Cardiff is the winner – always The biggest ever Cardiff Life Awards were held last month. More nominations, more finalists and yet more emotions on a very special night
CARDIFF LIFE awards
W
hat is this life if we have no time to stand and stare…?” Awards give opportunity for pause. Pause to think how well a business has done in the year. Pause to consider a city and how it is changing. And pause to ponder on just what remarkable individuals there are in Cardiff, developing companies, employing more people, finding new routes to market, increasing the amounts of goods and services bought locally, risking start-ups, volunteering for charities, acting civically, seeking to improve this city… And so it was at the Cardiff Life Awards, the most emotional yet. It was a night to be proud of Cardiff. We came to celebrate and stayed to cheer – resoundingly. The warmth in the room was palpable. The brand-new and hotly contested Civic category was won by Creative Cardiff, which has had a profound effect on Cardiff as a place in which we are proud to live and work. For many, the highlight of the evening was the surprise Special Achievement Award, which recognised the extraordinary life and work of Steve Williams, inspirational PE teacher at Whitchurch High School. Even more brilliant was the moment the award was presented, via video message, by Wales’ top goalscorer of all time, Gareth Bale. “Inspiration work is rare in itself, but giving inspiration across decades is extraordinary,” said Gareth. “I’m delighted to be able to honour someone who has touched thousands of people’s lives through the years.” The award was met with roaring applause and a standing ovation. Reader, whisper it not but there was even just the hint of tears throughout the room. Such was the power of the Awards and the sheer exhilaration of celebrating Cardiff that they were trending on Twitter – trending nationally, that is. Obviously. Reading the nominations and attending the Awards makes us feel yet better about Cardiff – and we hope that the same is true of Cardiff Life as issue in, issue out, we celebrate the very best of Cardiff. On this uberglamtastic evening, of shimmering beauty, of whooping and surging emotion, of celebration and coming together, ultimately there was one winner: Cardiff – always. To all who entered, judged, sponsored, partnered, entertained, gushed, filmed, aftershowed, photographed, supported, organised, hosted, fed and dined us all, just one word: thanks. These were the very best yet. And next year? It’s started already. Tick tock. Greg, Steph, Emma, Mark, Kate, Claire and the Cardiff Life and MediaClash Events teams
COVER IMAGE © Hannah Timm
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Headline Sponsor
Platinum
architects
It’s a cliché for a good reason to say that we couldn’t have organised the Cardiff Life Awards without our wonderful sponsors – but, well, we couldn’t’ve. But beyond that, it’s also superb that so many leading companies are part of this singular celebration. To each: thank you.
Headline Sponsor:
Savills and WSET
Platinum Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors: Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, Illustrate Digital
Cardiff Airport Jelf
Main Sponsors: Capital FM, Cardiff
Feature Sponsors: WOW Event Hire, Crossfold Films
BID, Cardiff Blues, Chapel 1877, Genero, Hotel Indigo, Lexus Cardiff, MediaClash, Park Plaza Cardiff, Robertsons Solicitors,
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category WINNERS
ARTS
Sponsored by
Winner:
Hijinx
Photos by Studio 87
BAR
Sponsored by
Winner:
Lab 22
BUSINESS SERVICES
Winner:
Café/ COFFEE SHOP
Winner:
CHARITY
Winner:
CIVIC
Winner:
Sponsored by
Illustrate Digital
City Hospice
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Sponsored by
Bodlon
Creative Cardiff
CARDIFF LIFE awards
CREATIVE Sponsored by
EVENT
Sponsored by
Winner:
Cardiff Pottery Workshops
Winner:
Roath Rocks Dragged 2 Church
HAIR & Winner: BEAUTY Simon Constantinou
at O Costantinou
EDUCATION
Winner:
GASTROPUB
Winner:
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Winner:
Sponsored by
Media Academy Cardiff
Heathcock
Friends of Pedal Power Project www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 5
CARDIFF LIFE awards
HOMES & INTERIORS Sponsored by
Winner:
Chalkhouse Kitchens
LEGAL & FINANCIAL Sponsored by
LEISURE & Winner: TOURISM Bay City Voyages
NEW BUSINESS
PROPERTY
RESTAURANT
Sponsored by
Winner:
Charles James Developments
Sponsored by
Winner:
CJCH Solicitors
Winner:
Credas
Winner:
Milkwood www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 7
CARDIFF LIFE awards
RETAILER
PLATINUM AWARD
Winner:
Pugh’s Garden Village
Sponsored by
Winner:
Hijinx
SPECIAL AWARD Winner:
Š Hannah Timm
Nigel Owens and Steve Williams
All hail the Judges!
Betina Skovbro Entrepreneur, baker and photographer
Caron Rockey Director, Martyn Prowel Soliciors
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Councillor Huw Thomas Leader, Cardiff Council
Helen Kemp Client services director, Jelf
All decisions about these Awards are made by a panel of utterly impeccably independent judges, chosen afresh each year from all areas of Cardiff business life. All different businesses types and sizes. With a record number of yet stronger nominations, the decisions this year were harder than ever for our judges. Our sincere thanks to all.
Julie-Ann Haines Chief customer officer, Principality
Mark Peters Chairman, Montague Place
Nia Llewelyn Jones Freelance publicist/director, Nia Jones PR
Vicky Griffin Owner, Goji Hair
Victoria Deane Director of support services, New Directions
Why not take on a new challenge this year and raise money for your local hospital! Cardiff & Vale Health Charity supports hospitals and the community within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. We have a number of events taking place this year, so why not sign up for FREE, take part and raise money for a ward or healthcare service of your choice. Newport Marathon & 10km - 5 May 2019 Cardiff Bay Bed Push - 12 May 2019 Cycling around the world - 1 June 2019 Barry 10km - 4 August 2019 Cardiff 10km - 1 September 2019 Cardiff Half Marathon - 6 October 2019 To register, call: 02921 841802 or email: fundraising.cav@wales.nhs.uk #teamhealthcharity @health_charity www.facebook.com/HealthCharity/
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SNAPPED AC ROSS C A R D I FF, O N E SH I N D I G AT A T I M E
PHOTOS BY T WO CATS IN THE YARD Jim and Rhiannon Dobson Joanna Bumly and Dixie Normous
Nathan Pithers and Helen Constantinou
Gavin Sheppard, Charlotte Mahon, Nick Barber, David Lovitt, Angela Davey, Andrew Barry, Dane Jones, Menna Williams and Benjamin Jones Sara Pepper, Kayleigh McLeod and Justin Lewis
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Catherine and Howard Smith
Nick Otley, Rhisian Otley and Gareth Hutt
CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS
Ceri Hill and Graham Screen
Carys Richards and Rosanna Hood
Louise and Andrew Misell
Nathan Wyburn and Wayne Courtney
Mike Tan, Jane Tan, Glen Paterson, Adam Colman, Melanie Disley, Kevin Hobbs, Elisabeta Dominte Dominic Attard, Eleanor Duffy, Lee O’Doherty, Claire O’Doherty
Francesca James, Giovanni Malacrino and Dorian Bowen
Tom Gaskill, Zahra Reardon Smith, Marian Meigrot, Chene Griffiths, Rob King, Lisa Timms, Jennifer Day and Paul Johnston
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Amy Palin Conveyancing
Jamie Lyall Mental Health
As winner of the Cardiff Life Award for 2019 Legal and Financial Business of the year, we’d like to say... THANK YOU!
Sally Perrett: Family, Matrimonial, & Childcare
SadĂŠ Asker Court of Protection
Rebecca May Wills and Probate
Sarah Devine Mental Health
Gareth Thompson Commercial
Myles Thomas Private Client
To the Cardiff community for supporting our commitment to delivering leading service.
John Moyle Criminal
Ana KocmutSaunders: IP
We would also like to make a special mention of our over 130 staff across 4 offices in Wales, who each make what we do possible. Alison Farrar Anti-Piracy
Max Wootton Employment
Head Office: Williams House, 11-15 Columbus Walk, Cardiff CF10 4 BY
Criminal | Employment | Commercial Residential Conveyancing & Private Property | Family, Childcare & Matrimonial Debt Recovery | Wills & Probate | Mental Health
Colourful Spring Family Portraits. Beautiful keepsakes to capture the moment
Get in touch today to book your session
www.hannahtimmphotography.co.uk | 07730 582111
CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS Olivia Insole, Jordan Tucker and Michael Lewis
Francesca Fish, Bronyn Wheatley, Kate Fish, Evie James Lois Williams, Samantha Coles, Ferne Morgan and Rhianon Loxton
Nia Jones, Caron Rockey and Betina Skovbro
Mark George, Kate Butterfield, Kirstie Howe, Emma Dance and Claire Hawkins Kieron Eccles-Miller and Phil Eccles-Miller
Lois Williams and Samantha Coles
Rob and Sian Doyle
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PHOTOS BY T WO CATS IN THE YARD
Amy Palin and Charlotte Bardet
Mia Kowsor andJoanne Plumley
Rebecca Lees and Ashleigh Welch
Melin Edomwonyi, Scott Jones, Emily Jones, Nathan Robjohn, Sunitsa Williams, Manu Docampo, Dan Roberts, Josh Bedford, Patsy Musgrove, Consuela Onhigi (
Joanne Chinnock, Gerard Griffiths, Gary Hughes, Marie de Tito Mount, Colin Laity, Laura Doidge, Vicky Edwards, Steve Heathfield, John Davies, Claire Jenkinson and Susan Tester-Jones (
Amy Hawkins, Nicola Harding, Matthew Harding, James Thomas, Kara Pugh, Carys Cowan, Jason Cowan (Pughs Garden Village) Theodore Jordan-Jones and Kiera Ricci
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CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS
PHOTOS BY HANNAH TIMM
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Eagerly awaiting the ceremony
A bit of light reading...
Host Nigel Owens
The excitement builds
All smiles Peter Karrie performs
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