ice Rink boasts a sparkling, starlit clear span roof which means no sessions are lost to the weather, and it can be enjoyed to the full by the anticipated 60,000 plus skaters.

Last year Cardiff also became the first outdoor rink in the UK to receive Access Accreditation, allowing even more wheelchair users onto the rink. Winter Wonderland also provides popular Penguins that can be pre-booked for toddlers who need a little extra support on the ice.

The Winter Wonderland is open from 15 November to 6 January.

For more: www.cardiffswinterwonderland.com

You’ll need a head for heights if you want to ride the Drop Tower

Dr Paul Hole

Science

Blood lines

A charity dedicated to fighting blood cancer has awarded a grant of £6,600 to help fund innovative new research into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).

Dr Paul Hole, a research scientist at Cardiff University, has been awarded a grant by Leukaemia & Myeloma Research UK (LMRUK) to fund research into the biology of leukaemia using novel, gene-editing approaches.

Focussing on cellular and genetic pathology, Dr Hole has completed a preliminary study into gene-editing and the grant will allow him to further expand upon his research.

Dr Hole says, “The grant money will support the continued developmental work into gene-editing approaches to study and fight AML. The study is still very much in the early stages, but I’m hoping that in the future this research can be translated into a treatment process for AML and potentially other cancers too.”

For more: www.lmruk.org

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

Vicky Pattison visits the Marie Curie Hospice Cardiff and the Vale in Penarth, Wales. She meets with management, staff and volunteer Basil Priest

Doing good

© WENN

Guest appearance

Children

Laura Carter and her partner Hannah O’Connor

Cool stuff

You’re going to need to get your skates on if you don’t want to miss The Wonderful World of Disney on Ice when the show comes to Cardiff in April.

Featuring more than 50 Disney characters, this production includes the box office smash hits Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory and Disney’s Frozen.

“What I like best about Disney On Ice is that we are privileged to bring classic and modern Disney and Pixar stories to hometowns around the world live on ice,” says producer Nicole Feld. “In this production, our amazing creative team chose action-packed stories that really resonate with not only kids today, but with their parents as well. The Wonderful World of Disney On Ice has everything from an underwater adventure in Finding Dory to the comedic duo Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King.”

Disney on Ice is at the Motorpoint Arena 24 – 28 April and tickets are on sale now.

For more: www.disneyonice.co.uk Disney characters are getting their skates on

National TV personality Vicky Pattison, best known for her exploits on Geordie Shore, as a panelist on Loose Women and as winner of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here 2015 paid a special visit to long-serving volunteers Basil Priest and Geoff Mortimer at the Marie Curie Hospice Cardiff and the Vale in Penarth on 28 September.

Basil, 86, has been volunteering at the hospice in Penarth since 1987, and was inspired to start assisting the charity after his wife was cared for at the hospice. Vicky met Basil last year when he won the category for Best Volunteer at the Who Cares Wins awards, and wanted to once again meet Basil to congratulate him on his outstanding commitment to the charity.

Vicky says, “When I first met Basil I was in awe of this wonderful man’s selfless commitment, and honestly jumped at the chance to spend the day with him and his fellow volunteers and staff. Marie Curie has provided vital care and support for more than 50,000 people living with a terminal illness in the last year alone, and it’s people like the incredible Basil, and all the volunteers, that allow them to carry on their good work. I have nothing but love and admiration for Basil and all those at Marie Curie – what total legends!’

For more: www.mariecurie.co.uk

Charity

One step at a time

A family from Cardiff has walked a total of 4 million steps for Diabetes UK Cymru to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes.

Laura Carter, 29, took on the 1 Million Steps challenge along with her partner Hannah O’Connor, parents Jenny and David, and sister Sarah.

Each family member walked one million steps between 1 July and 30 September, raising vital funds to help the charity support other people living with diabetes in Wales. They needed to walk at least 10,000 steps a day to reach their target.

Laura was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2008, aged 19. She was hospitalised this year after falling ill with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a lifethreatening condition that requires urgent medical attention. Signs of DKA can include high blood glucose levels, ketones in your blood/urine, thirst, frequently going to the toilet, feeling tired or lethargic, blurry vision, nausea or vomiting, and collapse.

Laura is now on the mend and found that the 1 Million Steps challenge helped to rebuild her strength after her three month stay in hospital.

She says, “The challenge came at a perfect time for me. Walking 10,000 steps a day for some people might be easy but for me this was my equivalent of climbing Everest. As the days and months have gone on I have become stronger and been able to walk further, faster and for longer.”

For more: www.diabetes.org.uk

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

Christmas checklist

We’re making a list… … and checking it twice 14 I cardiff LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

xmas checklist

“If you want to sashay serenely through the festive season it’s time to get organised”

T

he clocks have gone back, we’re well into the “-ber” months and Jack Frost’s nipping at your nose. It can only mean one thing – Christmas is coming!

In fact, (and this might come as a bit of a shock) depending on exactly when you’re reading this, it’s only 50 or so sleeps until the big day. Which isn’t long.

At. All. So, then, if you want to sashay serenely through the festive season, arriving at 2019 merry and bright, rather than rush through it in a blind panic so that you’re completely burnt out by new year, it’s time to get organised.

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY

• If you leave all your food shopping until the last minute the chances are that there’s going to be at least one thing on your list that you’re not going to be able to find. After all, a very large proportion of the country will be eating pretty much exactly the same meal, at exactly the same time – and there’s only so much turkey, parsnips and Brussels sprouts to go around.

Start planning your Christmas menus early especially if you’re catering en masse. Not just Christmas lunch either, think about Boxing Day, breakfasts, snacks, and the days before and after too.

The bird is probably going to be your

Crimbo dinner showpiece so make sure you get a good one. Visit a reputable butcher who will be able to tell you where it’s been sourced from, and will also be able to advise on the best size for your clan.

Of course, turkey might be the traditional option, but there’s no reason why you can’t have a change. Oriel Jones butchers in Canton, rear lamb and beef on the family farm at the foot hills of the Cambrian mountains and is renowned for the quality of the meat.

Shaun Jones, from Oriel Jones, says, “Our turkey crowns stuffed with sausage meat and wrapped in streaky bacon are very popular, but we also sell lots of ribs of beef at Christmas – our 35-day dry-aged ribs are really something special and are a great alternative for people who aren’t a fan of turkey. We also do legs of lamb marinated in wine and garlic which are delicious!

“We’re taking orders for Christmas now, and orders close the second week in December.”

• Breakfast Bloody Marys, liqueur coffees, aperitifs, digestifs, cocktails and wines – there’s no excuse for a cheeky tipple like Christmas, is there? As it’s a special occasion, it’s the ideal excuse to splash out on something a bit special. There’s plenty of specialist wine and liquor merchants in Cardiff who can help you find the perfect matches for your meals, and suggest some ideas for some sensational

seasonal drinks that will wow your guests.

• If you’re planning to eat out during the festive period, then it’s pretty much impossible to book too early, especially if you’ve got your heart set on somewhere in particular and you’re a large group. Get your reservations in asap to avoid disappointment.

• Sure, most of the catering will need to be last minute, but if you’re planning on making jams, chutneys etc these can all be made well in advance. You could even pre-prepare a few dishes for the days between Christmas and New Year, like lasagne, pies and cakes and pop them in the freezer.

CARDIFF LIFE LOVES Oriel Jones, 108 Cowbridge Road East; www.orieljones.com Wally’s Liquor Cellar, 10 – 14 Castle Arcade; www.wallysliquorcellar.co.uk La Cuina, 11 King’s Road; www.lacuina.co.uk Heaney’s, 6 – 10 Romilly Crescent, Pontcanna; www.heaneyscardiff.co.uk Stanley’s Bistro, 185 Cowbridge Road East; www.stanleysbistro.co.uk Clayton Hotel, St Mary’s Street; www.claytonhotelcardiff.co.uk Knife and Fork Food, www.knifeandforkfood.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I cardiff LIFE I 15

Christmas is the perfect excuse for a few drinks with friends

HOST WITH THE MOST

Now is the time to check that you’ve got enough towels and bedding for any guests.

Remember, that if you’ve got several lots coming and going, you might not have the time (or energy) to launder in between departure and arrival, so make sure you’ve got enough and buy more if needed.

• Ensure that bathrooms are fully stocked with a full season’s worth of toilet rolls and other expendables so that guests don’t have to make any awkward requests.

As well as setting out essentials, it’s a nice touch to leave your guests a few little luxuries like a bottle of water, a few wrapped chocolates, miniature toiletries, and some books and magazines.

• It might sound obvious but have you checked that your dining room table is big enough?

And do you have enough chairs?

“Christmas is a sressful time so we’d suggest a relaxing beauty treatment” 16 I cardiff LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Do you need a new sofa? Is the oven up to cooking the turkey?

If you do need to make any bigger purchases you’ll need to do it now to allow time for delivery.

• Do the deep clean now, before the wintery weather really sets in, as you might need to move some furniture outside to get into all the nooks and crannies. Launder any cushion covers, and give the oven a proper clean. If you do the big stuff now, it’s just a matter of maintaining it til Christmas!

CARDIFF LIFE LOVES Natuzzi, Havannah Street; www.natuzzi.co.uk Kutchenhaus, 10d Queen’s Arcade; www.kutchenhaus.co.uk The Place For Homes, Unit 1, Sutton Road, LLandow; www.theplaceforhomesltd.co.uk Home By Kirsty, 64a Glenroy Street; www.homebykirsty.com Leekes, Llantrisant Department Store, Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun; www.leekes.co.uk

CARDIFF LIFE LOVES Barney & Beau, Unit 6, Pontcanna Mews; www.barneyandbeau.com Laings, 27 The Hayes, www.laingsuk.com Shore, Windsor Court, The Esplanade, Penarth; www.shorecoastal.co.uk Octavo’s Book Café and Wine Bar, West Bute Street; www.octavobooks.co.uk Let Them See Cake, Victoria Park; www.letthemseecake.com

TOP OF THE SHOPS

• Start your Christmas shopping now, and it won’t seem like such a daunting task.

Plus, there’s nothing more depressing than trudging round crowded shops on Christmas Eve, fighting for the last remaining whateverit-is, when all you really want to be doing is sitting on the sofa in a onesie, watching Elf and sipping on a Baileys.

• Now’s a good time to do an audit of your Christmas decorations. Throw out anything that’s broken or tatty, decide on a theme for this year’s décor and buy anything new that you need now so that you’re fully prepared when it is time to deck the halls.

Red hair hues are the trend this Crimbo - according to the team at Goji

Christmas checklist from the autumn/winter catwalks with glitter and sparkle. Our natural Zoya nail polishes include a ‘pixie dust’ range which is perfect for Christmas parties.

“Christmas is a busy/stressful time so we would definitely suggest a relaxing beauty treatment such as reflexology, or a massage such as aromatherapy or Indian head. We also offer a paraffin wax treatment for hands and feet which, as well as helping any aches and pains, is also wonderfully relaxing.”

• Start planning the Christmas wardrobe.

From comfy lounge wear to glamorous gowns to waterproofs for a bracing Boxing Day walk, check that you (and the rest of the fam) has everything they need before the shops start selling out.

CARDIFF LIFE LOVES

ME TIME

• Make sure the diary is up to date with everyone’s Christmas engagements, and that the babysitter is booked. Don’t forget New Year’s Eve – it might seem a long way off, but you don’t want to have to rush home before midnight.

• Christmas is a notorious time of year for piling on the pounds, plus with all the Christmas parties in the diary you’re going to want to look your best. Let’s be honest, a radical transformation will take more than a couple of weeks, but hit the gym now, and set yourself a realistic fitness regime and there’s still time to make a difference.

• Book any beauty appointments so you’re pampered to perfection for all those Christmas parties.

Vicky Griffin, managing director of Goji, says, “We’d recommend booking as far in advance as you can – we have clients who have already booked their appointments throughout 2019 – but we have a team of five stylists so there are often last minute appointments available. We are now open six days a week including Mondays and late nights, as well as Sundays running up to Christmas in order to cope with demand.

“Strong hair colours are big this autumn/ winter with a big focus on reds ranging from subtle coppers through to the full on pillar box version! The summer’s beach wave perm trend continues into the autumn with a focus on curls – from loose and natural through to spirals. Nail colours take their inspiration

Goji, 175 Kings Road; www.gojihair.com The ME Clinic, 8 Churchill Way; www.themeclinic.co.uk Laguna Spa, Greyfriars Road; www.lagunahealthandspa.com Guy Christian, 2A Bute Place; www.guychristian.com Sands Hairdressing, 7 Waterloo Gardens; www.sands-hairdressing.co.uk B Fit Personal Training, Minster Road; www.bfitcardiff.com Kiti, Unit 1, Pontcanna Mews; www.kiticymru.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I cardiff LIFE I 17

“Situated at the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains, our farm has long been renowned for quality meat. We pride ourselves on producing and sourcing the very best meat Wales has to offer.

Our own herd of Welsh Black cattle and sheep, along with free range Welsh pork from West Wales and Christmas turkeys from outstanding free range Welsh farmers.

We have a genuine passion and love for good food, and a tradition of delivering exceptional produce. It was a natural progression to take our produce from gate to plate!

Our Christmas range includes free range locally sourced bronze turkeys, 35 day dry aged Welsh Black beef and Welsh mountain lamb. Order forms are available from our Canton butchery.�

The genuine field to fork experience:

PONTCANNA BUTCHERY Opening early 2019 221 Cathedral Rd, Pontcanna, CF11 9PP

CANTON BUTCHERY 108 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9DX

FARM Llygadenwyn Farm Office, Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire, SA40 9QS

02920 230088 | info@orieljones.co.uk www.orieljones.com

Cuts * Beard Trims * Cut-Throat Shaves * Fades * Male Waxing

175 Kings Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9DF 02921 321211 / hello@gojihair.com www.gojihair.com

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029 2048 1486 23 The Parade, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3AB parade@paradedental.com | paradedental.com

man’s world Nick is a family man

“It seems the right thing to settle here with my mates and connections who have also become a family”

Home is where the heart is

Nick Williams talks putting down roots in Cardiff

W

hen I left Auckland, New Zealand in 2008, I could never have imagined I would spend the next 10 years across Europe and be ready to set firm roots in Cardiff.

I have been blessed to have played the game of rugby for so long. If you had asked me back then I wouldn’t have believed I would still be playing now, let alone winning cup finals like we did last season.

Rugby has given me so much, including the opportunity to live in Munster, northern Italy, Ulster and now south Wales. I’ve spent the past three years living in Penarth, which is awesome.

All of my girls have been born in Europe – my eldest in Italy, the middle one in Belfast and we now

have a wee little Welsh one, so it really does feel like home.

It was when I went back to Auckland for my brother’s wedding (Samoa and Chiefs’ wing, Tim Nanai-Williams) and the plane landed that I realised that New Zealand didn’t feel like my home any more.

We have now decided to stay up here. It seems the right thing to settle here with my mates and connections, who have also become a family.

We love it here in Cardiff and the surrounding area – my wife and the girls are all very happy.

It is a great place to live whether Cardiff, Penarth or Barry – where we are in the process of moving.

One thing that has also really stuck out is how welcoming the Welsh have been to us. Taking the Cardiff Blues squad as

example; myself and Rey (LeeLo) are fluent-speaking Samoan boys, Samu (Manoa) and Willis (Halaholo) are fluent Tongan boys. We speak our language to each other 80 per cent of the time.

In some other environments the rest of the team would look down upon that and say we should be speaking English but the boys have been unbelievable here.

I had a word with Melon (Gethin Jenkins) when I arrived and I asked if he minded us speaking our language. He replied that if he, and some of the other boys, could speak Welsh then he too would do that!

For them to welcome us into that environment the way they have has been pretty special.

The Arms Park is also a pretty special and unique place to play rugby. The atmosphere is

awesome. You do see the crowds drop a bit when we lose but there is always a solid core. We are going okay at the moment and it’s been great. As they say, success brings people and puts the bums on seats.

I’m in the twilight of my career now and cherish every moment on the pitch, especially in front of our fantastically vocal and passionate supporters.

It certainly feels like home here, which I love. The only tough part was telling my mum that we’re here to stay – which is why I told her as I went into customs out of New Zealand! It’s a choice we’ve made as a family and I’m a Barry boy now! n

For more: www.cardiffblues.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 23

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Make a child’s Christmas ST DAVID’S TOY APPEAL is calling on shoppers to reach donation target

T

his festive season, St David’s Cardiff is holding its annual toy appeal, and with a target of 10,000 donations in 23 days, they need your help.

The toy appeal supports more than 20 incredible charities in Wales, and St David’s wants to make it the biggest year yet to ensure that every child in South Wales receives a Christmas gift.

From 1 – 23 December, St David’s is asking its customers to buy an extra gift for a child in need and drop it off at the in-centre donation station where a team of festive helpers will be making sure that gifts are delivered safely in time to start the celebrations.

The appeal, launched in 2015, has seen the generosity of shoppers donate nearly 24,000 gifts so far. Charities taking part include Barnardo’s, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity, Ty Hafan, Dreams & Wishes, Valley’s Kids and Latch.

Steven Madeley, general manager for St David’s, comments, “Over the past three years, our shoppers have shown extraordinary generosity, allowing us to donate more toys every year to amazing charities that provide such vital services in the community, and we need your help to continue this.

“Last year, we also saw lots of local businesses and schools also getting involved, and we hope this year will be the same, so we can achieve

our mission to ensure more children across South Wales have a Christmas to remember.

All you need to do is pick up something extra when buying your gifts and help us reach our target, so more children will have a memorable Christmas this year.

Shoppers who want to take part can head to the donation station in the centre, located near the Clogau store.

If you want to get involved in the toy appeal and have little ones of your own to buy for, here are some of the top Christmas picks from the stores at St David’s... ■

Above: Debenhams, My First Christmas Penguin £12 Below: Debenhams, Slime Lab £13

For more information on the toy appeal, visit www.stdavidscardiff.com/ ToyAppeal or join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #SDToyAppeal.

Tiger, Train £2

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Exclusive to John Lewis, LEGO Duplo Train, £99.99

Paperchase, Worm £4

Tiger, Bubble Radio £6

Paperchase, Shark £4

Tiger, Dragon £5

A HERO - John Lewis Scooter Pink, £49.99

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

Boy wonder Cardiff Boy will have a particular resonance for anyone who grew up in the 90s, with the sound of indie music ringing in their ears.

Written by Keeping Faith and Hinterland post-production editor Kevin Jones, Cardiff Boy is a dynamic one-man show set in Llanederyn, Cardiff in the 90s and soundtracked by a mixtape of indie belters, including artists like Pulp, Portishead, The Cure, New Order and the Cocteau Twins. It’s a story of male friendship, the love and the violence, the codes, the loyalties and rituals, as it follows a group of young lads desperate to make an impression in an ever-changing city.

Cardiff Boy is at The Other Room until 11 November.

For more: www.otherroomtheatre.com

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What’s on 2 November – 2 December

Lake Vrynwy – one of the works on show at the Albany Gallery

PLAYS/SHOWS/ PERFORMANCES Until 3 November

LOOT Orton’s classic farce is a mix of acts of lunacy, political incorrectness and macabre humour resulting in a hilariously funny play.

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

Until 3 November

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

Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

5 & 6 November

ROOTS Roots is a guided tour though

contemporary dance. Dance House, www.ndcwales.co.uk

6 – 10 November

JOURNEY’S END

13 – 20 November

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

6 – 10 November

ROCK OF AGES This hilarious musical comedy will have you singing and laughing along with its epic songs, including We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Here I Go Again, Can’t Fight this Feeling and I Want To Know What Love Is played loud and proud by an awesome live band.

New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

9 November THE TROTH

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

A gripping story of love and loss set during World War I, blending contemporary dance, original music and archive film. Moving from rural Punjab to the horrific darkness of the Belgian trenches where young Indian men have been brought to fight for the Allies, we learn about the secret promise made by one soldier, Lehna Singh, as he makes the ultimate sacrifice to save another.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

10 & 11 November

THE WIZARD, THE GOAT AND THE MAN WHO WON THE WAR Marking the centenary of the end of the World War I, BAFTAwinning Richard Elfyn is back with this brilliant, humorous and richly theatrical portrayal of Britain’s Welsh wartime leader David Lloyd George.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

9 & 10 November

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

9 – 10 Nov (& 3 – 29 Dec)

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

9 & 10 November

LUNA A magical first time theatre experience about friendship, the moon and being brave in the dark, for 2-5 year olds and their families.

Chapter; www.chapter.org

what’s on 17 November

BRADLEY WIGGINS: AN EVENING WITH Celebrating the release of his brandnew book Icons: My Inspiration. My Motivation. My Obsession, join Britain’s most decorated Olympian Sir Bradley Wiggins as he shares exclusive tales, prized memorabilia and career highlights in a unique and intimate live setting. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

19 – 24 November

Get rockin’ at Rock of Ages left: Cycling supremo Bradley Wiggins is coming to St David’s Hall below: Ruth Jones stars in The Nightingale

22 November – 22 December

MARGARET AND THE TAPEWORM An uninvited guest lurking at the office buffet brings surprising consequences for love-lorn Margaret and determinedly festive Amber.

As this trio collides we discover that, person or parasite, no-one wants to be alone at Christmas.

Chapter; www.chapter.org

23 November – 29 December

RAGE Thirty-one scenes based on a series of photos by Joel Goodman, which captured the excitement and the mayhem of New Year's Eve 2015/16 in Manchester city centre. The celebratory mood turns into violence, racism, marriage proposals and the opening of portals. Enter the madness and get whisked into the hedonism of youth. Bute Theatre; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

29 November – 1 December

THE NIGHTINGALES One of the UK’s best-loved stars, Ruth Jones, makes a rare stage appearance in this sparkling new comedy. New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk above:

28 November – 8 December

FRANKENSTEIN This November, a new Frankenstein is born as a company of five performers and two musicians bring to life artistic director Phil Williams’ compelling new adaptation of the ultimate gothic fantasy. Chapter; www.chapter.org

COMEDY 8 November

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

ALICE IN WONDERLAND Follow Alice down the rabbit hole this Christmas to meet all of your favourite characters. Catch up with the White Rabbit (he’s still running late) or join the Mad Hatter for tea; just mind the Queen of Hearts doesn’t see you or it will be “off with your head”! Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

13 November

Until 24 November

DYLAN MORAN: DR COSMOS Moran will offer his unique take on love, politics, misery and the everyday absurdities of life, all served with poetical panache from one of the finest comedians of his generation.

Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

WICKED An ingenious and witty re-imaging of the stories and characters created

by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two young women who first meet as sorcery students.

Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

27 November – 1 December

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Whilst paying homage to the 1977 John Travolta classic, this all new stage version promises more drama, more music and is bound to have you jiving in the aisles. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org

ILIZA SHLESINGER: FLUENT IN ENGLISH Following on from a run of complete sell-out shows earlier this year Iliza makes her highly anticipated return to the UK for a strictly limited number of shows. Glee Club Cardiff; www.glee.co.uk

25 November

Music

6 November

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

7 November

THE ALBION QUARTET Led by violinist Tamsin Waley-

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 29

What’s on Cohen, the Royal Welsh College’s quartet in residence is the classical equivalent of a supergroup: four star players united by a shared passion for communicating the music’s emotion.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

Expect a cool, retro-futuristic sound filled with quick fire interplay and threaded with Gilad’s extraordinary, fluid improvisations.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

10 November

KATIE MELUA Multi award-winning recording artist Katie Melua has announced an extensive European tour for winter 2018, including at date at the Hall.

St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

HERE LIES MAN Playing Clwb Ifor Bach as part of their European tour. Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

12 November

GARY NUMAN Synth-pop superstar Gary Numan marks 40 years in the music business with his most spectacular light show for decades. Plus for this special tour he will be joined by the Skaparis Orchestra! St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

14 November

SOEUR Bristol three-piece Soeur bring their grunge-pop songs to Clwb Ifor Bach.

Clwb Ifor Bach; clwb.net

16 November

GOGO PENGUIN Leftfield piano trio, still smiling from the success of their sold-out show at The Roundhouse London and barn-storming sets at BBC Biggest Weekend and Festival Number 6. Royal Welsh College Of Music And Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

16 November

SHOW OF HANDS Expect the festival favourites along with songs from the band’s upcoming album Joint Venture. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

21 November

MADELEINE PEYROUX Madeleine Peyroux’s extraordinary journey is one of music industry’s most compelling. Eight albums and 22 years since her debut Dreamland, Peyroux continues to challenge the confines of jazz, venturing into the fertile fields of contemporary music with unfading curiosity. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

22 November

FRASER & THE ALIBIS London-based four-piece Fraser & the Alibis play the hippest in bop, blues and boogaloo. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

26 November

GILAD HEKSELMAN’S ZUPEROCTAVE

29 November

ART, CRAFT, PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITIONS 2 – 4 November

MADE BY HAND Contemporary craft fair. Lots of Welsh makers.

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

Until 10 November

ROB PIERCY Welsh mountain landscapes form the basis of Rob Piercy’s latest solo exhibition, depicting their dramatic, powerful nature, rather than their calm picturesque persona from a viewpoint of one who knows them intimately.

With ceramics by Richard Clarke.

Albany Gallery; www.albanygallery.com

Until 15 November

HARRY HOLLAND – MODELS Harry Holland was born in Glasgow in 1941. He trained at St. Martin’s School of Art, London and moved to Wales in 1973, where he still lives and works. Martin Tinney Gallery; www.artwales.com

Until 18 November

NELSON MANDELA: THE CENTENARY EXHIBITION 2018 marks the centenary of iconic leader Nelson Mandela’s birth, this exhibition is about his life, career, and commitment to equality and justice.

Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

Until 21 November

SARAH JANE BROWN SOLO EXHIBITION Brown is a contemporary Welsh landscape artist and her exhibition Blurring time and tide combines a mix of ‘old master’ and modern techniques. Conceptually her paintings are an outpouring of personal feeling and a strong sense of place.

Off The Wall gallery; www.galleryoffthewall.com

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

Classical supergroup, the Albion Quartet

Until 30 November

A Nation’s Portrait: Nick Treharne The exhibition showcases a selection of images taken by Nick as part of an ongoing project documenting the diverse nature of contemporary life in Wales. Octavo’s Book Café and Wine Bar; www.octavobooks.co.uk

9 November – 8 December

MARION CHEUNG – LOST CONNECTIONS Emotive paintings of interiors with children submerged in digital worlds contrasting with ecological nightmares created from e-waste. Llanover Hall Arts Centre; www.marioncheung-artist.com

15 Nov – 12 January 2019

WINTER EXHIBITION A changing exhibition featuring selected works from more than 40 prominent artists including Sir Kyffin Williams RA, Will Roberts, Mike Jones, Tim Fudge, Peter Kettle FRSA RCA, Martin Llewellyn and David Barnes.

The Albany Gallery; www.albanygallery.com

SPORT

Saturday 3 November

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

Saturday 3 November

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

Sunday 4 November

CARDIFF BLUES V ZEBRE RUGBY Guinness Pro 14, KO 2.45pm Cardiff Arms Park, www.cardiffblues.com

Wednesday 7 November

CARDIFF DEVILS VS FIFE FLYERS League, Face Off 7.30pm

Ice Arena Wales, www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 10 November WALES V AUSTRALIA KO 5.20pm Autumn Rugby Internationals.

Principality Stadium, www. principalitystadium.wales

Saturday 10 November

CARDIFF CITY V BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION Premier League, KO 3pm Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc. co.uk

Sunday 11 November

CARDIFF DEVILS VS BELFAST GIANTS League, Face Off 6pm Ice Arena Wales, www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 17 November

CARDIFF DEVILS V NOTTINGHAM League, Face Off 7pm Ice Arena Wales, www.cardiffdevils.com

Wednesday 21 November

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

Saturday 24 November

CARDIFF COMETS V PETERBOROUGH PENGUINS EIHL Southern Divison One League, Face Off 3.30pm. Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffcomets.co.uk

Sunday 25 November

CARDIFF DEVILS V MK LIGHTNING League, Face Off 6pm Ice Arena Wales; www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 1 December

CARDIFF CITY V WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Premier League, KO 3pm. Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk n

at:

CFeleven Gin Bar

MONDAY 31st DECEMBER 5PM TIL LATE, £40 PER TICKET Hog Roast Free drinks on arrival Fireworks Live music with Darren Tyson

Visit us at: 149 - 151 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff, Glamorgan, CF11 9PJ

E: cfeleven@mail.com | T: 02920 390896 | W: www.cfeleven.com

Equality time

festival

Whether you want learn to box, find your bliss, debate, discuss or simply be inspired WOW Cardiff is the place to be on the last weekend of November – if you’re a woman, or know one

WOW Cardiff programmers Charlotte Lewis and Rhiannon White

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

festival

Michael Sheen – no, he’s not a woman, but he’s still taking part

“Of course men can come too! In fact, it’s important that they do. This isn’t a closed shop – it’s about us all being together and working towards a better future”

I

n a perfect world, we wouldn’t need a women’s festival at all. A perfect world being one in which men and women share political power across the globe, and treat one another as equals. We’re a way off reaching that utopia – but who said getting there couldn’t be fun?

WOW – Women of the World Festival started in London’s Southbank Centre in 2010 – the brainchild of its then artistic director Jude Kelly – and now takes place across five continents, from Melbourne

to Kathmandu to Baltimore, and has starred speakers including Malala Yousafzai, Christine Lagarde and Salma Hayek. When it came to selecting which British cities should take the WOW message forwards, Kelly deliberately avoided the usual suspects – reaching out to smaller places she felt had the infrastructure in place and would have a thirst for it. Cardiff was one of them – and this year, from 23–25 November, the festival is coming to Wales for the very first time.

We caught up with the WOW Cardiff programmers Charlotte Lewis and Rhiannon White, to find out more.

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

festival What is WOW? And why would I want to come?

Charlotte: Women of the World Festival aka

WOW is an international festival that takes the time to explore the challenges women and girls face, along with celebrating their achievements in an empowering and fun environment.

At WOW Cardiff you’ll find discussions that explore things like sexuality, menopause, courage, domestic violence and race. You might don a pair of boxing gloves and fight like a girl in one of our many interactive workshops, hear from international record breakers, mothers or feminist thinkers, and enjoy music, theatre and art – it’s a busy weekend!

Rhiannon: WOW is a pretty magical festival.

This International Women’s Week we went along to WOW London, and I was blown away by how invigorated I felt by the end of the weekend. There’s something so special about having a person sit in front of you and share their views, rather than reading an article on social media.

Why did you want to bring the festival to Cardiff? How is Cardiff similar/different to other cities that are hosting WOW? CL: This will be the first time a full scale WOW

Festival comes to Cardiff, to Wales even. Wales is a country, with its own unique culture and rich history – I didn’t appreciate this growing up. We are told so often that opportunities lie outside of Wales but after living in London for years I chose to come home because it felt like Wales had something exciting going on. I was right. All the women I know are working really hard here in Wales, whether it be through organisations or as community leaders their achievements don’t always get the recognition they deserve – I’m thrilled that WOW Cardiff presents a chance to shine a light on their stories.

RW: For me Cardiff is very special, I grew up in St Mellons in a matriarchal community where women were leading the way, a place that feels like it has been forever demonised. It felt important for me to do WOW – what excites me the most about it is hearing from incredible Welsh women and busting through some of the stigma. There are so many women across Cardiff who are changing lives, supporting families and creating brilliant opportunities for younger generations. What feels like a wasted opportunity is that these women don’t get to meet each other and we’re hoping that WOW will bring those women together to share stories, ideas and make plans. Together, stronger and all that.

CL: Many of the subjects and themes within WOW Cardiff will of course resonate with the other cities that host the festival, including those on the other side of the world! What makes WOW Cardiff connected to this city, is the the context of these conversations and how they relate to Welsh lives.

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

Join Charlotte Church in conversation with the festival founder, Jude Kelly

How do you decide what events there will be?

RW: We ran massive community events

across Cardiff called “think-ins” - we held them in Butetown, Canton, St Mellons and Splott. They were free events which gave us an opportunity to hear from people about what they’d like to see at the festival.

We held workshops in schools, youth clubs, met with leading organisations, womens groups, campaigners, women’s services and community leaders. All of this helped build a picture of the kind of festival people in Cardiff wanted to experience.

CL: We’ve also tried to be as approachable as possible – we’ve attended other events happening in Cardiff and made time to go for a coffee and a chat with those who might not have been able to make the think-ins.

Can men come too?

CL: Of course they can! In fact, it’s really

important that they do. This isn’t a closed shop – it’s about us all being together and working towards a better future. We’ve had great conversations with men leading up to the festival and look forward to more.

What events are you particularly looking forward to and why?

CL: Everything in the programme has such

a rich story behind it – which is why I’m still struggling to choose what I’d like to experience! I’ve been working each week with the youth volunteer team aka the WOWsers and am excited for what they end up creating at the festival. They will be leading a discussion on the Saturday entitled “Teens Talk Back” reflecting on their experiences of WOW Cardiff and discussing what matters to them today. They have already impressed me with their conversations and creativity so far – I can’t wait to see them take centre stage.

RW: We’re so excited about all the events featured at WOW Cardiff – there’s so much for people to get stuck into from talks on the Windrush to homelessness, from clowning workshops to Beyoncé dance classes. There’s something for everyone.

I feel like some of the features of WOW are historical moments for women in Wales – and these feel the most exciting and poignant for me at the moment. On the Saturday we’ll be hosting a discussion called On the Shoulders of Giants which will see women from the

It’s a twin thing. Hermon and Heroda Berhane, founders of Being Her, will be giving their input in a couple of events over the weekend

“There are so many women across Cardiff who are changing lives”

festival

“WOW takes the time to explore the challenges women and girls face”

gender agenda

Everything at WOW Cardiff is worth your attention – but these are the happenings we’ll be elbowing our way through the crowd for...

BADASS WOMEN OF CARDIFF Sat 24 Nov, 10.45am – 11.45am, Cinema 1 Get inspired by a panel of trailblazing women who all hail from the city.

Gwenno Saunders will be taking part in WOW Cardiff

Miners’ Strike and Save Our Steel campaign come together to talk about the role of women in industrial action. It’ll be chaired by Michael Sheen and feature some prominent figures from both campaigns. There promises to be lots of lessons in there on how we can actively stand up for what we believe in and take action.

On the Sunday we’ll see women from the Aberfan and Grenfell disaster come together in discussion about accountability following both atrocities. We will hear from women at the centre of these campaigns who will share with us their experiences and thoughts on how we move forward.

Who would be your dream bookings for WOWs of the future?

RW: It feels important for WOW to represent

the times we’re living in so predicting the future bookings for WOW is a tough question – it’s based so much on the critical matters of today so our mission has been to seek out the best people to do that, those who are expects in their own experiences, their careers or who explore it through their art.

For us we’re all about firsts, which is hopefully demonstrated in our programme – a lot of people featured in this festival are doing something like this for the first time. It’s exciting. So in the spirit of this we’d love to continue this feeling – seeking out local women who are smashing it in the everyday and assembling interesting people from across the globe to share their stories with us.

Our think-ins generated so many ideas around themes and people. We had tons

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

and tons of things we could potentially explore. We’ve not been able to honour everything – we’re hoping we’ve come pretty close with including most of the themes, but unfortunately some of our invites weren’t able to make it. If we were to do this again we’d be reaching out to the likes of Shirley Bassey, Malala Yousafzai, Beyoncé and Grayson Perry – the women of Cardiff were really keen to get them to town.

What advice would you give for getting the best out of your visit?

RW: Be brave, be open and be generous.

Don’t plan too much, come and got lost and stumble upon new things that might lead you into thinking in new ways. There’s so much to do and sometimes the things that seem little will be the most interesting and life-changing.

When we were at WOW London we loved the moments in between activities, sharing stories with women in the café, talking at the marketplace and getting fresh air outside with new found friends.

CL: Go with your gut not with the crowd. If there’s something you’re really desperate to see, then peel yourself away from your mates.

The events provoked so many wonderful conversations with the strangers I was with, and when I finally bumped into my friends on our way to another talk or workshop we were bursting to share what we’d experienced with one another.

WOW Cardiff runs from 23 – 25 November at Chapter. For more: www.chapter.org

TEENS TALK BACK – WOWsers takeover Sat 24 Nov, 12pm – 1pm, Media Point Join the conversation with the young people who have helped create the WOW festival and explore the the big questions and curiosities that matter to the youth of Cardiff.

THE UNDER 10’s FEMINIST CORNER Sat 24 Nov, BOYS: 10.45am –11.45am, Meeting Room 1 GIRLS: 12pm – 1pm, Meetin Room 1 Err, yes, we are a little over the age limit for this one, but we’ll be ushering every little girl and boy we know in its direction for fun, interactive workshops.

THE POWER OF VOICE Sat 24 Nov, 2.45pm – 3.45pm, The Common Room We’ll be letting Sian Evans, formerly of Kosheen take us on a journey to liberate our singing voice.

CHARLOTTE CHURCH IN CONVERSATION WITH JUDE KELLY Sun 25 Nov, 11.30am – 12.30pm, Cinema 1 The musician and social justice campaigner, and the founder of WOW festivals explore issues around gender equality, focusing on education.

WOMEN STAND TOGETHER: GRENFELL & ABERFAN Sun 25 Nov, 2.30pm – 5pm, Cinema 1 Survivors and leaders of the justice efforts following the Aberfan and Grenfell Tower disasters come together to talk about ways in which women are continuing the fight for justice.

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

WINTER EXHIBITION 15th November - 12th January A changing exhibition of paintings, sculpture and ceramics by more than 40 artists

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

A slow burn. Oil on canvas.

Blurred lines. Oil on canvas.

It feels like a change. Oil on canvas.

Pensive moments. Oil on canvas.

BLURRING TIME & TIDE

SARAH JANE BROWN’S SOLO EXHIBITION Now on until 21st November The Old Probate Registry, Cardiff Rd, Llandaff, Cardiff CF5 2DQ. T : 029 20554469 E : art@galleryoffthewall.com. Open Monday–Friday 9.30-5.00 Sat 10.00-4.00 www.galleryoffthewall.com

© Tom Beardshaw

STATE OF THE ARTS

left: Meet Fred, a recent production from Hijinx above: Clare Williams

A call for change

Let us give learning disabled actors the possibility of winning an Oscar by 2030, says Clare Williams, chief executive of Hijinx theatre company

I

magine…you are 18 or 19 years old.

You have autism, Down’s syndrome, William’s syndrome or other learning disabilities. You may have been at a Special Educational Needs school or you may have had support at a mainstream school. You have talent and a burning passion to act. You would like to train professionally but you don’t have the requisite academic qualifications to enrol at an accredited drama or film school. Even if you were to be accepted then you would be left high and dry when trying to find work as an actor after graduating.

You can’t get representation from a casting agent and there is no one to support you to go to auditions or rehearsals. You might be lucky enough to live within striking distance of a community drama group that will accept you but your ambitions to be a professional actor are a pipe dream.

We set up the first Hijinx Academy in Cardiff in 2012 with seven neurodivergent and learning disabled actors to meet this need. Now, six years later we have 70 actors training at professional academies in Cardiff, Carmarthen, Prestatyn and Aberystwyth.

These elite acting schools are the only professional ongoing training programme

for learning disabled people in Wales and are changing the lives of both participants and their families.

In addition to the academies we run courses for learning disabled adults who may not want to be professional actors but know that they can grow their confidence, self esteem and sense of well being through participating in weekly drama classes. These are called Drama Foundation courses and run at Chapter Arts Centre every Tuesday and Wednesday. We also run youth theatres and an integrated community theatre group for people with and without disabilities (look out for our Christmas show at Wales Millennium Centre, Hansel, Gedeon and Grimm’s Wood on 6 – 8 December).

Not only is Hijinx running professional training and participation programmes, we are also making productions with neurodiverse casts (actors with and without disabilities working together as equal partners). These productions are enjoying phenomenal success.

Meet Fred, a show about a potty-mouthed puppet who wants to find his place in the

world, began life modestly, touring small scale venues in Wales. It has now been catapulted into the international arena and is currently touring to 16 countries – including USA and China. The Flop, was similarly feted at the year’s Edinburgh Festival and won a raft of 4 and 5 star reviews. Our new show Into the Light is exciting enviable international attention months before its opening at Sherman Theatre in February next year.

But our actors are not just acting in plays – they are also working hard delivering training to doctors, lawyers, security personnel and utility operatives across Cardiff – helping them improve the way they communicate with vulnerable people. They do this through re-enacting scenarios (role play) and allowing clients an opportunity to practice responses in a safe environment. The Hijinx actors give feedback and assist the clients to feel more confident in their dealings with vulnerable people who may need extra assistance.

With a mission for it to be commonplace to see neurodivergent and learning disabled actors on our stages and our screens we are now turning our attention on the film and TV industries.

We are asking them to reflect the diversity of our world and make storylines that involve true to life, nuanced characters and to avoid casting people without disabilities in disabled roles. We are asking them to think differently about how they audition in order to reduce the anxiety for people who may find reading challenging. These are just the first steps but we are determined that we could have an actor with an intellectual disability winning an Oscar by 2030! n

“We are asking them to reflect the diversity of our world”

For more: www.hijinx.org.uk

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

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advertising feature

Eat Exeter, drink Exeter Foodies visiting the Exeter and Greater Exeter area can now embark on a journey of culinary discovery as an exciting new trail has officially launched.

S

et to place Exeter on the map as a major new foodie destination, the Exeter Food and Drink Trail has brought together the area’s finest food and drink producers, retailers and restaurateurs.

At the centre of the self-guided Exeter Food and Drink Trail is a beautiful map, which pinpoints the locations of over 40 local food and drink producers, foodie experiences and eateries.

The trail promises followers the opportunity to sample fabulous produce and exceptional experiences that celebrate Exeter’s rich larder of food and drink.

Explorers can take a tour of the rooftop gardens of Princesshay, home to a variety of fruit trees and bee friendly flowering plants, supporting around 300,000 honey bees in five hives.

Honey that is harvested from Princesshay’s city bee project is sold in Chandos Deli, located in Roman Walk with all proceeds donated to charity. There is also a scented herb garden, providing herbs for some of Princesshay’s restaurants and bars. Tour goers will learn all about the busy world of bees and get the opportunity to see a working hive in action.

For the wine connoisseur, Pebblebed Vineyard tours and tastings will offer an educational experience. Visitors are welcome from May to September to take part in guided tours and expert wine tastings. If ale is more your thing, Exeter Brewery also offers tours. Go behind the scenes of one of Exeter’s most celebrated breweries, all topped off with pie and mash in

Exeter Cookery School

the Tap Room bar.

Other delectable experiences on the map include a tour around the award-winning Quickes Cheese; hone your culinary skills beside the beautiful quay at Exeter Cookery School, and taste Exeter Gin at the Exeter Street Food Market where you will get to meet creator Karen Skerratt. In addition to exclusive experiences, the trail will bring followers exciting competitions and special events.

Trail ambassador Mitch Tonks, who’s new Exeter Rockfish restaurant is set to open this autumn, commented: “Devon is a serious food destination, there’s no doubt about that and to have a trail like this in and around Exeter is great. The trail showcases what we in Devon already know – Exeter’s absolute best, the hidden gems, the independent and artisan producers and growers, the fantastic group operations who provide quality and consistency and who generate great loyalty and fans in their customers.” n

For more information on the Exeter Food and Drink Trail and to download a copy of the map, visit: www.exeterfoodanddrinktrail.co.uk

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

A curious thing Curious about Wales Millennium Centre’s Performances for the Curious season? Here’s everything you need to know…

Being a right cow...

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

performance

P

erformances for the Curious is back for its second season at Wales Millennium Centre this autumn, with a programme of theatre and performance to celebrate individuality, promote diversity and showcase Welsh talent alongside some of the best international performers and boundary-pushing companies.

Following on from the first Performances for the Curious season in spring which was largely led or inspired by female artists, this second season’s programme focuses on diversity, celebrating individuality and championing fair representation of our society on stage.

Audiences can unleash their curiosity by choosing from more than 25 performances which span comedy, music, drag, theatre, cabaret, dance,

storytelling and burlesque. From family-friendly shows to hard-hitting adult drama, Performances for the Curious runs until 31 December.

Sarah Leigh, general manager: Arts and Creative at Wales Millennium Centre says, “We’re buzzing with excitement for this Performances for the Curious season, after the success of our first season in spring which attracted lots of new people to the Centre as well as our loyal visitors. This autumn, we welcome world-renowned performer Le Gateau Chocolat and we host the premiere of a groundbreaking accessible production of The Last Five Years. We’re also proud to support Welsh artists and companies, our Centre residents Hijinx, and Connie Orff – our favourite bilingual drag queen! And productions such as Humanequin and Behind the Label show us the importance of how the arts can give a platform and a voice to those who need it most.”

Le Gateau Chocolat is beyond fabulous

www.mediaclash.co.uk I cardiff LIFE I 47

performance

This Is Not A Safe Space tells real life stories of life on disability benefits

Real voices

The Performances for the Curious autumn season programme aims to promote diversity and support under-represented groups with having a voice on the stage. In Humanequin (20 – 24 November), three transgender actors ask audiences to just listen and hear their truth, in a play that has been created alongside members of TransForm Cymru and students from Radyr Comprehensive School to educate, challenge and provoke conversation about what it means to be trans in 2018.

Wales Millennium Centre, Theatre versus Oppression and The Wallich have been supporting a group of people from South Wales who have experienced misfortune – whether trauma, addiction, homelessness or mental health problems – through applied theatre project, Behind the Label (13 and 14 December). Culminating in a fully staged performance created by the group over an 18-week theatre skills programme, Behind the Label shares the real-life stories from society’s invisible people.

And writer, comedian and underclass amputee, Jackie Hagan, performs This is Not a Safe Space (1 December), a new solo show about life on disability benefits, featuring the real voices of proper skint disabled people Jackie knows. Winner of the 2018 Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show, This is Not a Safe Space will be British Sign Language Interpreted and is commissioned and supported by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists.

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

Accessible performances

As well as programming a diverse range of voices, there has been a real focus on increasing the offer of accessible performances in this autumn’s Performances for the Curious season. In The Last Five Years (9 – 17 November), director Angharad Lee of Leeway Productions has developed the concept of fully integrating sign language into the production with award-winning choreographer, Mark Smith, of Deaf Men Dancing. With British Sign Language organically embedded into the choreography throughout, plus closed captioning and a Touch Tour (13 –17 Nov performances), The Last Five Years can be enjoyed by all.

British Sign Language Interpretation will also be offered for This is Not a Safe Space (1 December), Hijinx Odyssey’s sparkling new family production, Hansel, Gedeon and The Grimms’ Wood (6 – 8 December), which features a large cast of disabled and non-disabled performers, and Connie: Christmas is Orff (15 December), a new Christmas show from bilingual drag queen and host of this year’s Pride Cymru main stage, Connie Orff.

Every performance of Bullish (20 – 24 November) will be captioned using the Difference Engine app, making the show accessible for D/ deaf, deafened and hard of hearing audiences, as well as those who struggle with spoken English. Audiences will be able to access the closed captions by downloading the app on their own hand-held device.

Audio description will be available on the 7 December performance

“We’re buzzing with excitement for this Performances for the Curious season.

This season’s programme focuses on diversity, celebrating individuality and championing a fair representation of our society on stage”

The Last Five Years

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

of Hijinx Odyssey’s Hansel, Gedeon and The Grimms’ Wood as well as the 21 December performance of Le Gateau Chocolat’s Icons.

And Relaxed Performances, designed for audiences with additional needs, including those on the autistic spectrum, will be held for Le Gateau Chocolat’s Icons on 21 December and for family show Duckie on 23 December (11am), 28 December (11am) and 30 December (3pm).

Supporting talent in Wales

As well as some of the brightest UK and international touring companies, the Performances for the Curious autumn season showcases many Wales-based companies and artists, including some who have received support from Wales Millennium Centre’s Artist Development programme. Through rehearsal space, mentoring, a programme of free workshops and hosting scratch nights (26 – 30 Nov) for works in progress, the Centre is continually supporting local artists to reach their potential.

Wales Millennium Centre has been supporting Burlesque artist Havana Hurricane; inset: Funny man Leroy Brito Welsh company Neontopia with the development of their new bilingual play Tuck, which opened the

Performances for the Curious autumn season in cabaret space.

Other Welsh artists and events in Wales Millennium Centre’s cabaret space, ffresh include: Nelson Mandela: Songs and Stories (9 November) Get festive in ffresh hosted by Cardiff’s Keith Murrell; Butetown’s own Leroy Brito, with As well as a host of Welsh talent, audiences in ffresh can enjoy a his brand new show 3 Dads (16 and 17 November); Hello Cabaret (23 selection of live jazz, bop and boogaloo with Clifford Brown / Max November), Cardiff’s regular cabaret night; Welsh showgirl Rachel Roach Revisited (8 November), London’s Fraser & The Alibis (22 Williams (24 November); Tiger Bay Presents (29 and 30 November) November) and King for a Day: The Nat King Cole Story (7 December) who return with reggae, soul and African inspired sounds from featuring jazz vocalist, Atila. House of Broadway (10 November) will be Cardiff musicians; Cardiff Cabaret Club present Ffresh Burlesque (1 serving up musical theatre classics performed by a West End cast. And December); Cappuccino Girls (6 December) starring BBC Radio Wales’ New York’s Tori Scott flies in with her hilarious Christmas show Vodka Mal Pope; Cabarela Nadolig (13 December) with a festive night of cabaret is the Reason for the Season (8 December), including songs by Dolly Parton, performed in Welsh; and Cardiff-based cabaret collective Mary Bijou Madonna, Michael Jackson and more. n (14 December) are back with their annual Christmas extravaganza.

For more: www.wmc.org/curious

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

PERFORMANCE

“The season aims to promote diversity and support under-represented groups with having a voice on stage”

Looks like Le Gateau Chocolat has found her voice

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Expect the Unexpected ...

Three hoteliers reunite in the serviced apartment industry

A

Space in the City is pleased to announce three new appointments to its senior management team. Joanne McElveen has been appointed as A Space in the City’s new Managing Director, Sarah Jones as Director of Sales and Stephanie Millard as Revenue Manager.

Joanne brings 21 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, working across the country in four and five-star hotels, where she moved up through positions including Revenue and Operations Management to General Manager at The Angel Hotel in Cardiff.

In 2016 Joanne moved into the serviced apartment industry, joining A Space in the City as General Manager, before being appointed Managing Director in January 2018. As Managing Director at A Space in the City, Joanne will bring her considerable experience and leadership to guide the development of the business, its processes and business operations, being responsible for the strategy, budget and projects.

Sarah Jones recently joined A Space in the City as Director of Sales. Sarah has considerable experience within the hospitality industry, having worked in sales and events before progressing to the role of Regional Sales Manager at The Angel Hotel. Following this Sarah ventured into the racecourse industry as Sales Director for Ffos Las racecourse.

With her two-decade career in the hospitality industry, Sarah will be responsible for growing local and project-based corporate business as well as spearheading A Space in the City’s global alliance.

A Space in the City also welcomes Stephanie Millard as Revenue Manager. Stephanie, who has a degree in Hospitality Management from Manchester Metropolitan University, has worked in hotel and events businesses since 2001.

Stephanie was previously in Meeting and Events Sales at The Angel Hotel before moving across to Park Plaza Cardiff for some 14 years.

She joined A Space in the City at the start of 2018 to drive the development of its strategic and tactical initiatives designed to maximise revenue growth.

“PARK LANE APARTMENTS CARDIFF’S FIRST APARTHOTEL” On the new appointments, Joanne McElveen says, “With our combined experience, we will bring extensive knowledge and experience of the hospitality industry which we can utilise as A Space in the City enters a period of growth, to further enhance service quality, brand quality and drive business growth. We have recently launched Park Lane Apartments, Cardiff’s first aparthotel, an experience designed to provide space, flexibility and convenience.

“The development comprises of 39 apartments, ranging from studio to luxury twobedroom with stylish shared spaces for all guests to enjoy. There will also be flexible co-working space and meeting rooms. The apartments offer all the comforts of a stylish home away from

ABOUT A SPACE IN THE CITY Established in 2005, A Space in the City has rapidly grown to become the largest serviced apartment provider in Wales, with a portfolio offering a wider range of choice than that of any similar company, or indeed any hotel.

A Space in the City’s’ mission is to offer services to its guests that are in line with the very best the industry has to offer and aspires to be the most effective company of its kind within its area of operation. The team are committed to provide excellent customer service from the start of the customer or supplier journey, engaging with customers to understand their requirements in order to create and forge long lasting relationships.

Location is everything – A Space in the City choose the location of apartments to meet the highest standards, from only the best developments in the ideal position so that our guests feel immediately at home.

home, plus the benefit of inclusive housekeeping facilities and bills so you can enjoy living like a local when travelling.

“I do believe the variety of accommodation we offer will be attractive to the city region and will support winning business for the city, ensuring Cardiff remains a must-see city for tourists.”

The serviced apartment industry has made great progress in raising the awareness of the sector in the global market place through education, marketing and conference activities to both industry peers and buyers.

The industry is rapidly expanding as more travellers, both business and leisure, recognise the benefits of this dynamic sector. ■

Boston Buildings, 70-72 James Street Cardiff, CF10 5EZ 029 2009 9889 www.aspaceinthecity.co.uk 54 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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

INFUSER TEAPOT, £30 There ain’t much cosier than curling up with a cuppa!

From Kitchens Cookshop, 14 High Street; www.steamer.co.uk

LICK THE SPOON SALTED CARAMEL HOT CHOCOLATE SPOONS, £3.50 FOR TWO Watch the milk chocolate melt into the milk as you stir, creating what could quite conceivably be the most delicious hot chocolate you’ve ever tasted.

From Cocoa & Co, 3 Veritys Court, Cowbridge; www.lickthespoon.co.uk

CWTCH UP The long, dark nights are the perfect excuse for a cosy night in

MERINO WOOL BLANKET, FROM £59 Cocoon yourself this winter in a hand-knitted blanket, made to order in the Welsh countryside. Available in four sizes and almost any colour your heart could desire!

From Athena Interiors; www.athenainteriors.co.uk

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

TRESS CUSHION, £38 This cheerfully patterned cushion

by Cardiff designer Sian Elin will brighten the darkest of days!

From www.sianelin.com

HOT WATER BOTTLE AND HAND CROCHETED COVER, £10 A proper little hottie to cuddle up with on a cold night! Hand made to order in Cardiff for that personal touch.

From The Crafty Piglet; www.etsy.com

ED’S CHOICE TURMERIC, FROM 60P From boosting immunity, to anti-inflammatory properties turmeric has a whole host of health benefits. Add it to curries, cakes, or even drink it in a latte.

From The Spice of Life, 1 Inverness Place; www.spiceoflifecardiff.co.uk

CASHMERE SOCKS, £39 Banish cold toes forever with these luxurious cashmere/cotton blend socks from Welsh brand Corgi. They supply socks to members of the Royal family dontcha know!

From www.corgisocks.com

CARDIFF TEALIGHT HOLDER, £10.99 See Cardiff bathed in the warm glow of candle light with this beautiful candle holder.

From Nest Cardiff, 2 Heol-Y-Deri; www.nestcardiff.co.uk

PRO COOK CASSEROLE DISH, FROM £29 Cook up some warm, hearty comfort food in one of these tough, durable and very stylish ProCook cast iron casserole dishes.

From Pugh’s Garden Centre and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend; www.procook.co.uk

MATCHING PYJAMAS, FROM £26 Twinning is winning with these comfy PJs for the whole family! Made by Frugi, they can even be personalised for that special touch.

From Funky Monkey, 11 Windsor Road, Penarth; www.welovefrugi.com

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

advertising feature

Determined to make a difference Meet the young leaders at Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools who are setting an example

A

teenager from Cardiff, who supports children with arthritis and looks after a woman with Alzheimer's disease, has taken up a leadership position at Monmouth School for Girls.

Faisa Yusuf, 17, is the new head girl and hopes to read medicine at the University of Cambridge.

The newly-appointed head boy at Monmouth School for Boys, Charlie Walker, is working towards reading medicine at the University of Oxford. Charlie, 17, also runs an initiative to equip children in West Africa with the basic tools they need to learn in the classroom. Both students are outstanding role models in Monmouth Schools Sixth Form, which has introduced co-educational teaching in Years 12 and 13.

"Being crowned the bard at our 2017 Eisteddfod has been my proudest moment at school," recalls Faisa, who achieved nine A*s and an A at GCSE. "The poem I wrote conveyed my thoughts on

the importance of memories and how dementia and old age can make a person lose so much of themselves."

Faisa, who is studying biology, chemistry and maths at A level, adds, "I want to become a better person and make a difference to at least one person's life."

Charlie, a keen musician, set up the African Pen Project to provide Tanzanian children with much-needed pens, pencils and basic equipment for writing and drawing. He is also determined to follow in the footsteps of his father, a fifth generation medic in the Walker family."I want to use my opportunities and responsibilities to help others," says Charlie, who achieved 10 A*s, a 9 and an A at GCSE and is studying biology, chemistry and French at A level. n

*The schools have an established bus route, starting at Llandaff.

Above, left: Cardiff's Faisa Yusuf, new head girl at Monmouth School for Girls.

Above right: Charlie Walker, new head boy at Monmouth School for Boys.

Our Sixth Form Taster Day and Information Evening is taking place on Wednesday 7 November.

For more information, please visit: www. habsmonmouth.org/sixthformtaster, call 01600 710433 for Monmouth School for Boys, or 01600 711104 for Monmouth School for Girls.

Gazco Reflex 75T with vermiculite lining – Gas Fire Limestone mantel, hearth and slips

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GOING OUT IN STYLE

With Christmas party season just around the corner, it’s time to update your evening wardrobe! Between office parties and gatherings with friends and family, there will be plenty of occasions to show off your festive outfits All-in-one Enjoy dressing up but hate the fuss? Opt for an all-in-one look for a quick and easy way to impress. This Vivienne Westwood Saffron pencil dress (5) and Alice Temperley pink satin number (6), both available from John Lewis, will make you stand out in a crowd! Alternatively, the Karen Millen flared dress (1), with a fit-and-flare silhouette and animal print pattern is both flattering AND on trend – win win!

When the nights get that bit chillier, why not go for a jumpsuit? This sophisticated Whistles number (3) is perfect for an evening out and we can’t get enough of its faux-embellished look!

Mix n match Mix-n-matching is a sure-fire way to keep your look fresh.

Try this gorgeous Reiss metallic pleated skirt (2) that will see you through every special occasion, be it fancy party or a casual one. Team it with this stunning Alice Temperley velvet tie front (4) and Oliver Bonas’ Eternal Linked Mobile Teardrop earrings (7) to bring your look together!

The finishing touches Feeling more sparkly? Don the best accessories. Grab a pair of Karen Millen studded stilettos (10), which will be sure to enhance your look. Or, if you’re feeling bold, go for these on trend purple heels (8) from Marks and Spencer to brighten up your outfit. Go the extra step and pair any outfit with a chic handbag, like this one from Marks and Spencer (9), for the final touch!

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

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

Positano gold dress, £195, Reiss

FASHION

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SHOPPING LIST 1. Flared maxi dress, £199, Karen Millen 2. Metallic pleat midi skirt, £155, Reiss 3. Print jumpsuit, £189, Whistles 4. Velvet tie front top, £79, Somerset by Alic Temperley @ John Lewis 5. Saffron pecil dress, £830, Vivienne Westwood 6. Satin dress, £140, Somerset by Alice Temperley @ John Lewis 7. Teardrop earrings, £19.50, Oliver Bonas 8. Purple shoes, £19.50, Marks and Spencer 9. Black bag, £79, Marks and Spencer 10. Studded Strappy Stiletto Sandals, £135, Karen Millen

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Stockists of: Air and Grace Wyse London Orwell & Austin Fabienne Chapot Uzma Bozai Essentiel 360 Cashmere Lily and Lionel Toolally Tatty Devine Coco Cashmere Veja Trainers TrafďŹ c People Hod Marella Rockins Scarves AG jeans Ba&sh Bellerose Stine Goya Onjenu Zakee Shariff Primrose Park Donna Ida Pyrus Beck Sondergaard Tatty Devine Swag and Tassel Baum Und Pferdgarten Velvet by Graham and Spencer

Unit 1, Pontcanna Mews, 200 Kings Road, Cardiff CF11 9DF Tel: 02920 225 522 | kiticymru.com | info@kiticymru.com Facebook- Kiti | Instagram- Kiticymru | Twitter- kiticymru

try five

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Feeling pretty

If you’re looking for a helping hand to get you looking and feeling your best this season, here’s where you need to go…

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Mwah Cardiff Mwah (which stands for Make-up Women And Hair) can cater to all your beauty needs under one roof. Offering everything from cuts and colours and knock-out blow dries to manicures, pedicures, make-up and tans, the experienced team will ensure that you’re party-ready from top to toe. They’ll even steam a dress for you if you’re going straight from desk to dancefloor so there’s no excuse not to look pristine! www.mwhacardiff.com

2

Goji Goji is an organic hair, beauty and barbering salon on Pontcanna’s Kings Road.

Started by Creative Director, Greg James, with business partner, Vicky Griffin, the salon originally opened in 2015 in Pontcanna Mews.

Having soon outgrown these premises, 18 months ago they moved into their much larger permanent home nearby on Kings Road.

The move enabled them to expand their hair services as well as adding a beauty room and nail bar, along with their ‘man cave’ barbers on the first floor with floor to ceiling windows, giving the best view of Pontcanna.

We love the relaxed, chilled environment as well as the focus on organic colour and products from Italian company, Oway. Their commitment to organic products extends to beauty including waxing, tanning and facials. www.gojihair.com

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Amanda Carroll Beauty Amanda offers a truly personalised skin care service from her base at the Errol Willy hair salon. She offers bespoke treatments to suit all skin types using a combination of microdermabrasion, crying-oxygen and dermal rollers to resurface the skin, cool and invigorate and increase collagen production, and is the only salon currently in the city offering the Crystal Clear Comcit system. A particular favourite is the H20 Glow Facial known as the Red Carpet Treatment (it’s a celebrity favourite we’re told )as the skin is instantly plumped, revived and glowing – just what you need for that Christmas party!

Tel: 029 2049 1800

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The Parade Specialist Dental Centre The team at The Parade can make sure you have a smile that will light up a room. The only multi-specialist private practice in Wales the four dental specialists can offer everything from dental implants to teeth whitening, straightening and even complete smile makeovers. There’s no need to worry if you’re a nervous patient either, since not only does the team of clinicians at The Parade have more than 120 years of combined experience, but they also take a relaxation focused approach to dentistry to make the whole experience as stress-free as possible. www.paradedental.com

5

Forum Spa at Celtic Manor If you’re looking for an escape from the daily grind then the Forum Spa at Celtic Manor is the destination for you.

Take a dip in the pool, relax in the sauna and steam rooms, let your stresses melt away as you enjoy a signature treatment or indulge in a pamper session in the beauty bar – the choice is yours. One thing you can be sure of though, you won’t want to leave. n www.celtic-manor.com

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

Amanda Carroll Beauty Salon

Crystal Clear Frozen Facial Treatments.

The most advanced anti-ageing system yet and the celeb’s favourite.

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0781 054 0488 www.ozonetherapy.wales

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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

M

y wife and I recently separated and we would like a nice, easy, ‘no fault’ divorce. How can we go about this?

A: In order to petition for a divorce there is one ground for it; irretrievable breakdown of the relationship. This must, however, be demonstrated using one of five facts, namely, adultery, unreasonable behaviour, two years desertion, two years separation with the other person’s consent or five years separation.

If you and your wife are amicable, and each agree to the divorce, currently your only option is to wait until you have been separated for a period of two years and issue a petition. In the event that you wish to get divorced sooner, however, one of you will need to issue a petition on either the fact of the other’s adultery or unreasonable behaviour.

Contrary to recent press coverage, there are no current plans to change the law to allow

parties to file for divorce immediately upon the breakdown of the relationship without citing the other person as being to blame (i.e. either their adultery or unreasonable behaviour). The Justice Secretary is, however, undertaking a review of the law, with a possibility of implementing ‘no fault’ divorce; but, the initial consultation period is set to last until 10 December 2018 at the earliest and it’s anybody’s guess as to when, or even if, the government will take any further action in the near future. ■

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

The Whites Dental Centre Tell us your story.

Dr Pamela White BDS GDC 52754 Dr Matthew White BDS GDC 52753 Ian Seddon BDS GDC 64868 (Practice Limited to Dental Implants) The Whites Dental Centre in association with Seddon Dental Implant Practice Ltd. 3 Station Road Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8AA

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Limited to private practice.

Katie McColgan

FOOD & DRINK NEWS BELOW: DK founder

Phill Lewis, Raymond Blanc OBE and DK chef Jordan King

FIRM FAVOURITE A Cardiff pizzeria which champions the ‘Slow Food’ ethos has won a national award for demonstrating an exceptional commitment to sustainable practices.

On 1 October, Dusty Knuckle restaurant was awarded the ‘people’s favourite restaurant’ award in the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s ‘Food Made Good Awards’.

Hundreds of sustainable eateries were originally nominated by members of the public. A team of foodie judges then chose the three businesses who they felt did the most to champion local producers, reduce waste and support their local community.

The overall winner was decided by public vote, but the Canton-based restaurant faced fierce competition for the top spot; also in the running was the Michelin Star Black Swan restaurant in Yorkshire, and the hugely popular Breakfast Club diner in Soho, London.

At the star-studded award ceremony, chef Raymond Blanc OBE revealed that Dusty Knuckle had received the most public votes in the shortlist, making them 2018’s Food Made Good ‘people’s favourite restaurant’.

Dusty Knuckle founder and head chef Phill Lewis says, “It was so surreal. We were up against two really big names with huge social media followings, so we didn’t feel like we had much of a chance of winning, but people really got behind us and made it happen. We can’t thank everyone enough for voting for us.

“Next year is going to be a very big year for us – we can’t say exactly what we’re up to just yet but picking up this award before it all kicks off has given us a real boost; we can’t wait to reveal what else we have planned. All we can say for now is watch this space!”

For more: www.dustyknuckle.co.uk

RAISE A GLASS winning the AA Wine Award for not just Wales, but for the whole of the UK. The award recognises an outstanding contribution to promoting wine understanding and appreciation. Nominees are judged on the quality of their wine list and their ability to inspire customers to make wider and more adventurous choices in selecting wines.

Adam Pledger, wine buyer and director at Park House Restaurant says, “We were amazed and hugely proud to find out we had won the Wales and Overall Wine Award. Having won numerous wine awards over the years for our wine list, winning the Overall Wine Award is without a doubt the pinnacle and we are proud to join a very select few in achieving this. We thank our customers for believing in us and our suppliers for helping us find the treasures on our wine list.”

For more: www.parkhouserestaurant.co.uk

FROM LEFT: Claudia Winkelman, Clare and Adam Pledger from Park

House, Nick Zalinski from Matthew Clark and Simon Numphud, Managing director at AA Hotel & Hospitality Services

© PETER BRIT TON

The Park House Restaurant certainly has something to toast after

COLLECTIVE MENTALITY Shoppers are being encouraged to buy locally produced food and drink via The Cowbridge Food Collective.

Previously known as The Cowbridge Food Assembly, the organisation has just undergone a re-brand and has launched a website www.cowbridgefoodcollective.co.uk which includes an online ordering facility.

Each producer is from within 30 miles of Cowbridge, with a fantastic array of produce available from meat, seafood, and dairy products, to bakery goods, vegetables, ready-to-eat meals, and drinks.

Customers simply place their orders on the website and then pick them up at The Cowbridge Food Collective’s weekly Thursday night Farmers’ Market held at Cowbridge Comprehensive School’s canteen between 5.30pm and 7pm.

Orders may be placed online between Thursday evening and midnight on Tuesday night, which gives the producers two days to prepare their goods, and exactly to order, so there is no waste. There are also plans to introduce an app, which will make ordering even easier.

For more: www.cowbridgefoodcollective.co.uk

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

food & drink

So sweet!

If you’re looking for a sugar rush, then meet the perfect pair to provide it…

Words by Emma Dance

There’s always room for pud if it looks like this!

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

food & drink

O Michael Coggan and Rebekah Clash

“We try to take stuff that people know and put a twist on it”

nce upon a time (well, about a decade or so ago) desserts were pretty much an afterthought on a restaurant menu, and afternoon tea was an outdated concept reserved for the upper echelons of society. Not so much now though. Thanks largely to programmes like the Great British Bake Off we’re baking more, and eating more, sweet treats than ever before.

From marzipan and macarons to cupcakes and croquembouches our appetite for the sweeter side of life seems to know no bounds. And the more Instagrammable the better.

There’s few people who know this more than Michael Coggan (Mikey) and Rebekah Clash, the pastry chefs at St David’s Hotel. The pair might look familiar since they graced our screens on Bake Off: The Professionals earlier this year, making it through to the third round – and if you do recognise them, you’re not alone.

“People started asking to have our picture taken with us when they saw us around the hotel,” says Rebekah. “It wasn’t what we expected at all. But everyone has been so nice.

Even though it’s weird when people you don’t know come up to you and know your name, it’s really lovely too.”

“As soon as the first episode aired we suddenly got really busy,”says Michael. “Our afternoon tea bookings went up by 60 per cent, and now maybe six out of 10 people in the restaurant will order dessert, whereas before it was much less than that.”

“Everyone in the hotel has been really supportive too,” continues Rebekah. “They’re really proud of us, and in the restaurant the waiting staff will tell people that we were on Bake Off and point us out if they see us coming out of the kitchen!”

The relationship between Michael and Rebekah is wonderfully endearing – somewhere between a mother and son, and brother and sister. They tease each other gently, and almost finish each other’s sentences, and while Rebekah is loud and bubbly, Michael is more quiet and considered. They seem to balance each other perfectly and it’s the kind of rapport that most work colleagues can only dream of.

“We first started working together 10 years ago,” explains Rebekah. “I was working in the kitchen at the Hilton in Cardiff, doing pastry, and Mikey came in for work experience. One day he was in the kitchen doing something like peeling carrots and he just looked really unhappy so I told chef I was going to have him in the pastry kitchen and he was like a different person in there.” Michael went on to work in kitchens around the UK, including Gleneagles in Scotland, but the pair kept in touch and almost two years ago he became head pastry chef at the St David’s Hotel, a position which turned the tables and, this time, made him Rebekah’s boss.

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

food & drink “It’s not weird,”laughs Rebekah. “He’s not a nasty boss.”

“And she’s still really bossy!” adds Mikey.

Since Mikey joined the St David’s team the sugary section of the menu has improved and expanded immeasureably..

“When I started they only really made creme brulees and things like that,” he says.

“Mikey’s gone from having just a work bench to a whole pastry kitchen,” continues Rebekah, proudly. “He’s built it from nothing to something where people think about pastry a lot. When we have reviews now people talk about the pastry just as much as about the other parts of the menu. That didn’t happen before.”

You’d think that the pressure of a televised competition like Bake Off would take its toll on even the closest of relationships, but not with Mikey and Rebekah it seems.

“I think it made us closer,” says Mikey. “We spent to so much time together.”

“If you go into that kind of situation with someone you don’t get on with it would be really hard,” says Rebekah. “You have to know how each other works.”

They’re so in tune with each other that they even devised a code to use during filming so that the camera crew wouldn’t pick up what was going on.

“You forget that you’re miked up,” says Rebekah. “But of course the crew can hear every word so as soon as they sense that something is going wrong they come over.”

“We had this code phrase ‘Rock on Tommy’ which is something my Nan used to say,” continues Mikey. “It meant that we were running behind and needed to hurry up. If you watch back you’ll hear us saying it quite a lot.”

And it wasn’t just the pressure of being on camera that Rebekah and Mikey had to contend with. The Beast from the East struck during the process, leaving Rebekah and Mikey stranded in a service station for twoand-a-half hours on their way to the set.

“Usually we’d arrive the evening before filming and get everything ready and eat with the other contestants and then have an early night,”says Rebekah. “That week we arrived really late. They’d saved some food for us, but just about everyone else had gone to bed, but we then had to set up. It meant we weren’t as prepared as we would have liked to have been, and in the end that was the week we went out.

We can’t blame the weather, but it definitely didn’t help.”

Despite everything though, they say the experience was overwhelmingly positive.

“Of course there were moments when we thought ‘I can’t do it any more’,” says Rebekah. “At the time we thought we would never want to do it again,” chimes in Mikey.

“But then when we got knocked out we realised that we missed it!”

“I didn’t want to go on it at all to start with,” says Rebekah. “It was all Mikey’s idea. But now I think we would do it again if we had

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

“We’re developing the menu all the time”

Sometimes good things are handed to you on a plate!

food & drink

This ain’t no 1970s black forest gateau

the chance. It was a good experience. We met some really nice people. We got on really well with all the other contestants and I think that really helped.”

“Despite what you see on TV, the judges are actually really lovely,” adds Mikey. “We had some really good feedback and they really want you to do well. What you don’t see is that every pair’s judging takes about 45 minutes, so there’s lots that doesn’t get shown.”

“It’s almost harder when you have to listen to other people’s judging,” says Rebekah.

“You know how much work has gone into it so when there’s negative feedback you really feel for them. And if you think someone’s done something amazing but then the judges didn’t like it you start dreading what they are going to say to you.”

“It was a real learning curve for us,” Mikey says. “And we’ve tried to bring back what we’ve learned and we’re developing the menu all the time. For a while our afternoon tea was based on what we made on Bake Off, but we’re just launching a new autumn one now, and I have plans for some new desserts. We’ve been doing a version of the Black Forest gateau that we did on the show too, and it’s been really popular. We try to use as much in season fruit as possible, and to take stuff that people know and put a twist on it.”

And despite being knocked out in “chocolate week” Mikey isn’t deterred from working with the confectionary.

“I want to do a big chocolate showpiece to go in the hotel lobby for Christmas,” he says. “ I did one last year – a reindeer – but I didn’t have any special moulds or anything, I just used mixing bowls. This year I want to do something much bigger!”

So, watch that space then...

For more: www.admiralstdavid.co.uk

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

Reach the best in the west Affluent, active and influential and just a call away

Cardiff Life team 01225 475800

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Food with a flair For classic French cuisine, prepared with the finest Welsh ingredients, pay a visit to STANLEYS BISTRO in Canton

S

tanley’s Bistro in Canton has only been open since May, but is already making its mark on the Canton food scene. Serving quintessential French cuisine and wine – think classics like molten camembert, succulent steak, crisp crème brûlée, traditional cassoulet and navarin of lamb, seasonal vegetarian tartiflette and must-have dauphinoise potatoes – it’s becoming a firm favourite with the locals.Owner Stanley has been in the hospitality trade for around 18 years, with his passion for fine French cuisine first igniting while he was at catering school in Rennes in France.

Stanley came to the UK in 2004, and soon made his home in Wales, managing restaurants Le Gallois, Garçon French Brasserie and Pier 64 in Penarth. He became so attached to Wales, in fact, that when he returned to France for nine months he found he missed Wales so much he felt compelled to return. He says, “I felt I needed to come back, doing what I love in a place I love, and after six years at Pier 64 the opportunity came to go it alone and so, Stanleys Bistro was born!”

At Stanleys the menu changes every three to four months to include locally sourced seasonal ingredients locally sourced. “We’re combining the tastes of both Wales and France!,” says

“WE’RE COMBINING THE TASTES OF BOTH WALES AND FRANCE” Stanley. “The most popular dish on the menu has to be the beef medallions served with rosti potato, fricassee of mushroom and spinach with a red wine jus.”

Stanleys is offering a three-course Christmas party menu for £29.95. On á la carte menu starters cost from £5.95, mains from £14.95 and desserts from £5.95 . A lunch menu is also available – two courses for £ 12.95 and three courses for £15.95, and there is a three course Sunday lunch for £20.95. ■

Come visit us at 185 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9AJ. Tel: 029 2022 4959. www.stanleysbistro.co.uk

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

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

Lord Peter Hain speaks at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition

One of the photographs in the exhibition Lela Kogbara (Mandela Centenary Commission), Harry Iles (Welsh Refugee Council), Andrea Cleaver (Wales Millennium Centre) and Professor Bela Arora (University of South Wales)

Graeme Farrow (Artistic Director Wales Millennium Centre), Golden Neswiswi (South African Deputy High Commissioner to the UK), Hanef Bhamjee (Founder of Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement) and Lord Peter Hain

FREE THINKING

Marking 100 years since the birth of the iconic leader, the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition opened at Wales Millennium Centre on 5 October – with an inspirational welcome from Lord Peter Hain who spoke about his memories of meeting Mandela and of the history of the Anti-Apartheid Movement, both globally and in Wales.

Guests were treated to powerful performances from Côr Cochion Caerdydd (Cardiff Reds Choir) who have raised their voices in song, campaigning for peace, freedom and justice since 1983.

The major free exhibition explores six themes – character, comrade, leader, prisoner, negotiator and statesman – tracing Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom through a series of dramatic visual panels, films, artefacts and a children’s trail.

Open daily from 10am until 18 November.

Win and Ceri Griffiths and Dr Elizabeth Haywood

Photos by Michael Hall

Cor Cochion (The Cardiff Reds Choir) perform at Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition launch

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

Eluned Morgan, Mark Rees and Rod Lloyd Kevin Brennan MP, Fay Coles (Wales Millennium Centre) and Alun Michael (South Wales Police & Crime Commissioner)

SOCIETY

Roxanne Morton Emily Harris and Rhiannon Headlam

Lloyd Morgan and David Cuddihy

GINSPIRING

Alexander Taylor

Rockadove hosted a gin-spirational event for their clients at Penny Royal cocktail bar on 27 September.

The evening included a gin tasting masterclass by Alex Taylor, owner of The Penny Royal and magic by Bryan Gunton. Around 100 members of the Cardiff business community attended.

Photos by Matthew Horwood

Matt Appleby and Cara Reed Xxxxx

Rhianne Haig and Douglas Haig

Mike Williams and Lloyd Morgan Xxxx

Roxanne Morton, Huw Moores, Karen Moores

Ifan and Rhys Young

Lloyd Morgan, Paul Allen and Richard Martin

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

Short film nominees: Ben Jenkins, Dan Harris, Sian Harries, and Geraint Huw Reynolds

Zoe Howerska, Catrin Lewis-Defis, and Roger Williams (Bang) Mavis Nicholson

Amanda Mealing

B A F TA S PE C I A L

STAR QUALITY

The BAFTA Cymru, nominees party was held at Cornerstone on 4 October. Guests were treated to food from award-wining Spiros Fine Dining, and champagne from BAFTA partner Champagne Taittinger.

Guests in attendance included actors Annes Elwy, Amanda Mealing, Mark Lewis Jones, Carys Eleri, costume designers Sarah-Jane Perez (Keeping Faith) and Zoe Howerska (Bang), Downton Abbey and Bang Director Philip John as well as authors Fflur Dafydd (Parch) and Roger Williams (Bang). Game Award nominees Ben Cawthorne, David Banner and Richard Pring also attended.

During the evening the Special Award recipients for this year’s British Academy Cymru Awards were announced.

BAFTA-nominee and Oscar winner, costume designer Lindy Hemming (whose most recent credits include Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984, the Paddington films and Casino Royale) was chosen as the 14th recipient of the Siân Phillips Award while acclaimed presenter and broadcaster Mavis Nicholson was named as the recipient of the BAFTA Cymru Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television.

Photos by BAFTA Cymru

Xxxx

Lindy Hemming Games nominees: David Banner, Richard Pring, Ben Cawthorne and Shane Skuse

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

Gill James, Hefin Rees, Dan Harris, Carys Eleri, and Gareth Potter (Fire In My Heart) Zoe Howerska, Sarah Jane Perez and Sian Jenkins

SOCIETY

Ioan Gruffudd

Charlotte Church

Euros Lyn - Director: Fiction - Kiri

Eve Myles - Actress - Keeping Faith/ Un Bore Mercher

Amy Wadge

AND THE WINNER IS…

Huw Stephens

Photos by BAFTA/Rex Shutterstock

Lindy Hemming - Sian Phillips Award, presented

by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in Wales, BAFTA Cymru, announced the winners of the 2018 British Academy Cymru Awards at a ceremony in St David’s Hall on 14 October. The awards honour excellence in broadcasting and production within film, games and television in Wales and inspire the next generation of creative talent.

The ceremony was hosted once again

by BBC Radio 1 presenter, Huw Stephens, and presenters included producers Barbara Broccoli OBE and Michael G. Wilson OBE; actress Elen Rhys (Apostle, Ordinary Lies) Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Detectorists, Peaky Blinders, Troy: Fall of a City); presenter Sean Fletcher; actor Jason Hughes (Marcella, Midsummer Murders, Three Girls); new Doctor Who companion Mandip Gill and Sion Alun Davies (Craith/Hidden and Requiem).

Other guests included actor and singer Shaheen Jafargholi (EastEnders and Casualty), Joe Hurst (Wanderlust, The Casual Vacancy) and Dino Fetscher (Humans, Paranoid, Banana, Cucumber), Saran Morgan (Gwaith/Cartref), actress Elinor Crawley (Vikings, The White Queen) and soprano Elin Manahan Thomas.

Twenty-two Awards were presented during the ceremony in front of an audience of 1000 guests and others joining via a live stream to special viewing events in Carmarthen, Caernarfon and New York.

Gareth Thomas

Jaco Mylan, Claire Hill, Catryn Ramasut, Richard Mylan Single Documentary - Richard and Jaco: Life with Autism

Rhod Gilbert

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

BUSINESSINSIDER CARDIFF GETS SERIOUS

Quote of the issue

“IT’S NOT EVERY DAY THAT A BUSINESS EVENT OF THIS SCALE IS HELD IN THE CITY” Find out who said this and what they’re talking about on page 93.

The Big Number

What a waste!

20,000

WASTE WINNERS

The number of additional tonnes of waste that Cardiff needs to recycle by 2025 to meet government targets.

See left for the full story.

Cardiff has been named as the leading recycling city in the UK

I

t seems that Cardiff residents are making the environment a priority, if the latest statistics are anything to go by.

Recycling rates in Cardiff have increased from just five per cent to 58 per cent in the last 15 years, making it the UK’s best core city in terms of recycling. But despite the massive increase, the message is that more still needs to be done.

In fact, the city needs to recycle a further estimated 20,000 tonnes of the city’s waste by 2025 to meet the

“RECYCLING RATES IN CARDIFF HAVE INCREASED FROM JUST FIVE PER CENT TO 58 PER CENT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS”

target of 70 per cent target set by the Welsh Government.

Even when accounting for the differences in collection data, with a recycling rate of 58.1 per cent Cardiff outperforms other major UK core cities. According to the latest official figures Bristol has a recycling rate of 43.4 per cent, Edinburgh is on 42.3 per cent, Manchester’s rate is 36 per cent and Glasgow has reached 26 per cent.

Cabinet Member for Clean Streets, Recycling and Environment, Councillor Michael Michael says, “I am very proud to

say that Cardiff is Britain’s leading major city at recycling, but we mustn’t become complacent as more needs to be done if we’re to reach our statutory target by 2025.

“The recent Recycle Week provided an excellent opportunity to stress the importance of recycling.

It’s something that Cardiff and the whole of Wales clearly embraces as the country is now one of the best recycling nations in the world.”

For more: www.cardiff.gov.uk

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© Hannah Timm

How the new rooftop level could look

Key dates revealed for biggest ever Cardiff Life Awards

City development A 23-storey development, comprising 307 apartments, as well as commercial and retail space and a glass rooftop level is set to be built in Cardiff’s Capital Quarter.

It’s different from many schemes however, since all the apartments will be available to rent, rather than to buy.

The project is a partnership between IM Properties and Spitfire Urbane. Launched last autumn, Spitfire Urbane is a dedicated division of award-winning housebuilder Spitfire Bespoke Homes, focused specifically on multi-unit city centre schemes. The apartments will range from

studios to two-bed homes, and the glass rooftop level is likely to include amenities for residents including a bar, restaurant, fitness suite, lounge and work space.

Tim Wooldridge, chairman of Spitfire and managing director of IM Properties says, “Capital Quarter is strategically located within walking distance of Cardiff city centre and its main employment hubs, making it an ideal location for a rental development. This will be one of the first build to rent schemes in Cardiff and there is huge potential for this sector to grow within the city.”

For more: www.spitfirepg.co.uk

Retail therapy Thousands of students from across South Wales and beyond headed to Cardiff city centre to attend the UK’s biggest student shopping event – Student Night by St David’s on 2 October.

This year’s event had a new twist, running from 4-9pm, and the centre came to life as excited students from universities and colleges took advantage of the epic discounts, freebies and music throughout the centre.

More than 100 brands participated in the event, offering discounts of up to 30 per cent and exclusive offers.

In addition to great shopping and food, the night was filled with entertainment and live music from local favourites, The Live Lounge, Climax Promotions and Capital FM. Hywel Butcher, marketing manager of St David’s Cardiff, says, “We asked students

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

what they loved about Student Night and what could make it better, and we’ve done just that. This year, students came along between 4-9pm without having to queue and were able to shop for longer so we’re thrilled by it’s continued success!”

For more: www.stdavidscardiff.com

Student night offers and disccounts proved popular

Cardiff businesses are urged to make a note in their diaries, as key dates for the 2019 Cardiff Life Awards are revealed.

Tickets are now on sale for the awards, but are selling fast. Those who wish to attend are encouraged to secure their places early, as last year sold out with more than 400 guests in attendance – with more on the waiting list – and are set to sell out well before the event once more.

A select number of Silver Sponsorship packages are also available, as well as a handful of category sponsorships, both of which involve an unrivalled marketing campaign as well as a guaranteed table at the event. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Mark George on mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk The winners are chosen by a panel of independent judges, newly chosen each year. Nominations open on 14 November.

Organisers are also offering information online, with everything businesses need to know about how to win a Cardiff Life Award.

The document explains what the judges are looking for and how to marshal your case for a winning nomination.

The site also has full details of how to enter and includes top tips to maximise your chances of becoming a winner.

The current roster of sponsors is led by 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.

The Cardiff Life Awards are on 21 March at City Hall.

For more: www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

Dates for your diary: 14 November 2018: Nominations open 5 February 2019: Finalists revealed 26 February 2019: Finalists’ and Sponsors’ Reception 21 March 2019: Cardiff Life Awards 2019

CHARITY SPECIAL Businesses giving back Pedal power at Savills

On your bike!

Clare Price, second from right, on behalf of the Edenstone Foundation, is pictured at The Wallich with Mike Cowley, Sian Davies, Lindsay Cordery-Bruce and Mike Walmsley

Helping the homeless A new foundation supporting community projects has been launched by Edenstone Homes with its first grant of £5,000 awarded to homelessness charity, The Wallich.

The Edenstone Foundation has been formed

by Magor-based Edenstone Homes to support communities and causes that help change lives.

The foundation will receive a proportion of the proceeds of every Edenstone home sold across South Wales and the South West of England, with the funds then distributed to community projects.

Martin Taylor, managing director of Edenstone Homes, explains, “Edenstone is a rapidly growing business and as a responsible corporate citizen we want to give something back to communities. For every home we sell, we are making a contribution to the Edenstone Foundation and that money will be distributed via a grant process to support an array of grassroots projects. It means that as Edenstone expands and

The winning team

sells more homes, the funding available for good causes will increase.

“As a homebuilder we are acutely aware of the housing shortage across the UK and are playing our part in tackling the issue by building more homes. We also appreciate the wider issues around housing and homelessness and partnering with The Wallich is a natural fit. We hope the grant of £5,000 will be a welcome boost to helping provide emergency accommodation for the homeless, particularly as the cold weather sets in.”

The Wallich has more than 70 projects across Wales and aims to get people off the streets, keep people off the streets and, create opportunities for people. Last year, the charity worked with more than 8,000 people who were homeless or vulnerably housed.

For more: www.edenstonefoundation.com / www.thewallich.com

On the run A team of South Wales Police officers took no prisoners at this year’s Cardiff 10K as they stormed to victory in the Corporate Challenge.

A record 48 teams participated in this year’s Eurobond Corporate Challenge, which saw teams of four to six runners complete the 10K in a bid to secure the competition’s winners’ trophy.

Having stolen a march on the competitors, the winning team did things by the book in terms of tactics, as they fended off challenging teams

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

The team from the Savills Cardiff office, undertook a 24 hour charity spinathon on 21 September to raise money for Special Care Infant Parent Support (SCIPS).

More than half of the Cardiff team took part in the challenge to keep four bikes spinning at a minimum of 18mph for 24 hours solid.

The original target was to collectively cycle the equivalent of a round trip from Cardiff to Alpe D’Huez, where Cardiff local, Geraint Thomas, made history earlier this year by becoming the first ever yellow jersey wearer to win that stage of the Tour de France.

However, with the team on pace to exceed the target, the organisers threw down a new gauntlet – to cycle the full distance of the Tour de France.

The 25-strong team, who worked on rota over 24 hours, embraced the challenge with impressive gusto and were thrilled to achieve more than 2,300 miles in total. This achievement was reflected in the fundraising effort, with the team beating its target by more than 50 per cent, to raise more than £4,600. Based at the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, SCIPS provides care and support to babies and parents on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Hospital. Savills chose SCIPS as its Charity of the Year after one of the team spent time in NICU with her son after he was born last year.

For more: www.savills.com

from across the country to come home in a time of 02:43:51, with runners-up from Vectos following close behind with a time of 02:49:57 and third placed General Dynamics UK completing in 02:51:43.

More than 7,000 runners united to race through the capital on 2 September, as people raised money and awareness for the 10,000 people living with the effects of kidney disease across Wales in one of the nation’s biggest annual fundraisers.

For more: www.kidneywales.cymru/

BUSINESS INSIDER Laings watch manager Heather Swan and Laura Stockwell, British Heart Foundation Fundraising Manager

GOOD HEARTS

Luxury jewellers, Laings, which has a store in St David’s shopping centre, is pleased to kick off their partnership with British Heart Foundation (BHF) and is looking forward to taking part in fundraising activities to support the work that the BHF funds.

Wendy Laing, owner and marketing director of Laings says, “We are delighted as a company to be able to support such a worthwhile charity. It resonates personally with the Laing family as my father [executive chairman of the company] has an ongoing heart condition that has to be managed daily.

Contact and support from the BHF has enabled him to cope with this and continue to live and enjoy his lifestyle.”

For more: www.laingsuk.com

The Capital Law team

PEDAL POWER A Cardiff and London based legal firm swapped cases for cycling and law for lycra to help raise more than £3,000 for the children’s charity of rugby; Wooden Spoon.

Capital Law, a commercial law firm and a people consultancy with more than 140 staff, hosted The Giro D’Capitale, a charity bike ride around Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to raise money for its official charity of the year.

The Wooden Spoon charity aims to change children’s lives through the power of rugby and each year funds around 70 projects, from community programmes and specialist playgrounds to medical treatment centres, outdoor play areas and sensory rooms. Since 1983, they’ve distributed over £26million to more than 700 projects, helping more than a million children.

Sixty keen cyclists set off from the Capital Law

offices on Tyndall Street Cardiff at 11am on 15 September to cycle two routes, a 30-mile option taking in Cardiff and the Vale or an alternative 50-mile route taking in the north and east of Cardiff and Caerphilly.

Christopher Agius, partner at Capital Law says, “Taking to our bikes to raise money for our official charity of the year has been great. Wooden Spoon makes a real difference to the lives of children facing disability or disadvantage, and we wholeheartedly support its work and ethos that sport and activity can bring change to young people.

“The money we’ve raised from the cycle ride will be added to our annual fundraising pot, contributing to our overall targets for Wooden Spoon, which we’ll announce at the end of the year. Thank you to all of our clients and contacts who took part.”

For more: www.capital-law.co.uk

PLAY TIME

(L-R) Princes Gate Trust supporter, Ian Gough, chair of Princes Gate Trust Sam Atkinson, Ty Gwyn pupil Freddie Harry (Vicky and Roger Harry’s son), Vicky and Roger Harry, Ty Gwyn headteacher Diane Stones and Circle IT’s Martyn John

Pupils from Cardiff’s Ty Gwyn Special School are set to benefit for years to come after a kind-hearted donation from Circle IT and Princes Gate Trust has meant that a suite of outdoor gym equipment has been installed.

The school, which currently has 191 special needs pupils on its register, received the equipment after a charity ball raised more than £36,000 to fund the outdoor gym.

Accessible from all classrooms at Ty Gwyn, the outdoor gym features nine stations which provide an area for physical activity to benefit pupils socially, mentally and physically.

Diane Stones, headteacher at Ty Gwyn School, says, “We are absolutely thrilled with the support

and help we’ve had from both Circle IT and Princes Gate Trust in achieving this dream of the play equipment.

“We’ve worked together for several months to build a bespoke outdoor gym which will help all our pupils achieve their potential.

For pupils at Ty Gwyn undertaking physical activity has a huge effect on both their mental and physical wellbeing whilst also helping to nurture gross motor skills. It’s fantastic that they will now have a place to go to and an outdoor environment in which to thrive.”

Cardiff-headquartered Circle IT raised the money through Princes Gate Trust at its charity ball in May. For more: www.circleit.co.uk

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

advertising feature

Meet the Accountant When it comes to money matters, these guys really know their stuff

Tom O’Brien

Leighton Reed

How has accountancy changed in the last few years?

Software and automation has changed the way the traditional model works, allowing more flexible working conditions – we offer flexible hours and work from home arrangements both part time and full time. The modern software also allows us to lead with advice rather than compliance – for example growth strategies or even succession planning. We’re working with a number of small businesses helping them make sense of Making Tax Digital, the next big thing after GDPR. What is your favourite part of the job?

Understanding the goals of our clients and putting a strategy in place to achieve it, and completing strategic transactions – usually involving fundraising which is a speciality in Lime Finance What professional accomplishment made you most proud?

Completing five acquisitions while part of HLN, a company that we have a close working relationship with to this day What is the biggest misconception surrounding accountancy?

The benefit of a good advisory service is sometimes missed when selecting an accountant – the profession is more than compliance – we have some great examples of this locally What do you specialise in?

Lime specialises in advisory for fundraising and succession planning, but will also complete the compliance side for our clients.

What professional accomplishment made you most proud?

There have been several over the years. I have been specialising in accountancy and tax for almost 30 years.

There are probably two that really stick out though: firstly becoming a tax partner at the age of 36 and secondly becoming the president of the South Wales Society of Chartered accountants in May 2016.

What is the biggest misconception surrounding accountancy?

That we just deal in numbers and “count the beans.”

Accountancy is so much more. We are taught to understand economics, law and tax and we keep up to date and deal with these issues in our every day dealings with our clients.

We set ourselves high standards. Accountants are often referred to as the most trusted business adviser.

What advice would you give to anyone considering accountancy as a career?

The qualification can open so many doors for you. You will find an accountant in almost all businesses up and down the UK. Many accountants have the top jobs and the qualification allows you to specialise in certain areas.

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Leanne Eustace

Accounted For LTD 029 2049 8800; www.accountedforltd.co.uk How has accountancy changed in the last few years?

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Tom O’Brien

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Accounting is now in the midst of a digital revolution. With internet, mobile devices and all things digital, technology has witnessed huge evolution when it comes to the accounting industry. Simple cloud-based accounting software has improved the speed, flow, communication and integration of the accounts process.

What is your favourite part of the job?

Helping clients achieve their goals by saving money and showing them ways to make more money from their business.

What professional accomplishment has made you most proud?

Becoming a chartered accountant was a long process. I had to do the initial accountancy qualification to then become chartered through further education, which I felt was a real accomplishment.

What is the biggest misconception surrounding accountancy?

How important accounts are. The main benefit of getting your accounts in control is more profitability and better cashflow for the business.

What advice would you give to anyone considering accountancy as a career?

Everything you learn in education will be text book and show you the example of how you would do the job. However real life is very different to the text book theory.

What do you specialise in?

We are specialists in offering a totally outsourced accountancy solution for any business.

Tell us something about yourself?

I am married with four children, and Accounted For has just opened our second office.

What key bit of advice would you give to somebody considering hiring an accountant?

Choose Accounted For! We have been established for 12 years and in that time have delivered over 100,000 payslips and more than £100,000,000 in assets accounted for, making us fully competent to handle your accountancy needs.

If you weren’t working as an accountant what would you be doing?

I think if I didn’t get into accountancy, I would probably be working in the legal sector.

Accountancy has always been something I wanted to do but law would be a close second choice if I wasn’t able to pursue a career in finance.

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Small is beautiful TV star Matt Johnson calls on the people of Cardiff to support small businesses

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business insider

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hoppers in the St David’s shopping centre were greeted by a familiar face on 19 October, when ITV’s This Morning presenter, Matt Johnson, paid Cardiff a visit. The appearance was part of a pop-up event by Yell. com, which ran over the weekend and was the 15th stop on a nationwide tour to encourage the British public to discover and support the great local businesses in their area.

We caught up with Matt to talk more about the beauty of the small business...

Why do you think it’s important to support small businesses?

Small businesses are really what gives a city it’s personality and identity and It’s more important now than ever to rally behind our independent businesses where we live and keep them thriving. I truly think they’re the life and soul of Cardiff, with areas like the Arcades. If they were to disappear it would leave a big void in the city. Getting behind these businesses is rewarding too, some people might not realise all the great places on their doorstep!

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing small businesses and what can people do to help?

One of the biggest challenges faced by small businesses is the growing pressure from the big high-street chains. In some places, they almost have a monopoly on the shopping scene and it can be hard at times for small businesses to compete. However, in actual fact, most small businesses will offer a more personal service and greater value.

That’s why it’s so important to look further than the big shopping malls and go out and discover the hidden gems of the area. That’s exactly why we are here today and how the Yell.com app can help.

How do you think high streets have changed over the last10 years and how do you think they will change in the years to come?

I think we’re seeing more and more high-street brands pop-up and dominate the high streets.

High streets from around the country are at risk of all looking the same as each other, as the same brands are strewn across the city centres.

“Most small businesses will offer a more personal service and greater value”

Cardiff is such a wonderfully diverse city and I believe our businesses and high street should reflect that. However, I do feel at the very same time, there’s a resurgence from people in search of greater variety where shopping, eating and going out is concerned. People want that ethically sourced coffee or locally made food. With that in mind I feel in the next decade, high streets could diversify, or even get left behind by more vibrant, independent areas that are springing up in towns and cities.

How have shopping habits changed and what can businesses do to adapt?

I think with the rise in e-commerce it’s crucial for businesses to have an online presence.

That should be a priority. It’s also crucial to be discoverable online, with so many people using the internet to search for businesses an online presence is a must.

Can you share a few of your favourite Cardiff haunts?

New York Deli because the bagels there are amazing.

Spillers Records is great place to grab some vinyls.

Hawkes Essentials is the best place for a suit.

Coffemania is my favourite coffee shop in Cardiff and I love Signour Valentino – an amazing Italian restaurant in Cardiff Bay. One of the things I love the most about Cardiff is how you can discover something new around every corner. There’s such rich variety on offer from the businesses here, I love that we’re shining a spotlight on them with this event. It was great to chat with the people of Cardiff, and hopefully I’ve helped them find some of the hidden gems in the city, that they might have been missing out on!

For more: www.yell.com

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business insider three-course dinner, an auction and raffle to raise money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and plenty of entertainment throughout.

Social networking

Ahead of the Introbiz Expo at the Motorpoint Arena on 22 November, we catch up with Introbiz co-owner Paul Smolinski to find out more about the big event Where did the idea for the Introbiz Expo come from?

I’d had the idea of creating and hosting a business expo for a very long time.

There wasn’t a great deal of these events around, and I felt that the business community in Cardiff could really benefit from an opportunity to showcase their products and services to a wide audience. In 2012, I attended a business expo in Cardiff and decided there and then that I’d put my ideas into motion. The Introbiz Expo was held for the very first time later that same year and it was a great success. Since then, the expo has grow significantly year on year and in 2018, and now in its seventh consecutive year, the event is going to be one of the biggest business events the UK has ever seen.

What can people expect from this year’s expo?

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to bring you the best expo and

experience we can. For the very first time, we’ll be welcoming two of the world’s most successful business owners and entrepreneurs to Cardiff, Lord Alan Sugar and Grant Cardone. Lord Sugar is one of the world’s most iconic and influential business owners and media personalities, having been the face of the hit TV series, The Apprentice for a number of years. Grant Cardone has been named as Forbes magazine’s number one marketing influencer to watch and was named as the leading sales trainer in the world. We’re also thrilled to be welcoming another 14 keynote speakers who have a wealth of experience and expertise to share, a range of seminars hosted by the likes of Google and a number of exhibitors, such as Cardiff Council, the Welsh Government, Lexus, Business Wales, Zenith Media and many more. The day will end at the Vale Resort as we host our VIP gala, sponsored by Godiva Insurance and Rugby Shield.

The evening will include a delicious

It’s great that someone like Lord Alan Sugar is getting involved!

Why do you think the expo attracted such a big name?

The Introbiz Expo has grown significantly year-on-year which is great for us, our network and for the local business community. This has allowed us to be able to invite successful and high profile speakers to share their expertise. We’ve worked with a number of Apprentice winners over the years and it’s just fantastic to be able to welcome Lord Sugar himself to the event. I also think that it’s a very exciting time for the Welsh business community, as a number of upcoming, exciting projects and investments are on the way which can only benefit the economy here, further.

What are the benefits of exhibiting?

There are so many benefits to exhibiting. You can promote and expose your brand to thousands of businesses, connect with individuals on a face-to-face basis, showcase your products and services and even give demonstrations. Not only this, but the opportunity allows you to build longlasting relationships with the visitors, other exhibitors, speakers and sponsors and encourages you to expand and build your network. Who knows – you may even meet your next client or business partner.

What are the benefits of attending?

Attending the Introbiz Expo is completely free. You can meet and learn from some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs, listen to a wealth of seminars, browse hundreds of exhibition stands and connect with local businesses and benefit from tips and advice that you can then implement into your own business.

There’s a networking breakfast, a speed networking session and brand new for 2018 is an exclusive VIP networking lunch hosted by Lord Sugar and Grant Cardone where guests will be blown away by the stories of their success and advice. It’s going to be an iconic event for the city, so I’d encourage you all to be a part of an incredible day for Welsh businesses.

What advice would you give someone attending the Introbiz Expo for the first time?

Make sure you arrive early to really make the most out of the day. There’s so much to see and do that you’ll need plenty of time to try as much as you can, whether that be the networking breakfast, speed networking session or visiting the seminars and speaker presentations. I’d also encourage new visitors to really make the most out of the opportunity – it’s not every day that a business event of this scale is held in the city, so taking advantage is important. I’d also encourage you to bring plenty of business cards along with you, as well as a notepad to make notes and be prepared to be inspired.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s event, and why?

I’m really looking forward to welcoming and listening to two hugely successful entrepreneurs speak about their expertise and journeys to success.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been working solidly on this event for a year in order to bring the city the very best day we can. I’m also looking forward to seeing everyone making plenty of connections and just having a great time. This year’s event is not only exciting for us, but for the Welsh capital too.

There are a small number of stands available, so if you’d like to find out more, visit the Introbiz Expo website www. expo.introbiz.co.uk or call the office on 02920 291002. For updates, you can follow on Twitter, @IntrobizExpo and use #IntrobizExpo.

BUSINESS INSIDER

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS 2018

BLAKE MORGAN isn’t your run-of-the-mill law firm, that’s why it won a Cardiff Life Award! Lisa Davies, head of succession and tax in the firm’s Cardiff office, tells us more… means that I have to juggle objective professionalism with empathy.

That isn’t always easy but I love the satisfaction of working with our clients to find the right solution for them.

And the most rewarding?

Whilst I enjoy achieving a good result and tackling a challenging piece of work, the most rewarding part of the job is undoubtedly making a difficult time in someone’s life that bit easier and really feeling I’ve helped them.

What advice would you give someone looking to go into this sector?

Give it a go, perhaps with a work placement in the first instance. Tax and succession may sound like quite a dry area of practice, but hands on, it’s quite different from that.

The work itself can be very varied and you do have an opportunity to make a difference to individuals.

LEGAL & FINANCIAL WINNER SPONSORED BY

“TEAMWORK, INTEGRITY AND INNOVATION ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS”

What do you love most about being in Cardiff?

I think Cardiff is a vibrant city with plenty to offer. It’s changed a lot over the years and we live somewhere we can really be proud of. I’m particularly fond of a relaxing stroll and a glass of wine on a summer evening in Cardiff Bay!

So how did it feel to win a Cardiff Life Award?

As a team, we work hard to make a difference and we’re very proud of the many different industry awards and accolades that we have across the firm. Winning the Cardiff Life Award is particularly special for us because it recognises our effort closer to home, here in Cardiff.

before eventually returning to the UK. I then continued with my plans to qualify as a solicitor.

Why do you think Blake Morgan won the award?

Teamwork, integrity and innovation are at the heart of our business but it is our commitment to delivering an exemplary service that really sets us apart from other firms.

What plans are there for Blake Morgan for the coming year?

As always, we’ll continue to invest in our people. Exceptional client service delivered by talented lawyers is at the heart of everything we do at Blake Morgan. Our success comes down to the experience and expertise of our people; that’s why we work hard to attract, develop and retain the very best talent in in the industry.

How did you first get into the legal profession?

I went a slightly circuitous route.

Having finished my law degree I took a ‘year out’ in Italy. I ended up spending 10 years split between the north and the south of the country, mostly teaching,

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

You spend more time in work than you do at home, so make sure you love your job (almost) as much as you love your partner!

What’s the most challenging part of your job and why?

The nature of my private client work

Tell us your favourite bit of legal trivia…

There are lots of antiquated but amusing prohibitions still on the statute books (and many can be found in the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839), but some are surprisingly recent. The “Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984” states that a taxi driver is liable to a fine if they “knowingly convey” a person suffering from plague, cholera, smallpox or typhus – so something else for them to think about before accepting a fare on a Friday night!

For more: www.blakemorgan.co.uk

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Modern history Own a piece of Penarth’s past with this Balmoral Quays home

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f walls could talk, Balmoral Quays is definitely the type of building you’d like to have a conversation with. The Grade II-listed building was originally the Victorian municipal baths that stood in Penarth for the best part of a century (the mind boggles at the thought of the sights it must have seen in that time!) The baths closed in the 1980s however, and the building later became a pub before being slowly bought up and converted into four separate properties in 2005. Now, these properties are some of Penarth’s primest real estate, with original character and Victorian charm galore and a beautiful beachfront location.

This particular property – a three-bedroom apartment spread over three levels – is something rather special again. It has had a complete custom renovation by MJ Contempo Design Projects, to create contemporary décor that accentuates the unique features of the iconic Penarth landmark.

There’s more than a nod to the building’s history, in fact, with a ground floor spa area, complete with sunken jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, shower area and mezzanine gym area. The ceiling retains its original character with

property

steel beams and a glass lantern roof.

The first floor houses the stunning open plan lounge/ diner/kitchen, which is flooded with natural light thanks to the original arched windows. There’s a modern-style log burner in the living area (perfect for cosy nights in), and there’s underfloor heating too, for when you can’t be bothered to light a fire.

The designer Poggenpohl kitchen is kitted out with quality appliances including a four-ring induction hob and hot plate, built-in double oven and grill, integrated washing machine, dishwasher, coffee machine and wine chiller – basically everything you need to make meal preparations a joy. There’s also a useful utility area.

The three bedrooms are also found on this floor, and exposed brick work abounds, giving the rooms plenty of character, but also an on-trend, modern feel.

The L-shaped master bedroom is a lovely, bright space, with fitted wardrobe hanging space, and a Juliette balcony ideal for taking in the sea air as soon as you wake.

There’s an en suite shower room too, with a designer Boffi suite including a walk-in double shower and feature floor to ceiling radiator.

The main bathroom is similarly hi-spec, with a bath with shower over and a Velux skylight.

That’s not the end of the space however, since there’s a spacious mezzanine area too, accessed by stairs leading from the lounge. With portal windows and glass balustrade with views down in the living room, it’s a quirky, yet versatile space. It’s currently used as a home office and extra seating, but could easily become a library or fun games area.

The neutral décor throughout means that there’s plenty of scope for you to put your own mark on the place, but equally, everything’s been done with such care and attention that you may love it just as it is!

In fact, if you really do love everything about the place, then there’s even a “turn key” option available.

Yes, that’s right, you could buy the contents as well so all you’d have to do is move in your personal effects.

Think about it, doesn’t moving day without a giant moving van full of furniture sound very appealing?

Not only is the house a proper stunner, but the location is ace too – with the esplanade and pier right on your doorstep, the town centre a short walk away and Cardiff just a quick drive or train journey.

This is a unique opportunity to live in a superstylish abode, steeped in history, in a truly enviable location. Don’t miss out. n

House numbers Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 Spa area 1 Guide price £1.2million For more: Cardiff Residential Estates, 22Pantbach Road, Heath, Cardiff CF14 1UA; www.cardiffresidential.com

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www.pablack.co.uk Prestige homes from Peter Alan

Cyncoed Road Cyncoed ÂŁ535,000 EPC = D pa black Llanishen 02920 618552

Magnificent five bedroom semi-detached double fronted traditional house.

Including a self-contained, one bedroom, versatile granny annex/teenager suite.

PVC double glazing, gas heating, 15ft PVC conservatory, 19ft lounge, separate snug/study, utility room, cloak room, two bathrooms.

Cardiff High school catchment, versatile family home with lovely private gardens.

Private drive with parking for three cars, integral garage, must be seen!

www.pablack.co.uk Prestige homes from Peter Alan

Glenholme Farm, Peterston Super Ely ÂŁ1,250,000 EPC = F pa black Cowbridge 01446 772857

Detached five bedroom country house with 7 acres of paddock land. Stable block with four loose boxes.

Detached summer house with shower and changing rooms. Large detached double garage, fully heated outdoor swimming pool. 16ft dining room, 22ft lounge, 27ft kitchen & breakfast room, 18ft sitting room, 3 bathrooms.

Stunning uninterupted views across idylic countryside.

Wonderful private location with gated entrance drive and parking for ten cars.

Charming period features throughout.

Simply magnificent!

CARDIFF LIVES

“Pontcanna is such a special place full of independent diverse businesses” your dream dinner party?

This is such a hard one as there are so many amazing people I would want to attend. I’d probably say..Frida Kahlo, Coco Chanel, Maya Angelou, Eva Peron, Victoria Beckham and my girls, of course.

Mia Kowser The owner of Barney & Beau talks Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, and why she loves Pontcanna Hi Mia! Tell us a bit about yourself…

I own and run Barney & Beau, a kids’ lifestyle store in Pontcanna which is named after my youngest two sons Barnaby and Beaumont.

I’m also a mum of four, entrepreneur, feminist and supporter of women in business.

You’re pretty busy then! If you do get any free time, how do you like to spend it?

Free time is so limited due to my commitments as a mummy and the business but if I do get any ‘me’ time it’s spent either at yoga or dinner with friends.

Where is your favourite place in Cardiff?

Probably Pontcanna – it’s where my store is located so I spend most of my time there. It’s such a special place full of independent, diverse businesses including some

of the best bars and restaurants in Cardiff as well as the coolest little boutiques. It’s Cardiff’s own Notting Hill!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I’d have to say this year.

Building my brand and gaining recognition so early on has been unreal. Recently we received an award for Best UK Kids Boutique at Trouva’s Independent Retailer Awards, which was amazing and seeing our brand featured in Tatler magazine was pretty special too.

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

According to my older two children I’m constantly embarrassing, although I used to think I was quite cool!

Who would you invite to

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When did you last cry, and why?

During the first year of the business I used to have a running joke about nipping into the back room for a cry. It was so tough starting the business after having two babies so close together. I lacked confidence and doubted myself constantly. Things are so much better now so I reserve my tears for happy moments with my fabulous four.

Who would play you in a film about your life?

This is really tough as I would want someone fabulous of course!

I would love someone like Salma Hayek as she can play funny and you’d definitely have to be able to portray comedy for my life.

What job would you be terrible at?

Anything that requires patience and a slow pace. I’ve been told I have massive amounts of patience when it comes to the children but I think in a work scenario not so much. Oh, and definitely nothing with spider..eeuuurgh not for me!

Who’s your celebrity crush?

David Beckham.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Barbra Streisand and too much chocolate.

Which piece of music would you put on at the end of a trying day?

That would definitely depend on the type of trying day but

normally something uplifting and inspiring. Beyoncé’s Run the World is always a good go to.

What’s your favourite piece of clothing?

My shoes. I hate to be predictable but the Christian Laboutin red soles will always have my love.

What’s your earliest childhood memory?

Dancing in my first dance show and being pushed to the back.

I don’t know if it’s a memory or I just remember being told, but apparently I put my elbows in the air and pushed my way to the front with a big smile. I was two.

What are your favourite places to eat, drink and shop in Cardiff?

I love The Alchemist, and generally the bars at that end of town. But you absolutely cannot beat Pontcanna and I particularly can’t wait to try out Tommy Heaney’s new place.

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

I would have to say Pontcanna Mews. It’s a very cool and stylish little mews with a selection of independent businesses including us, and also Canna Deli for a delicious brunch/lunch, Kiti for the most amazingly beautiful clothing and our newest addition is Secret Spin, a boutique spin studio launching soon.

We’d better let you get on…. What are you doing as soon as you’ve done this?

It’s a rare day off today so I’m off to take a walk around Roath Lake with my youngest Beau. n

For more: www.barneyandbeau.com