Swansea Life April 2018 by Swansea Life

WI N N E R ! U K REG I O NA L MA G A ZI N E O F TH E YE A R

SWA NSE A

LIFE www.swansealife.co.uk APRIL 2018 £2.95

Nothing toWear Tonight?

100 looks for right now

pages of your party pics!

LIVING THE DREAM IN GOWER

wedding 9 771750 843018

9 771750 843018

Let’s plan a

Your no-panic guide to the BEST day of your life...FREE inside

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Contents... A P R I L

SWA NSE A

LIFE

146

2 018

FASHION 9. FAB FINDS Shoe treats for April 12. INTO THE LIGHT How to nail betweenseason style 18. SHOW YOUR STRIPES A fashion perennial that never loses its appeal

Editor Laura Davies | 01792 545523 @LawsDx | laura.davies@trinitymirror.com PUBLISHER Lisa Cameron | lisa.cameron@trinitymirror.com Photography Adrian White, Jonathan Myers, Gayle Marsh, Hoosh Arabi, Robert Melen Contributors Lara Johnson & Dom Capel, Lesley Taylor, Sian Day, Victoria Wade, Joseph Atkin, Andrew Morgan, Dr. Charlotte Jones, Chris Howells, James Richards, Marc White, and Chris Peregrine

Swansea Life, Urban Village, High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW @swansealife Email: laura.davies@trinitymirror.com www.swansealife.co.uk

HAIR & BEAUTY

25. INDULGENCE BUYS April trends we love 28. THE BEAUTY EDIT Brand new make-up buys for springtime 31. HAIR SOS Lara Johnson’s step-by-step guide to a new look

If we have published anything that is factually inaccurate, please contact the editor on 01792 545533, at postnews@mediawales.co.uk or at Evening Post, Urban Village, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW and once verified we will correct it here as soon as possible. Swansea Life is part of Local World, which is owned by Trinity Mirror PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code Of Practice as enforced by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at Independent Press Standards Organisation, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London. EC4M 7LG. Website: http://www,ipso.co.ukTelephone: 0300 123 2220; email advice@ipso.co.uk If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the Code of Practice, we will deal with your complaint directly or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to http://www.trinitymirror. com/howtocomplain where you can view our Complaints Policy and Procedure. A “How To Complain” pack is also available by writing to the Legal and Compliance Department, Trinity Mirror PLC, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP. Average net distribution 7,500 copies sold and distributed in Swansea, Gower and the surrounding South West Wales areas. Opinions expressed in Swansea Life magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or designer and the magazine is in no way liable for such opinions. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents are fully accurate, we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies and late changes. No article, advertisement or graphic, in whole or in part, may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers.

*Correction: Our review in last month’s Swansea Life of Uplands eaterie The Optimist wrongly stated it was part of the Oldwalls Group. It is not. Our apologies for the error.

4 swansealife.co.uk

HEALTH & WELLBEING 34. VITAL VITAMINS A new way to brighter, firmer skin 36. TIME FOR BED? “Why do I feel tired all the time” 38. YOUR HEALTH Your queries answered by Dr Charlotte Jones

OUT & ABOUT

WHAT’S ON 154. DIARY DATES Our tips for days out this April

143. BEST FOOT FORWARD A leisurely walk from Loughor to Llanelli

157. READ IT NOW Zoe James- Williams’ top recommenations for kids’ reads

144. WEEKEND WOW A luxury weekend break at The Celtic Manor 146. DELIGHTFUL DUSSELDORF Why there’s more to this German city than just beer and wurst!

144

158. A TREASURE REMEMBERED A night to honour Swansea’s Alex Frith

109

158 SOCIAL DIARY 164. LAUNCH PARTY The glittering wraps come off at the new-look Fairyhill 166. BIG DAY Ashley Stares and Rebecca Ewens’ wedding 168, MEETING UP Barclays Women in Business networking event

HOUSE & HOME

MOTORING SOCIAL 126. CAR WOW DIARY Behind the wheel of the

98. COLOUR SCHOOL Calming neutrals for your home

32-page Swansea Life Brides 22 1. HEAD Special Phphphp hphp hphp hphp FREE inside phphphphphphp

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 214. HEAD Phphphp hphp hphp hphp

109.. HIGH STREET HEROES You’ll love what we’ve found in a supermarket near you 120. ROOM WITH A VIEW A Gower home that could be yours

166

226. HEAD Phphphp hphp hphp hphp phphphphphphp

FOOD & DRINK 78. CARIBBEAN CALYPSO Delicious flavours to savour at a Swansea eaterie 82. GORGEOUS GOWER We run the rule over The Crofty Inn

176

TIME FOR YOU 176. LET’S GET DIGGING! 10 best buys to get you out into your garden this spring 181. FAMILY LIVES Holiday arrangements for separated parents

90. BOTTOMS UP Swansea Bay’s very best free-flowing Prosecco deals

swansealife.co.uk 5

E D I TO R’ S L E T TE R

love your life... We are not normally ones to blow our own trumpets here at Swansea Life. But just for once maybe, we rather think we will! Why? Well, because we are proud to have again made the final half dozen publications from right across the UK on a shortlist to find Britain’s best regional magazine for 2018 beating hundreds of other hopefuls along the way.

LAURA DAVIES

EDITOR 01792 545523 laura.davies@trinitymirror.com

We won it last year when judges of the prestigious newsawards 2017 were looking for some magazine magic. They found it in Swansea Life naming it Britain’s top regional lifestyle magazine and praising both its editorial and commercial credentials. And we hope they find it again within our pages this time around too. We’ve still got a few weeks to go before the 2018 winner is crowned at what is going to be a glittering ceremony in London. But we are keeping our fingers crossed it goes our way for a second time when we will be up against both not only local titles, but big names from across the rest of the country too.

MARK REES

So before all of that, can we say a huge THANK YOU to both our loyal and fast growing army of readers as well as advertisers who support us each month getting the results they want from a title they know and can trust.

WHAT’S ON EDITOR 01792 545529 mark.rees@trinitymirror.com

We celebrate the good stuff about our great city We know you love the results in its carefully carfted pages. And we’ll be spreading the word about just how lucky we are to live and work in Swansea when we get to that awards ceremony in London next month too WI N N E R ! U K REG I O NA L MA G A ZI N E O F TH E YE A R

SWA NSE A

LIFE www.swansealife.co.uk APRIL 2018 £2.95

Nothing toWear Tonight?

100

PETER SLEE

(Standing in for Laura Davies)

Find us on Facebook @SwanseaLife

Advertising Manager 01792 545626 debbie.roberts@trinitymirror.com

PAGES OF YOUR PA RTY PICS!

LIVING THE DREAM IN GOWER

wedding 9 771750 843018

Let’s plan a 9 771750 843018

01792 545530 peter.slee@trinitymirror.com @peterslee56

looks for right now

DEBBIE ROBERTS

Your no-panic guide to the BEST day of your life...FREE inside

COVER IMAGE: Blazer, £20, from a selection at Primark in Swansea. See page 14.

SANDRA EVANS

EDITORIAL DESIGNER sandra.evans@trinitymirror.com

6 swansealife.co.uk

Swansea lives OUR PICK OF THE MONTHS BEST PARTY GET-TOGETHERS (FOM PAGE 162)

STRADEY PARK HOTEL & SPA 

162

swansea bay business awards

164

Fairyhill launch

NEW TO LLANELLI A DELIGHTFUL DINING EXPERIENCE... Enjoy a relaxing, informal meal in the new COPPERPLATE BAR & GRILL at the 4H Stradey Park Hotel & Spa.

156

ASHLEY & ROBYN WEDDING

A new contemporary Bar & Grill, with stunning panoramic views of the estuary and a tempting menu of freshly prepared, homemade favourites. Including gourmet burgers, succulent steaks, a mouthwatering grill selection, fresh fish and pizza. Sit back and enjoy a warm, welcoming experience

168

Barclays women in business

172

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

7 swansealife.co.uk

170

ELLIE & SION WEDDING

Stradey Park Hotel & Spa, Llanelli, SA15 4HA T: 01554 758171 www.stradeyparkhotel.com @stradeyhotelandspa

ASKOUR

T U O B A

D R A W RE RD CA

MUMBLES Clever Clothes at Sensible Prices

We look forward to showing you our Spring/Summer Collections

Contour Dress from POMODORO collection

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FASHION

heels HOT ON THE

Be one step ahead in the style stakes with spring’s ‘must have’ heels....

Slipper mules, £25. e, Miss Selfridg Swamsea 3

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Alana leopard print £60. Office, Swansea Black feather sandal, £14. Primark, Swansea Blue bow mule, £10. Primark, Swansea Pink Lark Pointed Heels, £39.99. TK Maxx, Parc Morfa Striped Kitten Heel Court Shoes, £35. Miss Selfridge, Swansea Heavenly soles; two-part leg tie shoes; £30. JD Williams Grey suede flat pointed toes; £25. Dorothy Perkins, Swansea Pink Backless Bow Loafer, £18. Dorothy Perkins, Swansea Mustard heel, £25. M&S, Swansea Pink Heeled Sandals £19.99, New Look, Swansea

£70. Dune, Swansea

swansealife.co.uk 9

Dressed to impress this prom 1 0 2 - 1 0 4 E ve r s l e y R o a d | S ke t t y Swansea | SA2 9DB Te l : 0 7 5 0 8 8 5 9 0 2 4 w w w. 1 0 2 c o u t u re . c o m

FASHION

CALLING TIME ON SKINNY JEANS

Denim frill cuff jacket, £30, Tu at Sainsbury’s

Is it the end of stretchy, spray-on denim jeans? Denim will never go out of fashion but denim jackets, dresses, skirts, and suiting separates are having their moment. Go big and playful or tailored and smart with tapered trousers and fitted blazers, making your denim outfit entirely office appropriate. Keep denim contemporary looking with sharp cuts and clever details.

Oliver Bonas Distraction denim dress, £69.50

Denim belted culotte jeans, £45, River Island

Next Pocket detail hobo bag, £36

FatFace Denim pinafore dress, £22

Lost Ink dress, £39.99, Navabi

White Stuff Carpenter denim skirt, £49.95

White Stuff denim trainer £45

swansealife.co.uk 11

light

into the

Want to know the secret behind successful between-the-season dressing? Think laidback luxe and you’ve got your 24/7 wardrobe. Affordable, wearable and what’s more, wantable. Introducing those sunny spring pieces we’ve all been longing for...

11 swansealife.co.uk

Blazer ÂŁ20, trouser, ÂŁ15. Primark, Swansea and Parc Trostre

Bardot top. £14; embroidered ripped jeans, £22, floral shoes, £18, bag, £12.50: all, F&F, TescoExtra, Llansamlet

14 swansealife.co.uk

Cream check tweedy jacket, £68, Grey Lace Trim Vest, £10, Tan Styled Chinos, £32 : all Next, Parc Morfa and Swansea

swansealife.co.uk 15

Rouge Jean Jacket £75, French Bulldog T-Shirt £35, Cropped Slim Jean £50 : Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

16 swansealife.co.uk

Check coat, ÂŁ59: River Island, Swansea and Parc Fforestfach

swansealife.co.uk 17

FASHION

stripes Show your

L.K.Bennett Mia Striped Cropped Cardigan, BlueWhite, £150

Striped Cold Shoulder Blouse, £22. M&Co, Cardiff

Fair Isle Mock Sleeve Tunic, £34. cottonedits.com

24 swansealife.co.uk

Stripes are something of a fashion perennial — they appear on the catwalks, in some variation, every season. Luckily they are also super easy to wear and can look really luxe. Clashing horizontal and vertical stripes can look really fun but are tricky to pull off if you’re not of supermodel stature. Instead, make sure you get the balance right: a vertical stripe on trousers will always elongate the leg. For a simple way to master the trend, a stripy blazer is an easy win and you can never go wrong with a classic stripe shirt or Breton top. peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

Navy And White Striped Long Sleeved Embroidered T-Shirt, £20. Glamorous.com

Powder Blue Striped Dress; £59.99. TK Maxx, Parc Morfa

Rowena stripe jumper, £59.95. Joules, Mumbles

Studio by Preen, £45; Debenhams, Swansea

Navy Stripe Paper Bag Skirt, £28. Miss Selfridge, Swansea Isabella Oliver Arlington Stripe Dress, NavyWhite, £74.25. John Lewis, Cardiff

Multi coloured £39. Faith, Swansea

swansealife.co.uk 25

CELEBRATE ● ● " ! ● ! ● ! ● !

T A GO

AD RO

M DG G D M

AR RD C CA K

STYLE ESSENTIALS

HAIR & BEAUTY

How cute is this?

Perfect for all your essential bits and bobs: Butterfly Make Up Bag, £15.Laura Ashley, Swansea

THIS MONTH

Kai Stewart is offering up her top tips as a fashion designer and stylist with her company, jaxxon house. Her passion for mixing up quirky,thrift shop pieces with designer brands is a winning combo we absolutely love. Best of all... her style packages start at just £50!

WE LOVE

@jaxxonhouse www.jaxxonhou

Swansea Life rounds up the latest news, trends and best buys for your shopping basket this month peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

HERE’S ONE FOR HIM! The Man Can Toiletry Set by Manstuff is an all-in-one grooming set and includes everything from body wash to a nail file. There’s even a bottle opener for use at the end of a good scrub! £12.99 presentfinder.com

tumble outta bed and stumble to the bathroom?

Clarins Double Serum Edit 30ml: If it’s a ‘taster’ of products you are after..this has to be worth trying especially as Debenhams in Swansea currently has it down in price by £14.25 to £42.75.

This makeup palette is easy to use, whether you are a complete beginner or makeup pro! Inspired by Poppy Delevingne’s wedding makeup, this palette is full of rose-gold, bronze tones for dreamy, ethereal perfection, whether you are a blushing bride or wedding guest! Charlotte Tilbury Every Woman’s Instant Beauty Glow!; £89. John Lewis, Cardiff

It’s easy to see why these are bestsellers. The MODA Prismatic Make Up Brushes set surely combines all you will need when it comes to a great finish: £20, George at Asda, Swansea

Add a whole lotta luxury to your daily routine with this soothing almond oil multitasker...., almond oil gives softness and moisture, while a calming infusion of fresh dove orchids helps to carefully clarify the skin when you're in a hurry. 9 to 5 cleanser £5.25, Lush, Swansea

ADDICTED TO EYELASH CURLERS? Then you might want to swap to the latest wand technology instead. Benefits Roller Travel Lash Mascara ( £10.50, Boots, Swansea ) grabs lashes with miniscule hooks and then lifts and curls for a fuss-free look.

swansealife.co.uk 21

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HAIR & BEAUTY

Spring beauty tricks and trends Katie Wright runs down the season’s best looks

Ready to hit refresh on your beauty look now that spring is here? The SS18 catwalks gave us a glut of gorgeous hair and make-up ideas, and there’s something to suit every taste. Bored of matte lips? Get ready for gloss, 2018-style. Eyeliner addict? You’ll adore the graphic black liner looks. Love a bit of sparkle? Rhinestones are back with a vengeance. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot to get excited about – and we’ve got the inside scoop on how to recreate the runway looks at home.

Aqua eyes

Tea-stained eyes

From inky blue at Givenchy Couture to bright azure at House of Holland, and chalky turquoise at Missoni, aqua eyeshadows popped up at plenty of shows There wasn’t a lot of subtlety to many of these catwalk designs, but if you choose a shade of blue or green that complements your eye colour, and smoke it out at the edges, this can be a really flattering look.

If it’s subtlety you’re after, then take your cue from the shows where the make-up was as delicate at the clothes, namely Preen (pictured) and Alexis Mabille. Here, a wash of creamy tea-brown across the eyelids complemented perfect skin and nude lips. It’s important to note that this is a cool brown rather than a warm terracotta – a foundation stick that’s a few shades darker than your skin will give the ideal texture and tone.

Hair accessories Hair adornments have been creeping onto the catwalks in recent seasons, but for SS18 they’ve gone global, with the likes of Gucci, Miu Miu, and Versace getting involved, while at Dries van Noten, crystals were used to line models’ partings. Designer hair clips will set you back upwards of £100 a pop, but there are lots of inexpensive dupes on the high street.

Backstage at Missoni

Hourglass Vanish Seamless finish foundation stick, £42, Space NK

Lip gloss Accessorize pearl cluster Barrette hair clip, £5

ALL THAT glitterS Eyes, lips, lashes, nails – there was barely a body part that wasn’t dusted with sparkling particle at the spring shows, from stick-on rhinestones at Jeremy Scott, to glitter-encrusted eyelashes at Ryan Lo. But these looks all shared a rebellious edge – it’s about punk not precision – so load up on black kohl liner and top with a fingertip full of loose glitter to get the requisite too-cool-to-care vibe.

MAC 3D Lavender Glitter, £16.50

Backstage at Alberta Ferrett

Fashion is nothing if not fickle, so it was only a matter of time before matte lips were usurped on the catwalks. And, sure enough, wet-look lips ruled at trendsetting SS18 shows like Chanel, Tom Ford and Haider Ackermann (pictured). Blood red and fuchsia were particularly popular, but this is a trend that’s easily adaptable – a slick of clear gloss over your favourite lippie, and you’ve got it.

Charlotte Tilbury the Feline Flick liquid eye pen in Panther, £22

Exaggerated eyeliner Winged liner has been popular on the catwalks for a few seasons (and with good reason), but now the delicate cat-eye flick takes a backseat in favour of super-bold styles. At Lanvin a drinking straw was used to stamp dashes of liner out from the corner of the eye but the mega-wings at Versus Versace (pictured) and Marc Jacobs just require a steady hand and practice. 25 swansealife.co.uk

Givenchy Gloss Interdit vinyl rouge thriller, £23.50, Escentual

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HAIR & BEAUTY

clever

We just love these make-up glasses which come with a single, switchable lens for the easy application of eye make-up £12.95 www.annabeljames.co.uk

what’s new

NOW

The latest news, trends and gorgeous buys you’ll find in a Swansea shop near you this month...

GORGEOUS YSL Red Lipstick, £28. John Lewis

‘MUST HAVE’

Look this one out the next time you are in Swansea: Kat Von D Make Up Palette, £52. Debenhams

CLEANSE

Cleanse cheek to cheek with this gorgeously soothing fresh mask. A simple blend of kaolin, calamine and Turkish rose oil to delicately calm the skin and restore balance. Rosy Cheeks fresh face mask £7.50 , Lush, Swansea

Gel Nail Polish In ‘Pistacio’ Holographic Top Coat £2.99 , New Look, Swansea

MAKE A STATEMENT

GOLDEN

HUE

Curl Curl Curl Curling Mascara, £4. George at Asda, Gorseinon

ALL IN THE EYES

WHAT LIES BENEATH

Saturate lips in sumptuous colour with Elizabeth Arden’s Lip Oil Trio Set. Delivering a slick of luscious colour, each tinted lip oil is infused with five precious oils fits. £32, Debenhams, Swansea

28 swansealife.co.uk

Hydration is everything when it comes to eyes, so this should help with a tint to brighten underneath too: £38, Kiehl's, Swansea

Gradual G low Tann ing Lotion £4.99, Ne w Look, S wansea

Look your best for your biggest day.... Excited for that big day? Want to look and feel the best you can? Well here at InSkin @The Sun Lounge we can help you by removing any unwanted wrinkles, help you get rid of those age telling lines and give your skin a new lease of life to feel brand new... Free your skin of imperfections with numerous treatments with a Harley Street trained, qualified nurse available during salon opening hours.

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HAIR & BEAUTY

Makeover! W ITH

L ARA

JOHNSON

Stylist & salon owner Lara Johnson shares her tips in her monthly column.

Colour statement Model: Abi Garlick Occupation: Student and Model

ABI SAYS... I have had long hair for ages which I bleach. The problem I have is that firstly I’m just a bit fed up of the look, but I also have lots of breakage but don’t want to go to short and really want to keep it as long as I can. I love what the team have done. I have had layers put through, which has evened it all up and makes it so much easier to style and do stuff with. I also love the colour, I wanted to keep it light but wanted something interesting and different but without being to extreme.

LARA JOHNSON LIFESTYLE SAYS... We work to the ethos that the hair has to be an accessory. The style should compliment not only the look, but also the lifestyle of the person who is wearing it. Abi has a softness to her which we wanted to compliment, we feel that Abi suited being light but the whole style was a bit flat both in shape and colour. We started with the cut and created a shape that didn’t loose any perimeter length but created shape and movement within the haircut. We then coloured Abi’s hair working with metallic tones layered on top of each other to help create texture and interest. To finish we went for a dressing that Abi can keep plenty of length but also show off the layers with some movement that was created with ghd stylers

30 swansealife.co.uk

After...

Before...

Step by step... The Soft side waterfall plait

For a casual but confident spring time look try a Soft Side waterfall Plait. This versatile look lends itself to a stroll along our beaches or a date night on the town. Because it is such a versatile look it is a great one to master for lots of different occasions Difficulty level: Medium Ideal hair length: Long Assistance needed: No What you need: • Brush • Your favourite tool for creating movement • Hairspray • Hair band (clear or colour of your hair)

After...

Before...

Brush through your hair to get rid of any knots, then section and create movement with a heated tool. Allow to cool and brush out to loosen and relax the look

Take a diagonal section from your natural parting and start a classic three stranded plait. As you work diagonally down the head only plait in the hair from the top section. Don’t bring in the bottom section as it will be to formed and become a scalp plait

Continue the plait working downwards to the opposite side. When all the hair has been used secure with a band. When the band is secure wrap around a section of hair and secure with spray

swansealife.co.uk 31

HAIR & BEAUTY

REAL WOMEN, WINNING LOOKS W ITH

C H R I S

H O W E L LS

Swansea based International Make Up Artist and current winner of the National Federation of Hairdressing’s Welsh Make Up Artist of the Year award, Chris Howells, gives a Swansea woman a new look.

After...

MEET LAURIE... This Months “Real Life” makeover is with the gorgeous Laurie, owner of LA Candy beauty salon in Gorseinon. Laurie was looking for a modern up-to-date look that would really help to make her eyes pop. Laurie’s skin is in great condition, being neither too oily nor dry. I started Before... preparing Laurie’s skin with a spritz of Deciem Hylamide Hydration mist. Next I added a few drops of my favourite Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse nourishing oil. Finishing with Rodial Bee Venom Day Cream and Eye Serum To help create an incredible complexion I applied Cover Fx Calming Primer into which I mixed a single drop of Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight. Then I applied a small amount of Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation with the Cover FX Liquid Foundation Brush to the areas that needed a little cover. Next I used NARS Soft Matte concealer to the under eye area. To add a little extra depth to the complexion I took Cover FX total cover cream foundation in a colour 5 shades deeper than Laurie’s skin but with the same undertone. Using the same foundation brush I blended this under the cheekbones, to the temples and under her jawline, ensuring a perfect blend with no tell-tale stripes or ashy-ness. On the eyes I used NARS eye primer then using a soft brush I applied an orange tone from my Juvias Place Magic Palette, Blending it over the lid then sweeping it out to the corners. Next I took a deeper red/orange tone from the same palette, concentrating on the crease and the outer corners of the eye. Then I used a metallic gold colour again from the magic palette and used this in the centre of the eye creating a spotlight effect. I swept the orange along the lower lash line and then followed with the red tone but keeping this tight to the lashes. Once this was complete I used Eyeko Liquid Liner to create a great feline flick to Laurie’s eyes. I then took a black kohl pencil into the lower waterline to complete the liner. Once the eye was complete I took the latest Cover FX launch, Glitter drops in Mirage, I dabbed this over the gold I had used earlier to give an amazing pop. Then I followed with Lash Unlimited False Lashes in DBL3. Brows were enhanced with TouchinSOl Brow Expert Bar and I used this to help feather in a natural shape. A little setting powder was used in the centre for longevity and then I took a little of the calming primer and a few drops of Moonlight and applied this to the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupids bow and also on the collarbone and shoulders. Lips were dressed with a new Chanel lip liner in Natural and Lipstick in Cecile. For the hair I used the Tamara Ecclestone range of products called SHOW, Using volumising mousse before blow drying and the finishing spray as a final flexible hold. The finished look looks sophisticated but very pretty and on trend. 32 swansealife.co.uk

WIN

Your very own spring makeover with Chris!

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

FO O D B E N E F ITS

the difference

e all know vitamins are good for our health, and that we need a varied diet rich in colourful fruit and veg if we want to reap its antioxidant and immune-boosting properties.

But did you know ascorbic acid – aka victamin C – can work wonders when applied to your skin too? With its incredibly beneficial effects on skin cells, it can help create firmer-looking and feeling skin by improving collagen synthesis. “Collagen is a tough, fibrous protein that is relatively inflexible and very strong. It supplies the basic framework that gives your skin its form, firmness, and strength, while elastin provides flexibility,” explains renowned dermatologist Dr Gary Goldfaden. “Overall, the amount of new collagen your skin produces declines

Experts say putting vitamin C directly on our faces can have an impact on tired skin. Katie Wright finds out the details

with age, while the rate of its destruction increases. Fortunately, topical vitamin C has been proven to help stimulate collagen synthesis. It also helps block the production of enzymes that break down collagen, making it one of nature’s most effective anti-ageing nutrients.” Why not just pop a multivitamin every morning then? “Applying vitamin C to the skin is 20 times more effective than ingesting it orally,” says plastic surgeon Dr Marc Ronert, director of Image Skincare. “When topically applied, vitamin C supports and strengthens skin.” Brighter, firmer skin with fewer dark spots – who doesn’t want that? And if you really want to supercharge your complexion, a twice-daily approach is best, to ensure it’s working its magic ‘round the clock.

TRIED & TESTED: Arbonne’s RE9 Advanced anti-ageing range Lisa Walsh tests Arbonne’s RE9 vegan beauty products and notices fading lines after just a few days Six steps for six days and my skin felt visibly rejuvenated, softer yet firmer looking. Vitamin C is known to boost collagen production but the extra star ingredient of the RE9 Advance range is Orange stem cells combined with peptides and botanicals. The stem cells improve radiance and firmness while minimising wrinkles simply by conditioning the skin. Step one is a Smoothing Facial Cleanser (£36). Mixing two pumps of the creamy, pearly-white formula with a little water washed away the days make-up and left my skin feeling extra fresh. Next came a Regenerating Toner (£32) to minimise pore size. After spraying a few spritzes on my hands I rubbed it all over my face. This, I’m told, prepares the skin for the Intensive Renewal Serum (£52), which holds in moisture to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles – a key product in the range.

34 swansealife.co.uk

The first time I squeezed the serum pump I was surprised by the colour of the formula, which was muddy, but it soon soaked away and my skin felt fantastic and smooth afterwards. Step four involves a Corrective Eye Cream (£49), dabbed around the eyes and, step five, a gold star Night Repair Cream (£75) with more collagen-supporting ingredients. This is replaced by step six – a Restorative Cream (£55) – in the same morning ritual. Each of the creams are designed to hydrate the skin, while delivering nourishment to help the skins natural reparative cycles. The creams smelt delightful and you only need one or two pumps, so the products should go a long way. By day three I could see a real difference – my skin looks more normal without makeup and on day four I received a compliment! Hubby (who doesn’t notice much) said: “Your skin looks

different – soft – has it got something to do with all those bottles on the bathroom shelf?” Genuinely surprised that there was an improvement after a few days, I’ve pledged to keep up a better skincare routine. Arbonne was born in Switzerland, in 1975, by a group of leading biochemists, biologists, and herbalists, and is comparable with the ultra premium ranges of La Prairie and Creme de la Mere, but without the price tag. It’s not available to buy on the high street, which keeps the cost down. Buy the products from South Wales consultant Helen Dando at www. helendando.arbonne.com or by calling 07813 758676. Become a PC (preferred client) for £25 a year and enjoy up to 40% off products.

Photo: www.justinharrisphotography.co.uk

BRIAN BROWN SALON MODELLING & MANAGEMENT AGENCY

01792 301901

1 BELLEVUE WAY • SWANSEA • SA1 5BZ

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

MEDICAL REASONS WHY YOU MIGHT BE FEELING TIRED ALL THE TIME Getting plenty of sleep but still exhausted? Liz Connor asks the experts about possible root causes of niggling fatigue.

How often do you ask yourself: “Why am I so tired all the time?” We all know that burning the midnight oil, while juggling a busy schedule, is bound to leave us feeling sluggish, cranky and craving coffee the morning after - but if you’re getting enough sleep and still suffering from constant low energy, it’s worth considering whether there might be an underlying cause, possibly a health issue. Around one in five people in the UK say they experience fatigue severe enough to impact their day-to-day routine and making it difficult to function. Since the symptoms of ongoing tiredness may be a result of lots of a variety of medical conditions, it can be difficult - but important - to identify the cause of it. With that in mind, we spoke to experts to find out the possible explanations for why you could be feeling drained, and the steps that you can take to feel re-energised.

1. Iron-deficiency anaemia Iron-deficiency anaemia is a condition where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in red blood cells, and around four million people in the UK are estimated to suffer from it. “People with anaemia can have a general lack of energy or tiredness, but also feel weak, faint or dizzy,” explains Dr Davina Deniszczyc, GP and medical director at Nuffield Health. “In severe cases, shortness of breath, pale complexion, brittle or dry nails and a sore and dry mouth and gums may develop.” Women are more at risk of developing it, as around a third are thought to be low in iron due to heavy periods. A simple blood test can be done by your GP to detect anaemia, and iron supplements are typically prescribed, along with a diet of iron-rich foods (these include green, leafy vegetables, as well as meat and beans). “It’s really important to get an early diagnosis, as left untreated, anaemia can impact your immune system, making your more susceptible to illness or infection,” says Dr Deniszczyc.

2. Coeliac disease Lethargy can also be a warning sign that something is wrong with your gut. It’s estimated around one in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease (many of whom are yet to be diagnosed), a lifelong autoimmune disorder where consuming even the smallest amount of gluten triggers damaging - and potentially serious - reactions in the small intestines. Pain and digestive problems are also common symptoms. “If you have coeliac disease, your immune system reacts to wheat, barley or rye by attacking the lining of your intestine,” explains Dr Deniszczyc. “If your GP thinks you may be coeliac, a blood test is usually the first step towards a confirmed diagnosis. There’s no cure but the condition can be managed with a strict gluten-free diet.” 36 swansealife.co.uk

3. Dehydration The solution for feeling more sprightly could be as simple as drinking more water. “Dehydration is no small matter; it can cause fatigue, lower back pain, bags under the eyes and anxiety, to name just a few symptoms,” says Emma Thornton, a nutritionist speaking on behalf of A.Vogel. “In fact, a group of scientists from the University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory found even mild dehydration, as a result of our ordinary daily activities, can alter a person’s mood, energy levels and memory function. As a good rule of thumb, aim to drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day.”

4. Chronic fatigue syndrome This rare but debilitating condition, also known as CFS or ME, is believed to affect 0.4% of the population, and causes debilitating fatigue that comes on quickly and can severely impair your ability to function. “Chronic fatigue syndrome can cause severe tiredness that’s not relieved by rest or sleep,” says Dr Deniszczyc. “Other symptoms can include aching joints and muscles, loss of memory or concentration, gastric problems and disturbed sleep.” Since the symptoms are similar to many other conditions, it can be difficult to

diagnose, but your GP might carry out a number of tests to rule out other conditions, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis, before making a diagnosis. CFS patients are usually offered graded exercise therapy (GET) as a treatment - a structured exercise programme that aims to gradually increase how long you can carry out a physical activity.

5. Depression A knock to your mental health can take a severe toll on your quality of sleep and energy levels, and depression can deplete your brain of serotonin, which helps regulate your internal body clock. “Everyone can feel sad, tired or experience problems sleeping at times in our lives,” says Dr Deniszczyc. “Normally, these incidents of low mood will ease after a few days or weeks, but if your feelings begin to interfere with daily activities, it might be time to talk to your doctor as you could be experiencing depression.” Your GP can discuss treatment options with you too, such as therapy, counselling and/or anti-depressants, while regular exercise and a healthy diet can also help.

7. Underactive thyroid Hypothyroidism - or an underactive thyroid - affects one in 70 women and one in 1,000 men, according to the NHS. “The thyroid gland produces hormones, which primarily regulate the body’s metabolism and digestive system, so if the thyroid gland is underactive, these hormones are not being produced as effectively,” explains Thornton. “This is why weight gain, as well as lethargy, are extremely common.” Key warning signs are tiredness, brain fog, thinning hair and feeling cold constantly. If concerned, discuss your symptoms with your GP, who can arrange a blood test. Treatment for underactive thyroid involves taking hormone replacement tablets to raise your thyroxine levels. While daily medication is usually required, with proper treatment, you should be able to lead a normal, healthy and fatigue-free life.

6. Poor diet If your diet’s very poor, or you’re simply not eating enough, lack of nutrition could be making you tired - and too much sugar can have the same impact. “Making some simply dietary changes could make a big difference to energy levels,” says Thornton. “Thinking about the amount of sugary foods and fizzy drinks you are consuming, plus cutting down on stimulants such as caffeine will help. Watch out for erratic eating patterns too - eating heavy meals late at night may impact your sleep quality, which can result in food cravings and weight gain longer term.” swansealife.co.uk 37

HEALTH & WELLBEING

ASK

DR. CHARLOTTE

Focus on: IBS It affects one in five people but few will talk about it. So what can you do if you have irritable bowel syndrome? Here’s Dr Charlotte Jones’ guide to spotting the condition and helpful suggestions on how to stop it ruining your life Many people think that IBS isn’t a serious condition. But for those that have it, know how significantly it can affect their lives. What is IBS? It is a constellation of symptoms that can occur from the muscles working out of sync OR nerve stimulus from brain affecting bowel muscles OR after a nasty bout of infection where the protective gut bacteria are removed OR in response to a gut infection. Symptoms can vary from person to person as well as in severity and duration. Some people can identify certain things that trigger a flare up e.g. stress, certain foods etc but many have no obvious cause / link.

This month Sketty GP and Swansea Life doctor Charlotte Jones, focusses on keeping your heart healthy.

38 swansealife.co.uk

What are the symptoms? Symptoms can include tummy pain, bloating, abdominal cramps, urgency to go to the toilet, mucus from the back passage, diarrhea and constipation. Some people my notice other symptoms such as mucus from the back passage, excess wind,feeling sick, incontinence and urinary symptoms.

condition could be causing your symptoms, they will recommend some investigations such as blood tests, a magic eye of the bowel or scans to rule out other conditions. How is it treated? Managing your symptoms is the key and will vary according to your symptoms. Spasms or bloating - buscopan and peppermint oil capsules can help. Constipation - a high fibre diet with plenty of fluids can help although some people need laxatives. . Loose stools - reducing high fibre foods can help as can a medication such as loperamide which again slows down the bowels. Excess wind some people find charcoal biscuits or windeeze helpful. If these things don’t help then your GP may prescribe other medications to help you manage your symptoms +/- refer you to a gastroenterologist

Are there symptoms that could suggest something more serious? The symptoms for IBS can be found in other conditions. But if you have: an unexpected change in your bowel habit OR blood or mucus from the rectum OR black tarry stools OR anal pain OR sense of incomplete emptying of the bowel OR a stomach mass OR difficulty swallowing OR weight loss OR significant tiredness (particularly if you also have shortness of breath or palpitations) then you should get your symptoms checked out by your GP.

What else can I do? Keeping a diary of symptoms can help paint a clearer picture of the symptoms you have as well as possibly identifying triggers / causes. Eat healthily and regularly – limit tea / caffeine / fizzy drinks. Exercise and try to minimise stress Some people find probiotics very helpfu. They are readily available from supermarkets / health food shops in various format. If they don’t in that time then there is probably little benefit in continuing them If you develop any of the worrying symptoms outlined above then make sure you see your GP and don’t just assume it is your irritable bowel syndrome.

How is it diagnosed? Very often the history of symptoms and an examination will lead to your doctor diagnosing IBS. Sometimes, if you doctor feels another

Where can I get more information about irritable bowel syndrome? I signpost patients to the IBS network where there is lots of really useful advice – www.theibsnetwork.org

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SWIM SHOP F

ROM swimsuits to wetsuits, Sharks Swim & Triathlon Shop caters for all your swimming and triathlon needs – and their specialist fitting service can’t be beaten, writes JENNY WHITE.

Whether you’re a serious triathlete or need to kit your child out for their first swimming lesson, Sharks Swim Shop in Sketty is the place to go. The shop was opened in July last year by sisters Leah Morgan and Louise Snelgrove with the aim of providing expert advice and fitting, and making the very best swim and triathlon brands easily available under one roof. Sharks Swim Shop is so unique that people travel from all over the UK to get fitted for wetsuits and other equipment. A poor-fitting wetsuit can cause a whole range of problems, from a lack of insulation to decreased buoyancy – and this can affect sporting performance. Online reviewers have heaped praise on Leah and Louise for the expert advice they give to ensure each customer achieves the perfect fit. “Looking and buying on the internet will never compare to the support and superb service we gained,” writes one. It helps that Leah has decades of experience in swimming and triathlon.

Besides running the shop she runs Swansea Sharks Swim School, Development Club and Trisharks, which currently has around 700 members across the three. She recently won a Halifax Just Giving award for decades of voluntary work with the club, which can take members from total beginners up to competition level in both swimming and triathlon. The shop started life as a way to provide equipment to club members, then grew into an online store before becoming a physical

shop. The sisters have been delighted at how the business has grown, especially as Leah left her job with social services in order to dedicate her time to running the shop. Sharks Swim Shop sells many items that are hard to find elsewhere, including dry robes, specialist training equipment and Swimzi swimming onesies. Other swimming brands include Speedo, TYR, Arena, Michael Phelps, Amanzi, Funkita, Finis, Zoggs and Maru, while triathlon brands include Huub, Zoot, BlueSeventy and Orca. Besides trisuits, the shop sells specialist running shoes, goggles and wetsuits, all designed to help you be the best triathlete you can be. Specialist equipment can also be ordered in, with no obligation to buy. The priority is simply to have happy customers. “I really love our customers, and we love seeing people getting into the sport and really getting the bug for it,” says Leah. “We want them to wear the best not just to look and feel good but to perform the best they possibly can.”

SWANSEA SHARKS SWIMMING CLUB Swansea Sharks has taught and trained thousands of Swansea children to swim. Based at Bishop Gore pool, it’s run by Leah with help from her family and a large team of teachers. Children can start from the age of three, and are taught quickly and efficiently. Classes are fully inclusive, with children with learning and physical disabilities welcome. “One of the great rewards has been seeing some of our disabled pupils progress to become teachers with us,” says Leah. As they improve, pupils are able to move up to the Swansea Sharks Development Squad (usually aged five to nine) and then to Swansea TriSharks. Based on the ability of the child this is usually from the age of around seven to nine. Lessons are 45 minutes long, which is longer than many swim schools; children in the Development Squads can attend up to three sessions a week.

After nearly 30 years of voluntary work as a swimming instructor, Leah shows no signs of slowing down.

most rewarding thing about running the club is keeping children involved in sport as they grown up.”

“I just do it for the kids because I had so many opportunities out of swimming,” she says.

While entering competitions is optional, the club’s members have an impressive track record for competing. At present, eight members have qualified for the GB Super Series triathlon, and two members were winners in the Long Course Weekend in Majorca last year. “Our kids are amazing – for example, eight members aged between 13 and 17 finished the swim in the top 15 in the Swansea Triathlon last year,” says Leah.

SWANSEA TRISHARKS Once children have progressed through Swansea Sharks and Swansea Sharks Development Squads, they can join Swansea TriSharks. Besides providing more advanced swimming sessions, the classes cover running, cycling and open water swimming. Coaches include Will Munday, a professional triathlete, and Oliver Simon, who is the Record holder of the Welsh Ironman in Tenby. “In TriSharks you can compete in triathlons and swimming competitions if you want to, but you don’t have to,” says Leah. “A unique thing about us is that we are a swimming focused triathlon club – this is because when you are young it is important to get your swimming right, because that takes years. The

Besides training children and teenagers, Tri Sharks holds two sessions per week for adults who want to improve their swimming in order to enter triathlons. They can also join in the club’s running, cycling and open water sessions. “It’s great seeing all our members progress and develop,” says Leah. “We want them to stay with the sport, and that’s what tends to happen.”

47 GOWER ROAD | SKETTY | SWANSEA | SA2 9BH T: 01792 202795 | WWW.SHARKSSWIMSHOP.COM

In association with Amigo Cycling Club

SWA NSE A

LIFE brides special

we’ve found your dress

pages of stress-free planning ideas

WOW!

‘keeping it local’

Real life brides tell us their stories

top tips, advice & inspiration

Photo by Magaela (DaWanda.com)

! s e y 32

amazing ways to

swansealife.co.uk 43

Imagine Your Wedding by the Beach COME JOIN US FOR Our first ‘Your Wedding by the Beach’ Experience Day Sunday 29th April 2018, 12:00 to 5:00PM. Voted by customers as ‘Best Wedding Coordinators,’ and ‘Best Wedding Experience’ in Wales and shortlisted as a finalist for ‘Hotel Restaurant of the Year’

Look no further… The Oxwich Bay Hotel is the wedding venue for you! Join us on Sunday 29 April 2018 and have a look at: >

Our Chestnut Room (our ceremony room), see what your own ceremony could look like on your wedding day, but of course, the details and choices are up to you!

Our Chestnut Lounge and Wedding Garden, which will be private for you before and during your ceremony and features a private guest bar.

Our exclusive marquee with unrivalled sweeping views of Oxwich Bay. We’ll show you a few ideas, but the marquee is truly a blank canvas for your own ideas and dreams! Our accommodation – we have 42 rooms available for you and your guests.

We’ll have canapés and prosecco for you and all of our guests, and you’ll have the opportunity to chat with a variety of our trusted suppliers who we work with on a regular basis, including: >

photographers

stationary

venue dressers

entertainers

menswear

bridalwear

cars

Our experienced wedding sales team, our wedding coordinators and chefs will be on hand to discuss any questions you may have.

JOIN US ON SUNDAY 29TH APRIL 2018 AND DISCOVER YOUR DREAM WEDDING BY THE BEACH!

www.oxwichbayhotel.co.uk/weddings

BRIDE

aislestyle Wow on your big day with a beautiful statement gown from one of these brilliant stores...

Laura May Bridal, Cardiff Award-winning Laura May Bridal offers the bride two beautiful boutiques in the heart of Cardiff. Both allow the opportunity to view and try on different collections from world-leading designers, so you can be sure of finding your perfect dress for your big day. 112 Crwys Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4NQ 34 Royal Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AE. Visit lauramaybridal.co.uk or ring 02920 344700.

The venue is booked, the date has been set and you know exactly how much time you have to choose that all-important wedding dress. So, let the search begin. And if any brides-to-be need some assistance to pick the shop to help make those dreams come true, here is just a small selection of some of the fabulous onesto be found right across south and West Wales. chris.peregrine@trinitymirror.co.uk 46 swansealife.co.uk

Rowberry Bridal, Swansea

Eva Ashley Bridal, Swansea

One1 Bridal, Cardiff

A team with years of experience delights in making one of the most important decisions of your life a memory you will look back on and cherish forever. The comfortable surroundings of this beautiful out-of-town boutique is just right for finding the perfect dress for the bride - and the happy couple’s mothers. Choose from an exclusive collection of designer special-occasion wear, cocktail dresses, evening wear, and bridesmaid and flower girl dresses.

This bridal wear shop understands that the memories of your bridal experience will last a lifetime, so staff always go the extra mile to make you feel special as soon as you walk through the door. Its range includes the notable Eddy K, one of the top names in Italian designer wedding dresses. From simple and romantic to full on glamour, the collections will suit any bride looking for her dream gown.

This luxurious Cardiff store stocks fashion forward bridal collections from designers around the world, and most of them, they say, are the only ones you can find in Wales. Appointments are exclusive - you enjoy the whole store to yourself and have the services of a dedicated consultant with extra special touches that ensure you and your guests feel truly pampered.

8 Dunraven Street, Tonypandy, CF40 1QE; 27 Castle Street, Swansea, SA1 1HY. evaashley.com | 1443 433355/01792 460420

16 Minister Street, Cathays, Cardiff, CF14 9JH one1bridal.com | 02920 229090.

Samantha K’s, Swansea

102 Couture, Swansea

Cariad Bridal, Swansea

Designer bridal gowns can be found at the specialist shop close to the M4. With the finest tulle, luxe lace and stunning appliqué details, the bride will exude elegance, style and sophistication on her special day.

Designer bridal gowns can be found at the 102 Couture is one of the largest prom dress, occasion wear, evening wear, pageant stores and unique bridal wear shops in South Wales. There are hundreds of dresses in stock from designers such as Jovani, JVN, Terani, Mac Duggal, Dynasty, Lore, Angel Forever and Forever Unique. It offers an exclusivity register to ensure that the same dress will not be sold to anyone else for that special occasion. Every budget is catered for, with dresses starting from £100 and payment plans to help spread the cost of your chosen gown.

Cariad Bridal has enjoyed 12 years of success and aims to find the perfect dress to help make the perfect occasion.

152-154 Port Tennant Rd, Port Tennant, Swansea SA1 8JQ. rowberrybridal.com | 01792 651028.

The multi award-winning business has been a success story since 2007 in the shape of Samantha K’s Occasionwear, Samantha K’s Bridal and Exclusively Bridesmaids. They have all undergone expansion along with the new premises in Hendy. 120 Iscoed Road, Pontarddulais, Hendy, Swansea SA4 0UN. samanthaks.co.uk | 01792 886863.

102 Eversley Road, Sketty, Swansea SA2 9DF. 102couture.com | 01792 208550.

The business has clocked up a number of awards to illustrate its excellence, including Best Bridal Wear Store in South Wales and Central Region at the Welsh Bridal Awards three years in a row. It was also adjudged Best Wedding Retailer at the Swansea Life Awards 2016 and won a Big Heart of Swansea award. 222a Oxford Street, Swansea, SA1 3BQ. cariadbridal.co.uk | 01792 461108

swansealife.co.uk 47

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Cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau

Ymwelwyr y DU yn dal i glampio Mae busnes glampio yn Sir Gaerfyrddin wedi cynyddu elw 20% ac archebion trwy’r wefan gan ddau draean yn dilyn ymgyrch marchnata ar-lein ac SEO llwyddiannus. Mae gan Fron Farm Yurts ddau iyrt, dau gaban crwn a lleoliad priodas moethus sy’n ddigon mawr i gynnal 90 o bobl. Ceisiodd Natasha Puddy-Davies, sy’n delio â’r marchnata yn ei busnes teulu, help arbenigol gan Cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau, “Roeddem yn ymwybodol bod ein presenoldeb ar-lein yn hanfodol, a rhoddodd y gweithdy sylfaen wybodaeth wych i mi ynghyd â chyngor un i un penodol ar ein camau nesaf gan ymgynghorydd busnes digidol. “Yn ogystal â gweithgarwch hyrwyddo ar-lein, rydym wedi integreiddio llwyfan archebu ar-lein, freetobook, i’n gwefan ac mae’r canlyniadau wedi bod yn anhygoel.” Sefydlwyd Fron Farm Yurts, sydd ar fferm 50 erw ei rhieni, er mwyn ennill incwm ychwanegol i’r teulu, ac ymdaflodd Natasha i’r rôl farchnata wrth iddi gydbwyso ei yrfa fel athrawes a bod yn fam i ddau fachgen 8 a 3 oed ar yr un pryd. Guy Cutler, partner Natasha, cynlluniodd ac adeiladodd yr iyrtiau . “Mae glampio’n mwynhau cynnydd sydyn mewn diddordeb gan ei fod yn cynnig rhywbeth at ddant pawb. Erbyn 2020 disgwylir y bydd dros 21 miliwn o deithiau gwersylla a glampio yn y DU. “Mae’n waith caled ond mae llawer o gymorth ar gael.” fronfarmyurts.co.uk Caiff Cyflymu Cymru i Fusnesau ei ariannu’n llawn gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Chronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop (ERDF): https://businesswales.gov.wales/ superfastbusinesswales/cy

48 swansealife.co.uk

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Superfast Business Wales

UK holidaymakers carry on glamping A Carmarthenshire glamping business has increased profits by 20% and website bookings by two-thirds following a successful online marketing and SEO campaign. Fron Farm Yurts has two yurts, two roundhouses, and a luxury wedding venue big enough to accommodate 90 people. Natasha Puddy-Davies, who looks after marketing at her family business, sought specialist help from Superfast Business Wales, “We knew our online presence was vital, the workshop gave me a fantastic base level of knowledge, complemented by one-to-one tailored advice on what to do next from a digital business adviser. “In addition to online promotional activity, we have integrated online booking platform freetobook into our website and the results have been incredible.” Fron Farm Yurts, based on her parent’s 50-acre farm, was established to provide additional income for the family, and Natasha threw herself into the role of marketing while juggling her teaching career and being a mum to two boys aged eight and three. Natasha’s partner Guy Cutler designed and built the yurts from scratch. “Glamping is enjoying a surge in interest as it caters for all people. By 2020 it’s expected there will be more than 21 million camping and glamping trips in the UK. “It’s hard work but there’s lots of help out there.” fronfarmyurts.co.uk Superfast Business Wales is a fully-funded Welsh Government and ERDF backed scheme: businesswales. gov.wales/superfastbusinesswales

swansealife.co.uk 49

Have your Picture Perfect Wedding At Norton House Hotel we offer comfort, style and service, Ensuring your special day is one to remember

Weddings l Functions l Restaurant l Accommodation

month

The Perfect Venue for all Celebrations Newly Refurbished Venue

Wedding Packages start from just ÂŁ27.50 per person Picturesque scenery on our doorstep Norton Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 5TQ

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BRIDE

past, present and future Meghan Markle’s stunning engagement ring was designed by Prince Harry himself and, as such, it’s completely unique – but you can still copy the style. Cardiff Jewellers Laings offer this band made of yellow gold and trilogy set cushion cut diamonds to represent your past, present and future together (was £7,185, now £5,000) www.laingsuk.com. Or grooms, wanting to follow Harry’s lead can use Laings Bespoke Jewellery Design service to custom-make a piece.

let the shoe fit The embellished detail on these Dune London Breanna shoes, £95, will help you walk down the aisle in style.

Stylish Alternative

PLAN AHEAD With their big day approaching, it’s time to get down to the details and what better way to get organised than with a wedding planning notebook? Busy Life Of A Bride To Be notebook is a perfect gift to help them set their ideas in stone! www. gettingpersonal.co.uk, £5.99

Do you want a fashion-forward wedding outfit that is totally on trend? How about a trouser suit. If you don’t feel comfortable in dresses and want to rock a chic look – here’s three designer suits for inspiration. Elio Abou Fayssal

your wedding

notebook HIGH STREET OPTION

Wedding dresses and their price tags can be the cause of much angst, but if you look to the internet for your big day, it’s possible to find elegant options without breaking the bank. This vintage style Springfield maxi dress from Pretty Eccentric costs just £269, www.prettyeccentric.co.uk

inspiration for brides Audrey Hepburn vibe: Lela Rose’s two-piece

TEAM BRIDE Hen party accessories are the finishing touch to a bride’s sendoff weekend away. Add fun to proceedings with these pool sliders from Primark, £5

Savannah Miller

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The King Arthur Hotel, set in beautiful grounds in the heart of the Gower Peninsular, offers the perfect wedding venue for your special day. Our lovely room â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Avalonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boasts an abundance of character and charm, with its high pitched ceiling and oak beams. The secluded courtyard and private landscaped gardens surrounding it offer ample opportunities for amazing wedding photographs.

WEDDING OPEN DAY Sunday 15th April 2018 Please book an appointment with one of our Wedding coordinators

Telephone: 01792 390775 Higher Green, Reynoldston, Gower, Swansea SA3 1AD weddings@kingarthurhotel.co.uk www.kingarthurhotel.co.uk

BRIDE

FUN TIMES Gold Hen party bunting backdrop, £4.99. www.gingerray.co.uk

Zarkoperfume Pink Molecule 090.09 Eau de Parfum, 100ml, £85, John Lewis, Cardiff

Give your shopping trips for the big day the edge with this bag: Team Bride Gift Bag; £3.50. Paperchase, Parc Morfa

NICOLETTE BY RONALD JOYCE A crepe and tulle fit and flare gown with stylish off-the-shoulder capped sleeves. Beaded lace motifs adorn the boned bodice and hemline, the dress is finished with a lace appliqued illusion back. Bridal Boutique Narbeth | 60 St James St, Narberth SA67 7DA | 01834 862780 www.bridalboutiquenarberth.co.uk

MAKE IT SPECIAL - Waterford True Love Flute, Set of 2; £84. John Lewis, Cardiff

A BRILLIANT ADDITION for your tables Champagne Bubbles; £12.50. Paperchase, Parc Morfa

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KEEP IT TOGETHER with this silver glitter clutch bag, £19.99. New Look, Swansea

Cosy toes: Lovey Dovey pink slippers, £60. Dune of London

BARGAIN BUY Wedding cake topper; £6. Primark, Swansea

IT’S THE LITTLE TOUCHES THAT MATTER Faux floral heart wreath, £12. Sainsbury’s, Swansea

fabfinds Want to know what’s wow right now? Here’s Swansea Life’s pick of the ‘must have’ treats for your wedding... peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

Get your guests out of their seats and get the fun underway... Cymru Photobooths’s magic mirror is £100 for the first hour then £76 per extra hour and it includes unlimited use personalised prints and digital copies. www.photobooths.cymru

COMPLETE YOUR LOOK Jitterbug -Silver - £25, Dune of London

Decorate your wedding gift table beautifully with a personalised wedding post box. £29.99, Gettingpersonal.co.uk

Who says bridesmaids have to wear pink Little Mistress dress, £55.

PERSONALISED vintage-inspired cake slice, part of the Mary Berry collection. £22.99. Gettingpersonal.co.uk

Gold Geo Lights, £12; Paperchase, Parc Morfa

A BEAUTIFUL gift for the bride and groom.£9.99. East of India

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plas Make your own history.........

.........in the historic surroundings of Plas Llanelly House, in the heart of Llanelli opposite the Parish church of St Elli With Fine Georgian architecture this striking venue is the perfect setting for your wedding or special event. Llanelly House is fully licensed for Marriages and Civil Partnerships. The House has a lovely choice of rooms. Or you can be Lord and Lady for a day having exclusive use of the house. Whatever your budget we endeavour to tailor make a package truly unique for you. Plas Llanelly House Bridge Street, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA15 3UF

01554 772857 Bookings@llanellyhouse.org.uk

www.llanelly-house.org.uk

BRIDE

The Vale

SWEET

A pack of cute party cups in pale pink, decorated with a stylish confetti pattern embellished with shiny gold foil. £4.99. candleandcake.co.uk

MAKE IT YOURS

Personalised silver necklace with a rose gold ring and a silver plated heart that can be engraved with initials. £19.99 Gettingpersonal.co.uk

STYLE IT FOR LESS!

Luxe for less

Use this shoe jewellery to upscale a pair of old heels: £20. Dune of London

You don’t need an A-list budget to look amazing - just these brilliant style steals!

East of India Lucky sixpence, £4.75. Daisy Park

peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

BARGAIN BUY

White Wedding clutch, £9.99. British Heart Foundation, Swansea

QUICK CHANGE

Great for an added laugh...Hen party photo props, £8. Primark, Swansea

GO FOR GOLD Meri Meri Gold Heart Plates Pack of 8, £6. Paperchase, Parc Morfa

HONEYMOON EXTRA Nude Fluffy Sliders, £9.99. TK Maxx, Parc Morfa

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Hensol Castle, the four-star luxury venue within the estate of the Vale Resort, beat off stiff competition from nine other Welsh venues across the country at the Welsh Wedding Awards 2018, held at the Exchange Hotel in Cardiff. The awards aim to celebrate the hard work and commitment of those in the wedding industry and recognise those who go above and beyond to make the big day as special as possible, such as photographers, cake designers and bands. Stephanie Metson, marketing manager at the Vale Resort, said: “Hensol Castle is a truly unique venue that newlyweds have described as ‘breath-taking’, largely because it embraces everything that a fairy tale wedding should be. Its gothic towers, majestic turrets and hand-painted vaulted ceilings set the tone for an unforgettable wedding who wouldn’t want to get married in their own private castle overlooking a 15-acre serpentine lake? “Winning the accolade of ‘Romantic Venue of the Year’ at the Welsh Wedding Awards is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the hard work of our staff across Hensol Castle and the Vale Resort. It’ll mean even more to them to know it is the public who voted too.

Keep your snaps in one place: Happily Ever After Wedding Day photo album, £14.99. Argos, Parc Morfa

Keep an eye out for this new range at Dorothy Perkins in Swansea: Bridal white V-neck, £85

A 400-year-old Grade I listed castle in the Vale of Glamorgan has been named ‘Romantic Venue of the Year’ by a national awards body that recognises excellence in the wedding sector.

“Hensol Castle has a been a labour of love that has taken more than 10 years to complete with £10 million invested into its refurbishment – the last stage being an 80-cover destination restaurant and the addition of 30 boutique bedrooms. We’re confident that the reputation it has achieved over the last two years, bolstered by its final development stage, will cement our offering as a premiere wedding destination to couples in the UK, as well as internationally.” Hensol Park, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, CF72 8JY Tel: 01443 667800 www.hensolcastle.com

Aberglasney is Wales’ most romantic wedding venue.... A

berglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire’s beautiful Tywi Valley, has a long tradition of hosting grand occasions. The historic Mansion House has been home to some of the county’s most important families and along with 10 acres of world renowned Gardens offers an elegant setting perfect for a wedding. Bespoke packages mean that no two weddings at Aberglasney are ever the same. Choose to get married in the Mansion House or in any one of a number of different outdoor locations from the Rose Garden to the Elizabethan Cloister Garden. The ‘Ninfarium’ an indoor sub-tropical garden is an intimate setting for a small wedding ceremony. Generally, Aberglasney hosts no more than two weddings each month. This means couples get all the support they need to arrange their perfect day, something very much appreciated by Aberglasney bride Fflur Thomas and her new husband Guy Lavery (pictured below in the ‘Ninfarium’.) Fflur described Aberglasney as looking like “a film set” on the day of their wedding. Mother of the bride Mrs Ann Thomas told us: “Guests were captivated by the venue. Aberglasney really is a magical place and a wonderful venue for a wedding.”

As one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s top 10 formal gardens in the United Kingdom, nowhere rivals Aberglasney as a setting for a marquee reception. Couples are welcome to source their own suppliers, but a dedicated venue manager will be happy to provide you with a list of highly recommended individuals and companies who will provide a standard of service befitting of the venue. This includes marquee hire, caterers, photographers and florists. The marquee site, a manicured lawn with views of the Pool Garden and Mansion House beyond, is large enough to accommodate receptions of up to 250 people for a seated wedding breakfast and up to 300 people for an evening party. If you’re celebrating on a smaller scale why not enjoy afternoon tea in the Mansion House or in the Pool Garden Tearooms.

For more information on wedding ceremonies or receptions at Aberglasney email: weddings@aberglasney.org call: 01558 668998 or visit the website: www.aberglasney.org

BRIDE

choose your wedding shoes

killerheels! They’re seriously sexy, they’ll make your legs look long and sleek and spectacularly slender. These are wedding shoes that your groom and indeed everyone in the room will love! Make a statement on your big day with killer heels. peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

Collection shoes, £20. M&S, Swansea

Dune London, £250

Silver Low Heel Sandals £25.99, New Look, Parc Morfa

Nude Sandals; £16. F&F, TescoExtra, Parc Fforestfach

No 1 Jenny Packham, £99. Debenhams, Cardiff.

PollyMcGeary. silver glitter shoeclips,. £20 www. etsy.com

White feather sandal, £14. Primark, Swansea

Nude asymetric sandal, £55. Lipsy Dune ivory shoe stunners, £20. Majestie, £99. Dune of London

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BRIDE

Kate Taylor & Dr Adam Crandon-Lewis Pharmacist Kate Taylor and Dr Adam Crandon-Lewis from West Cross were determined to go ‘ local’ when it came to their big day supporting a string of local suppliers and businesses in the process... peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

Where did you get married? At All Saints Church in Mumbles. My family has been attending the church since I was a child so it was really special to have the service there. How did you choose your venue? We knew All Saints was the perfect venue for our ceremony and so looked for reception venues in the Gower area. We both fell in love with Oldwalls instantly and couldn’t picture our wedding reception taking place anywhere else. What was your theme? We’d never planned on a Christmas wedding but as our wedding took place a week before Christmas we decided to run with it. My sister was my Maid of Honour and I had four close friends as my bridesmaids. It was really important to me that they all felt comfortable. We found a beautiful sequin dress that had just been produced in a burgundy colour. They all looked beautiful and so the Christmas theme continued. Photography: Nick Murray www.nickmurrayphotography.co.uk swansealife.co.uk 61

BRIDE

How did you choose your outfits? Everything fell into place really easily. We both love Mumbles and wanted to source as much of our wedding locally as possible. I tried on lots of dresses but the moment I put on my Stephanie Allin dress I knew it was the one! My mum didn’t think she would be emotional during the dress shopping process but this dress even had her in tears. It was a lovely afternoon and the entire process with Stephanie and her team was seamless from beginning to end. I could not recommend them more! I sourced all my bridal jewellery from Gill Clement in Mumbles and again would recommend Gill and her team to anyone. My dress and my jewellery was everything I could have wished for and more - I don’t think I could ever thank Stephanie, Gill and their teams enough! Adam was very much the decision maker when it came to his suit. He opted for a black suit, dinner jacket and dickie bow which we sourced 62 swansealife.co.uk

from Jones in Mumbles. Adam wanted to look different to both fathers and the groomsmen. He chose a burgundy dickie bow for the groomsmen, black for our dads and a black and gold dickie bow for himself. They all looked really smart and it’s so nice that all products were purchased locally. Your favourite moments... I always thought it was a cliche when someone said their wedding was the best day of their lives. I now totally get it! From start to finish it really was the best day!! From my mum helping me into my dress, Adams face when we arrived in the church to my father daughter dance with my dad...I’d love to do the whole day again! What were your favourite special touches? Adam was very decisive when it came to our cake. I wanted a Disney theme and I think the end result was amazing!! Celebration in Uplands have made our cakes for years and did a fantastic job of incorporating our ivory

THE WEDDING OF... Kate Taylor & Dr Adam Crandon-Lewis Church: All Saints Church, Oystermouth Parish Venue: Oldwalls, Gower Photographer: Nick Murray Videographer: Gemini Wedding Films Dress: Stephanie Allin Cake: Celebration Make-up: Chris Howells Hair: Rhydian Maher Salon Entertainment: Los Devitos Flowers: Daphne Furno

and gold theme with our Cinderella Castle. Adam has a one-year-old niece so she was an obvious choice for a flower girl. Her mum Sophie found the prettiest ivory and gold dress that was perfect and to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delight Isla even managed to walk down the aisle! How did you spend your honeymoon? Adam and I spent the week between the wedding and Christmas in New York. It was a perfect way to round off the wedding and get ready for Christmas. We cycled in Central Park, went ice skating and saw a Broadway show. The week was topped of by cocktails in the Plaza, a visit to the Rockerfeller Christmas Tree and a Billy Joel concert in Madison Square Gardens. We arrived home on December 24 and went back to All Saints Church for their Christmas Eve service. It was so nice to be back there and reflect on the wedding. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think of a better way to start our married life together! swansealife.co.uk 63

Where the warmth of home meets 5-star indulgence...

Bit-by-bit and with careful attention, Crug Glâs has become more than a home and a farm for the Evans family. It’s now a luxurious 5-star country house and restaurant, drawing guests from all over the world as well as locals who count it as one of the very best restaurants and places to eat in Pembrokeshire. When you choose Crug Glâs for your special day, it’s all yours. You have exclusive use of the house and grounds. Think of it as yours for a day or more.

crugglâs country house & restaurant

Crug Glâs Country House & Restaurant | Nr. St. Davids | Pembrokeshire | SA62 6XX Tel: 01348 831 302 | www.crug-glas.co.uk

fairytale YOUR

BY THE SEA

For a perfect setting for your dream wedding look no further than The Cliff Hotel & Spa. Exclusive use of our wedding suite & ballroom for up to 160 guests (250 for evening reception) with exclusive bar & terrace with simply stunning views over Cardigan Bay. For more details get in touch with our Wedding Team.

WEDDING PACKAGES FROM

Â£3,499

BESPOKE WEDDING PACKAGES ALSO AVAILABLE FOR 2019 AND 2020

The Day Before...

The Rooms...

The Happy Couple...

The Reception...

The Day After...

BRIDE

DAN PACKER & RACHEL ARNOLD WEDDING TELL ME MORE: The marriage of Dan Packer and Rachel Arnold who live in Sketty, Swansea WHERE: The marriage ceremony was held at St Illtyd's Church in Llanrhidian with a reception at Oldwalls in Gower Marc Smith Photography Email: marc@marcsmithphotography.com

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swansealife.co.uk 71

MANOR PARK COUNTRY HOUSE LIMITED

Get Married in a Grade II listed Manor House steeped in History Idyllic country setting just minutes from the city Centre Stunning Award Winning Landscaped Gardens Choice of Function Rooms adaptable to your requirements Experienced Staff with excellent Customer Service 5 Star Food Hygiene Rating Unrivalled record of excellence Easily Accessible Location We have an unrivalled record of Excellence in weddings, make the right choice and let the Experts host your special day

Be part of Tradition & make unforgettable memories at Manor Park

www.manorparkcountryhouse.co.uk Tel. 01792 846 999 Clydach, Swansea SA6 5NR

01792 229022 07758 119479 www.crysalisbridal.co.uk 74, High Street, Gorseinon, SA4 4BP

Stockists of • Cabotine/Zeila • Gina Barconi • True Bride • Watters

YOuR WEDDiNG YOuR WAY Allow us to be part of your perfect day. We know that your wedding day is unique and exactly that: YOURS. Our hotel is situated in the heart of Swansea City Centre and is just a 5 minute drive from the beautiful beaches and fantastic scenery that this area has to offer. With an award-winning team of Chefs, you can be certain that we are able to cater for all tastes. Be it an Intimate gathering for just close family and friends, the All Inclusive Wedding Package or the Glamorous Evening Party, we’re fully licensed to hold your Civil Marriages & Civil Partnerships. We’ll help you build a day will you never forget!

RE-DISCOVER THE DRAGON HOTEL TODAY...

THE DRAGON HOTEL, THE KINGSWAY, SWANSEA, SA1 5LS 01792 657100 • WEDDINGS@DRAGON-HOTEL.CO.UK • WWW.DRAGON-HOTEL.CO.UK

BRIDE

Wonderfly earrings; £135. Follie Follie, Swansea

Gem Vase Fillers, £5. Sainsbury’s, Swansea

is for

sparkle

Elaborate details will always make a dress look luxe - but you don’t have to leave it there! Look for some eye-catching accessories to shimmer and sparkle on your big day peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

Personalised Posh Totty Designs Bar Necklace; £39.99 GettingPersonal.co.uk

Silver Heeled Sandals £29.99, New Look, Swansea Bathilda bag, £75. Dune of London

Henriette embellished short bridal dress, £349. Monsoon, Swansea

Palladium Heavy D-Shaped diamond accent wedding ring, £349.99. Argos, Swansea Platinum Diamond Half Eternity ring, £2750. Beaverbrooks

Jenny Packham necklace; £20. Debenhams, Swansea Glitter heart table scatter, £3. Paperchase, Swansea

, £150 Little Mistress

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Sterling Silver & Diamond M Alphabet Charm; £140. Links of London, Swansea

STRADEY PARK HOTEL & SPA 

Exclusive Stradey Wedding package offer... Book a ‘fully inclusive’ Autumn wedding package available September, October or November 2018

for only £4000!

Our exclusive fully inclusive package includes: • Complimentary venue hire for the Ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception • White chair covers • Ceiling lights • Arrival drink, toast drink and two glasses of house wine to accompany your wedding breakfast • Choice of three canapés • Arian wedding menu (please see our Wedding pack at www.stradeyparkhotel.com/weddings) • Evening buffet (please ask for available menu option) • 20% discount (off rack rate) on accommodation for guests • Complimentary Bridal suite the night of your wedding inclusive of breakfast • One complimentary bedroom the night before the wedding

We also have an exclusive Summer wedding offer available June, July, August and September 2019 for only £6000!

A payment plan option is available with this all inclusive package. Please ask for details. Photography by Pure Creations

For further details, book a meeting with our wedding co-ordinators today and quote ‘Swansea Life’... Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, SA15 4HA | T: 01554 758171 E: weddings@stradeyparkhotel.com | www.stradeyparkhotel.com

A DESIGNER DRESS FOR EVERY BRIDE

Large variety of wedding dresses and accessories | Beautiful bridesmaid dresses | In house alterations available

Book your appointment today on 01834 862780 60 St James Street, Narbeth, SA67 7DA | www.bridalboutiquenarberth.co.uk www.facebook.com/bridalnarberth

COMING SOON OPEN DAY – SUNDAY 22 APRIL 2018 11am–4pm

CANAPES & PROSECCO

Gileston Manor, Vale of Glamorgan, CF62 4HX e: eloise@gilestonmanor.co.uk

FREE ENTRY

t: 07591 203764 www.gilestonmanor.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

Turtle Bay Not all high street restaurant chains are created equal. Some are flashy setups with mission statements but no idea what customers want . Peter Slee calls in on one that is quite the opposite.....

Oh, little Scotch Bonnet chilli, we have such a complex love affair. You sit there, all cute and joyously crimson like butter wouldn’t melt. So adorable, so much prettier than your spindly Bird’s Eye chum and that feeble bell pepper. You lure me in, every, every time. ‘Peeteeer,’ you say. ‘Order the curry shrimp and mango! How much hotter can it be than a Singapore laksa or a spicy Kerala fish curry?’ The answer, of course, is considerably! Although this will not and cannot stop me reassessing my Scotch Bonnet tolerance at least 10 times a year, because — and here’s the chilli rub — there is virtually nothing you could describe to me on a Caribbean restaurant menu that doesn’t make me drool. The mere mention of jerk calamari, peppa shrimp or grilled lobster with chilli lime butter and a red forgetful mist descends. I felt this again when new contemporary Caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay opened in Swansea’s Castle Street last autumn. The place is about five minutes’ walk from the office. . It opens for lunch and dinner, has a variety of large, six- to eight-person tables perfect for jubilant dinners with friends and, heroically, they even take bookings, so you can be certain you’ll get fed. More vitally, they serve jerk pit wings with sweet mango as a starter. They have crisp, deep-fried duck rolls on their ‘Cutters’ list. They marinate their jerk meats — chicken, pork, lamb — for 24 hours then cook them over coals. You may leave smelling slightly of a camping trip, but I can’t say I’m overly bothered. Walk in and you’re quickly overwhelmed by the atmosphere. There’s an army of attentive waiting staff scurrying around. It feels alive and convivial, the punters predominantly young and excitable and with ,the atmosphere redolent of a beach party. On a wall overlooking Castle Squre, a bank of old hi-fi speaker; murals of Bob Marley and a diva who could be Diana Ross, signs advertising ‘Take Out’ and ‘Happy Hour’ from noon-7pm and 10pm-closing time (that’s a lot of happy hours). Fairy lights strew all the windows, red, blue and green lightbulbs hang over your head from bucketshaped lanterns. At the core of operations is a mock-up of a beachside bar, open on all sides and teeming with activity, as a platoon of waiting staff flit to and fro. Punters sit perched on tall stools. The whole place buzzes with jollity, but doesn’t feel crowded. There’s an open-plan kitchen overlooking the bar and dining area. The bathrooms are constructed of corrugated iron sheeting and painted driftwood, while upturned steel drums double as hand basins. I take my hat off to the owners for the energy and detailing they’ve put into this artful scene-setting. It puts a smile on your face the minute you sit down. The formula has been working a treat in a handful of UK cities in recent years. And judging

by its packed tables whenever I walk past, it is now also a big success in Swansea too. That drinks bar which serves a mighty and seriously hewn selection of cocktails occupies a giant, central slab of the place offering mostly rum-based drinks with admixtures of banana liqueur, apricot brandy and Tia Maria. It’s all about sweetness, fruit and extra alcohol. Island Iced Tea combines rum, tequila, vodka and gin with triple sec, fresh lemon and Pepsi, a blend which promises to end your evening right there. My Reggae rum punch was made with Uncle Wray overproofed rum, fresh lime, bitters and strawberry. A lightning bolt of a drink tasting innocently of the orange and pineapple swirling in its depths. The menu is my perfect sort of list. Imaginative but comforting. Bewitching but not too bewildering. There are starters of garlic and chilli prawns, beef patties or the likes of garlic and herb flatbreads or glazed ribs. We shared a first course of those marinated jerk wings and glazed pork ribs with chicken flatbreads and sweet corn fritters with a green salad. It was all pretty quickly vacuumed up. To follow on this visit, an halloumi and mushroom burger - not very Caribbean but pretty much perfect in taste did the job for me while across the table a ‘ one pot’ , curry shrimp and mango which arrived with a decent portion of steamed rice and flatbreads and which came with an assertive kick and was nicely creamy, was another winner. I often think, while on my eating missions, that it would save me so many hours behind a PC if I could simply write: ‘We ate the lot, piggily, while chatting. Or: ‘We picked at things while scowling. Avoid.’ Sadly, the people here want more bang for her buck. Suffice to say, Turtle Bay would be the former. I wear my greedy predictability like a badge. Of course I ordered curry goat on my next visit. Of course it was a bit too hot. Of course it made my lips sting a little once I’d added some of the table sauces to it. Would I order it again with a side of sweet potato fries? Yes! In about three weeks’ time, with a side of the spiced fries and Caribbean slaw. Turtle Bay for all its everyday, high street restaurant chain credentials has some of the best Caribbean food I’ve eaten: bonfire-scented, gloriously blackened in parts while remaining moist. The place knows exactly what it is doing. We finished with Gaymanas upside down rum cake with ice cream. And I’m going back soon for the two-way chicken burger with a spicy panko crumb. Yes, I frequently can’t stand the heat, but I refuse to get out of the kitchen!

Turtle Bay | 10 Castle St, Swansea , SA1 1JF | Tel: 01792 467060

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Advertising Feature

Best places to Eat

Restaurant Guide Four great places to eat and drink

PORT TALBOT

Cafe Remos The Princess Margaret Way, Port Talbot, SA12 6QP 5FM t XXX DBGFSFNPT DPN

A family run coffee shop, restaurant and ice cream parlour at the heart of the Aberavon seafront. We listen to our customers. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve told us what you want and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll deliver superb food and drink in a spectacular setting and the warmest of welcomes. Choose from hearty cooked breakfast, Italian barista style coffee, fresh pasta, stone-based pizza, ďŹ&#x201A;ame grilled burgers, homemade deserts and ice creams. Take away food and drinks are available. Open Monday - Sunday 9am - 9pm. Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CafeRemos t $PGGFF

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Best places to Eat SWANSEA

The Smiths Arms 51-52 Neath Road, Hafod, SA1 2HR Tel: 01792 466776

Family friendly pub serving food daily. Serving for food Monday-Wednesday 12-3pm & 5-8pm, Thursday & Friday 12-8pm, Saturday 11.30-6pm Sunday carvery 12-4pm. Choice of 3 meats £6.45. Curry & Pint night every Thursday 5-8pm. Free newly refurbished function room for parties. Car park at rear of building.

MUMBLES

Chai Delicatessen & Tea Room 85 Newton Road, Mumbles, SA3 4BN • Tel: 01792 366333

Dessert Nights 5 courses of sweet delight! Just £15 per person* Dates: Thursday 19th April 2018 Thursday 24th May 2018 (*Price includes 5 courses of desserts, one hot drink or soft drink)

Call us today to book

MUMBLES

Mint of Mumbles Indian Takeaway 602 Mumbles Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 4DL Tel: 01792 368087 • www.mintofmumbles.co.uk

Now Open in Mumbles Indian takeaway serving delicious authentic cuisine using the finest spices and fresh ingredients. Delivery service available. Open Sunday - Thursday 5pm - 10pm. Friday - Saturday 5pm - 11pm. Visit us on Facebook.

FOOD & DRINK

The crofty inn

Paul Turner calls in at The Crofty Inn in Gower...and likes what he finds there

Sometimes a walk off the beaten track is required if you want to really surprise yourself. And the Crofty Inn is one such place. To find it, you need to take the road from Gowerton to Llanmorlais, alongside the stunning River Loughor estuary. Just before you reach Llanmorlais you’ll see a sign for a village called Crofty. Nestled on a little peninsula surrounded by the estuary’s tidal plains, it’s the sort of place you wouldn’t normally visit unless you lived or worked there. But visit it you must if you want to find the little treasure that is hidden away there. The Crofty Inn looks to all intents and purposes from the outside like a typical village pub. It has the trappings of one, with a bar at one side, and a lounge on the right. Inside, there is a cosy feel. You get the impression you will be looked after, but not in an overbearing way, just made to feel welcome. There are a number of tables in the lounge, but well spaced out, so you feel you have some privacy if that’s what you’re after. Our host for the evening was a friendly and attentive waitress who looked after us throughout our stay. In an inn such as this, you might expect to find all the pub classics, and there is a sprinkling of them. But this is also a restaurant that wants to offer something a little different, a taste of the gourmet on the Gower. And it achieves it with some aplomb. For our starters, two of us opted for the creamy garlic mushrooms, and one for the classic prawn cocktail. We could also have opted for king prawns with ginger and spring onion, soup of the day, or bread and olives. The mushrooms were sensationally creamy, the mushrooms themselves softened to perfection, and a wonderful 84 swansealife.co.uk

garlicky flavour to it all, and my daughter had similarly good things to say about her prawn cocktail. For main course there is a wide and varied menu, everything from steak to chicken and fish. There are also speciality pancakes topped with sauce and grilled cheese and with various fillings, including pork, sherry and wild mushroom, vegetable, and seafood. And for those who like to share, or just desire a few options to choose from, there are tapas, including welsh beef meatballs in tomato sauce, sweet chilli prawns, belly pork with Stowford Cider reduction, and caramelised onion and mushroom tart. We all opted for something different for our main, my wife selecting the vegetable pancake, my daughter choosing the scampi, and for me, salmon fillet. Suffice to say, everyone was in food heaven. My salmon was cooked to absolute perfection. When I cook salmon, it always ends up a little on the rubbery side. But this salmon literally melted in your mouth. And the cream sauce and prawns it came with was sublime. We were also served vegetables and chips which were equally well cooked, making this one of the best two courses I’ve had anywhere in a long time. And so to dessert... My roulade was as delicate and flavoursome as you could possibly wish for, and my wife and daughter were equally rapt with their choices, one selecting a white chocolate tart and the other a selection of three mini tarts. We left the restaurant utterly content. The Crofty Inn is a real surprise, and one well worth taking a detour for.

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The Crofty Inn | Pencaerfenni Ln, Crofty, Swansea SA4 3SW | Tel: 01792 850494 | www.thecrofty.co.uk swansealife.co.uk 85

FOOD & DRINK

Even the worst disaster chefs can learn to cook, say Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams

The Loose Women and YouTube sensations have written their first cookbook together. Ella Walker finds out more. On the front cover of Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams’ new cookbook, Disaster Chef, the Loose Women presenters are mid food fight. “That was a bad idea,” says Adams, 55, shaking her head (“That was so fun!” Sawalha, 53, shouts over her). “I really cannot recommend cold noodles in your cleavage.” But Sawalha stands by it. “In the world of Instagram, when so much of cookery is about, ‘This is what I am and you’re not; I bet you wish you were me; I’m so wonderful I could eat myself’, if that doesn’t say who we are, what does?” she asks with a cackle. This is the duo in a nutshell. Best friends for more than two decades, they chat haphazardly over one another, sniping, laughing, buoying one another up and bickering. “She drives me up the wall,” says Sawalha fondly. “She’s so condescending, patronising, interfering, domineering - ugh, she’s very - eering,” responds Adams affectionately. They’ve taken the worlds of YouTube and food by storm. Their lack of artifice, whether on telly or on their YouTube channel, is crucial, and without the latter, there’d be no cookbook. The pair are bona fide “middleaged social-media sensations” - despite their kids’ initial protestations (they have two daughters apiece). “My eldest daughter can’t stay far enough away from it, she’s wholly embarrassed and wishes I would crawl under a stone,” says Adams. 18,000 subscribers are tough to ignore though. They test products - and recently got a million hits for a video in which they tried cosmetic tape for holding your neck and face up. “It’s basically medical grade Sellotape,” says Adams with a grin - chat about everything from hair loss to alcohol addiction, and on Thursday nights, stream live from Sawalha’s kitchen. “We usually just go, ‘Oh, let’s film something’. We open the fridge, have a look and just get going, we don’t have any plan,” says London-born Sawalha. They started cooking together because “Kaye really was, there’s no doubt about it, disaster chef”, explains Sawalha, who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2007 and has a slew of her own cookbooks already. Adams pulls her phone out and scrolls to a picture of a brown flip-flop-shaped mess that is apparently ‘pitta con funghi’ (“We should definitely film people’s reactions to it,” says Sawalha, with another cackle). 86 swansealife.co.uk

They started posting Adams’ not-so appetising dishes on Facebook and realised a lot of people could relate cooking together on camera became a no-brainer, and the book brings everything together. Disaster Chef, they say, is about the ‘building blocks’ of cooking “I’m not cheffy at all, I’m only a home cook. I’ve never done caramel baskets or anything, but Kay made me realise that not everyone knows what it means when you say, ‘Fry the onions until they’re transparent’,” adds exEastEnders actress, Sawalha. The kitchen, she says, is her happy place. “My husband will be like, ‘You’ve had a really hard day, don’t be silly, we’ll get a takeaway’. No! I’ve had a really stressful day, so I want to cook!” she says. “But just because I can cook doesn’t mean I want to be using 20 different ingredients and spending two hours in the kitchen every night - I don’t, I want to bang it on the table and I want everyone to shut up and eat it.” *Nadia And Kaye Disaster Chef by Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams, photography by Mark Adderley, is published by DK, priced £20. Available now.

How to make Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams’ pea and bacon soup This is a super-handy recipe to have up your sleeve says Nadia Sawalha, as “everything comes out of the cupboard or freezer”. “Bet you wish you weren’t a veggie, Kaye,” she quips to Kaye Adams (the duo feature this recipe in their new book, Nadia And Kay Disaster Chef). “Actually, it’s just as nice without bacon,” Adams replies, “and your arteries will thank you for it.” Here’s how to whip it up, bacon or no bacon...

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

30g unsalted butter 4 spring onions, chopped 500g frozen petits pois 500ml vegetable stock, plus extra if needed 1tbsp lemon juice, or to taste Pinch of sugar, or to taste Salt and freshly ground white pepper 6 rashers of smoked streaky bacon (optional)

simmer for about five minutes, or until the peas are tender.

Se zingrve thi wit y sou s h p bre crusty ad.

3. Using a blender or a hand-held blender, whizz until smooth (only half-fill the blender and be careful, as hot soup scalds). Add more stock if you’d like a thinner soup. 4. Stir in the lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper, then taste and adjust all these seasonings to taste.

Method:

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a low heat. Add the spring onions and cook until softened but not coloured.

5. Grill the bacon (if using) until nice and crisp. You can do this ahead of time and keep it on a piece of kitchen paper, so it stays crisp.

2. Tip in the petits pois and stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and

6. Ladle the soup into four warmed bowls and crumble over the crispy bacon.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE FINEST FOOD FROM

TURKEY

For the very best Turkish food, all made fresh using the finest local ingredients, The Turkish Kitchen is hard to beat – and the welcome and surroundings are wonderful too, writes JENNY WHITE. From the moment you walk into The Turkish Kitchen you know it’s something special: first, there’s the glorious smell of food sizzling on the charcoal grill; then there’s the sheer range of food, all neatly displayed in glass cabinets: countless different types of kebab, fat green peppers threaded on skewers, home-made sauces and a colourful array of salads, all freshly made on site. Behind the counter, the chefs are at work at the grill, or carving meat from the sizzling doner gyros, which are also all home-made rather than bought in. Better still, there’s an in-house baker busily making fresh breads for eating with kebabs, dipping and making into pides (Turkish pizzas). The restaurant itself is spacious and colourful, decorated with traditional Turkish arts and crafts. Tables are well

spaced, and service, led by owner Mehmet, is exceptional. “My priority is making my customers happy,” he says. “I want them to feel as though they are being welcomed into my home.”

make everything perfect.” The proof is on the plate: the kebabs are juicy and tender, infused with the smoky flavour of the charcoal grill; the salads burst with lemon, garlic and fresh herbs and spices, and the breads are a world away from the bought-in versions you get in some restaurants. With ingredients sourced from local suppliers, there is no stinting on freshness or quality. “We’re also pleased to be supporting other local businesses,” says Humza.

Mehmet opened the restaurant in July, and has over 25 years’ experience running restaurants in Turkey and the UK. He’s very proud of the team he has built here, which includes manager and head of operations Humza Zaman and outstanding Turkish chef Okkes Turk. “Okkes is a very experienced chef and he’s doing a great job here,” says Humza. “He really takes care to

Besides kebabs and mezze such as hummous, tabbouleh and dolmades, the restaurant offers an excellent selection of soups (typically lentil, chicken and steak) and seven different types of casserole, including kleftico (oven baked lamb shank with mixed vegetables), tavuk guvek (diced chicken breast cooked with tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, peppers, almonds, herbs and onions); mousakka; and seafood casserole.

Vegetarians and vegans are also very well catered for. Choices include falafel; guvec (a vegetarian casserole); vegetable kebabs and cheese pides. A popular choice for meat eaters is the selection of yogurt dishes, such as sarma chicken beyti (spicy marinated minced chicken with garlic, cooked on the charcoal grill and served with rice).

“The yogurt has a wonderful cooling effect and really brings out the flavour of the meat,” says Humza. Washed down with freshly made juices and smoothies, this is food that feels healthy as well as indulgent. It’s hardly surprising that the restaurant has already gained plenty

of loyal customers, not only in the restaurant itself but also through take-away services including Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats. When it comes to dining in-house, the restaurant’s 100 seater capacity means it can cater easily for large groups as well as individual diners. “We cater for events such as graduations, birthday parties and social gatherings,” says Humza. The restaurant’s success is evident in its online reviews. Comments on TripAdvisor include “Great service, amazing food,” “food gets better every time,” and “if there's a better value for money deal in Swansea I'd be very surprised.” Mehmet is delighted with the feedback. “I like to think we create a really comfortable, welcoming atmosphere here and it’s good to see we have so many repeat customers,” he says.

21 High Street | Swansea | SA1 1LF T: 01792 650444 | www.swanseaturkishkitchen.com www.facebook.com/turkishkitchen1

SATU R

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ST AP RIL 1 2 Y DA

TICKETS

£10

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the only way to learn more about wine is to drink more! Luckily, Swansea’s biggest ever wine, craft beer and artisan food tasting is coming to Unit Nineteen in Little Winds Street on Saturday 21st April! With over 100 wines to taste from some of the most prestigious wineries from around the world, 8 local and international breweries and artisan food stalls showcasing their produce, Swansea International Wine Fair promises to be the hottest ticket in town for wine and food lovers!

90 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 4QF 01792 644688 www.ndjohn.co.uk

Amongst the confirmed exhibitors are Cloudy Bay from New Zealand, Yalumba, and d’Arenberg from Australia, Louis Roederer and Moet & Chandon Champagne, Tiny Rebel Brewery, Gower Brewery, Little Valley Bakery and Mumbles Pate Co. Many more exhibitors will be announced soon!

Tickets are just £10 and are available from ND John Wine, 90 Walter Road, Swansea or online from www.ndjohn.co.uk/winefair (£1 postage charge applies) Strictly over 18’s only!

TIDE-DESIGN.CO.UK

AFTERNOON

TEA

at The Tea-Room Bar Saint James

Traditional Afternoon Tea in our luxurious newly opened Tea Room served on bone china with a choice of over 15 loose leaf teas and a selection of savouries, cakes and pastries freshly baked by our chef. Booking in advance is essential please call us on 01792 462873 or email info@saintj.co.uk

w w w. s a i n t j . c o . u k

FOOD & DRINK

Morgans Hotel

Grey, Hilton

places you can drink bottomless prosecco in Wales

Bottom's up! These bars and restaurants will keep pouring the fizz until the clock runs out mark.rees@trinitymirror.com

The premise is simple, and delightfully British (actually they've been doing it in New York for years, but let's leave that aside): brunch with bottomless booze. Yes, really!

Lorenzo’s

More enlightened eateries have been offering these set price deals - which form the perfect basis for civilised stag dos, boozy day dates or any other afternoon activity where you might just want to let your hair down a little for years now. But recently , a whole spate of established restaurants onj our own doorstep have caught on too. Here, Mark Rees checks out some of the best brunches in South and West Wales that offer non-stop top ups.

1. Morgans Hotel, Swansea Morgans Hotel in Swansea hold regular bottomless prosecco lunches. You can drink as much fizz - including a rosé prosecco - as you like for 90 minutes, plus a two-course lunch for £27.95. Where: Somerset Place, Swansea SA1 1RR Contact: Morgans Hotel / 01792 484848 Diablo’s

2. Grey, Cardiff Grey, the contemporary restaurant and lounge inside Hilton Cardiff, serve up a bottomless brunch, with free-flowing prosecco for 90 minutes. It includes two courses for £25, and is available Sundays to Thursdays for £25, and on Saturdays for £28. Where: Hilton Cardiff, Kingsway, Greyfriars Rd, Cardiff CF10 3HH Contact: Grey / 029 2064 6400

92 swansealife.co.uk

3. LORENZO’S, CARMARTHEN

Old Havana

Fancy a little tapas with your fizz? Then head to Lorenzo’s in Carmarthen between Wednesday and Saturday at 1pm, 3pm or 5pm where tapas and bottomless prosecco is served for two hours. It costs £23, and needs to be booked in advance. Where: Nott Square, Carmarthen SA31 1PQ Contact: Lorenzo’s / 0798 900 1000

4. Diablo’s, Swansea Diablo’s in SA1 have a prosecco night every Friday between 5pm and 10pm. The bubbly comes with a sharing platter, and you can stay for two and a half hours. It costs £27.95 per person, and you need to book in advance. Where: Unit 1, Altamar, Kings Road, Swansea SA1 8PP Contact: Diablo’s / 01792 457000

Las Iguanas

5. OLD HAVANA, SWANSEA You can get a bottomless brunch, along with bottomless prosecco and cocktails to wash it down with at Swansea’s newest Cuban bar. The “full Cuban breakfast” at Old Havana includes eggs flamenco and stacked pancakes with a Cuban fruit medley. It costs £15 for two hours, and is available on Sundays by booking in advance. Where: 1 York Street, Swansea SA1 3LZ Contact: Old Havana / 01792 464111

6. Las Iguanas, Swansea Pop along to Las Iguanas on a Sunday between 11am and 5pm, and you can tuck in to a starter, a main course, and drink unlimited prosecco, or Brahma beer if you prefer.

Quay Three

It costs £24.95 a head, and the two-hour slots need to be booked in advance. Where: Wind Street, Swansea. SA1 2AH Contact: Las Iguanas /01792 930565

7. Quay Three, Swansea Got that Friday feeling? Start the weekend a day early with 90 minutes of non-stop bubbles at Quay Three, who offer bottomless prosecco between noon and 4pm. It costs £22.95 for two courses, or £25.95 for three courses, and booking is essntial. Oh, and they also have a ‘push for prosecco ‘ button . Where: Trawler Road, Swansea SA1 1YH Contact: Quay Three / 01792 462251

Verve 37

8. Verve 37, Swansea Verve 37 in Swansea is home to the “Prosexy bottomless banquet.” That means two and a half hours of eating - and maybe more importantly, drinking - as much prosecco as you want. It costs £37.95 per person and is available every day. But booking beforehand is must. Where: 37 Uplands Crescent, Uplands, Swansea SA2 0NP Contact: Verve 37 / 01792 643701

swansealife.co.uk 93

THE FOUNTAIN INN EAT • DRINK • SLEEP

Delicious Home Cooked Food Served Tues - Saturday from 12pm Lunchtime Special Sunday Lunches Parties Catered for Bed and Breakfast (Book online)

OPEN BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY BEST INN

2 Course Lunchtime Special only £8.95 Tues - Sat 12pm - 5pm

BEST PUB & BAR

(Bookings advisable)

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OPEN

SWANSEA

HOURS

Oxford Street 01792 654081

Skewen 01792 817010

Briton Ferry 01639 823612

Junction 47 01792 898655

Carmarthen Road 01792 579974

Fabian Way 01792 641225

ADVERTISING FEATURE

NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME Leading Home Improvement Specialist Securahome is showcasing new ways to upgrade your home at its newly refurbished Swansea showroom. The family firm, which has carried out more than 3,000 projects across South Wales, prides itself on offering the latest and best products in its field.

breaking, home improvement products on display include five conservatories and orangeries, two of which have solid roofs.

Some of the ground-

The solid roofs are

transforming what was once a seasonal space into a year-round room. High-quality insulation means they have the same thermal properties as a traditionally constructed roof, and they can be retro-fitted to an existing conservatory. In the Gorseinon showroom, there are fullyfurnished garden-rooms constructed with both a traditional looking, tiledeffect roof as well as a sleek, modern, grey solid roof.

The rooms also showcase clever, super-insulated loggia columns that not only boost the thermal properties of a conservatory, but allow for stunning floor-to-ceiling windows to create a real ‘wow’ factor! Another popular product to transform the appearance of your home is sleek aluminium windows and doors. Dubbed the ‘architectschoice’ due to their contemporary appeal, the slim frames of these

products create a modern look and can be an instance ‘facelift’ to your home. For classic homes there are hardwood and ‘Heritage’ UPVC windows and doors that carry all of the hallmarks of traditional joinery. Nigel Hocking of Securahome said that the company was proud lead the way on home improvements:

“Whether its new windows and doors or a home extension, our aim is to give customers the best possible quality, both in products and installation. “It’s a source of great pride that 70 per cent of our business comes through recommendation and we are hugely excited, 24 years on, to be able to say that we are able to improve the quality of our products every year.”

To find out more about the Securahome range of windows, doors, garden rooms and orangeries, go to www.securahome.co.uk, call 0800 808 3224 or visit the showroom at Kestrel Way, Garngoch Industrial Estate, Gorseinon, Swansea, SA4 9WN.

HOUSE & HOME

ILLUMINATING - Mulroy Wall Light, £95. Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

newneutrals If you think neutrals are boring, take a look at Swansea Life‘s stylish collection of room decorations that combine stylish furnishing with sumptuous textures. Soft hues can be relaxing, sophisticated and a world away from bland beige. Peter Slee checks out ideas for decorating with neutrals to help get you inspired.

Child’s chair, from £220. Sofa.com

Single Sheepskin Rug, Grey , £35. John Lewis, Cardiff

Ascot light grey wardrobe £1,260, Debenhams, Swansea

98 swansealife.co.uk

LAYERED - Geo Floral Rug, £95. Next, Swansea

Why: Natural materials are the perfect foundation for a neutral scheme that’s packed with texture – far from a boring option. How: Combine neutrals – no more than three or four shades at one time, though – for a calming, sophisticated space. Layer up plenty of textures to add as much interest as possible: consider jute,

Cafe lights; £23; Matalan, Swansea

Westbury three seater sofa in Kendrick stripe; £794. Oak Furniture Land, Llansamlet

TIMELY Classic Wall Clock Soft Green, £35. JD Williams Home

sisal or real-wood flooring and soften with slubby linens and smooth leather. The rich diversity of stone finishes are a fantastic place to find inspiration. Find a flooring option you like (limestone, travertine, slate…) and use it as your starting point.

Top tip: When combining painted and natural-wood surfaces in a kitchen choose plain accessories to keep the look clean.

HOMELY - Pussy Willow Milk Churn, £15. Sainsbury’s Home, Swansea SNOOZE - Greenwich Double Bed, £650. Next, Parc Morfa

Metallic Vase, £9.99. HomeSense, Parc Fforestfach

Scandi Geo cushion, £7; George Home, Swansea

Home drawer unit, £22; Sainsbury’s, Swansea

swansealife.co.uk 99

Regionally 18 offices throughout the region Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain

RAGLAN, ST ANNES, LANGLAND, SWANSEA

THREE CROSSES SWANSEA

A bespoke home situated on the award winning Gower coast line. This truly idyllic location with picturesque sea views provides tranquil living, set over 3 floors with 6 beds and vast living space the property welcomes family living with the additional of an indoor swimming pool. EPC B

Spectacular Gower countryside & sea views, fabulous village location, secluded cul-de-sac. Tranquil & private, very generous accommodation. Beautiful gardens & entertaining spaces. Walking distance to local pub and shops. EPC D

Offers in the Region of £1,595,000

Offers Over £850,000

THE FORGE, FAIRYHILL, GOWER

642B MUMBLES RD, MUMBLES, SWANSEA

Barn conversion in the heart of idyllic Gower countryside with 3 en-suite beds, 4th bed/study, sizeable living areas & an abundance of outdoor space. 2 barns with planning permission for 2 x 1 bed apartments. Separate chance to purchase/rent up to 9 acres of additional land. EPC E

This town house is generous & also boasts stunning sea/landmark views & situated perfectly nearly the front of Mumbles promenade. Briefly comprising 3 beds, 3 bath & fabulous open plan living areas which have balconies & french doors framing the spectacular views perfectly. EPC C

Offers in the region of £699,950

Offers in the region of £625,000

BAY VIEW, WEST CROSS, SWANSEA

SURF SOUND, OXWICH, SWANSEA

A spacious, detached family house presenting 3 receptions, kitchen/diner, 4 beds, 3 bath/shower rooms, utility & double garage. A convenient location within easy reach of coastal villages, beaches, city amenities & excellent public transport links. EPC B

A 10 minute stroll to the fabulous Oxwich beach & lovely restaurants. Comprising very generous accommodation of open plan kitchen/diner, lounge & sitting room. 6 beds, 5 en-suites, lovely gardens & ample parking. The layout could be arranged to create a self contained annex. EPC E

Asking Price £550,000

Offers Over £650,000

Internationally Plus 75 offices globally 5000 professional associates all around the world

Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 | Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com

642A MUMBLES RD, MUMBLES, SWANSEA

OAKTREE BARN, RHOS, PONTARDAWE

A substantial town house which boasts stunning sea/landmark views & situated perfectly nearly the front of Mumbles promenade. Briefly comprising 5 beds, 3 bath & fabulous open plan living areas which have balconies & french doors framing the spectacular views perfectly. EPC C

With rolling panoramic countryside views & natures tranquility, this 2 bedroom characterful barn conversion is a haven. Beautifully designed generous spaces with vaulted ceilings, fabulous grounds & a log cabin. Ample parking, double garage with an annex above. EPC D

Offers In The Region Of £650,000

Asking Price £595,000

Regionally 18 offices throughout the region Nationally 225 offices across Great Britain Internationally Plus 75 offices globally 5000 professional associates all around the world

80 NEWTON ROAD, MUMBLES, SWANSEA

SOUTHGATE ROAD, SOUTHGATE, SWANSEA

This generous, 6 bedroom family home is filled with a variety of traditional features alongside modern touches. In popular Mumbles opposite Underhill Park, it's a wonderful spot & the property comes with outdoor space & parking which is a rare find in Mumbles. EPC E

A luxurious family home! Perfectly located in a Gower village which boasts beaches you can walk to, Golf Club/restaurant, village pub, coffee shop & post office. Comprising a spectacular kitchen/diner, 2 sitting rooms, 5 beds, 3 bath & det garage with potential annex above. EPC B

Asking Price £750,000

Offers Over £850,000

15 LANGLAND BAY MANOR, LANGLAND, SWANSEA

LLYS GWYR, UPPER KILLAY, SWANSEA

Superbly located, this beautiful apartment is only moments away from the family friendly Langland Bay & beach. Housed in a very special Grade II listed building, accommodation presents lounge/diner, kitchen, 1 bedroom & 2 bathrooms. Allocated parking space. EPC Exempt

Beautifully presented detached executive home with secure gated entrance. Briefly offering 3 reception rooms, kitchen/diner, utility, study, conservatory, cloakroom, 4 beds, master en-suite & 2 family bathrooms. Countryside outlook & ample parking. EPC C

Asking Price £289,950

Asking Price £549,950

Fine & Country Swansea 77 Newton Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4BN Tel: +44 (0)1792 367301 | Email: swansea@fineandcountry.com

RECRUITING

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Prestige homes from Peter Alan Ltd

Glanmor Road, Swansea

Hendy, Pontarddulais

• Detached family home with sea views • 4 spacious bedrooms • En suite & dressing room to master • Overlooking Cwmdonkin Park • Private drive and detached garage • AVAILABLE WITH NO ONWARD CHAIN • EPC - D

• Luxury 5 bedroom detached property complete with its very own heated indoor swimming pool. This beautifully presented family home favours ample living space and comfort in every room. • Large family kitchen • Gated driveway • EPC - D

Swansea 01792 641481 £600,000 Bethany Lane, West Cross,

Gorseinon 01792 894422 Eaton Crescent,

£550,000

£350,000

For sale with pa black Swansea 01792 641481

Chapel Road, Three Crosses Lletty Dafydd House, Neath

Ramsey Close, Nottage

• Detached 3 bedroom family home • Bishopston Comprehensive School Catchment • Self containedMumbles, annex St Annes, • Loft room • Large gardens • Driveway and Double garage • EPC - D

• Detached family home • Cul De Sac Location •Gower Views towards Rest Bay Beach Road, Sketty, • 4 double Bedrooms • 2 receptions & breakfast kitchen & utility • Garage & driveway • EPC - E

Gorseinon 01792

For sale with pa black Swansea 894422 01792 641481

Cardiff Monmouth Penarth Porthcawl Newport

£350,000 £320,000

• A large family house dating back to approx 1850 • 5 bedrooms Dylans View, Uplands, • 4 reception rooms plus cellar • Large gardens and paddock • Outstanding countryside views • EPC - D Neath 01639 635115

OIRO £440,000

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fantastic offers in store LEATHER & FABRIC SOFAS OVER 3 FLOORS HUGE SELECTION!

Â£700

DOUBLE PART

EXCHANGE

ON YOUR OLD SUITE

3Years INTEREST FREE CREDIT

Leather & Fabric Sofas 995 Carmarthen Road, Fforesftfach, Swansea, SA5 4AE Tel: 01792 586611 www.leathersofacompanyuk.com ALSO AT: 4 Beaufort Rd, Plasmarl, Swansea, SAG 8JG | Tel: 01792 771759

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CALL US FOR A FREE QUOTATION

HOUSE & HOME

Sunburst chair, from £499. JD Williams

Ink Brush Flora double duvet set, £14. Wilko, Morriston

Oval print bed set (pack of 2) from £25; Next, Swansea

Beautiful bargain home buys from the supermarkets and high street Time for a spring refresh? We've scoured the high street and supermarkets for gorgeous new-season home buys that are as easy on the eye as they are on the wallet All homeowners love a seasonal trend and the challenge of channelling the lastest looks without spending a fortune. Luckily the supermarkets and high street shops have come to the rescue once again with a wonderful selection of homewares that look a million dollars but cost considerably less! Fransen Ochre Chair £249 Toucan Print Cushion £14 ; Dunelm, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

Conrad Needham sofa; from £899, Marks and Spencer, Swansea

peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

@PeterSlee56

Hanging Wood Frame Large £5; brass lantern £18, single stem test tube vase, £5; tube vase rack, £10: All, Matalan, Cwmdu

Sideboard £1300 dining table £1200, dining chairs (pair) £650, pendant light £110, Monsoon Home by Denby: plates (set of four) £38, medium bowls (set of four) £38, Cream crackle jug £25 : all, Debenhams, Swansea

Havana tall candle tin with cactus, £5. Sainsbury’s, Swansea

swansealife.co.uk 109

A Company built on its reputation & personal service • Wood/Laminate Flooring • Cushion & Hard Vinyl Flooring • Carpets • Natural Flooring – Coir/Sisal • Safety Flooring • Full Floor Preparation • Domestic & Commercial Contracts • Free Measuring & Estimates RECOMMENDED INSTALLERS OF AMTICO FLOORING Technical & professional advice on the best flooring for your home or business SWANSEA’S ONLY NICF MASTER FITTER

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SAVE up to ÂŁ2,500 on kitchen furniture* PLUS amazing appliance, sink and tap offers.

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Visit sigma3.co.uk to find out more or to order a copy of our offers brochure. SWANSEA SHOWROOM | 01792 790088 2 Mannesmann Close, Llansamlet Enterprise Park, Swansea, SA7 9AH *Terms & Conditions apply, please ask in store for details. Sale starts 29th March 2018 and ends 29th April 2018. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Sigma 3 Kitchens Ltd, Llantrisant Business Park, Llantrisant, South Wales, CF72 8LF act as a credit broker and only offers products from Barclays Partner Finance. Barclays Partner Finance is a trading name of Clydesdale Financial Services Limited a wholly owned subsidiary of Barclays Bank PLC. Clydesdale Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register Number: 311753). Registered in England. Registered No. 2901725. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP

HOUSE & HOME

ommy copper T desk lamp, £25

Big ideas for small spaces...

Feeling squeezed at home? Topology designers Athina Bluff and Amy Brandhorst share their seven top space-enhancing hacks with Gabrielle Fagan Interior designers and award-winning bloggers, Athina Bluff and Amy Brandhorst from Topology (topologyinteriors.com), have joined forces with Habitat to help the nation maximise the space in their homes.

Honovi compact sofa bed, saffron yellow fabric, £1,300

While there’s nothing anyone can do about the bricks and mortar and dimensions of the property you live in, their seven home hacks could help you make the best of the space available, meaning rooms feel larger. Read on for their space-enhancing secrets... Shine a light

Euan black/yellow metal marble overreach floor lamp, £225

“Ensure you have multiple light sources within a room to maximise light at night,” says Athina. “You should aim to have around six light sources around the room, which will ‘replace’ natural daylight and allow light to flow through the space. “Enhance the effect with mirrored surfaces, which will bounce light around. Those and metallics, which reflect warm light, will create a sense of more space.” Be free with flooring “An easy trick for floors is to continue the hallway flooring into your small room. Creating a visually unbroken flow of space will make it appear as though it’s one big area, and creates an illusion that the floor is expanding,” points out Athina.

Karena multi-coloured fourtier stacking storage box, £35

Create colour harmony “Try painting walls, skirting boards and door frames all the same colour. Painting them different colours can actually break up a space and emphasise the shape and (small) size of the room,” says Amy. “If they’re all the same colour, they’ll blend into one and make the room appear bigger.” Make a great reflection

Jacobs grey upholstered storage bench, £250

Oken white folding coffee table with removable tray top, £85

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“Hang a mirror opposite a window. It’s simple but extremely effective – both in terms of cost and visual impact,” suggests Amy. “The mirror will reflect natural light and instantly brighten up your space, as well as making it appear larger. “If you’re feeling creative, play around with different shapes or multiple mirrors to reflect as much light as possible. More light equals more sense of space.” *All priced items available at Habitat (habitat.co.uk). Prices correct at time of going to print and are available while stocks last

MAKE the most of multifunctional furniture “Opt for dual usage furniture that can be folded or expanded to suit your needs,” says Athina. “If there’s only two of you most evenings, opt for a folding table which, with an extension, turns into a four-person dining table for entertaining. “Check out sofa bed options, which can easily turn a sitting room into bedroom for guests. Always consider storage in items like ottomans, pouffes, trunks, coffee tables. If there’s a design that also hides clutter (the enemy of small spaces), choose it!” Embrace the dark side “This is one for the brave! Don’t be afraid of going dark in small spaces,” advises Athina. “It may sound counter-intuitive, but dark shades – navy and grey – can actually disguise the perimeters of a room and blur boundaries which extend the space. Don’t feel you can only use ‘Brilliant White’ to achieve a sense of more space. Walk on the dark side – trust us, it works!” Work the walls “As you don’t have a lot of floor space to play with, think upwards and make use of walls instead,” advises Amy. “Floating shelves, clothes hooks, wall-mounted magazine racks and bike hooks will allow you to store things like folding chairs, or display belongings without cluttering the floor. “Make use of dead space, such as corners, and have wall-mounted shelves.” For further hacks and inspiration from Athina Bluff and Amy Brandhorst of Topology Interiors visit habitat.co.uk/ smallspaceliving Interior designers and award- winning bloggers, Athina Bluff (left) and Amy Brandhorst

n alcove turned into a feature A with shelves to display treasures

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HOUSE & HOME

through the keyhole

‘If we could pick up the house and take it with us, we would’

It is rather a property tale of the unexpected, with a whole new world opening up from within, as CHRIS PEREGRINE finds out. chris.peregrine@walesonline.co.uk

t gives the appearance of rather a demure building from the outside. But a closer look will reveal something of a property tardis. There is more to it than meets the eye, a lot more. Throw in some spectacular views of the countryside and sea and you have a house to relish.

Alan and Janet Jones have taken that opportunity over the last eight years, not that their route to the outskirts of Three Crosses in Gower was particularly orthodox. They are both from Swansea, but spent the previous 23 years on the other side of the world. “We were living in Australia,” says Janet. “We saw the house on the internet and bought it without seeing it. It was the talk of the village, these people buying it from Australia. It was the height of the building which attracted us. We knew we had views and we thought we could make the house how we wanted it it look when we got there.”

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So they came home and have never regretted it. They are only looking to move now to be nearer to family elsewhere in Gower. “If we could pick up the house and take it with us, we would,” says Janet. It sits at the end of a quiet, intimate cul-de-sac. There is a spacious hall to start with, and an interesting one at that, with a collection of different textures of materials, floor heights and shades of light. The family kitchen/breakfast room is rightly described as mammoth, letting in as much natural light as possible thanks to a pitched flat ceiling and floor to ceiling height windows. There is a distinct family warmth, enough to make it the the heart of the home. There are more than enough modern fitted units topped with Astoria Kashmir granite worktops and an oak floor, which for the most part is fitted with underfloor heating. There is a double Rangemaster oven with five ring gas cooker top and room for an American style fridge freezer. Then there is a breakfast bar style island with matching units

and granite. It can comfortably seat six people. Bifolds doors open out to the side and rear patio and to countryside views across Gower. There is also a very convenient and spacious walk in pantry and separate utility room. The dining room is another lovely social space with a feeling of openness with double French doors leading out to the patio area with views across to Tenby. It has open access to the upper lounge, stairs and the doorway leading to the lower lounge. Views on a clear day from the upper lounge, which has a wood burner, stretch to Tenby, Caldey Island and even the Cornish coast. “We had a big house in Perth and when we got here we built a five room extension on the eastern side,” says Janet. The house has five bedrooms, with scope to convert another room into a sixth one, and four bathrooms. To reach the master bedroom, you will climb to the top of the house and enjoy the wow factor with countryside and sea views framed by the impressive floor to ceiling height windows. There are built in extensive wardrobes and just a few steps up to its private bathroom, which is a modern, spacious hideaway. Quality abounds in the other bedrooms.

The rear garden has a plethora of patios, a large lawn and an apple orchard and there is a double garage with electric door attached to the house. There is also ample parking in the driveway. “The views are spectacular, and we never tire of them” says Janet. “We came here from Perth and the coast there is known as the Sunset Coast. Everyone loves watching the sunset, but nothing compares to the spectacular views here when the sun sets.” The outdoor life Aussie-style obviously stretched to a fair share of barbecues, and they have been on the menu in Gower as well, such is the scope afforded by the multiple patios, whilst the garden is perfect for children to play in. “It is a fantastic house,” says Janet.

PROPERTY: Misty Hills Close, Three Crosses, Gower, SA4 3JF PRICE: Offers over £850,000. BEDROOMS: 5 AGENT: Fine & Country Swansea, Newton Road, Mumbles, 01792 367301

swansealife.co.uk 121

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HOUSE & HOME

make it work for you Add vibrancy to your life with an injection of some bold colour. The trend is great for waking up sleepy interiors. Let us inspire you to add a bright burst of block colour or pattern to one of your rooms with our colourful ideas.

peter.slee@trinitymirror.com

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7 6

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where to buy 1. Roses and Ranunculus flowers in cube, £65; Laura Ashley, Pontarddulais Road Retail Park

5. Lava lamp, £14.99; TK Maxx, Swansea

2. House block weave cushion, £30. John Lewis, Cardiff

7. Yellow planter, £14; Sainsbury’s, Swansea

3. iamantini & Domeniconi Puntinipuntini wall clock, £190. Amara.com 4. Glendurgan Valley Floor mug; £8. National Trust Shop, Rhossili.

9 10

6. Windsor sofa, £1,229, dfs, Llansamlet

8 Stand mixer copper effect 4.5L; £65, Wilko, Swansea 9. Cambridge Armchair, £839. DfS, Llansamlet 10. Nesting shadow boxes (set of 4); £60. Next, Parc Morfa

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Savannah upholste red £539, Tim winged ottoman b ed, e4sleep.c o.uk

Patch cut out sofa, £749, ScS, scs.co.uk

1, footstool £7 Lilac velvet audenza.com

velvet revolution This luxurious fabric has shed its garish ‘70s connotations to become the must-have texture for 2018. Here Dan Beavan p icks out his favourite plush products

Tokyo wall hanging, £165, ohwhats this.com

Velvet small shade, £22, abodeliving.co.uk

Urbanara, Samana velvet curtain from £55, k urbanara.co.u

Fitz cocktail chair in primrose, £369, swooneditions.com Arabella shell pink velvet 50cm x 50cm cushion, £35, raggedrose.com; Terry’s Fabrics, velvet cushion in teal, £6.99, terrysfabrics.co.uk

Very velvet chaise longue, lifestyle, £620, frenchbedroom company.co.uk

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restaurant

Salon Loulou H A I R

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The latest curved island from Priory Kitchens.

A big bouncy blow dry from the Glam Squad at Salon Lou Lou to get us party ready!

Check out the Scandinavian crockery at Leaf Interiors.

Bright and bold designs at Lou Lou Boutique. Perfect for Summer events.

Getting our kitchen gardens ready for new crops with these easy to use seed packets from The Garden Centre. Our new Petstop ferret! Please help us in choosing a name for him via our Facebook page and pop by for a cuddle soon.

These delicious Schmoo milkshakes from The Olive Tree.

Tel: 01656 741443

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restaurant

The Olive Tree Restaurant invites you to dine in our glass house restaurant or outside on the veranda overlooking the plant area eating alfresco. Enjoy our British-European menu open for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. It has become a hugely popular attraction in the garden village. A perfect place to shop, relax and treat yourself to breakfast, snack or lunch.

Petstop offer a range of pets including birds, rabbits, rats, hamsters, lizards and turtles. As well as this they stock a wide variety of branded pet food for all different types of animals. They also offer toys and pet accessories. All of this comes alongside friendly advice on what’s best for your pet.

Woodwork is the one-stop shop for all your landscape and garden products. From garden sheds, fencing, trellis panels, timber planters and furniture, Woodwork has now added stoneware, gravels, paving stones and water features to its ranges.

Leaf Interiors was started in October 2013 by Sally and Karen, two friends who shared a love for home decor and began making customised curtains for their friends. Their hobby quickly evolved into a business as they began taking orders for their creations and they soon began adding other home accessories and furnishings to their inventory.

Sourcing stock at the best prices means that customers will benefit from the savings offered by those reductions.

We’re not on the high street and that’s just how we want it to be. We aim to focus on delivering our customers the best services and products in a market and environment that we understand.

Salon Loulou Hair Beauty and Barber salon has enjoyed a hugely successful first year in business with an increasing list of lovely clients who are all returning to this sleek, modern salon with skilled, friendly staff. All hair, beauty treatments and packages are available at competitive prices and it’s the latest addition to home and lifestyle stores based at the Village.

Loulou is now firmly established as a leading Boutique with a collaboration of brands, styles and shapes to reflect our clients’ needs. Well known names such as Joseph Ribkoff, Masai sit perfectly with new names like Access and Naya. It also stocks a fabulous selection of accessories, jewellery, bags and scarves and the trio of partners, Caroline, Debra and Jayne are there with a warm welcome and friendly advice whenever you call in.

Aqualogic is a small team of dedicated fish keepers, with over 35 years of trade experience. We have a large range of Tropical, Marine, Coldwater and Pond fish. We stock all the well known brand names and accessories for your aquarium. We are here to give expert advice on any issue you may be having with your tank.

Established in 1999 and with over 25 years experience in theheating industry, Select Heating & Stoves have exactly what it takesto turn your dream heating into reality! Woodburning & Multifuel Stoves, Electric Stoves, Gas Stoves, Fireplaces’ Fireside Accessories, Oak Effect Beams, Full In-House Installation Service Available.

Regardless of breed, size and age, we welcome all pets to Paws Galore Dog Grooming salon. Before your dogs grooming session starts in our salon in Pyle Garden Village, we will discuss your dogs individual grooming needs, behaviour and health. Then, we’ll create a custom grooming plan for you and your dog. We promise a safe and clean environment for all pets at all times. We are City & Guilds qualified and Fully Insured - Certificates available to view. We also offer a pick up and drop off service (small fee added for this service).

Established in 1979 Dunraven Windows have been providing excellent customer service for nearly 40 years. Over 5,000 customers a year now choose Dunraven to install a range of products including high security Windows and Doors, Designer Conservatories, Porches, Canopies, Flat Roofing and more. You’re guaranteed a great job when you choose Dunraven for your home and you know you’re in safe hands dealing with an established company who really care about the service provided.

Never compromising on quality, coupled with a before and after sales service that is second to none, most of our customers are now the result of recommendation. Our cutting edge designs, experience, fantastic build quality and keen attention to detail, ensures that we are a cut above our competitors. Be the envy of your friends and family, and pop in for a coffee with Paula & Richard and allow us to create that ‘wow’ factor home you’ve always dreamed of....”

WE GOT YOUR WALLS COVERED Harris Images provides the facilities for you to turn that special image into art form through large format graphics from wallpaper print canvas acrylic glass vinyl imagination is your only limitation cover your space with family images pets holidays favourite places scenic views on any wall you wish to change the mood of an area email your image or chose from our extensive library printed in glorious full colour or mono your home or work place could soon become your perfect view for further information with no obligation contact Norman Harris with a brief description of your project freshen up your image. hello@harrisimages.co.uk www.harrisimages.co.uk

VICTORIA WADE’S GARDEN Join Victoria Wade, an RHS Gold winning garden designer from Killay, with her seasonal growing tips.... www.victoriawade.co.uk

@WadeLandscapes

Cooking in your garden I love cooking outside, to me there is nothing better than having friends around on a warm summer’s day and enjoying a meal fresh from the BBQ. There are so many options available for cooking in your garden and can be as simple or elaborate as you want. The main thing to decide first is what fuel do you want to be cooking with - charcoal, gas or wood? Everyone will have their preference- be it for the authentic smoky flavour of charcoal, the convenience of gas or the sense of satisfaction from cooking on an open fire.

Charcoal Most people’s BBQ experiences usually start with charcoal, a disposable BBQ on camping trips or a bucket BBQ on the beach. If that is as far as you want to take your BBQing then that is absolutely fine! Black Knight supply fab DIY built in BBQ kits which are simple and very affordable (around £60). A fancier charcoal option, (and my current obsession!) is the Big Green Egg- a ceramic barbeque that fuses modern cooking techniques with the design of a Japanese Kamado cooking pot and Indian tandoor. They are really versatile as the temperature can be controlled precisely allowing you to grill like a barbecue, bake and roast like an oven, or smoke “low and slow” like a smokehouse. They are available in a range of size and price options (from around £500 - £3,000) and they even boast that their largest model can fit a whole suckling pig!!

Gas Gas is super quick and convenient, but the BBQ purists (myself included) would argue that cooking on gas doesn’t give the same

smoky taste as charcoal or wood, and I definitely would miss the fire factor! That said, my parents have a Cadac BBQ which is really easy to use and very versatile. Webber do great gas BBQs and you can buy ones with a gas ring on the side which is handy. Fire Magic supply an amazing range of all singing all dancing built in gas BBQs (for the real outdoor kitchen enthusiast!) which start from about £4,000. Gas BBQs are great if you want to cook outside but don’t want too much hassle or mess and you can even say goodbye to your gas bottles- built in gas BBQs can be connected to your home gas supply.

Wood I absolutely love cooking on a wood fire, there is something so satisfying and quite hypnotic about it! It’s a more challenging way to cook though and definitely requires some patience. Cooking on or over a fire pit is one optionusing a grill or big cauldron like cast iron pot (dutch oven) either hung over the top or placed directly into the fire. We’ve cooked lovely chillis in our dutch oven and

even made a chocolate fondue which was great fun! You can also use them to bake bread! Another wood fuelled option is a pizza oven. We had a wood fired pizza oven in our old house and absolutely loved it. It does take a degree of patience to get the hang of it but it’s well worth a bit of perseverance as the taste of a freshly cooked pizza is out of this world! Because the pizzas cook so fast (in less than 2 minutes once the temperature is hot enough!) you can easily feed a crowd quickly, making it brilliant for parties and much more interactive than your usual BBQ. Pizza ovens are not just for pizza either- you can use them to bake cakes and bread, or even cook a whole roast dinner! There are a huge range of different options on the market to suit all budgets- we had the Jamie Oliver Dome 60 Leggero (which is around £1,600) or you could even build one yourself using clay! There is a whole host of advice online for how to do this- check out www.thecobovenproject.blogspot.co.uk for very detailed instructions. swansealife.co.uk 133

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HOUSE & HOME

Treasures of April With Joseph Atkin, Head Gardener at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire

Hydrangea aspera

As the garden throws off the last shackles of winter we are greeted by a leafy freshness and a multitude of choices for the garden. Tulips and Narcissus displays are a staple at this time of the year as are a wonderful range of spring flowering shrubs. Some of us however want something a little different and special. Thankfully, ‘different and special’ does not mean hard to grow but rather a bit of research. At Aberglasney we grow a multitude of plants that fall into this category. Three of our very favourites are ideal for April.

Cypripedium parviflorum

Camellia ‘Nuccio’s Gem’

Hardy orchids are wonderful garden plants especially the slipper orchid types such as Cypripedium. Peoples instant reaction to these plants is that they are hard to grow or dreadfully expensive, but this is not the case. They are very long-lived garden plants, extremely hardy and easy to grow. If you can grow a Hosta you can grow one of these (and they don’t get eaten by slugs!) Their main requirement is some shade and to have absolutely no fertiliser in the soil. If you can manage this, you will have the most exquisite flowers for around six weeks on a very neat plant.

At first glance this could be mistaken for ‘just a Camellia’ but this Camellia flowers very late in the spring and lasts for a very long time. Being later flowering it’s less likely to be frost damaged and the smaller flowers don’t look tatty when it finishes. Over the years we have studied the many different Camellia we grow and this one has stood out as being special. The tight but perfectly formed flowers are wonderfully dainty and stand out well in shady conditions. Like all Camellia this cultivar forms a useful solid mass of glossy green leaves making it excellent for hiding something unsightly whilst still being elegant. It has an upright habit so does not take too much room and allows underplanting which is a bonus in a small garden. We find it combines brilliantly with other shrubs grown for autumn colour.

■ Height = 50cm ■ Spread = 30cm ■ Position/Aspect = some shade ■ Soil = any moist free draining soil but no fertiliser ■ Pest and diseases = no real problems ■ Style = Woodland, rock garden, shady herbaceous or pot

Aesculus x neglectum ‘Erythroblastos’ (Horse Chestnut) Over the last seven years we have been developing our collection of what we call special Horse Chestnut trees. Despite their name they are wonderful garden plants only making small trees, but with a great deal to offer. They have manageable habits, wonderful spring foliage, exciting flowers, good autumn colour and as expected conkers. Erythroblastos is grown especially for its young foliage which is a wonderful brown to shrimp pink for about two months in the spring. This is followed by nice exotic but neat foliage and none of the pest and disease problems associated with the common horse chestnut. ■ Height = 5m absolute maximum ■ Spread = 3m ■ Position/Aspect = Any except extreme maritime ■ Soil = Any except waterlogged ■ Pest and diseases = None of the usual problems ■ Style = Mixed border, exotic garden, specimen underplanted with bulbs, shrub border

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■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Height = 3m maximum Spread = 2m Position = Aspect West facing Soil = Any acidic Pest and diseases = No real problems in the ground Style = Woodland, shady border, mixed border or shrub border

lassy C C

urtains Ltd

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Want the best looking home... CLASSY CURTAINS, BESPOKE, MADE TO MEASURE, CURTAINS BETWEEN BRECON, NEATH AND SWANSEA. Classy Curtains Ltd was established in 1993 and has successfully grown over the years. Offering a fabulous range of the latest Fabrics, various Curtain Styles, Poles and Blinds all caringly Made to Measure and finished by hand. We also hold Wallpaper books to accompany some Fabric ranges, providing you with a one stop Soft Furnishing shop, brought to you for your convenience, ensuring what ever you choose works perfectly with your existing decor. We now have a brand new showroom in Ystradgynlais, positioned between Brecon, Neath and Swansea.

Urban Chic Bold geometric patterns in eye catching colours, vibrant fabrics and papers or more muted tones in the same theme. Such as Clarke and Clarkes Global Lux and Bukhara.

Pick a zesty lime or fresh yellow for a clean and understated look.

We have a huge range of Clarke and Clarke woven textiles with great texture and many different colorways from gold to black, crimson to teal and duck egg to grey. A few scatter cushions in coordinating or contrasting colours can drastically change your decor without the need for major changes.

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urtains Ltd

Many of our customers are choosing biscuit or mink colours right now and complimentary ascents might be Ink or indigo or cinnamon and mauve respectively. Earthy colours are definitely on the rise think terracotta or burnt orange and olive green.

We have seen a resurgence for traditional fabrics and traditionally crafted 415885 materials. This can be seen in the upsurge in popularity01639 of the traditional www.classycurtainsltd.co.uk Welsh blanket, tartan rug and Mexican woven shawl. Fabric designs based on patterns from all over the world are increasingly popular.

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urtains Ltd

www.classycurtainsltd.co.uk

Celebrating 25 years in business... Classy Curtains is celebrating 25 years in business! Helen the Managing Director said: "Our aim is to continue offering all the services and products our customers expect, such as home visits, punctual appointments, advice and of course... Beautiful Soft Furnishings AND we intend extending our Showroom Display including increasing our vast range of fabric sample books, showcasing displays of beautiful poles and an extensive range of tracks, and particularly providing a track bending service for bay windows. We make everything in-house, offer a design service and provide fitting but NOW with an open door to our beautifully positioned valley showroom and work space alongside the River Tawe we are encouraging customers to visit us to choose their fabric, wallpaper, paint and flooring. With curtains and blinds made up on the premises and with lots of new display, customers can view and discuss options before they order.â&#x20AC;? When re-styling or enhancing your home it is also nice to have those additional personal touches you simply canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get from the internet or some busy retail stores, so we can make personalised lampshades, headboards and bedding but also offer advice and personally help you choose wallpaper and paint from our Little Greene Paint display and very soon lighting, mirrors, wall art and flooring. Our former Art gallery space is being transformed into new display space, including fully dressed room sets with Mirrors, Lamps and local artists artwork.

We welcome alterations or repairs, a little upholstery but every now and then we have a remnant sale... discounting some of the top premium brand fabrics we use. These well known brands are the likes of: Prestigious Textiles, Harlequin, Sanderson, Clarke and Clarke, iLiv and Villa Nova. Because this gorgeous fabric is in perfect condition not end of line or second that you often see advertised on the Internet, you will be getting an amazing deal for close to cost price. As you can see it is exciting times at Classy Curtains Ltd and following our success we have recently taken on a school leaver as a trainee who is doing very well.

Blush

A glamorous collection of luxurious satin, chenille and linen fabrics with intricate sequin detailing and metallic flashes. Inspired by the art deco glitz of old Hollywood, delicate ivory, silver and rose gold make these fabrics opulent, yet understated.

Pair blush curtains with a copper or brass pole and match with Greys and whites or Darks such as blacks or emerald green walls for a luxurious Instagram worthy look. The colour also goes with pale blues, pale greens, duck eggs and turquoises.

To go with rose gold pieces try a true blush pink paint like Little Greeneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Confetti 274. Prestigious Textiles Tanomah Aslan camel is a pretty silky dusky blush colour with pretty voile cutaways.

Clarke and Clarkeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dusky Pink Linens are perfect for cushions and bedding.

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01639 415885

Mix with botanical www.classycurtainsltd.co.uk greenery prints, plants and wood for a fresh look.

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urtains Ltd

www.classycurtainsltd.co.uk

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We are just celebrating 25 years magnificent years in business making Made to Measure Soft Furnishings and only see more growth in our fabulous peaceful valley location. Call up and visit us.

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We are also Little Greene Paint agents, one of the most highly regarded UKbased paint manufacturers, Est. 1773. If you have an older property, the Period Paint & Wallpaper range is perfect for any renovation.

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We are situated in a former Welsh Medium school alongside the River Tawe just 50 yards from the historic stones used for the 1954 National Eisteddfod. Our showroom offers an extensive selection of top brand fabrics; customers are encouraged to look around the workroom where we can discuss styles, ideas and look at work in progress. You can also choose wallpaper and paint along with fabric for your curtains, blinds, bedding or upholstery.

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A short drive out of the City Centre, you can follow the "Coastal Mountain Road", A4067 to find the little town of Ystradgynlais. The town is busy with many independent shops, places to eat, have coffee and is ideal if you're looking for a day out to visit our Showroom.

For the sleep youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always dreamed of....

WHY NOT COME AND VIEW OUR HUGE RANGE OF BEDS... Most available with immediate delivery

SPRING SALE, PLUS 0% INTEREST FREE CREDIT

NOW AVAILABLE ACROSS THE STORE 8 A4

MORRISTON

SWANSEA CITY CENTRE

01792 771 012

67 A40 RIVER TAWE

LIBERTY STADIUM

DAYS MOTOR GROUP

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Unit 11, Beaufort Court, Beaufort Rd Plasmarl, Swansea, SA6 8JG

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View our full range & buy from the comfort of your home

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OUT & ABOUT

A N D R E W

M O R G A N ’ S

SWANSEA BAY WALK Join andrew morgan as he leads us on a Swansea Bay walk.

Upcoming Walks

Start/Finish location ......... Bynea Distance ..................................... 6 miles (3 hours)

April

Level ............................................. Easy Parking ........................................ Car Park opposite Yspitty Road

The Millennium Coastal Park As the countryside continues to throw off the shackles of winter, for many it is a time to start thinking about a walk. But those who already have discovered a love of the countryside will have been walking with Swansea Ramblers throughout the winter. Part of a national walking charity, we provide opportunities for people to experience walking 52 weeks of the year and our new summer programme of walks and socials now has over 120 walks. Do try one of them, maybe an easy, evening walk with this friendly group and you may find it’s just what you’ve been looking for. A nice walk which we do from time to time is to follow the Wales Coast Path from Loughor Bridge to Llanelli North Dock along the Millennium Coastal Park trail. This provides lovely views of North Gower across the Loughor Estuary and you walk on a good and fairly flat surface, taking you first past the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre then the new coastal housing developments to reach Copper Dock where you can finish with coffee in the 1st floor cafe. This walk can be done as a six mile linear walk (with a 40 minute bus ride back from Cambrian Street via Llanelli) or just do bits of it, maybe to the Wildfowl Centre and back. From the back of the car park in Bynea, turn left and follow the path that climbs onto the Millennium Bridge over the busy A484 (Probably the most climbing you’ll do today) From the Bridge you are immediately rewarded with a panorama over the estuary then the views continue as you descend to cross a wooden bridge which brings you closer to the water. Navigation is fairly simple; just follow the Coast Path signs to Llanelli. After enjoying the sea views for some time, the path will go inland a little to pass the entrance of the Wetlands Centre. It then turns left near the road to skirt around the edge of the golf

course before returning to the coast. Ahead you begin to see the new housing in this regenerated coastal margin and as you walk in front of these new buildings you can appreciate with their wonderful sea views as you continue towards the large, disused Copper Dock. The path meets the busy road but you don’t need to cross since the path runs parallel with the road to the North Dock development. Here you could have coffee on the first floor café, overlooking the estuary. There’s a lot more to explore here such as Sandy Water Park but we’ll do that another time. Having enjoyed your refreshments, walk to the roundabout on the main road, passing the old docks as you go. At the main road, turn left to the bus stop to catch the bus to Llanelli then change for Bynea (Check bus times before travel).

SSun 01 Rhossili (11 miles) Strenuous meet 9.30am Rhossili: NT Car Park Wed 04 Briton Ferry & Tennant Canal (6 miles) Easy/ Moderate meet 9.45am Quadrant Bus Station: Stand F Thu 05 Clyne Gardens (Evening) (2 miles) Moderate meet 7.00pm Blackpill: Woodman Car Park Sat 07 Crynant in the Dulais Valley (6 miles) Moderate meet 10.15am Llansamlet: Go Outdoors Sun 08 Cribyn, Pen y Fan & Corn Du (9 miles) Strenuous meet 8.30am Francis St Mon 09 Mumbles Way 1 (3.5 miles) Easy/Moderate meet 10.00am Blackpill: Mill Lane: Near Mumbai Tue 10 Enterprise Zone (Evening) (3 miles) Moderate meet 7.00pm Fendrod Lake Car Park Wed 11 Frenni Hill near Crymych (8 miles) Moderate meet 9.30am Cross Hands: Co-op Car Park Sat 14 Three Parks Walk (Loughor etc) (5 miles) Easy meet 11.00am Bynea: Car park opp.Yspitty Rd Sun 15 Carreg Cennen (10 miles) Strenuous meet 9.30am Cross Hands: Heol Parc Mawr Mon 16 Llanmorlais Area (4 miles) Moderate meet 10.00am Crofty: Marsh Road Tue 17 Lliw Reservoirs (Evening) (4 miles) Easy meet 6.30pm Felindre: Lliw Reservoir Car Park Wed 18 Kilvey Hill (6 miles) Moderate meet 10.45am Fabian Way: Park and Ride Sat 21 Clyne in Bloom (6 miles) Moderate meet 11.00am Clyne Gardens car park Sun 22 Crickhowell and the Three Pens (12 miles) Strenuous meet 8.30am Francis St Mon 23 Gowerton and Dunvant (4 miles) Easy/ Moderate meet 10.00am Gowerton: Car park on B4295 Mon 23 Blue Plaques in City (Evening) (3 miles) Easy meet 7.00pm Civic Centre (County Hall) Thu 26 Brecon Beacons - Waterfalls (10 miles) Strenuous meet 9.30am Go Outdoors CP Sat 28 Oxwich Pub Lunch Walk (3 miles) Easy meet 11.00am Oxwich Bay Hotel car park

Transport: Traveline: www.traveline-cymru.info • 0871 200 22 33 or BayTrans: www.baytrans.org.uk/ Visit our website: www.swansearamblers.org.uk

Sun 29 Afan Argoed (13 miles) Strenuous meet 9.00am Francis St Mon 30 Neath Canal, Resolven (4 miles) Easy meet 10.00am Resolven: A465 car park

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OUT & ABOUT

WEEKEND WOW! Swansea University-educated and telecoms tycoon Sir Terry Matthews’ dream came true when he brought the Ryder Cup to Celtic Manor, his birthplace, in 2010. More than just a place to stay and play golf – there are 54 holes of it – the Principality’s biggest hotel aims to be a centre of Welsh excellence and a one-stop resort for families, weddings, conferences, short breaks, events, couples - essentially everyone. Swansea Life has been along to try it out...

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Style and character: The resort encompasses the historic 19th-century Manor House with 70 rooms, 148-room Coldra Court and the Newbridge on Usk country inn with six bedrooms, eight miles away. At its core, however, is the huge, modern 330-room luxury Resort Hotel overlooking the M4 at Newport offering a range of accommodation levels. The look is smart, modern and comfortable, not too brash or glitzy but perfectly tasteful, with a buzzy, busy ambience. It was packed the night we were there but appeared to have an army of staff able to cope with all manner of guest whims.

Service & facilities: Service is efficient as you’d expect in a five-star resort. All of the staff are well-informed and fabulously confident but friendly at the same time. Facilities within the main hotel and resort include a café; five bars; half a dozen or so restaurants; three 18-hole championship golf courses with an academy and two clubhouses; tennis courts; two spas; and two health clubs as well as a pool. Activities include fishing, treetop ropes, laser combat, archery, crossbow, treasure hunts, walking trails and zipwires. Or you can just grab a book and sit in the main atrium people watching to your heart’s content.

Rooms: Warm, modern, smart

and comfortable. They come with a huge on-wall TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. Superior rooms have balconies and sofabeds. Upgraded suites have terraces and even kitchens. Signature rooms, great for special occasions and worth the extra, benefit from separate check-in and reception, a free glass of prosecco on arrival and breakfast in the sixth floor’s Steak on Six restaurant. Bathrooms are immaculate and generously sized, with walk-in showers and stocked with quality toiletries. The sixth floor also boasts its own bar area which we loved for its night-time cosiness. Its positioning high up overlooking the M4 also gives a unique quirkiness offering a different but interesting perspective on a road we have all travelled along many hundreds of times.

Food & Drink: The resort has six restaurants so you won’t be short of choices. Epicure, the fine dining restaurant that used to be here and in which I once ate one of the best meals of my life, is now gone. Shame! So instead we opted for its Asian-style Cen fronted by MasterChef finalist Larkin Cen housed in the manor sitting below the Celtic’s main complex but reached via a series of long, underground escalators. The approach into it is full to the gunnels of period features – huge stone fireplaces, sweeping

mahogany staircases, ornate plaster ceilings, oak panelling and mullion windows. The bar alongside injects a generous dose of glamour too with shimmering wallpapers, featherfilled sofas and lots of wood. Cen itself was busy when we arrived though it was still relatively early. So we were a little surprised both our first choices of dish had apparently already run out. But staff were quick to help and managed to source a very good steak from elsewhere in the complex. The food wowed us both too: prawns and scallops in a spiced broth with rice noodles; braised pork shoulder or the likes of seared salmon. All came beautifully presented, with well thought-out accompaniments. Breakfasts leave no room for hunger. Its standard buffet offering comprises everything from cereals to yogurts, fruit, juices and sausages, bacon, mushrooms, hash browns and eggs. Our Signature rooms gave us access to the Steak on Six eaterie for breakfast where we happily grazed away for an hour or more. Really good with everything you could possibly want..and then some! Elsewhere, and its Mulberry Bar is also worth seeking out. Hidden away behind discreet glass doors just off the ground floor lobby, the décor is plush, the lighting is low and the atmospheres decadent. Sip artfully crafted cocktails, explore its gin collection or work your way through the bar’s champagne, whisky or wine selection. It’s not cheap at £15 for a cocktail, but for the sheer drama of it all, a sumptuous atmosphere and stylish surroundings, it is worth it.

Family friendly? Very! The place offers an extensive programme of activities. A children’s buffet dinner is available along with cots and and beds and a nanny service. For entertainment there’s everything from laser combat to Adventure Golf and Forest Jump treetop ropes.

Value for money? Yes, with available rates from under £100 for a standard room, it’s a big 10/10 from us. It’s less than an hour or so from Swansea and the drive to it produces a worthwhile goal. Watch out for its very regularly posted social media postings which advertise best rates almost on a daily basis and try and bag yourself a bargain.

Celtic Manor Resort www.celtic-manor.com Tel: 01633 410262 Rooms from £99 bed and breakfast

swansealife.co.uk 145

OUT & ABOUT

Delightful Dusseldorf Düsseldorf impresses with boundary-pushing architecture, zinging nightlife and an art scene to rival many higher-profile cities. It’s a posh and modern city that seems all buttoned-up business at first glance: banking, advertising, fashion and telecommunications are among the fields that have made North Rhine–Westphalia’s capital one of Germany’s wealthiest cities. Yet all it takes is a few hours of bar-hopping around the Altstadt, the historical quarter along the Rhine, to realise that locals have no problem letting their hair down too.....

Touch down... I flew with bmi which flies from Bristol to Dusseldorf daily with fares from £86 one way. www.flybmi.com Our hotel was literally on the doorstep of the airport’s main entrance so no fuss with taxis or trains into the city centre when you arrive. But if you do need to use public transport, a 20-minute trip on near-by U-bahn will get you to where you need to be for just a few euros.

Get your bearings? Düsseldorf spreads along the right (east) bank of the river Rhine, with the airport to the north of town and the redeveloped harbour district to the south. The Hauptbahnhof (3) is about 1km east of the busy Stadtmitte (city centre). The picturesque Altstadt (old town) lies between the Stadtmitte and the river. The Altstadt tourist office (4) is at the corner of Markstrasse and Rheinstrasse (10am-6pm daily); a second is located at the Hauptbahnhof (9.30am-7pm daily except Sunday; 00 49 211 17 202 854; duesseldorf-tourismus.de). On the west bank of the Rhine are the sedate suburbs of Niederkassel and Oberkassel. The Düsseldorf Welcome Card (00 49 211 17 20 28 54; dusseldorftourismus.de) provides free public transport and reduced admission to many local attractions. A 76-hour ticket costs €19 from tourist offices, ticket offices and various hotels and museum is the cheapest and simplest way of getting to know the city.

Check in The Maritim (www.maritim.com) is a sleek, 533-room high-rise hotel, overlooking the airport and boasts all the usual four - star perks including three restaurants and three bars and a 24-hour gym. Doubles from €99, without breakfast. I wasn’t taking too much notice when we booked and didn’t realise until very much later that this was not slap bang in the city centre itself. But if I was to return, I’d do exactly the same and go back. The ease of checking in to your room within 30 minutes of getting off the plane is a joy. Even m ore so, the journey home. Because of where we were we avoided all the usual hassle and clock watching of getting to the airport on time. After a leisurely breakfast, we grabbed our bags and strolled into the airport via a walkway directly from the Maritim. A joy!

Take a view Take the lift to the top of the Rheinturm (12) at Stromstrasse 20 (10am-11.30pm daily; €3.80). Whether you regard this 240m-high TV tower as an icon or an eyesore, the view from the observation deck is well worth the entrance fee. There is also a revolving restaurant on the floor above (00 49 211 86 32 000; guennewig.de) which was closed for refurbishment during our visit but which we were told was very good indeed. For a more sophisticated (if less spectacular) vista, head away from the river for the airy cupola of K21 (13) at Ständehausstrasse 1 (00 49 211 83 81 204; kunstsammlung.de). This avant-garde gallery focuses on international art over 22 continuously changing rooms which are distributed throughout three levels.

Window shopping Stress-free straßen with a family-friendly feel to them. With a vast array of designer outlets, the Königsalle is one of Europe’s most exclusive shopping streets. It is proof of the wealth of the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its central canal and tree-lined boulevards make it a pleasant place to wander although the shops are mainly international, and you’re unlikely to find many bargains. Also worth checking out here is the huge Galeria Kaufhof department store spread over six floors and with a slightly more cost-conscious shopper in mind. Elsewhere, a myriad of streets and alleyways will throw up all sorts of options and price points. The streets are clean, 146 swansealife.co.uk

free of discarded chewing gum, sometimes still so prevalent here, and feel welcoming.

An aperetif Thirst impressions count for the discerning drinker, who can’t help but be impressed by world’s longest bar - boasting an estimated 300 inter-connected pubs and clubs - serving copious quantities of copper-coloured ale and herbal Killepitsch, killer punch in a liqueur glass if over imbibed and indulged. Intoxicating atmosphere indeed. The Altstadt is Düsseldorf’s beating heart and is nearly always heaving. Altbier is the local brew – a dark brown beer with no additives, so you won’t get a hangover, although that could be more to do with the small 200ml glasses. It’s still made in five microbreweries in the Altstadt. Brauerei Schumacher (Ostrasse 123) is the oldest – since 1838 – a dark cavernous place favoured by former Kraftwerk member Wolfgang Flür; and Füchschen (Little Fox) is the smallest. You have to have been coming here for 20 years to get a nod from one of the waiters, 50 years to be on first name terms. It’s also a vegetarian’s nightmare because they serve 70s style meat dishes like Eisbein (pork knuckle) on a bed of Sauerkraut. Order at your peril Cologne’s delicate Kolsch because, while neighbouring cities share a river only 40 kilometres apart, their brew differences - as with sporting, political and fiscal rivalries - are as wide as the yawning waterway itself. For something a little different, you can book an ‘Altbier Safari’ which costs 27.50 euros but is two hours of night-time fun and takes in a decent amount of first-hand sampling.

Dining with the locals One thing you will not go short of in this city is food. It is everywhere you look. But my favourite meal of the entire weekend was at a stand-up table in the Markt am Carlsplatz, a former farmers’ market – established in the 13th century – that’s gone all gourmet in recent years. For locals, it’s a really cool place to meet up, and grab a quick lunch and a beer from one of the artisan stalls – Reibekuchen (flat hash browns ) and an Altbier maybe? We dined like kings on a hearty pea soup with frankfurters and downed a glass or two of beer. It was stunningly good with the main meal itself at just 6 euros. Boisterous, packed and drenched with local colour –’Zum Shiffchen’ (Hafenstr. 5) is all you expect a Rhenish beer hall to be. The kitchen makes a mean Schweinshaxe(roast pork leg). The high-ceilinged interior echoes with the mirthful roar of people enjoying their meals. This is one of the best Altbier breweries in town offering excellent, traditional food and with a good atmosphere. Go there early to get a seat.. Don’t try and count the beers ...just trust the waiter and pay.

The alternative sight The new media harbour is Düsseldorf’s answer to London’s Docklands, with striking architecture springing up around the Medienmeile, a filled-in basin at the foot of the 772ft Rhine tower by the river. The most diverting buildings are the stainless-steel lean-to offices designed by Frank O Gehry, locally known as the dancing towers because of their resemblance to the beer-induced swaying and locking of arms that one encounters in the beer houses.

Need to know: bmi flies from Bristol to Dusseldorf daily (excluding Saturdays) with fares from £86 one way. All fares are inclusive of 23kg hold luggage, allocated seating and complimentary in-flight drinks and snacks. www.flybmi.com The deluxe Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf offers 533 rooms and suites with classic rooms from 99 euros. Reservations: T: +49 (0) 211 5209-0 E: info.dus@maritim.de. For more information visit www.maritim.com

swansealife.co.uk 147

FOR THOSE WHO TAKE THEIR DRIVING SERIOUSLY AND THEIR FINANCES, TOO. MASERATI GHIBLI DIESEL. YOURS. FROM £493 PER MONTH* PLUS INITIAL RENTAL OF £4,930. BASED ON CURRENT STOCK The Ghibli Diesel four door saloon is every inch a Maserati, featuring a gorgeous, coupé-like silhouette, luxury leather interior, economical yet potent diesel engine and 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.

MOTORLINE MASERATI CARDIFF 291 Penarth Road, Cardiff CF11 8TT Phone: 02920 666 472 | www.motorline.co.uk/maserati

Official fuel consumption figures for the Maserati Ghibli MY17 range in mpg (l/100 km): Urban 20.5 (13.8) - 36.7 (7.7), Extra Urban 39.8 (7.1) - 57.6 (4.9), Combined 29.4 (9.6) - 47.9 (5.9). CO2 emissions on combined cycle: 223 - 158g/km. *Personal Contract Hire. Maserati Ghibli Diesel Saloon V6d 4dr Auto (incl. 8 way electrically adjustable front seats + 4 way adjustable lumbar support with driver side memory, Heated front seats, Electric glass tilt and slide sunroof, 19” Proteo design alloy wheels at £3,775). Initial rental of £4,930, followed by 29 monthly rentals of £493, incl. VAT & excl. maintenance. Based on 6,000 miles per annum. Excess mileage charges apply. Vehicles must be ordered and registered between 04/01/18 and 31/03/18. Subject to status and availability. Limited stock. Guarantees may be required. Ts&Cs apply. Leasys, SL1 0WU. We work with a number of creditors including Leasys.

MOTORING

mazda MX-5 RF

Set to appeal to those who enjoy a blend of indulgent open-topped motoring with the option to put the roof up and relax, Mike Torpey puts the new MX-5 RF though its paces...

enturing out in the winter sun may be crisp, sharp and bracing for a leisurely walk, but for convertible car drivers it can quickly lead to purple fingers and chattering teeth.

Unless of course you can afford an executive open-top dripping with creature comforts designed to keep out the cold. Most of us can’t but are still caught up in that curiously British obsession that sees us drawn like moths to the 150 swansealife.co.uk

lightbulb in the direction of a cabrio. We actually buy more convertibles than the Italians, French and Spanish – despite lacking their warm, drier climate – as we try and soak up every available ray of sunshine. But what if there was a way of preserving the open air experience with a little more protection from the elements – and at a decent price too. The answer could be the Mazda MX-5 RF, latest addition to the Japanese brand’s MX-5 sports car line-up. RF actually stands for Retractable Fastback and gives the model a unique

appearance, as well as extra weather protection for the two-seater’s occupants when the roof is down. The hardtop consists of front, middle and rear roof sections plus a rear screen and when the top is lowered the front and middle portions are stowed together, while the rear glass sits behind the seats, leaving the rear roof section in place. And if that sounds more like paying lip service to a genuine convertible, well it actually looks attractive too – add the exclusive Ceramic paint, with its ‘frost on the windscreen’ look, and the effect is really cool.

Sir George Martin’s Rolls-Royce Wraith

Motoring Newsbriefs By: Mike Torpey

FAB DISPLAY FOR GEORGE’S ROLLER

FAST FACTS

A ROLLS-ROYCE Wraith built in honour of Beatles record producer Sir George Martin has joined a new display called The Luxury of Motoring at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 Sport Nav manual

■

■ Price:

£25,995

■ Mechanical:

speed: 134mph

7.4 seconds

■ Combined ■ Insurance

160PS, 1,998cc 4-cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via six-speed manual transmission

■ Max

■ 0-62mph:

■ CO2 ■ BiK

mpg: 40.9

group: 29 (1-50)

emissions: 161g/km

rating: 31%

■ Warranty:

3yrs/60,000 miles

developing 160PS and featuring a limited slip differential and 17-inch wheels.

modern cabin with soft black leather seats and crimson stitching.

Out on the road the RF is a treat to drive with plenty of punch, terrific balance and positive feedback from the large steering wheel.

And for those days when you simply have to keep the lid in place Mazda has used a sound-absorbing headliner in the front and middle roof panels which combines with sound insulation around the rear wheel housings to deliver a much quieter driving experience than before.

In fact the only disappointment for me personally is that the pedals are too close together, though that’s nothing new with the MX-5 or sports cars in general for that matter. Otherwise this car has a really bright and

Prices are from £22,295 for a Mazda MX-5 RF 1.5 SE-L Nav model rising to £27,295 for the 2.0 Sport Nav Auto.

The 2017 Roller is a one-off tribute to the legendary producer, known as ‘the fifth Beatle’. Commissioned by Sir George’s son, songwriter and producer Giles Martin, the hand-crafted Wraith is packed with details that pay homage to a giant of the music world. The titles of Sir George’s 30 number-one hit singles are embroidered into the upholstery between the rear seats, with his signature stitched on each head-rest. Other details include his name engraved into the base of the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. Joining the display courtesy of Rodger Dudding classic vehicle collection at Studio 434, the car is one of nine Wraiths ‘Inspired by British Music’, built to celebrate some of Britain’s finest artists, including The Who frontman Roger Daltrey, Sir Ray Davies of The Kinks, Dame Shirley Bassey and Status Quo.

JLR BOOST FOR EX-SERVICEMEN JAGUAR Land Rover is helping ex-servicemen and women find new careers as technicians in its UK retailer network. The training programme, run with forces’ charity Mission Motorsport, is part of JLR’s commitment to employ 1,000 former military personnel by 2020. A three-week intensive course will help those who have served their country transfer their valuable skills to the retailer network of the carmaker. Phil Cannell, Jaguar Land Rover’s Technical Academy manager, said: “This intensive, fasttrack programme aims to capture the unique and transferable skills of armed forces personnel, giving them an opportunity to forge new careers as retail vehicle technicians. “It addresses the challenges of supporting military into civilian careers while providing our retailers with the highest calibre of staff.” Technical, electronic and mechanical training is held at the Jaguar Land Rover Academy in Warwickshire. The expanded project follows a successful pilot in late 2017, which saw six technicians recruited by Jaguar Land Rover retailers. swansealife.co.uk 151

The Wheel Specialist ALLOY WHEEL REFURBISHMENT & CUSTOMISATION “ DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, HERE’S WHAT MY CUSTOMERS THINK” - Mark Allcott, Owner, The Wheel Specialist Swansea I was really pleased with the whole experience. Mark Allcott was very helpful and his advice was spot on. The work was carried out very professionally and I was extremely pleased with the results. It’s a shame that more business’ aren’t the same. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending to others. Kind Regards, Barry H

Had my wheels refurbished recently at The Wheel Specialist in Swansea on my car. I must say the guys there did a fantastic job, very professional and very helpful. Would highly recommend them to anyone, so many thanks to Mark and the guys at Swansea. Regards, Vaughan Just had my car done, with Mark and the guys at Swansea branch. Fantastic service, I’m delighted with the finished product and shall be using them again. Kind regards, Matt L

“Would like to thank you and your team for the really good work that was carried out on my Audi, the wheels look as good as new and I will be recommending you to others.” Paul Trueman “The wheels are brilliant, the boys did a terrific job matching them to my car, Please thank those concerned. I am very pleased with the results.” Don Lewis

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DIAMOND CUTTING NOW AVAILABLE AT THE WHEEL SPECIALIST - SWANSEA The Wheel Specialist has redefined wheel refurbishment and customisation with 25 years’ experience in the industry pioneering the power coat techniques delivering outstanding quality and finish, transforming your wheels you’ll be proud to have on your vehicle We have now introduced Diamond Cutting to our extensive range of services with all the work completed at our facility in Swansea

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Ashmount Business Park (Unit 9B), Upper Fforest Way, Swansea Enterprise Zone, Swansea, SA6 8QR

So if you’re looking to return your wheel to their original factory finished condition or customise your wheels with a completely new look, then The Wheel Specialist Swansea is here to help

WHAT’S ON

Got something to tell us about, for inclusion in the What’s On section? Please contact Mark Rees... mark.rees@trinitymirror.com

THIS APRIL...

01792 545529 @reviewwales

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Guided Tour: Dylan’s Swansea

Easter Fun

Free family play sessions

The Best Is... Alex

starts from the Dylan Thomas Centre, 10.30am - 12.30pm

Gower Heritage Centre, until April 15

West Cross at 10.30am, and Sketty Park at 2.30pm

Swansea Grand Theatre, 7.30pm

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

2 5

Animal Zone: Exotic Animal Rescue Plantasia, four shows a day

SUNDAY

MONDAY

Marina Market

Dinosaurs in the Jungle

Swansea Marina, 10am - 3pm

Plantasia, until April 13

8 WEDNESDAY

3 6

A Spoonful Of Sherman Swansea Grand Theatre, until April 7

Burlesque and Cabaret Swansea Grand Theatre (Arts Wing), 8pm (18+)

10 Evita

Swansea Grand Theatre, until April 14

THURSDAY

Brangwyn Hall, 7pm

Swansea City Centre, from 11am

154 swansealife.co.uk

TUESDAY

Public Service Broadcasting

Man Engine in Swansea

Get growing! The RHS brings its first major outdoor show of the year to Cardiff

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

RHS FLOWER SHOW cardiff CARDIFF 13 - 15 APRIL www.rhs.org.uk/cardiff

Guided Tour of the Brangwyn Brangwyn Hall, 10am

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Shrek

Käthe Kollwitz: Portrait of the Artist

Giovanni Pernice: Born to Win

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, until April 22

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, until June 17

The Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, 7.30pm

SUNDAY

16 17

15 WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

18 19 20 Of Mice And Men

BBC NOW: R. Strauss and Brahms

Royal Air Force Centenary Gala Concert

Swansea Grand Theatre, until April 21

Brangwyn Hall, 7.30pm

Brangwyn Hall, 7pm

Gwyn Hall, Neath, 7.30pm

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Family Film Club

Special display in the First World War Exhibition

Explore Books

Comedy Club

Mike Doyle

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, 10.30am - 12.30pm

Swansea Museum, final chance - ends April 24

National Waterfront Museum, from 10.30am

Swansea Grand Theatre (Arts Wing), 8pm (16+)

Swansea Grand Theatre, 7.30pm

Derek Acorah

22 23 24 25 26 WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

German Bierfest

Tŷ Hafan’s Rainbow Run

Jamborî! - a weekend festival for all the family

Titanic: The Musical

Swansea, Museum Park, until April 30

Swansea Bay, noon

Volcano, Swansea High Street, until April 30

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, until May 5

27 28

29 30 swansealife.co.uk 155

WHAT’S ON

Evita

WHERE: Grand Theatre, Swansea WHEN: Tuesday, April 10 - Saturday, April 14, 7.30pm with Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm The larger-than-life Bill Kenwright’s production of Evita returns to Swansea. With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it tells the story of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron. Follow her journey from humble beginnings through to extraordinary wealth, power and iconic status which ultimately lead her to be heralded as the “spiritual leader of the nation” by the Argentine people. With more than 20 major awards to its credit, including the Oscar-winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, and featuring some of the most memorable songs in musical theatre, including Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.

Swansea German Bierfest

WHERE: Museum Park, Victoria Road WHEN: Friday, April 27, noon - 11pm; Saturday, April 28, 11am - 11pm; Sunday, April 29, 12.30pm - 7.30pm= Who says that size isn’t everything? Last year, Swansea welcomed its “biggest ever” beer garden to Museum Park as part of German Bierfest Swansea. This year, the celebration will return for another long weekend - and it will be even bigger. Taking place over three days, the beer and bratwurst party will be held inside a German village, complete with steins, schnitzels and lederhosen. Museum Park will be transformed into a German village for the occasion, lined with wooden huts selling all manner of German goodies. The Biergarden will be the festival’s outdoor drinking area, where three varieties of handmade German beers will be served up. The Bavarian FestTent will be the place to be in the evening. Lined with long rows of traditional benches, the steins and schnitzel will be served by waiters in lederhosen and dirndl, while a DJ fills the dance floor with German tunes. General admission to the German village and Biergarden is free, but tickets are needed for the Festtent, the main beer tent, with three different price options available.

Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella

WHERE: Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff WHEN: Tuesday, April 3 - Saturday, April 7 Hot on the heels of their dance hits The Red Shoes and Sleeping Beauty, New Adventures return to the Wales Millennium Centre with one of their most popular productions, Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella. A “thrilling and evocative love story,” it is set in London during the Second World War. Matthew Bourne’s interpretation of the classic fairy tale, has, at its heart, a true war-time romance. A chance meeting results in a magical night for Cinderella and her dashing young RAF pilot, together just long enough to fall in love before being parted by the horrors of the Blitz. 156 swansealife.co.uk

WHY NOT...

theing reahdair c The best books for your children this month put under the microscope by Zoe James-Williams: a Swansea artist, teacher and book blogger A YEAR IN THE WILD BY HELEN AHPORNSIRI

...meet the UK’s largest mechanical puppet? Man Engine, the largest mechanical puppet ever constructed in Britain, will bring the curtain down on a short tour of Wales’s most important industrial heritage locations with a visit to Swansea on Thursday, April 12.

Take a journey through the seasons using only flowers, leaves and seeds particular to that time of the year. From bounding hares to swooping swallows, this is a visual treat that makes it a book to treasure for all ages. The lyrical informative text is the perfect compliment to the natural collages. It would make a lovely present for Easter, especially if paired with a flower press. A cornucopia of natural wonder that will delight and entrance. ISBN 9781783707966 PB Big Picture Press £12.99

UP, DOWN & OTHER OPPOSITES WITH ELLSWORTH KELLY

Resembling a giant miner, the moving, steaming, mechanical Man Engine, which is animated by a team of more than a dozen puppeteers dressed as miners, will collect copper ore from the National Waterfront Museum and then parade through the city centre before presenting its load to historical figure John Henry Vivian, the renowned industrialist who helped develop Swansea, in a dramatic, after-dark fire and light show at the Hafod Morfa Copperworks.

Learn to recognise opposites and appreciate one of the worlds leading abstract artists. This chunky board book encourages early learners to point out and engage with different paintings which show visual opposites such as full/ empty, back/front or together/apart. A cultural and entertaining challenge for little ones to appreciate modern art and also learn to look and spot the differences. Iconic images paired with quirky, funny text will capture the minds of adults and budding art enthusiasts alike.

What is Man Engine’s timetable in Swansea?

ISBN 9780714876290 HB Phaidon £7.95

The Man Engine Cymru story begins to unfold in Swansea at 11am on Thursday, April 12 at the National Waterfront Museum. Spectators are invited to join in the chorus waking Man Engine from his slumber. Through a series of nostalgic displays that will run until 1.15pm, Man Engine will collect the copper ore from the docks. At 2.15pm, Man Engine will begin his journey to Hafod Morfa Copperworks, carrying the copper ore through the city centre, reaching the train station in High Street at approximately 3pm. This spectacular finale begins at 6.30pm on the site of the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks. In a dazzling fire and light show, Man Engine will hand the copper ore to John Henry Vivian for smelting. How much will tickets cost and where can I get them? The good news is that tickets for the event at the National Waterfront Museum and Swansea city centre are free. Tickets for the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks show can be bought online at www.enjoyswanseabay.com/events/ man-engine-swansea

MAX THE DETECTIVE CAT AND THE DISAPPEARING DIVA BY SARAH TODD TAYLOR

Max, a pampered cat and now chief mouse hunter at the Theatre Royal is up to his whiskers in his first mystery. Why is Madam Emerald, an opera diva behaving strangely? What is her maid so terrified of? Can Max save the day before the curtain rises? Children will love the madcap adventure full of drama and excitement. Atmospheric illustrations of the theatre and nighttime capers throughout just add to the hilarity. ISBN 9781788000352 PB Nosy Crow £6.99

ORPHAN MONSTER SPY BY MATT KILLEEN

When Sarah, a young Jewish girl is recruited to become a spy in Nazi Germany, she must befriend the daughter of a top nuclear scientist and put a stop to his chilling experiments. Non-stop action imbued with historical facts bring a timely, unflinching reminder of the horrors of war to life. While dark in places this nail-biting story will hold you in it’s thrall to the chilling end. Great for book group discussion. ISBN 9781474942386 PB Usborne £7.99

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WHAT’S ON

interview

There will never be anyone else quite like Alex One of Swansea’s much-loved personalities will be remembered with a charity tribute this April, featuring dozens of local stars of the future. MARK REES reports

* The Best Is... Alex will be at Swansea’s Grand Theatre on Wednesday, April 4, at 7.30pm.Tickets costing from £10.50 to £15.50 are available from the box office on 01792 475715.

158 swansealife.co.uk

he inspired generations of youngsters to take their first steps on the theatre stage, and raised thousands of pounds for charity along the way.

Swansea Grand Theatre manager Paul Hopkins says: “It’s the best way we know to pay tribute to someone who loved theatre, and who raised thousands of pounds for charity, a significant amount of which went to the local area.

Now, one of Swansea’s most inspirational and sorely-missed personalities is to be remembered with a celebratory tribute night of her own.

“There will never be anyone else like Alex. A genuine, lovely, warm person – you can’t sum her up in words. Her funeral was supposed to be a celebration of her life, and we hope this will be as well.

Alex Frith, who passed away aged 78 last March, was a tireless campaigner for good causes. She raised more than £270,000 for a variety of charities close to her heart, including the Wales Air Ambulance, the NSPCC, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and Barnardo’s. She also gave countless children their big break in the theatre with her two annual shows at Swansea Grand Theatre, The Bumbles of Mumbles and The Best Is Yet To Come. A live show based on her long-running Evening Post comic, the Bumbles of Mumbles offered a rare chance for young talent to appear on the stage of Swansea’s flagship theatre. A formative experience for many, it allowed children from across Swansea Bay to share the limelight with such characters as Dearlo, Lilypop, Toggler, Dooley the Dragon and the Wizard of Oystermouth Castle, and to show off their skills in the historical auditorium. While The Best Is Yet To Come was a springboard for individuals to shine by putting the soloists centre stage, from magicians to singers and dancers to actors. The celebration of Alex’s life, entitled ‘The Best is... Alex’, will see eight local groups who featured prominently in these productions reunite at Swansea Grand Theatre for an evening of commemorative entertainment. They will also be joined by a few yet-to-be-revealed success stories who appeared in Alex’s productions during their formative years and have since carved out successful careers for themselves, such as Craig Gallivan from Sky One’s Stella, Hayley Gallivan who defied gravity as Elphaba in Wicked: The Musical, Swansea’s current Aladdin panto baddie Stefan Pejic, and singer and actor Michael Riseley.

“She had a force of will where she could make anyone do anything. She got me play the voice of Santa in one of her shows one year, and no-one else would have persuaded me to do that! “She encouraged everybody. Part of her ethos with her shows was to encourage young people to have a go. For many it was their first step in their career, and it was a chance for them to perform in a theatre, and to come backstage. You never know where that will lead somebody, and there are generations of kids who I hope have fond memories of the theatre. Alex should be thanked for that, and some of them have asked to come back for the tribute. “Lots of people have fond memories of her events outside of the theatre as well, such Easter on the beach and the Bumbles of Mumbles in the Christmas parade, and she always added that dash of colour to local events – and that colour was usually pink!” The evening will be compered by Kev Johns, and in charge of bringing the magic to life will be co-directors Katherine Wheel and David Lloyd-Jones, who hopes the show will help to continue Alex’s legacy. “Alex was quite entrepreneurial in her life, and one of her loves was to encourage people in the arts,” adds David. “An awful lot of young people have a debt of gratitude to her, and she would appear on stage alongside them herself – usually in a different dress for every scene!”

swansealife.co.uk 159

Darparu llety i fyfyrwyr rhyngwladol

Become a host for international students

Allwch chi gynnig amgylchedd gofalgar, cartrefol i’n myfyrwyr rhyngwladol?

Can you provide a caring, homely environment for our international students?

Rydym ni’n chwilio am bobl all gynnig llety a phrydau bwyd i fyfyrwyr rhyngwladol 16 i 18 oed (sy’n byw yn ardaloedd cod post SA2, SA3 a SA4).

We are looking for new homestay hosts to offer accommodation and meals for international students aged 16 to 18 (in SA2, SA3 and SA4 postal code areas).

Gallwch gael hyd at £140 yr wythnos ar gyfer pob myfyriwr.

Hosts can receive up to £140 per week per student.

Cysylltwch â ni ar 01792 284007 neu international@gcs.ac.uk

gcs.ac.uk/international

SOCIAL DIARY â&#x20AC;˘ Business of the Year Awards

Swansea Bay Media Wales Business of the Year Awards WHere: The Brangwyn Hall, Swansea Tell Me More: The third Swansea Bay Media Wales Business of the Year Awards, presented in association with PWC.

162 swansealife.co.uk