Cardiff life – issue 179

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property @CardiffLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

FIX YOU NEW YEAR ELIXIRS ISSUE 179 / JANUARY 2018 / HAPPY NEW YEAR, CARDIFF!

RHIWBINA, WE LOVE YOU

ISSUE 179 / JANUARY 2018 / £3

THERE’S A (MICHELIN) STARMAN WAITING JAMES SOMMERIN BLOWS OUR MINDS

PETAL POWER INSPIRING FLORISTRY WORKSHOPS AND OTHER NEW YEAR SKILLS AND ADVENTURES

editor’s letter / Issue 179 / JANUARY 2018

Happy New Year!

Yep, with all the leftover turkey and mince pies devoured, that’s another Christmas done and dusted. Now that 2018 is properly upon us, you’ll no doubt have made the usual resolutions – join a gym to shift the post-Christmas flab, promise to call your mum more often, etc etc.

To properly start you on the road to the ‘new you’, we’ve got lots of skills, classes and adventures for you to try, from tasty cookery courses to high-octane trapeze manoeuvres. Go on, get out of that armchair and push yourself out of your comfort zone – you won’t regret it.

Also this issue, we rediscover Rhiwbina’s thriving indie shops, and dine high on the hog at James Sommerin’s Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant in Penarth. And if you still haven’t nominated your business for our Cardiff Life Awards (cardifflifeawards.co.uk), you’d best get cracking, as nominations close on 26 January. Here’s to a fantastic 2018!

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

16

‘course you can!

Yep, it’s January – time to try something new and add a string or two to your bow. Go on, step out of that comfort zone...

Mae’r mins peis a’r holl dwrci a oedd dros ben wedi’u bwyta ac mae Nadolig arall wedi darfod.

Gan fod 2018 ar ein gwarthaf erbyn hyn, mae’n siwr eich bod chi wedi gwneud eich addunedau arferol – ymuno â champfa er mwyn colli pwysau ar ôl y Nadolig, addo ffonio eich mam yn amlach, ac ati.

Er mwyn eich helpu i droi dalen newydd rydym yn rhoi sylw i lawer o sgiliau, dosbarthiadau ac anturiaethau y gallech chi roi cynnig arnynt – o gyrsiau coginio blasus i ddysgu gwneud campau cyffrous ar drapîs. Beth amdani? Codwch o’ch cadair freichiau gyfforddus a gwnewch rywbeth gwahanol i’r arfer – wnewch chi ddim difaru.

Yn y rhifyn hwn hefyd rydym yn ailymweld â siopau annibynnol llewyrchus Rhiwbeina ac yn mwynhau bwyd o’r radd flaenaf ym mwyty crand James Sommerin ym Mhenarth, sydd wedi cael seren Michelin. Ac os nad ydych wedi enwebu eich busnes ar gyfer Gwobrau Cardiff Life (cardifflifeawards.co.uk), bydd gofyn i chi frysio oherwydd 26 Ionawr yw’r dyddiad cau. Gobeithio y bydd 2018 yn flwyddyn wych i chi!

Velimir Ilic Editor vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk Follow us on Twitter: @CardiffLifeMag

1st January 2018 to 31st March 2018

CONTENTS / ISSUE 179 / JANUARY 2018 M EET T H E T EAM

MAIN FEATURE

Editor Velimir Ilic vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk

16 New Year, New You Cool courses, classes, workshops and adventures to prise you out of that armchair

Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors: Hugo Ball, Katie Kissoon, Megan Price, Blaine Scully

28 Rhiwbina We get reacquainted with north Cardiff’s friendly little suburb

Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Kate Butterfield kate.butterfield@mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Lorena Cussens lorena.cussens@mediaclash.co.uk

OPINION 13 A Man’s World Blaine Scully is inspired by a visit to palliative care charity, Ty Hafan

Production and distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager and production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk

THE ARTS 36 What’s On Your cut-out-and-keep guide to this month’s goings-on

41 Film

28

Megan Price on Chapter’s Real To Reel strand, celebrating documentary film-making

SHOPPING 44 Editor’s Choice Elixirs, revivers and treats to brighten your January

48 Fashion Up the style ante and start 2018 with a bold new look

FOOD 52 Restaurant An overdue return to Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth finds the titular Michelin-starred chef on exceedingly good form

TRAVEL 56 Vintage Port A wintry trip to Dartmouth to blow away the cobwebs

60 Try 5... Retreats Five weekend mini-breaks to help you unwind and recharge

BUSINESS

DEPARTMENTS 8 Spotlight Gruff Rhys Jones, local writer/PR man Dan Tyte’s new novel, and how you can help the homeless

71 Business Insider

64 Snapped!

More feelgood biz stories, plus the latest Cardiff Life Awards update

Five pages of pics from local parties large and small

PROPERT Y 76 Property Showcase Katie Kissoon pops into an exceptional and highly charming Victorian vicarage near Cowbridge

Chief executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life, MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW; 01225 475800, mediaclash.co.uk, @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

About MediaClash We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrate the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs. (crumbsmag.com, @ CrumbsMag) and wedding title Vow (@VowMag).

Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help.

Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

82 Cardiff Lives Former professional rugby playerturned-baker Nick Macleod takes a turn in the chair

On the cover Hello, flower! Kirsty Patrick from Forbesfield Flowers heads up our New Year, New You special – see page 16 for more...

CARDIFF BAY SHOWROOM. Unit 7, Anchor Industrial Estate, Dumballs Road, Cardiff CF10 5FF

T: 02920 496166 | E: info@avantgardedesign.co.uk W: www.avantgardedesign.co.uk Find us on: b a

a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e

C A R D I F F: I T S L I F E A N D T I M E S

Artist Pete Fowler and (above) his water tower mural

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT...

THE WATER TOWER MURAL The 50ft-high mural is appearing on the iconic Grade II listed Water Tower outside Cardiff Central station, in celebration of Wales’ Year of Legends 2017 The mural, which will be in place throughout 2018, has been unveiled by Literature Wales, in partnership with Cadw, as part of Weird & Wonderful Wales, a six-stop tour of Wales which draws on some of the strange and fantastic stories, myths and legends featured on the Land of Legends website (landoflegends. wales). Illustrated by artist Pete Fowler, best known for Super Furry Animals’ most iconic album covers, the eye-catching mural’s vivid graphics celebrate and showcase Wales’ mythical past.

“Weird and Wonderful Wales has been a fantastic project combining creative writing, visual art, storytelling and training for writers at six stunning Cadw locations around Wales,” said Lleucu Siencyn, Chief Executive of Literature Wales. “What better way for our legendary tour to end than with this striking mural at the centre of Wales’ capital city? Head over to Cardiff Central to take a look – I don’t think you’ll miss it!”

For more: landoflegends.wales, literaturewales.org

SOCIETY

HELP THE HOMELESS A new way to ‘Give DIFFerently’ to homeless people launches in Cardiff Through a ‘text to donate’ number, Give DIFFerently, which is being funded by the capital’s business improvement district, FOR Cardiff, provides people visiting and living in Cardiff with another way of giving to those who are begging, are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Donations will go into a fund managed by the Community Foundation in Wales, where individuals can access small grants that will bring about positive change at a crucial moment in their lives. From clothing or transport for a job interview to household items, all money raised will directly help people move away from homelessness. The initiative is being supported by frontline services in Cardiff, 8 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

including The Big Issue Cymru, Cardiff Council, Huggard, The Salvation Army, South Wales Police and The Wallich.

“There is growing concern about the homeless situation in the city and a strong desire to help,” said Adrian Field, Executive Director of FOR Cardiff.

“Working together with the organisations that are doing brilliant things to alleviate homelessness, we have created Give DIFFerently to make sure people living on the streets get the support they need, when they need it most.”

To give differently, text DIFF20 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070. For more information, visit givedifferently.wales

Text your donations to help Cardiff’s homeless population

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FICTION

TYTE FIT

Wales-based publisher Graffeg expands into contemporary fiction with The Offline Project, written by Cardiff-based author and PR man, Dan Tyte

SEVEN DEADLY SINS Our occasional mini Q&A with touring or local performers and artistes – this month, comedian, actor, writer and telly presenter GRIFF RHYS JONES bares his wicked soul LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today?

A Moroccan carpet online. Silly. I have enough carpets. You can’t start throwing the ones you have away. Just consult the moths.

GREED: What should you really be cutting down on?

Coffee. It’s the only thing left to me now, though. Sad. And second helpings. Not taking third helpings would be a start.

GLUTTONY: What single thing would you happily eat or drink until you burst?

Virtually the lot. I do this, once a month, at a thing called The Pudding Club. Mmm. Cream cakes. Bread. Pastry. Puddings. I don’t burst. I do groan. The rest of the time I abstain from all those things. (See coffee.)

SLOTH: What should you really be putting your back into right now?

Writing stuff. I have a hundred projects in my head and don’t really know how to get going. My country and western musical

about Tammy and George Jones called I Took The Ride-on Mower Into Town is due.

Overdue, frankly.

WRATH: What or who makes you angry?

Don’t get me started. Just don’t. I am losing it just trying to sort it out. What doesn’t?

(See coffee.)

ENVY: Who are you jealous of?

Oh God. Well... God, for starters. Young people mainly. Especially intelligent, beautiful, successful ones. Sometimes my dog.

Set in Wales and Denmark, the novel focuses on modern social behaviours and the impact of technology on our lives, relationships and perceptions. The internet defines Gerard Kane. But after a death in the family and a dumping, can going off-grid save him?

His pursuit of a life outside the internet takes him from Cardiff, and a web of family members caught in cycles of selfies and online gambling, to a new offline community in the Danish woodland.

“The Offline Project is a search for self, sex and WiFi signal,” said Dan, also the MD of local PR agency, Working Word. “If you live your life with your phone in your hand but really wish you didn’t, you’ll recognise a little of yourself in its characters.

“The tension in the story is centred around how the human race might reboot itself if the internet no longer existed, and whether we could create a world without being able to Google things every two minutes.”

The Offline Project will publish in paperback and as an ebook (RRP £8.99) in May 2018. For more: graffeg.com, Twitter: @OfflineProject Writer Dan Tyte

PRIDE: What to date has been your proudest moment?

Creating a certain thing on a TV reality show that I am not allowed to tell you about.

Griff Rhys Jones performs an evening of stories, anecdotes and outright lies at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre on 14 March.

For more, see shermantheatre.co.uk

 SPECIALITY COFFEE SHOP OFFERING ITS OWN SIGNATURE BLEND AND ROTATING GUEST ROASTERS FROM AROUND THE UK AND WALES 

ALSO , NDWICHES SERVING SA EEKEND AW C A K E S A N D U MA D E EN BRUNCH M IN HOUSE 13 HIGH STREET ARCADE, CARDIFF TEL: 029 2132 0400

A MAN’S WORLD

BLAINE SCULLY

LIFE LESSONS New Year’s resolutions are all well and good, says Blaine, but after an inspiring visit to palliative care charity Ty Hafan, we should just learn to take what life throws at us and live well

M

any of us spend anxious hours thinking about our New Year’s resolutions (‘Do more push-ups’, ‘Eat more kale’, ‘Post less food pictures on Instagram’). It’s perhaps at this point that I’m left wondering why we don’t spend more time reflecting on the year that has just passed. If we’re to make the most of 2018, should we not look back on 2017 to some of the lessons we learned? Asking ourselves how we might apply those lessons for a better New Year?

As I reflect on 2017 (which was quite an interesting one for a number of different reasons), I can’t help but think back to my visit to Welsh paediatric palliative care charity Ty Hafan in December.

During the holiday season, Cardiff Blues players make trips to local hospitals in the community. On these visits, one hopes to connect with the kids, families and staff for a short time – sharing a smile or laugh, supporting and providing a brief moment of happiness away from pain and discomfort.

It’s important to us: an opportunity to show support for our community, one that is

supportive of us (most jobs don’t come with 10,000 supporters to cheer you on).

The hospital itself is a special place, due to the fact that it doesn’t actually feel like a hospital. It feels more like a daycare centre and a playground, living and breathing with activity, joy and happiness. But at its core, Ty Hafan provides holistic palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions, and supports their families throughout Wales.

I’M IN AWE OF THE CHILDREN’S ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE There is a famous hallway upon arrival to Ty Hafan. Over the years, child patients, families, staff and patrons have left their mark in the form of a handprint on the wall, a memorial to all who are forever a part of the Ty Hafan family. It is emotional and touching in equal measure.

As I left Ty Hafan that day, I’m still reflecting on how deeply I was impacted.

The staff’s tireless commitment to the

children and families; the families’ strength and unending support of their children; and the children’s positive attitudes and enthusiasm for life. Seeing the smiles and bravery of all in that building, I believe I was the one who left changed. I was in awe of all those wonderful people, inspired by the support they shared and how much they were getting out of life.

As I attempt to learn from the experience, I realise how grateful I am for the opportunity to share that time with them; I’m reminded of their courage in the face of hardship, and feel inspired by their enthusiasm to live well.

As 2018 opens, you should definitely do more push-ups. Eat more kale, too (although it’s probably easier to blend it up into a smoothie). As for the application of 2017’s lessons – when this New Year brings challenges, may we all share the attitude of those at Ty Hafan, bravely taking on what life throws at us and doing our best every day to live well.

Blaine Scully plays professional rugby for Cardiff Blues – follow him on Twitter: @BlaineScully1.

For more: cardiffblues.com

a d v e r t isin g fe at u r e L E G A L

Can my ex-wife block our family trip to France?

Do you need expert legal help with family matters? BERRY SMITH LAWYERS in Cardiff and Bridgend, who are experts in this field, can help...

M

y wife and I were divorced last year and, whilst things have been fairly amicable, she won’t let me take our daughter (aged 8) abroad at Easter. She is paranoid that I will not bring her back from France, where I was born and my family still live. I need to book the trip in the New Year. Is there anything I can do?

Do I need my ex-wife’s permission?

a: If your daughter was born during your marriage, or you are named as her father on the birth certificate, you share parental responsibility for your daughter with your wife. However, you will need her permission to take her abroad.

Holidays abroad are often novel, and exciting experiences for children which the family courts

encourage, particularly if it also provides an opportunity for your daughter to spend time with your extended family. You should try to allay your ex-wife’s fears by reassuring her of your intention to return home; you could try offering to give her full details of the trip including flight plans, dates of departure and return, and an itinerary if you have one. You could also offer to give your ex-wife some contact details to further reassure her (although you should agree times/dates for calls so that her calls do not disrupt your time with your daughter).

If your ex-wife insists on refusing to allow you to take your daughter abroad then you can try mediation or, as time is of the essence, your only option may be to make an application to the family court as soon as possible.

Katie McColgan, Partner (Family Department) at Berry Smith

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

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Instead of making a New Year’s resolution to stop doing something, why not resolve to start doing something instead? Here are just a few local classes, workshops and adventures to prise you out of that armchair...

By V E L I M I R I L IC

W

e all know the timehonoured ritual – waking up on New Year’s Day with a headache, feelings of overindulgence and firm vows to do better during the year ahead. New Year’s resolutions are usually about trying to stop doing something you like – smoking, drinking, that chocolate brownie habit – but they don’t have to be.

Instead of feeling regretful about a failed diet, why not feel proud of a skill you’ve learned, or a new activity you’ve experienced? With a huge number of courses, workshops and activities going on across Cardiff, the New Year is the perfect time to add a new string (or two) to your bow. No excuses...

FOOD / COOKERY

ONE MILE BAKERY Run by rugby player-turned-baker Nick Macleod, Rhiwbina-based OMB offers various classes, showing you how to make gorgeous artisan Italian and sourdough bread. For starters, try the Introduction To Baking (next available course is on 17 March), a fun, relaxed day during which you’ll learn how to bake three key loaves, with different flours.

Best of all, lunch is included, and you’ll have armfuls of your own freshly-baked bread to take home with you at the end of the day. onemilebakery.com 16 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

THE NEW

YEAR IS THE PERFECT TIME TO ADD A NEW STRING (OR TWO) TO YOUR BOW

ANGELA GRAY’S COOKERY SCHOOL Based at Llanerch Vineyard in Hensol, the school boasts an extensive range of courses, from classic curries to winter Italian and beyond, plus the popular Skillbuilder courses, designed to build expertise in specific areas, such as knife skills or pasta-making. We love the sound of the Gourmet Barbecue classes (25 March and 13 May), which include making rubs, marinades, brines and glazes, and learning how to achieve delicious smoky flavours and cooking meat/fish to perfection.

Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan; angelagray.co.uk

WATERLOO TEA: BARISTA SKILLS Covering all the basic elements of being a barista, Waterloo Tea’s foundation skills class (various dates available) includes everything from adjusting your grinder, good tamping techniques and espresso machine maintenance to the science of extraction, milk steaming and latte art. Go on, espresso yourself...

Wyndham Arcade, Cardiff; waterlootea.com

MINT & MUSTARD Mint & Mustard’s fun and informal classes (several dates available) show how to emulate the restaurant’s award-winning, Keralan-inspired cuisine, providing you with the necessary skills and techniques to make their innovative Indian dishes at home. Includes a delicious two-course dinner, prepared by the Mint and Mustard kitchen.

134 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff; mintandmustard.com

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU CORNERHOUSE COOKERY Set up by former TV director/producer Tina Moss in Whitchurch, there’s so many classes to choose from here that it’s almost impossible to pick a favourite, but forthcoming ones that caught our eye include Modern Vegetarian/ Vegan Feast (27 January), Great Tastes of Wales (28 February) and One-Pot Wonders (29 March).

Lunch and a glass of wine are included, too – brilliant for team-building or hen parties.

21 Heol Don, Whitchurch, Cardiff; cornerhousecookery.co.uk

COCORICO PATISSERIE Founded by Frenchman Laurian Veaudor, Cardiff’s Cocorico Patisserie – finalists on BBC Two’s Bake Off: Creme De La Creme earlier this year – have been creating incredible French pastries and cakes since 2010; even just a quick peek at the delicate tarts, macarons and sugary showpieces on their website is enough to make you want to lick the screen. For a taste of the real thing, they do a ‘Basics of Patisserie’ class (15 February, 22 March and 19 April) at their Whitchurch Road cafe. Sweet!

35 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff; cocoricopatisserie.co.uk

LOVING WELSH FOOD Running every Friday from 10.30am to 2.30pm, LFF’s Cardiff Tasting Tours take participants around the city centre, calling into specialist food producers, retailers and Cardiff Indoor Market, with lots of titbits to sample en route – continental meats, Welsh cheeses, cockles, laverbread and local beverages. They do a Cardiff Food Safari every Saturday too (10.30am-4pm), with three courses in three different venues, plus a gentle stroll around the city and Cardiff Bay. lovingwelshfood.uk

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You just keep me hangin’ on: contemporary circus NoFit State offers a broad range of circus skills-based exercise classes

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

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU CREATIVE / CRAFTS

THE PRINTHAUS This independent, sustainable, not-for-profit creative community in Canton offers artists’ studios, an events space and an array of cool screenprinting workshops, where you can create your own custom-made posters and bespoke printed t-shirts – available as one-to-one tuition, entry-level classes or team-building days for your office or workplace. They do great community workshops, too – previous ones have included producing massive flags for the Green Man festival and screenprinting lovely keepsakes with elderly folk.

70A Llandaff Rd, Cardiff; theprinthaus.org

CARDIFF OPEN ART SCHOOL Plenty of fun courses here on which to unleash your inner creative, whether you’re an experienced artist or designer or have never picked up a pencil before. Courses cover topics such as painting in oils and acrylics, life drawing, printmaking, screen printing and more – a bit of something for everyone.

Cardiff School of Art & Design, Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff; cardiffmet.ac.uk/artanddesign

(Above) The Printhaus has an array of excellent screenprinting workshops; (Below) Kirsty Patrick and Beth Forbes-Simpson, founders of Forbesfield Flower School

THE ART WORKSHOP Offering quality Fine Art tuition for adults and children, The Art Workshop in Rhiwbina has a panoply of courses in drawing, painting and printmaking, exploring mixed media, experimental acrylics, life drawing, and more (see website for all dates). There’s an art academy for kids, too – an hour of inspiring and fun Fine Art tuition by qualified art teachers.

3 Lon Fach, Rhiwbina, Cardiff; theartworkshop.co.uk

FFOTOGALLERY If you love your DSLR but wish you could do more with it, look no further – Ffotogallery (based at Turner House in Penarth and Chapter in Canton) offers excellent photography courses to suit all levels. Novices may want to start with the Introduction to Photography (various dates), which will help you to get to grips with the functions of your camera and learn how to produce good photos. If you’re looking to develop existing skills and knowledge, try the Advanced Digital Photography (Mondays from 29 January onwards) and Landscape Photography (Thursdays from 18 January).

Turner House, Plymouth Road, Penarth; ffotogallery.org

GLASS BY DESIGN As well as making and selling a striking and extensive range of bespoke fused and stained glass, GBD owners Angelina Hall and Cathy O’Doherty host glass courses for all abilities, teaching everything from intensive glass-cutting and traditional leaded lights, to stained glass seascapes and fused coral-style bowls.

1 Station Approach, Penarth; glassbydesign.co.uk

CRAFT IN THE BAY As always, lots of creative art and craft workshops going on here (2018 dates TBC), suitable for everyone from complete novices to more experienced makers. They put on ‘crafty parties’, too – fun craft workshops led by professional artists, where you can choose to make various types of jewellery (enamel, pewter, silver etc), pottery, felt or fused glass.

The Flourish, Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff; makersguildinwales.org.uk w 18 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

TRAMSHRED’S

HIGHINTENSITY WORKOUTS BURN SERIOUS CALORIES

(Clockwise from above pic) Learn barista skills at Waterloo Tea; twerk off the turkey with Tramshred’s hi-intensity workouts; make your own sweet treats at Cocorico Patisserie

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 19

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU MUSIC

HOW THE VOICE WORKS For would-be songbirds, How The Voice Works provides individual singing tuition and vocal training. Expert vocal coaches Tim Richards and Ian Nicholas cater for all ranges, from keen amateur through to professional singer, and focus on aspects such as improving your repertoire and efficient ‘belting’ – great for those in-car solos.

Castle Court, 6 Cathedral Road, Cardiff; howthevoiceworks.co.uk

ACTIVITY / PHYSICAL

LINDY HOP CARDIFF Based on American swing, an exuberant dance style born in the dance halls of Harlem, New York in the 1920s and 30s, Lindy Hop runs numerous courses, taster classes and workshops.

There are also lots of friendly socials – and plenty of people to partner up with – so you needn’t worry about turning up on your own.

Advanced Lindy Hoppers can even broaden their repertoire with other types of swing, including Solo Jazz, Balboa and Shag. lindyhopcardiff.com

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(Above) Cooking up a storm with Angela Gray; (Below, right) Ffotogallery has photography courses to suit all levels

VENN SCHOOL OF SEWING Want to learn how to cut a proper pattern, run up a pair of curtains or bump up your sewing skills from basic to top-notch? The Venn School of Sewing will see you right, with expert sewing tuition at their shop in Canton – available on a one-to-one/one-to-two basis – to get you started.

14 Llandaff Road, Canton; venntailoring.com

FORBESFIELD FLOWER SCHOOL Run by Beth Forbes-Simpson and Kirsty Patrick, FFS aims to inspire students to explore their creativity and produce gorgeous designs, working by ‘feel’ and ‘eye’ as much as tried and trusted floristry techniques. Upcoming courses include Dinner Party Flowers (22 Feb), Luxe Tablescapes (27 Feb) and DIY Brides (various dates).

IF YOU LOVE YOUR DSLR, AND WANT TO

DO MORE WITH IT, LOOK NO FURTHER

forbesfield.co.uk

SELF-DEVELOPMENT

BECOME & INSPIRE Looking to improve your life and build your confidence, self-worth and fulfilment in 2018?

Check out Become & Inspire, the new personal development community launched by Andrea Callanan, founder of team-building company, inspireMe. Andrea is also the driving force behind Superchoir, Cardiff’s fun, vibrant, no-audition choir, which meets every Wednesday night at The Old Library in Cardiff. If you’ve always loved singing, regardless of how good or bad you think your voice is, give it a try! becomeandinspire.com, andinspireme.com/superchoir www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 21

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY WALES The more nimble-footed amongst you might like to try evening classes at Cardiff’s award-winning dance company, which has presented work by celebrated international choreographers and the hottest new talent from Wales. Classes offered include morning yoga (Tuesdays, 8-9am), adult beginners’ ballet (Tuesdays, 6.15-7.30pm) and contemporary dance (Tuesdays, 7.30-8.45pm).

They also run week-long courses during the Easter and summer school holidays, for various age groups and abilities.

Dance House, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff; ndcwales.co.uk

NO FIT STATE As well as its critically acclaimed travelling shows, the Cardiff-based contemporary circus company also has a broad range of circus skillsbased exercise classes for all ages and abilities, including juggling, acrobatics, tightwire, unicycle and more. There are regular adult classes, too, which include aerial fitness, ropes and flying trapeze. The Cyr Wheel – a fun, human version of the hamster wheel – sounds cool.

Four Elms Road, Adamsdown, Cardiff; nofitstate.org

HOTPOD YOGA Launched by Liz and Aaron Cousins a couple of years ago, Hotpod Yoga has become a real hit in Cardiff. Sessions take place in a low-lit, 20-person inflatable studio, heated to 37 degrees and scented with essential aromatherapy oils; there’s a mood-enhancing, almost otherworldly purple

No sweat: Hotpod Yoga is designed to relax you and make you flexible and strong

glow, with mellow background beats to add a bit of edge. Available seven days a week, the unique, immersive classes are designed to make you more flexible, relaxed and strong. Or as Liz puts it, it’s yoga for “real life and real people”.

Cardiff Central Sports & Community Centre, Beignon Close, Cardiff; hotpodyoga.com

THRILL JUNKIES OF ALL AGES WILL LOVE WHITE WATER

RAFTING – NOT FOR THE

FAINTHEARTED

CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL WHITE WATER Thrill junkies of all ages will love the high adrenaline watersports at Cardiff International White Water, located in the heart of the city’s International Sports Village. There’s white water rafting, stand-up paddleboarding, indoor surfing or a spot of the rather rude-sounding hot dogging – a white water challenge in a two-person inflatable kayak. Rude or not, it’s definitely not one for the faint-hearted.

Watkiss Way, Cardiff Bay; ciww.com

TRAMSHRED Tramshed’s ‘Tramshred’ sessions – see what they did there? – invite you to twerk off the turkey at their latest HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout. Taking place on 21 January, you’ll burn some serious calories – a live DJ mixes beats from different decades, while qualified instructors perform a routine of dance moves and bodyweight exercises for you to follow, encouraging weight loss, muscle-building and cardiovascular endurance. Afterwards, reward yourself with a refreshing post-workout glass of prosecco and a healthy brunch. Shake that booty!

Tramshed, Clare Road, Cardiff; tramshedcardiff.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 23

Caci Facials, Hair Removal and Skin Rejuvenation now available!

Medical Grade Lynton Q-Switch Tri wave length laser treats ALL colours to fade for fresh ink or remove completely. Our professional, qualified laser technicians will carry out treatment to remove the ink at the optimum levels whilst leaving your skin unmarked.

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Vale Laser Clinic, 1A The Square, St Athan Village, Vale of Glamorgan CF62 4PF | 01446 750 880 | valelaserclinic.co.uk

Quirky gift emporium and art space, Ginger Whites

VILLAGE VIBE If you haven’t been to Rhiwbina for a while, there are plenty of reasons to get reacquainted with north Cardiff’s friendly little suburb, known locally as ‘the village’

By H UG O BA L L M a i n photo s by OW E N M AT H I A S

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

STREET LIFE

Bread of heaven: perfectly turnedout focaccia at One Mile Bakery

O Gail Jones, co-owner of Haus Contemporary Furnishings

n the surface, Rhiwbina might seem just like any other small suburb – a few shops here, a couple of cafés there, and a good smattering of handsome properties dotted around its quiet, sought-after residential streets. But scratch the surface, and there’s more to this prosperous north Cardiff area than meets the eye.

Famous people have lived here – musician Andy Fairweather Low lived in Beulah Road, 80s popster Howard Jones (born to Welsh parents) lived here until he was 13, and Cardiff Blues man Sam Warburton [Congrats on the OBE! – Ed] also resided here as a youngster.

And it used to be a separate village (the core of it is still known locally as ‘the village’), but still retains that friendly, close-knit essence; the shopowners all know and support each other, and are more than happy to give you the time of day.

It’s only once you begin chatting to some of the locals that you realise just how much of a strong community feel there is here. “Everyone stops to have a chat,” says Victoria Matta, owner of Victoria Fearn Gallery, which specialises in contemporary British crafts, sculpture, glass, ceramics, paintings, prints and jewellery, as well as wooden toys and gifts. “I can walk to work and often stay in Rhiwbina to socialise, too. It’s perfectly placed, just minutes off the M4, easy to travel into town with good bus and train routes, and not far from the countryside.”

Nick Macleod, the ex-professional rugby playerturned-baker who runs One Mile Bakery from his w

Perk life: Great coffee and lively chat at Snails bistro and deli

THERE’S A

STRONG COMMUNITY FEEL...

EVERYONE STOPS TO HAVE A CHAT

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

We found this unexpected little gem lurking down Lon Fach alley – can you name these iconic artists?

WE ALWAYS GET COMMENTS ABOUT THE LOVELY VILLAGE

ATMOSPHERE

home in Rhiwbina – the micro-bakery delivers handmade bread, jams and soups locally and Nick also teaches a range of popular baking classes (he’s also the subject of this month’s Cardiff Lives, see page 82 for more) – concurs. “Rhiwbina has a fantastic sense of community, and is a brilliant environment for young families,” he says. “It’s where I’m from, and my parents still live here.

Since I’ve moved back, I’ve met up with lots of friends I was at junior school with. Like me, they’d left the area to go away to university or for work, and now I see them picking their kids up at the school gates.”

Rhiwbina’s shops and small independent businesses certainly seem to be quietly thriving.

Having started up their interior design business more than six years ago, Haus Contemporary Furnishings have settled into life here.

Their shop on Heol-y-Deri offers a great choice of contemporary fabrics, blinds and made-tomeasure curtains, as well as a re-upholstery service, wallpapers, mirrors, lighting and a range of home accessories – check out their unrivalled range of modern Luxaflex blinds. “As a Luxaflexappointed gallery dealer, we are a test market for all new blind products before official launches,” says co-owner Gail Jones. “The very latest range is Luminette Shades, a combination between a sheer curtain and a vertical blind – set to be hugely successful!”

The home theme continues over at Nest, a gorgeous shop with all sorts of gifts, beautiful 30 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Anna Knight, owner of gift and home accessories shop, Nest: “Many of our customers have become friends.”

STREET LIFE

(This page, left) You too can have glorious tresses like this at Coco Hair & Beauty; (Below) This landmark four-bedroom property on Rhiwbina Hill is currently on the market for £795,000 with Morgans Residential (see morgansresidential.co.uk)

china, kitchenalia, eclectic glass, lots of decorative items and sought-after Melin Tregwynt throws, made from 100% wool. “We love welcoming local customers and just having a good natter,” says owner Anna Knight. “We’ve been in the village for over seven years and many of our customers have become friends. It seems that people who visit Nest from further afield get a sense of this, too – we always get comments about the lovely village atmosphere in Rhiwbina.”

On Beulah Road, more temptations await.

Ginger Whites, run by local artist Jason Davies, is a colourful, quirky emporium of curiosities, gifts, artwork and vintage finds, while Coco Hair & Beauty salon offers a variety of feelgood treatments to enhance your personal style, from cuts and colours to deluxe pedicures and waxing and threading. And for all things floral, nearby Flower Lodge does lovely wedding bouquets, everyday blooms and hand-tied selections of seasonal flowers and baskets.

Food-wise, Snails bistro and deli, owned by husband and wife team Rupert and Fran Sykes, is a longstanding Cardiff Life pit-stop. As well as great coffee, they also have a popular pizza night every Wednesday, regular live music and a Friday night supper club, amongst other things. The Olive Branch café and bookshop is another good spot for coffee and cake; and you can get topnotch meat, game and poultry from traditional, family-owned butcher, P&R Hopkins, sourced directly from local farms – while you’re there, stock up on cooked and cured meats, patés and homemade pies and pastries at their on-site deli.

The property market here seems pretty buoyant, too. If you’re looking for a semidetached abode, this popular area is definitely worth bearing in mind – semi-detached properties accounted for the majority of sales in Rhiwbina during 2017, selling for an average (and not unreasonable) price of £299,842.

Look sharp, now...

YOU HAVE BEEN READING Coco Hair & Beauty 21 Heol-y-Deri CF14 6HA cococardiff.com

Ginger Whites 10 Beulah Road CF14 6LX Tel: 02920 615692

Nest 2 Heol-y-Deri CF14 6HF nestcardiff.co.uk

Flower Lodge 4 Beulah Road CF14 6LX flowerlodge.co.uk

Haus Contemporary Furnishings 6c Heol-y-Deri CF14 6HF haus-cardiff.co.uk

The Olive Branch 17 Heol-y-Deri CF14 6HA Twitter: @OBRhiwbina

One Mile Bakery onemilebakery.com P&R Hopkins 121 Heol Llanishen Fach CF14 6RE cardiffbutchers.co.uk

Snails Deli & Café 6-8 Beulah Rd CF14 6LX snailsdeli.com Victoria Fearn Gallery 6b Heol-y-Deri CF14 6HF Twitter: @fearngallery

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

12 January – 12 February

Dublin Carol, by acclaimed playwright Conor McPherson, is coming to Sherman Theatre; folk troubadour Will Varley; Welsh National Opera’s epic La Forza del Destino

Plays/Shows/ Performance U N TI L 2 0 JANUARY

THE BAND The fastest-selling musical theatre tour of all time, no less, featuring the music of Take That.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 25 JANUARY

DEAR ESTHER A deserted Hebridean landscape, a fatal crash and a book written by a dying man feature in this haunting live performance of the titular video game, backed by a powerful score from BAFTAwinning composer, Jessica Curry.

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; rwcmd.ac.uk 1- 1 7 F E B RUARY

DUBLIN CAROL A raw, unflinching but quietly

beautiful account of a life wasted, as John, an alcoholic undertaker, is confronted by the ghosts of his past.

Sherman Theatre; shermantheatre.co.uk 2 - 2 4 FE BRUA R Y

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA WNO return with Verdi’s epic La Forza del Destino (2-17 Feb); Puccini’s thrilling Tosca (9-24 Feb); and Mozart’s Don Giovanni (22-24 Feb), equal parts comedy, tragedy and high drama.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 5 - 1 0 FE BRUA R Y

FLASHDANCE: THE MUSICAL Based on the 1983 hit movie, the inspiring story of 18 year-old Alex, welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, who dreams of going to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy and becoming a professional dancer.

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

New Theatre; newtheatrecardiff.co.uk 6-10 F EBR UAR Y

LOUDER IS NOT ALWAYS CLEARER Honest portrayal of the vulnerability of a deaf man, a humorous and moving story of said man’s attempt to cope, fit in and be accepted.

Chapter; chapter.org 6-13 F EBR UAR Y

THE NIGHT WATCH The Richard Burton Company present Sarah Waters’ bestselling World War II novel, a story of illicit love and everyday heroism.

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; rwcmd.ac.uk

Tundra; and Mario Bermudez Gil’s infectious dance piece, Atalaÿ.

Sherman Theatre; shermantheatre.co.uk

Comedy 18 J ANUARY

THURSDAY NIGHT PIEFACE COMEDY With Abigoliah Schamaun, Alistair Barrie and Andrew Ryan.

Glee Club; glee.co.uk 21 J ANUARY

SEAN LOCK More circuitous monologues and skewed wit from the 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown man.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk

8 F EBR UAR Y

TERRA FIRMA Trio of performances by National Dance Company Wales, including enchanting fairytale, Folk; Marcos Morau’s Russian folk-influenced

25-31 J A NUARY

FAULTY TOWERS: THE DINING EXPERIENCE Based on John Cleese’s chaotic BBC sitcom (the spelling of

W H AT ’ S O N

ARTS

‘Faulty’ is intentional); when Basil, Sybil and Manuel are serving you a meal, everything that can go wrong, inevitably will...

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 1 F E B RUARY

ED GAMBLE More endearingly silly storytelling from the Mock The Week regular.

Clwb Ifor Bach; clwb.net

Music 1 4 J ANUARY

WNO ORCHESTRA Featuring pieces by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Dvorák.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 1 6 J ANUARY

MARTYN JOSEPH The “Welsh national treasure” (Mojo), with shades of Springsteen, John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 1 9 J ANUARY

BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES Conductor Xian Zhang oversees Beethoven’s mighty and daring Symphony No. 9.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 2 0 J ANUARY

BACK TO BACHARACH Celebrating the music of Burt Bacharach, one of the 20th century’s most accomplished and popular composers.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 2 4 J ANUARY

WELSH NATIONAL OPERA & BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES First-time collaboration on an epic scale, as the two mighty orchestras join forces for a special double bill, featuring Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.

Wales Millennium Centre; wmc.org.uk 6 F E B RUARY

CHRIS WOOD Uncompromising, self-taught folk musician, former winner of BBC Radio 2’s Folk Singer of the Year.

National Dance Company Wales present Marcos Morau’s Tundra, influenced by Russian folk

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 7 FE BRUA RY

WILL VARLEY The politically charged, contemporary folk troubadour heads out on his biggest UK tour to date.

The Globe; globecardiffmusic.com 8 FE BRUA RY

BBC NATIONAL ORCHESTRA OF WALES Conductor Thomas Søndergård oversees work by Sibelius – including his anthemic fifth symphony – and Nielsen.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 9 FE BRUA RY

THE DAMNED Punk legends – their groundbreaking 1976 cut, New Rose, was recently voted best punk song ever.

Cardiff University Great Hall; cardiffstudents.com

And The Green Knight work, based on the titular mystical medieval poem.

Martin Tinney Gallery; artwales.com

Bill Brandt and others, from the collection of documentary photographer, David Hurn.

National Museum Cardiff; museumwales.ac.uk

UNTIL 31 J ANUAR Y

UNTIL 2 DECEM B ER

BACON TO DOIG: MODERN MASTERPIECES FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION Prominent 20th-century British artists and sculptors, including Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Grayson Perry, Barbara Hepworth, and more.

National Museum Cardiff; museumwales.ac.uk

20 J ANUARY- 1 6 F EB RUARY UNTIL 3 F EBR UAR Y

HOLLY DAVEY: THE CONVERSATION A buff foolscap folder containing a lifetime’s fragments – photographs, scraps of paper, postcards etc – is the starting point for Davey’s solo show, which forms an imagined reality; an archive of a life.

G39; g39.org UNTIL 4 MAR C H

1 1 FE BRUA RY

INDIA ELECTRIC CO. Atmospheric, folky vibes with an Eastern European flavour.

Acapela; acapela.co.uk

Art U N TI L 2 7 JA NUAR Y

CLIVE HICKS-JENKINS Featuring the artist’s Sir Gawain

WHO DECIDES? Contemporary art exhibition curated by service users from homelessness charity, The Wallich, featuring artists Anthony Caro, Olga Chernysheva, Richard Deacon, Laura Ford and more.

National Museum Cardiff; museumwales.ac.uk

ON WATER UNDER SNOW Dreamlike landscapes by Seoulborn Minyoung Choi, featuring images of objects or scenes culled from her imagination.

Chapter; chapter.org

JOHN SELWAY Typically flamboyant and inventive oil paintings, watercolours and digital drawings by the British artist, who recently passed away.

BayArt; bayart.org.uk

Book Now 13 F EB RUARY- 1 2 M AY

LOVESICK New triptych of plays from Cardiff’s visionary pub theatre, asking what love truly means in the modern age.

The Other Room at Porter’s; otherroomtheatre.com

UNTIL 11 MAR C H

SWAPS Work by leading 20th and 21st century photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eve Arnold,

27 AP RI L

MY FAMILY: NOT THE SITCOM David Baddiel’s Olivier-nominated w

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

ARTS

W H AT ’ S O N

For folk’s sake: rising music duo India Electric Co.

one-man show about memory, ageing, infidelity, dysfunctional relatives, moral policing on social media, golf and gay cats.

St David’s Hall; stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk 7 SEPTEMBER

THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN: LIVE AGAIN! Beware – the unhinged citizens of Royston Vasey are coming. Keep it local...

Motorpoint Arena; motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

League, face-off 7pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com FRI DAY 2 FE B R UAR Y

CARDIFF BLUES v LONDON IRISH Anglo-Welsh Cup, KO 7.45pm.

BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park; cardiffblues.com SATU RDAY 3 F EBR UAR Y

Sport

WALES v SCOTLAND RBS Six Nations, KO 2.15pm.

Principality Stadium; principalitystadium.wales

S UN DAY 1 4 J ANUA RY

WE D N E SDAY 7 F EBR UAR Y

CARDIFF DEVILS v GUILDFORD FLAMES League, face-off 6pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com

CARDIFF DEVILS v SHEFFIELD STEELERS League, face-off 7.30pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com

S UN DAY 2 1 J ANUA RY

CARDIFF DEVILS v FIFE FLYERS League, face-off 6pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com S AT URDAY 2 7 J A N UA RY

CARDIFF CITY v BOLTON WANDERERS Sky Bet Championship, KO 3pm.

Cardiff City Stadium; cardiffcityfc.co.uk S AT URDAY 2 7 J A N UA RY

CARDIFF DEVILS v COVENTRY BLAZE

SATU RDAY 1 0 F EBR UAR Y

CARDIFF BLUES v TOYOTA CHEETAHS Guinness Pro 14, KO 7.35pm.

BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park; cardiffblues.com SU N DAY 1 1 FEBR UAR Y

CARDIFF DEVILS v NOTTINGHAM PANTHERS League, face-off 6pm.

Ice Arena Wales; cardiffdevils.com

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

WANT MORE? Sign up now for the Cardiff Life newsletter...

As editor of this fine mag, there’s nothing I enjoy more than drawing your attention to this buzzing city’s best events and happenings.

To keep readers fully updated about what’s going on in Cardiff, we email out a free newsletter every Friday, packed with news, our essential ‘see and do’ picks of the week, tips and special offers.

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T H E A L B A N Y G A L L E RY EXHIBITION OF POSTERS in association with Goldmark Gallery January 18th - February 10th 2018 Artists’ posters are a great way to own affordable works and some of the leading 20th century artists are represented in this exhibition. Artists include Picasso, Chagall, Hockney, Warhol, Miro, Braque and Matisse.

View the exhibition on our website

www.albanygallery.co.uk 74b Albany Road, Cardiff, CF24 3RS | T: 029 2048 7158 | E: info@albanygallery.com Gallery open: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am-4pm

FILM

ARTS

(Clockwise from left) Mountain, Suggs: My Life Story and Human Flow

TOP OF THE DOCS

Chapter celebrates documentary film-making with its Real To Reel strand – a compelling slice of real life on the big screen

By M EGA N PR IC E

F I L M O F T H E MO NT H

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (15) Shot through with black humour, the Golden Globe-nominated crime flick has already been tipped for Oscars glory in 2018 Written, produced, and directed by Martin McDonagh, and starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell, the film follows a single mother (McDormand), who takes matters into her own hands after police in her town – the fictional Ebbing, Missouri – are unable to find a suspect in her daughter’s murder, by purchasing three controversial billboards to call public attention to the unsolved crime.

Distressing, heartbreaking, darkly comic, hailed by critics, and with six Golden Globe nominations to its name, it’s a highly immersive watch.

Showing at Chapter from 19 January to 1 February – see chapter.org for more details

I

n the last decade, the number of documentary films released in the UK has risen steadily, with UK documentaries accounting for over 20% of feature films made in the UK in 2016. Chapter has long been a champion of the documentary, and continues to celebrate the genre in 2018 with its documentary film strand, Real To Reel.

First up is Mountain (cert PG, until 18 January) – collated from 2,000 hours of footage from 15 countries, with music from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, this is a celebration of exploration and scale. Directed by Jennifer Peedom (who directed the BAFTA-nominated Sherpa), it’s a pure adrenaline rush, with astonishing footage of incredible landscapes and the mountaineers, ice-climbers, speed-flyers, heli-skiers, snowboarders, wing-suiters and parachuting mountain-bikers who take them on.

Following on, Walk With Me (cert TBC, 19-25 January) provides a real cinematic journey, a rare glimpse inside a monastic community that practices the art of mindfulness with Zen Buddhist master, Thich Nhat Hanh.

Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, it’s a fascinating and immersive exploration of what it means to devote one’s life to mindfulness – a insightful rumination on the pursuit of happiness.

Epic in scope yet clear-eyed and intimate, artist Ai Weiwei’s shattering documentary Human Flow (cert TBC, 27-30 January) offers a singularly expansive and sobering perspective on the global refugee crisis.

Over the course of one year across 23 countries, Weiwei follows a chain of urgent human stories that stretch across the globe, including Afghanistan, France, Greece, Germany and Iraq, resulting in a visceral cinematic work.

Finally, in Suggs: My Life Story (cert 15, 26-31 January), the death of the Madness frontman’s beloved cat (on his 50th birthday, natch) triggers a personal quest to discover what happened to the father he never knew.

Taking Suggs’ successful stage show as its foundation, director Julien Temple adds drama, archive, animation and a great soundtrack (The Kinks, Ian Dury etc), allowing Suggs to take a hilarious yet moving look back at his life.

For more: chapter.org

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

E D U C AT I O N A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

CELEBRATING SPORTING SUCCESS AT MONMOUTH

By DR CAROLINE PASCOE, Headmistress of Monmouth School for Girls

A

t Monmouth, we have a proud sporting tradition and more than 50 students gained recognition at international and regional level in 2017. We provide opportunities for over 100 girls to take part in organised fixtures each weekend.

Looking back, it was another memorable year, with our pupils representing Wales in a variety of sports including hockey, swimming, cricket, lacrosse, rowing and athletics. We had girls compete for Great Britain at sailing and for England at football.

On the school front, our under-18 netball team are the reigning Welsh champions. After qualifying to represent South East Wales, the girls defeated, among others, Cardiff High School to win the title for the first time. We took our talented lacrosse squad to compete in the USA and our rowers joined forces with

Monmouth School for Boys for a training camp in Seville, Spain. We hosted netballers from Westminster Dragons in Adelaide, giving our girls valuable experience against strong opposition.

Importantly, we have outstanding specialist sports staff who recognise our girls’ sporting ambitions and understand the challenges facing them at the highest level. Welsh international netballer Chelsea Lewis, who also plays for Team Bath, joined us in September and former international long jumper Sarah Rossiter is another specialist. Lou Scott, Director of Sport, is a former Welsh lacrosse player who recognises the need to encourage students to take part in sport at all levels. We will be entering our under15s into this summer’s National Schools T20 cricket competition. The introduction of cricket will bring an exciting new dimension to our vibrant sports programme in 2018.

For more information, visit habsmonmouth.org, call 01600 711104 for Monmouth School for Girls or 01600 710433 for Monmouth School for Boys

St John’s College, Cardiff

A leading independent day school for boys & girls aged 3–18 Choir School to Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral

Top performing secondary school in the UK - 2017 (The Times - A*/ B attainment)

‘Welsh Independent Secondary School of the Year’ (Sunday Times)

Nursery & Infants ● Juniors ● Seniors ● Sixth Form Wraparound care - 8am - 6pm - Monday to Friday Please contact Admissions to arrange a visit: www.stjohnscollegecardiff.com | 02920 778936 | @SJCCardiff Charity No. 701294

1

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FRESHEN UP START 2018 RIGHT BY INDULGING IN THESE LUXURIOUS ELIXIRS, REVIVERS AND TREATS 5

1. SAVING FACE

2. IN THE DARK

3. PERFECT SKIN

4. HAIR AND NOW

5. CHIN-CHIN!

Ultra facial cream, £45 (125ml) This limited edition 24-hour daily facial cream promises to leave skin feeling smooth, soft and hydrated. Each tub sold also helps to provide resources for autistic people worldwide From Kiehl’s, St David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff; kiehls.co.uk

Noir Anthracite eau de parfum by Tom Ford, £114.50 (100ml) With heady bergamot, spice and cedarwood – fellas, you’ll smell divine From John Lewis, St David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff; johnlewis.com

Shiseido Ultimune powerinfusing concentrate, from £63 A potent boosting complex that protects skin against signs of ageing and the effects of stress From Central Pharmacy, 63-67 Wellfield Road, Roath; escentual.com

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue, £39 (100ml) Healthy-looking skin and hair in an instant From Ken Picton, 8 Mermaid Quay, Cardiff; kenpicton.com

Gin & tonic lip balm, £6 Genius – everyone loves a good G&T, right?

From Oliver Bonas, 37 The Hayes, Cardiff; oliverbonas.com

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

SHOPPING

ED’S CHOICE

6 7 8

9

10

6. HAPPY PAMPER

7. MAKES SCENTS

8. BEAUTY BIBLE

9. DAB HAND

10. TIME BALM

Detox emergency pamper pack, £12 Includes wild rose eye pads, aromatherapy foot cream and jojoba hair mask – pampering, sorted!

From Oliver Bonas, 37 The Hayes, Cardiff; oliverbonas.com

Orange bitters limited edition cologne, £94 (100ml) Jo Malone’s latest fragrance is olfactory heaven – get one before they’re all gone From Jo Malone, St David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff; jomalone.co.uk

Timeless by Louise Young, £20 A step-by-step guide to recreating the most striking make-up and hair styles of the 20th century – electric 80s, anyone?

From Waterstones, 2A The Hayes, Cardiff; waterstones.com

Grown Alchemist hand cream, £49 (500 ml) Hydrates dry hands and cuticles, even feet, knees and elbows. Smells proper lush, too...

From Central Pharmacy, 63-67 Wellfield Road, Roath; escentual.com

NIOD Sanskrit Saponins, £43 (180ml) Intensive cleansing balm for all skin types, especially those who suffer from oiliness and congestion From Central Pharmacy, 63-67 Wellfield Road, Roath; escentual.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk II CLIFTON CARDIFF LIFE LIFE II 45 www.mediaclash.co.uk 69

SHOPPING

FA S H I O N

TO BOLDLY GO...

With 2017 firmly behind us, it’s full steam ahead into 2018 – and what better way to start the New Year than with a bold, confident new look

U

p your game this year by embracing graphic prints, a recurring trend that’ll add a bit of contemporary edge to your wardrobe. Opt for a striking, monochrome dress, like the fabulous Vasari number (see opposite) from the queen of bold, Vivienne Westwood – wear it with a turtleneck underneath for a classic, fail-safe look, or clash your prints for an easy way to stand out from the crowd. We adore the check metallic wrap skirt from Oliver Bonas – just pair with a dazzling top for effortless cool.

You’ll definitely want to up the ante and incorporate some bold colour into your wardrobe too – guaranteed to boost your confidence and put a pep in your step! The easiest way is by investing in a peppy staple, like the mohair jumper from Whistles – wear with your favourite jeans, or tucked into a textured skirt from Vivienne Westwood. As always, there’s always the option of topping off your outfit with a statement accessory, like the bright ochre suede bag from Oliver Bonas or a pair of statement silver earrings.

All items available at St David’s Dewi Sant in Cardiff at the time of writing. To keep up to date with the latest trends, news and offers, see St David’s on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (@StDavidsCardiff) or at stdavidscardiff.com 48 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Gather Me Tender tunic dress, £79.50, Oliver Bonas

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1. Cobalt blue Savannah jumpsuit, £119, Coast 2. Pause se check metallic mini skirt, £59.50, Oliver Bonas 3. Mohair jumper by Whistles, £119, John Lewis 4. Windowpane check dress, £180, Karen Millen 5. Vasari ari dress (devore black), £480, Vivienne Westwood 6. Foxglove print silk jumpsuit by Whistles, £259, John Lewis 7. Beth seamed suede shopper, £95, Oliver Bonas 8. Durota statement earrings, £50, Oliver Bonas 9. Leopard shoulder bag, £140, Vivienne Westwood 10. Nike SF Air Force 1 ‘Rattan’, £170, Size www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 49

our mouthwatering weekday offers include…

Grey Restaurant.

Relaxed dining all day.

Championing modern dining with the best of British and Welsh classic dishes.

Chic, simple and inspired dining to indulge in everyday.

TWO COURSES FOR £10 Enjoy our two-course lunch for just £10pp (Mon – Fri 11am – 3pm).

PROSECCO BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH Throughout the week for just £25pp (Sun-Fri)

Call us on 029 2064 6400 | Email us at Grey@hilton.com Facebook @greycardiff | Instagram @greycardiff | www.greyrestaurant.co.uk

52 I cARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

R E S TA U R A N T

FOOD

Restaurant James Sommerin An overdue return to Penarth’s fine dining destination restaurant finds its eponymous Michelin-starred chef on exceedingly good form

By V E L I M I R I L IC

W

alking into chef/patron James Sommerin’s fine dining beachfront restaurant in Penarth feels a little like Groundhog Day. Having previously reviewed here back in June 2014, the decor – elegant leather banquettes, crisp white tablecloths, that big horizontal window offering a glimpse into the heat of the kitchen – is just as I remember it.

Sommerin, of course, has form. With a great knack for combining unusual ingredients, the Caerleon-born chef’s trailblazing food is nothing short of alchemy on a plate.

Previously chef/owner at Michelin-starred The Crown at Whitebrook in Monmouthshire, and a former BBC Great British Menu finalist, this is a man for whom gastronomic adventure has become second nature. It was Sommerin, lest we forget, who once wowed the GBM judges by pairing langoustines, fennel and white chocolate.

Fast forward to now, and with Sommerin having regained his muchcoveted Michelin star, he seems more driven than ever. Having been wowed by his innovative, intricate dishes in the past (both here and at The Crown), I was keen to see how he’d progressed.

Dining chum and I decide that the six-course tasting menu is the way to go, with our dishes specially chosen

by Sommerin himself. The kitchen is into its stride almost immediately with a pair of terrific amuse-bouche – a subtle, garlic-infused foam with seeds, followed by warm, delicate, cheese gougères, both sublime.

Then, his signature pea ‘GBM’ ravioli with parmesan, sage and serrano ham, a triumph of salty/sweet flavours and contrasting soft/crisp textures.

Next, tender smoked venison, tarragon and carrot, all artfully arranged – a bit of leaf tucked here, a shaving of beetroot there – a perfect example of how your man loves to use the plate as a canvas. He clearly has a thing for the actual plates themselves, too, and his choices are inspired; one of them looks a bit like a Ukrainian family heirloom.

The food procession continues with a glorious deconstructed root vegetable lasagne, deliciously tangy with 30-month aged parmesan, tomatoes and the tiniest

THE WHOLE SHEBANG HAS ALL THE

WHIZZY STYLE AND THEATRE YOU EXPECT AT THIS LEVEL

cubes of sweet, crunchy carrot – humble root veg, elevated into something truly special. A trio of lamb dishes (paired with a recommended Great Big Bordeaux red, as smooth as you like), the meat sourced locally from Old Cogan Hall Farm in Penarth, also hit the spot – a more-ish lamb consommé that we could’ve happily supped all night; a punchy little hotpot, made from lamb shoulder; and a delish breast/loin combo, anointed with sticky jus.

Lamb giggles had set in by this point (“You saw Brigadoon, I saw the whole of the lamb”, Lambin’ (to the tune of Jammin’) – you get the picture), but brownie points to Sommerin for trying to show off the different parts of the woolly beast. The dishes are impeccable, of course, but it might have been better to replace one or two of them with different examples from his vast repertoire, just to mix it up a bit.

Still, it’s a minor quibble, and soon forgotten. The artisan cheese board (the restaurant offers an impressive 26 British varieties), with cheeses all served at peak quality, with homemade biscuits and preserves, was another highlight, with Sommerin talking us through the tasting notes for each one. (He was a great host all night, going up to each of the other tables to serve or chat – quite unusual at this level.) I even discovered a new favourite – No. 5 Goddess, a rich, creamy, semi-soft little number made by Blur bass-player-turned-cheesemaker, Alex James.

As for the sweet stuff, the raspberry soufflé was gorgeous – even with its de rigueur granola topping. Both dining chum and I loved the drama of them cutting it open to pour in the raspberry sauce, and the incredible violet ice cream (how did the soufflé not deflate??) that came with it.

The velvety honey ice cream that followed, intense with honey flavour and just a tickle of sweetness, was a revelation, too. And watching the crew do their thing in the kitchen throughout – Sommerin directing operations, chefs flitting between stations, as if choreographed – was great theatre, a mesmeric sideshow to our evening meal.

In the end, I’m not quite sure how many courses we had (it felt like much more than six), but the whole shebang, with all the whizzy style and flair you expect at this level, was exemplary, an indulgent experience clocking in at just over four hours.

With the cooking – beautiful, delicate, cheering food, perfect for a chilly and rainy winter’s night – up a considerable notch from my previous visit, it’s good to see Sommerin on his A-game, still raising the bar. Or should that be baa?

DINING DETAILS Restaurant James Sommerin, The Esplanade, Penarth, CF64 3AU; Tel: 02920 706559, jamessommerinrestaurant.co.uk Opening hours Tues-Sun: lunch from noon (last food orders 2.30pm), dinner from 7pm (last food orders 9.30pm) Prices Starters from £8.50, mains from £18, desserts from £9; tasting menus – six courses £65, nine courses £85 Vegetarian choice A select few options, but they can accommodate specific requests Service/atmosphere Very relaxed, friendly and efficient service; convivial atmosphere – exciting to watch James and team in action in the kitchen Accommodation My room (one of nine) was super-comfortable, elegant, tastefully decorated and cosy – a great night’s sleep! – with flat screen TV and its own luxurious en-suite

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F I T N E S S a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e

Meet the Personal Trainer Want to hit your fitness goals? These guys can help you make it happen... with mild to moderate mental health issues as well as chronic pain and fatigue.

EMMA CRESSWELL

Verity Eaton

What sets you apart?

I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, am educated to degree level and competed at national level in two sports.

I have helped thousands in their journeys. I’ve helped people lose weight and maintain it, trained people to reach elite level at their sport, and helped people with injuries where their training has allowed them to return to health and live a better quality of life.

What sets you apart?

I prefer a person-centred and holistic approach to personal training. My passion lies in helping individuals to stay happy and healthy, both mentally and physically. I can be flexible in my approach and I understand that maintaining a healthy lifestyle with many other demands can be challenging. I strive to help clients find sustainable strategies that fit into their lives and suit them as an individual.

Emma Cresswell Personal Training; 07966 075536 www.perfectbalancept.co.uk

What area of fitness/training do you specialise in?

I have a passion for strength and conditioning. This passion carries over into my work, mainly because it gets great results!

What would you say to anyone who might feel too intimidated to hire a PT? Don’t worry! The majority of people feel this before starting.

A good personal trainer will be able to adapt the workout so it’s bespoke to the client, and the right workout will challenge the client at their level of fitness.

Top training/fitness tip?

Whatever your goal, focus on getting better at the workout you do. Monitor your progress – seeing yourself getting better will do wonders for maintaining your motivation!

Synergi Personal Training 07525773340 www.personaltrainer-cardiff.com www.synergiweightliftingclub.com

Do you specialise in a particular area of fitness or training?

Training, like all aspects of life, is about balance. I combine mobility work and technical drills to ensure a client’s safety before engaging in any new or strenuous exercises.

Depending on the client’s goal, a session can involve anything from basic bodyweight movements to well-executed barbell compound movements.

I have a keen interest in back pain management through exercise rehabilitation, as well as the use of exercise to manage mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression. I believe my previous role as a Health Coach has given me valuable experience working with those

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

What would you say to anyone considering hiring a PT, but who might feel intimidated?

I completely empathise with some clients’ hesitation to want to set foot in a gym when engaging in activities they may have never ever done before – but I am yet to know a single client who has regretted the decision to do so. As your trainer and coach, it is my job to guide you through every step of your fitness journey, ensuring you achieve your potential and dispel any misconceptions you may have of the industry.

Top training/fitness tip?

Really take time to think about the ‘Ws’: Why are you making this change, why is it important to you? What will exercising more and eating healthily give to you; how will it make a positive difference to your life? Who is going to help you stay focused and offer support when making such changes?

When is the best time for you to start making change, when can you realistically fit it into your schedule? Finally, Willingness… What are you willing to do/not to do?

Are you willing to experience thoughts and feelings that might hold you back from making change, and take positive action anyway? You are bound to experience feelings like nervousness, apprehension, tiredness, feeling uncomfortable or self-conscious. You may have thoughts such as “I’m too tired”; “It’s too hard”; “I haven’t got time”; or “I look like an idiot”. It’s about not letting such thoughts and feelings boss you around – show up, work hard and have fun.

Justyna Wyszynska

Cardiff Pilates Studio 07707 750 740 www.cardiffpilatesstudio.co.uk What sets you apart?

As a Pilates teacher, I don’t think in terms of training my clients, but rather helping them to learn how to move (and breathe!) safely and efficiently.

We focus on postural and general strengthening work, as well as addressing specific issues with minimum impact on joints.

Undertaking a new physical activity might often feel intimidating and overwhelming, especially after injury or a long break – that’s exactly how I felt when I first started Pilates. I thought I would just give it a go and haven’t stopped since!

Top training/fitness tip?

If I could offer one tip for those considering starting any form of physical activity, I would suggest trying different things, to find something that is right for you.

Vintage port

A wintry trip to Dartmouth is guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs – and we have the perfect cosy hideaway for you. You can even bring the dogs...

By m al rogers

G R E AT ESCAPES

T H E RE S TAURANT

ROCKFISH Mitch Tonks, chef and owner of Rockfish, fish-and-chip diner par excellence, has a simple philosophy: do as little as possible to the freshest of ingredients.

Today, three-quarters of all seafood eaten in Britain is cod, haddock, salmon, tuna and prawns.

The Mitch mission is to broaden this scope – at Rockfish, the just-hauledout-of-the-water catch features herring, mackerel, sea bream, plaice and sea bass. Not only does this give grand variety to the menu, it also helps sustainability.

The day’s specials are pointed out and described in some detail by friendly waiters. You can draw on the paper tablecloths while you wait for your meal – if the pix are good enough, they’re featured on an early version of Instagram; that is, up on the wall of the café.

The food is perfect. We had crisp- fried tempura vegetables (asparagus, broccoli spears, onions and carrot) to accompany our Jersey rock oyster starters.

Main courses were battered brill and chips, and grilled hake and chips. The portions were gargantuan – piled high like a Dandy comic book meal for Desperate Dan – but the quality was superb.

The important thing about fish and chips is that if the fish is done properly, it isn’t fried. Get the batter consistency just right, and cook it at the correct temperature; this seals the fish inside, and it is effectively poached. Precisely how my brill was presented – pearly white flesh, beautifully light, moist and full of flavour.

Rockfish is a fine, laidback caférestaurant, the staff are charming, they serve first class-food, and you don’t have to pay through the gills.

Rockfish, 8 South Embankment, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6 9BH; Tel: 01803 832800, therockfish.co.uk

I

f nautical is your thing, you’re probably already a fan of Dartmouth.

The town, perched on the lip of the Dart Estuary, has claims to being Britain’s most seafaring place. Steeped in maritime history, the town is dotted with ship’s chandlers, fishermen’s cottages and marine workshops; along narrow laneways, dimly-lit, halftimbered inns seem designed especially with smugglery assignations in mind.

On Higher Street, the Cherub Inn has been hosting leglessness, in all its senses, for 500 years, aye Jim lad; nearby, the Dartmouth Arms boasts what could be the world’s greatest view from a beer garden: a lagoon-like estuary leads onto meadows and woodland on the far bank while all manner of boaty things (technical term) go on in the foreground.

Today, of course, Dartmouth has gone proper bijou, with the posher kind of sportswear boutiques and upmarket restaurants interspersed among the ancient inns and victuallers, and the odd muscular fortification.

Bayard’s Cove Fort was built in the early 16th century to protect vessels seeking safe anchorage in the estuary; the bastion was completed early in Henry VIII’s reign. So it’s entirely possible that the old monarch strolled down Harbourside – seamless link coming up – passing by the very place where we were to stay for two nights.

At the very centre of Dartmouth’s ancient quarter, Bayard’s Cove Inn is exactly what an old hostelry should be: comfortable, cosy and creaky in the nicest possible way. You find yourself praying that a gale might roar up the channel; wind howling, horizontal rain lashing the windows type of thing.

There can scarcely be a better place to hunker down and ride out any meteorological extreme.

Home-made cakes, coffee, wine and local craft beer will fortify you in the snug and inviting bar; as the isobars tighten up in all sea areas for Fastnet to Land’s End, bag a leather sofa in front of the woodburner, and once you’ve finished your book (reading it or writing it) contemplate dinner.

Bayard’s is renowned for its elevated cuisine — two Gold Taste of the West awards, if you please.

Almost uniquely, they welcome dogs of all shape, size and number in all the bedrooms, furnishing them with their own snacks and comfy beds. Despite this canine invasion, the rooms are immaculate. Ours overlooked the old fort; it was exactly what Sir Walt would have wanted for us.

THE HISTORY BIT

Four hundred years ago, just below Bayard’s Cove Fort, The Mayflower anchored up on the first leg of its journey to the New World. In fact,

it moored just below our room, although the Pilgrim Fathers weren’t necessarily to know that.

Privateers, buccaneers, smugglers and general ne’er-do-wells congregated in the town from medieval times onwards. Sailors and soldiers bade poignant farewells here, and the port was involved in many a skirmish; young sailors probably strode down the cobbled streets to the waiting ships shouting, “Bye, Mum! I’m off to the Hundred Years War...”

The town can claim involvement in many expeditions: knights heading off to the Crusades, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the D-Day landings. Even Geoffrey Chaucer gave the town a namecheck (although not a spellcheck) in his Canterbury Tales. “A schipman was ther, wonyng fer by weste; For ought I wost, he was of Dertemouthe.”

THE EXCURSION

If you only take one historic coastal train journey a year, let it be on the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

In a combined boat and rail tour, you’ll chug past Kingswear and Dartmouth Castles, Dittisham Village, Sir Walter Raleigh’s Boathouse, Greenway Quay, Agatha Christie’s house and the beach huts of Tor Bay. All the while, steam billows above your 1920s carriage. It costs around £17 — time travel never came cheaper.

TRAVEL DETAILS Bayard’s Cove Inn 27 Lower Street, Dartmouth, Devon TQ6 9AN; Tel: 01803 832800; bayardscoveinn.co.uk Double rooms from around £70

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WEEKENDER

Try 5... RETREATS Stressed, tired and overloaded with the rigours of daily life?

Sounds like you need a weekend away...

W

By K AT I E K I SSOON

hatever your daily grind – dealing with the kids’ tantrums, slow-moving traffic, work woes etc – you need a bit of ‘me’ time, right? Well, we can think of no better way of unwinding than a weekend mini-break at one of the five lovely retreats below...

THE CROWN AT WHITEBROOK Run by chef/patron Chris Harrod, who trained at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons under Raymond Blanc, this cosy Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms in the Wye Valley – just south of Monmouth – promises a truly memorable dining experience. Dishes are created with typical flair and attention to detail, using locally sourced food flavoured with freshly foraged herbs and plants – try the seven-course dinner tasting menu (with paired wines, naturally) for the full experience. Afterwards, just kick back in one of their large contemporary en-suite rooms, with large double-ended bath and walk-in shower. Bliss.

FELIN FACH GRIFFIN With its modern rustic decor, elegant bedrooms and seriously good locally sourced food, the award-winning Griffin is a country inn with a difference. You’re always afforded a warm welcome here, with a lovely roaring fire and plump sofas to greet you in the colder months.

And after a good night’s kip – the beds are super-comfy – breakfast in the library is an unmitigated treat; fuel up on goodies such as smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, fruit from the kitchen garden, or homemade soda bread before your Brecons walk.

YOU’RE ALWAYS AFFORDED A WARM WELCOME AT THE FELIN FACH GRIFFIN

thewhitebrook.co.uk

eatdrinksleep.ltd.uk

LANELAY HALL Having undergone extensive renovations, this grand, imposing Victorian manor in Talbot Green promises “decadent breaks in a laid-back atmosphere.” Housing 17 stylish, individually designed bedrooms – we rather fancy the Grand Suite, where you can relax in a roll-top bath overlooking majestic Garth Mountain – it also does great food, whether you’re hankering after an informal afternoon tea or choose to go à la carte. A “retreat into pure escapism”, as they say. lanelayhall.co.uk

GLIFFAES HOTEL Surrounded by the rolling hills of the Black Mountains, and owned by the same family for over 70 years, the Gliffaes is the only four-star luxury hotel in the Brecon Beacons. A country house and fishing hotel at heart, with some of the best game fishing in the UK, it’s set in 33 acres of stunning grounds and mature woodlands, and is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area. Its restaurant is very highly regarded, too, whether you’re indulging in fine dining or just partaking of a spot of afternoon tea.

THE COACH HOUSE AT GILESTON MANOR Located in the Vale of Glamorgan, this luxury apartment conversion (in the historic Grade II estate’s former stable block) is the perfect mini-getaway, whether you want to hunker down for a relaxing weekend or explore the breathtaking coastline (the Wales Coast Path is easily accessible) and countryside just outside your door. Plenty of good pit-stops, too, including Arboreal and Bar 44 in Cowbridge, and acclaimed ale and food house The Hare & Hounds in Aberthin.

gliffaeshotel.com

gilestoncoachhouse.co.uk

YOU’VE GOT THE LUXE Can’t get out of Cardiff?

Recharge at one of these luxurious city spas instead...

URBASBA This minimalist urban spa at Cardiff & Vale College boasts a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, where you can relax on a heated ceramic bed or be invigorated by a monsoon shower.

Run by professionals and college students, the spa also features stateof-the-art hair and beauty facilities – essentially a full service and valet for tired humans. urbasba.co.uk ST DAVID’S HOTEL The only AA five-star rated hotel in Cardiff resides on the waterfront of Cardiff Bay, boasting fantastic views.

Its highly-rated Marine Spa (pic

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

left) offers a comprehensive list of treatments and packages, and boasts a 15-metre swimming pool, plus a large hydropool where you can sit and watch the yachts while the water massages your cares away. thestdavidshotel.com SCHMOO IN THE CITY The Hilton Hotel’s in-house spa offers a range of beauty and stress-busting treatments for both men and women, from facials and eye treatments through to massages (try their signature Schmoo Zone one) and waxing, tinting and tanning. You’ll leave feeling, um, Schmootiful. schmooskincare.com/cardiff

WEEKENDER

(Clockwise from top left) Lanelay Hall; fine food at The Crown At Whitebrook; Gliffaes Hotel; Felin Fach Griffin; The Coach House at Gileston Manor

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More adventures in party-going

Kelly Reardon Brown (Radio Cardiff) and Nia Elias (Wales Millennium Centre)

SNAPPED! AC ROS S CA R D I FF, O N E S H I N D I G AT A T I M E

MUSICAL MASTERPIECE Wales Millennium Centre hosted a press night for the Cameron Mackintosh production of awardwinning musical Miss Saigon, the venue’s Christmas 2017 show.

Guests included members of the press, radio presenters and players from Cardiff City FC. Photos by Polly Thomas For more: wmc.org.uk

Anna Jarvis, Meg Richards, Lyndsey Jenkins and Shelley Phillips (JamJar PR)

Neil Etheridge, Brian Murphy and Joe Bennett (all Cardiff City) and partners

Owain Taylor-Shaw (Wales Millennium Centre), Jay Curtis (Nation Radio) and Nathan Simmonds

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

Pádraig Cusack, Jayne Brewer and Marc Jaffrey (Wales Millennium Centre)

Lee Jukes and Nathan McCarthy

SOCIETY

WALK THIS WAY Penarth-based fashion designer Nathan Palmer launched his A/W 2018 couture collection of men and women’s tailoring and attire with a prestigious catwalk show – hosted by Darren Campbell MBE – at National Museum Cardiff.

Photos by Jamie Thomas For more: nathanpalmer.co.uk

Nathan and Verity Hutchinson, with Chloe and Sol Bamba

Paulette Palmer, Jessica Palmer, Isabella Rose, Amelia Macey and guests

Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues) and Sarah Connolly

Babette Bowen and Lois Seco (Project One)

Host Darren Campbell MBE and Nathan Palmer Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Andy Sinclair (Sinclair Mercedes) and Nathan Palmer

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

SOCIETY Bethan Jones, Alisha Arthur (both Working Word) and Bec Wilson (Principality)

WORD UP Cardiff PR agency Working Word held its annual Christmas PRty [Clever – Ed] with clients, media and friends at Little Man Coffee.

For more: workingword.co.uk

Caroline Holmes (Working Word) and Michael Hall

Katrina Cinus and Jackie Quantock (Innovation Point)

Bethan Jones-Arthur (Working Word), Kayleigh McLeod and Talia Loderick (both Creative Cardiff) Dan Tyte (MD, Working Word) and Chris Nott (Capital Law)

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

Rhiannon Jenkins, Bethan Jones (Working Word) and Louise Czekaj (Principality)

SOCIETY Step inside the watch wonderland...

ON THE FACE OF IT Watches of Switzerland gave a festive welcome to new friends and clients at its Cardiff showroom, at St David’s Dewi Sant.

For more: watches-of-switzerland.co.uk

Spiro and Lisa Borg, Caroline Sims, Paul Beddow and Adrian Harries (Watches of Switzerland)

Huddle! The Watches of Switzerland team

Richard Heptinstall-Bolton and Jamie Owens

The fizz flowed…

Stephen Carwardine, Caroline Sims and Jay Page

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SOCIETY

Jo Staniforth, Lucy Dowley and Kyle Stiens-Magill

GET TO THE POINT Property developer Waterstone Homes recently opened the doors of its latest beachfront showhome at Tusker’s Point, Ogmore-by-Sea, a luxury development of 12 new family homes overlooking the beautiful Welsh coastline.

For more: waterstonehomes.com

Laura Marles, Michael Edwards and Clare Brown

Grant Thomas and Jack Feeney Chris Jones, Peter Hughes and Simon Jehu

Andrea Gardner, Louise Misell and Ross Hooper-Nash Gavin Rees, Sam Dovey and Richard Morgan 68 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Shake-ups/launches/successes/promotions

CA R D I FF G E T S S ER I O US

(Right) Ken Picton salon director Scott Evans and art director Zoe Williams show off their Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year trophy

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE

“MEETING NIGEL OWENS SCORED A LOT OF BROWNIE POINTS WITH MY FATHER...”

THE BIG STORY

CUTTING EDGE Ken Picton Salon named Wales & South West Hairdresser Of The Year at the prestigious British Hairdressing Awards The multi-award-winning Cardiff salon bagged its latest trophy at a star-studded ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House, hosted by TV presenter, Cat Deeley. More than 1,500 of the top hairdressing talent from across the country attended the awards, a celebration of the most creative and technically gifted hairstylists in Britain.

This is the fifth time the salon has bagged this particular accolade, after salon owner Ken became the first and only Welshman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for three category wins. This year’s winning collection came from art director Zoe Williams and salon director Scott Evans, who said: “To win this award is incredible and we can’t believe it! A massive, massive thanks to Ken Picton for believing in us and giving us this opportunity. We love you!”

“There have already been many high points in my career so far at Ken Picton, but winning this is a dream come true,” said Zoe. “I’m very proud of the work we’ve produced and so happy to be representing our region.”

For more: kenpicton.com

Result! But who’s been hobnobbing with the celebs?

Find out over the page...

(Left) A typically angular cut from Ken Picton’s winning Cool Skool collection

£400m THE BIG NUMBER

Investment into commercial property in Cardiff is on track to reach record levels for 2017, with the total set to surpass £400 million, according to international real estate advisor, Savills. “Cardiff remains a popular investment destination, particularly for those looking to place their money into the regional office market,” said Ross Griffin, director of investment at Savills Cardiff.

“And the development at Central Square has significantly boosted the volumes for 2017, providing an attractive opportunity.”

For more: savills.co.uk

Got a business news story for us? Email vel.ilic@mediaclash.co.uk

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

Team jamjar: golden gals

The Cardiff Story’s Victoria Rogers (centre) and colleagues show off their Cardiff Life Award

JAMMIN’!

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS

WINNER’S PROFILE

THE CARDIFF STORY VICTORIA ROGERS, manager of the Cardiff Story Museum – winner of the ‘Leisure & Tourism’ category at the 2017 Cardiff Life Awards – reflects on an exceptional year So… how did it feel to win a Cardiff Life Award?

Winning the award was a real recognition of the work we do, the impacts we make and the importance of Cardiff’s heritage. We are a small team, and it’s sometimes difficult for us to compete with the bigger, more high profile visitor attractions in the city, so the award was really important to us. It recognised that we are a crucial part of Cardiff’s cultural life, not only for visitors to the city, but for locals, too.

What did you enjoy most about Awards night?

It was lovely to meet the people sitting at our table – people from businesses in Cardiff we probably wouldn’t have met in any other circumstances. And meeting host Nigel Owens scored me a lot of brownie points with my father – I think he was more impressed by that than the award!

Where is your Award now?

It’s got pride of place on our awards shelf in our meeting room. We hold lots of meetings with our community partners in there and the award is often commented on.

Why do you think The Cardiff Story Museum won? What was it about your year that made you stand out, do you think?

2016 was a very big year for us. It started off with our fifth birthday celebrations, we launched new dementiafriendly programmes, won a Gold Accolade from Visit Wales, and worked with and supported over 75 community groups and organisations, amongst lots of other things.

Obviously, the Museum tells the history of Cardiff through the ages, but what makes it special?

We’re the only place that tells locals or tourists what Cardiff is about, how the city we know today has been created and how important the ‘ordinary’ person is to that story. What makes us different from 72 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

MOVERS, SHAKERS, ETC

most museums is that we have been created by the community. They make the decisions about what’s on display and what projects we run. We work on a very personal level – our galleries are full of stories from those who know the city best – the people who have lived and worked here over the centuries.

What’s your own favourite element of TCS? I love our little cinema area. It plays eight films, telling the personal stories behind historical events and Cardiff industries, from the people behind Cardiff’s iconic Clark’s Pies to the little-known story of Elizabeth Williams in Gwaelod y Garth, who got the women of the village together during the Depression by making quilts. She was a real force to be reckoned with – she went down to London and sold them at Liberty.

Which other local businesses do you admire?

It’s probably no surprise that I’ve got a real soft spot for businesses or organisations that are proud of their Cardiff roots or that celebrate the city’s quirkiness and history – so I Loves The ’Diff, We Are Cardiff, Spillers Records, Wally’s Deli…

I admire how Chapter has grown from a really grass roots community organisation to the renowned arts centre it is today, and Sherman Theatre has had a phenomenal year – I like to think we were a small part of it with our Love Cardiff: City Road Stories joint project. I also love a trip to Jacob’s Market – many of the objects we use for schools activities or interactive sessions in our museum have come from there.

Finally, tell us a secret about yourself...

I’ve sung at the Royal Albert Hall – I was in a choir that performed in concerts and competitions across the UK. At one point in my life – a long time ago now! – it felt I was something of a regular at St David’s Hall and the BBC studios in Llandaff...

For more: cardiffstory.com

Creative communications agency jamjar has come out on top at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ annual PR awards after scooping four gold awards.

The Cowbridge-based agency, which specialises in insight-led PR, digital and social communication solutions, was recognised by its industry body for its work on Cwm Taf University Health Board and educational charity, Techniquest. jamjar-pr.co.uk

PULLING THE STRINGS

Cardiff-based chamber orchestra Sinfonia Cymru has announced the appointment of Peter Bellingham as its new chief exec. “In Peter, we will again have a leader who is wholly committed to developing the creative powers of our talented musicians, and to innovating with them for the benefit of our audiences,” said the orchestra’s chair, Lucy Stout. sinfoniacymru.co.uk

A FOOT IN THE LAW

National law firm Geldards has appointed two new partners at its Cardiff office – Chris Williams will be leading the firm’s Commercial team, while Spencer Collier will head up the Clinical Negligence team. Said chief exec, Jeff Pearson: “2017 has been an excellent year for the firm, and the addition of Chris and Spencer to our growing Cardiff practice reflects the ambition of the firm and our ability to recruit the very best legal talent in the market.” geldards.com

BUSINESS INSIDER

AWARDS DEADLINE

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS NOMS – LAST CALL! Will you be in the frame for a Cardiff Life Award? Nominate your company NOW!

Businesses have been submitting their nominations since November, but many still leave entering to the last minute – and time is now of the essence. Finalists will be revealed at midday on Tuesday 30 January by email, on the Awards site and on Twitter.

“It’s been inspiring to see the volume of nominations flowing in for this year’s Awards,” said Steph Dodd, event manager of Cardiff Life’s publisher, MediaClash. “If you’ve not entered yet, there’s still time – but you’ll need to act swiftly as the deadline is fast approaching.”

The Awards are free to enter – companies self-nominate via the Awards website and can enter multiple categories. There’s a ‘12 Top Tips’ with helpful nominations advice on the website, too. Those who have already entered

You’ll have to hurry if you want to nominate your company for this year’s Cardiff Life Awards – the deadline is Friday 26 January at midday

are encouraged to nudge their favourite companies, clients, friends and peers to submit their own entry soonest.

The Awards will take place at City Hall on 15 March and look set to sell out once more, having sold out quickly in 2017 and with sales tracking some way ahead of this time last year. Those who want to attend the glittering ceremony should look sharp and secure their tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Businesses can also get involved with the Awards through sponsorship. This year’s impressive sponsor roster is led by headline sponsor Cardiff Airport, and then Savills, Cardiff BID, WSET, Genero, Chapel 1877, Capital FM, Cardiff Blues, Robertsons Solicitors and Lexus Cardiff. If you’d like to

CARDIFF LIFE AWARDS: KEY DATES 26 JANUARY 2018:

Nominations close 30 JANUARY 2018:

Finalists announced 21 FEBRUARY 2018:

Exclusive reception for finalists and sponsors 15 MARCH 2018:

Cardiff Life Awards – the big night!

APRIL 2018 (EXACT DATE TBC):

Winners’ dinner

get involved, contact Mark George (mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk).

For more: cardifflifeawards.co.uk, Twitter: @CardiffLifeAwds

PEDAL POWER

(Back) Michelle Brown (Tenvous Cancer Care supporter and leukaemia survivor), Zoe Westerman (Cyclone 24), Steve Sulley (Stills); (Front) Andrew Owen and Iwan Jones (both Tenovus Cancer Care)

Welsh charity Tenovus Cancer Care has been selected as the official 2018 charity partner for Cyclone24, the UK’s only 24-hour velodrome team relay challenge event. Sponsored by Stills, this year’s event will take place at the Newport International Sports Village from 21-22 October.

Now in its fourth year, the event is designed for all abilities, from complete beginners to accomplished cyclists. Teams must be made up of six people, and for those who are new to the track, full support before and during the event will be available.

Said Lisa Buckley, Head of Fundraising at Tenovus: “We really hope to see lots of Cyclone24 teams go the extra mile and get behind us, to raise as much money as they can to support cancer patients in their community.”

Early bird registration is open until February.

For more: tenovuscancercare.org.uk/cyclone24

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

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

THE OLD VICARAGE 76 112I I CARDIFF CLIFTONLIFE LIFE I I www.mediaclash.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk

SHOWCASE

PROPERTY

An exceptional Victorian vicarage, set in the charming village of Penmark, near Cowbridge

By K AT I E K I SSOON

www.mediaclash.co.ukI I CLIFTON CARDIFFLIFE LIFE I I 113 77 www.mediaclash.co.uk

PROPERTY

SHOWCASE

L

ocated in the rural village of Penmark, near Cowbridge, and thought to date back to around 1860, The Old Vicarage is a grand and substantial family home. Modernised by the present owners to a very high standard, the property sits in approximately two and a quarter acres of grounds, split between lawned formal gardens and woodland.

Approached via a gated entrance, a gravel driveway flanked by well-tended lawns sweeps in front of the house.

A gabled entrance porch and imposing oak entrance door opens into the very impressive reception hall, with central fireplace and attractive tiled flooring.

There’s bags of space throughout, with the various reception rooms boasting original features – a characterful drawing room, an elegant bay-fronted dining room, and a welcoming sitting room with pleasant views across the front lawns and entrance approach.

On the opposite side of the reception hall is the kitchen and breakfast room. Partly open-plan with a central fireplace dividing them, the kitchen features antiquestyle handmade oak units, a Lacanche range cooker and integrated appliances, with flagstone flooring extending into both rooms.

Also on the ground floor is a separate utility room and rear hallway, with a cellar and a secondary staircase to the first floor.

Upstairs, you’ll find five bedroom suites, with the potential of two further bedrooms, should you so desire.

The main bedroom is particularly large, with a bay window affording lovely garden and woodland views, and an en-suite bathroom with claw-legged bath and twin wash hand-basins set into a marble topped vanity unit.

A further bedroom is serviced by a large en-suite shower room, and the remaining bedrooms share the use of a family bathroom and separate shower room, all 78 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The Old Vicarage has been modernised to an exceptionally high standard by the present owners

HOUSE NUMBERS The Old Vicarage, Penmark, nr.

Cowbridge

5/6

bedrooms

3

reception rooms

£1.35M guide price

1

benefitting from Victorian fireplaces.

Back outside, the front garden is principally laid to lawn with a variety of mature shrubs, trees and flowerbed borders. A stone wall separates the fruit garden, and around the back of the house, areas of lawn lead to the woodland and tennis court beyond.

There’s a range of stone outbuildings too, forming the original stables and two coach houses, offering much potential to make of it what you will (subject to the relevant permissions, of course). Tempted?

kitchen/breakfast room

1

formal garden

For more info, contact Savills, 5th Floor, 2 Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3FD; Tel: 02920 368900, savills.co.uk

Cambrian Crescent Marshfield A most impressive detached double fronted five bedroom modern executive style residence, originally built in facing brick circa 2002 by Redrow Homes, a highly reputable national house builder, completed with a 10 year NHBC and occupying a fine position fronting a delightful pretty tree lined park. This capacious family home and been both extended and further modernised in 2012 providing stylish open plan contemporary living space with the special feature of a large sitting room (23’6 x 16’0), a separate family room (16’6 x 11’8) and a further spacious lounge (17’8 x 11’7).

The generous kitchen and breakfast room (17’8 x 11’7) has been fully re-fitted in 2012 with a high quality bespoke Sigma 3 designer kitchen equipped with solid granite work surfaces and Neff appliances including a microwave oven, integrated oven with separate grill, a dishwasher, a five ring gas hob with granite splashback and a stainless steel canopy extractor hood plus both a full size larder style fridge and separate freezer. The ground floor living space also includes a downstairs cloak room and a separate utility room, whilst features include designer fixture shutter blinds, engineered oak floors, a handsome Minster stone fireplace with marble surround and hearth, Georgian style PVC French doors, gas heating with panel radiators, stylish chrome finished power points and light switches throughout together with white PVC double glazed windows and outer doors. The first and second floor living space comprises five good bedrooms and four bathrooms, two ensuite. The master suite is a very impressive design with a generous bedroom (16’0 x 12’4) equipped with a separate ensuite dressing room with expensive Sharpes custom made designer wardrobes and a large luxury ensuite bathroom (9’6 x 9’0) complete with contemporary free standing bath, separate double size stylish shower cubicle, and both a wash hand basin and wc integrated within a walnut finished vanity unit. Quite spectacular! This stylish and contemporary family home occupies a lovely south facing corner plot, with delightful level landscaped gardens, beautifully designed with neat astro turf lawns, and a stunning decked patio with a breeze house providing space and plumbing for a hot tub. Internally the property has been tastefully decorated and includes white panel doors with stylish handles, many ceilings with spot lights, luxury Karndean floors, a sophisticated intruder alarm and CCTV surveillance. A truly stunning family house in a delightful quiet location within the sought after village of Marshfield.

For sale with PA Black Rumney Branch 02920 792888

£489,950

Mill Place Lisvane A large detached double fronted five bedroom family house, built circa 1950 with cavity elevations finished in smooth render, and occupying a fine position fronting a quiet residential road, only a short walk from Lisvane Primary school. This substantial home also benefits a particularly large and private level rear garden, perfect for a family together with a private front drive with parking for three cars and a 19 FT detached garage. In recent years the property has been both extended and modernised and includes double glazed windows, gas heating with panel radiators and a modern boiler (2015), a stylish modern fitted kitchen with integrated appliances (2011) which is open plan to a spacious dining room providing a generous social living space (19’6 x 11’5) which is open plan to a central entrance reception hall. The ground floor living space also includes a bright well designed lounge (19’4 x 11’7), inset with patio doors which open onto the large gardens, a downstairs shower room, a large utility room (16’0 x 6’2), and a versatile family room/sitting room (13’9 x 11’7) which is open plan to a 15 FT long conservatory.

The first floor living space comprises five bedrooms and two bathrooms, one being ensuite to the generous master bedroom (L shaped 19’5 x 15’4). Both the two bathrooms were re-modelled around 2011, and the bedroom accommodation could be split into four bedrooms with the master suite utilising bedroom five as a large ensuite dressing room. The master bedroom, the ensuite shower room and bedroom five form part of a potential self-contained area on the first floor.

Other improvements include a full re-wire in 2011 (no documentation available), contemporary wall decorations and a new gas fire replaced around 2013. This very spacious modern residence is available with potentially no chain and internal viewing is strongly recommended.

For sale with PA Black Llanishen Branch 02920 618552

£625,000

CARDIFF LIVES

Q&A

A

fter a successful career as a professional rugby player (for Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks and The Dragons), Nick Macleod recently turned his hand to fulltime baking. As the face of One Mile Bakery Cardiff, he now teaches a wide range of baking classes and delivers homemade bread, soups and jams around Rhiwbina, where he lives.

You’ve been running One Mile Bakery Cardiff for about a year or so now – what have been your highlights?

Teaching people how to bake, and seeing them enjoy that experience and produce something fantastic, gives me genuine pleasure.

You’ve obviously retired from rugby now – why did you decide to go down the baking route as a career move?

Food and baking have always been a huge part of my life. I grew up around my grandmothers, who both baked, and my parents grew their own veg, so making and baking things from scratch was just the norm for me.

Favourite style of baking to teach?

The intro class is great because the beginners are always utterly amazed by what they have made at the end of the day, and sourdough baking is a personal favourite but is probably the trickiest class to teach. I love the variety of baking – it’s really difficult to pick just one.

What does OMB have in the pipeline for 2018?

We’re busy, busy! I’ll be running lots more of my core classes but I’m also adding one-off classes such as St David’s Day Baking and Easter Baking.

I’m also really excited to be teaching at Angela Gray’s Cookery School at Llanerch Vineyard throughout the year, and I have plenty more ideas up my sleeve!

Most famous person you follow on Twitter?

Jamie Oliver.

How do you relax?

With my family. It’s not always the most relaxing time with the kids around but they’re at a great age (4 and 2) and they make me laugh.

Proudest moment so far?

Becoming a dad. My family is the most important thing in the world to me.

Most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?

That’s the beauty of having one too many knocks to the head playing rugby – I can’t remember any!

PHOTO BY HUW JONES

You live in Rhiwbina – what makes it special?

It’s where I grew up, surrounded by my family – my aunties, uncles, cousins and grandparents all live in the village. Now I’m bringing my own family up here; my daughter goes to the same primary school I did.

NICK MACLEOD The former rugby player-turned-baker on running Cardiff’s One Mile Bakery, plans for 2018 and his top-secret truffle tree If you could get up on your soapbox about a particular issue, what would it be?

Educating people about food – what it is, where it comes from, and teaching them how to make delicious, nutritious meals. Food has become too much about convenience.

When did you last cry?

I lost a very close friend of mine unexpectedly a few years ago and when I got the phone call, it hit me for six.

Dream dinner party guests?

Professor Brian Cox, Raymond Blanc, Muhammad Ali, Sean Lock.

If push came to shove, what would be your final meal of choice?

My parents’ Sunday roast lamb.

Who would play you in a film about your life?

Tom Hardy [Ha! You wish – Ed].

Guiltiest pleasure?

Trashy TV. First Dates is the current favourite.

What’s the most important lesson life has taught you?

Mistakes don’t matter, it’s how you react to them that counts – they can be a positive thing if you learn from them.

What’s on your bookshelf at the moment?

Lots of cookbooks!

Which piece of music always sends a shiver down your spine?

The Sound Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel.

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

Karaoke choice?

I wouldn’t put anyone through that...

Must-watch television programme?

Peaky Blinders.

If you had a superpower, what would it be?

Flying. I would love to do a sky-dive one day.

Best thing about Cardiff?

For a city, it has an almost village-like feel – everyone knows everyone else.

Favourite shops in Cardiff?

I love the independents – Nest in Rhiwbina is a treasure trove of goodies; Wally’s Deli – I could spend all day in there; and The Fabric Mill, my dad’s shop in Pontcanna, which holds lots of happy memories.

Cardiff Life is ten this year – where were you and what were you doing ten years ago?

I was living in Pontcanna and playing rugby for Cardiff Blues. I loved all the cafés, bars and restaurants. That’s one thing I wish Rhiwbina had more of.

Locally, where do you like to eat and drink?

Bar 44 to eat in, or Gateway of India for takeaway.

Secret or favourite Cardiff spot?

I got given a truffle tree as a present years ago and I’ve planted it locally, but the location is top-secret!

Finally, surprise us with a secret or little-known fact about yourself…

I have a first class degree in Mechanical Engineering.

For more: onemilebakery.com/cardiff

www.icebodysculpting.co.uk - info@icebodysculpting.co.uk 02921 202 190. 122 Cowbridge Road West, Cardiff, CF5 5BT