Cardiff Life - Issue 253 by MediaClash

ISSUE 253 / SPRING 2022 / £3

@CardiffLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY

THE ANTI-AVERAGE LIFE COMES TO CARDIFF

CLEANING UP MRS BUCKÉT’S LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY INTO SUCCESS

ISSUE 253 / SPRING 2022 / SPARKLE AND SHINE

ON THE RUN THE GLORY OF THE CARDIFF HALF’S RETURN

SNAPPED!

SPOT YOURSELVES AT THE CITY’S LATEST EVENTS

ALL ADORNED

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO TRY ON A MILLION POUNDS’ WORTH OF JEWELLERY? WE FIND OUT AT LAINGS CARDIFF

PHOTO © SAM HARDWICK

EDITOR’S LETTER

’m writing this letter the day after the Cardiff Life Awards at City Hall. Do I have a sore head? Yes. Am I exhausted? Yes. Am I on top of the world? Oh my gosh, yes. I would love to say ‘turn to page so and so for all the pictures from the Awards’, but our official review is actually coming in the next issue (ah the joy of publishing schedules!). Eyes peeled for that one – the celebration, joy and love captured in those pages is not to be missed, seriously. That’s not to say this very issue you’re reading is any less exciting though – of course not! We have a lot of loveliness for you to peruse. As you might have spotted on our front cover, I was invited by Laings jewellers in Cardiff to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to wear one million pounds’ worth of jewellery for the day. Emotions were evoked, dusty memories were conjured, and a complete mindset shift occurred; see the full feature on page 13. Talking of eye-catching, thought-provoking handmade creations, we’ve been enraptured by two current art exhibitions in Cardiff – Undod at Blackwater Gallery, and Ode to Olaudah Equiano at Chapter. Turn to pages 21 and 19 respectively to see just what we mean. Elsewhere, we have plenty of in-depth interviews; in our New Business section – celebrating local launches – we chat with the founder of The Anti-Average Life, Liesel Verster, about her vision for her new events venture which aims to turn people’s wildest dreams into reality (page 35). And we catch up with Rachael Flanagan, who set up her local cleaning company, Mrs Buckét, as a teenager with £20 in her pocket, and now sees a multi-million-pound turnover (page 62). There’s plenty more, too – from food and property, to shopping and what’s on – not forgetting a spotlight on the heartfelt efforts locals are going to in the name of Ukraine (page 10). #CardiffTogether, always

So many Welsh festivals are coming (see page 24)

wy’n ysgrifennu’r llythyr hwn drannoeth seremoni Gwobrau Cardiff Life yn Neuadd y Ddinas. Oes gen i ben tost? Oes. Ydw i wedi blino’n lân? Ydw. Ydw i wrth fy modd? Ydw, yn bendant. Byddwn i’n dwlu gallu dweud ‘trowch i dudalen rhif ... i weld yr holl luniau o’r seremoni’ ond bydd ein hadolygiad swyddogol o’r noson yn ymddangos yn y rhifyn nesaf (diolch i’n dyddiadau cyhoeddi)! Cofiwch gadw eich llygaid ar agor am y rhifyn hwnnw – o ddifri’, fyddwch chi ddim am golli’r holl ddathlu, yr holl lawenydd a’r holl gariad fydd i’w weld ar y tudalennau hynny. Ond mae’r rhifyn hwn yr ydych yn ei ddarllen yn awr yr un mor gyffrous hefyd! Mae gennym lawer o bethau hyfryd i chi bori drwyddynt. Efallai eich bod wedi sylwi o’r clawr i fi gael fy ngwahodd gan Laings, y siop emwaith yng Nghaerdydd, i fwynhau cyfle unwaith mewn oes, sef cyfle i wisgo gemwaith gwerth miliwn o bunnoedd am ddiwrnod. Roedd yn brofiad emosiynol a wnaeth ddeffro hen atgofion a newid fy meddylfryd yn llwyr; mae’r erthygl lawn i’w gweld ar dudalen 13. Ac o sôn am bethau hardd, trawiadol sy’n procio’r meddwl, rydym wedi cael ein swyno gan ddwy arddangosfa gelf sydd yng Nghaerdydd ar hyn o bryd – Undod yn Oriel Blackwater ac Ode to Olaudah Equiano yn y Chapter. Trowch i dudalennau 21 a 19 i weld beth yn union rydym yn ei olygu. Fel arall, mae gennym ddigon o gyfweliadau treiddgar ar eich cyfer; yn ein hadran ar fusnesau newydd – sy’n dathlu busnesau lleol newydd – rydym yn sgwrsio â Liesel Verster, sylfaenydd Anti-Average Life, am ei gweledigaeth ar gyfer ei menter ddigwyddiadau newydd sy’n ceisio gwireddu breuddwydion pobl (ar dudalen 35). Ac rydym yn sgwrsio â Rachael Flanagan a sefydlodd ei chwmni glanhau lleol, Mrs Buckét, fel merch ifanc yn ei harddegau ag £20 yn ei phoced, ac sydd â throsiant o filiynau o bunnoedd erbyn hyn (ar dudalen 62). Mae yna ddigon o bethau eraill hefyd – o fwyd i eiddo, ac o siopau i ddigwyddiadau – heb anghofio ymdrechion dyngarol pobl Caerdydd er budd pobl Wcráin (ar dudalen 10). #CaerdyddYnghyd, bob amser

LISA EVANS

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Issue 253 / Spring 2022 ON THE COVER Our editor Lisa Evans at Laings in Cardiff where she was invited to try on a million pounds’ worth of jewellery. Photographed by Owen Mathias at Owen Mathias Photography; www.owenmathias.com. Turn to page 13 for more.

FEATURES

10 CARDIFF SUPPORTS UKRAINE Just a handful of the good

things locals are doing

13 DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER Our editor heads to Laings Cardiff

to try on a million pounds of jewellery

35 ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY The Anti-Average Life is launching

in Cardiff

ARTS

19 DIVERSITY IN ART Joy Labinjo’s solo exhibition at Chapter Arts 21 FRESH FACES Emerging artists at Blackwater Gallery

EVENTS

22 WHAT’S ONArts, shows and events, it’s all going on in Cardiff 24 BEST OF THE FEST The year ahead is packed with festivals –

which ones are in your diary?

53 SCENE Six local recent events – try to spot yourselves

SHOPPING

31 OFF THE WALLWallpaper is here to stay, we love this one from Arte 32 EDITOR’S CHOICE Florals for spring? Ground-breaking

FOOD & DRINK

39 TASTY BITES A handful of news morsel for you to nibble on 40 RESTAURANT REVIEW The Sorting Room at The Parkgate

Hotel wows us

43 JANE COOK Our foodie columnist gives us the low down

SPORT

47 PLAYING HIS PART Chatting with an WRU apprentice

from Butetown who had never played rugby before

PROPERTY

49 PROPERTY NEWSWhat’s new in the world of building? 50 SHOWCASE Take a look inside a St Brides-super-Ely showstopper

BUSINESS

61 CARDIFF WORKS FOR Cardiff’s newest projects and events 62 A CLEAN BREAK A spotlight on Mrs Buckét’s journey to success

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS

64 OUR WINNERS Congratulations to our Cardiff Life

Awards champions

REGULARS

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

about again

45 GETTING SCHOOLED Victoria Bond talks education 66 CARDIFF LIVES Jamie Miller on swapping Pontprennau for LA

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, Victoria Bond Commercial manager Mark George mark.george@ mediaclash.co.uk Business development 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, Carriage Court, 22 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

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THE ALB ANY GALLERY

SCOTTISH SHOW 8 - 30 APRIL 2022 View images on our website www.albanygallery.com 74b Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RS | T: 029 2048 7158 | E: info@albanygallery.com Gallery open: Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm | www.albanygallery.com

SPOTLIGHT JUST A HANDFUL OF FEEL- GOOD STORIES

Books

BOOKED UP

The Forever Flowers campaign returns to celebrate life

The Otaku Project from Cardiﬀ is one of the winners of New Futures, the Apprentice-style initiative by Bookshop.org to select and train entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities to open their own independent bookshops. The Otaku Project was selected based on the creativity of their bookshop vision and the strength of their business plan. Run by Scott Hulme, Otaku gives children and adults the opportunity to explore and discover Manga and graphic novels. Scott is a 24-year-old with dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia. His discovery of Manga books, despite being disparaged by teachers, radically improved his reading and inspired him to create a bookshop to open his world to an audience that don’t feel they’re readers, or recognised Scott Hulme by traditional bookshops. of The Otaku Project is a winner

For more: uk.bookshop.org

LGBTQ+

ALLOW US TO BE QUEER

A Queer Fringe Festival – the first in Wales – will launch in Cardiff this summer. Venues and artists across the city will collaborate for the festival which will run throughout June, to celebrate Pride Month. Headed up by the team behind The Queer Emporium on St Mary’s Street, the event is set to be hosted at over 40 venues across the city, and will include theatre, comedy, live music, film, drag, visual art exhibitions, dance and digital arts. “The aim is to platform and pay as many queer artists as possible,” says Yan White, festival director, and founder of The Queer Emporium. “The festival will also be committed to following a number of guidelines around cultural, neuro, gender, climate and disability awareness and has consulted with Trans Aid Cymru and Glitter Cymru to create these guidelines.” The LGBTQ+ Fringe For more: instagram.com/ Festival will launch in June queerfringefest

Charity

FULL BLOOM Award-winning Cardiff charity City Hospice’s popular Forever Flowers campaign which celebrates life will return to Cardiff Castle this summer. Forever Flowers invites supporters to purchase a limited-edition flower to remember a cherished loved one. Crafted by the British Ironworks Centre, this year’s Forever Flower is a sunflower, a global emblem of the hospice movement, which has been a symbol of positivity and devotion for many throughout history. The unique, lasting tributes will return to one of Cardiff’s most iconic locations, Cardiff Castle, as part of a striking display from 30 July 30 to 14 August. The flowers are now on sale for £25 and will be available to collect following the event; they can then be engraved. For more: www.cityhospice.org.uk No Music on A Dead Planet artwork

Art

DEAD SET

Leading music and climate charity Music Declares Emergency has partnered with students from the University of South Wales to create a new mural for Cardiﬀ city centre as part of their No Music on A Dead Planet campaign. The mural – designed by a team of BA illustration students – Chris Morgan, Ozzy Corbett, Rosario Zeilaa, Emyr Stephens and Nikola Kaczmarska – is the ﬁrst to translate the iconic slogan from English and blends Welsh folk tradition, Wales’ music heritage, and climate activism to create a 5m-high artwork on Womanby Street at the heart of the city’s music and night life centre. For more: www.musicdeclares.net

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CARDIFF SUPPORTS UKRAINE Just a few wholesome ways in which locals are supporting Ukraine…

here is an unimaginable tragedy unfolding in Ukraine right now. In the face of such international force – or, perhaps we should say evil – we can feel powerless, overwhelmed as well as deeply saddened. Local businesses and organisations have been stepping up and showing support; here are just a few examples of the fundraising going on all around us. At the start of April, Pontcanna-based financial consultancy team Barford Owen Davies (BOD) began a fundraising challenge called ‘BOD 3 Million Steps for Ukraine’, being roughly the number of steps from Cardiff to Kyiv. www.justgiving.com/fundraising/barfordowendavies The award-winning Insole Court Community Choir held a Concert in Aid of Ukraine on 7 April at The Bishop of Llandaff High School. www.insolecourt.org Cardiff Metropolitan University has pledged £400,000 in support, scholarships and accommodation for those fleeing Ukraine. www.cardiffmet.ac.uk

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The BOD team

LOCAL MAKER Anna Palamar has been screen printing her Heroic Ukrainian Defender-inspired design onto T shirts and bags – which can be bought at Chapter Arts in Cardiff and on Etsy. All profits from the sales are going to charity. www.annapalamardesigns.com

UKRAINE LITTLE GREEN STORES, run by Binki Rees (pictured) headed up an event at Corp Market in Canton, raising nearly £3,000 through a raffle that was put together by the traders. www.corpmarket.co.uk

DÈNEVOS, a menswear business in Cardiff, are coordinating efforts with their supply chain to despatch clothing out to refuge centres across Europe for the men and teenage boys left without clothes. www.denevos.com

by young people as a response to the humanitarian crisis, raising hundreds. www.kingsmonkton.org.uk Penarth Physiotherapy Practice hosted a ‘Plankathon’ in March at their Pilates studio and via Zoom and raised almost £1,000. www.penarthphysiotherapy.com Absolute Performance gym equipment store in Rumney have been using their ﬂeet of vans to help transport, store and sort goods bound for Ukraine. www.aperformance.co.uk

A silent auction was held by Cardiff’s Blackwater Gallery in April. A signed limited-edition canvas print called Towel Girl (pictured above) from artist Makenzy Beard, raised money for Ukraine. www.blackwatergallery.co.uk

Cardiff artist Laura Hickman Sell of Cynefn has been donating 100 per cent of all profits of her sunflower prints to Choose Love’s Ukraine appeal. www.cynefn.com

CAERPHILLY BAR Ten Degrees have made a cocktail called The Ukrainian (pictured above), for which all profits are being donated. At the time of writing, they’ve raised over £500 which is set to be match funded to make £1,000. www.ten-degrees.co.uk

Classical musician neighbours in Penarth came together for a special concert to help Ukraine. Pianist Robin Green and his Russianborn violinist wife Maia Broido joined forces with BBC National Orchestra of Wales Leader Lesley Hatfield, Canadian violinist Tetsuumi Nagata and cellist Alice Neary for a one-off chamber concert at Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff in March. www.rwcmd.ac.uk Kings Monkton School’s sixth form arranged a cake sale – an activity wholly driven

The community co-ordinator at office and workspace provider Clockwise Cardiff has just returned from Poland. Clockwise funded the seven-day trip for her and provided aid to refugees from Ukraine. www.work-clockwise.com The Bone Yard in Canton hosted a Shindig for Ukraine on 6 April which featured free food, a bouncy castle, face painting, music, and raffle prizes. www.shippingcontainerstudios.co.uk The Golden Cross pub held a big fundraiser last month, raising thousands. Instagram: @goldencrosscardiff

Our publisher, MediaClash, will be contributing free advertising space in each of the magazines in our portfolio, and promoting any activity from any Cardiff organisation through our various channels, using the hashtag #CardiffSupportsUkraine

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CARDIFF LIFE EXPERIENCES Our editor Lisa was invited to try on a million pounds of jewellery at Laings Cardiff

What’s it like to wear one million pounds’ worth of jewellery? In our Cardiff Life Experiences section, our editor, Lisa Evans, was invited to do just that at Laings Cardiff. Was it transformative? Anxiety producing? Drama filled? Yes to all of the above… Images by Owen Mathias Photography www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 13

xcept for the time I descended the no-entry side of the stairwell to avoid a queue at the train station and was chased by a platform attendant a few years ago, I’m as lawabiding as they come. But there’s something about being in the presence of authority or security that immediately makes me feel guilty. I act overly nonchalant at airports for example; the staff there are trained to read body language, so I feel I have to express – with my stance, facial expression and walk only – that I’m totally cool and have nothing to hide. You’d think not actually having anything to hide would be enough, but, when surrounded by any sort of officialdom, that’s not the case for me. My limbs want to act shifty and my eyes want to dart from side to side as if I have stacks of cash and illegal substances in my carry-on, when in reality I would have left the house that morning wobbling over packing a lip balm in case it was considered a liquid. There’s a psychological name for it; it’s called ‘fake guilt’ – that sounds like a Trumpism – or ‘guilt complex’. So, you can only imagine how I felt at Wales’s emporium of sparkle, Laings jewellers in St David’s, Cardiff, where I was invited to try on one million pounds’ worth of jewellery.

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above: Tony on security, tasked with watching Lisa like a hawk; left: Captivated by

diamonds; inset: Laura showcasing her favourite items in the store

I forced myself to slow my nervous laughter that was reverberating off the polished surfaces, I had to concentrate on relaxing my ringed fingers that kept sporadically springing into rigor mortis, and I made sure to consciously loosen my facial muscles after catching my widened eyes and compressed half-smile in the mirror, reminiscent of the Hide the Pain Harold meme. As a three-strand bib necklace with a total diamond carat weight of 39ct, set in 18ct white gold, featuring marquise and round brilliant-cut stones, was laid around my neck, bearing a surprising weight on my chest, I felt Tony the security guard’s eyes on me. “Stay calm” said my internal monologue, “don’t make him think you’re going to make a run for it.” I could have easily been an editor on a heist job that day for all Tony knew. Maybe I’ve been watching too much La Casa De Papel, I don’t know, but I immediately felt suspect. In Tony’s eyes, I was potentially an international criminal mastermind at large. When the lovely Laura, a Laings’ diamond specialist and sales exec, was laying out more pieces for me to choose from, I took a few ‘casual’ steps back from the table, as a gesture to show her and Tony I wasn’t close enough to attempt the secret sleight of hand and distraction combo from the films, which, in my mind, Tony definitely supposed I’d been honing for months just for this very moment. And when I slipped off my own wedding band to ready myself for the hefty diamond, ruby and topaz rings that were about to garnish me, I announced loudly, with utmost forced indifference, that, “this is mine; I’m just putting it in my bag” for fear of getting clotheslined to the ground by Tony. Moments later, emerald-cut drop earrings were pinned to me, a dainty diamond bracelet was paired with a ruby one on my left wrist, and an18ct rose gold timepiece weighed down my right so much I almost spilled my glass of Lanson champagne. Oh the extravagance. I needn’t have felt worried, though; Tony was the warmest and kindest of gents, Laura was telling me some cracking jokes, and the staff who had gathered around to help were the most accommodating, sociable bunch.

CARDIFF LIFE EXPERIENCES

“I didn’t know how it would feel to wear a million pounds’ worth of jewellery, but it was transformative”

The jewellery worn included a 39ct three-row diamond necklace; topaz, diamond and ruby rings; an 18ct rose gold watch; emerald-cut diamond drop earrings; and diamond and ruby bracelets

THE FOUR PILLARS Laings has four main pillars which build up the ethos of the company: Heritage: with their history and knowledge lovingly passed down from generation to generation of the Laing family, Laings is proud to have maintained their legacy for nearly two centuries. Expertise: they have garnered a valuable reputation as experts within the industry,

and the knowledge of their employees is of the utmost importance. Through investing in training and real-world visits to Geneva and beyond, they ensure that you can fully trust their expertise and advice. Craftsmanship: mastery of skill and unrivalled craftsmanship is at the heart of Laings. They have honed the art of their skills over decades, marrying this historical approach with state-of-the-

art technology to ensure the quality, precision and beauty of every handcrafted piece. The Laings Experience: every client who enters the world of Laings is taken on a journey of luxury. This indulgent experience allows them to relax, as knowledgeable experts guide them through the collections. It is Laings’ ambition to make the experience unforgettable.

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CARDIFF LIFE EXPERIENCES Laings, Laura tells me, prides itself on treating everyone like a family member, and you do really feel that. Although it’s one of the most luxurious high-end stores in the city, it doesn’t feel supercilious, and you’re guaranteed not to be treated me like pre-makeover Vivian Ward. They made me feel as if I was special to them. I was greeted like an old friend, and respect and bonhomie radiated – it’s surely how the Laings family treated the Queen when they presented her with a specially created brooch in 1986 for the Commonwealth Games. Every walk of life is welcomed through their doors and everyone is shown the same appreciation and attention – although it is nice to pretend as if you’re their only VIP. After the jewellery was returned to the display cabinets and safes, I left with my head held high. I felt like a real somebody, as if I would certainly be papped when walking out of the shop. I carried myself as if those diamonds and gems still adorned me. Strange what stones can do to a person’s confidence. After all, if you break it down, that’s all they really are: stones. Value and price are themselves make-believe, human-made social constructs, and yet my back was a little straighter,

The Cardiff store recently expanded to triple the size

FOR THE LOVE OF LAINGS

The prestigious family-run jeweller has over 180 years’ experience and is one of the largest independent jewellery businesses in the UK – with showrooms in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton – and their recently expanded and refurbished Cardiff showroom caters to the jewellery lovers and watch collectors of Wales. In an industry where heritage and reputation count for so much, the long-established name of Laings is now a byword for fine jewellery and luxury watches, and in-store brands include Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Chopard and Mikimoto to name a few. Now in the hands of the sixth generation of the Laing family, with the Cardiff showroom having expanded to more than treble the size in a £3M expansion last year, and with its first mono-brand OMEGA showroom opening in Cardiff in spring, the legacy continues.

below: On go the ruby and diamond bracelets;

above: The rings included pre-owned antiques and Art Deco-style pieces

my stride a little more buoyant, my sureness a little plumper. Jewellery evokes emotion, as we all know. A little sob story for you: back in school, I was bullied pretty badly and a lot of it was to do with how confident I used to be as a little girl; they, for some reason, wanted to bash that out of me. I’m sad to say, they won. I started to hide my carefree confidence until it disappeared; I started walking more timidly and tried to make my body language smaller to stop being noticed, I scraped back my hair, and I did the bare minimum for my drama course – feigning illness if I had to be on stage in front of my peers. You know what they say, what you believe about yourself is who you become. After leaving school, it took me a long time to realise that people in the real world, especially when you’re an adult, aren’t anything like school bullies. So, I gradually started emerge from my shell again, but I still have those nagging thoughts that say “don’t act a certain way or people will judge you”. But prancing out of Laings through St David’s Centre felt good, and, even though the diamonds inspired the feeling, I had no sparkles on while leaving (honest I didn’t, Tony), and yet my inner confidence shone. It wasn’t even about the jewellery itself; it was about the experience of being plunged into a world where everything felt possible. I didn’t know how it would feel to wear a million pounds’ worth of jewellery, but it was transformative. In that moment, my opportunities felt opened and my horizons broadened. As Catherine Reitman said in her A Guide to Believing in Yourself Ted Talk, “Why not you, baby?”. So, thank you for the self-worth session, Laings. What you believe about yourself is who you become, and I felt like a million bucks that day; here’s to plenty more trips around the sun choosing to believe just that. n Laings, St David’s, 25-27 The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1GA; 02920 660 890; www.laingsuk.com

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It all got a bit too much for Lisa

Surrounded by treasures

“I could have easily been an editor on a heist job” www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 17

TS E C T JE SI O EB PR W R EW U N O N O

www.chalkhousekitchens.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

ODE TO OLAUDAH EQUIANO Celebrated British-Nigerian artist Joy Labinjo’s large-scale paintings depict intimate scenes of historical and contemporary life, both real and imagined. They are often based on ﬁgures appearing in personal and archival imagery that includes family portraits, found photography and historical material. Fundamentally, at the heart of her practice is a bold interest in storytelling and ultimately, people’s lives. Her work explores themes including identity, political voice, power, Blackness, race, history, community and family and their role in contemporary experience. For Chapter Arts Centre in Canton, Joy is presenting new works that are inspired by history and historical archives and foreground her desire to confront the notion that Black people arrived in Britain with the Windrush generation. Following on from a body of work developed in 2020 in which Joy looked to Sarah Forbes Bonetta (1843-1880), and other unnamed Black Edwardians, she began reading David Olusoga’s Black and British: A Forgotten History and learned of Olaudah Equiano and his memoir, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African. This book – one of the ﬁrst in Europe by a Black African writer – and the remarkable story of his life, became the starting point for this exhibition. Joy Labinjo’s Ode to Olaudah Equiano solo exhibition runs at Chapter, in Canton, until 3 July; www.chapter.org www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 19

ARTS

BELOW FROM TOP: The Meeting Point by

Jon Wall; Love in Every Port by Ian Mackenzie; Cinio by Sian Wroe Jones RIGHT: After Jennifer by Jamie Gallagher

UNDOD

With a reputation for putting bold and emerging art at the forefront of their artist portfolio, Blackwater Gallery, in Pendeen House, has launched Undod, its highly anticipated emerging artists collection of 2022. A selection of five artists, whose work covers a broad spectrum of visual disciplines, have been chosen to exhibit. They are: abstract artist Chris Pompa who creates on an intuitive level without knowing what the end result will look like; Ian Mackenzie who works in rich, detailed oil on canvas in a photorealism style; Jamie Gallagher, a figurative painter who explores the concept of identity; Jon Wall whose practice predominantly sits within the confines of theology; and Sian Wroe Jones who paints through the prism of other people’s memories. See Undod at Blackwater Gallery, Cardiff, until 29 April; www.blackwatergallery.co.uk

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A Snoopy sculpture trail has begun

WHAT’S ON From 15 April onwards

PLAYS / SHOWS 20 – 21 April

GODSPELL Kinetic School of Performing arts present their spring production, Godspell, composed by three-time Grammy winner Stephen Schwartz. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

20 – 23 April

THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ Click your heels three times and join New Theatre in the merry old land of Oz for a musical spectacle for all to enjoy. New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

20 – 23 April

GRANDMOTHER’S CLOSET An LGBTQ+ autobiographical musical adventure that promises mischief and mashups, dresses and divas, and a whole lot of heart. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

26 April

THE ONE ANOTHER TOUR The National Dance Company Wales will transport you into the world of fantastical playgrounds and wild, unbridled imagination. Sherman Theatre; www.ndcwales.co.uk

17 – 21 May

ROCK OF AGES The smash-hit musical comedy is lavished with over 25 classic rock anthems, including Don’t Stop

Believin’, We Built This City and The Final Countdown, starring X Factor winner Matt Terry and Coronation Street’s Kevin Kennedy. New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

26 May

DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT The classic film’s first live concert experience. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

30 May

RUPAUL’S DAG RACE: WERQ THE WORLD TOUR An experiment gone wrong has sent Michelle Visage spiralling through time with no way of returning home. Join Asia O’Hara, Gottmik, Jaida Essence Hall and more as they journey through iconic periods of time. Motorpoint Arena; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

COMEDY

Every Friday and Saturday

COMEDY NIGHTS Treat yourself to an evening of awardwinning comedy! Four superb stand-up comedians will keep you laughing until Monday.The Glee Club; www.glee.co.uk/cardiff

MUSIC 17 April

BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD Cardiff band Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard are playing in the city as part of their first major UK headline tour. Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

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

23 April

JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET For over 30 years, the James Taylor Quartet have set the standard for the coolest sounds in funky acid jazz. The Globe; www.globecardiffmusic.com

24 April

BLONDIE One of the most influential bands to emerge from the NY punk scene will be touring for the first time in four years. Motorpoint Arena; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

30 April

BREAKS ‘N’ BEYOND Expect Garage, grime, techno and electro sounds at this one-day party, featuring Cromie + Frisk, Sam Kitt and more. Carpe Noctem; www.instagram.com/carpenoctemcardiff

1 May

THE AC/DC EXPERIENCE The legendary sound, spirit and attitude of the mighty AC/DC is alive and kicking via arguably Britain’s best AC/DC tribute band. Fuel; www.fuelrockclub.co.uk

1 May

METRONOMY Metronomy come to Cardiff to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their album The English Riviera. Tramshed; www.tramshedcardiff.com

26 – 28 May

ED SHEERAN Ed returns to Principality Stadium for three gigs as part of his + – = ÷ x

tour. Principality Stadium; www.principalitystadium.wales

FOOD 17 April

RACLETTE AND EASTER EGG HUNT A traditional raclette and egg hunt around the urban jungle that is The Elephants Ear. The Glory Stores; www.glory-stores.com

24 April

INSOLE COURT FARMERS’ MARKET Browse over 20 stalls packed with the best local produce South Wales has to offer. Insole Court; www.insolecourt.org

8 May

CLUB BRUNCH This rooftop brunch features 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco, a brunch and live music. The Botanist Cardiff; www.clubbrunch.co.uk

FAMILY

OI FROG & FRIENDS It’s a new day at Sittingbottom school and Frog is looking for a place to sit, but Cat has other ideas. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

ART/ EXHIBITIONS Until 29 April

UNDOD An inspirational art exhibition, providing a platform to showcase

Corrie’s Kevin Kennedy in Rock of Ages at New Theatre; Sue Williams’ Vibration, part of a solo exhibition at TEN Gallery

the latest emerging talent from Blackwater Gallery. See page 21 for more. Blackwater Gallery; www.blackwatergallery.co.uk

Until 30 April

RAPTURES & RUPTURES A solo exhibition of new work by award-winning artist Sue Williams. Her characteristically bold paintings tell of awkward encounters, sticky situations and erotic experiences. TEN Galley; www.gallery-ten.co.uk

Until 30 April

SCOTTISH EXHIBITION A selection of new work from contemporary Scottish artists in addition to Scottish scenes from popular Welsh artists. The Albany Gallery; www.albanygallery.com

Until 30 April

WILLIAM WILKINS’ NEW PAINTINGS William Wilkins’ seventh solo exhibition is taking place at Martin Tinney Gallery. David Fraser Jenkins, who was curator at the National Museum of Wales and Tate Gallery, says of William’s work, “The paintings are some of the most beautiful things I have seen in my lifetime”. Martin Tinney Gallery; www.artwales.com

Until 1 May

MUTABLE Featuring 22 Welsh and Walesbased artists, this year’s spring open showcases work that encompasses the theme ‘mutable’ with reference to nature, marking the arrival of spring, and within the wider context of climate, seasons, ecology and world change. Cardiff Made; www.cardiffmade.com

Until 5 June

A DOG’S TRAIL Forty super-sized Snoopy sculptures have been unleashed across the streets of Cardiff in an arts trail to remember. www.adogstrail.org.uk

Until 3 July

JOY LABINJO: ODE TO OLAUDAH EQUIANO This is British artist Joy Labinjo’s first institutional exhibition in Wales. See page 19 for more. Chapter Arts; www.chapter.org

Until 29 August

DAVID HURN: SWAPS Throughout his career as a documentary photographer, Hurn has amassed his private collection by swapping works with other photographers. This exhibition contains images of a sexual nature and images that viewers may find distressing. National Museum Cardiff; www.museum.wales

14 – 15 May

STORIES IN STITCH WITH JESSIE CHORLEY This workshop focuses on Jessie Chorley’s signature style of hand embroidered illustration. Stitching techniques – including couching, running, stem, seed and back stitch – and appliqué and patching will be explored. Beth Morris Workshops; www.bethmorrisworkshops.co.uk

SPORT 4 May

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE RUGBY Rugby fans, it’s time to get lined up as England heroes James Haskell and Mike Tindall take to the road with the world’s most popular rugby podcast – The Good, The Bad and The Rugby. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

OTHER

From 15 April onwards

ALPACA MY BOOTS If you fancy getting out of town for a day, head to the only alpaca trekking experience in the Brecon Beacons. It’s about to open its own shop on site selling locally made craft including items made from alpaca wool, too.

The regular treks take you up to the trig point of Twyn y Gaer with epic views of Pen Y Fan, Corn Du and Sugar Loaf. Brecon Beacons; www.alpacamyboots.com

This worldwide theatrical phenomenon has been experienced by 100 million people globally and is still drawing sell-out crowds in its 20th year. Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

7 May

8 July

Year round

29 – 31 July

GREEN LIFE EVENTS FAIR Get ready for Canton’s first major monthly wellbeing fair. Expect all things wellness and feel-good – including food, holistic therapy, nature, plants, art and clothing. Different special guests will bring a range of therapies, fitness and crafts monthly. The Bone Yard; www.instagram.com/green_life_events

IBIZA CLASSICS Revered DJ, broadcaster and global dance music legend Pete Tong has announced the return of Ibiza Classics with a brand-new show for Cardiff Castle. Ibiza Classics has firmly cemented itself as part of the live music calendar becoming the world’s most iconic classical electronic music event. Cardiff Castle; www.petetong.com

COIN, COAL AND CHEERS A new tourism experience has been launched by three of the region’s leading attractions. Hensol Castle Distillery, the Royal Mint Experience and A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park have joined forces to create a new package which provides an action-packed day out for tour planners. www.visitthevale.com

LATER IN THE YEAR (TICKETS NOW ON SALE)

ADVENTURE CINEMA The UK’s largest touring outdoor cinema is back. At the open-air event, expect to see an eclectic mix of classics, musicals, big blockbusters and family films. Bute Park and Arboretum; www.bute-park.com

OUR OWN VERY SPECIAL EVENTS 29 April

MADNESS AT CARDIFF CASTLE British pop giants Madness will headline the Welsh capital this summer. Cardiff Castle; www.madness.co.uk

PROPERTY SYMPOSIUM: SUSTAINABILITY A new arm of our annual Cardiff Property Awards, the Property Symposium is an online conference full of dynamic, powerful insights about property and sustainability. www.cardiffpropertyawards. co.uk/property-symposium

17 June

30 June

1 June

STEREOPHONICS In March, Stereophonics brought out their new album Oochya! They’ll play in Cardiff, supported by Tom Jones, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard in June. Principality Stadium; www.principalitystadium.wales

7 July – 27 August

ENTRECONF An event to inspire our region’s entrepreneurs. After last year’s success, we are running EntreConf for the second year in a row, to help entrepreneurs with practical advice – financial, legal, marketing, management – and to broker valuable new relationships. www.entreconf.com

THE LION KING

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THE FEST IS YET TO COME Here are just a handful of the Welsh festivals we’re looking forward to this year. Fun lovers, read on…

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FESTIVALS

“It’s the ultimate throwback festival featuring the biggest artists from the 90s”

A DOG’S TRAIL

On now, until 5 June

Across Cardiff and Cardiff Bay Forty super-sized Snoopy sculptures that have been intricately designed and transformed into unique and ‘rebarkable’ works of art by Cardiff-based and national artists and school children, have been unleashed across local streets in a festival of art. www.adogstrail.org.uk CARDIFF ANIMATION FESTIVAL

On now, until 24 April

Various Cardiff venues This year, there are over 90 in-person and online events, including feature films, shorts screenings, workshops, industry panels, masterclasses, networking opportunities, parties and more at venues including Chapter, DEPOT and Capitol Centre. www.cardiffanimation.com WALES GOES POP!

15 – 17 April

The Gate, Cardiﬀ An all-ages pop weekender that takes place every Easter in Cardiﬀ, this year featuring: Panic Shack, Buggs, Adwaith and tons more. www.walesgoespop.com NOUGHTY 90’S FESTIVAL

30 April

Bute Park The ultimate throwback festival featuring the biggest and best artists from the 90s and 00s, complete with a roller disco, retro bar and fairground. www.noughty90sfest.com INSIDE OUT

1 May

Bute Park Idris Elba will headline Cardiﬀ’s Inside Out festival this spring. The Hollywood star is part of an ultra-cool music line-up for the Bank Holiday festival alongside People Just Do Nothing’s Kurupt FM boys, and Tion Wayne and Andy C. www.insideoutcardiﬀ.co.uk PWER FESTIVAL

7 May

Hay Festival is coming in May

PHOTO BY SAM HARDWICK

The Moon, Fuel and Tiny Rebel This all-dayer across three venues sees headliners Orchards and Dream Nails as well as Squiggles, Fort, and Cardiﬀ’s own Stay Voiceless. Instagram: @pwerfestival ROATH YARD

13 May – 6 June

Roath The “Greatest Travelling Food Show on The Planet” is rolling back into Roath Yard for delicious weekends of ﬂavours from around the world. The street food court and night market features food trucks, covered dining

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

areas, a cocktail bus, a craft beer bar, busking bands and all DJs. www.streetfoodcircus.co.uk QUEER FRINGE FESTIVAL

2 June – 3 July

Across the city Venues and artists across Cardiff will collaborate for the first LGBTQ+ Fringe Festival in Wales. Headed up by the team behind The Queer Emporium, the festival is set to have events hosted at more than 40 venues across the city, and will include theatre, comedy, live music, film, drag, visual art exhibitions, dance and digital arts. Instagram: @thequeeremporium CARDIFF WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE

11 June

From Cardiff University’s lawns The Cardiff ride is part of the global World Naked Bike Ride protests, designed to highlight the vulnerability of cyclists against traffic in cities, offering the human body as a contrast against high powered metal machines. www.eventbrite.co.uk TAFWYL

18 – 19 June

Cardiff Castle This annual festival celebrating the Welsh language, arts and culture is part of the core work of Menter Caerdydd, a charity that promotes and extends the social use of the Welsh language in Cardiff. www.tafwyl.org CARDIFF PSYCH & NOISE FEST

23 June

Across venues on Womanby Street A three-day celebration of psychedelia, noise, weirdness and experimentalism. www.themooncardiff.com CARDIFF FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

1 July

Roald Dahl Plass Returning to its traditional venue in Cardiff Bay this year, the festival is Cardiff’s original celebration of home grown produce and street food, which promises to offer flavour lovers a mouth-watering experience. www.cardifffoodanddrinkfestival.com SHANGRI-LA

2 July

Cardiff Castle Shangri-La festival returns to Cardiff Castle with arguably the world’s number one house brand, Defected and special guests Gorgon City. Instagram: @shangagram DEPOT IN THE CASTLE

9 July

Cardiff Castle

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top: DEPOT In The Castle; middle: Forest Feastival; bottom: Butetown Carnival

FESTIVALS way, before arriving back at the Centre ready for outdoor live music. www.wmc.org.uk

PHOTO BY DAF YDD OWEN | FFOTONANT

VALE OF GLAMORGAN WALKING FESTIVAL

Rag ’n’ Bone Man will headline at Cardiff Castle this summer, joined by established favourites Faithless, Melanie C and Toploader. Breakthrough acts Lola Young, Alfie Templeman, Gracey will also entertain you, and DEPOT’s infamous Bingo Lingo caller Ian Davies will compère the day. www.depotcardiff.com

WELSH VEGAN FESTIVAL

GLASTONBARRY FESTIVAL

PRIDE CYMRU

Romilly Park, Barry Expect 21 tribute acts – from Queen and Stevie Wonder to Blur, The Beatles and Tom Jones – over one weekend in Barry. www.glastonbarry.com

City Hall Lawns Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend is Wales’s biggest celebration of equality and diversity. Over two days, it hosts over 50,000 people to celebrate the LGBT+ community. There will be three stages, a mile-long parade and family fun. www.pridecymru.festivalpro.com

30 – 31 July

FEELS LIKE SUMMER Bute Park A one-day festival featuring music from Billy Ocean, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bloco B Sama, Mr Motivator and more, with street food, a kids fun zone, rides, a Pimm’s and prosecco bar and a wellness retreat. Instagram: @flsummeruk

WIDER WALES: FOREST FEASTIVAL

17 April – 8 May Merthyr Mawr Street Food Circus has announced the return of Forest Feastival, celebrating the best of Wales’ street food over four weekends. The Feastival will return to its woodland site near the dunes at Merthyr Mawr; there’ll be new bar areas, live music DJs, circus sideshows and a jamboree for the kids. www.streetfoodcircus.co.uk

Vale of Glamorgan Uniting walk-lovers. Details coming soon. www.valeofglamorganwalkingfestival.org.uk COWBRIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL

16 – 25 September

Cowbridge venue TBC It promises a series of concerts and events, with the festival’s characteristic mix of classical, folk, jazz and more. www.cowbridgemusicfestival.co.uk IRIS PRIZE LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL

Tafwyl at Cardiff Castle

6 August

6 – 11 September

7 August

Tramshed, Cardiff In aid of Farplace Animal Rescue, expect allvegan stalls serving world foods and selling quirky clothes and accessories, while guest speakers engage you. www.vegansociety.com

27 – 28 August

BUTETOWN CARNIVAL

August Bank Holiday

Outside Wales Millennium Centre The Butetown Carnival parade will make its way along the waterfront area of Cardiff Bay with various performance stops along the

HAY FESTIVAL

26 May – 5 June Hay-on-Wye Over 500 events are lined up for Hay Festival 2022 – its 35th spring event and first fully in-person for two years with a dazzling line-up to inspire, examine and entertain. www.hayfestival.com

ROYAL WELSH SHOW

18 – 21 July Llanelwedd Alongside livestock competitions, activities including

11 – 16 October

Cardiff Iris is home to the largest short film prize in the world, and the festival brings filmmakers from around the globe to Cardiff. The coveted £30,000 Iris Prize allows the winner to make their next LGBT+ short film here in the city. www.irisprize.org CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Date TBC

Pierhead Building Cardiff International Film Festival offers a warm welcome to filmmakers and invites submissions from across the world. www.theciff.co.uk S N FESTIVAL

21 –23 October

Across Cardiff This award-winning multi-venue music festival, based entirely in Cardiff’s city centre, has been running since 2007. Since its inception, the festival has been focused on new music, emerging artists and homegrown acts.n www.swnfest.com

forestry, horticulture, crafts, countryside sports, shopping, food and drink and a 12-hour programme each day of exciting entertainment, attractions and displays. www.rwas.wales

EISTEDDFOD

30 July – 6 August Tregaron The National Eisteddfod is a celebration of the culture and language in Wales. www.eisteddfod.wales

GREEN MAN FESTIVAL

18 – 21 August The Black Mountains Wales’ biggest festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Cate Le Bon joins headliners including Michael Kiwanuka, Beach House, Metronomy and Kraftwerk at this year’s event, and Melin Melyn, Adam Walton, Alice Low and Huw Stephens also among home-grown acts confirmed. www.greenman.net

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

Cardiff: 233 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9PP. E-mail: cardiff@valevetcentre.co.uk Phone: 02920 004007

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

Newport: Unit 1 & 2 East Market Street, Newport, NP20 2AY E-mail: newport@valevetcentre.co.uk Phone: 01633 927927

GROOMING SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE | EMAIL: GROOMERS@VALEVETCENTRE.CO.UK

WYBURN & WAYNE

“We love a red carpet but Cardiff Life Awards are always top tier”

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

k so let’s start with… THE CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS, hosted by the team at this very magazine! Oh wow, what a night it was. Uberglam to the max! We always love a red carpet but this is always top tier. Not only did we get to enjoy a fantastic evening, surrounded by Cardiff’s finest, but we got to take home not one, not two, but three awards between us! We were honoured to receive the Café award for our charitable coffee shop venture we set up outside St Andrew’s URC in Roath, and Dragged to Church won best Event. We’d like to thank all our volunteers, supporters, the drag acts, the queens and king, the church, and everyone involved in both projects, and a huge shoutout goes to our apprentices Sam and Ivan! Nath also won the Creative award for his artwork which in recent years has propelled

him and Cardiff onto a global map – making pop culture art, that also reflects the NHS during the pandemic and raises awareness for causes such as equality, HIV, and important charities. Moving on, theatres are well and truly in full swing! The Nutcracker down at the Wales Millennium Centre was pure magic – Christmas in March was interesting but the talent of those performers was second to none. Also down the Centre, Nath and Sam got to watch the recording of Michael Ball’s Showtime featuring special guests such as Charlotte Church, Amy Wadge, Sophie Evans, Gregory Porter and more. That’s airing Easter Sunday on BBC One Wales and was compared by hilarious comedian Rod Woodward, who we actually shared a few drinks with the night before. We hadn’t previously met but got introduced at an aftershow party after all watching Derren Brown Showman at The New Theatre. That

was beyond mesmerising – quite literally mind blowing. Nath even got pulled up on stage! During the Cardiff Half Marathon, Wayne hosted a street party event to encourage and entertain the runners as they passed St Andrew’s Coffee Court, and Nath was in town taking in the glorious sight of 27,000 people wearing his newly designed Finishers T-shirt, which he created by walking in paint. Such an honour! That weekend also saw a rescheduled concert at St Andrew’s: Brit award-winners Only Men Aloud, who packed the building to the rafters. A standout for us was the James Bond medley; if you haven’t seen the lads perform, you must! On the subject of concerts, gosh there’s been a lot of late, we went along to The Tramshed to watch the legendary Heather Small; what a night full of pure nostalgia and brilliant music. Cardiff Theatre Cafe is in full swing now with us at St Andrew’s every Sunday afternoon – people show up and sing whatever they want, showcasing their love of musical theatre. Good, bad, trained, untrained – nobody cares it’s just a beautiful atmosphere. In recent weeks it’s been outdoors too as the weather has been great. Bring on more of that we say! Par 59, Gareth Bale’s latest venture, has opened on St Mary Street. It’s indoor golf, but classy and elegant, with an amazing selection of food and alcohol. Coming up we are super excited for so much but we have to mention that Mel C has been added to the line-up for DEPOT in the Castle, alongside Rag ‘n’ Bone Man. Along with Bryan Adams and Diana Ross also coming soon, the Castle is the place to be. About our columnists: Nathan Wyburn is a pop culture artist who uses non-traditional 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 they run St Andrew’s Coffee Court in Cardiff. Follow them on social: @wyburnandwayne / @wyburnwayne

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

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

ALL SHAPES AND SIZES

We’re pretty sure everyone in the 80s had a pair of trousers that looked just like this wallpaper. The geometric, random patchwork of this sisal wallcovering is slightly more subdued and tonal though, and would make for a killer home feature. Arte International Marqueterie Puzzle wallpaper, available at Interiors Etc Designs, St Nicholas, Cardiff; www.interiors-etc.co.uk

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SERENITY FOUND, FROM £425 A limited-edition playful artwork by Kealey Farmer. From Adamo Gallery, Morgan Arcade; www.adamogallery.co.uk

RUFFLE HEADBAND, £12 An everyday way to wear ﬂowers in your hair. From Sadler Jones, Barry; www.sadlerjones.com

PICK OF THE BUNCH Florals for spring? Ground-breaking. But when they’re from local shops, we want them all

FLORAL SUITCASES, FROM £6 Pretty and practical. From Stwff-Stuff, Cowbridge; www.stwff-stuff.co.uk

SPRING CLEAN MYSTERY BOX, £39 Keep things fresh with a surprise package of bath, shower and body products. From Miss Patisserie, The Maltings, Cardiﬀ; www.miss-patisserie.com

BROUGHTON CHAIR, £580 Dressed in Designers Guild fabrics, this is certainly a ‘happy place’ seat. From Athena Interiors, Cwmbran; www.athenainteriors.co.uk

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

DOMAINE CAPMARTIN, PIMPANT, £30 Light and fresh with mouth-watering juicy red fruits. From Glory Stores, Upper Kincraig Street, Cardiﬀ; www.glory-stores.com

ED’S CHOICE FLORAL MODAL SCARF, £49 A wool mix accessory for those inbetweeny days. The White Company, St David’s Centre; www.stdavidscardiﬀ.com

LILIAN GREEN DAISY DRESS, £38 Spring fashion makes us happy. From Box Edit Boutique, Goodsheds, Barry; www.boxeditboutique.co.uk

GARDEN STORAGE JAR, £24.99 Cottage core vibes. From Hamptons, Penarth; www.hamptonspenarth.co.uk DAFFODILS ON PURPLE, £1,750 A Welsh-themed Mhairi McGregor work. From The Albany Gallery, Albany Road, Cardiﬀ; www.albanygallery.com MEADOW PURSE, £9 A classic Cath Kidston joyful design. From Leekes, Newport Road, Cardiﬀ; www.leekes.co.uk

POMPEII ATWORK, £995 A striking abstract mosaic by Cardiﬀ artist Chris Pompa. From Blackwater Gallery, Pendeen House, Cardiﬀ; www.blackwatergallery.co.uk

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ANYTHING BUT AVERAGE

NEW BUSINESS FOCUS

New independent business The AntiAverage Life is launching in Cardiff. Here we speak to its founder, Liesel Verster, ahead of the opening… By Lisa Evans Images by Gemma Griffiths Photography Anti-Average Life encourages you to play, be yourself and be expressive; life’s too short to copy everyone else

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

t the time of writing, Roath-based Liesel Verster, the creator of The AntiAverage Life event design and podcast series, is setting a date for her business’s official launch, in around the two-week mark, which will be in mid-April. Here she tells us about the podcast she runs, extolling the virtues of living a life less average, and the unique once-in-a-lifetime milestone occasions she plans – from babymoons to elopements. “You bring your wild idea, I make it happen. You’d be surprised what is possible.” Here we chat… Hi Liesel, so what exactly is your creation, The Anti-Average Life?

I knew from a young age I wanted to work in the events industry, but I struggled with the

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

Zimbabwe-born founder Liesel wants everyone to embrace their own uniqueness

idea of cookie-cutter events that all looked the same. And so, with years of travel, inspiration, thought and planning, The Anti-Average Life was born. Growing up, I was always fascinated by the creativity of weddings – the décor, the colours, who (or what!) brought the rings, what the entertainment was, whether we sat on chairs or hay bales, how the theme was relevant to who the couple was, the choice of flowers, the dresses, and the favours. I also loved to host in my home, and relished in decorating the trays with flowers, matching tray cloths, arranging cookies, and making family festivities special. I then travelled to and lived in various

“It makes you realise there is so much more to life than just existing”

countries and always loved to see the different ways in which the same festivities were celebrated in other cultures. So what events does The Anti-Average Life specialise in?

I will help you plan the event of a lifetime – whether you’re turning 21 and want a birthday to remember; are going to marry your soulmate and want to tie the knot on safari; want to renew your vows on a secluded beach; or you’re planning a funeral and want to make their send-off extra special. It’s my job to listen to your story and do the research and planning and even manage it on the day. And we’ve heard you can make just about anything happen…

You bring your wild idea, I make it happen – as long as it’s legal, ethical and financially and logistically possible (and you’d be surprised what is possible)! The more unique your idea, the better. Tell us about the podcast side of things…

The Anti-Average Life podcast was born

NEW BUSINESS FOCUS during the first lockdown. In embracing life after covid, I wanted the stories, interviews and messages I found so inspiring through my life to get out there and be heard; they make you realise there is so much more to life than just existing. It’s time to dream bigger, think smarter, reach higher and be yourself on this journey. What’s your background?

I was born and raised in Zimbabwe with missionary parents. I left at the age of 15 to go to boarding school in South Africa after having been in an armed robbery on a farm. I was roommates with a friend that was obsessed with the USA. On a random outing to town, we came across a pamphlet at a travel agent regarding au pair work. It was worth a shot. After I graduated from high school, I was on my way to Maryland, and for two years my mind was blown. That was the beginning of my travels; I basically never stopped after that. I lived in France, Cambodia, London, Scotland, went back to the States, and decided to try Australia next – but then the pandemic happened. Life’s weird and wonderful way has me settled in Cardiff at present! After being an au pair, I qualified as a wedding planner. I then worked in the superyacht industry, then in private care, and then for a bespoke luxury travel company.

Would you say life is too short to be average?

My average and your average aren’t the same; we measure life by personal experiences that mould our views and opinions over time. So, the question isn’t ‘is life too short for average?’ it’s how can you beat your average – whatever that means to you. Some of us are thrown experiences that rattle our cage and wake us to the fact that this life is a gift, but some of us walk through this gift like we’re sleepwalking – passing by all the wonders of this remarkable opportunity. We have to be the unique figures we were born to be. Not everyone is going to be a hero, a millionaire, a success story, but everyone gets to take a chance at making their time on this earth valuable to at least themselves. And what is your average?

Anything that doesn’t require much effort. An Anti-Average Life is a life you’ve chosen to live to the maximum, utilising your own uniqueness to live a life that is true to you as an individual. What are your tips to enjoying life a little more?

When I get caught up with the negatives, I have learned to list all that I am grateful for – having seen some of the horrors of life first

hand. Start right at the bottom: I am grateful I have the capacity to be grateful. I am grateful for a creative mind. I am grateful for 10 fingers and 10 toes. I am grateful I get to choose to be negative about something so ridiculous when someone out there is fighting for their life, and so on. You’ll quickly feel better and start to look at the things in life we tend to skip over because we take it all for granted. Having done years of care and support work with elderly and disabled people, I have been humbled to tears when someone with so much to be negative about has no negativity at all. Open your eyes to others around you and allow yourself to be inspired. Enjoying life is more internal than external. How do people let go of the need to ‘fit in’?

Unfortunately, society force feeds us with trends and cool-kid nonsense from a young age. I can remember many occasions throughout life where my behaviour was shaped by what was expected, rather than what I felt. Remember there is only one you – how sad to copy everyone else. You have the opportunity to make your mark, no matter how big or small. Why would you pass that up? n www.antiaveragelife.com / @antiaveragelife

Out-of-the-ordinary event planning – from weddings to milestone parties – is what The Anti-Average Life specialises in

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FOOD & DRINK SNAPSHOTS OF CARDIFF’S FOOD SCENE

TAKE ME TO CHURCH

The Norwegian Church is reopening as a café, arts and music centre

The Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay is preparing to reopen as a café, arts centre and music venue. The move follows Cardiff Council’s decision to transfer the activities of the Norwegian Church Charitable Trust to a new charity led by the Welsh Norwegian Society. The distinctive white building, the site of Roald Dahl’s baptism, was closed at the start of the pandemic but is set to reopen in April. “We’re really going to rejuvenate the space here,” says the newly appointed manager of the centre Gareth Roberts. “We will have a redesigned café and make great use of the other amenities we have to run classes and workshops. The acoustics here are amazing and Côr CF1, one of Wales most successful choirs, is already using the church for rehearsals. “There is going to be a strong Welsh theme to the café. We will be using a lot of locally produced ingredients but there’s also going to be food with a Nordic twist.” www.norwegianchurchcardiff.com

PLANT AND PLAY

A multi-award-winning programme which transforms school playgrounds into vibrant outdoor fruit and vegetable gardens has been officially launched in Cardiff. Cardiff Council in partnership with environmental charity Trees for Cities (TfC) has so far delivered 15 Edible Playgrounds to schools across the city with the aim of getting children excited about growing and eating healthy food. Hosted by Glan-yr-Afon Primary School in Llanrumney, the project was officially launched in March by Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for education, employment and skills, Cllr Sarah Merry, alongside TfC chief executive David Elliot, and director of Grow Cardiff Isla Horton. They were joined by staff and pupils from the school who performed a song especially composed for the event. “In Cardiff we recognise the valuable benefits that green space has on the health and wellbeing of children and young people and we remain committed to promoting the use of outdoor space for learning and play,” says Cllr Sarah Merry. www.oneplanetcardiff.co.uk

Dirty Birdie are serving inside new golf-themed bar Par 59

Cardiff’s edible playground scheme has launched

MAY THE COURSE BE WITH YOU

Par 59, the new St Mary Street bar, restaurant and minigolf concept backed by Gareth Bale, opened its doors in March. For hungry players, local street food traders Dirty Birdie have created a new dine-in menu especially for the venue. They will serve up a custom-designed menu of buttermilk fried chicken dishes, along with vegan options, for up to 164 covers at a time. www.par59.com

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

THE SORTING ROOM We indulge at The Parkgate Hotel’s restaurant, The Sorting Room, where elegance, luxury and glamour unite…

ace still flushed from the dreamy spa upstairs, I made my way to the restaurant inside The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff’s newest luxury spot to eat, drink, relax and sleep. In the grand rooms of the old Post Office, once filled with hand-written letters and brown-paper packages, lies what’s now known as The Sorting Room. Adorned with glittering chandeliers, marbled tables, and plush leather banquettes, it’s where elegant lunches are enjoyed and sumptuous dinners are savoured in the most glamorous surroundings. It’s a spoil-yourself, dressy affair here; scanning the packed-out, atmospherically lit, wood-panelled room I see swish dresses, dapper blazers and even a cravat among the masses. On the table next to us was a couple who had travelled down from London for their anniversary – drawn to the hotel, which opened last October, because of its gasp-inducing rooftop spa.

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

We nodded with them in agreement, our bodies still floaty and eyelids at half-mast from hours spent in the hydrotherapy pool and sauna, drinking in the muchneeded tonic of wellness and serenity. That evening’s drink of choice, though, was an El Supremo Argentinian malbec, recommended by our firstrate server who effortlessly made it into the top five most engaging people I know, even though I’d only just met him. After my husband had spilled the red all down his baby blue shirt, it was time for food. From the menu stuffed with Welsh nods – Abergavenny artisan breads, Monmouthshire-reared pork, and rosemary Welsh lamb carpaccio – we landed on starters of Welsh coastal fish cake with lime aioli, and Severn and Wye Penderyn Welsh whisky-cured salmon with dill and honey dressing. The lemon-drizzled fish cake – crab based, with plenty of white meat – was a winner but the mere teaspoon of accompanying zesty emulsion, the very enlivener of the

RESTAURANT

dish, disappeared after two bites. If it were up to me, I’d have had a bowlful of the stuff. Same story goes for the sprinkling of samphire too. The cured salmon, with its glossy pink flesh, hit the mark precisely, and its saucy side – more of a chutney than a ‘dressing’ – was full of intriguingly zingy edges and vigour. Thirty-five-day dry-aged Welsh-reared rump steak was hubby’s choice of main, and he enjoyed the novelty of being brought a whole wooden box of sharp knives to choose from. Its only trimmings were a large free-standing bone filled with marrow – a sight that my pescatarian brain gawped at – and a whole fat head of roasted garlic still in its papery casing. The other sides, which had to be ordered as extras, were misophonia-inducing crunchy sweet potato fries and thyme roasted carrots. I tried to fully concentrate on the flavours of the Moroccan roasted salmon with harissa-spiced couscous and coriander beurre blanc I’d ordered, but the intense distraction across the table was too much for me: him scraping at the bone, his napkin moonlighting as a bib splattered with droplets of verdant garlic and herb butter sauce, malbec stains settling nicely into his collar. Caveman meets toddler much? Anyway, once I shook that off, I dove into dessert – not quite as literally as the spouse did with his – and it was a knockout. I chose Paris-Brest, the size of my head, a classic French pastry in the form of a crisp baked ring liberally filled with praline cream and topped with salted caramel sauce, powdered sugar and gold leaf – how’s that for indulgent? I averted my eyes while s/o gulped his pond of sticky toffee pudding. This extraordinary behemoth of a development – complete with its upmarket restaurant, relaxed bar, 170 rooms and suites, a fitness area and the most alluring spa, is part of the Celtic Collection. We were lucky enough to experience all of its elements, including an overnight stay in one of the smart, chic rooms – which offered a pictureperfect view of the Principality Stadium, no more than an egg-shaped quanco’s throw away – and a buffet breakfast the next morning.

“In the old Post Office, once filled with handwritten letters and brownpaper packages, lies The Sorting Room” The rooms are spacious and as gorgeously individual as the hotel itself, embracing a blend of classic-meets-contemporary lavishness, in-keeping with the hotel’s historic architecture. And The Tower Suite, nestled in the impressive original bell tower which once graced the roofline of the grand old Post Office, oozes historic charm with its original feature fan light window, its soaring ceilings, exposed metal beams and hand-restored parquet floor. Be ready to plunge yourself into luxury. If my husband’s unbridled enjoyment of it all is anything to go by, you’ll have a fabulous, fully immersive, excessively messy experience. n

DINING DETAILS Where The Sorting Room, The Parkgate Hotel, Westgate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1DA; www.theparkgatehotel.wales We ate Welsh coastal fish cake with lime aioli; whisky-cured salmon; rump steak; Moroccan roasted salmon; Paris-Brest; sticky toffee pudding Dinner prices Starters £6.95 – £15.50; mains £17.50 – £42; dessert £6.50 – £10.50 Drinks A dreamy cocktail list and a good-sized wine menu

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

SPONSORED CONTENT

MEET THE HEAD TEACHER Sally Davis, Principal of HOWELL’S SCHOOL, LLANDAFF GDST, on being firm but fair, and why individuality should always be embraced

hat’s new at Howell’s School? It’s wonderful to feel that things are heading in the right direction as the weather warms up. The start of the summer term is always dominated by exams and assessments in the Senior School and Co-Ed College, but our Prep School girls are busy auditioning for choirs and concerts, and June’s forthcoming performances of We Will Rock You will star all of Years 5 and 6 to packed houses of proud parents and grandparents. What do you love most about your job? I love talking to people; which is lucky, since I do it almost all day long. Sitting down with parents, students and staff and finding out what makes them tick helps me to make so many decisions about the way we do things. I really missed seeing people face-to-face during the lockdowns, and I’m so glad I can see people in person again now. What are your policies/teachings on awareness of big topics such as the following: bullying, lgbtq+ issues, race etc? Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do. In September, we appointed equality prefects for every year group, and they regularly meet

with me or the Deputy Principal to discuss issues around representation and curriculum content, and also to plan celebrations. They are so knowledgeable and mature, and not afraid to say when we get things wrong. How do you think the pupils describe you? Firm but fun, I hope! All I ask from our students is that they work hard and be kind; so long as they do that, they will always be met with a smile from their Principal. Is there anything you wish you had access to when you were a pupil? I loved my time at school, I always had so many friends and was head girl during my final year, but the opportunities are endless for our students. For the Year 12 and 13 students, the tailored guidance that they get with careers, UCAS applications, mock interviews and preparation for the LNAT, UCAT and BMAT admissions tests is so thoughtful and thorough. What makes the school stand out? Howell’s is a place where individuality is embraced. There’s no typical Howell’s student, and there is no such thing as onesize-fits-all. We know our students inside and out and help them to find out what works best for them, in terms of academics, aspirations and pastoral support. ■

For more information or to book a visit, contact Admissions on 029 2056 2019 or visit www.howells-cardiff.gdst.net. 44 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SCHOOL GUIDE VICTORIA BOND

There are calls to make PE part of the core curriculum

Let us play

Time to prioritise active play and PE in the school’s catch up plans hief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty has been the bearer of some sombre messages over the last two years, but his recent announcement that children could see their lives cut short due to ‘significant’ worsening in obesity levels has finally blown the whistle on the need to prioritise active play and PE in schools. The latest figures show that 28 per cent of children in England are overweight or obese by the time they start school. In some areas, figures are twice as high as before lockdowns and school closures, and have caused health officials to warn of substantial long-term damage to children’s well-being, including mental health problems and rising cancer rates. Even pre-pandemic, there were worries about cuts to the amount of PE on timetables. The Youth Sport Trust estimates this could be as many as 42,000 hours in state secondaries across a decade. A major report on play habits also confirmed that most children now turn 11 before they are allowed to play outside unsupervised. It’s a perfect storm that involves children being both overprotected by parents and under protected by a politicians who have ignored

the beneﬁts of play and physical exercise for too long. The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, recently conducted the largest ever survey of school pupils, The Big Ask, and says that children told her in huge numbers that they want to “get outside, take part in activities at school, enjoy sport, and simply play out and have fun.” There is also the science. Physical activity has been shown to enhance cognition, emotional regulation, concentration and is associated with higher levels of academic achievement. It’s no coincidence that the best schools put PE at the heart of the school day and see better performance in the classroom as a result. Movement is a no-brainer if we want our children to do better at maths. Olympian Sharron Davies agrees; and recently joined forces with School Guide to call for the government to prioritise PE in catch up plans. “PE should be inspected by Ofsted along with maths and English,” she said. “It’s

so important we teach children skills for life: how to read food labels and the long-term beneﬁts of exercise. I meet so many grown ups who tell me they regret giving up on sport at school. PE was never a priority.” Thanks to advocates such as Davies, calls to #PrioritisePE are ﬁnally being listened to in Westminster. Last month a new Lords report called for PE to be made a core subject, and MPs debated the idea saying there was “a very real prospect of changing the trajectory of young people towards a healthier life.” Schools in Wales and Scotland are already judged on measures such as minutes of PE per week alongside targets for literacy and numeracy. Change can’t come quick enough for many parents: two thirds are worried that levels of physical activity have dropped dramatically since lockdown. It’s of particular concern for secondary school children, who often rely on school to provide their only structured physical outlet of the week.

“Movement is a no-brainer if we want our children to do better at maths”

However, according to Dr Liz Durden-Myers, senior lecturer in Physical Education at Bath Spa University, it’s really important that parents understand that active play and everyday movement counts just as much as timetabled PE. “We all know the 5-a-day eating guidelines but not many parents know that children are recommended to be active for 60 minutes per day. It can sound a lot for busy mums and dads to organise but anything that encourages children to get slightly out of breath counts towards their active minutes. It could be a bounce on a trampoline during an after-school playdate or a walk or bike to school for an older pupil.” Albert Einstein once said play is the highest form of research. Almost a hundred years later, it seems play may be something we need to help our children to learn again – before it’s too late. Victoria Bond is founder and CEO of School Guide, an easy-to-use website that helps parents discover exam results, catchment maps and parent reviews for all their local schools. For more: www.schoolguide.co.uk

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

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

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“We pride ourselves on producing and releasing our styles in a sustainable manner, it’s important to think of Dènevos as a brand ready and willing to disrupt the fashion industry and play our part in revolutionising fashion by raising awareness of how the clothes we wear have an impact on our planet” - Ben Evans (Co-Founder)

The Premium Menswear clothing brand based out of Cardiff was started in 2020 by two lifelong friends Ben Evans & Dan Slocombe who share the same date of birth and have been close friends since junior school. The pair have shared a passion for design and fashion for as long as they can remember and named the brand Dènevos as it is derived from the Latin word De Novo meaning ‘from the beginning’

FIND US ONLINE: WWW.DENEVOS.COM and on social media channels including Instagram (@denevos), Facebook (@denevosclothing) and TikTok (@denevos)

SPORT

PLAY YOUR PART

Nooh Omar Ibrahim, a Welsh Rugby Union apprentice from Butetown, who had never played rugby before, wants to get more diverse communities playing the sport

ardiff’s Nooh Omar Ibrahim wants to create a new inclusive rugby community in Wales after falling in love with the sport during his apprenticeship with WRU. He wants to encourage other young people who are thinking about their next steps to seize any opportunity available and follow their passion. Nooh has always relished sport, but unexpectedly landed in the field of rugby after struggling in college. “When I was at school thinking about my next steps, I was encouraged to go for a job in IT, business or science, like a lot of people,” he says. “But when I went on to study these subjects at A-level, lockdown hit, and it really affected me. Two of my grandparents passed away at the same time, and I struggled to stay focused at college. “I was a bit stumped and wasn’t sure what to do with my life; I needed a new focus. I took a gap year and it made me question what I was passionate about. That was when I found an opportunity with the Welsh Rugby Union as a rugby development apprentice. “I’d never played rugby and knew nothing about the sport. Growing up in Butetown, I knew only a handful of people who understood anything about rugby. Applying for this was

out of my comfort zone but I was ready for a new challenge.” After submitting his apprenticeship application, Nooh was invited to attend a two-day pre-selection programme with other young people from across Wales. “I was on the selection days with people who had been playing rugby since they were about five years old. I felt at a disadvantage, so I had to make sure I showed a passion for sport and coaching, and a willingness to learn and try new things. I was so excited when they offered me the job, and this motivated me to work hard.” The 12-month programme offers apprentices like Nooh a Level 3 sports development qualification as well as a chance to gain new skills and on-the-job experience. “As an apprentice, my role is to assist the wider team with extra-curricular rugby activities for young people in the community, in schools and in clubs. Our aim is to engage young people with the sport and mentor them so they can develop their skills. “I love coaching and working with young people. I recently had the opportunity to organise and manage a rugby event in Grangetown with children who had never played rugby before. They loved it and were asking me when they could play more.

“I want to introduce rugby to diverse communities in Wales”

A word from Minister for the Economy, Vaughan Gething

“Apprenticeships are a genius decision, for both employers seeking to futureproof their workforces while nurturing the talent that exists within Wales, and for people who want a proven route into employment that provides the opportunity to learn while earning a wage. “I believe apprenticeships will be vital as we emerge from the pandemic. That’s why we have committed to creating a further 125,000 Apprenticeship places over the next five years. We are a small country, but we have big ambitions, and our aim is to create a culture in Wales where recruiting an apprentice becomes the norm for employers.”

“It’s so rewarding knowing I’ve introduced a sport they may grow to love. I didn’t get that opportunity growing up, so I want to introduce rugby to other diverse communities in Wales and make the sport as inclusive as possible. “This time last year I didn’t know what a ruck meant, and now I’m a qualified coach and referee, and I’m working towards setting up a rugby team in Grangetown and Butetown. “For any young person thinking about their next steps, if any opportunity comes your way, be open and just go with it. My apprenticeship has helped turn my passion for sport into a career and I’m excited to see what my next challenge brings.” n www.gov.wales/apprenticeshipswales

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

29 APRIL JOIN US FOR POWERFUL INSIGHTS ON SUSTAINABILITY PLUS GREAT NETWORKING Expert panellists

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“It’s our intention to transform this historic part of Cardiff into a leading UK destination for leisure, culture and tourism, increasing visitors and, just as importantly, creating more jobs and opportunities for people who live nearby, not just in the construction phase but in helping to run all these initiatives when they are completed,” says Cllr Russell Goodway, the Cabinet Member for investment and development, about Cardiff Bay.

Plans are on track to deliver a UK-leading tourist destination for Cardiff

REIGNITING THE BAY Radical and wide-ranging plans to transform Cardiff Bay into one of the UK’s leading visitor and tourism destinations are now in full swing. Cardiff Council’s Cabinet have been reviewing a report that outlines the progress of existing projects and exciting new possibilities which could help transform the Bay area, including: • The latest news on the Cardiff Indoor Arena, which will now have a capacity of 17,000, up from earlier projections of 15,000. • Proposals to ‘green’ Lloyd George Avenue creating an urban park. • Replacing the Red Dragon Centre on Atlantic Wharf with a larger leisure complex.

• Expanding the International Sports Village to add a new velodrome and a motocross venue to the existing ice rink, international pool and white water complex. • Major upgrades of the transport network, to include safe cycle and walking routes from the city centre to the Bay, a Metro extension including a new station north of Loudoun Square, and the potential for a transport hub at Pierhead Street and connections to Cardiff’s proposed Crossrail project and the new Cardiff Parkway station near St Mellons. Some of the other exciting ideas, which would need Government funding and private sector partnerships to progress, include:

• A new lido-style pool at Mermaid Quay, close to Techniquest, that will enable outdoor swimming in a heated pool and access to ‘wild’ swimming in Cardiff Bay. • A 450,000 sq ft event site and waterfront park at Alexandra Head, plus other family attractions and an urban beach. • The creation of an ‘academy-type’ cultural venue for performance arts linked to the Wales Millennium Centre, and a virtual-reality Flight over Wales experience, based on an existing attraction in Amsterdam, with both located near the arena and the WMC. www.cardiff.moderngov.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT ON SUSTAINABILITY The Property Symposium is back on 29 April and is running a virtual conference on sustainability. The event, sponsored by GA Energy, Interaction, Action Net Zero and Futureground, runs from 9am – 1pm and is bringing together industry experts for panel sessions and networking opportunities. The Thought Leadership

segment offers dynamic insights via exclusive research into residential and commercial property with Lucian Cook, the head of residential research for Savills, and Jennet Siebrits, the head of research at CBRE. Panellists include senior players from Coutts, JLL, Barefoot Architects, Principality, Interaction, FORE Partnership,

Futureground, GA Energy, Feilden, Clegg Bradley Studios, Sero, Socious, and BDP – with more to follow. The Property Symposium is powered by a multi-channel regional marketing campaign, building on the success of the Property Awards in Cardiff, Bath, Bristol and Exeter. www.cardiffpropertyawards.co.uk

from top: Lucian Cook, the head of residential research for Savills, and Jennet

Siebrits, the head of research at CBRE will be offering market insights

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NOT JUST A PRETTY SPACE Explore Heathfield in St Bridessuper-Ely with us…

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

PROPERTY

he overwhelming spaciousness inside Heathfield, a property in St Bridessuper-Ely, is what hits you first. It reminds me of an art gallery; there’s so much room to breathe and move – there’s such freedom in that. The high-spec bespoke home combines an almost cottagelike façade, despite its size, in keeping with its environment, together with a slick, contemporary interior. Enter via a large oak floored hallway – which features an oak staircase leading to a dramatic galleried landing – and make your way to the principal, open-plan living space, which proudly displays a centrepiece ‘floating’ wood burning stove. The cutting-edge German kitchen, with its lustrous Corian surfaces, makes for a flawless space to entertain guests, and the five bedrooms are set to offer them the

most satisfying of overnight stays. Talking of happy family and friends, the back garden is summer party central; I can imagine Pimm’s and prosecco tastes a whole lot better when sipped in the large circular terrace amidst landscaped lawns while the sun warms your face. And when the night time chill comes, on goes the woodburner – perfection. The al fresco dining, sunbathing, and get-together opportunities here are very exciting indeed. To the front of the house is yet more spaciousness in the form of a wide, block paved forecourt driveway which affords parking for plenty of vehicles and leads to the double garage. This dreamy family home, in the heart of the Vale, yet close to Cardiff – some six miles out – is rural, but well connected, and offers the most fantastic way of living. And, to boot, you’d definitely get your steps in if you lived here.

HOUSE NUMBERS Where St Brides-super-Ely Price £950,000 Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 3 Reception areas 3 Sq ft of space 2,705 Garden Landscaped rear garden, ideal for al fresco dining Parking Ample parking including a double garage Agent Savills Cardiff, 2 Kingsway, CF10 3FD; 02920 368 900; www.savills.com

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CARDIFF PROPERTY AWARDS

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SCENE

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

Huw Stephens

Deyah Self Esteem

Bloc Party

RADIO 6 MUSIC FESTIVAL Idles, Pixies, Bloc Party, Father John Misty, Little Simz and more incredibly diverse acts played the Radio 6 Music Festival at the start of April at various venues around Cardiff, including Clwb Ifor Bach, St David’s Hall and Tramshed. Newly crowned BRIT Award winner Little Simz’s headline slot at St David’s Hall was everything you’d want it to be and more; Ibibio Sound Machine were an absolute force of West African funk and disco; Manchester’s iconic guitar hero Johnny Marr played a careerspanning closing set at the Great Hall; Idles whipped the city into a frenzy; jazz quintet Ezra Collective set the tone with their soulful influences at St David’s Hall; and edgy art-rockers Bloc Party played an incendiary Great Hall set. Cardiff; www.bbc.co.uk Johnny Marr

Photos by BBC Sarah Jeynes/Jamie Simmonds

Ibibio Sound Machine

James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire – Manic Street Preachers

Ezra Collective

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

HEIDI’S BIER BAR LAUNCH

We attended the opening night of Heidi’s Bier Bar in March. Cardiff was chosen as the first city in the UK to welcome Scandinavia’s popular Heidi’s concept, which offers an “Alpine wonderland of fun, laughter and good times.” You’ll find the two-millionpound après ski style bar on Mill Lane. www.heidisbierbar.uk

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

SOCIETY

PAR 59 OPENING

Par 59’s bar, restaurant and competitive entertainment concept is the result of a partnership between Wales and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale’s company Elevens Group LTD and The DEPOT, one of Wales’ most successful, independent entertainment brands. It opened in March on St Mary’s Street, treating guests to 4,000 sq ft of bar space, and two nine-hole mini golf courses which have been custom designed for the venue. www.par59.com Photos by Sin Lam

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

WELSH MEDIA AWARDS Prestigious black-tie ceremony The Journalists’ Charity Wales Media Awards, which took place in March at the Mercure Holland House Hotel Cardiﬀ, celebrated and promoted great journalism in Wales – work produced in Wales, for an audience in Wales. It was hosted by BBC Cymru Wales presenter Lucy Owen and ITV Cymru Wales’ Jonathan Hill. www.walesmediaawards.co.uk Photos by Natasha Hirst

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

SOCIETY

Evie Dyer, Amanda Newton, Jess Morgan and Lorna Oakley

Jayne James, Natalie Davies and Geraldine Judd Gab England

VEDRA LUNCH

In March, Natalie Davies, a serial entrepreneur, actress and designer launched Vedra – a fashion, lifestyle and wellness store in Cowbridge. Natalie conceptualised her vision for her latest oﬀering on a self-awakening sabbatical to Ibiza and was inspired by the magnetism and myths surrounding the feminine force of Es Vedra, the birthplace of Tanit, the warrior goddess of womanhood. Vedra’s promise is to elevate women’s closets – and their inner conﬁdence – by unleashing their individual style self-expression. www.iamvedra.com Photos by Holly at Raghouse Studios

Sarah Nicolson

Xxx Abi Pearce, Sharon Vernaschi, Maureen Jones, Natalie Davies, Lola Worgan and Marla Ellis

Lisa Gates

Sian Whitefield

What a turnout

Sarah Ragan

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

CARDIFF HALF MARATHON

At the end of March, The Cardiff University Half Marathon, the nation’s largest mass-participation event, returned after 903 days. After a two-year hiatus, runners enjoyed ideal conditions across the iconic course, which will host another edition of the race in October this year. From the castle start line, the participants raced through the city centre past the Principality Stadium and Cardiff City Stadium before crossing the barrage to take in Cardiff Bay. From there they headed for the Roath Park loop before a sprint finish in the heart of the city at the Civic Centre. In the women’s race, a Welsh champion was crowned for the first time in 18 years as Natasha Cockram stormed to victory with a stunning personal best. “I didn’t really know what to expect

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

in terms of position but I came here wanting to PB which I’ve done, and to win made it extra special,” she says. “I love coming back to Wales, especially being a home athlete, everyone seems to know me and I hear my name quite often in the crowd, it’s really good. “The Commonwealth Games have been my dream from a really young age so hopefully I can get selected for that now. It’s been my dream since I started running.” Matt Newman, chief executive of organisers at Run 4 Wales, says, “It was well worth the wait to see the city come alive with the runners and spectators who make the Cardiff Half a truly special event. Together, we showcased just how important sport, and especially mass-participation running, is to our country, while showing off what our fantastic capital city has to offer.” www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk Photos courtesy of Cardiff Half Marathon

SOCIETY

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THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN

CALLING ENTREPRENEURS Inspirational tales Practical advice Unrivalled connections

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@Entre_Conf June 30

It’s the city’s business

CARDIFFWORKS All for Cardiff

OR Cardiff, the city’s business improvement district (BID), works hard to deliver improvements for the 750+ city centre businesses who fund them, as well for the wider community in Cardiff. Their aim is for Cardiff to be a great place to come for business and for pleasure, but also a place for locals to be proud of. Here, Carolyn Brownell, associate director at FOR Cardiff, shares the organisation’s top 10 projects with us… • CITY OF ARCADES Before FOR Cardiff created the award-winning City of Arcades brand, the arcades, one of Cardiff’s strongest assets, was not leveraged enough to create a true unique selling point for the city. This Winter, FOR Cardiff will bring back a City of Arcades campaign and event, focusing on driving footfall and spend for the whole of the city centre. • GIFT CARD The FOR Cardiff gift card offers customers the option to give the gift of Cardiff. Classic independents such

FOR Cardiff works with over 750 of the city’s businesses

as Wally’s Deli and Bar 44, to major retailers such as John Lewis accept the card as payment. Buying a gift card means you can support over 70 local businesses.

you’ll be able to find a safe place to go in Cardiff 24/7 if you ever feel vulnerable, or simply want to have a sit down. There are over 70 locations across Cardiff.

• CHALLENGE FUND In April, the first round of the FOR Cardiff Challenge Fund opened for applications. The fund offers grants of up to £5,000 to people, businesses and organisations delivering projects to support the city centre. The Challenge Fund will open for applications at least once a year.

• PURPLE FLAG FOR Cardiff is leading on ensuring that the city retains its Purple Flag status, which is the night time economy stamp of approval that your destination is a safe and enjoyable location to visit of an evening.

• EQUALITY CITY Wales and its capital city have the responsibility to lead the way in equality and diversity. FOR Cardiff will lead the way in making a wider commitment to equality, by collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure Cardiff is one of the UK’s first equality cities. In order to achieve this, they will work with their businesses to make a commitment to change, providing training and templates on how to implement these alterations. • SAFE PLACES If you download the Safe Places app

• EVENTS This Easter, FOR Cardiff has brought the Nick Jr. Tour to St David’s Dewi Sant (until 24 April), where families are able to find 15 giant toy brick versions of characters from shows such as Paw Patrol all for free. • NIGHT MARSHALS As one of the UK’s major event locations, Cardiff’s economy is heavily reliant on its hospitality industry, particularly the evening and night time economy. A crucial part of the safe and efficient running of the city centre at night is the FOR Cardiff Night Marshal

team, which ensures everyone can get home safely in a taxi every Friday and Saturday night. • CLEANSING TEAM The look and feel of a location is critical to customer experience, appeal, and the city’s success. The Cleansing Team undertake work, over and above anything that the Council provide, such as deep cleaning private property, and graffiti and chewing gum removal. • CHRISTMAS Cardiff has the elements that you associate with a major city and Christmas: a big wheel, ice rinks, Christmas lights and a festive market. However, what differentiates Cardiff and puts it on a par with other European capital cities? This Christmas, FOR Cardiff will be bringing a world class Christmas experience to the city to ensure Cardiff’s residents, visitors and workers have the festive celebration they deserve.

For more: www.forcardiff.com

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A CLEAN BREAK

Back in her teenage years, after a failed A level and with £20 in her pocket, Rachael Flanagan set up local cleaning company Mrs Buckét. Today the firm is worth millions… By Lisa Evans 62 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Rachael now has a team of over 300

ack in 2005, at 18 years old, Rachael Flanagan set up her one-woman cleaning service, Mrs Buckét. Fast forward to 2022 and her multi-award-winning firm – which operates across Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol, with the local offices on Cathedral Road in Pontcanna – now has a 300-strong team and a turnover of £4.5M. Here we chat with Rachael about her success, and her best cleaning hacks of course.

As a teen, what led you to taking that first step to set up your own business?

In my teenage years, I was told by someone who should have been lifting me up, not putting me down, that ‘nothing would ever come of me’. Not long later, I received an unclassified in my Business A-level. At this very moment, I was presented with two options: I could either have just curled up and let it all get to me, or push myself to prove them wrong. Thankfully, with the support of my family, I chose the latter. Instead of being defeated, I was fired up with motivation, and I worked harder than I had ever worked before to make something for myself, and that’s where the idea for Mrs Buckét originated. Cleaning has been my fulltime career since the early age of 18. Could you take us back to the first few days of the business and tell us what it was like?

My mum was a full-time teacher, and because of time pressures, she chose to employ a domestic cleaner to help ease her workload. However, this cleaner was unreliable, and I could see by my mum’s demeanour how much stress this caused, so I offered to take on the role of cleaner for Mum. Not only because I loved having the pocket money, but because I saw how much easier life became for her when just a few hours were invested in making the house clean and tidy.

CARDIFFWORKS an individual, finding inner strength to keep going. However, you’re not – and shouldn’t ever be – alone. My business wouldn’t be where it is without the amazing mentors I have had throughout my journey. Not only has their business expertise enabled me to grow Mrs Buckét in terms of finance and staff numbers, more importantly, their experience has pulled me through those harder days, weeks, and months. Their emotional support has been integral to my ability to keep pushing and they’ve made the lonelier times a little less isolated. If I have one piece of advice for any budding entrepreneur, it’s to go and find a mentor. Find someone who you gel with, whose values align with your own and who challenges your thought process. Get someone who will build you up and make you a better version of yourself, personally and professionally. What’s your best advice for aspiring business owners on how to ‘put yourself out there’?

Rachael started her business at the age of 18 and it now has a £4.5M turnover

I knew that there would have been other families around my neighbourhood in similar situations. I began cleaning for my aunts and my grandma and, after some time, I made the decision that I was going to set up my own cleaning company and bring the same joy to other families as I did for my own. With my last £20, I printed out 5,000 black-and-while flyers and knocked on doors to advertise my services. Then, I waited. I waited for the phone to ring or a knock on the door, hoping that someone would take me seriously. Fast forward and I was working up to 70-hour weeks by myself, cleaning people’s houses. It became quickly apparent that I couldn’t manage this workload by myself, and that I needed to hire some support. Within a few months, I had my first team, and just like that, Mrs Buckét was born. How did you acquire all the skills and knowledge to build a business?

Make yourself stand out, and don’t be afraid of being different. When I was thinking about what my business should be called, I began with RF Cleaning. I told my friend’s Mum and she exclaimed, ‘No darling! You can’t call yourself RF Cleaning – how do you ever expect to stand out?’ Of course, she was right. If you saw a car with RF Cleaning on the side of it, you probably wouldn’t give it a second look. If you saw a car with Mrs Buckét plastered on the side, you’d probably give it a little more attention. If you’re not willing to make yourself more visible, be prepared to get lost in the crowd.

What’s in the pipeline?

I’ve always had big ambitions for Mrs Buckét, and I’ve never been afraid to set big targets. In the next 12 months, I am on track to hire another 100 members of staff. By 2025, we’re aiming to be a £10-12m company. I am also proud to say that as of 1 April, we became a Real Living Wage employer, paying every member of our staff £9.90 per hour.

“With my last £20, I printed out flyers. Then, I waited, hoping that someone would take me seriously”

Business has always been in my family. My father was the manager of a catering company and I have fond memories of helping him out during the holidays. I would listen in silently to his phone calls with colleagues and other managers, learning about how he spoke in business. I also watched how he conducted himself in the canteens, making sure everything ran smoothly and efficiently. By the time I was 14, he gave me a free chocolate bar, a till, and the responsibility to help him out. To this day, I apply the lessons I learned from him to my own business. What always struck me was the compassion he showed his staff, combined with the authority needed keep everything ticking over nicely. He will always be my business inspiration, for however long I am working. How did you manage to grow the business to what it is today?

Hard work and mentorship. Nothing in business comes for free, and it’s not possible to build a successful company on luck alone. It takes motivation, determination, and grit. There have been so many times where I could have just thrown in the towel, but I never have. Whenever I have fallen, I’ve picked myself back up and dusted myself off. This, however, isn’t a skill that can be taught. It is completely down to you as

Who are some of your local clients?

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bus and Owens Group – Transport & Warehousing. Your best unusual cleaning hacks?

Always use colour coded cloths to prevent bacteria from spreading – for example, use red ones to clean bathrooms and blue for communal areas. If something is spilled on the carpet, never rub, always blot. Regularly declutter your workspace – a clear space is a clear mind. You’ll be surprised about how much more productive you are.

Surprise us…

Last year, I trekked the Alps! After a very stressful time in business throughout 2020, I suffered from a serious episode of burnout. My husband asked me to consider taking time out and doing something for myself, something that would give me the headspace to feel better physically and emotionally. So 24 hours later I signed up to take on the challenge of walking the Alps. As a passion of mine, hiking felt like the right way to channel my energy into something new and rebuild myself. I took a day a week out of the business to train, a place to switch off. After months of hard work, I finally reached the summit of our planned climb and felt on top of the world – literally and metaphorically. This process taught me that listening to my body is so important, as is being able to step back and admit when you need support. n www.mrs-bucket.co.uk

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CARDIFF LIVES

“It’s pretty amazing to be recognised by some of my idols” relocated to LA, where I’ve been based for the last four years.

Do you ever see yourself back in Cardiff (does ‘hiraeth’ ever call to you)? I love where I’m from so maybe when I’m older I’ll consider moving home. I just want to go further in my career for a little bit more!

JAMIE MILLER

Since swapping Cardiff for LA, singer/songwriter Jamie Miller has amassed hundreds of millions of fans across the globe – including P!nk and Jennifer Hudson Meteorically rising pop singer/songwriter and Pontprennau native Jamie Miller has recently released his most heartfelt and personal single to date, I Lost Myself In Loving You – available now via Atlantic Records and Geaux Uptown Records. Written by Jamie alongside 5 Seconds of Summer’s Sierra Deaton and Grammy-nominated Jon Hume, the track delves into the tribulations of blind love. The single arrived on the heels of Wishes, a ballad recorded for the soundtrack of the hit Korean TV drama series Snowdrop, which has aired globally on Disney+.

Last year, Jamie’s viral single Here’s Your Perfect, deemed a “breakout hit” by Rolling Stone, amassed over 335 million global streams and spent 13 weeks on Billboard’s Global Ex-US chart. Here we chat… Hi Jamie! Where in Cardiff are you from? Pontprennau. It will always be home. I love my mum and dad’s house and I’m very close with all my family so that’ll always be my favourite place. When did you move? Five years ago after signing a management and record deal. I first went to London and then

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When will we see you perform here? Fingers crossed it’ll happen really soon after I finish my debut American tour this summer. I’m definitely looking forward to doing a European and UK tour next! Has Wales influenced your music? It definitely has, especially after spending a bit of time with Tom Jones, an absolute legend! He’s incredible. How would you describe your music? Pop-soul. I want my lyrics and music to represent me and all aspects of my life. I’m starting to show a really raw side of me that I’m just now becoming comfortable sharing with the world. Congratulations on your new single I Lost Myself in Loving You… I wrote this song after falling completely in love with the wrong person. After coming out as bisexual last year, I found myself in love with a guy for the first time and was completely blinded by my emotions. Although our

time together left me deceived and heartbroken, I hope this song can help mend a few broken hearts. You’ve been endorsed by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, Sam Smith and Jennifer Hudson; could you tell us more? They’ve shown me so much love via social media and sent words of encouragement saying that they’re fans of my voice. It’s pretty amazing and rewarding to be recognised by some of my idols. What are your other talents outside of music? I’m a dancer, too, so maybe that counts? And I can probably out drink almost anyone! What topic could you talk about for hours? Standing up to bullying is something I’m really passionate about so I could talk about being bullied when I was younger and trying to prevent that from happening to others still going through those difficult times. What’s something not many people know about you? I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic, so I go to the extreme sometimes. Finally, surprise us… I’m very emotionally sensitive and a total empath. Sometimes, I cry even when I’m not the one who has been hurt. Just hearing others’ stories can make me sad. n