Cardiff Life – Issue 243 by MediaClash

ISSUE 243 / AUTUMN 2021 / £3

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

ALL OF THE LIGHTS EYE CYMRU PREMIERES AT CARDIFF CASTLE

@CardiffLifeMag

OUR INTERIOR DESIGN SPECIAL

INNER BEAUTY

AUTUMN DÉCOR TRENDS TO INSPIRE

THAT’LL TEACH YOU A SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION IN AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR ISSUE 243 / AUTUMN 2021 / HOUSE RULES

GOOD AS GOLD

HANNAH MILLS ON MAKING OLYMPIC HISTORY

DOWN WITH THE KIDS

TREATS FOR YOUR TOTS FROM LOCAL SHOPS

WATCH THIS SPACE

LAINGS ON THEIR £10M TRANSFORMATION

OUTSIDE IN TAKE A LOOK AROUND A SPECTACULAR RHIWBINA HOME WHICH MASTERS INFINITY LIVING

EDITOR’S LETTER

Graham & Brown Tramonto Amber wallpaper, available at W J Gardner, Cardiff. More interiors on page 11

hile I love a summer holiday (even though I, like many, haven’t been abroad for years now), autumn is my favourite season – especially when it comes to home comforts. Come autumn, no longer do we have unpredictable heatwaves while stuck in the office, or sweaty, sticky social gatherings. It’s all about cosying down by the fire, in the snug, relaxed, welcoming surroundings of your own home (or the local pub). Granted, we’ve spent a lot of time cooped up in our own living spaces for the past while, and we’re free(er) now, but when we do come home after a hard day’s work or a night of play, it feels blissful to enter a clean, tidy space that you’re proud to look at. On page 11, local décor specialists tell us the top trends of the moment; on page 48 we chat to the founders of new Roath-based interiors business Hunant, who are bringing traditional Welsh patterns into the modern day; and on page 46 we take a look around a spectacular house in Rhiwbina – as featured on our front cover – for some ‘infinity living’ inspiration. Elsewhere in this issue we chat to the most successful female sailor in Olympic history, Hannah Mills (page 66), and we catch up with Victoria Scone who is breaking new ground as the first female performer on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (page 27). We’ve also: delved into children’s shops in and around the city, hunting out the most beautiful pastel items (page 32); we’ve visited local schools and universities to shine a spotlight on education in an extraordinary year (page 53); and we’re getting excited for our in-person Cardiff Life Awards ceremony at City Hall (page 7). #CardiffTogether

r fy mod yn dwlu ar wyliau haf (ond nad wyf innau, fel llawer o bobl eraill, wedi bod dramor ers blynyddoedd bellach), yr hydref yw fy hoff dymor – yn enwedig wrth ystyried fy nghartref. Erbyn yr hydref, mae unrhyw gyfnodau o wres llethol annisgwyl ac o orfod gweithio mewn swyddfa glos neu gymdeithasu mewn lleoliadau anghyfforddus o gynnes wedi pasio. Mae’r hydref yn ymwneud â chwtsio o flaen y tân a mwynhau awyrgylch hamddenol eich cartref clyd, croesawgar. Wrth gwrs, rydym wedi treulio llawer o amser yn ein cartrefi’n ddiweddar ac rydym bellach yn rhydd (neu’n fwy rhydd) i fynd a dod. Ond pan fyddwn yn cyrraedd adre ar ôl diwrnod caled o waith neu o hamddena, mae’n wirioneddol braf cyrraedd lle glân a thaclus y gallwch ymfalchïo ynddo. Ar dudalen 11, mae arbenigwyr lleol ar ddecor yn sôn wrthym am y ffasiwn ddiweddaraf; ar dudalen 48 rydym yn sgwrsio â sylfaenwyr Hunant, sef busnes newydd yng Nghaerdydd sy’n addurno tai ac sy’n moderneiddio patrymau Cymreig traddodiadol; ac ar dudalen 46 rydym yn cael ein tywys o amgylch tŷ godidog yn Rhiwbeina – sydd i’w weld ar y clawr blaen – er mwyn cael benthyg rhai syniadau o gartref go iawn. Fel arall yn y rhifyn hwn, rydym yn sgwrsio â’r hwylwraig fwyaf llwyddiannus erioed yn hanes y Gemau Olympaidd, sef Hannah Mills (ar dudalen page xx), ac rydym yn cwrdd â Victoria Scone sy’n torri tir newydd fel y fenyw gyntaf erioed i berfformio ar RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (ar dudalen 27). Rydym hefyd wedi bod yn busnesa mewn siopau plant ar hyd a lled y ddinas gan chwilio am yr eitemau harddaf mewn lliwiau pastel (ar dudalen 32); rydym wedi bod yn ymweld ag ysgolion lleol a phrifysgolion er mwyn rhoi sylw i addysg yn ystod blwyddyn anghyffredin (ar dudalen 55); ac rydym wedi bod yn edrych ymlaen yn eiddgar at seremoni wobrwyo Cardiff Life a gynhelir wyneb yn wyneb yn Neuadd y Ddinas (ar dudalen 7). #CaerdyddYnghyd

LISA EVANS Follow us on Twitter @CardiffLifeMag Instagram @cardifflifemag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 3

Issue 243 / Autumn 2021 COVER Inside a Rhiwbina home that blends inside with out. Photograph by @mattcantt. Turn to page 46 for more.

FEATURES

11 AUTUMN INTERIORS How to transform your space

for the season

25 GOING GREEN Our review of Green Man Festival 27 WHAT A DRAG A chat with Cardiff drag queen

Victoria Scone

53 GETTING SCHOOLED Education in a most

exceptional year

ARTS AND EVENTS

21 ALL OF THE LIGHTS The premiere of EYE Cymru is

on its way

22 WHAT’S ON Arts, shows and events, it’s all going

on in Cardiff

41 SCENE Snapping three of the latest local hip happenings

SHOPPING

31 IN THE STYLE Cardiff eco fashion brand DATi 32 EDITOR’S CHOICE Little (pastel-hued) luxuries for kids 34 ST DAVID’S CENTRE What treats have we found

this month?

FOOD & DRINK

37 FIRE AND FEASTS New restaurant Kindle has launched 39 AUTUMN EATS Food columnist Jane Cook indulges us

PROPERTY AND INTERIORS 45 FRESH BEGINNINGS Development plans for

Clearwater Parade

46 SHOWCASE Infinity living in Rhiwbina 48 UNDERCOVER AGENTS New business Hunant

redefines bedding

BUSINESS

59 CARDIFF WORKS News and views and

brilliant businesses

REGULARS

7 SPOTLIGHT Just a handful of feel-good stories 29 WYBURN AND WAYNE Our columnists have been

out and about again

66 CARDIFF LIVES Hannah Mills on making

Olympic history

11 Editor Lisa Evans lisa.evans@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 Nathan Wyburn, Wayne Courtney, Jane Cook Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@mediaclash. co.uk Account manager Claire Hawkins claire.hawkins@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk 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 and Exeter. 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

SPOTLIGHT Cardiff Life Awards

This issue of Cardiff Life comes out just before the Cardiff Life Awards take place (30 September at City Hall), so, depending on when you’re reading this, we’d either like to say “good luck to all of our nominees”, or “congratulations to all of our winners”! The Awards are all about celebrating the thriving business community of Cardiff – from retail, to property, arts, to civic. It’s not all about the Awards, though; for many people this will be the first time they have united with the city’s business community for over a year, and we’re bursting with excitement to bring everyone together and celebrate the successes. Eyes peeled for an Awards-themed issue soon, featuring all the photos of the ceremony (and the wild after party at Kuku Club). For more: www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

Past excitement at the Cardiff Life Awards

HANNAH TIMM

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Harry Potter

RIGHT ON TRACK

GOING GREEN

The Climate Cymru Green Tour is coming to Cardiff. Two electric vehicles will travel around Wales – beginning from Cardiff on 18 September and culminating in Cardiff on the 26th – showcasing projects and telling inspirational stories from communities on the front line of climate change action in the country. Events in the city are set to include the Fridays for Future, Youth Climate Strike, and a Youth Climate Ambassadors experience. www.greatbiggreenweek.com

Film

EYES ON THE PRIZE

Platform 9¾ is coming to Cardiff

Iris celebrates LGBTQ+ film all year round, including a BAFTA-qualifying queer film festival, Iris Prize – the world’s largest short film prize, with £30k to be won – in Cardiff, each October. Now in its 15th year, the festival will return to the city on 5 – 10 October. “You can tell a lot about a festival from looking at the jury, and this year is no exception,” says Berwyn Rowlands, the festival’s director. “The 2021 jury includes filmmakers, actors, journalists and a cross section of the public who share Iris’ interest in LGBTQ+ stories.” For more: www.irisprize.org

The Harry Potter Platform 9 and ¾ trolley is coming to Cardiff Central Station. The trolley – which allows fans to recreate the moment when Harry ran through a magical brick wall gateway between the muggle and wizarding world – is on tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and will be in Cardiff from 26 – 28 October. For more: www.wbstudiotour.co.uk Cardiff is getting Wales’s first rainbow crossing

Our streets

FOLLOW THE RAINBOW The Iris Prize is celebrating its 15th year

Cardiff will soon be home to Wales’s first rainbow crossing. It will replace a traditional zebra crossing with different colours representing the LGBTQ+ community, showing solidarity. At the time of writing, the location is yet to be announced, but will be in a “prominent” city location, according to councillor Ashley Lister who has long campaigned on the issue. For more: www.cardiff.moderngov.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 7

PUT SIMPLY… WE LOVE BATHROOMS! THE TAP END BATHROOMS explains why design is better than going it alone...

hen you engage with a bathroom design company, or any design company the first thing you should ascertain is their passion for what they do! If you are giving over artistic license of a room in your home to a company, you want to know the designer is giving their full effort and skills over to your project to ensure you have something better than you could have thought of yourself. “When designing a room we always look at the space as a blank canvas, often clients cannot see past the layout they originally had. We love to suggest better alternatives resulting in a better use of space. In addition and where possible we like to introduce some design features like we did in this Cardiff based bijou bathroom. Here we lowered the bath, so it was easier to get in and out of and more like a shower experience than a bath experience, angled the bath panel to increase visual floor space, and introduced strip lighting to compensate for blocking up the window.” Justine Bullock, Designer & Director at The Tap End 8 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SPONSORED CONTENT

“Not having come from a background in bathrooms I was really surprised to see just how much work happens behind the scenes when it comes to the designers creating a bathroom design for a client. I love to be in and around the design team and seeing what they have done with a space. I’m a huge fan our large format tiles as seen here in one of Daniella’s completed projects. Just having four in a section like this creates such a feature, and of course less grout lines so they are easy to clean and maintain. I’m also partial to a penny round mosaic! A designer can introduce you to lots of different tiles in our showroom, and you will probably fall for something you wouldn’t have originally considered once you see it in your design.” Katie Imperato, Showroom Administrator at The Tap End

“For me it’s all about making a space functional as well as beautiful. If there is a product or accessory that can make my clients’ bathroom experience better in any way, I will include that in the presentation and spend time getting to know what my clients do and do not need in their space so I can make it personal for them. By a mile one of my favorite additions to a bathroom is this shower stool – it is very modern and made of acrylic so completely waterproof, it doubles up as a seat or a space to store towels/products so its multifunctional and super practical.” Lynda Rees, Director at The Tap End “When a client comes to us and gives us an element of free rein we can create something unique. If you want a striking result don’t be afraid to just show a few inspirational images and let us do the rest! Personally, I love a challenge so relish the opportunity to create something special. Think about your budget beforehand and engage with a designer only when you are ready – starting the design process too soon can result in too much back and forth and the process will be less enjoyable for you. It is important to trust your designer so do your research!” Daniella Fantini, Designer at The Tap End

The Tap End, 57 Llantrisant Road, Pontyclun, CF72 9DP 01443 449056; www.thetapend.design f thetapend  thetapend.design  The Tap End  TheTapEndDesign www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 9

INTERIORS

AUTUMN Interior experts on how to transform your space for the season

National Trust Papers II collection by Little Greene, from £78 per roll, available at Rabart Decorators Merchants, Crwys Road, Cardiff; www.rabart.co.uk

hen you start to feel the crispness in the air and see the leaves changing colours, it’s oﬃcially time to welcome autumn in all its glory. We’re all getting ready to hunker down and cosy up in our homes, and now’s as good a time as any to give our décor a seasonal zhuzh. Often, a snuggly throw, a smattering of fuzzy cushions and a few ﬂickering candles will be enough to change a space, but if you fancy just a touch more than that, we’ve asked local interior experts to let us in on the newest looks that are taking the spotlight right now.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 11

THAT’S FALL, FOLKS

utumnal ‘falling leaves’ hues in the home are great for this season, but do they have longevity? Mati Roberts at Matico Studio in Whitchurch says yes, “Colder months always make us want to get cosy in our homes, and a great way of doing this is by incorporating warm hues such as burnt orange and deep reds in to your space. These colours are also great in sunnier, warmer months. Basically, experiment to brighten up your home this winter; lamps and cushions are always eﬀective and easy ways to bring colour to a room. This is part of why I set up Matico, as I wanted to bring some of Africa’s exotic vibrancy home and brighten up my house back in Wales.”

3 5

8 6

9 7

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

INTERIORS

11 13

1. Imperial Orange wallpaper, from £52, Graham & Brown, available at W J Gardner, Cardiff; www.grahambrown.com; 2. Enso mirror, £110, Hamptons, Penarth; www.hamptonspenarth.co.uk; 3. Gold basin filler, from £443.98, The Tap End, Pontyclun; www.thetapend.design; 4.Tramonto Amber wallpaper, from £52, Graham & Brown; 5. Casa Rupert chair, £879, Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun; www.leekes.co.uk; 6. Swoon Radley loveseat, £999, John Lewis & Partners, St David’s, The Hayes, Cardiff; www.johnlewis.com; 7. Rectangular cushion, £60, Athena Interiors, Cwmbran; www.athenainteriors.co.uk; 8. Cotton dishcloths, £9.95, Tabitha Eve, Pontypridd; www.tabithaeve.co.uk; 9. Lampshade, £49, Matico Studio, Whitchurch; www.MaticoStudio.etsy.com; 10. Autumn Equinox coaster, £4.50, Driftwood Designs, Castle Arcade; www.driftwooddesigns.co.uk; 11. Enamel baking tray, £14, Ty Deco, Church Village; www.tydeco.co.uk; 12. Malini cushion, £29.99, Hamptons; 13. Hex mosaic tiles, £POA, The Tap End; 14. Farrow & Ball Babouche No.223, available at Rabart Decorators Merchants, Crwys Road, Cardiff; www.rabart.co.uk; 15. Patterned lamp, £49, Matico Studio; 16. Campus table, £1,880, Natuzzi, Cardiff Bay; www.shop.natuzzi.co.uk; 17. Ellipse armchair, £349, John Lewis; 18. Jute ecotwist basket, £65, Tabitha Eve; 19. Amalia chair, £3,960, Natuzzi; 20. Patterned cushion, £25, Matico Studio

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 13

MIDNIGHT MADNESS 2

ark colours – from deep navy and aubergine to black – may be too daring for some, but they can add drama, boldness and character to your space. “The trend of the moment is definitely veering towards the dark side, says Ceri Hill, design director at Chalkhouse Kitchens on Bessemer Close, Cardiff. “For example, the deepest shade of green, almost black but with a hint of warmth paired with pale floors and worktops to lighten the mood. These dark colours work beautifully with chocolate bronze hardware, more subtle than the brass and copper we have seen of late. “At the other end of the spectrum, a slightly dirty shade of pink, mixed with more neutral greige tones to balance things nicely can be a real eye-catcher, especially when combined with rose gold handles – move over, grey!”

5 6 7

1.Blakeney oak flooring, from £114 m2, Broadleaf Timber, Cowbridge; www.broadleaftimber.com; 2. Cushion, £25, Matico Studio, Whitchurch; www.MaticoStudio.etsy.com; 3. Black shower, £1,487.50, The Tap End, Pontyclun; www.thetapend.design; 4. Newgate Clocks’ Skyscraper Alarm, £29.99, Hamptons, Penarth; www.hamptonspenarth.co.uk; 5. Coffee table, £470, Athena Interiors, Cwmbran; www.athenainteriors.co.uk; 6. Storm Beach pottery by Diane Horne, from £120, available at The Albany Gallery, Albany Road, Cardiff; www.albanygallery.com; 7. Dreamweaver cushion, £49.99, Hamptons; 8. Aubergine brick tiles, from £4.12, The Tap End; 9. La Scala ottoman, £1,570, Natuzzi, Cardiff Bay; www.shop.natuzzi.co.uk; 10. Bespoke kitchen design, Chalkhouse Kitchens, Bessemer Close, Cardiff; www.chalkhousekitchens.co.uk

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

INTERIORS

GOING GREEN

sing green schemes in the home is as popular as ever; the shade welcomes the calming, invigorating inﬂuences of nature indoors and makes a gentle statement. Farrow & Ball, available at W J Gardner in Cardiﬀ, have just announced their colour predictions for 2022 and, among sunshine yellow and stone blue, of course green is in the mix, and it features heavily. “Décor is moving forward while drawing inspiration from the modest character of the world of folk and craft, using shades that extol the virtues of a simple life and can be used in any combination and in any room,” says says Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball’s colour curator. “Using one colour on walls and woodwork, such as lively Breakfast Room Green, can make a room look bigger by disguising the limits of the space. The bold use of this one colour also creates an exceptional background for art, or for furniture.”

3 4

5 10

6 7

1. Glasshouse Green wallpaper from £52, Graham & Brown, available at W J Gardner, Cardiff; www.grahambrown.com; 2. Mont Green tile, £40.44 per m2, The Tap End, Pontyclun; www.thetapend.design; 3. Macramé plant hanger, £20, Knotty Thing Studio, Roath; www.knottything.co.uk; 4. Farrow & Ball Breakfast Room Green No.81, available at Rabart Decorators Merchants, Crwys Road, Cardiff; www.rabart.co.uk; 5. Floral cushion, £25, Matico Studio, Whitchurch; www.MaticoStudio.etsy.com; 6. Aspen Pine wallpaper from £52, Graham & Brown; 7. Vegan leather lunch/snack bags, from £9.95, Tabitha Eve, Pontypridd; www.tabithaeve.co.uk; 8. Kitchen design by Sigma 3 Kitchens, Llantrisant; www.sigma3.co.uk; 9. Casa Ralph leather chair, £799, Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun; www.leekes.co.uk; 10. Hares lampshade, £54, Driftwood Designs, Castle Arcade; www.driftwooddesigns.co.uk

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

Our fully accredited and insured team offers work of the highest standard for all services including:

HEATING

PLUMBING

BATHROOMS

Boiler service Boiler installation Radiator installation Gas Certification

Blockages Burst pipes Leaks Overflows

Design Installation Refurbishment Wetrooms

HIGHLY REPUTABLE PLUMBERS COVERING CARDIFF & SOUTH WALES - GET IN TOUCH NOW T: 02922 217197 | E: info@mwhplumbing.co.uk

www.mwhplumbing.co.uk

M O ! N O R PE W O O H S OW N

www.chalkhousekitchens.co.uk

HAMPTONS PENARTH Set over two floors in a beautifully converted former Victorian market and meeting hall, Hamptons is a haven of unique, design-led occasional furniture, lighting, home interiors and gifts, and home to the brand new Hamptons Food Hall. If you simply need a beautiful greetings card or something gorgeous for the home we’ll be delighted to assist you. Hamptons, 10 Ludlow Lane, Penarth, CF64 1EA Tel: 029 2070 5391 www.hamptonspenarth.co.uk

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

ALL OF THE LIGHTS

If you’re a fan of cosmic light sorcery, the upcoming premiere of EYE Cymru is one for you. The revolutionary immersive sound and laser series of events has been created by internationally acclaimed light artist Chris Levine and it’s coming to Cardiff Castle in October. EYE Cymru is set to become one of the most emblematic event series of the year mixing laser art, nature and music, with live performances from multi-million-selling, award-winning performers, such as Massive Attack’s co-founder Robert Del Naja, musician Gruff Rhys, spoken word poet Kate Tempest, and folk singer and songwriter Nick Mulvey. EYE Cymru will go on to lighten the skies at their exclusive Glastonbury residency in 2022. See EYE Cymru from 14 – 31 October at Cardiff Castle; www.eyecymru.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 21

WHAT’S ON

Becky Hill’s UK tour comes to Cardiff’s Great Hall

From 18 September onwards

Always check Covid-19 restrictions and instructions with venues before your visit

PLAYS / SHOWS / PERFORMANCES Until 30 September

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Welsh National Opera’s much-loved production of The Barber of Seville – set around a traditional Spanish piazza – partners wonderfully with Rossini’s witty and expressive melodies. With an unforgettable score including Figaro’s Aria, this is the perfect feel-good opera. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wno.org.uk

Until January 2022

WELCOME BACK, ST DAVID’S HALL! St David’s Hall is finally back, with a full programme of events. Highlights include two of the best classical crossover vocal talents: Russell Watson (29 October) and Katherine Jenkins (18 November); as well as the likes of The Waterboys (17 October), Billy Bragg (30 October), and Jason Donovan (22 Nov), plus plenty of upcoming Christmassy shows. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

24 September – 2 October

MADAM BUTTERFLY A powerful story of unrequited love, human pain and suffering which is magnificently intensified by Puccini’s glorious music Wales Millennium Centre; www.wno.org.uk

26 September

AN EVENING OF QUEEN Fans of Queen will be treated to a tribute evening to one of the world’s most iconic rock bands, from a collection of performers from London’s West End. Sophia Gardens; www.aneveningofqueen.com

30 September

SHOWHAWK DUO As part of their UK and Ireland tour, guitarists Mikhail Asanovic and Jake Wright, together known as Showhawk Duo, have dazzled audiences worldwide with their spectacular approach, fusing acoustic, electronic, old-school trance and modern funky house styles. Tramshed; www.tramshedcardiff.com

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

12 October – January 2022

WEST END’S BEST SHOWS IN CARDIFF A dazzling array of West End’s best musicals are coming to Wales Millennium Centre. They include The Book of Mormon (12 – 30 October); Everybody’s Talking about Jamie (15 – 20 November); Grease (22 – 27 November); Heathers (30 November – 4 December); Beauty and the Beast (9 December – 15 January); and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (18 – 22 January). Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

17 October

BECKY HILL Following the release of her debut album, Only Honest On The Weekend, which features the likes of David Guetta and Sigala, Becky Hill’s UK tour comes to Cardiff. Great Hall; www.cardiffstudents.com

ART/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ EXHIBITIONS Until 2 October

HARRY HOLLAND Harry Holland is one of Britain’s finest figurative painters and has exhibited worldwide, becoming one of Wales’s most internationally renowned and successful artists. This show is the latest in a series of exhibitions that Harry has had at Cardiff’s Martin Tinney Gallery over the past 29 years and marks Harry’s 80th birthday. Martin Tinney Gallery; www.artwales.com

Until 3 October

SUMMER PROGRAMME From fossil footprints to food festivals, National Museum Cardiff and St Fagans National Museum of History have a packed events schedule to keep families entertained. There’s Lily’s Fossil Footprint (a 220-million-yearold dinosaur footprint discovered

WHAT’S ON top left:

Jason Donovan is coming to St David’s Hall; middle: An Evening of Queen will rock out at Sophia Gardens; bottom: Principality Stadium events are back!

FESTIVALS 5 – 10 October

THE IRIS PRIZE A BAFTA-qualifying queer film festival, the Iris Prize – the world’s largest short film prize – is back in Cardiff for its 15th year. It’ll be at various local venues including, Chapter Arts and Queens Arcade. Cardiff; www.irisprize.org

8 – 30 October

BACK IN PLAY This autumn, Sherman Theatre will welcome audiences through its doors for the first time since March 2020. To celebrate its reopening, the theatre will mount a special festival, Back in Play, mixing drama, performance and stand-up comedy, designed to give audiences a playful, fun and joyous experience as they return. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

GLITZIEST DIARY DATE OF THE YEAR

4 – 7 November

FESTIVAL OF VOICE WMC have announced the line-up for their flagship international arts festival. Twenty acts from Wales and beyond will perform over four days, including Brian Eno, Max Richter, Gruff Rhys, and Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

30 September

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS We cannot wait to welcome hundreds of businesses onto the red Carpet at City Hall once again for the glitziest night of the year. Good luck to all of our nominees! City Hall; www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

FROM 30 OCTOBER Principality Stadium events are back!

The Principality Stadium will finally be welcoming back packed crowds from October. Nine events are now confirmed, including concerts, an autumn series, and home Six Nations matches. Here are a few highlights…

30 October

WALES V THE ALL BLACKS

18 December

STEREOPHONICS, supported by Tom Jones, and Catfish and the Bottlemen

12 February – 19 March 2022

THE SIX NATIONS FIXTURES www.principalitystadium.wales

by four-year old Lily), and the Becoming Richard Burton exhibition at National Museum Cardiff, and there’s the ‘Wales is… Olympics’ exhibition at St Fagans. www.museum.wales

Mulvey. For more, see page 21. Cardiff Castle; www.eyecymru.com

Until Jan 2022

Until the end of October

THE FUTURE HAS A PAST This new multidisciplinary exhibition has been co-curated with Amgueddfa Cymru Producers and artist Henry Alles, and explores the past as a means of discovering the future. St Fagans National Museum of History; www.museum.wales

14 – 31 October

EYE CYMRU A revolutionary sound and laser series of events, created by internationally acclaimed light artist Chris Levine, with contributions from Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja, musician Gruff Rhys, and folk singer Nick

25 November – 31 December

FOOD

STREET FOOD TERAS The Street Food Teras will host some of Cardiff’s best independent traders in an all-new outdoor seating space, open daily for your lunchtime bites and fuelling your evenings with drinks and local foodie favourites. Next to Wales Millennium Centre; www.streetfoodteras.co.uk

16 – 24 October

FOOD CARDIFF AUTUMN FESTIVAL The festival will celebrate sustainable food with a series of online and in-person workshops across the city, covering cooking, home-growing and more. Across Cardiff; www.foodcardiff.co.uk

CHRISTMAS AT BUTE PARK A magical after-dark experience will light up Cardiff this festive season. The festival of light features interactive installations, a flickering fire area, an enchanting fairy tree forest, and laser shows. Bute Park; www.christmasatbutepark.com n

26 November

CARDIFF PROPERTY AWARDS Anticipation is building for the third Cardiff Property Awards. Tickets or partner tables of 10 are now on sale on the website, and nominations are open, too, for categories including architect, contractor, developer, residential and commercial. And we’re introducing new category for this year: Funder. Nominations close in early October. Coal Exchange Hotel; www.cardiffpropertyawards.co.uk

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

GREEN MAN / ARTS left: The Mountain Stage has the

stunning backdrop of the Brecon Beacons;

below: There is a real sense of rejoicing

at Green Man’s return

GREEN PEACE

Green Man 2021 returns, bringing with it pure joy, a sense of renewal, and Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon By Sarah Moolla, photos by Parri Thomas

y head was whirling, heart thumping – I was properly spinning out. The green light had been given for Green Man 2021. This was to be my 14th consecutive year at Wales’s biggest festival, and while I love the Brecon Beacons celebration, which is now in its 19th year, with my whole heart, I’d never felt this level of thrill and anticipation before. And as we joined the 25,000, all testing negative and / or vaxxed to the max, pouring into Glanusk Park, it was evident this was a collective joy. The staff were uberhelpful, fellow festival-goers were beaming, and even that elusive sun took a moment to join us. Even before we pitched our tent, we knew this GM21 was already shaping up to be extra special. We joined friends who had been at the Settler’s Camp for four days already – enjoying hikes, local pubs, and Hak Baker – the East London ‘grime-folk’ singer who played

Thursday afternoon. I was pretty jealous, I’ll admit, and gutted to have missed him, but there’s always such an abundance of talent at Green Man, from early afternoon right through to the early hours, there’s no time for regrets. Sequins on and cagools packed, and we were off. The festival, as always, supports and gives centre stage to the thriving local music scene with those Cardiffbased metal-light rifters Buzzard, Buzzard, Buzzard; indie funsters Boy Azooga; electronica goddess Kelly Lee Owens; and the probable godfather of Green Man, Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys, who received rapturous homecoming welcomes from an audience who knew all the words – always a galvanising thrill.

The big-name acts draw huge crowds, and every single one we saw delivered, and then some. There was the building of a mind-bending wall of sound from Saturday’s headliners Mogwai on the Mountain Stage; the big-onattitude-andshort-on-smalltalk Fontaines D.C strutting their way through a party-faithful set; Shame on the Friday in the Far Out tent causing a mosh-pit riot with chest-thumpingly powerful post-punk; and in the same tent on the Sunday, alternatively lifting our spirits and reducing us to tears, was Self Esteem with Rebecca Taylor’s inspiring pure pop, packed with positive messages, delivered with pretty neat dance moves. The beauty of Green Man is

“That great Welsh, energygiver, Green Man is back and all is right with the world”

also in the wandering aimlessly around the five music stages – Goan fish curry in one hand and locally sourced beer in a reusable glass in the other – and discovering something to blow your socks off, and for me this year, it was Afro Cluster. The Chai Wallahs’ tent roof lifted as we jumped, chanted, and responded as one to the Afrofunk/hiphop sounds of this spirited Cardiff collective. Panic Shack, another local band, is one that I saw and adored at the city centre festival Sŵn in 2019, so I had the date, time and venue of their GM debut tattooed on my happy face. Sunday, 4.30pm, Rising Star stage. And boy, did this garage punk four-piece ever rip it up with a small, tight and perfectly formed set, complete with choreography that had us all karate chopping and hollering, “I’m gonna jiu jitsu, b***h!”. Notable mentions have to be given to the mighty Greentea Peng whose lilting psychedelic RnB enchanted the Walled Garden; the electronica-meets-garage Overmono who kept us dancing til the wee small hours; and the glorious, glamorous and groovy Charlotte Church who invited us to her Late Night Pop Dungeon and showed us a ridiculously good time. As the Green Man effigy burned on Sunday night, signalling the end of the four-day wondrous festivities, and as we brushed the biodegradable glitter from our faces, there was a sense of order having been restored. That great Welsh, energy-giver, Green Man is back and all is right with the world. n www.greenman.net

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 25

THE ALBANY GALLERY MARTIN LLEWELLYN Ceramics by Lisa-Marie Tann 17 September 9 October 2021

View images on our website www.albanygallery.com

Path towards the cottage | 12x16ins | Oil on canvas 74b Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RS | T: 029 2048 7158 | E: info@albanygallery.com Gallery open: Mon & Tues by appointment only, Weds-Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 11am - 4pm

ONE-TO-ONE

GLAD DRAG

Cardiff’s Victoria Scone is breaking new ground as the first ever female performer on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

uPaul and BBC Three have revealed the newest group of fabulous drag queens making their series three debut as RuPaul’s Drag Race UK returns this September, and not only has Cardiﬀ drag artist Victoria Scone made it on the show, but she will be its ﬁrst-ever cis-female performer.

Victoria Scone (AKA Emily Diapre) is set to wow RuPaul

Global drag icon RuPaul will preside as Victoria and 11 more of the nation’s most fabulous queens compete over 10 weeks to be crowned the UK’s next Drag Race superstar. Series one and two have been streamed over 35 million times on BBC iPlayer, ﬁrmly establishing the title as a much-loved, highly lauded, competitive reality smash hit. Victoria and the other competitors will ultimately be judged by Ru, but, each week, Ru will be joined by the likes of Michelle Visage, Graham Norton, Alan Carr and a special celebrity guest. Hi Victoria! Tell us a bit about yourself...

I am a camp, Cardiﬀ cabaret disco diva, with a lot of spunk. How does it feel to be the first cis-female on the show?

It feels right! I definitely didn’t invent the art of drag for women. I am not the first and I certainly won’t be the last. But I feel very capable and proud to have made it through the application process and be the first on Drag Race UK. Me being here is political but you can just have fun with it. That’s why I started. I just wanted to entertain people and that’s what we’re going to do. Drag can just be fun! How long have you lived in Cardiff?

I am a Pompey girl originally but I moved to Cardiﬀ, which was where I fully established my drag career. So Victoria is very much a Cardiﬀ girl. What is the drag scene like in Cardiff?

It’s quite traditional, but I’m very proud to have been welcomed in and to have broadened the diversity of the Cardiﬀ scene. The older drag queens took me under their wing, showed me the way and made me who I am today. You might think that the older scene would turn me away or be sniﬀy about

my drag, but I have turned them! Once they actually see me perform, they realise that we’re all doing the same thing. We’re all dressing up, we’re all putting on a show. How long have you been doing what you do?

About three years… It feels like so much longer.

What’s a typical Victoria Scone show like?

A bit of Barbara, a bit of Donna Summer. My drag is high campery, utter nonsense. I am not portraying a real woman. Victoria is a caricature of a woman. Would you call yourself an AFAB queen?

I would call myself a drag queen, Drag Artist Extraordinaire. I understand it’s helpful to use AFAB, which stands for Assigned Female At Birth, when we are speciﬁcally speaking about the fact that I do not own certain cis-male drag queen genitalia. But we don’t describe cis-male drag queens as AMAB queens, so I’d just call us all drag queens!

“Victoria is very much a Cardiﬀ girl” Who or what inspires you?

Traditional drag, pantomime, and the older Welsh queens. People like Ceri Dupree have really inspired me. I like to mix my traditional drag with fashion and blur the lines of panto, fashion and costume. I’ve been in pantomimes from a very young age – that was where I ﬁrst fell in love with drag. I didn’t look up to Cinderella, I looked up to Widow Twankey. I love what drag allows me to do. I feel like I can get away with absolutely anything. Why should you win RuPaul’s Drag Race UK?

Because it’s so important, not just for me, but for marginalised minority groups in the queer scene to see themselves reﬂected on TV. We can absolutely have a seat at this table. I didn’t build the table (despite being very butch and very good at DIY) but I deserve a space at it. Everyone deserves a space. I wanted to do Drag Race to prove that I can win it. I’m not a fragile little ﬂower, darling. I can have them all for supper! ■ For more: www.victoriascone.com

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

WYBURN & WAYNE Move over Ant & Dec. Make way Edina & Patsy. Stand aside Batman & Robin. Our dynamic duo are in town and they’re here to give us the low down on the Cardiff high life

iddle of September already? Where’s the summer gone? We were so hopeful for great weather but it just didn’t quite happen, did it? Are we really starting off our column talking about the weather? We are becoming ‘those’ people! Anyways, before we talk about that for too long, wow we have been busy! Pride 2021 here in Cardiff was very different this year, mainly due to the fact we couldn’t have a huge Pride Cymru event. However, all the bars and LGBTQ+ venues came together for their event, apptly named Coming Together, which saw the community united as one,

to share love and put on great shows throughout the city. We hosted our Pride-themed karaoke night at The Golden Cross, plus a Saturday Pride party until the early hours… it’s always a hoot! We also had the honour of comparing and performing at Cultvr Lab’s first annual mini Pride festival for the entire weekend. So much fun. That venue is seriously one to watch; it’s so immersive and such a diverse a space, perfect for almost any event. We’ve also hosted several quizzes and events at St Andrew’s Coffee Court, including a superhero quiz, and the car Lightning McQueen came to visit for the day! Sundays are great fun and the quiz days go down a treat, raising funds for a different

At new Portuguese bakery Bruno’s Pastéis De Nata

Superheroes quiz at St Andrew’s Coffee Court

The Welsh Street Food Awards

Ever the entertainers

“Cultvr Lab is so immersive and diverse”

charity each week. Want suggest a charity? Just ask us! On to our favourite topic… food! Oh glorious food! A new Portuguese bakery has opened near us in Roath called Bruno’s Pastéis De Nata; their coconut bread is to die for, and the cakes make our mouths water just thinking of them again. Well worth a visit. We also had the pleasure of attending the Welsh Street Food Awards and sampled many of the pop-up street foods. We may have had a little too much beer while we were there, but that’s to be expected with us, right? Each year it’s an incredible event and it was great to see it back in full swing this year down the Street Food Circus Yard, off City Road! Meanwhile, Nathan’s been

super busy with new art projects – keep an eye out for him on Sky Arts’ Landmark on 27 September; and Wayne’s been working extra shifts at the hospital keeping everyone safe and well. Between everything, this year has flown by; before we know it, it’ll be pumpkins, fireworks and, well let’s not mention the big C word in December. Ciao for now! About our columnists: Nathan Wyburn is a pop culture artist who uses nontraditional mediums such as Marmite, beans, soil and fake tan; and Wayne Courtney is a healthcare support worker at University Hospital of Wales. They are also Radio Cardiff DJs with their own show, and basically know everything and everyone in the city. Follow them on social: @wyburnandwayne / @wyburnwayne

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

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

LIFE STYLE

Sisters Sarah Valentin and Julia Harris run DATi, an eco fashion brand based in Cardiff Bay. They have recently collaborated with the Welsh Ballroom Community – which prioritises and celebrates LGBTQ+ people, who come together to compete in different categories at events called balls – making outfits from second-hand clothing, donated welsh flags and off-cuts from around the studio. “It was an absolute privilege to be part of Welsh Ballroom Community’s first Kiki Ball at The Wales Millennium Centre,” says Julia. “We worked with them behind the scenes designing bespoke outfits along with other Welsh designers and fashion students. We’re so excited to see what’s ahead.” With a clear focus on reworking fabrics and reducing waste, DATi, meaning ‘good on you’ in Welsh, acts as a call to be good and look good, as well as challenging all of us to buy in a more considered way. DATi is based at The Sustainable Studio in Butetown; their upcoming pop-up shop will be next door to Urban Outfitters on the corner of Morgan Arcade in October (dates TBC); www.daticlothing.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 31

SUPERHERO MOUSE IN A SUITCASE, £18.95 A Danish design ready-packed to join your little one on any adventure. From Moro Mou, Roath; www.moromou.co.uk

STUDIO CIRCUS RAINBOW ABACUS, £16.99 A classic toy with a modern twist from a community-focused, inclusive toy shop. From The Honeycomb Toys and Books, Grangetown, Cardiﬀ; www.thehoneycombtoys.com

SMALL STUFF

Muted shades are all the rage when it comes to kids’ toys, clothes and accessories. Here are some of our favourites from local shops

LITTLE GOOSE ACTIVITY CUBE, £34.95 An activity station complete with a bead frame, shape sorter, a maze and gears. From Moro Mou, Roath; www.moromou.co.uk

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

MUSHIE STACKING CUPS, £14 Even if these are strewn all over your ﬂoor they’ll still look stylish. From Tiny Little Roar, Pontyclun; www.tinylittleroar.com

GRUFFALO AND MOUSE FIGURES, £34.99 This local company oﬀer sustainable wooden toys that are better for the world. From Eco Toy, Riverside, Cardiﬀ; www.ecotoyco.com

EDITOR’S CHOICE WOODEN PLANE, £15 Just plane awesome. From Jojo Maman Bébé, Royal Arcade, Cardiﬀ; www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

EARTH RAINBOW WATER BOTTLE, £5.50 Always keep your little dreamers hydrated. From Stwff-Stuff, Cowbridge; www. stwff-stuff.co.uk

DYFFRYN DUNGAREES, £85, AND TAKENOKO PULLOVER, £78 Don’t worry, while this Cardiﬀbased, family-run business specialises in natural knitwear for children, it has an ever-growing oﬀering for adults too. Phew. From Mabli, Newport Road; www.mabli.co.uk

WELSH ALPHABET ABACUS, £28 At Mwnci, expect eco-friendly items which promote the Welsh language. Da Iawn. From Mwnci, Llandaﬀ North; www.mwnci.co

DUCK BABY DUNGAREE SET, £24 Overall (get it?) this is a very cute ’ﬁt. From Jojo Maman Bébé, Royal Arcade, Cardiﬀ; www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk

TYRANNOSAURUS 3D WOODEN PUZZLE, £4.95 Now that’s one roarsome jigsaw. From Little People Store, Rhiwbina Village, Cardiﬀ; www.littlepeoplestore.co.uk

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

SHOPPING

SHOP AND CHANGE

2 1

In every other issue, we go trendspotting around St David’s shopping centre. Here’s our autumn haul...

he recent lifting of travel restrictions saw a surge in sales of luggage and holidaywear – from swimsuits to sliders – at St David’s, and the return of weddings saw pent-up demand unleashed for guest outfits, shoes, gifts and engagement ring cleaning. Other recent trends at St David’s included a rise in shoppers ditching high heels and underwired bras in exchange for the comfort we’ve become accustomed to after a year and a half at home. But that’s slowly changing now as events and parties are gathering speed, seeing people investing in post-quarantine revenge outfits. With the arrival of autumn, people are cosying-up their homes for the colder months (hello, hot chocolate machines!) and adding seasonal accessories too. The food and drink scene at the shopping centre is booming once again, with visitors indulging on new dishes, treats and cocktails which are all that more satisfying after we’ve gone without for so long. Here are a handful of our favourite finds…

5 6

SHOPPING LIST

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 Instagram @StDavidsCardiff or on www.stdavidscardiff.com

11 9

12 10

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

1. HIKO ceiling shade from John Lewis & Partners, £55 2. Samba Rainbow sapphire and diamond ring, from Pravins, £2,750 3. The Ice Bear cushion from Miniso, £17.50 4. Velvet leaf sculpture from BoConcept, £125 5. Hotel Chocolat’s velvetiser hot chocolate machine, £99.95 6. AllSaints Alpha Backpack, £299 7. Holland & Barrett’s Grass&Co CBD, £72.49 (BOGOF deal until 21 September) 8. Thomas Sabo black skull bracelet, £129 9. Flying Tiger tipi play tent, £30 10. YO! Sushi’s seafood ramen, £7.30 11. Watches of Switzerland’s Hublot Spirit of Big Bang Titanium White Diamonds watch, £13,900 12. Kurt Geiger rainbow strut ankle boots, £189

FOOD & DRINK SNAPSHOTS OF CARDIFF’S FOOD SCENE

KINDLE

ALL PHOTOS © AGA HOSKING

The old Warden’s House in Sophia Gardens has been transformed into Kindle, an independent restaurant with sustainability at its heart. It’s the latest venture from husband and wife Phill and Deb Lewis, the duo behind Dusty’s pizzerias and small-plates restaurant Nook. Here we chat… Kindle opened in September after years in the making, can you take us back to the beginning?

Kindle owners Phill and Deb; below: ‘fire food’; bottom: It’s an exclusively outdoor dining experience

The Kickstarter took place in spring 2019 with the goal of raising £40,000 to help with the project build. With the help of our local community and supporters, that target was smashed within the first three weeks, raising £43,000. The money raised has enabled us to really maximise in applying our sustainable ethos throughout the build and operationally, such as using 98 per cent recycled tiles within our washrooms, and sheep’s wool insulation in the cavity spaces. What else makes it stand out on the restaurant scene?

Essentially Kindle is a talking point. How do you get the balance right between excellent provenance, sourcing, execution and service plus do that with sustainability always in the back of your mind? Some things may be done perfectly, some not so. We want to challenge restaurant habits and behaviours with an aim of changing the system for the better.

YES, CHEF

Tom Powell, former head chef of The Walnut Tree in Abergavenny, one of Wales’s top Michelinstarred restaurants, heads up the restaurant team

Tell us more about the venue and atmosphere…

Kindle occupies the former Warden’s House of Sophia Gardens in the centre of Cardiff. It is an exclusively outdoor dining experience underneath covered pergolas, set within a beautiful sensory garden. A little oasis! Our indoor space hosts our kitchen, washrooms and bar, so the sole focus of our offering is the outdoor space. We have put tremendous effort in making sure everything – from the lighting to the aromas that waft throughout the outdoor space – allow our diners to feel at their most comfortable, ready to enjoy a delicious meal.

What’s on the menu?

Everything is made from scratch in our kitchen, from our sangak flatbread to our cannoli shells, with a huge emphasis on cooking over fire. Each dish has an element of having been cooked over the fire rig, which enhances the flavour. Our menu has a 70 per cent focus on vegetables, ensuring that any meat and fish products are sourced responsibly and from local suppliers. Your favourite dish on offer?

The coal-roasted collard greens mixed with roast garlic aioli and topped with charred crispy onions – wholesome comfort food in a bowl. And if you’re after a meat dish, then it has to be lamb galbi – lamb ribs in a Korean marinade scorched among the fire. You’ve bravely launched during uncertain times, how are you feeling about that?

It has always been our long-term goal to create a truly sustainable restaurant from the ground up – a platform for a restaurant to really push the boundaries in what it means to actually be sustainable, from the building design to sourcing and provenance, and to do it with integrity. We have thrown in everything we have to get this project off the ground and are extremely proud to have opened the doors in such difficult times. Anything to add?

We want to thank our local community not only for their financial support, but for all their kind messages (and reservations!) during our opening few weeks. It really has made us feel very honoured to have so many people behind us, and we hope that you enjoy Kindle as much as we have loved creating it. www.kindlecardiff.co.uk

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

Stockists of: Abi Williams Accessories • A. Kjaerbede Sunglasses • Alias Mae Boots American Vintage • Anine Bing • Anna Beck Jewellery • BA&SH Baggu Bags • Becksöndergaardz • Black Star World Tour 1980 Boyish Jeans • By Malina • Cash-Ca Jumpers • Castaner Espadrilles Chambers & Beau Jewellery • Coco & Jane Loves Bracelets Colourful Standard • Commando - Perfect Control • Date Trainers Desmond & Dempsey • Devotion Twins • Emu Australia Essentiel Antwerp • Faithfull the Brand • Ganni ICandi Rocks Jewellery • Just Female • Kori • Lollys Laundry Mabel Sheppard Accessories • MDK Leather Classics • Mishky Jewellery Mother Denim • ONJENU • Orelia Jewellery • Paige • Queens of Archive Rainkiss Poncho’s • Ragdoll LA • Rails • Shoe Biz • Shoe the Bear Stardust • Stella Nova • Stine Goya • SVP Jewellery • Talis Chains Toolally Jewellery • VEJA • 360 Cashmere

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

ANTIQUES – INTERIORS

HOBBIES - COLLECTABLES

THE

PUMPING STATION A N T I Q U E S

I N T E R I O R S

Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8TT | Open 7 Days a Week 10am – 5pm | Including Bank Holidays | Free car parking

TEL: 02920 221085 | WWW.THEPUMPINGSTATION-CARDIFF.CO.UK

FOOD

COMING SOON SIBLING, a new café offering specialty coffee, natural wines by the glass, and a limited menu of snacks, will open on Roath’s Locahber Street later this month.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Ground

elder can be foraged in Bute Park (tastes like sweet parsley!); PX and 1906 Reserva beerbraised Ibérico; my foraging haul from Bute Park; Inside Vermut; Vermut bar snacks and cocktails

AUTUMN EATING

Our columnist, good food fanatic, local blogger and indie foodie PR consultant JANE COOK has her finger on the pulse when it comes to what’s new and tasty in the city…

s I mop the sweat from my brow for the millionth time today (it’s currently 29 degrees outside, and climbing), I’m finding it almost impossible to believe that the colder days of autumn lie just around the corner. By the time this issue hits the shelves, we’ll be in the thick of it; settled in for another blustery autumn in our capital – which, for me, means an opportunity to indulge in the cosiest autumn eats. Top of the list is Bar 44’s new seasonal dish of PX & 1906 Reserva beer-braised Ibérico pork cheek, with celeriac and chard. You can add a glass of Estrella Galicia 1906 Reserva and enjoy a lovely, seasonal lunchtime treat for just £10 (available for the rest of September). Meanwhile, Wild Food UK’s guided foraging courses will return to Bute Park – offering a completely different way to enjoy one of the city’s most popular green spaces. I did their spring course a few years ago and came home with a haul of salads, mushrooms and edible flowers found

in the park at that time of year; but autumn is by far the best time for a forage. There are a few spaces left at www.wildfooduk.com. If holing yourself up in a cosy bar is more your style, Vermut is back open after a brief summer hiatus. Styled on the small, hole-inthe-wall style bars of Northern Spain, it’s thought to be one of the first of its kind in the UK in that it specialises in vermouth, sherries and Montilla-Moriles wines. If you’re new to all of this, grab a cheese and charcuterie board and ask the staff for their recommendations – they’ll find something to suit your taste. Finally, from 16 – 24 October, the Food Cardiff Autumn Festival will celebrate sustainable food with a series of online and in-person workshops across the city, covering cooking, home-growing and more. To find out more, visit www.foodcardiff.co.uk. For more: www.janechicomendes.co.uk | @janechicomendes | www.hungrycityhippy.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 39

SCENE

AC ROSS C A R D I FF, O N E SH I N D I G AT A T I M E Sunday night sees the ritual burning of the Green Man effigy

Hands up if you’re happy to be back

It’s a carnival atmosphere

Fontaines D.C

Panic Shack

Green Man – Wales’s largest festival – returned 19 – 22 August bringing with it a host of big-name acts, local talent, up-and-coming artists, great food and drink, comedy tents, science activities, poetry, literature, well-being ﬁelds, and children’s entertainment, all nestled against the magniﬁcent backdrop of the Brecon Beacons. Turn to page 25 for our review. www.greenman.net

Caribou

JOINING THE GREEN PARTY

It’s festival bubbles, not social bubbles, thanks to vaccines and testing

Green Man champions locally sourced food and drink

Charlotte Church

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

The Phoenix section

The Moa Bird section Thelonious Porter with his own creation

Oasis Choir members in The Sea Shanty section

BUTETOWN CARNIVAL At the end of August, the Butetown Carnival came back to the Bay to spread community fun, culture and live music. The parade made its way along the waterfront towards the Norwegian Church with various performance stops along the way, before arriving back at the Wales Millennium Centre’s outdoor stage. www.wmc.org.uk

Afro-Caribbean Dancers

Tasty treats

Selfies are a must

Olly Kneath, Hayley Kneath, Rhian Murphy, Mike Dowden, Daisy Lee, Emma Pridmore, Lee Jarman Ricky Singh, Lord Andover, Dr Ali Abdelbagi

THE PENINSULA CLUB BRUNCH

Wales-based luxury lifestyle brand The Peninsula Club – which hosts exclusive events in and around Cardiff, as well as in VIP venues in Dubai – hosted a recent brunch event at Celtic Manor Resort. Guests savoured exquisite food, lavished free-flowing alcohol, and enjoyed live music at the five-star resort. The next Peninsula event at the venue is on 16 October. www.thepeninsulaclub.co.uk

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

Lauren Xxx Davies, Catryn Harris, Kelsie Ryan

SOCIETY

KINDLE OPENING

New independent restaurant Kindle, which opened its doors on 2 September, held an exclusive event the night before its official launch, to celebrate new beginnings. Most of the guests were Kickstarter backers who bought tickets to the opening as one of their rewards for helping to fund the project. Kindle combines ‘fire food’ with natural wine in a vibrant, informal and predominantly outdoor setting, and works closely with local farmers, gamekeepers and gardeners to use ethical produce with a huge emphasis on provenance and sustainability. For more, see page 37. www.kindlecardiff.co.uk Photos by Aga Hosking

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

PROPERTY P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY

Clearwater Parade is set to be redeveloped

Kasim of Waterloo Tea

A FRESH START

Now that independent business collective Clearwater Parade has closed, we caught up with its indie traders to ask them what’s next…

learwater Parade, a popular indie shopping destination in Lakeside, set up during the pandemic, has now closed for redevelopment. Here we chat with its former businesses about their future plans...

THE DROPBAR A destination for all things bikes and beer “We are moving to Llangranog Road shops, Llanishen, with the guys responsible for the Indie Superstore markets; they are involved in filling all the shops there I believe,” says Neil Cowhey, owner. “We’re opening in October with a café and kitchen this time; our new shop will be offering full bike services and also a collection and delivery service six days a week. We’ve loved our time at Lakeside, it’s truly been perfect. We’ve made friends for life from both the locals and the other traders.” www.dropbarworkshop.co.uk WATERLOO TEA A café exploring the world’s finest teas “We were at Clearwater for a number of years [before the parade’s expansion], and it was a joy to be able to be part of the area’s resurgence in the pandemic,” says Kasim Ali, founder. “The last year has been a delight, with lots of start-ups being able to test their concepts with no long-term leases, and low rent being offered by the landlords (Silver Crescent). I feel it was exactly what the area needed, a hub.

Nathan at The Elephants Ear

“We have taken on a lease on Whitchurch Road so that we can ensure our staff remain in our employment; Whitchurch Road does seem as if it’s on the cusp of being a high street that mirrors the needs of its local residents. When

“It has given many local businesses a spring board to future projects” the works in Clearwater Parade have been finished we plan on coming back and being a part of the new chapter in Lakeside.” www.waterlootea.com UNMISTAKEN ACCESSORIES Statement macramé interiors “While it’s something we all knew was coming, it’s gutting to see everyone go their separate ways after such a great run,” says Megan Newport-Day, founder. “I’ve made some great friends for life and will always have fond memories of my time at Clearwater Parade. In the short term I’ll be making the move online; I love the sense of community you get with markets, so no doubt you’ll see me pop up here and there in the near future.” www.etsy.com/shop/unmistakenaccs

THE ELEPHANTS EAR A plant shop for your urban jungle “The closure of the shops, although obviously sad, has given many local businesses, including us, a spring board to future projects. It gave the community a focal point and showed that independent shops can still be successful and well supported even in the current retail climate. It also gave the opportunity for small businesses to connect, emerging together and now offering support for each other. Our new shop is next to the Glory Stores, on Upper Kincraig Street, Roath. It’s an old car garage and much larger than our old store and will allow us to expand our range of plants, homewares and accessories and will also have a dedicated workshop space.” www.theelephantsear.com

THE REDEVELOPMENT

Clearwater Parade has closed for redevelopment after enjoying great success during the pandemic, with its range of independent stores and market stalls helping it to beat the Covid downturn. The Clearwater Falls project will see apartments built by Silver Crescent Developments, along with 11 retail units. The businesses that were at the parade have all been offered the chance to return to the site following the redevelopment. www.silvercrescentdevelopments.co.uk

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

INFINITE SPACE Take a look around a spectacular Rhiwbina home which masters infinity living By Evelyn Green Photography by Matt Cant, @mattcantt 46 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ou’ve heard of an infinity pool, but what about infinity living? The concept defines properties that seamlessly blend with their outdoor space, giving them unending perfectly-merged appeal. One such structure built to be one with its environment is the remarkable 60 Beulah Road in the sought-after area of central Rhiwbina. Even before entering the six-bedroom detached house, you can tell it’s a design to be marvelled at. Standing in the back garden, the first thing to catch your eye is the impressive, luxe, covered veranda with its multiple lounging and socialising areas – from a swing seat setting to a banquet-sized picnic bench – to be enjoyed year-round. The slate and decked patio leads up to the heart of the home – the kitchen/diner and family room – which is highlighted by vaulted glass roofs that connect each room with nature. The floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors, which open up the majority of the rear walls of the house, pull back in their entirety to instantly incorporate and welcome the artfully lit veranda and the wider gardens into the living space, dissolving the boundary between exterior and interior and creating a calming connection to the outside world. Behind the façade is a warm and inviting home filled with natural light and character which is elevated from the woodframed windows and aged slate and oak flooring that flows

PROPERTY

through the ground floor. Entering, you’re captivated by a superlative balcony landing and a Jarrod’s custom-made floating staircase that elegantly sweeps up to the first floor. The eyes are drawn quickly towards the tailor-made kitchen/diner, a carefully considered redesign that can be applauded for flexibility while maintaining functionality with clever interconnecting rooms and expansive spaces. The bespoke, air-conditioned kitchen/diner, featuring stand-out quartz worktops, has an array of integrated Neff appliances which include ‘slide and hide’ ovens, a coffee machine, a wine cooler, and even a beer tap with a piped system for kegs in the cellar. Upstairs are five bedrooms – the master offering a generous four-piece suite and a slipper bath – plus a family bathroom, and the ground floor incorporates an additional guest room. Back to the gardens, they are considerable and landscaped, with a large lawn and well-stocked boarders introducing greenery and colour along with privacy and some shade. There’s also a summer house, a small pool, and a double tandem garage which has been partly divided to offer scope for a gym or home office to be created. Sunny BBQ season may be over, but the home’s relationship to its surroundings is an all-seasons delight, integrating and embracing nature in a healthy, zen, and extremely stylish way. n

HOUSE NUMBERS Price £1,475,000 Location

Beulah Road, Rhiwbina

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Outside Expansive gardens, a generous veranda, a double garage, a gated driveway with parking for several vehicles What else? An integrated kitchen beer tap, a summer house, a custommade floating staircase For more: Hern & Crabtree, Whitchurch Office, 12 Merthyr Road, Cardiff CF14 1DG; 029 2062 3115; whitchurch@hern-crabtree.co.uk

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

THE SHEET IS ON A new Cardiffbased business has emerged from under the covers. Hunant, specialising in traditional Welsh bedding, has been launched by Myfanwy and Tom Shorey. Here they tell us all about it… Photos by Heather Birnie

Husband and wife Tom and Myfanwy run their business from their Roath home 48 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

INTERIORS

These aren’t any old bedsheets, these are 200 thread-count percale sheets based on authentic Welsh tapestry blanket designs

“A third of our lives is spent in our beds, so make sure you are using damn good sheets”

at in their Roath home during a rather dull lockdown, husband and wife Tom and Myfanwy Shorey wanted to add some colour to their lives. From their bright idea sprang a business: Hunant, specialising in an exclusive range of premium organic cotton bedsheets. These aren’t any old bedsheets; these are 200 thread-count percale fitted sheets based on authentic Welsh tapestry blanket designs. “Having traditionally always preferred plain white as our bed linen, we wanted add some colour and pattern, without overdoing it or compromising the overall aesthetic of the bedroom,” says Tom, “and so was born the idea of these nostalgic sheets. “We have always loved traditional Welsh tapestry blankets with their bold colourful designs; the patterns have been used on many different products, but never on bed linen.

The limited-edition range of sheets consist of two authentic Welsh patterns in five different single colourways. “Hunant’s intention is to continue to reproduce other authentic Welsh patterns in future collections, outlining and preserving their history while bringing a modern aesthetic and colour to our bedroom today. Pronounced He-Nant in Welsh, Hunant means ‘they slumber’ and not only do the products look great, but all ethical standards have been considered in their manufacture to ensure minimal impact on the planet. The sheets are digitally printed by a textiles company in Northern Portugal; this uses less water than other methods and was therefore the most sustainable process Tom and Myfanwy could find. “Our goal is to help you sleep better, and to introduce some colour into your bedroom,” says Myfanwy. “A third of our lives is spent in our beds sleeping, so make sure you are using damn good sheets.” For more: www.hunant.co.uk

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

SMART WAYS TO FUND HOME IMPROVEMENTS CORNERSTONE FINANCE offer advice and ways to help you turn your house dreams into a reality

he Covid-19 pandemic has made us re-evaluate what we want from our homes, and with more people turning to make major home improvements, instead of upping sticks and selling their homes, homeowners are looking at ways to fund small investments that can make a big difference to their lives. During this past year there has been a surge of homeowners focussing on major home improvements, such as building extensions and fitting new kitchens and bathrooms. But with costs running into thousands of pounds, you want to make sure you get the right type of finance to fund them. At Cornerstone Finance our team of specialist advisors are here to guide you, providing information on the different options, whilst working with you to secure finance that’s right for you. Here are just some of the ways you can turn your house dreams into a reality:

of home improvements to your mortgage can be cheaper than other forms of finance, such as taking out a personal loan or using a credit card, and re-mortgaging rates can be considerably lower. You’ll also be able to repay the amount borrowed over the term of your mortgage, rather than the three- or five-year terms common on personal loans.

• Re-mortgaging – if you are making significant changes that require a large sum, borrowing on your mortgage is one way to raise capital for home improvements. Adding the cost

• Equity release – equity release is a way for homeowners aged 55+ to release tax-free funds from their homes, without having to move. It is an increasingly popular way for people in, or

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

• Secured loan – one thing to think carefully about is how long you will need to repay the loan if you are considering this method – secured loans are often repaid over a longer term, usually terms of between five and 25 years are available. Secured loans are useful if you want to borrow more than you’d be able to pay for on a credit card or an unsecured loan – the advantages of a secured loan are you can borrow more at a lower rate. The extra security from your home means it’s usually cheaper and you can borrow for longer. For a secured loan to be worthwhile you’d usually be looking to borrow £20k+.

approaching, retirement to boost their finances. With equity release, while you are taking a loan, you don’t need to make any payments and are guaranteed never to owe more than the value of your property. As the amount you owe isn’t due for repayment until you die or enter permanent long-term care, the main concern is that releasing equity will reduce the value of your estate over time. Whatever your home improvement plans are our team of independent experts are here to provide you with tailored financial advice. Come and speak to us for financial expertise you can trust, with solutions built specifically around you. ■

To ﬁnd out more call 029 2166 0550. info@cornerstoneﬁnance.co.uk

SPONSORED CONTENT

OUT OF OFFICE

A guide to holiday entitlement in the workplace, and how it has changed with the pandemic. By Sarah Alford of BERRY SMITH LAWYERS

s restrictions gradually ease and with more individuals attending social events and taking holidays abroad, employees may be starting to make the most of their accrued annual leave entitlement – which may include annual leave rolled over from last year. With that in mind, this article considers some frequently asked questions regarding holiday entitlement in the workplace. Do employees have to give a minimum period of notice when taking holiday? The Working Time Regulations 1998 (The “Regulations”) contain certain requirements regarding giving notice to take annual leave but these can be varied or excluded by the employer. Where there has been no variation or exclusion, the notice to be given by an employee wishing to take holiday must be at least twice the period of leave that they are requesting, for example if an employee wants to take five days' leave, they must give at least 10 calendar days'

notice. If an employer refuses the request, they must serve a counter notice at least as many days before the period of leave is due to start, as the number of days that are being refused. Can an employer ask employees to take annual leave whilst on furlough? Yes, as long as: • the employer tops up the employee’s furlough pay to 100% of the employee’s normal salary; and • the employer provides the employee with the right amount of notice to take leave – twice the period that the employer is requesting them to take i.e., if the employer requires the employee to take 10 days' leave, it must give at least 20 calendar days' notice to the employee. There are no explicit requirements about the form that this notice must take. With the furlough scheme due to come to an end at the end of September, we suspect that many

Sarah Alford

employers may wish to review the accrued annual leave entitlement of those employees still on furlough with a view to asking them to take some leave ahead of their return – not least to prevent employees returning with an unamenable amount of annual leave. n

If you would like any advice about the issues raised in this article or any other aspect of employment law, contact us on 029 2034 5511 or by email at employment@berrysmith.com

SPONSORED CONTENT

EDUCATION

“The utter resilience of staff and students through such a challenging time has been unbelievable”

LIFE LESSONS In their own words, staff and students from local schools and universities tell us about the challenges and triumphs of the past academic year

Team spirit at Haberdashers

he last 18 months have thrown many tests and trials at all of us –not least teachers and pupils, who have had to get to grips with at-home digital learning as well as having to deal with all the anxieties and stresses of everyday and academic life combined. Here we chat to staff and students about the memories they will hold of education through a pandemic.

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

EDUCATION CARDIFF METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

Cardiff Met was founded in 1865, with an academic portfolio oriented towards practice-focused and professionally recognised education and research. The university is currently celebrating after being shortlisted as one of the six institutions in the running for the prestigious Times Higher Education University of the Year award. JULIA LONGVILLE

Dean of Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy at Cardiff Met

Cardiff Met has just been shortlisted for the prestigious Times Higher Education University of the Year award

When I was at school I wanted to be a PE teacher and a dancer. I achieved both, teaching for

10 years before moving to Cardiff Met and I was in a dance group called Image. When I was a student, I got into trouble for telling people exactly what I thought of them! My favourite school meal is corned beef hash and beans, with a custard slice for pudding. When I look back on this academic year, what I’ll remember most is the utter resilience of staff and students through such a challenging time. The support for one another has been unbelievable. A memorable moment was the Barry Netball Club reunion – meeting up with friends I have known for over 50 years. Some of my best times were playing Netball for Wales in World and European Championships. When I retired, I coached the Wales team in European, World Championships and Commonwealth Games. A great moment was when the university received outstanding feedback from our partners about the quality of our programmes. The person I’d like to say thank you to is Caryn Blunt, my executive assistant; I would not survive without her. I’d like to add, I am proud of being a Barry Girl. You can take the girl out of Barry but not Barry out of the girl. My favourite shop is Bryls Boutique in High Street and my favourite actor is Ruth Jones. Llandaff and Cyncoed; www.cardiffmet.ac.uk

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL

During these unusual times, this independent school for boys and girls aged three – 18 has been incredibly proud of its staff, pupils and the wider school community. The students have embraced all of the opportunities that this past year has presented, including: establishing Direct, a platform for discussion and reflection; helping to set up a virtual hymn choir and a pupil mentoring scheme; and developing a bilingual chatbot to help those with concerns about Covid.

CLARE SHERWOOD

Head of Cathedral School

When I was at school, I wanted to be an actor. I have always loved being involved in school productions both as a pupil and as a teacher. When I was a student, I got into trouble for having my regulation knee-high socks constantly falling down. My favourite school meal is all of them! Our school food is delicious – especially fish and chips on a Friday. When I look back on this academic year, I’ll remember how staff and pupils pulled together to make things happen – the socially distanced sports day and the outdoor summer production in the playground are two particular highlights. Another highlight was speech day – the only day in the academic year with all our pupils gathered together, streamed live to parents. The planning was immense but it was completely worth it. The most fun I’ve had this year was in my Year 7 history class, when the pupils put Henry II on trial for the murder of Thomas Beckett. The quality of debate and quick-fire repartee was amazing. EMILY HORLESTON

Year 9 pupil at Cathedral School My favourite subjects are art, English and

computer science.

My favourite school activity is being a chorister; I love the atmosphere of Llandaff Cathedral. When I leave education, I would either like to work as a psychologist or a singer. The best thing about this school is there are so many opportunities, from orchestras to sports teams and chess competitions. The most challenging thing about this year has been lockdown. We couldn’t come into school, and doing everything virtually was hard. I’d like to say thank you to all of the staff, for dealing so well in such hard circumstances. The school provided us all with virtual lessons to keep our education going, and we were able to talk to a member of staff if we felt stressed or anxious. It was really reassuring, and I am very thankful. Llandaff; www.cathedral-school.co.uk

WESTBOURNE SCHOOL

Cathedral School in all its glory

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

Leading independent school Westbourne had a record-breaking summer, celebrating its highest academic grades on record – the best in the school’s 125-year history. Fifty per cent of Sixth Form students achieved over 40 points (the A Level equivalent of 4 A*s), with 85 per cent attaining 7/6 (A*/A), and 96.8 per cent A*-B, securing them places at the world’s top universities including Cambridge, Imperial and UCL. The Penarth school has recently opened a ground-breaking IB sister college in Australia, designed as a launchpad for Sixth Form students to access global STEM careers.

DR. GERARD GRIFFITHS

Principal of Westbourne School Through lockdown it was our overarching objective to support each student on an individual

basis, both academically and personally. As well as offering 24/7 support online, we implemented new technologies to enable students to thrive remotely, appointing a new director of online education and retraining staff to teach online so that no student was disadvantaged. We were one of the first schools in Wales to use artificial intelligence to enhance the way pupils learn, providing them with limitless additional opportunities to expand their knowledge beyond the curriculum. Penarth; www.westbourneschool.com

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1883, Cardiﬀ University is established as one of Britain’s leading research universities. They have recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Exploring the Past (EtP) Pathway, a course which enables adult learners to gain the skills they need to begin degree studies in history, archaeology or religion at Cardiﬀ University. This Pathway was a trailblazer and placed the foundations for a further nine Pathways to be developed. DR PAUL WEBSTER

Co-ordinator of the EtP Pathway in history, archaeology and religion at Cardiﬀ University When I was at school, I wanted to be many things.

At primary school, I wanted to be a ‘dinosaur bone ﬁnder’. As I got older, I wanted to be an architect or pursue an interest in modern languages. But I’ve always loved history, and I realised that I wanted a career that allowed me to share that passion. When I was a student, I got into trouble for wearing my outdoor winter coat indoors. When I look back on this academic year, what I’ll remember most is how everyone on the Exploring the Past Pathway pulled together to make online learning a collaborative and enjoyable experience. It’s been great to see everyone enjoying studying, doing well and progressing to degrees, despite all the unexpected challenges brought about by the pandemic. Pathway students at Cardiff University

Westbourne school is celebrating its highest academic grades on record

My personal highlight of this year has been seeing a strong cohort of 13 students complete the Exploring the Past Pathway in 2020-21 and progressing to start their degrees this autumn. A heart-warming moment was receiving a lovely message from a student who I have worked with from her time on the Pathway and throughout her degree in history, who has now successfully completed her degree. She wrote to say thank you, and it was such a lovely boost. Something important I’d like to highlight is the importance of the Pathways programme and the opportunities it provides for adult learners to have an opportunity to return to learning and progress to studying for a degree. The people I’d like to say thank you to are our students, who bring enthusiasm, commitment and a drive to achieve, and our tutor team, who help our students to achieve their dreams. Cardiﬀ; www.cardiﬀ.ac.uk

HABERDASHERS’ MONMOUTH SCHOOLS The classrooms, sports facilities, performing arts centres and boarding houses across Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools have returned to life as they plan for a vibrant start to the Michaelmas term. Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools are reﬁning their system of education, known as the Monmouth Model, by introducing a fully co-educational Prep School for boys and girls aged three – 11 from this September. This exciting change has led to the creation of a new, ‘diamond-shaped structure’ for the family of schools. The Prep School creates the foundation of the diamond, pupils then transition through to one of the single-sex senior schools – either Monmouth School for Boys or Monmouth School for Girls – and later join the co-educational Monmouth Schools Sixth Form that sits at the top of the diamond. MR JAMES MURPHY-O’CONNOR

Principal of Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools

In our new structure,we aim to oﬀer the best mix of single-sex and co-education at the optimum stages of a child’s academic and personal development so that pupils achieve their full academic potential while being completely at ease with one another. At Monmouth, we develop strong social skills, responsibility and a real sense of community. ■ Monmouth; www.habsmonmouth.org

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

THE CARDIFF SCHOOL FOR OLYMPIANS Olympic medal winners Sarah Jones and Hannah Mills are both alumnae of HOWELL’S SCHOOL, LLANDAFF

uring the Opening Ceremony at the start of the Tokyo games in July, students and staff at Howell’s School, Llandaff GDST were delighted to see alumna Hannah Mills carrying the Team GB flag. Sailor Hannah, who won a Silver medal in the London Games and a Gold in Rio was in Tokyo to race in the 470 class with partner Eilidh McIntyre. The pair’s gold medal win made Hannah Mills Britain’s most successful female Olympic sailor in history, as well as Wales’ most successful female Olympian and the first Welsh woman to win three medals at consecutive Games. Hannah sprang to the British sailing world’s attention while a pupil at Howell’s aged just 14, when she won the Optimist National

PHOTO CREDIT: GB Hockey/World Sport Pics/Sailing Energy

Championships in 2002. She was named UK Young Sailor of the Year and BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year. Talking to us a few days after her return from Tokyo, she said, “I was so lucky when I was starting out in sailing. I had so much support: from my family, from Howell’s and from my sailing club. It’s a huge commitment to compete in a sport that gets you up early in the morning and takes you all over the country every weekend before you are old enough to drive yourself, and I don’t think I realised at the time how much effort everyone else had to put into it.” Another former Howell’s student, hockey player Sarah Jones, won a bronze medal in Tokyo, her first Olympic Games. Sarah began playing hockey when she joined Howell’s School, Llandaff GDST aged 11. She says, “The teachers were all about creating a good team environment and doing your best. I got to play with girls from my year, but also older girls, and we took part in GDST tournaments at different schools. We went to Holland on a hockey tour a couple of times, which opened my eyes to a very different way of playing the game.” Does Sarah have any advice for young hockey players keen to see themselves playing for Wales or Team GB? “Take every opportunity. Every training session, every game, every tournament and give it your best. It’s not always the most talented,

gifted player that reaches the top, it’s the ones that try their hardest and give it their all.” Howell’s School, Llandaff recognises and nurtures talent in all areas of the sports arena. Director of Sport at Howell’s, Ceri Crawford explains, “At Howell’s our vision is to nurture talent. Our Talented Athlete Programme recognises students who have aspiration to go to an Olympic games. Students on the programme play their sport at an elite level, whether that is the traditional school sports or something more unusual. Current TAP students include sailors, rowers, gymnasts and equestrians. We also offer a range of activities to engage, inspire and promote health and wellbeing through offering our students choice when deciding which pathway suits their learning. Allowing yoga, creative and games pathways for education promotes aspects that allows lifelong learning and engagement in sport and exercise. ■

To ﬁnd out more about sport at Howell’s School, Llandaff GDST, contact Admissions Ofﬁcer Chrissie Hall-Davis on 029 2056 2019 or visit www.howells-cardiff.gdst.net. www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 57

SPONSORED CONTENT

“IF WE DIDN’T HAVE SUPPORT FROM TŶ HAFAN WE WOULD HAVE NO RESPITE AT ALL”

BE A LIFELINE

Include a gift in your will for TŶ HAFAN children’s hospice

ŷ Hafan children’s hospice has provided care and support for more than 1,000 children and their families across Wales since it first opened in 1999. Currently caring for around 300 children with life-limiting conditions, Tŷ Hafan provides respite care at the hospice in Sully and outreach support across our community.

Ollie was diagnosed with the ultra-rare MOSAIC Syndrome

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

It costs £4.5 million to run Tŷ Hafan annually and 25 per cent of that comes from the generosity of incredible supporters via gifts in their wills. One such family to benefit from this are the Merediths who describe Tŷ Hafan as a “total lifeline”. Mum and dad Sophie and Sean were just 22 when their son Ollie, now six, was diagnosed with the ultra-rare MOSAIC Syndrome. At four months old Ollie was admitted to hospital, and at 18 months he and his family had their first experience of Tŷ Hafan. “If we did not have support from Tŷ Hafan we would have no respite at all,” says Sophie. “The hydrotherapy pool is amazing, plus the socialising with other children and families. The nurses there have known Ollie all his life and they are amazing with him. “Through the Super Sibs group, Summer, Ollie’s big sister, gets to speak to children in same position as her and she absolutely loves that. Tŷ Hafan has been there for us all the way.” Will you help Tŷ Hafan to continue to be a lifeline to families such as the Merediths by including a gift in your will? No matter how big or small, every gift in a will makes a significant difference. Tŷ Hafan has partnered with the National Free Wills Network to provide their supporters

with the opportunity to meet with a local solicitor to write a simple will, or pairs of wills, for free. There is no obligation to leave a gift in your will to Tŷ Hafan, but your support will help more children with life-limiting conditions like Ollie. As Deborah Ho, Director of Care at Tŷ Hafan, says, “With your help we can continue to be a lifeline, providing vital care for all the families who need us, now and in the future.” ■

To ﬁnd out more and to include a gift in your will for Tŷ Hafan please contact Abbie Barton, Gifts in Wills and In Memory Senior Fundraiser. Email: abbie.barton@tyhafan.org Tel: 02920 532270

It’s the city’s business

CARDIFFWORKS ALL GOOD

Goodsheds has turned one

Happy first birthday to Goodsheds – an indie shopping village in Barry – which celebrated in style at the end of August. “The Goodsheds experience has been phenomenal,” says director Simon Baston. “The community and local businesses have helped created the first new urban high street in the UK that has many opportunities in all sectors, with the second phase of planning to create a tech village, a permanent farmer’s market, and experience-led accommodation, all to be completed by April next year.”

Hensol Castle Distillery opened its doors at the start of September. After a multi-million-pound investment, the new craft spirit distillery, gin school, visitor experience and bottling plant – located in the cellars of the 17th century Grade I-listed Hensol Castle in the Vale, and owned by Leekes Retail and Leisure Group – is set to become a flagship tourism destination attracting up to 30,000 visitors annually. It was originally due to launch in March 2020, but plans were scuppered when the pandemic hit. Ahead of the September opening, Welsh rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones visited the castle to do the honours of burying a ‘time capsule’ – in the form of the distillery’s first bottle of Hensol Castle Gin to come off the production line – creating their own bit of hidden history for future generations to find. The distillery is part of the wider £7 million redevelopment at Hensol Castle, which has already included turning the once-derelict castle into a first-class wedding and conference destination. Stephen Leeke, Christopher Leeke and Alun Wyn Jones bury a time capsule

BUSINESS CLUB

New underground bar NQ64 will open on St Mary Street, Cardiff, in November. It’ll be a neonsplattered drinking den full of retro arcade games and classic consoles, complemented by game-themed cocktails and craft beers. For more: www.nq64.co.uk

For more: www.goodshedsbarry.co.uk

CHEERS TO THAT

For more: www.hensolcastledistillery.com

WAITING GAME

KING DICKY CLOTHING is Cardiff’s newest vintage store, in Castle Arcade. Find them on Facebook: @KingDickyClothing

NQ64 bar is on its way to the city

FOND FAREWELL Award-winning restaurant Hang Fire Southern Kitchen – which has been considered the jewel in the crown of Wales’s restaurant scene since 2016 – has announced its closure. But, in positive news, owners Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn say “this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later” – we can’t wait to share what the duo come up with next. For more: www.hangfiresouthernkitchen.com

Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend Search Cardiff Life on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk

CARDIFFWORKS

“WE ARE INVESTING £10 MILLION INTO OUR SHOWROOMS, STARTING WITH CARDIFF” Stuart McDowell

Laings Cardif f Here we chat to Stuart McDowell, retail director at Laings – a family-run, fine jewellers and luxury watch specialist There’s a lot happening at Laings Cardiff right now, could you tell us about it?

As part of our vision for the future, we are investing £10 million over the next two years to transform our showrooms across the UK, starting with Laings Cardiff. We first opened our showroom in Cardiff in 2000, having purchased the established and highly regarded jeweller and watch specialist Parkhouse & Wyatt. This enabled us to expand our offering to a Welsh clientele before relocating to the sensational new St David’s centre in 2009. Exactly how will the Cardiff showroom change?

It will be the ﬁrst to undergo an exciting expansion. Set to be unveiled this autumn, work is well underway to treble the size of our St David’s Centre showroom, allowing us to introduce luxury Swiss watch brands to our Welsh clientele for the very ﬁrst time. We’re also reimagining the way our clients experience diamonds and jewellery, with dedicated areas to view our carefully curated collections in private, with a glass of champagne from our refreshments partner, Lanson, in hand. Some of our luxury brands, such

as Rolex and Patek Philippe, cannot be bought online, so that drives people into our stores and we want to ensure we’re giving our clients an experience to remember. We believe providing an immersive experience is vital. We take our customers on a journey and we show them how this journey unfolds behind the scenes; particularly when commissioning a bespoke piece of jewellery. The client is involved in every step and they come away with something that they helped create. These magical experiences are at the heart of everything we do. Tell us a about the company’s background…

Laings was established in 1840 and is now in the hands of the sixth generation of the Laing family. It is now one of the largest independent jewellery businesses in the UK. We have six locations in four cities – Cardiﬀ, Southampton, Glasgow and Edinburgh. After celebrating 180 years of trading in 2020, we are now looking ahead to build on its legacy as a leading destination for luxury jewellery and watches, with plans to strengthen our presence across the UK. We take pride in the traditional crafts of jewellery and watchmaking and want to keep this art alive. A

key aim of our longer-term growth plan is to attract more talent into the industry and inspire a new generation to train in these ﬁelds. How does being based in Cardiff benefit the work you do?

Our Cardiﬀ showroom allows us to oﬀer the Welsh market a truly luxurious customer experience in a spectacular location. The showroom is in the heart of the capital city and our expanded presence means that our clients will no longer need to travel outside their home city to access these brands; they can enjoy having them on their doorstep..

click and collect service. And now, as everyone looks for that ‘new normal’, we’re pressing ahead with Laings’ expansion and growth plans. Any moment the company has been particularly proud of?

We invest heavily in our team and have an extensive training programme in place. For example, we have sent members of our team to the International Gemmological Institute Oﬃces in Antwerp for diamond grade training. Where do you see the business in the future?

These developments signal the start of a longer-term growth plan for Laings. We’re embarking on a journey of evolution to challenge jewellery and watchmaking retail experiences, bringing innovation to every area of the business, while never forgetting the deep-rooted heritage that anchors the Laings story. Laings, St David’s Centre, Cardiﬀ; www.laingsuk.com

How is your sector coping during the pandemic?

It was difficult to know the right course of action to take because there was no blueprint for dealing with something like this. The retail sector had to react quickly and develop new strategies. Many companies shifted their efforts to e-commerce platforms, developing online customer services and chat functions. When we reopened last summer, we traded well and during the second lockdown we were able to continue to meet with our clients through virtual meetings and offer a

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

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS

The proud team

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS 2020 PROACTIVE FIRST AID SOLUTIONS

Proactive First Aid Solutions, a training company that offer a range of first aid, advanced life support and health and safety courses, won the Education award at the Cardiff Life Awards 2020. Here we chat with its director Trystan Davies What prompted you to enter our Awards?

We had been to the Awards twice in previous years having been chuffed to be shortlisted. It’s a great evening and quite a few of our customers are shortlisted most years, therefore it’s great to have a few drinks with them and a catch up. We definitely didn’t expect to win! Tell us about the business…

I started the company in September 2017. We teach all levels of first aid courses and advanced life support courses bilingually; we also provide medical cover at events. All the team are medics in some form. Most are paramedics and EMTs. There’s one policeman and he’s the one we have to behave around. My wife is involved with the office, making sure internal quality systems are perfect, but she has her own nail technician business too. What was the inspiration for the business?

What I wanted to do from the

EDUCATION WINNER beginning was change how people perceived first aid training. When most people think of first aid training, boring courses with a doll and plasters come to mind. This is why we believe as a team we are changing the face of first aid training. Without sounding corny, we want to make first aid cool and exciting. As a group of medics, we know first aid is the first step in the chain of survival.

“WE WANT TO MAKE FIRST AID COOL AND EXCITING”

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

How does being based in Cardiff benefit the work you do?

of pride because it’s a big thing to trust a company to train your staff. I do a little fist pump every time. We had a woman message us a couple of months ago informing us she had just resuscitated her husband and was waiting for the hospital to phone to see if he had made it; she said thank you and that she could hear my voice in her mind telling her what to do.

Any local collaborations to highlight?

Any advice to someone who would like to create a start-up?

I love Cardiff; I wouldn’t want to run the company from anywhere else. Most of our customers are Cardiff based, and they really buy into what we are trying to do education wise but also with the medical cover we provide for venues, concerts, universities and student unions.

We have worked with many venues, pubs and clubs from the Cardiff night-time economy, issuing free critical bleed kits and giving free online catastrophic bleed courses. We have also helped many businesses educate their staff on Covid, with free back-to-work awareness packages.

Do it if you’re committed. I’m not a businessman, but if I can offer any advice it is that you have to be obsessed with your business. I am totally obsessed with mine, but I make sure I have time with family; if that means I’m on the laptop at 2am finishing work, so be it.

Any moment you have been particularly proud of?

It’s kind of funny what makes me proud in the company. If a customer books a course, I have that sense

For more: www.proactivefirstaid.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE AT: WWW.VALEVETCENTRE.CO.UK Cardiff: 233 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9PP. E-mail: cardiff@valevetcentre.co.uk | Phone: 02920 004007

cardiffnorth@bluebirdcare.co.uk

Barry: 7/8 Ty Verlon Ind Est, Cardiff Rd, Vale of Glamorgan, CF63 2BE. E-mail: info@valevetcentre.co.uk | Phone: 01446 739739

CARDIFF LIVES

“Since the age of eight, I’ve wanted to win a gold medal”

HANNAH MILLS Hannah Mills has just been crowned the most successful female sailor in Olympic history. Here we chat… Cardiff-born athlete Hannah Mills has been constantly reaching for global success. Alongside her former 470 sailing partner Saskia Clark, she won silver at the 2011 World Championships, then gold at the same event the following year; at London 2012, they took silver; and at Rio 2016 they became Olympic champions to end the hugely successful partnership on a golden high. Hannah then went on to claim silver at the 2017 470 World Championships with Eilidh McIntyre; then she won bronze in the same event in 2018 before scooping top prize in Enoshima in 2019 and being selected to compete for Team GB in Tokyo 2020, where, alongside Eilidh, she went on to secure gold,

making Hannah the most successful female sailor in Olympic history. Here, the Howell’s School Llandaff alumna tells us more… Congratulations, Hannah! How does it feel to make Olympic history?

I can’t really describe how it feels! Words don’t seem to be enough – or maybe my vocabulary isn’t enough! There is a huge sense of pride at what Eilidh, myself and our coach, Joe, managed to achieve, especially with the extra year added to the Olympic cycle this time round due to Covid and all the challenges that threw up. There is also pride and a sense of privilege at being able to inspire so many people, but especially kids, through what we have done at the Olympics. The response

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

has been unbelievable and we didn’t quite realise when we were in Tokyo how it was back home and how many people had been watching! Relief is another strong emotion, relief at achieving what we set out to achieve, for ourselves, our friends and families, sponsors and everyone whose followed our journey. Talk us through the nerves, the adrenaline and the rush you felt when competing. The majority of us will never experience a moment like that, so can we live it through you for a moment?

The nerves were like nothing I’ve ever felt before; I’ve always been nervous at the previous Games I’ve competed at, but this time round I could barely eat and every meal was a struggle to get enough food in. Usually, day one is the worst and then you get into your flow a bit and it eases up, but not in Tokyo. Every day was the same, huge butterflies, and feeling sick and anxious at what we had to do that day. However, you learn to live with it and accept it, knowing that it won’t affect your performance if you focus on the routine of what you need to do to prepare for each race. Once the start gun goes, the nerves subside and you are just completely focused on the job at hand: getting around the race course as fast as you can!

Have you always had big goals from a young age?

I’ve always loved sport, any kind of sport. I had a tennis lesson for my fourth birthday which I’d begged my parents for; I swam, played hockey and netball and would literally do anything and everything I could if I got the chance. I fell into sailing at the age of eight on a holiday to Cornwall, and I came back to Cardiff begging my parents to let me carry on. We found what was then Llanishen Sailing Centre and that was me hooked. Since the age of eight, and watching the Atlanta Olympics, I’ve wanted to go to the Games and win a gold medal. I didn’t know or care what sport that was in at that point though. It was at 11 when Sir Ben Ainslie came to a competition I was in, to talk to us all, and I realised sailing was in the Olympics, and that’s what I wanted to do. Tell us a bit about growing up locally…

I grew up in Dinas Powys and my parents still live there. I moved to Weymouth for the London 2012 Olympics and my sailing but I still love going home to Mum and Dad. I love the sea, obviously, so walking their dog, Molly, down at Sully Island is great. Shopping in Cardiff city centre is always on the list when I go home too, as the shopping where I live isn’t great at all. n For more: www.hannahmills.com

THE

PERFECT FOCAL POINT EXPERIENCE OUR COLLECTION OF BEAUTIFUL FIRES, FIREPLACES AND STOVES AT OUR CARDIFF SHOWROOM

VISIT OUR CARDIFF SHOWROOM GRIPOLY MILLS RETAIL PARK, SLOPER ROAD, CARDIFF, CF11 8AA. T 029 2066 6622 limegreenuk.co.uk

BOOK YOUR SHOWROOM VISIT TODAY SCAN HERE