I'm not sure how to make sense of this:

http://www.revoluciondecuba.com/cardiff/ Is it refering to nights at the existing venue? It seems to suggest it already exists...

The address is listed as 9 Womanby Street which is the building that was going to be converted to a youth hostel a couple of years ago with a bar and restaurant on the ground floor. Not sure what happened to the overall plan..

This wasn't slug and lettuce though was it? And its not the same address as Vodka Revs either...

Old Orleans in Church Street is now a Harvester. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I suppose its more family friendly I would have thought SD2 would have been a better fit.

In relation to the Slug and Lettuce I assume that the Friary will be part of the proposed Greyfriars Rd saturation zone? I don't know what the state of the licence is there but the premises have been empty for at least 2 years. This will probably curtail anything other than restaurant premises - I cant see SWP or the Council rubberstamping another Revolution.

It would be good if they renovated the derelict building in Womamby St. There is a big sign on the side of the wall facing the Revs beer garden saying revolcion de cuba - I assumed this was just marketing but perhaps a sign of a new club?

I've got mixed feelings on the Harvester.

I suppose it's an addition to the city centre, and it's handy for families, but that is a good sized and well located building for a nice pub/bar.

Harvester could go on St Mary street where Jantras mate has promised us all that it would be allowed.

Reference to Revs,

I haven't been yet but from what I've heard from friends it is an addition to the existing premises. Although it is separate from Revs it is accessed through the club I believe.

As a lover of rum I am pretty excited about it, works christmas party there in a 2 weeks!

Interesting. I would guess that means that, in the evening at least when door staff need a record of numbers on site, that there will be no active frontage on Womanby Street. Which I think is a shame. But I guess good that the buildings are being used, if this can be confirmed.

Also on Womanby Street, apparently the people who run the Full Moon Bar (once Y Fuwch Goch) have also taken on the unit upstairs (once the Beach Club) and plan to run it as an alternative club and live music venue. We will see how they get on...

What was the Kings Cross is now open under a new name (which I forget). Looks nice enough I guess but I still felt like its a shame the Kings Cross went.

The new kiwi's too as can be seen from the pic of the day.

The old Model Inn building had its preview opening today as a new bar and grill. Looks very different! But pretty good. I get the sense that, even with all this 'Brains moving into restaurants' business, that it might actually still let people in just for a drink if they want it. Could be wrong though...

I haven't looked inside but I'm quite impressed with what they have done with the frontage. The Model used to be a steakhouse way back when so I suppose its turned full circle.

It will be interesting to see if this restaurant business is successful and if so whether it will get rolled out across the city and beyond. It will also be interesting to see if Brains try to expand beyond the south Wales area especially now that they own the Coffee No 1 brand.

The misses had a meal at the Corner House aka the old kings Cross last night as part of a dry run they were having and was very impressed with the quality and size of the portions can't say more than that as sadly one of the girls from work got the nod for the free meal over me

The Corner House looks nice enough, just a little bland really. I'm not really fond of these brightly lit places that sell reasonable food from a laminated card menu that looks the same in every bar around the country. Beers cost about £3.70 and they attract people for whom a new Czech lager is an exciting thing.

Corner House/Browns/Henrys/New Model Inn..

Nice to see investment, but I can't be bothered going.

The best renovations I've seen is the City Arms and the Duke of Wellington.

Incidentally, I note the Heathcock is now open again in Llandaff.

I've been to the Revolucion de Cuba in Sheffield. That one was quite different to the usual Revolution - less generic dance and hip hop music, less WKDs and shots of vodka, more latin music, laid back atmosphere and rum cocktails served in teapots. Terrific, actually.

Zizzi are opening in the old Cafe Naz unit in Mermaid Quay and there is an application for a pub to open in Bute Crescent, next to or at least near to the Eli Jenkins. See Cardiff CC website for details.

There are signs on a venue at station end of St Mary St for the 'Bunker', but I cant quite workout what it is. It seems to be related to La Monde and Soda, could even be part of the same room, or divided between them in some way.

I went past there the other day - it says 'Sports Dance Drink' on the front or something similar. I think it's Kiwi's for slightly younger folk. It looks slightly grim from the outside I have to say.

Apparently the A3 application for SD2 (above Hugo Boss) is from The Cosy Club which appears to be a city centre version of the Loungers neighbourhood bars (Juno Lounge, Fino Lounge etc). Not a bad addition for the Hayes. It's perhaps a slightly more upmarket evening destination now - Duke of Wellington, Jamies, Giovanni's, Corner House, the Cosy Club. It might do well with people who fancy a drink before or after seeing something in St Davids Hall.

I'm sure the cosy club will offer something different. Much more like a cafe that stays open late than an bar, although it will be big.

I was only thinking recently that in some respects Cardiff looses out by having most of the nice cafes in the arcades as they can't open in the evenings to offer an alternative to the old mans boozer or the full on shot drinking establishments. Something like Shot in the Dark in the centre would be good. The venues with that feel are there, but all locked up after 7.

See my local runs the risk of being shut again. See tonight's echo about the fridge up before the licensing committee.

Cosy club is here:

http://www.cosyclub.co.uk/

That bunker place looks okay I though. Trying to be a bona fide sports bar, which despite being a very sporty city, there aren't actually that many of in Cardiff.

Yup. I think they probably had problems with licensing!

went to two clubs on the weekend. Wow and Club X on Charles Street (I think it was, may have been Churchill way). Wow on Friday, have to say very impressed with the music in there and had a great time. reminded me of the old home nightclub in M/cr

Saturday was at the backroom at Club X - great choice for a nightclub, the music was excellent and the atmosphere very good. Cardiff doesn't have many good house nights but this one is up there.

two very under-rated clubs which are much better imho than what the city has to offer elsewhere

The Walkabout bar on St Mary Street took £169,000 on Saturday, just 1 pub and a lot of thirsty people!

They broke the company record.

Linky: http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/19/03/2012/342861/Walkabout-bar-in-Cardiff-takes-163169000-on-a-single.htm

God thats depressing. Walkabout is an utter shithole. The concept is awful and the way it's set up, the way the customers are treated and the beer is shocking.

A damning indictment on the lack of discernment of the British public.

Not really..more an indictment on the size of the event on saturday, and perhaps the price of booze?

I imagine several traditional pubs took record takings as well.

Town was awesome on saturday anyway, I loved every minute of it.

sounds interesting

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/04/06/restaurateur-behind-the-ivy-plans-to-bring-bill-s-produce-concept-to-cardiff-91466-30703876/

^^^^^two separate projects, one is a cafe/deli/produce place taking over 12 units in Wyndham Arcade, the other is a "Cosy Cafe" on Hills st over two floors. Good luck to them

12 units...so from the old Kiwis up to Mill lane I guess?

Both great additions to the city centre, particularly for the arcade.

More of the same please

Both excellent additions to the centre.

I seem to recall seeing pictures of Mill Lane (in Black and White days!) with lots of little units so it looks as if the wheel is turning full circle. Along with our market the offerings for 'something different' is increasing.

An article in Saturdays Echo (sorry I cant link it) refers to Viva Brazil looking at a 4,500 sq ft venue near to the Millenium Stadium. Presumably this means the Millenium Plaza o whatever it calls itself these days.

Viva Brazil have opened in Liverpool and Glasgow so far according to the Echo and specialise in.... erm ...Brazilian cusine unsurprisingly.

On a different note has anyone heard anything about the re-opening of the old Life/Liquid unit? I recall that a few months ago there were big plans by the former CEO of Luminar (I think) who is originally from Cardiff (or is at least Welsh) for two themed clubs/live music outlets. Since then nothing has happened.

Wandering through town earlier there appear to be 2 new bars (or at least new to me). One is called Charlie Browns and is in the basement unit of Hodge House (entrance on St Mary St next to NatWest).

This has been a number of different venues over the years. I seem to remember it being called the Criterion (or was it the Citi Centre?) way back when it was a subterranean steak house. I took a bird there one Valentines Day and if I recall correctly she ended up paying because I couldn't get any money out of the cashpoint. I promised faithfully to pay her back although this is where my memory becomes a little hazy....

The other venue is again in the bowels of Hodge House - this time accessed via Guildhall Place. It's called Baa Bar and has a picture of a sheep on the sign outside. Immediately I want it to fail. Again this has been a number of venues down the years - I recall it being called he Rat and Parrot at one stage, probably early to mid 90's when wacky pub names were all the rage. My memories of it as a venue are probably clouded by the fact that there is no natural light (no pun intended) but it always struck me as an absolute shithole that attracted a clientele pre-disposed to mindless violence.

I believe these two are 'front and back' of the same venue, owned by the same people but divided off. It is possible to run the whole thing a one joined up space.

is it the same people who own this franchise in the north I wonder? http://www.baabar.co.uk/

I went to one of their Liverpool bars a few years back and thought it would fit in quite well in Cardiff. It's like a mix between Buffalo's and Revs, and according to their site they are expanding but caridff isn't one of the desired locations that they have mentioned.

Did that burlesque club on st marys street ever get the go ahead?
A, er, friend was asking me recently.

Looks like they didn't get permission.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/No-Saints-plan-for-Cardiff-rejected

You can entertain your, er; "friend!" with this, while you wait for another firm to have a go.

Burlesque Dancing Club

or for real Welsh fun try this:

http://youtu.be/o5m7xEES-go

Arrrrghhhh! This "Saturation Zone" policy is utter tripe. It appeals to the kind of simple-minded "family values" politician, and the moralistic liberal who is happy to overtturn well-established principles of justice (innocent until proven guilty) in order to "protect" people from themselves.

How exactly can any bar prove that it won't add a single crime? And how do you measure that anyway? Several crimes could take place at a new venue but the net effect on crime could be to reduce it if, for instance, it changed the type of people going for a night out in Cardiff.

Its one of these stupid policies that will stick though. It "sounds good" until you think about the consequences. It has a coalition of support amongst the police and existing license-holders who basically face less competition. But it needs to end. It's killing the bottom end of St Mary's street where several units have been empty for several years. If I was a landlord I would be furious.

I abhor the saturation Policy. I've stated the reasons why before, but they are numerous and incorporate economic, moral and cultural reasons

That said, I'm certain permission was given for at least 2 of the 3 buildings...liquid/life I think?

The saturation Policy is thankfully unravelling it seems.

We can all do out bit by writing to prospective councillors and asking their views on it. I have, and told them in no uncertain terms that I won't be voting for anyone who supports it (The principle of it, and the practical implication)

I have to say that I'm slightly confused by this saturation policy which seems to be falling into disrepute. Churchill Way is supposed to be a saturation zone and yet a new bar/restaurant called Amici has opened (not sure where I read about it in the Echo) and Tesco have got a premises licence without any appeals. There is also an application in for a Churchills Cocktail Bar in the unit currently occupied by Jessops. This came after the stauration zone policy was implemented for Churchill Way which suggests that the applicant is fairly positive it won't make any difference.

A number of councillors have also expressed concerns about the way it's implemented. It strikes me as obvious thats its not the location of premises (especially when the saturation zones are drawn so arbitarily) but the type of premises that needs to be addressed. Opening up restaurants is not going to create a war zone in Churchill Way or anywhere else. Opening up huge venues, aimed at punters under 30, selling cheap booze into the wee small hours (which is exactly what the council allowed to happen in Greyfriars Rd with Glam, Varsity, Lloyds and Tiger Tiger) next to each other has the potential for problems. It seems to me that the Council have introduced an overkill policy to address a problem of their own making.

Hear hear!

The Greyfriars Road situation is entirely the council's fault, as is the proliferation of tacky late night venues on St. Mary Street.

What is also down to them is the ghost town that is the lower end of St. Mary Street. There is no other viable option than licensed premises here but the council (and police etc) keep refusing new license applications.

What a mess caused by so called professionals!

I say if these people who get drunk and get violent ect want to then fine. But the penalty's for doing so should increase. Falling over and being sick coz you had 2 much i don't think should be punished but maybe some guidence given. Anyone damaging property that doesn't belong to them should get community service and a fine. However anything considered threatning/intimidation should be treated more seriously then it currently is. It's a form of bullying a person whose bullied can be scarred, and may choose to hide, get depressed and even attempt suicide. Assault or worse should also be treated alot more serious. I here what your thinking. Where's the money come from to pay for there incarceration? Give inmates a choice earn some of there keep via work or segregation. Dishing out fines doesn't work. criminals pay there £2.50 the first week or so after that the courts have to chase further payments and they didn't when i was jumped by a gang of men in 2001. It turned out they were high on crack and been drinking for 8 hours. But i was lucky they smashed a car, 2 men and a woman up after me. Anyway £2.50 was all that was paid.