BUSINESS IS BOOMING
FOOD & DRINK The Peninsula Club
Luxury events in Cardiff – think bottomless Laurent-Perrier brunches – are the name of the game at this club, run by Abbie Ryan and Elinor Martinez. Elinor and I started the company two months ago...
We met in the Caribbean over a decade ago while working on-board a P&O cruise ship. Little did we realise that our brief encounter would become the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Our careers have taken us all over the world, yet we have remained the best of friends and have continued to enjoy our joint passion for having a bloody good time – more often than not with a glass of champagne in hand. It’s always 5pm somewhere in the world, and so The Peninsula Club was born…
It’s a lifestyle brand which hosts luxury events – such as LaurentPerrier brunches, rosé receptions, exclusive networking events, and pop-up events featuring live music, free-flowing alcohol and exquisite food – currently running between The Old Custom House and Le Monde in Cardiff. The events are soon to be in other venues too, and there are future plans for a members’ club. www.thepeninsulaclub.co.uk
Bells & Roses
‘A little bit of happiness through the post’ is how Daniella Scotton describes her letterbox gifts business which she runs from her home in Grangetown. It started by wanting to send care packages to my loved ones during lockdown…
and that’s where my ‘hug in a mug’ boxes idea came from. People couldn’t see or hug one another so I thought why not send a hug in a mug in the post with tea, coffee and hot chocolate boxes – feat cookies, chocolates and more. In total I’ve sold just over 2,500 boxes which includes corporate orders for Duedil, Costello Medical and more. This has been such a positive to come out of lockdown...
Before lockdown I was always on the go with my two girls [Bella and Rosie – you can see where she got the business name] and I spent so much time out with them. Lockdown made me slow down, reflect and gave me the push and confidence to try something new. www.bellsandroses.co.uk
The Peninsula Club’s foodie bashes look epic
Even more deliciousness…
HEAVY HAND BAKES
The baking biz was started by Amy Davies, from Riverside. “I’m obsessed with anything cookie!” says Amy, who has 12 years’ experience in the hospitality and catering industry and has now started supplying all of the Kin + Ilk sites across Cardiff. “I’m not a natural baker so I began practicing in lockdown, experimenting with lots of different cookies – not knowing this would be a business one day.”
www.instagram.com/ heavyhandbakes
PIERHEAD HAMPERS
Penarth-based Sue Lee set up a to-your-door hamper service featuring Welsh foodie favourites – from bara brith to Welshcakes, many of them from local suppliers – and is expanding her range to include non-edibles and personalised gifts. www.pierheadhampers.com
JOLLOF HOUSE PARTY Roath-based musician Tumi Williams’ Afro Cluster/
Skunkadelic gigs were all cancelled due to Covid, so he started a new business, a celebration of Nigerian Street Food. The vegan menu features tasty treats such as three-bean jollof rice and plantain fritters. www.instagram.com/jollof_ house_party
TY MELIN BAKERY
Angharad Conway – who used to work for Rick Stein – and her partner Lance Gardner – who was taught by master baker Richard Bertinet in Bath – say the bakery was a long time in the making.
“The demand for homedelivered baked goods took us by surprise over lockdown as we outgrew our little production unit in Adamsdown within three weeks,” says Angharad, who lives in Cardiff Bay. “We’re relocating our production to a bigger unit on the outskirts of Usk, and our online shop opens every Saturday at 9am for delivery the following Friday. We have also been delivering our unique and most popular product – croissant bombs – nationwide.” www.tymelinbakery.com
www.mediaclash.co.uk I CARDIFF LIFE I 11
