Cardiff Life - Issue 197

Food/Arts/Entertainment/Shopping/Property @CardiffLifeMag

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN THE CITY, PENARTH & THE VALE

A QUICK GETAWAY

TO SWANSEA BAY ISSUE 197 / FEBRUARY 2019 / FROM THE HEART

DATE NIGHT

WHERE TO WINE AND DINE ON VALENTINE’S DAY

ISSUE 197 / FEBRUARY 2019 / £3

OBJECTS OF DESIRE TREATS FOR YOUR BEAU

OK, CORAL

DRESS IN THIS YEAR’S HOTTEST HUE

COLD HEARTS WHY WE LOVE A WINTER WEDDING

© MORGAN JAMES PHOTOGR APHY

EDITOR’S LETTER

Cold weather, warm hearts... Winter weddings can be gorgeous and glamorous See page 14 for more BELOW: Treats for your sweet. Turn to page 44

W

e’re really feeling the love here at Cardiff Life towers, with this issue full of hearts and flowers.

If you’ve recently got engaged, firstly, very many congratulations!

And secondly, make sure you don’t miss our feature full of expert advice and ideas for creating a drop dead gorgeous winter wedding. Staying on the theme of all things amorous we’ve also got a few suggestions for a Valentine’s Day date which are sure to impress the apple of your eye.

If you’re not in the mood for romance however, then don’t worry, there’s plenty more inside these pages for you to get stuck into.

We catch up with Mathew Priest from 90s Britpop band Dodgy ahead of their show at the Tramshed later this month, discover the delights of Swansea Bay, and pay a visit to the new R P Culley & Co restaurant at the Exchange Hotel.

(Spoiler alert: It’s fab!)

Until next time, then, big love Cardiff !

R

ydym yn teimlo’n gariadus iawn yn swyddfa Cardiff Life wrth baratoi’r rhifyn hwn sy’n llawn blodau a chalonnau.

Os ydych wedi dyweddïo’n ddiweddar, hoffem eich llongyfarch yn fawr i ddechrau! Yna, hoffem eich annog i ddarllen ein herthygl sy’n llawn o gyngor a syniadau arbenigwyr ynghylch trefnu priodas fythgofiadwy ar gyfer y gaeaf.

Gan gadw at y thema cariad, mae gennym awgrymiadau ynghylch amryw fannau y gallech fynd iddynt ar Ddiwrnod y Cariadon, sy’n siŵr o wneud argraff dda ar eich hoff berson yn y byd.

Ond os nad ydych yn yr hwyl i fod yn rhamantus, mae digon o bethau eraill i’ch difyrru ar y tudalennau hyn. Rydym yn sgwrsio â Mathew Priest o ‘Dodgy’, sef y band Britpop o’r 90au, cyn eu sioe yn y Tramshed yn nes ymlaen y mis yma. Rydym hefyd yn bwrw golwg ar hyfrydwch Bae Abertawe ac yn ymweld â bwyty newydd R P Culley & Co yng Ngwesty’r Exchange (gallwn ddweud wrthych yn awr ei fod yn fendigedig!).

Llawer o gariad at bawb a phopeth yng Nghaerdydd felly ... tan y tro nesaf !

EMMA DANCE

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www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 5

DESIRE

def: DESIRE: a strong feeling of wanting to have something; to set one's heart on; to crave; to aspire to; to feel passion for..."

Beautiful handmade kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and more...

3 Bessemer Close Workshops, Cardiff CF11 8DL telephone: 029 2023 3308 | www.chalkhouseinteriors.co.uk

Issue 197/February 2019

Cover Cake by The Vale Cake Boutique and photography by Morgan James Photography. Part of a styled Opulent Masquerade Wedding shoot by Serayah Events. For more, see page 14.

68

featureS

14 WEDDINGS Everything you need to know to throw

a gorgeously glamorous winter wedding

the arts

31 INTRO A celebration of 50 years of working with

wood, by sculpture David Nash

32 WHAT’S ON That’s the next month sorted, then 38 the big interview We meet Dodgy’s Priest

shopping

44 Editor’s Choice Gifts from the heart 46 FASHION Hot picks in the season’s hottest hue

food & DRINK

54 RESTAURANT Great tastes at R P Culley and Co 57 Try five Where to wine and dine this V-Day

TRAVEL

68 Great escapes We go on a weekend getaway to

Swansea Bay

Business

73 business insider News from the movers,

shakers and innovators of Cardiff

Property

84 showcase Make a new start in a new townhouse

14

Regulars

10 sPOTLIGHT Newsy nuggets from around the city 60 sNAPPED The parties and the pictures 65 WYBURN AND WAYNE What have the dynamic

duo been up to this time?

90 CARDIFF lives A pizza loving concrete polisher

Editor Emma Dance emma.dance@mediaclash.co.uk Managing Editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash.co.uk Senior Art Editor Andrew Richmond Graphic Design Megan Allison Cover Design Trevor Gilham Contributors Charlie Rose, Sarah Moolla, Nathan Wyburn, Wayne Courtney, Kev Foley Advertising manager Mark George mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Kate Butterfield kate.butterfield@mediaclash.co.uk Advertising executive Louis Grey louis.grey@ mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution Manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy production manager/production designer Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Jane Ingham jane.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief Executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Cardiff Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved.

May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Salisbury. We also publish foodie mag Crumbs (www.crumbsmag.com, @CrumbsMag). Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

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

SPOTLIGHT Everybody’s talking about…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HODDINOTT HALL

The home of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales celebrates its 10th anniversary

© TOM BEARDSHAW

This month, BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales (BBC NOW) marks a decade since the opening of its home – BBC Hoddinott Hall – by its patron HRH The Prince of Wales.

Housed in the Wales Millennium Centre, it is named after celebrated Welsh composer Alun Hoddinott. As well as being a performance BBC NOW will be performing a series of concerts to mark the 10th anniversary of Hoddinott Hall venue, seating up to 350 people, with rehearsal spaces for both orchestra and chorus, it is also one of the largest purpose-built recording Michael Garvey, director of BBC NOW says, “Over 10 studios in the world producing soundtracks for years, BBC Hoddinott Hall has become a cornerstone of the programmes such as Doctor Who, David Attenborough’s Life Story, Welsh cultural landscape and plays an integral role in recording, and the BBC’s War and Peace. It provides the perfect platform to broadcasting and streaming classical music. The orchestra and promote contemporary music, both from Wales and the broader chorus enjoy rehearsing and performing here and this hall has classical sphere with performances broadcast regularly on BBC served as a launch-pad for ground-breaking concert formats Radio 3. In recent years it has been the setting for world premieres widening access to orchestral music. We will continue to exploit its

by Graham Fitkin, Simon Holt, Paul Mealor and Kate Whitley. It facilities in innovative ways over the next decade and beyond.” is also the home of Composition: Wales a scheme to help develop For more: www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnow composers and workshop new orchestral music.

Arts

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

Meet Fred toured extensively across France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as making its first foray into Scandinavia, the USA and China

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

Theatre company Hijinx has been nominated for The Stage’s prestigious 2019 International theatre award. The award recognises the theatre companies who have made the greatest impact in reaching international audiences abroad or bringing international work to the UK. Hijinx is a unique theatre company, training 70 talented learning disabled adults at Hijinx Academies to enable them to become professional actors.

2018 has been Hijinx’s most successful international touring year to date. It was also the year in which Hijinx took four Down’s Syndrome actors to Lesotho, in the south of Africa, to create and make a production with young disabled African people who are ostracised and ghettoised. The production travelled to isolated communities across the country changing the aspirations of hundreds of people who live with physical and intellectual disabilities. Hijinx were also given the opportunity to build new relationships with organisations in Shanghai and Singapore, with whom they will be working with to replicate the Hijinx Academy model in East Asia.

This year Hijinx will be opening their newest production Into The Light at the Sherman Theatre in February. It features a cast of neurodiverse and neurotypical performers from Wales, Spain and Italy and will tour the UK before going to Italy and Hong Kong.

For more: www.hijinx.org.uk

Good cause

Remembering Srebrenica

The Cardiff Branch of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO) recently held their annual reunion dinner at Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff.

As well as being an opportunity for former colleagues to reconnect, the Cardiff City Police Association’s annual dinner also raises funds for charitable causes. This year, the guests raised £500 to support Remembering Srebrenica – a UK charity that educates the public about the consequences of hatred through the sharing the ‘lessons’ from the Srebrenica genocide in 1995, and one of the guest speakers at the dinner was Howard Tucker, a retired detective who helped gather evidence of war crimes in Bosnia after the 1990s conflict and member of the Srebrenica Wales board.

Howard Davies, chair of the Cardiff Branch of the National Association of Retired Police Officers says, “I was moved by the generosity of those at the dinner and proud that we are able to support Remembering Srebrenica in their work to educate the public about genocide and the consequences of hatred.”

For more: www.srebrenica.org.uk

Howard Davies, John Blackburn, Albert Hayes, Howard and Gail Gerrard

The Dreams and Wishes charity visited 10 Downing Street and the House of Commons

Charity

A special outing

The Cardiff-based Dreams and Wishes Charity, was honoured to be invited again to take a group to 10 Downing Street before Christmas. The charity representatives received a very warm welcome from Alun Cairns, the Secretary of State for Wales, who very kindly spent time with the children and their families. Tony Curtis MBE, chairman of the charity, presented the Prime Minister, Theresa May, with a bottle of her favourite Penderyn whiskey. Wendy Hobbs, ambassador of the charity, read Claudia’s Special Wish, a book she wrote for the charity to inspire children never to give up on their dreams and wishes and to give parents hope.

Mr Cairns, accompanied the Dreams and Wishes group, to the House of Commons as guests of John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, where they were served a delicious afternoon tea. The charity has also launched a Dreams and Wishes, song sung by Peter Karrie, world famous Phantom of the Opera star, and copies of the disc were presented to Mr Cairns and Mr Bercow. One of the many highlights of the day was Mr Bercow’s heartfelt speech, a tribute to the brave and courageous children and their families, and the tireless work of the charity’s team of amazing volunteers. The charity arranged a visit from Father Christmas, and Mr Cairns helped to hand out the presents to the children.

For more: www.dreamsandwishescharity.org

Raising money

Helping the homeless

A gala dinner organised by the Edenstone Foundation has raised more than £5,000 for homelessness charity The Wallich.

Comedian and actor Mike Bubbins was the MC for the evening, which took place at the Cardiff Exchange Hotel recently, with speeches given by Edenstone Group chairman, Jeff Taylor, and Lindsay Cordery-Bruce, chief executive of The Wallich.

The Wallich is the first cause to benefit from the Edenstone Foundation, having previously received a grant of £5,000.

Martin Taylor, managing director of the Edenstone Group, says, “We’re grateful to everyone who helped make the inaugural Edenstone Foundation gala dinner a great success. Their generosity will enable The Wallich to continue to offer emergency accommodation and ongoing support to those who need it most.

“Along with our own active fundraising, we’re also continuing to invest a proportion of the proceeds of every home we sell into the Edenstone Foundation so that as the business grows, more good causes will benefit.”

For more: www.edenstonefoundation.com

The Edenstone Foundation’s gala dinner raised more than £5,000 for The Wallich

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

winter weddings

A Winter’s Tale Make your wedding a real winter wonderland…

By Emma Dance

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

“Winter is an incredibly special time of year to have a very different style of wedding”

Masquerade wedding Credits for the shoot on pages 14-15, 17, 18 and 20 Styling and décor: Serayah Events Venue: The Exchange Hotel Photography: Morgan James Photography Florist: Forbesfield Cake: The Vale Cake Boutique Dresses: Boutique Box Suits: Nathan Palmer Bespoke Tailoring Hair and makeup: Minxies Beauty Décor: Megan and Claude

W

inter can be a truly magical, and romantic, time of the year. And while a winter wedding may be an unconventional choice, there are definite advantages to eschewing summer nuptials in favour of tying the knot in the colder months.

Soft candlelight, early sunsets, cosy fires, and maybe even a sprinkling of snow mean that a winter wedding comes with ready-made romantic atmosphere, and the sumptuous, rich colour palettes of this time of year offer some serious style potential. But before you dive head first into mulled wine-inspired planning, take some advice from the experts…

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

winter weddings

“Imagine you and your guests enjoying a warming mulled wine in front of a roaring log fire”

Good things

“Winter is definitely an incredibly special time of the year to have a very different style of wedding,” says Zoe Binning, wedding and event planner and stylist at Serayah Events. “There are plenty of amazing benefits to picking the time of year which allows you to create the most amazing party that everyone is going to remember for years to come.

“You can often find cheaper deals with wedding venues and sometimes you might find that they throw in some additional options, such as Christmas party drinks packages.

“You invariably have more choice with suppliers as their availability is often better at this time of year – and you might be able to get a good deal too.

“If you’re a little bit creative with your food choices you can offer your guests something different – hot chocolate or mulled wine and mince pies for the drinks reception, for example.

“If you’re having your ceremony around Christmas you can often benefit from the venue’s own decorations. It’s effectively free wedding décor for you and can save you money on buying and hiring a lot of your own decorations. It’s even worth asking if they would consider decorating the room to match your colour scheme – you never know!”

Agi Grzegorzek, events and wedding manager at Chapel 1877 agrees. “At Chapel 1877 it’s definitely worth taking advantage of the seasonal decorations around the venue,” she says. “From our stonewalled private function room complete with arched windows, up through our fairytale turret to the upper floor with authentic chapel windows and magnificent chandeliers Chapel 1877 is the perfect backdrop for taking pictures at any time of the year, and it’s totally magical at this time of year.”

“Hensol Castle is a 400-year-old castle in the grounds of the Vale Resort and it’s got all the ingredients to make for a perfect winter venue,” says marketing manager Stephanie Metson. “Imagine you

You may be able to take advantage of your venue’s seasonal deorations – like these at Miskin Manor

and your guests enjoying a warming mulled wine or eggnog in front of a roaring log fire in a room lit by twinkling lights and you begin to get the picture. Hensol Castle is a beautiful venue at any time of year, but there’s definitely something a little extra special about it as a backdrop for a wedding during winter.

“With many people on leave during the festive period, brides and grooms can take advantage of our year-round weekday-reduced rate without it affecting their guest list, which means they can get their dream wedding at an extremely competitive rate. And when you add to this the magical atmosphere that comes hand-in-hand with a winter wedding, you can begin to see why more and more couples are choosing to have their special day during the winter months.”

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architects winter weddings Setting the scene

Winter weddings are all about luxurious colour schemes and twinkly candlelight, but if you’re getting married in January or February you’ll probably want to stay away from anything too Christmassy, advises Beth Stretton, stylist at Megan and Claude. “If you bring many of the winter decorative elements such as berries, glitter and metallic colours into your theme it will be more difficult to avoid the feel of Christmas and you may prefer to separate your event from the traditional festivities,” she says. “When doing winter events and shoots in the past we have made sure we use some of the classic winter elements, such as rich colours, shimmer, opulence and greenery and berries, but never all of them, or too many in the same space. Recently we styled a December event using a combination of feather, rich colours, silver charger plates and greenery hung overhead, which created a glamorous winter feel, with no hint of Christmas.”

“There are so many incredible winter themes you can choose from, and really go to town with your décor, colour schemes and tablescapes,” continues Zoe. “Winter weddings definitely lend themselves to fabulous and opulent rich hues. I love deep purples, dark greens, deep pinks and reds and lots of gold at this time of year, as they are fabulously warm and luxuriant and work beautifully with lots of candles and twinkling fairy lights.

“However if you want bright and crisp theme, accept that there probably won’t be snow outside and bring it indoors instead, with a fabulous white colour scheme with splashes of silver and ice blue and lots of dark green foliage such as ivy. The light colours will make

the space feel much brighter, crisper and more spacious than it is, particularly if the venue has quite a heavy backdrop.

“But you know, it’s your day, so if you love blush pink, do what you want to do. And pale pink would look beautiful alongside silver, whites and ice blues. Find something that works well in your venue and to be honest, anything goes!

“One theme I really love is a masquerade ball. Of course this would be perfect for a wedding, a birthday party, anniversary party or any other type of celebration.

“Think lots of fabulous deep colours, incredible floral arrangements, candlesticks, candelabras, chandeliers, not to mention an awesome cake as a focal point, these will all add to the luxe look. Coloured glassware, gold charger plates and cutlery, peacock feathers and candles will really make the overall look something extra special. And you can absolutely go to town with your outfits for this one too! Think masquerade masks, long evening gowns, bow ties and evening jackets. Take this style any way you wish.”

And although the chances are that most of your celebration will be indoors, that doesn’t mean that you have to entirely forget about what’s going on outdoors.

“Lots of candles and darker moodier colours all look wonderful in winter,” says Beth. “Don’t forget to take into account that the atmosphere will be different at a winter event – predominantly due to the light. There will be less exterior spaces to think about and decorate, and good lighting will be key on a dark evening. If you are doing anything outside in terms of decoration, make it a statement piece rather than small details that people may be too cold to notice.”

“Winter weddings lend themselves to fabulous and opulent rich hues” 18 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Flower power

Whatever your theme of colour scheme the chances are that the floral arrangements are going to play a significant part, but the season doesn’t mean you need only be limited in your choices.

“There is a huge and gorgeous choice with winter flowers,” says Beth Forbes-Simpson, owner of Forbesfield florist. “There’s definitely no need to compromise on the look of your wedding flowers as they range is beautiful. And remember that winter weddings don’t have to be all about Christmas colours – the rules are yours to break! Bright and colourful hues give a brilliant pop of colour in a winter landscape.

“Our favourites are hellebores, cyclamen, Japanese anemone and cymbidium orchids. For extra interest we love adding fruit into designs and apples and pears look great au naturel or dipped in metallic wax for a luxe finish. We recently created a winter wedding for an Australian chef and so added lots of artichokes, mushrooms, physalis and figs which gives crazy texture and an element of surprise to the designs.

“Even if you wanted to go for a summer meadow vibe in winter you probably could – although we always feel that being reflective of the season gives you both the best quality and aesthetic.

“Another thing to consider is that the wholesale cost of flowers increases in December through classic supply and demand at the flower auction. Reds and whites are affected by price increases more than most and the closer to Christmas the more expensive they will be, and they can become affected by quality issues.”

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

WINTER WEDDINGS

Moonlight and music and love and romance... at Gileston Manor

Baby, it’s cold outside

One thing you won’t be able to escape is the fact that a winter wedding is not going to mean warm weather. The advantage, of course, is that you won’t find yourself checking the weather forecast every day in the weeks leading up to the ceremony and if you’re prepared for rain, low temperatures and possibly even snow then you might even be able to use it your advantage.

“Logistically, photographing winter weddings can be a nightmare,” says Peter Morgan of Morgan James Photography. “The cold means that group shots have to be completed quickly and there can’t be too many of them as guests get annoyed – which doesn’t look great in pictures. But it can also be a good thing as we have to move fast and keep the list short.

“Don’t leave your guests out for too long, or have an alternative, inside, group location for the main shot.

“If you do take guests outside keep them warm with hot drinks, blankets, heaters etc. Plan for rain and have lots of large umbrellas – white is best.”

“The winter season brings beautiful conditions and light, but also bad weather. Being prepared is the key and it helps if you’ve experienced this before. I think some of the best shots I’ve ever taken have been in the wintertime with cloudy skies and rain puddles. There are also some great images to be had with a bride inside incorporating

“Make use of the dark hours with romantic evening shoots”

rain against a window.

Choosing a venue which has good photo spots both inside and out is a key consideration at this time of year.

“Look for somewhere with stunning interiors so you can be sure of some beautiful pictures,” says Agi. “At Miskin Manor the venue is elegantly dressed in Christmas colours throughout, allowing you to take a variety of indoor photographs,” continues business and events co-ordinator Kimberley Jenkins. “Make use of the dark hours with romantic evening shoots with your photographer, and maybe get all the guests involved with some sparklers and fireworks.

“Our grounds and gardens are beautiful even in the colder months, with gorgeous autumn leaves on the ground and deep evergreens across the gardens,” says Wendy Parker, venue manager at Gileston Manor.

“Even the bare trees in the rookery look majestic and the views of the heritage coast never change. If it rains there are plenty of sheltered spots around the grounds for your photos – in our summerhouse, the folly, or under trees. Our bespoke lotus marquee is fully heated too making it a perfect venue for a winter wedding.

“Take advantage of the darker nights to have candle light in the marquee during the day, or flame torches up the drive making a spectacular entrance to greet your guests. You could even have fire pits for those who wish to socialise outside.”

There’s also weather-related practicalities to consider, as Zoe points out. “The weather is going to be cold, maybe wet and possibly even snowing. And whilst the idea of a white wedding is beautiful it’s not necessarily practical. It’s all about the planning for your guests and yourselves, not to mention the suppliers, making it to the church on time – or even at all.

“Think carefully about the venue you pick. Somewhere up a tiny lane with limited access might not be good at that time of year, but a location closer to the motorway and good transport links means that you have the best possible chance of everyone getting there. Ask the venue what their snow contingency plans are!”

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winter weddings Revival Bridal Boutique can help you think outside the box when it comes to your wedding style

Dress for the occasion

While the range of bridal outfits available is getting increasingly diverse, the reality is that most dresses will be more geared towards spring and summer weddings. But, the addition of an accessory or two not only could make your outfit more winter appropriate, but also give you the chance to express a bit more of your personality.

“Don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to a boring pashmina,” says Samuel Clark, creative director of Revival Bridal Boutique. “Your wedding dress and accessories should reflect you and your personality.

Why not go for a pastel blazer? A denim jacket? Or maybe even a sequin jacket? Think outside the box!

“Also think about whether you will have to be crossing multi-terrain, walking across soggy grass or mud to get to that picture perfect location, so buy yourself some glittery wellies as well.”

“Introduce different luxurious fabrics like velvet and faux furs to keep you warm,” suggests Sally Evans, owner of Boutique Box. “Jewel colours like purple, royal blue, reds and greens look wonderful.”

“Don’t forget your colour scheme doesn’t have to be limited to your décor and bridesmaids’ dresses,” says Zoe. “Winter weddings are a brilliant opportunity to bring colours into the bride’s dress too. What about red, purple, or even black?”

And if you’re going to a cool icy colour theme then you may be in luck when it comes to the wedding dress itself.

“It seems that some big designers are paying homage to the Disney princesses this year,” says Sam. “As pastel blue seems to be a popular wedding dress colour in 2019.”

“Your wedding dress and accessories should reflect you and your personality” www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 23

winter weddings It’s cheesey – but in a totally good way

Eat, drink and be merry

A winter wedding can offer the ideal opportunity to move away from the traditional wedding fayre and get a bit more creative.

“Why not have a warming mulled wine or eggnog as your arrival drink?” suggests Wendy. “And then warming comfort food for your reception such as a roast dinner, and a crumble and custard for dessert – home cooking, but with style.”

“We’ve noticed that couples often choose a roast dinner in December, or a Christmas menu if they are getting married during December,” agrees Agi. “It makes them feel at home, but with a twist to make it special.

“We use only seasonal ingredients and in our winter menu you’ll find ingredients like cinnamon, thyme, mushrooms, smoked garlic and orange which can give a real taste of winter.”

“Winter is all about warming and comforting foods,” continues Kimberley. “Earthy flavours such as beetroot, game, mushrooms and chestnuts work particularly well.”

“Our chef works with the seasons and takes inspiration from ingredients found at that time of the year,” says Stephanie. “In winter that means plenty of kale, root vegetables and chestnuts, but with his own twist on the these traditional festive favourites.”

“As well as looking fantastic, cheese wedding cakes are brilliant for feeding hungry guests during the evening part of a wedding,” says Tom Pinder, director of the Welsh Cheese Company.

The cooler weather will generally be better for the cheese and make storage and preparation easier than at the height of the summer. It might be worth ordering a slightly larger cake for winter months as guests can be a little hungrier in the colder evenings. It’s important to keep them well fed to keep the party going!

“Rich blue and brie style cheeses are particularly associated with winter, and there are several amazing Welsh artisan cheeses in that style, including Mon Las, Perl Las and Cenarth Brie. Our cakes can be decorated with seasonal flowers and fruit to give the display a wonderful sense of winter.”

“Ask your bar to provide a range of spiced cocktails, beers and warming mulled wines and ciders as the evening party gains momentum,” suggests Zoe.

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

“Guests can be a little hungrier in the colder evenings”

The wedding directory VENUES Chapel 1877, Churchill Way; www.chapel1877.com The Exchange Hotel, 4 – 5 Mount Stuart Square; www.exchangehotelcardiff.co.uk Gileston Manor, Gileston; www.gilestonmanor.co.uk Miskin Manor, Talbot Green, Pontyclun; www.miskin-manor.co.uk Vale Resort, Hensol Park, Hensol; www.valeresort.com EVENT PLANNING & STYLING Serayah Events; www.serayah.co.uk Megan and Claude; www.meganandclaude.co.uk DRESSES AND SUITS Boutique Box, Talbot Green, Pontyclun; www.boutique-box.co.uk Nathan Palmer Bespoke Tailoring, 12 Royal Buildings, Stanwell Road, Penarth; www.nathanpalmer.co.uk Revival Bridal, Castle Emporium, Womamby Street; www.revivalbridalboutique.co.uk FLOWERS Forbesfield; www.forbesfield.co.uk FOOD & DRINK Welsh Cheese Company, Taff’s Well; www.welshcheesecompany.co.uk The Vale Cake Boutique, www.thevalecakeboutique.com PHOTOGRAPHY Morgan James Photography; www.morganjamesphoto.co.uk HAIR, MAKEUP & ACCESSORIES Anne Morgan Jewellery, 10 Glebe Street, Penarth; www.annemorgan.co.uk I Do Silver; www.idosilver.com Minxies Beauty; www.minxiesbeauty.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

...and a silver sixpence in your shoe!

Add a real silver sixpence to your left shoe to make your walk down the aisle perfect, and become part of the wedding sixpence tradition.

W

e all know the classic wedding rhyme; “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”.

However, there is a lost line that has been missed off the ending that brings so much meaning and uniqueness to your special day.

And this line goes; “…and a silver sixpence in your shoe.”

What does this last line mean? Well, it brings good luck and prosperity to the happy couple through their married life, whilst also protecting the bride during their walk down the aisle. The tradition of a wedding sixpence has been around for centuries and now it’s your time to bring back this unique and special tradition.

WHO ARE I DO SILVER? Owned by Heather Davies, I Do Silver is a family run business based in Cardiff, Wales. We are the premium suppliers of real silver sixpences for brides to wear in their left shoe during their most important walk of their life… their walk down the wedding aisle.

Each of our sixpences are carefully hand polished, come beautifully packaged and with its own keepsake box. We can offer a real silver sixpence to suit your wedding and budget on our webpage www.idosilver.com.

On the webpage you can also find our growing blog of all things wedding related. We collaborate with the best bridal shops, wedding venues, wedding photographers, wedding caterers etc to bring you all the information you need to create your perfect wedding in Cardiff and beyond.

ARE I DO SILVER’S SIXPENCES REAL SILVER? Of course they are! We only supply you with real silver sixpences which are dated pre 1947, or the modern 2019 dated sixpence.

There are two different silver contents in our sixpences. Firstly the 92.5% sterling silver sixpences. These are dated from 1837 – 1920 and also the modern 2019 dated sixpence.

Secondly the 50% sterling silver sixpences, these are dated from 1920 – 1946.

We do not sell sixpences dated from 1947 – 1970. This is because they do not contain any silver. They are made from cupronickel, with no silver in them. We have found it very upsetting

that many people are selling these non-silver sixpences to brides and claiming they are silver!

Imagine walking down the aisle with a non-silver sixpence on one of the most important and special days of your life.

At I Do Silver we feel that brides are missing out on the real silver experience and it is our mission to make sure they get the perfect real silver sixpence for their perfect day. We guarantee that our sixpences are real silver.

It’s the only way for a bride to make the most important walk of her life... with real silver in her shoe. ■

We are on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter with the handle @IDoSilver and hashtag #idosilver.

Go onto our website www.idosilver.com where you can find our different ranges of silver sixpences and our wedding blog. www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 27

Weddings at

MANSION HOUSE MAKE YOUR SPECIAL DAY A TRULY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH FABULOUS FOOD, FIVE-STAR SERVICE AND A STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP

AA 2 Rosette award for food excellence AA 5 Gold star restaurant with rooms Visit Wales 5 star Member of ‘Great Little Places’ The Times ‘No 5 in the UK ‘Cool Hotels on the Coast’

For more information please visit our website: www.mansionhousellansteffan.co.uk

01267 241 515 Mansion House Llansteffan - Pantyrathro, Llangain, Carmarthenshire SA33 5AJ Credit Photographers: Aled Llewellyn, Lewis Fackrell

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

CARVING A NICHE David Nash has been cutting, carving and manipulating wood to create sculptures for more than 50 years.

This May, a major new exhibition of his work will open at the National Museum Cardiff.

David Nash Sculpture through the Seasons will be the largest and most ambitious exhibition of Nash’s work ever presented in Wales. The exhibition will mark the 50th anniversary of the artist living and working in Capel Rhiw –

a former Methodist chapel in Blaenau Ffestiniog, north Wales.

The exhibition will feature key sculptures from the late 1960s to the present day, exploring the different ways David worked to produce pieces that cross abstraction and figuration, yet always retain reference to the forms of the original tree and the unique qualities of the chosen material.

The exhibition opens on 3 May. For more: www.museum.wales

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

What’s on

25 January – 25 February

Wandering Monster

PLAYS/SHOWS/ PERFORMANCES Until 26 January

JERSEY BOYS Jersey Boys tells the true story of four boys from the wrong side of the tracks who wrote their own songs, invented their own unique sound and sold 175 million records worldwide.

Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

Until 27 January

WE’RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT Join an unmissable adventure through gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the oozy, squelchy mud in search of a bear.

New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

29 January – 2 February

AMERICAN IDIOT Following two critically acclaimed West End runs and a sell-out UK Tour, Green Day’s explosive rock musical returns to mark the show's 10th anniversary and the 15th anniversary of the Grammy Award winning original album.

New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

31 January

PSYCHIC SALLY World renowned psychic, television and theatre star and the UK’s favourite award winning medium Sally Morgan is back and better than ever with her phenomenal interactive stage show. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

31 January – 9 February

WOOF Woof is about two men in love.

Two men from very different backgrounds, with very different views on what it is to be in a relationship. After a whirlwind year together pressures begin to build from people around them, threatening to destroy the bond they’ve built. Can they form their own path in a world that is all too ready to pave that route for them? Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

5 – 9 February

REBUS: LONG SHADOWS Detective Inspector John Rebus is retired but the shadows of his former life still follow him through the streets of Edinburgh. Whisky helped but now he’s denying himself that pleasure. But when the daughter of

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

a murder victim appears outside his flat, he’s back on the case and off the wagon. New Theatre; www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

5 – 16 February

BLUE In a house a few miles from the Carmarthenshire coast a mother battles to keep her family together.

But when an old acquaintance unexpectedly arrives he awakens her children’s need to escape.

A new Welsh play produced by Chippy Lane Productions, a theatre company championing Welsh and Wales based creatives.

Chapter; www.chapter.org

9, 16 & 23 February

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA Love, power and politics collide in Un ballo in maschera – based on the real life assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden who was shot at a masked ball in 1792.

Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

15, 17, 24, 27 February & 1 March THE MAGIC FLUTE Welsh National Opera’s irresistible

production transports you to a dream world where you’ll meet colourful characters including a newspaperreading lion and a fish doubling as a bicycle. Combined with a witty story, moments of enchantment and Mozart’s sublime music, including the magnificent Queen of the Night aria, it adds up to an unforgettable opera experience for all ages.

Wales Millennium Centre; www.wmc.org.uk

15 February

INTO THE LIGHT Directed by Frantic Assembly’s Scott Graham and incorporating an international cast of performers with and without learning disabilities, Hijinx & Teatro La Ribalta’s Into the Light is daring physical theatre about the right to be seen and heard, performed by those we need to see and hear. Sherman Theatre; www.shermantheatre.co.uk

16 February

CRACKED Cracked is a moving, thoughtprovoking play about vulnerability and the universal need for love.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

what’s on observations that’s had crowds laugh their heads off year after year.

Glee Club Cardiff; www.glee.co.uk

1 February

Music

2 February

THE VACCINES The million record-selling indie rock band come to Cardiff.

The Great Hall; www.cardiffstudents.com

26 January

BURNS NIGHT 2019 Join the young musicians and actors of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as they lead a traditional celebration of Burns Night which includes a concert, Burns Supper (Haggis, neeps and tatties or vegetarian alternative and Cranachan dessert), a tot of whisky and ceilidh with dance instruction.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk above:

Richard Baratt is exhibiting at the Martin Tinney Gallery left: Woof tells the tale of two men in love. Catch it at the Sherman Theatre

17 February

ANTON & ERIN – DANCE THOSE MAGIC MUSICALS Join the nation’s favourite ballroom couple in their new, show-stopping dance production. The world of ballroom meets musical theatre with stunning costumes and breathtaking choreography set to iconic theatrical favourites. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

18 – 23 February

BENIDORM LIVE! Book now for a dose of Benidorm sunshine and see your favourite stars from the Solana live on stage for the very first time. New Theatre, www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk

COMEDY 1 – 7 February

ONLY FOOLS: THE (CUSHTY) DINING EXPERIENCE Journey to The Nag’s Head to meet the pride of Peckham in a t'riffic night out of wheeling, dealing and eating that starts from the moment you

arrive! The Trotters try to drum up some cash, but why is the pub closed on the busiest night of the week...?

Ffresh Cabaret Bar; www.wmc.org.uk

1 February

TONY LAW: A LOST SHOW The King of post-modern nonsense, Tony is taking his funniest, most meaningful show to date on tour after selling out his entire run at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe with A Lost Show.

Chapter; www.chapter.org

3 February

SPONTANEUS POTTER An entirely improvised Harry Potter comedy play, based on an audience suggestion of a fanfiction title. With live musical accompaniment!

Glee Club Cardiff; www.glee.co.uk

17 February

CARL HUTCHINSON – I KNOW I SHOULDN’T BEHAVE LIKE THIS From buying a house to having kids, Carl takes his unique adolescent approach to grown up issues. Join Hutchinson with his stories and

27 January

JEFF BALLARD: FAIRGROUNDS Jeff Ballard ranks among the most inventive drummers of his generation. His latest album Fairgrounds, provides a freedom to express himself with musicians who are close to his heart and mind.

Embracing influences as diverse as jazz, rock, pop, electronica and West African music, Fairgrounds is a unique insight into the distinctive sound world of Jeff Ballard.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

DAISY CHAPMAN Self titled ‘Sinner’ Songwriter and BBC Introducing favourite Daisy Chapman is an incredibly well-travelled pianist and vocalist who draws influences from the antifolk world. Acapela; www.acapela.co.uk

2 February

28 January

TEARS FOR FEARS Having sold 30 million albums worldwide, performed to countless sold out audiences, and won various awards, Tears For Fears are one of the most influential bands to have come out of the UK. Motorpoint Arena; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS The Be More Kind 2019 tour heads to Cardiff. Motorpoint Arena; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

3 February

BASSEKOU KOUYATE + NGONI BA, CATRIN FINCH + SECKOU KEITA Experience two of the very best acts in world music in one very special double bill. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

30 January

BEANS ON TOAST Over the course of his huge career Beans has become something of a cult national treasure. What seemed like a throwaway festival act has evolved into something much more important, a voice of truth and honesty, cutting through the bullshit.

A consistent and reliable modern-day troubadour, not afraid to speak his mind; always touring, always writing, recording and releasing music.

Playing every festival under the sun and always, always, telling it like it is.

Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

31 January

LLYR WILLIAMS This final programme in Llŷr Williams’ series of recitals of Schubert’s piano music begins with the late Sonata in A minor, composed in 1825. The recital concludes with Schubert’s last piano sonata, D 960 in B flat major, written in September 1828. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

5 February

ALEXIS FFRENCH Alexis Ffrench is one of the UK’s most distinctive contemporary composers and pianists. Already an established star in the streaming world – with more than 56 million streams on Spotify, his music speaks and transcends all boundaries and genres. Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

7 February

WANDERING MONSTER Wandering Monster perform intricately arranged instrumental rock music which draws upon jazz sensibilities and sound worlds. Made up of five crossover musicians highly active on the northern scene, the group reach beyond what may be expected from the tried and tested line-up of the tenor saxophone/ guitar quintet. Retaining the harmonic sophistication and improvisational approach of jazz, these influences are juxtaposed with the rhythmic complexity of modern

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

What’s on rock and metal. The result is a sound that is intense and raucous, yet also dynamic, sensitive and spontaneous.

Café Jazz; www.cafejazzcardiff.com

8 February

RUSTY SHACKLE Welsh indie-folk 6-piece Rusty Shackle are back at Clwb.

Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

8 February

ELO AGAIN ELO Again are back with their stunning Return To The Blue tour, celebrating the truly universal music of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra. They really give you a dramatic taste of what a real ELO concert was like back in their heyday, the whole experience is professionally re-enacted with a great sound reproduction, light show and visual effects. St David’s Hall; www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk

14 February

SEAN MCGOWAN With 2018 an indelible highlight and highpoint of his decade of crafting songs, Sean McGowan is stepping up his already considerable efforts to bring his smart wordplay and clash of sad and riotous tunes to everyone he can muster.

Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

15 February

SIR ANDREW DAVIS CONDUCTS L’ENFANCE DU CHRIST Sir Andrew Davis conducts Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ to mark the 150th anniversary of the composer’s death.

Hoddinott Hall; www.wmc.org.uk

19 February

COMPOSITION: WALES CULMINATION CONCERT Come and hear the latest in composition in Wales, as composers worthy of wider exposure have the opportunity to hear their works performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Hoddinott Hall; www.wmc.org.uk

21 February

ANOTHER SKY Straight outta Goldsmith’s, Another Sky use their combined talents to create mystical and progressive indie rock with uniquely elegant vocals at the driving wheel.

Clwb Ifor Bach; www.clwb.net

22 February

OQUES GRASSES This seven piece Catalan sensation

have had a meteoric rise to become one of the most popular live bands in Europe. Their music is a combination of reggae, pop, boundless energy and musicianship which produces an uplifting live experience that will have you dancing all night with your hands in the air and a smile on your face.

Chapter; www.chapter.org

22 February

X FACTOR LIVE The X Factor Tour has thrilled over three million people since it began 14 years ago, making it one of the UK’s most successful annual arena tours.

Motorpoint Arena; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

23 February

FAT BOY SLIM Expect a big production, a revolving stage, rave ushers and a live smiley face experience.

Motorpoint Arena; www.motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk

top: It might not all be “cushty” at the Only Fools and Horses dining experience; right: Alexis Ffrench

24 February

RODNEY BRANIGAN Texas-raised Londoner who learned to play in Austin, perform in Los Angeles, craft songs in Nashville, and put it all together in London.

Acapela; www.acapela.co.uk

ART, CRAFT, PHOTOGRAPHY & EXHIBITIONS 7– 28 February

RICHARD BARRETT: NEW PAINTINGS Richard was born in Cardiff in 1963.

Although now based in Yorkshire, much of the inspiration for his work comes from spending time walking the coastline of Wales.

Martin Tinney Gallery; www.artwales.com

16 – 28 February

DESIGNS FOR OPERA EXHIBITION An exhibition of designs for opera, produced by students on the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Design for Performance course.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; www.rwcmd.ac.uk

SPORT

Saturday 26 January

CARDIFF BLUES V CONNACHT RUGBY Pro 14, KO 5.15pm

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

Cardiff Arms Park; www.cardiffblues.com

Saturday 2 February CARDIFF CITY V BOURNEMOUTH Premier League, KO 3pm Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

Saturday 2 February

CARDIFF COMETS V COVENTRY PHOENIX EIHL Southern Divison One League, Face Off 3.30pm Viola Arena; www.cardiffcomets.co.uk

Sunday 3 February

CARDIFF DEVILS V SHEFFIELD STEELERS League, Face Off 6pm Viola Arena; www.cardiffdevils.com

Monday 4 February

CELTIC DRAGONS V BENECOSMAVERICKS Vitality Superleague; Centre pass 7pm Sport Wales National Centre; www. celticdragonsnetball.com

Saturday 9 February

CARDIFF DEVILS V COVENTRY BLAZE League, Face Off 7pm Viola Arena; www.cardiffdevils.com

Saturday 16 February

CARDIFF BLUES V GLASGOW WARRIORS Pro 14, KO 7.35pm Cardiff Arms Park; www,cardiffblues.com

Saturday 16 February CARDIFF DEVILS V MK LIGHTNING League, Face Off 7pm Viola Arena; www.cardiffdevils.com

Monday 18 February

CELTIC DRAGONS V WASPS NETBALL Vitality Superleague; Centre pass 7pm Sport Wales National Centre; www.celticdragonsnetball.com

Saturday 23 February

CARDIFF CITY V WATFORD Premier League, KO 3pm Cardiff City Stadium; www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk

Saturday 23 February

WALES V ENGLAND Six Nations, KO 4.45pm Principality Stadium; www.wru.co.uk

Monday 25 February

CELTIC DRAGONS V MANCHESTER THUNDER Vitality Superleague; Centre pass 7pm Sport Wales National Centre; www.celticdragonsnetball.com n

T H E A L B A N Y G A L L E RY

EXHIBITION OF DRAWINGS by selected gallery artists &

THEO CRUTCHLEY-MACK

A touring exhibition of original paintings and drawings from his residency at the sub-Antarctic Whaling stations of South Georgia 17th January – 9th February 2019 www.albanygallery.com 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

Dodgy as...catch the band at the Tramshed on 22 February

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

the big interview

CONFESSIONS OF A PRIEST

Dodgy’s bright, breezy lyrics juxtaposed with an accomplished and polished rock sound made them one of the leading lights of 90s Britpop. The band split in 1998 but reformed in 2008, and are bringing their 25th anniversary of Homegrown tour to the Tramshed this February.

We spoke to co-founder and drummer Mathew Priest Words by Sarah Moolla

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

the big interview

U

nlike Britpop fellow traveller Liam Gallagher, Mathew can’t lay claim to a tough working-class background; hell, he even likes his big brother. “I’m one of those folk who was conceived in the ’60s, born in the ’70s and a teenager in the ’80s” he says, reminiscing fondly about his early years in Birmingham.

“I had a comfortable and happy childhood.

“We weren’t loaded, but we had a few foreign holidays and a nice house.”

Did music play a part in your life then?

We had one main music venue, the Birmingham Odeon, and all the major bands came there – Depeche Mode, Duran Duran. . . Run DMC with The Beastie Boys supporting was a particular favourite.

What was the first record you ever bought?

We were driving back from Birmingham one day, in my dad’s old Scirocco, I was probably around 11, and I heard Moondance by Van Morrisson on Radio One. I immediately fell in love with it. Up to that point my music taste revolved around my dad and older brother’s record collection (apart from when I went rogue with Duran Duran), so I asked them if they had it. “I don’t think we do”, said my brother, “but you could buy it, if you like it.” I know this sounds like a perfectly rational instruction, but for some reason, up to that point I didn’t know I could buy my own records. So I did, the next day and I’ve still got it, and it’s still one of my favourite albums of all time.

What were you like at school?

My brother was pretty much amazing at everything – he was the best dancer, the best looking, the best at football, the best at art (he could be the biggest poser as well); so when I followed him into school two years below, it was an easy ride. I was Little Priesty and all his mates looked out for me. I switched schools when I was 13; I was quite bright, although I messed up my A-Levels, but that didn’t matter too much as I wanted to be in a band by then.

What was the first song you ever wrote?

There’s A Hold Around My Soul (And It’s Pulling Me Down). I probably fancied myself as a little Leonard Cohen but was more like a little Leonard Rossiter.

Who would you cite as your inspiration?

My family. My dad would turn anything into a joke – an affliction which has cursed me all my life. My mum’s resilience and clear-headedness and my brother’s flair and desire for the peculiar. Lyrically, Bob Dylan was a massive influence; how could he not be?

How did Dodgy form?

Nige [Clark] and I met in a band around 1986 and soon

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“It’s a shocking name really but at the time, maybe due to the hedonistic times, we thought it hilarious”

formed a strong bond. I had just finished my A-Levels and my mum wanted me to go to university or do something normal, but Nige had other ideas – he told me that he was going to leave his job and wanted me to move to London with him. I knew I had to convince Mum; it took about a month. Within two years we were signed to A&M records and we were on our way.

Why the name Dodgy?

It’s a question I ask my self on a weekly basis, it’s a shocking name really but at the time, maybe due to the slightly hippy, hedonistic times, we thought it was hilarious. Yeah. Really funny, guys. *slow handclap* Was the performing in the black hat an intentional gimmick?

I’ve always been partial to a spot of hattery – the pork pie hat was quite conservative compared to the white Russian cossack hat I wore in the early 1990s. The hatwearing in Dodgy now though has been taken up quite enthusiastically by Andy [Miller].

the big interview Did you ever mind the ‘Britpop’ label?

We never liked it but we were happy to ride the wave at the time, and boy, what a wave. Our first album actually came out the year before it all kicked off so we never felt part of it.

What’s your best celebrity anecdote?

Elton John was a fan of our song, Good Enough and invited us to his fancy-dress 50th birthday bash. I went as a Mexican. I was happily helping myself to the free cocktails at the bar, stood next to Charlie Watts dressed as a Cavalier, when a young chap came up and said he was a massive fan and would I like to meet his mum. Not really, I thought, but I didn’t want to upset him. I went over to the other side of the club, and there’s Lulu dressed as Tinkerbell. Maybe she had a thing for Mexicans but she became quite flirty. She gave me her number and asked for a ‘wee kiss’.

You were brilliant on Never Mind The Buzzcocks...

Thank you – I enjoyed doing it. I was asked to do a few things and did a pilot once, but I prefer radio. I’ve got a better face for that.

A little bit older and a little bit wiser

Did your 2 Drummers Drumming at Edinburgh Fringe dispel myths about drummers ?

I think everyone secretly loves the drummer.

Was the Dodgy split in 1998 a difficult time in your life?

Definitely. I regret it and with hindsight I think we could have handled it so much better but Nige was feeling estranged and I couldn’t see it – everything was so crazy back then. I’ve learned a lot since then. We all have.

What prompted Dodgy’s reunion in 2008?

Well, time really is a great healer as you tend to forget why you split up in the first place; that or the reasons don’t seem as important as they did. We were asked by some crappy TV show, Reunion or something, if we wanted to appear. It was awful but it got us talking, mainly to laugh at how shocking it would be. Andy Moore was our beloved lighting technician from Manchester; he was dying so he held a testimonial to raise money for his family and asked me and Nigel to perform. We couldn’t exactly say no could we? He pulled the death card. He held out for another year or so and actually died while we were rehearsing for the reunion tour. I loved that guy.

How have Dodgy managed to avoid the whole ‘creative differences’ falling out spats happening again?

I recommend to anyone in a long-term relationship – have a fall-out and then take a break for 10 years. It’s great when you get back together.

The creativity between you all seems stronger than ever . . . Nige is the central creative force for the

songwriting, so nothing will get started without him, but similarly, nothing really gets finished without us all. Nige and I recently spent a few days writing in a caravan in West Wales. Very desolate. No phone or wifi. Not many distractions. It’s like – create, or go mad!

What’s the difference between touring now and touring then?

At its height, Dodgy had a crew of about 20. Now, it tends to just be the four of us. We still love it though, probably more so now.

What’s your own favourite track to perform?

There’s a track from our most recent album called California Gold that is a real joy to play live as it changes every time we play it. But the best songs to play are always the ones that mean the most to the audience as you get the best reaction and feedback.

We gather you’ve got a bit of history with Wales...

Wales pops up several times in the Dodgy story and means a lot to me. When we first got signed, we hired a completely desolate cottage in Snowdonia to ‘write’ and go crazy - it was called Hendre Ddu. We made the record executives drive all the way from London to the cottage to get our signatures - they weren’t happy, but we wanted to see how desperate they were to sign us.

Also, Nigel’s wife Jacci, has had a mobile caravan down in Mwunt near Cardigan for years, and we went there to shoot the original photo for Homegrown 25 years ago (below, left), and because we are going on tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Homegrown next February and March, we thought it would be a wheeze to recreate the shot, 25 years later - but slightly update it. Of course the landscape hadn’t changed a jot but the van was different and the band looked slightly more worn. (Above, left) Also, I spent a lot of time in the Brecons, as I was a member of a band called the Yellow Moon Band which featured Jo and Danny who were the couple that started the Green Man festival that has been running now for 15 years. I played at the first one.

Dodgy: 25th anniversary of Homegrown, at the Tramshed Cardiff, 22 February tickets £23.52 from www.eventbrite.co.uk

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

CHOPARD HAPPY HEARTS BANGLE, £2,230 Wear your heart on your sleeve (or your wrist at least). This bangle features a red coral heart and a signature dancing diamond set in 18ct rose gold.

From Laings, 27 The Hayes, Cardiff; www.laingsuk.com MY MOON AND STARS ENAMEL PIN, £7 A bit cheesy? Maybe. Very sweet?

For sure. This is the perfect little love token this V-Day. From Home by Kirsty, 64a Glenroy Street, Roath; www.homebykirsty.com

HEART’S DESIRE Impress your crush this Valentine’s Day

FUSED GLASS HEART ART FRAME, £44.99 Give a piece of art from the heart.

From Shore, The Esplanade, Penarth; www.shorecoastal.co.uk

GLYNDWR VINTAGE SPARKLING ROSÉ, £23.95 Toast your love with this sparkling rosé, produced just down the road at Glyndwr Vineyard near Cowbridge.

From Wally’s Delicatessen, 38 – 42 Royal Arcade, Cardiff; www.glyndwrvineyard.co.uk

VERA WANG LOVESTRUCK, £40/50ML A supremely feminine scent that “dazzles the senses with its charm and feel-good spirit, wrapping you up in the warm, fuzzy feeling of adoration and contentment” – apparently.

From Central Pharmacy, 63–67 Wellfield Road, Cardiff; www.escentual.com

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ED’S CHOICE

DAFFODIL PEARL RING, £99-£120 You could give her flowers. Or you could give her this beautiful floral statement ring set with a white freshwater pearl.

From Emma-Kate Francis, No 5 The Balcony, Castle Arcade, Cardiff; www.emmakatefrancis.com

DELUXE DOZEN NAOMI ROSE BOUQUET, £65 Say it with flowers. And this gorgeous bunch of 12 red roses will say everything that needs to be said.

From Secret Garden Florist Cardiff, Stall 79, Cardiff Market, 49 St Mary Street, Cardiff; www.floristincardiff.com

HEART VASE, £45 How better to display your Valentine’s Day blooms than in a heart-shaped vase?

From Athena Interiors; www.athenainteriors.co.uk

CULINARY CONCEPTS AMORE SILVER PLATED ENTWINED CHAMPAGNE FLUTES, £74.99 Just what you need to raise a toast your love.

From Hamptons, Ludlow Lane, Penarth; www.hamptonspenarth.co.uk

EMMA BRIDGEWATER HEARTS BOWL, £17.95 Anyone would be bowled over to receive this as a gift.

(See what we did there?)

From Kitchens Cookshop, 14 High Street, Cardiff; www.steamer.co.uk

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

NEW YEAR, NEW HUE With ‘living coral’ having the honour of Pantone’s Colour of the Year, it’s time to fill your wardrobe with the vibrant shade!

P

antone described living coral as “buoyant, playful” and representative of our “innate need for optimism” which sounds like a good start to 2019 to us! Whether looking to include subtle washes of the shade in your wardrobe or make a statement, we’ve got plenty of ideas…

GO BOLD There are many ways to incorporate this lively colour. This gorgeous AllSaints jumper (6) is perfect to pair with your go-to pair of skinny jeans.

Alternatively, pick this classy sheer Monsoon blouse (3) that offers up a darker shade of the hue.

Evening affair? Try this elegant black and coral AllSaints dress (5) and don’t forget to keep warm with this incredibly stylish Ted Baker living coral coat (1), available at John Lewis.

MADE FOR MAKEUP Channel this super playful colour in your make up as well as your wardrobe! Adding a touch of coral into your cosmetics can liven things up and help blast away those winter blues! Try this glossy coral plated liquid lipstick (7) or this gorgeous coral bliss shade (8), both available at MAC, to give your lips an extra shine! We totally adore this M&S pure luxe multi-blusher (4) for a perfect rosy cheek look that will definitely hide any tired days.

FINAL TOUCHES There’s no quicker way to add a coral touch to your wardrobe than with statement accessories.

Incorporate living coral by trying a pair of these stunning Oliver Bonas earrings (10)! You could also add a pair of coral heels, like these ones from Debenhams (9), to enhance your outfit. As a finishing touch, grab this Oliver Bonas tote bag (2), perfect for a nailing the trend out on a casual get-together.

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

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

Monsoon Alani coral plain trousers, £39

FASHION

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SHOPPING LIST 1. Ted Baker @John Lewis coral collar wrap front wool coat, £164 2. Oliver Bonas Rio slouch tote bag, £42 3. Monsoon Elizabeth blouse, £45 4. M&S Autograph pure luxe multi-blusher in soft coral, £12.50 5. AllSaints Luca Eira Dress, £148 6. AllSaints Renne short jumper in coral twist, £66 7. MAC Lipstick Cremesheen in coral bliss, £17.50 8. MAC lipstick Retro matte liquid coral plated, £18 9. Debenhams Faith heels, £39 10. Oliver Bonas Twila thick coral earrings, £38

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

advertising feature

Musicians dazzle in new Performing Arts Centre Distinguished conductor believes the facilities will inspire pupils at Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools

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world-renowned conductor returned to her roots to open an inspiring new Performing Arts Centre in Monmouth.

Professor Jane Glover CBE said she was "overwhelmed" by the state-of-the-art building at Monmouth School for Girls.

The illustrious former Monmouth pupil has conducted at prestigious venues across the world, including the Royal Opera House.

Professor Jane Glover was a guest for a spectacular concert, which showcased the breadth of musical talent at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools.

Professor Glover says, “Monmouth is a beautiful town with so much going for it. There are many institutions that would love to have something as special as this.”

Part of the school’s 125th anniversary programme, the Performing Arts Centre is

housed over three spacious floors and is linked to the existing theatre at stage and hall level.

A new home to the music department and with a dance and drama studio on the top floor, the building includes a recital hall, nine peripatetic rooms, a rock room, a large ensemble room, teaching rooms, a large technical/computer room, and offices.

The memorable concert saw Monmouth School for Girls’ new director of music, Derek Harris, take the baton for the first time and professional pianist, Catherine Milledge, a former pupil, dazzle on the new Steinway grand piano.

Professor Glover says, “I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the new building and its practicality. It’s incredible to see these facilities for music and drama at first hand.” n *The schools have an established bus route, starting at Llandaff.

Professor Jane Glover CBE, a former Monmouth pupil, returned to her roots to officially open the school's new Performing Arts Centre.

For information about our Discovery Day on Friday, 15 March, please go to www.habsmonmouth.org/discover, call 01600 711104 for Monmouth School for Girls, or 01600 710433 for Monmouth School for Boys.

health & Beauty

right: The La Prairie counter at John Lewis; below: Lovely La Prairie bottles look great on the bathroom shelf

Prairie girl Emma Dance takes an interactive tour through the La Prairie counter at John Lewis

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’m sure I can’t be the only person who’s walked into the beauty section at John Lewis, wandered around aimlessly without getting too close to anything in case of falling victim to a hard sell for some sort of uber-expensive lotion and potion that I’ll never use, then run away again feeling far too intimidated by the perfectly made-up counter assistants to actually ask any questions or try anything.

For me, La Prairie is one of those brands that I’ve always gazed at longingly from afar.

Once I got sent a couple of samples and I loved them so much I eked them out for years (almost certainly way longer than you’re meant to keep them), unwilling to say goodbye – but since then I’ve never quite worked up the courage to get within touching distance of the rows of shining bottles on display.

What I didn’t know (until now), is that in you can actually arrange to visit the counter, for a kind of mini treatment to find out more about the brand and if it’s right for you, for absolutely no cost at all. (Of course, the idea is that you’ll fall in love with the brand and buy something, but it’s absolutely not compulsory.)

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

When I arrive I’m offered a glass of Cava – always a nice touch – before Krystle, the La Prairie ambassador in Cardiff’s John Lewis, aske me some questions about my usual skincare regime before examining and feeling my skin to assess which of the multitude of products will be of most benefit.

We decide to use the Skin Caviar Collection designed to lift and firm, and which contains omega 3 to help nourish the skin. All of the La Prairie products however are based on anti-ageing cellular science – the exact details of which remain a closely guarded secret.

In the end, I’m at the counter for the best part of an hour, enjoying a treatment which isn’t a million miles from a full salon facial, and Krystle uses something like ten products, ranging from an eye make-up remover and a cleanser, to a pre-serum concentrate containing crushed crystals and eye cream, to a foundation and lip balm, and even a hand cream. And, somewhat to my surprise, despite the fact that the whole thing

is being conducted in the middle of the shop, it’s all very relaxing. And there’s the added advantage of not just being able, but being encouraged, to ask questions about everything that’s being used and other products in the La Prairie collections.

There’s no getting away from it, La Prairie products are a serious investment – in many cases we’re talking hundreds of pounds per product – but that’s exactly why these sorts of on counter experiences are great, because you get to properly try and experience everything before you shell out a penny. Plus, you’ll end up with seriously smooth and glowing skin.

And, if I’m honest, it’s very likely that you’ll love it so much that you won’t be able to resist making La Prairie part of your every day skincare routine. n

“La Prairie is one of those brands that I’ve always gazed at longingly from afar”

To book an appointment for an on counter consultation call 02920 536007 ext 4290. www.laprairie.co.uk

PERFECT FIT KEV FOLEY

M

ore than 90 per cent of people who set new year’s resolutions completely abandon their goals before they get to March. Often, the reason that people abandon their health and fitness plans is that they’ve chosen something that just doesn’t work for them and their routine. There’s a wide range of options available though, it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you.

Here’s a few of the choices, along with what I think are the pros and cons of each, which should help you choose a path that you can stick to for the long term.

Do the right thing It’s that time of year when, after the excesses of Christmas, many of us are looking to get fitter and healthier. In his first column, Kev Foley, owner of Cardiff’s B Fit personal training, runs through your options

“When choosing a fitness or weight loss programme it needs to fit into your lifestyle” 52 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

JOIN A HEALTH CLUB

Pros: People join health clubs based on the

experience that they provide. They have top of the range gym equipment and facilities, which include swimming pools, steam rooms and saunas, they offer a varied group exercise program and make for great family days out at weekends.

Cons: There’s minimal coach support and classes are typically one size fits all. They have coaches on the gym floor but very few will offer any guidance. Nutritional support is minimal and although you may get an induction there will be little follow up or reassessment.

Best for: This is a great choice for those who are accustomed to regular exercise and those confident working out in a gym.

JOIN A WEIGHT LOSS GROUP Pros: They’re cheap, easy to follow, require little commitment and offer good support and community.

Cons: The diets are difficult to sustain longterm and can provide misleading information.

The tutors rarely hold an accredited nutritional qualification – most have gone through the program themselves and have now developed a business from it.

There is little focus around exercise and increasing daily activity and the only measurement of success is weight, which is not a true indication of health.

Best for: This is a great starting point for anybody looking to lose weight and improve their health. Not because I agree with their nutrition plan but because they make it easy for people to actually start focusing on their health.

Best for: If you lack the confidence to exercise and are looking for a supportive group to help you lose weight then this could be a good start for you.

JOIN A PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO Pros: You receive personal attention and will always work with a coach. They’re results driven and provide everything you need to get results, exercise, nutrition, motivation, community and most of all accountability.

Cons: They are a lot more expensive than gyms and health clubs but typically don’t provide the same standard of equipment or the luxury of a swimming pool. There are also lots of personal trainers out there who have very little experience so it’s really important that you do some research.

Best for: This is the perfect option for beginners and those who are committed to getting results. The combination of exercise, nutrition support and regular assessments means your goals are always a priority.

START RUNNING Pros: Running is the quickest and most efficient way to fit exercise into a busy schedule as you can do it anywhere at any time.You save on travel time going to and from a gym, meaning that after just 20–30 minutes of fresh air and stretching your legs, you’ll clear your head, relieve stress and save your pennies as it’s absolutely free!

Cons: A change in weather can be enough to put you off your workout. If you’re overweight and unconditioned then a running program can provide too much impact for your joints. Also, you’re still going to need to address your nutrition.

Best for: If you’re time strapped but motivated to improve your health and fitness, this will be a great choice. It’s the cheapest and most convenient way to exercise as you can do it anywhere.

These are just a few of your options in 2019.

Just remember when choosing a fitness or weight loss program it needs to fit into your lifestyle. It should be easily accessible for you and provide the support and accountability that you require to get the results you want. www.bfitcardiff.com

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R P CULLEY & CO Emma Dance visits the (sort of) new foodie addition to Cardiff Bay

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love Cardiff Bay for many reasons – the foodie offering, however, is not one of them. Or, perhaps I should say, it wasn’t one of them.

Because now there’s R P Culley & Co at the Exchange Hotel – a more than welcome addition among the plethora of chains that dominate the area.

Culleys (as it’s known) is sort of new, and sort of not.

For the past 18 months it’s been operating in a kind of makeshift way out of the Great Hall of the Exchange Hotel – a magnificent setting for sure, but not ideal for a restaurant when it means it has to close down any time there’s any kind of event.

Happily, it’s now got a permanent space, and in contrast to the old-school grandeur of the Hall, the new restaurant is all bang-on-trend industrial chic, with exposed brick walls, pops of bright red and big wooden tables. It’s the antithesis to any preconceptions that hotel

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

restaurants have to be bland and boring. And it’s not just the décor that rails against this notion either.

Head chef Keith Clash has created a menu that’s full of just delicious, flavour-punching dishes. Yes, there’s soup, fish and chips, and a club sandwich (that looks immense, just BTW), but there’s also slightly more ambitious things like a ham cawl, baked salmon with a chorizo and butterbean stew and duck breast with potato fondant and spiced red cabbage.

Usually, ordering becomes a kind of bartering arrangement with my husband when we both want to order the same things – and we resort to a “if I can have X, I’ll let you have Y” sort of trade-off. (In a reviewing situation, eating the same food is a strict no-no). None of that here though, because just about everything sounds like something I’d very happily order – and even more so now, having experienced the kind of quality fodder coming out of the kitchen.

RESTAURANT

Seared scallops have been treated with the respect they deserve, the sweet mollusc soft, almost translucent in the centre and golden on the outside where they have been just kissed by the heat of the pan, and the accompanying parsnip purée with just a whisper of curry is the perfect supporting act.

In contrast to the delicate seafood, a classic Scotch egg is a big, boisterous dish, with a crisp shell encasing wonderfully peppery sausage meat and an oozing bright yellow yolk.

My main is a celebration of Welsh beef, with an little pie of oxtail, foie gras and beef, topped with truffle mash, sharing the plate with a seared fillet sitting atop a potato rosti and a few leaves of spinach. The pie is a delight, as rich and indulgent as it sounds, and I can’t help thinking it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to make it a standalone dish.

The cooking of the fillet – just like the scallops – is on point, and the meat is so soft I’m not sure that the steak knife I’ve been equipped with is really necessary.

Husband’s choice of baked cod topped with Welsh rarebit and served with dauphinoise potatoes and a mussel cream sauce, is basically all the flavours of a kickass fish pie and it’s properly comforting and more-ish.

When it comes to puds I’m torn between a rhubarb and custard burnt cream and Culley’s mini chocolate desserts, but in the end the chocolate wins out, and there’s no regrets from me. On the plate there’s a white chocolate and clotted cream crème brûlée, mini doughnut, chocolate orange roulade and a chocolate and hazelnut mousse, all vying for my attention, and I certainly wasn’t going to give them anything less than my full concentration. So focused on my chocolate selection was I, in fact, that I barely noticed my husband devouring his bara brith bread and butter pudding with run-soaked raisins and custard until I looked up to see him practically licking the plate clean.

The food at Culley’s isn’t overly fancy – there’s no foams and gels and cooking things for 12 hours in water baths – but that doesn’t mean that there’s a lack of skill, far from it. Every element on every plate was absolutely bang on in terms of cooking and flavours. This is food designed to make you smile. And it does. ■

“This is food designed to make you smile. And it does” DINING DETAILS R P Culley & Co, The Exchange Hotel, 4 – 5 Mount Stuart Square, CF10 5FQ; www.exchangehotelcardiff.co.uk 02920 107050 Opening hours Open all day. Food served 12pm – 9.30pm Prices Starters from £6, mains from £15 and desserts from £6 We ate Seared scallops (£9), classic Scotch egg (£8), Culley’s beef (£30), Baked cod (£18), Culley’s mini chocolate desserts (£6.50); Culley’s bara brith bread and butter pudding (£6.50) Service and atmosphere Fun and relaxed Vegetarian choice Some, but not a lot. Vegans might struggle Drinks An interesting cocktail list and good wine selection including a bottle specially produced for Culleys.

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

try five 2

3 1

Date night

If you’re planning to wine and dine someone special this Valentine’s Day, here’s five suggestions for a hot date

1

La Cuina This small, intimate Spanish restaurant in Pontcanna is the ideal venue for dining á deux this V-Day. The menu has been designed with couples in mind and includes dishes made for sharing – like a shoulder of lamb, or whole roasted turbot with samphire – and the romantic touches continue with a red rose on every table.

Make the night even more special with wine pairing for every course, or try some of the delicious cavas on offer which, for one night only, will be available by the glass.

For more: www.lacuina.co.uk

2

Laguna Kitchen and Bar Find the key to their heart with delicious food in the candlelit setting of Laguna Restaurant. Reap the enjoyment of a romantic getaway, forgetting you’re in the city centre, as you relish in the stunning woodland backdrop, and fall head over heels for the Valentine’s Day menu which includes dishes such as tian of crab and avocado, pan fried medallions of Welsh beef, open lasagne of artichoke, sweet potato and baby vegetables, LKB baked Alaska and strawberry and champagne cheesecake.

Then you can finish the evening with a tasty tipple in the Laguna Bar. For more: www.lagunakitchenandbar.com

4

3

The Vale Resort A date at the Vale Resort doesn’t have to just be about the food – couples can indulge in Valentine’s spa day, including a romantic candle lit massage in a double treatment suite, before heading to the restaurant for a four course dinner with dishes including a “Vale-entine’s” sharing platter to start, a seared duck breast main, and a sweet sharing platter of miniature prosecco panna cotta, dark chocolate marquis, honeycomb, white chocolate dipped strawberries and sorbet to really get the taste buds tingling. You can even make a night of it and stay over, and loved-up couples will get a complimentary Temple Spa “Do Not Disturb” spa collection to relax in their rooms.

For more: www.valeresort.com

4

voco St David’s Cardiff Wine and dine your Valentine in the romantic waterfront setting of the Cardiff Bay hotel’s Admiral St David restaurant.

The evening will start with a sparkle, thanks to a glass of prosecco for every couple, and continue with a menu of Australasian dishes with a local twist – think salt ‘n’ pepper squid with rock pool salad, red onion and smoked chilli tart with Pant-Ys-Gawn goat’s cheese, Parmesan crumbed pork schnitzel, chicken

5 laksa, Sydney banana bread or a chocolate sharing platter.

For more: www.admiralstdavid.co.uk

5

Chapel 1877 Going to the chapel doesn’t have to mean getting married! And the only promise you’ll need to make at Chapel 1877 this Valentine’s Day is that you’ll have a good time. Which is probably going to be an easy promise to keep given that not only is the setting drop dead gorgeous, but there’s also an utterly delectable menu on offer. How about something like Taste of the Sea (with tempura oyster, beetroot cured salmon and crab mayonnaise), roast rack or lamb or strawberry jelly with champagne sorbet to get you in the mood. And there’s a glass of champers for everyone. Winner.

For more: www.chapel1877.com

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Sleep tight Let SERENE BABY SLEEP help you get a good night's sleep

J

ulia Maher is a qualified sleep consultant experienced in supporting you to maximise your family and child’s sleep potential. Calm, caring and empathetic to your individual needs she is also a qualified NNEB nursery nurse and non medical maternity nurse.

She has more than 25 years experience in dealing with newborns and children up to the age of 12 years old.

Whilst working with you she tailors a bespoke programme for your baby or child. This will be balanced with your family’s needs, taking in to account your personal wishes. Coupled with her own experience and intuition she endeavours to find a solution that supports your child in learning to enjoy sleep.

She offers a wide range of packages including: • Telephone/Skype consultations • Home visits

• • • •

Welcome home packages Sleep plans Maternity nursing Night nursing

As every family is different she encourages parents/carers to go with a plan that is ultimately going to have the best outcome for them and can advise on the various methods of sleep training available.

Typical problems and situations she can assist with as a non medical maternity nurse include feeding issues, tongue tie, low milk supply, mastitis, routine and sleeping habits.

She will also encourage and support exhausted parents to get more rest through effective time management and prioritisation. She can advise parents on how to support their older children’s emotions once the new addition to the family has arrived ensuring a highly enjoyable experience for all.

The Whites Dental Centre Tell us your story.

Dr Pamela White BDS GDC 52754 Dr Matthew White BDS GDC 52753 Ian Seddon BDS GDC 64868 (Practice Limited to Dental Implants) The Whites Dental Centre in association with Seddon Dental Implant Practice Ltd. 3 Station Road Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8AA

Tel 02920843658 info@white-smile.net www.white-smile.net

Limited to private practice.

She provides a high quality and confidential service and can provide extensive evidence of recommendations by previous clients who often invite her back to the family home for subsequent bookings for additional children. ■ SERENE BABY SLEEP Child & baby sleep consultant, Maternity nurse & night nurse Wales.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, in need of some sleep, support and advice please call Julia Maher on 07722071420 or email: jkmaher@live.com. serenebabysleep.uk

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

Christian Malcolm

Suits you!

On the catwalk

Josh Navidi and partner Alexandra Gareth ‘Alfie’ Thomas and Matt Johnson

DRESS TO IMPRESS

Penarth fashion designer Nathan Palmer launched his ready-to-wear Traje de Luces (Suit of Lights) sartorial collection at a glamorous VIP in Cardiff Bay recently. The collection was inspired by the controversy of the Spanish bullfighters and the bohemian spirit of the relationship between man and beast, interpreted through the cut of the suit, distinctive fashion choices, vibrant colour palettes and exquisite details.

Guests included Wales international rugby player Josh Navidi, TV presenter Matt Johnson and former Wales international rugby star Gareth “Alfie” Thomas. Following the show the VIPs were treated to a fine dining experience courtesy of Michelin-starred chef James Sommerin.

Pictures by Liam Hartery

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

Wayne Courtney and Nathan Wyburn

SOCIETY

Kris Davis, Bethan Saunders, Alun Saunders and his sons Cameron and Dylan

Bethan Elfyn and daughter Tegan Tirion

MAGIC AND MUSIC

To celebrate the opening of the multiaward winning Matilda the Musical at Wales Millennium Centre, media and guests were invited to a special reception on 6 December where they enjoyed drinks and canapĂŠs before the show.

Jay Curtis and Nathan Symmonds

Michael Kelly Rhys Gill and family

Llinos Lee

Keith Milward and Peter Kingsbury

Simon Jagger and Kevin Hughes

Sam Evans and Shauna Gill

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

SOCIETY

Dame Maureen Thomas, Marie Fagan and Prof David Leslie

Andrea Price-Hopkin and Maldwyn Hopkin Mike Doyle

HAVING A BALL

Guests at Hilton’s annual charity ball have raised more than £23,000 for local charities. More than 250 guests attended the black-tie event at Hilton Cardiff recently to raise money in aid of the Cardiff City FC Community Foundation and DM Thomas Foundation.

Guest host of the evening was British Comedy Award winner, singer and comedian Mike Doyle who entertained guests alongside a delicious three-course meal designed by Mark Freeman the Head Chef at Hilton.

The highlight of the evening was the raffle and charity auction with the star prize being a magical eight-night stay in Orlando for two, staying for four nights at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Palace followed by four nights at Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina with £400 towards flights.

Other charity auction prizes included use of an Aston Martin DB11 for the weekend and a week in Italy staying at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice for two nights, following by two nights at the Curio La Bagnaia Golf & Spa Resort Siena and three nights at Hilton Florence for two.

Gwenno and Chris Pickles

Gwynne Beynon, Charlotte Latham, Peter Latham, Kate Brickle and Giles Cross

Stacey Wesley and Jamal Nugent Sam John, Thea Hughes, Lucy Chandler, Matthew Connolly, Sol Bamba, Melanie Hamer, David James, Ken Choo and Ling Choo

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

Hannah Forde, Victoria Hale, Holly Jamieson, Elin Roberts, Hannah Lindsay, Jenny Prytherch, Lizzy Roberts, Emma Croke, Megan Hayward, Amanda Bunn, Jane Cook and Emily Gardner

Wyburn & Wayne Cardiff’s dazzling answer to Ant & Dec, Morecambe & Wise, or more accurately Edina & Patsy, giving you their take on what’s been HOT in and around our city

Goodbye 2018 and hello 2019!

W

ow! It’s 2019 already and we are almost a month into the year, we feel like we spend most of our time talking about how fast time goes. There’s a weird irony to that, right?

2018 ended on an epic high for us with a super-busy December.

We continued our fundraising to save St Andrew’s Church on Wellfield Road and in true fashion, we put on a drag show in the church. Yes, you read that right. It was potentially our most

to the knuckle and incredibly received fundraiser to date, with nine Cardiff drag queens gathering to perform a Christmas themed show. The evening was full of comedy and song, and thanks to two private donations on top of the money collected at the event, raised £4,500. We were incredibly humbled and overwhelmed and we’d like to thank all involved. Our overall fundraising for the church is currently at £8,800. We thought it would take us a year to raise the £10k they need for essential

Yas, Queens!

A whole new meaning to “pizza face”

The magic of Matilda

roof repairs etc but in just three months the most unlikely of people have all stepped forward to help this beautiful community building.

We continued to support other charities also, hosting events such as the Welsh Hearts annual Santa Dash down at Cardiff Bay’s oval basin. That’s always a great laugh and what an incredible turn out once again.

Christmas parties can often be a drag but we were over the moon to be invited down to Sophia Gardens for the après ski themed dinner evening. The food was exceptional and entertainment second to none. However we were aching the next day from so much dancing, not to mention the sore throats from singing full voice along with the band. A little birdy has been telling us about their upcoming events this year – it’s going to be a great year for the venue so keep your eyes peeled for more information!

The theatres have been as busy as ever, Matilda the Musical hit the Wales Millennium Centre and it was spellbinding, and of course there was the annual panto at the New Theatre. Lisa Riley was wonderful and it was great to see our friends Gareth Thomas, Mike Doyle and Stephanie Webber back too!

Gareth was also at BBC Radio Wales when Nathan was being interviewed and giving artwork to Carol Vorderman. It was a pleasure to meet her and we are excited that she’ll be doing more with them this year.

We attended the launch Slim Chickens in St David’s – that’s a seriously delicious meal and really

friendly guys too.

The Motorpoint arena was jam packed for the return of Jools Holland featuring Marc Almond.

Now there’s real raw talent.

Chatting to them backstage before the show was a delight. Finding out some gossip and stories of ‘old days’ is our favourite thing! Who doesn’t love an inside scoop?

We traveled up to Wrexham for the 10 year anniversary of the independently run Wales Comic Con. Nathan was making live artwork for the guest stars there and they had some huge ones this year. We got to have lunch with and meet the likes of Charlie Hunnam, The Backstreet Boys and Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Alyson Hannigan amongst others.

We are huge Buffy fans so having lunch with them and just chilling was rather surreal.

We had a wedding! No, not us, but our dear friends Katie and Gary tied the knot in Essex and we wish them all the happiness in the world.

New Year’s Eve was the best in years for us. We got to co-host and sing at The Golden Cross alongside resident drag queens Mary and Joanna. The four of us brought the new year in, in style and had the biggest celebration possible.

We are super enthusiastic and excited about this year, we already know of some great life moments to come and we are thrilled to be able to share it all with Cardiff Life readers along the way.

To keep up to date with Wyburn & Wayne follow them on Facebook, Twitter @WyburnWayne and Instagram @wyburnandwayne.

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

advertising feature

To divorce or not to divorce?

REBECCA OAKLEY FAMILY LAW can help you move onwards after a relationship breakdown

M

any a new year begins with a resolution to make serious changes in your life. This can sometimes include a re-think if you are unhappy in a relationship. However, before you rush to file for divorce online, it is worth exploring some proper legal advice about the options available to you as some time and investment at the start of a matter can often save a lot more time and money being spent further down the line.

At Rebecca Oakley Family Law our solicitors, Rebecca and Belinda, will always encourage you to think first and act second, but particularly to put any children’s needs first,

"It's rarely in a child's best interest to only have one parent in their life" preferably without having to rely on the court system.

We want to help our clients to find a constructive way to sort out the arrangements for the children and the finances. It is rarely in a child’s best interests to only have one parent in their life and they may come to resent one or both of their parents once they are older too if they are forced to choose.

We firmly believe that effective communication can be maintained between most separating couples, if only in respect of the child arrangements and will always encourage you to try and sustain a working relationship with your ex, as long as it is safe for you to do so. We also think that you should retain control of your financial arrangements rather than placing them in the hands of the court if possible.

We do however understand that sometimes it is not possible for separated couples to speak directly which is where solicitors should assist in ensuring that their correspondence is not antagonistic and seeks to be productive, not destructive, whilst reaching for a resolution to the issues themselves.

There are a variety of options that can be explored to find out which form of communication will work best for the children and you in the short and longer term. Both Rebecca and Belinda are long standing members of Resolution: First for Family Law which promotes a constructive approach to conflict resolution. We also support the use of mediation or alternative dispute resolution in all suitable cases. n

Affordable excellence Advice and representation in the areas of: 3 Pre nuptial agreements / post nuptial agreements 3 Divorce/ civil partnership dissolution 3 Cohabitation agreements 3 Separation agreements 3 Financial arrangements on divorce or relationship breakdown 3 Arrangements for children on divorce or relationship breakdown 3 Parental responsibility applications or agreements 3 Child abduction 3 Adoption 3 Child support 3 Domestic violence family injunctions 3 Wills / probate 3 Lasting powers of attorney

If you would like to speak to one of us about this, or any any other issue, then please contact us on 02920 532888 or by email at info@oakleyfamilylaw.com or by post at 5 Washington Chambers, Stanwell Road, Penarth, CF64 2AF and we will do our best to help you with your enquiry.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 67

great escapes

Wales or the Caribbean?

(Clue: It’s Wales) Mumbles in the sun

A shore thing The Gower peninsula is full of charm whatever the weather, finds Emma Dance Discovering the life of Dylan Thomas

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

We do like to be beside the seaside

I

’ve always found there to be something rather beguiling about being beside the sea in the rain.

Which is all to the good really, since the closer we got to the Gower peninsula the worse the weather became.

By the time we’d reached the pretty Victorian seaside village of Mumbles the rain had progressed from a persistent drizzle to a determined downpour so we took shelter in Verdi’s, an Italian cafe right on the seafront. On a fine day the views over Swansea Bay would be impressive, but as it was, the outlook was shrouded in grey.

The cold, wet winteriness of it all however wasn’t going to deter us from enthusiastically devouring a mountain of their homemade

park to reception.

Such was our rush to escape the raging storm that we hadn’t fully appreciated our location, and it was only once safely installed in our room that the magnificence of the surroundings really dawned on us.

From our position, perched atop a rugged cliff, we could see a wide sweep of sand stretched out below with the waves crashing angrily on the shore. A lone dog walker, braving the elements, could be seen bent almost double as they braced against the violent gusts while their canine companion bounced energetically up and down the beach, unfazed. Far from detracting from the beauty of the setting however, the foul weather simply added drama, and we sat in quiet contemplation, staring out the window, listening to the pounding surf and the sound of the rain lashing against the glass, until the black clouds were obliterated by nightfall.

The weekend was spent dodging downpours, taking advantage of brief spells of sunshine to walk to the serpent-like Worm’s Head promontory and to descend the steep steps to the near-deserted Rhossili Bay and then hurriedly clamber back up again as soon as we felt the first spots of water. We drove to Oxwich and discovered yet another broad, butterscotch beach – just as attractive as any of the hip Mediterranean resorts, but without the crowds – and took a stroll through the neighbouring woodland. And when the rain returned we’d hunker down in cosy pubs and restaurants gorging ourselves on huge platefuls of comfort food.

“We discovered yet another broad, butterscotch beach” ice cream – reputed to be some of the best in the region – while we waited, in a vain hope, for the rain to subside. Our optimism proved to be somewhat misguided however, and fair-weather walkers that we are, we quickly abandoned plans for a stroll along the Gower coast path and instead continued our journey to Rhossili and the Worm’s Head Hotel.

If the weather had been having a strop before, by now it had become a full-blown tantrum, with winds so strong they buffeted the air from our lungs and rain so heavy we were completely drenched in just the few seconds it took to make the dash from car

On the way home we paused in Swansea, Dylan Thomas’ “Ugly, lovely town” to pay a visit to the centre dedicated to the poet and the new exhibition telling the fascinating story of his life.

A meander around the waterfront was once again cut short by the arrival of rain and we beat a hasty retreat back to the car.

But as we drove away we wondered why we’d never before visited this wonderful little corner of the country and vowed to return.

Only this time, with better raincoats.

For more: www.visitswanseabay.com

Travel details We stayed at the Worm’s Head Hotel, Rhossili, Gower SA3 1PP; www.thewormshead.co.uk Eating and drinking: The King’s Head, Llangenith SA3 1HX; www.kingsheadgower.co.uk Oxwich Bay Hotel, Oxwich Bay, SA3 1LS; www.oxwichbayhotel.co.uk Verdi’s, Knab Rock, Mumbles Road, The Mumbles, Swansea; www.verdis-cafe.co.uk Places to visit: Dylan Thomas Centre, 6 Somerset Place, Swansea SA1 1RR; www.dylanthomas.com Swansea Museum, Victoria Road, Swansea SA1 1SN; www.swanseamuseum.co.uk National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3RD; www.museum.wales/swansea/ Gower Gallery, 530 Mumbles Road, The Mumbles, Swansea; www.gowergallery.co.uk Mumbles Pier, Mumbles Road, The Mumbles, Swansea; www.mumbles-pier.co.uk

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advertising feature

Sense of wonder Find out more about the work of Touch Trust and how you can lend your support

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ouch Trust is a registered charity based in Cardiff, at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre. It provides prescriptive, unique creative, touch-based art of movement and dance programmes for individuals with learning disabilities, those that are often profoundly disabled and affected by autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), complex needs, behaviour which challenges, and other vulnerable groups in the community.

The charity has its own purpose-built multisensory suite located in Glanfa Foyer, achieved initially through the support of the National Assembly of Wales, The Millennium Centre Trust and the Arts Council for Wales.

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

The sessions are done on a one-to-one basis, with groups or with individuals from community and educational settings and include: l Relaxation with touch and massage l Creative movement l Music and dance with an emphasis on

enjoyment and fun for guests and their carers within a positive and nurturing environment l Individually tailored programmes based on a person-centred approach Touch Trust also provides After School provision and Sunday taster sessions for children which is funded by BBC Children in Need.

It also provides support for family carers, through a Connected Carers project funded by Big Lottery Fund and managed by Glamorgan Voluntary Services. The programme literally puts the light back into their eyes and life and helps them to enjoy life and find ways of communicating with their loved ones and others and expressing themselves. This is life changing as it improves both health and wellbeing for the person and helps support the family and carers.

Following the loss of Arts Council funding, the charity needs as much support as possible to raise awareness and visibility within Cardiff and

“Visit touchtrust. co.uk/donate/ to donate” South Wales and to encourage people to donate via Just Giving or text.

Touch Trust is currently fundraising for a specialist projector which will project images throughout its sensory room which guests can interact with. For many of the charity’s guests, their severe impairments mean that they are limited in their opportunities to influence the world around them. This projector creates a safe interactive world within which they can explore their surroundings.

On July 6, staff, supporters and volunteers are taking part in the Brecon Beacons Trek Fest to raise funds for the charity. Check out the Touch Trust Facebook page to find out how you can participate or give your support. n For more information about the work we do contact Bev Garside bev.garside@touchtrust. co.uk or call 02920 635663 b TouchTrust a @touchtrust www.touchtrust.co.uk

BUSINESSINSIDER CARDIFF GETS SERIOUS

Quote of the issue

“YOU NEED TO ACT SWIFTLY AS THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING” Find out who said this and why on page 76

The Big Number

100,000

The Vale Resort’s a big winner

WALES’ FINEST

The number of extra seats flying from Cardiff next year thanks to new routes from Tui. For more, see page 76

The Vale Resort celebrates another double win at World Travel Awards

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he Vale Resort in Hensol has been named Wales’ best golf hotel and best resort spa for the second year running by an international awards body that recognises excellence in tourism.

Not only that, it has also earned itself a coveted place in the first edition of Lonely Planet’s Wellness Escapes book.

The four-star hotel and leisure venue, in the Vale of Glamorgan, was named Wales’ Best Golf Hotel

2018 at the 5th annual World Golf Awards, held at La Manga Club in Spain. The Vale Spa was also named Wales’ Best Resort Spa 2018 at the 4th annual World Spa Awards, held at the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort in the southern Dhaalu Atoll. The resort won both titles in 2017, too.

Both ceremonies are organised by the World Travel Awards to recognise the best in travel and leisure, which have been described by the Wall Street Journal as the

‘Oscars of the travel industry’.

In both awards, votes are cast by professionals working within each industry and by members of the public.

Stephanie Metson, marketing manager at the Vale Resort, says, “We are delighted to retain our titles from the World Travel Awards, which are regarded as a benchmark of quality in our industry – it’s a credit to the entire team that we find ourselves celebrating double success again 12 months later.

“It’s also truly humbling to be featured in a global list of the best places to experience total wellbeing and relaxation as part of the Lonely Planet Wellness Escapes guide.

“Investment has proven key to keeping our guests happy, and the focus on comfortable surroundings, as well as facilities, is a big part of the service we provide. The £500,000 upgrade of our bedrooms this year demonstrates our commitment to quality across the resort.”

For more: www.valeresort.com

For advice on every leading brand and model, from a leading independent family practice.

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MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 115

MOVERS & SHAKERS Growing teams, promotions and prizes – it’s all happening in Cardiff’s businesses

Top woman A leading director at Cardiff educational charity Techniquest says she is “beyond honoured” to have been named among the Top 100 Business Women in Wales.

Linda Burbage, Business Services Director at Cardiff’s leading science discovery centre was honoured by the prestigious list chosen by Pinkspiration in partnership with I Am WOMAN which celebrates the invaluable impact and contribution of Welsh women in business.

Since joining Linda Burbage Techniquest in 2014, Mrs Burbage has played a key role in the charity’s mission to inspire the next generation of budding scientists. Managing more than 130 employees, the business management expert has also supported the organisation as it continues to steer itself towards a more sustainable future.

She says, “To be recognised at such a prestigious event is incredibly rewarding and I’d like to congratulate all of my fellow nominees on their achievements this year.

The Top 100 Business Women in Wales is celebrating the phenomenal achievements and innovation of women across the country, and I am beyond honoured to be in such remarkable company.

New appointment Property and casualty insurance broker, Jelf, has appointed Joseph Catris as commercial account executive.

Just 12 months after beginning his career Joe was runner-up in The Insurance Institute of Cardiff Acorn Apprentice of the Year award and was later accepted in to the Allianz Scholarship Academy.

Since then, he has been appointed British Insurance Broker Association Young Ambassador, representing the insurance brokers of South Wales, as well as being elected as the Vice President of Novus – The CII Young Professionals Council of South Wales.

For more: www.jelf.com

“It’s been a busy year at Techniquest and to receive this news is the cherry on top of a fantastic year. After being rewarded over £3m in funding from the Inspiring Science Fund, we’re currently working on Science Capital, a ground-breaking project which will see a radical transformation and extension of our current building.”

Lesley Kirkpatrick, CEO at Techniquest says, “Linda has been a wonderful asset to our team and she is instrumental to the organisation during such an exciting time.

We’re all thrilled to see her hard work receive the recognition it deserves.”

For more: www.techniquest.org

Joseph Catris

Building on success

A trio of promotions

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

Independent property agent Cooke & Arkwright has promoted three of its employees to associate and associate rirector following a strong year of growth for the company.

The promotions include Ryan Pratt in the retail and leisure department, who has been promoted to associate director, and George Watts and Rhys Davies in the building surveying

department, who have been promoted to the position of associate.

Ryan, who has been with the award-winning firm for 11 years, provides specialist rent review, lease renewal, lease regearing and Expert Witness advice for landlords and local and national retailers on all types of retail and leisure properties covering high streets, shopping centres and out of

town properties.

George and Rhys in building surveying, who have collectively been with the Cardiff-based firm for seven years, will be tasked with building on the success Cooke & Arkwright has had in developing relationships with public sector clients including Welsh Water, Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government and the NHS. For more: www.coark.com

business insider

looking good Cardiff nurse practitioner Jane Laferla has been named The Teoxane Award for Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner of the Year at the Aesthetics Awards 2018.

Jane’s aesthetic career started in 2007. In 2009, she established Laferla Medical Cosmetics, a private clinic in Cardiff. Jane achieved ‘Independent Nurse Prescriber status” at UWE in 2012. Over the last 11 years, she has undertaken more than 10,000 non-surgical treatments at both a private clinic and on a consultancy basis for national clinic chains within the UK. Jane says, “People said I had a really good chance but I said always said that if I got commended or highly commended, I would be delighted! It’s wonderful. I’m absolutely thrilled to have won.”

For more: www.aestheticsjournal.com

Rhian Mannings and Gareth Coles

A growing business

Jane Laferla

Coles Funeral Directors has launched a second premises in Heathwood Road, creating 10 new jobs.

The official launch was marked by a ceremonial ribbon cutting

by Rhian Mannings, founder of 2 Wish Upon a Star, and more than 70 guests attended to welcome the family-run business to its new home in North Cardiff.

The new site promises to be more than just a traditional funeral home and in the future will provide a counselling centre on site for those who require additional support following the loss of a loved one. These plans will allow Coles Funeral Directors to offer care, respect and understanding throughout the bereavemen.

Gareth Coles, managing director of Coles Funeral Directors, says, “We were thrilled to be able to mark the last quarter of 2018 with the launch of our second premises in such a fantastic manner, with a toast to the community and special thank you to all who have supported us thus far. We saw an incredible turnout to our launch event and we hope that this will be a symbol of success for our new premises, allowing us to better serve the wider Cardiff community as we look towards the future.”

For more: www.colesfuneraldirectors.co.uk

Aled Miles

On the board The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is delighted to announce the appointment of Aled Miles to its board of directors.

Aled is a Welsh born, California based executive with more than 30 years of global technology, telecoms, media and defence sector experience.

Most recently, Aled was chief executive officer and board member of global technology company TeleSign Corporation, leading strategy change and its eventual $250m+ acquisition by a major European company.

Announcing the appointment, John Derrick, chair of the board of directors at the college says, “We are delighted that Aled has agreed to

join the college board. His executive leadership and business experience will be a huge asset to the college. We have strong links with the United States today and Aled’s experience in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles will be of huge value for the college.

“Our students are emerging into a world where the confluence between the arts and technology is narrowing and his experience will be invaluable as we explore opportunities with digital and technological innovation to expand and enhance teaching provision and collaborative working within the sector.”

For more: www.rwcmd.ac.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 75

BUSINESS INSIDER Cardiff Airport

You’ve really not got long now – so get your nominations in!

FLYING HIGH After a year full of major developments and milestones, Cardiff Airport is gearing up an exciting 2019.

The past 12 months saw a new airline (Qatar Airways), new routes and more improvements to the customer experience as well as unveiling a Draft Masterplan for the next 20 years and winning a coveted industry award by the Airline Operators’ Association for the Best Airport Campaign during AOA’s UK Airport Safety Week.

This year will see the airport building on this success with TUI, the UK’s leading travel brand, beginning operating flights to Dubrovnik (Croatia), Naples (Italy) and Hurghada (Egypt)

from next summer, adding 100,000 seats from Cardiff Airport.

Ryanair will introduce new routes to Barcelona and Malta, complementing existing flights to Faro and Tenerife.

There will be continuing improvements across the terminal with an upgraded tray return system which will enhance the efficiency for customers at security search, passport e-gates will be introduced at border control and the car parks will be extended and reconfigured over the winter in readiness for summer 2019, not to mention the official launch of the completed Airport Masterplan.

For more: www.cardiff-airport.com

LISTENING EARS A podcast launched by Cardiffbased production company Bengo Media has reached the top 20 of the iTunes charts in just one week and been downloaded more than 20,000 times.

Bengo Media were commissioned by London PR agency The PHA Group for the end-to-end production of the Health Fact vs Fiction podcast for their client, HCA Healthcare UK. Presented by Anna Richardson, the podcast – which also hit number one in the iTunes health Steve Austin (Bengo), Anna Richardson, chart – focuses on uncovering the and Marina Lois (Bengo) facts and busting the myths on a variety of different medical topics.

Bengo Media, in collaboration with The PHA Group and HCA Healthcare Media (and former editor at BBC Radio UK, developed the concept, working with Wales) says, “As a relatively new company, it is presenter Anna Richardson to ensure that the important for us to have success stories. We are creative matched her style and presentation. incredibly proud of this production, in which They produced, recorded, edited and published we’ve helped HCA Healthcare UK and one of the podcast – which features a variety of the best presenters in the country to bring their celebrity guests talking about their own ideas to life.” experiences of the issues discussed.

To listen to the Health Fact vs Fiction podcast, Steve Austins, founder and director at Bengo visit: www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/podcast

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

HURRY! LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS! You’ll have to hurry if you want to nominate your company for the Cardiff Life Awards. The deadline is Thursday, 31 January!

Many businesses leave entering to the last minute – and time is now of the essence.

Tickets are expected to be in extremely high demand once finalists are announced. They completely sold out last year with many on the waiting list.

The full list of finalists will be revealed at midday on 5 February by email, on the awards website and on Twitter. Companies are urged to secure their places before this Grand Reveal Day. “It’s been inspiring to see the quality of nominations flowing in for this year’s Awards,” said Steph Dodd, event director 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.”

Businesses who wish to take home an award at the glittering ceremony on 21 March should look sharp and enter their nomination before the deadline.

It’s free to enter the awards, and companies self-nominate via the Awards website. Nominees are also encouraged to check the organisers’ ‘12 Top Tips’ and ‘How To Win’ presentation available on the awards website.

Those who have already entered are encouraged to nudge their favourite companies, clients, friends and peers to submit their own entry soonest.

The Cardiff Life Awards are held at City Hall.

With increased demand meaning sales are tracking ahead of this time last year, those hoping to attend the uberglam evening should secure tickets as early as possible.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, all of which feature an extensive marketing campaign and media coverage. Showing their public support for the awards are headline sponsors Cardiff Airport, platinum sponsors Jelf, and an impressive list of category sponsors which includes Cardiff BID, Capital FM, Genero, Park Plaza Cardiff, Savills, Robertson Solicitors, Chapel 1877, WSET and Hotel Indigo.

To join the impressive list of sponsors and benefit from a highly targeted marketing campaign, contact Mark George on mark.george@mediaclash.co.uk.

For more: www.cardifflifeawards.co.uk

business insider

Cardiff life awards 2018 Health & Wellbeing WINNER

ACE Feet in Motion

© studio 87

The world’s at your feet when you’re a Cardiff Life Award winner, and no-one knows that better than Tom Cooper, clinical director at ACE Feet in Motion…

So how did it feel to win a Cardiff Life Award?

It was a real honour to receive the award as recognition of all the hard work that my team and I had put in.

The presentation night itself was a lovely way to reward their efforts and celebrate in style.

Why do you think ACE Feet in Motion won?

I think that it was predominantly our unique business model which we’ve developed for our healthcare sector.

We are unrivalled in our ability to offer specialist clinical and general podiatry services, combined with a full in-house manufacturing facility.

How did you first get into podiatry?

My grandfather was a healthcare professional in the orthotics industry and he always wanted one of his grandchildren to follow in his footsteps. His influence really inspired me at a young age and helped shape my career pathway into podiatry.

How did ACE Feet in Motion come about?

My father founded the business in

2001 when he saw an opening in the market for a podiatry company that specialised in biomechanics and gait analysis.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

You don’t need talent to work hard so prepare to graft or prepare to fail.

What plans do you have for the business?

I want to increase awareness of the ACE Feet in Motion brand so that it eventually becomes a household

“It was a real honour to receive the award as recognition of all the hard work that my team and I had put in”

name for the treatment of all foot related issues. With this in mind, we have ambitious plans to open further ACE centres offering our services and products across the UK. What advice would you give someone looking to go into this sector?

First and foremost, listen to your patients as you need to connect with them to be effective. Interpersonal skills are key if you are going to succeed in a patient focused healthcare sector like podiatry.

How do you treat someone with ticklish feet?

Remain professional even if they get the giggles!

Why do most people come to you?

We are continually evolving our business to provide the best patient experience possible. Over the years we’ve broadened our scope from purely biomechanics and gait analysis to also include; whilst-youwait prescription insoles, general podiatry services, a footwear centre, shock wave therapy, and even our own branded range of podiatry

products. Nobody else in the UK can offer such a comprehensive approach to podiatry under one roof.

What’s the best part of your job?

For me, it’s the variety of work we get to undertake. One day I could be screening the foot health of a Premier League football team and the next day I could be dealing with members of the public suffering with heel pain, shin splints or other common conditions.

What do you love most about being in Cardiff?

I’m a little biased as I’m born and raised in Cardiff, but for me it must be that the city has something to offer everyone and still retains a friendly warm atmosphere.

Tell us your favourite bit of footrelated trivia …

A 20-year-old man from Venezuela, has been officially recognised as having the largest feet in the world.

His feet come in at a huge UK shoe size 18!

For more: www.feetinmotion.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 79

BUSINESS INSIDER

level. All being well, we are looking for suitable venues to open a second Asador 44.

Who are your foodie heroes?

Abel Alvarez (Gueya Mar) and Jose Cordon (El Capricho) – two fantastic Spanish chefs who cook incredible produce over wood to perfection.

What advice would you give someone looking to go into the world of hospitality?

© STUDIO 87

Immerse yourself in every part of the business from cleaning the toilets and peeling potatoes to learning how to do the books and market yourself.

Never forget that quality is the key ingredient.

And also, look after yourself as well as others.

If we come to Asador 44, what should we order?

RESTAURANT WINNER SPONSORED BY WSET

ASADOR 44

The Spanish flair of Asador 44 proved a winning ingredient as it scooped the prize for the best restaurant at last year’s awards. Director Tom Morgan tells us more…

So how did it feel to win a Cardiff Life Award?

Amazing! We were up against some superb competition and for us to be chosen was fantastic recognition for the hugely talented and hardworking team at Asador 44.

Why do you think Asador 44 won?

I would like to think that it is down to a combination of things: quality, consistency, excellent produce, outstanding customer service and atmosphere. These things are very hard to achieve when opening a new restaurant which is one of the first of its kind in the UK. How did you first get into the restaurant biz?

My brother and I opened our first tapas bar, Bar 44 in Cowbridge 16 years ago. We always wanted to be our own bosses and bring some of our love for Spain to Wales!

How did Asador 44 come about?

Having opened three Bar 44 tapas bars, we were keen to introduce another staple of Spanish life: the Asador. We took an extended road trip (1,750 miles) across the north of Spain researching the very best fish and meat asadors whilst fine-tuning our version to bring to Cardiff.

“TO BE CHOSEN WAS FANTASTIC RECOGNITION FOR THE HUGELY TALENTED AND HARDWORKING TEAM”

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

Why the Spanish thing?

It grew from an early age with family holidays – I caught the bug and just kept on going back to different parts of the country to immerse myself in Spanish food, drink and culture. Before long it had turned into a passion. When we first opened, we were pretty much the only tapas bar outside London and now we are one of the longest running Spanish restaurant groups in the UK. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?

You should embrace competition, it keeps you on your toes and pushes you to get better every single day.

What plans do you have for Asador 44?

We have spent the last year refining and improving everything we do. A new menu has just been launched which takes everything to a new

Everything! Only joking…. for a special occasion, one of the huge chuleton dry aged steaks – the flavor is incredible – or the whole fish of the day – whether turbot, sea bass or another – there’s nothing quite like having it cooked over burning cherry wood.

And make sure you treat yourself to a sample of some of the incredible, rare Spanish wines we have on offer. We use a coravin system, which enables the customer to sample some of the best wines in the world without having to break the bank.

What’s the best thing about working at Asador 44?

It’s a really forward-thinking company which first and foremost looks after its staff. There is a real camaraderie amongst the team but the very best thing is getting to know our customers and see them enjoying their time at Asador 44.

What do you love most about being in Cardiff?

The vibrancy and intimacy that our wonderfully small but mighty capital city has in abundance.

Tell us your favourite bit of foodie trivia …

Did you know that sherry is the driest wine in the world and the sweetest?

As a result, there is no food that sherry cannot be paired with!

For more: www.asador44.co.uk

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Cardiff Life team 01225 475800

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Take a vow The experts at BERRY SMITH LAWYERS can offer advice on all aspects of family law

I

have recently got engaged and am in the process of planning a Summer Wedding.

I really want to get married on the beach in West Wales. Is this possible?

A: Couples who choose to marry in Wales, or England, can get married in a register office, a building of the Church in Wales (or Church of England), military chapels or other approved premises with a license. Wedding ceremonies in the Wales, and England, cannot be conducted outdoors, al fresco.

If you are looking for a venue with a difference, such as the beach, the current law does not, sadly, permit this. The Government has commissioned a review, conducted in 2015, which reported that wedding laws in Wales, and England, are in need of modernisation, including a relaxation of the law in relation to qualifying venues. There is no bill before Parliament,

currently, implementing the changes and it may be some time before we see Weddings on Welsh beaches.

In the meantime if you wish to have a wedding outside you may want to consider the following options: 1. If you are getting married according to the rites and ceremonies of the Jews or Society of Friends, you may get married anywhere in Wales, or England, including on the beach.

2. Alternatively, you can have a ceremony on the beach with friends and family. This is not a legally binding wedding ceremony, however, and you will also need to have a separate legal ceremony.

3. Many foreign countries allow wedding ceremonies to be conducted outside, including on the beach. For further information you can visit www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad. ■

Katie McColgan

If you have any questions about any matter relating to family law please feel free to call our team on 02920 345511 or 01656 645525 or family@berrysmith.com

WE’LL FIND THE PERFECT MATCH PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT SERVICES After 10 successful years in Cardiff city centre, Focus Resourcing have started 2019 with a move into their new home in Llanishen.

With an expanding team and a portfolio of high profile clients both here in South Wales and across the UK; the Focus Resourcing Cardiff Team (Alison, Dan, Natasha and Heidi) are looking forward to another successful year ahead!

FINANCE & ACCOUNTANCY • IT & COMMUNICATIONS • HR, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT • MARKETING & PR • BUSINESS SUPPORT & ADMIN • SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE • ENGINEERING & TECHNICAL

1 Ty Glas Road, Llanishen, Cardiff. CF14 5EB Telephone: 02922671222 Visit us online: www.focusresourcing.co.uk

VIBRANT NEW OFFICE 1 Ty Glas Road offers a stylish, relaxing hub for clients and candidates alike to come in to find ‘their perfect match’. So whether you’re a client looking for the best talent on the local market, or a candidate looking for the next exciting chapter in your career, come on in to meet our friendly team who will be happy to help!

property a pl ace to c all home

A fresh start Take a tour of this brand new townhouse that’s just waiting for you to come and make your mark

By Charlie Rose 84 I CARDIFF LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

property

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here’s something rather appealing about moving into a brand spanking new home. No dubious design decisions to undo or dodgy appliances to discover, just a clean slate, ready for you to come and create your dream home. Sounds good, don’t you think?

The newly-built townhouses at Wesley Court in Dinas Powys offer just such an opportunity. The six, exclusive homes in the heart of the village have been carefully designed with modern living in mind, with fabulously flexible layouts, and far-reaching views towards Penarth from almost every room.

Spread over three floors, entry is via the middle level.

Here you’ll find bright and spacious open-plan kitchen and dining room, fully fitted with stylish units, which would make a great space for entertaining. There’s a bedroom on this floor too – which could just as easily be used as a family room, or perhaps a den for teens to hang

out – as well as a cloakroom and access to the integral garage.

Head downstairs to the lower ground floor, and you’ll discover a large living room. High ceilings (almost three metres) and bi-fold doors leading out to the garden give this room a real sense of space and connection to the outdoors. There’s even space for a dedicated study area or cosy reading nook.

There’s a further bedroom here too (comfortably big enough for a double bed) – with doors leading directly to the garden, a family bathroom with both bath and shower and very useful store/utility space.

The top floor is home to an impressive master bedroom with ensuite bathroom and direct access to a roof terrace – the ideal spot for enjoying a morning coffee while taking in the views, or maybe even a sundowner at the end of a long day.

There’s a second bedroom up here as well, which also boasts the luxury of an ensuite so it’s perfect for guests.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 85

property

As well as the garage, there’s also a driveway with space for two cars at the front of the house, and at the back there’s a private garden with patio area as well as a lawn well-established trees so there’s plenty of space to relax al fresco on sunny days.

Dinas Powys is a charming, thriving village with a range of shops, salons, three pubs, café and deli as well as tennis and bowling clubs and excellent primary schools, so almost everything you need will be right on the doorstep. There’s a rural feel to it too, with beautiful walks over the common and throughout the surrounding woodland, but the vibrant centre of Cardiff is only a little more than five miles away and is easily reached by both road and rail if you need to commute to work or just fancy a fun trip into the city.

With a great location, thoughtful design and oodles of flexible accommodation a Wesley Court townhouse might just be the new home you’ve been dreaming about.n

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

House numbers Wesley Court, Dinas Powys CF64 4DE Bedrooms

4

Bathrooms

4

Roof terrace 1 Guide price £650,000 For more: Savills, 5th Floor, 2 Kingsway, Cardiff CF10 3FD; www.savills.co.uk

www.pablack.co.uk Prestige homes from Peter Alan

Millbrook Park Lisvane ÂŁ600,000 - ÂŁ615,000 EPC = D pa black Llanishen 02920 618552

Detached six bedroom family residence with large surrounding sunny private gardens, extensive to the front, side and rear of the property.

21ft stunning Magnet kitchen/diner, 25ft generous sun lounge conservatory, 24ft lounge, 20ft sitting room, spacious gym, cloak room, large utility room, three bathrooms.

PVC double glazing. Gas CHR. Outstanding family home with very versatile living space, must be seen.

www.pablack.co.uk Prestige homes from Peter Alan

St Francis Road, Whitchurch In excess of ÂŁ550,000 EPC = D pa black Whitchurch 02920 612328

Walking distance to Whitchurch village, large and spacious five double bedroom. House of character, 16ft x 15ft kitchen & breakfast room.

16ft sitting room, 14 ft lounge.

Three bathrooms, car port, 21ft garage, PVC double glazing, gas chr. Level walled gardens.

Private entrance drive, car port, truly stunning location, quiet residential road close to all amenities, outstanding living space, exceptional family home.

CARDIFF LIVES

“I pride myself on knowing a good pizza – I’m obsessed with them”

OWEN HUGHES The owner of Cardiff Concrete Polishing talks partying, pizza and Police Academy What is your job? How long have you been doing it?

I run a concrete floor polishing business with Mike Carter. We have been tillers and restorers for more than 20 years and joined forces three years ago to pursue concrete floor polishing.

How do you like to spend your free time?

I have relatively young children so spend a lot of my time being a free taxi service for them. But I still enjoy DJ-ing (house music) and partying with the wife and close friends. We still go to Ibiza once a year for the ultimate party. We’re the oldest swingers in town…Actually, I don’t think that statement means the same as it used to…

Where in Cardiff do you live and what makes it special?

I live in Heath. I grew up here, moved away and then gravitated back. I wouldn’t wish to live anywhere else. We have a park opposite the house, where the kids can play every day, we are 10 minutes from the centre, and new coffee shops and bars are popping up around the area all the time.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Wim Hof, Noel Gallagher, Alan Partridge, my wife, and Karl Pilkington.

When did you last cry, and why?

I let it out all the time – any time

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

I listen to commentary about Wales’ football trip through the Euros 2016 I start welling up.

Who would play you in a film about your life?

Dean Gaffney!

What job would you be terrible at?

Traffic warden.

What’s on your bookshelf at the moment?

Dust…

Who’s your celebrity crush?

Eva Mendes or Hooks from Police Academy.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

My wife’s homemade Mars bar cakes – they are something else.

Which piece of music would you put on at the end of a trying day?

The soundtrack to the film Once.

If you haven’t seen the film I suggest you do. The songs will stay with you forever.

What’s your favourite piece of clothing?

A John Smedley navy top – it goes with everything.

What’s your earliest childhood memory?

Jumping out of my cot and running into mum and dad’s bed.

Favourite places to eat/ drink and shop in Cardiff?

I think I pride myself on knowing a good pizza – I’m obsessed with them. The little pizza company on the square by St John’s church is great, Cafe Citta is also a pretty good option.

I went to The Libertine bar recently, they seem to be getting everything right with good music, great cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere.

Tell us about a secret/ underrated Cardiff spot we might not be aware of…

Allens bakery, which is tucked away off the bottom of Albany Road. I think it maybe the oldest bakery in Cardiff. They sell the most amazing balls of pizza dough there – a must if you want to make your own at home (I wasn’t joking when I told you I am obsessed with good pizza!)

We’d better let you get on…. What are you doing as soon as you’ve done this?

Back to polishing a concrete floor for the new Waterloo Tea House on Wellfield Road to bring it back to life. n

For more: www.cardiffconcretpolishing.co.uk