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Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Im no expert in this field but I'd assume that soundproofing wouldnt be such a problem with a club in a new build. Its seems tha major problems have been with older buildings being converted.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I'm not an expert in the field of sound-proofing new build, but I have worked very closely in helping sound-proofing existing buildings and know of the costs and many pitfalls that you encounter!

Experts who I have worked closly with often suggest it is sometimes easier to knock down existing walls (providing they are not structural) and rebuilding it to a soundproof spec!

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

There's word that the Model Inn is going to be made trendy, but in a distinctive and possibly quite nice way.

Also, the cafe that was once Friends and Europa underneath the Angle Hotel is to open in a months time as an Italian restaurant with strong vegetarian and vegan leanings.

Posted this elsewhere, but should be here. The Toucan re-opens next Friday. Apparently it is not a big enough space for big live bands, just small ones.

Bar En route, nice little place on Cathays Terrace, has closed down as they couldnt pay the rent.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

That's good news about the The Model Inn. It looks pretty awful from the outside to be honest. I last wandered in about two years ago and it was also bland on the inside. A much poorer relation to the City Arms close by which has an old fashioned boozer charm.

Cafe Europa seemed to have all its character ripped out when it resurfaced as Dirty Sue's so a rebirth is also welcome news.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I like the Model Inn!!

Granted though, it needs a lick of paint, but I hope it doesn't turn into a 'trendy wine bar' I'm starting to feel more and more optimistic that The Womanby St area could become Cardiffs 'temple bar'. It'd be great for a few places to have live music, ideally of the local variety, or even encouraging people to just turn up and play.

If I owned a bar, I'd have 2-3 hours every friday and saturday night being open mic, just encouraging people to turn up and play.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

The Model Inn is remaining in the Brains chain. Think I heard there might be some live music goings on... but dont hold me to it.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

A new Cocktail/Wine Bar has openned (or is soon to open) on Crwys Road (near the bottom end in what used to be an Italian and Previously a Greek resteraunt). Roath is seriously starting to become a nightime destination in its own right.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Mill lane has a new logo in an attempt to re-establish itself as a cafe quarter as distinct to the St Mary St riot around the corner.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2009/04/08/it-s-time-to-kick-out-the-drunks-91466-23336778/

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2009/04/08/cafe-quarter-ending-its-binge-drinking-image-91466-23337645/

I worry it is just too close to ever fully get away from is.

My favourite line is:

"Mark Seaton has relaunched the former Iota bar as Retro in a bid to discourage drunks."

The Retro bar is meant to DISCOURAGE drunks! I dont see it...

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

My favourite line is;

'is launching a bid to rebrand itself as a world-class cafe quarter'.

There they go with their world class again!
Just how many streets are there in the world with loads of bars & restaurants on them?


Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

The article made me laugh. The owners themselves are at fault.

Take away the nightclubs and you remove the trouble.
It is far enough away from St. Mary's street to be quieter (although proximity to chippy alley can't help).

I'm not as familiar with what places are open down there these days so I'm kind of going back a few years when I mention number 10 and continentals, but upstairs was just another Kiwi's if you ask me. As for the "private membership" number 10, well that was a joke. If you went every week and had a decent pair of tits they let you in without being a member and regardless of how pissed you were.

The same goes for Iota. If you are going to play R'N'B and (C)rap music you will attract a certain type of person that wants to act like the twats that record the music in the first place.

Just remove the clubs and open a wider variety of places to eat down there and then you will have a cafe quarter.

Simples.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

haha. 'Simples' that stupid meerkat!

I think the definition of world class is fair enough. Firstly, it's aspirational, so looking forward, ie, not talking about qhat mill lane is now.

Secondly, yes clearly it's slightly cringy, but who's to say it isn't world class. Of course, this phrase doesn't mean it has to be the best in the world, but Mill lane is one of the finest outdoor areas in the UK (IMO) and on a sunny day there really are few places who wouldn't welcome it into their city, even if they also have better 'cafe quarters' It's the English language too..world class doesn't actually necessarily mean as such. It's a corrupted phrase, but one I'm comfortable with cafe owners aspiring to.

Finally, it's a shame that Molokos became that shitty retro bar. It seems busy and vibrant which is great, but it's a bit naff, but there you go. No where reached perfection, and what I/you/anyone on here thinks of as perfect isn't what other people do. Rap music for example. Although i don't mind it, I do wish it wasn't the most popular sort of music for young people, but it is, and so clubs will reflect this.

I went to a new place down mill lane last week (lounge something). To be honest it was as nice a place inside as you'd find anywhere. I'm pretty confident about mill lane myself.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Tabu/Crunch (the bar on Westgate St opposite the Queens Vaults) has been shut by police using their powers to close night time establishments for the first time in south Wales. Apparently there were incidents of extreme violence, drug taking, sex acts (!!!!) and criminal damage. Sounds to me like a quiet Tuesday afternoon in the Carpenters Arms in Llanrumney!!

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Karl
Apparently there were incidents of extreme violence, drug taking, sex acts (!!!!) and criminal damage.


could have all been the one same act

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Karl
Sounds to me like a quiet Tuesday afternoon in the Carpenters Arms in Llanrumney!!

Which has also been closed down now

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

The mind boggles Jantra...!

Murfilicious - yes I noticed that the other day. It won't be a great loss to the world of pubs. It always seemed to me like a training centre for youngsters before they were mad or bad enough to be let loose in the Good Companians or the Llanrumney Hall.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=64378&c=1

What a pleasant surprise..I hadn't heard of this at all.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Excellent news. Sounds like another great pub for the area. With this, the Beverley, the Cayo and the Mochyn Du this is definitely the corner of Cardiff to visit if you want to escape the Brains stranglehold…

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

And another new bar with a welsh language animal name.
Y Cadno, Milgi, Y Fuwch Goch, Gwdihw...

soon we'll have a whole zoo.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Don't forget the Mochyn Du!

I think the 'welsh animal' trail, might be quite a nice, not to mention unique pub crawl.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

DaiB
Excellent news. Sounds like another great pub for the area. With this, the Beverley, the Cayo and the Mochyn Du this is definitely the corner of Cardiff to visit if you want to escape the Brains stranglehold…


Sounds like a good option for a future social...

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

totally agree, CardiffWalesmappers do the welsh animals...lets revert to stereotypes eh!

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

One from the rumour mill.

I was informed yesterday that JD Wetherspoons are to open on 111 Bute St in the site of the former 'Purple Lounge' (next door to the former Natwest building).

If I had been told that they were moving into the Natwest building then I would have given the rumour more credence because it seems more of a Wetherspoon type location.

I reckon that the aforementioned 111 Bute St address is too small for a Wetherspoon but the person who told me was pretty adamant that they were going in there.

The building is certainly being renovated as I write. Does anyone know anything more about this - there's nothing in the planning applications so I have my doubts.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

purple lounge didn't last long did it..shame, whenever we get new bars trying to creep away from the central bay core, they tend not to last too long...

mischief's and X:it have bucked this trend mind

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Like most people I have mixed feelings about 'spooners. On the one hand they are generally a good format for a decent pub..reasonable decor, decent prices, good selection of ales etc. On the otherhand they are chain bars and can impact upon the individuality of other bars. They can also appear pretty rough sometimes. That one at the bottom of City Road..I've probably seen more aggro in there, than any other Cardiff pub, although still not much trouble really.

Anyway, all that said I'd totally support Wetherspoons there. they attract people which ultimately has to be a good thing. I agree though that the Purple lounge seems to be way too small for a wetherpoons..maybe there are hidden side rooms we don't know about?

Either way, the unit is definately being renovated so something is going on, which is preferable to it's current disuse

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Is the former Natwest the grand old white classical-style building? Apart from the Corn Exchange, thats the one building in the old bay that I'd like to see brought back into use. Its been unoccupied for such a long time..whats stopping some restauranteur setting up there? It'd be a shame if Wetherspoon's took this one as it could be something pretty special. "Bank, Bute Street" - could be the best restaurant in Cardiff!

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Does anyone know where the Y Cadno (see above) is opening on Cathederal Road? I', not sure I know the former RAFA Club

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

It's directly opposite the beverley

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

its all fitting in to place, the purple lounge is the tardis

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Another highly speculative, 100% not confirmed, straight off the rumour mill, story here. But...

There's some word floating about that Beat Box Bars, managment of Buffalo & Ten Feet Tall, are looking at taking on the old Glamorgan social club building at the bottom of Womanby St / opposite Millennium Stadium. They've got a rep for pretty high quality refurbishments of venues but this is a big job for anyone to take on with the condition of the roof.

They might decide to not take it on, or they might not be looking at all. All rumour! But if it happens I think it'll be a good use of the place.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

'Rumpoles', by the court, has closed:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2009/08/21/the-impact-of-pub-closures-in-cardiff-91466-24494799/

Not the biggest loss to be honest.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

It closed months and months ago.

It was an effing shite hole. Rough, 1980's and reminiscent of a slightly tarted up version of the Jockey pub in Shameless.

I do mourn pubs passing, and have been brought round to the idea that there should be a minimum price per unit for booze (thus raising it in off licenses, but not impacting on pubs), but I guess you can have too many pubs in one area.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Unless it can be shown that there are more social or crime-related problems from drinking at home than in licensed premises (pubs and clubs) (and I doubt this is the case), I wouldn't support a move to reduce competition and consumer choice. I don't really buy the idea that pubs are important socially - they are closing because their previous clientele have moved to other (often chain) bars or now drink at home. They were failing to meet the social and other needs of many of their customers and we can't impose costs on the rest of the population to support the wants and mores of the "old timers" still drinking in them.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I couldn't disagree more.

I think drinking at home is dangerous, damaging to others in the household and totally unsupervised.

ALso, although I love the stuff, alcohol is dangerous, and you shouldn't be able to get off your face for less than an hours pay on the minimum wage.

I support a minimum price for alcohol, a fantastic by product of which would be a boost to public houses. It would still be cheaper to drink at home, but it would level out the competitiona a bit more IMO.

I think our community facilities should be cherished.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I don't object to paying a tax commensurate to the social cost of me drinking - perhaps the tax on alcohol should be higher. But I don't agree that the social costs are higher from drinking at home, however unsupervised the latter is. I don't buy the idea of "supervision" in any case: many of the regular boozers in community pubs are there day-in-day-out drinking a considerable amount and doing a lot of damage to their bodies in the process. The landlord/lady doesn't refuse them drinks for risk of upsetting his regulars. Only when things get "ugly" do they exercise responsibility, mainly for their own skins rather than out of a concern for others. This is particularly the case for the chain bars which would be the primary beneficiaries of any move to "shift" the balance in favour of pubs over off-licenses and supermarkets.

Taxes are necessary and they can be used to promote better behaviour (the idea is called a "Pigouvian tax"). But, I don't think the issues of pubs closing is one about "dangerous drinking at home" or a threat to our communities. Instead, its just the natural product of a changing society where ties to the local community are lower and ties to people from uni, work etc take precedence. This has favoured a shift towards drinking at home and in major centres at the expense of community pubs. I'm not willing to be forced to pay more for me beer to support the social mores of a dwindling number of die-hard "regulars".

Incidentally I have a few local pubs nearby my place in Rotherhithe. I make an effort to stop by for a brunch, or a Sunday lunch or the odd drink after work with my flatmate because I want to support the local pub. I'd actually like it if more people did the same. But I still dont think its justified in making me or others pay more for our beer elsewhere to subsidise such preferences. I just can't see the clear "social good" involved.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Apparently soon we will have:

Millennium Music Hall: Cardiff's Brand New City Centre Venue for Live Acts and Clubnights. Opening October '09

Enquiries:
musichallcardiff@live.co.uk

at Millennium Plaza.


What a rubbish name. Do we need three music venues that start with the word millennium? Perhaps they should throw in 'international' as well.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Back in March I said Brains were going to make the Model Inn all trendy and funky. Apparently thats not the plan any more. They've decided to do it to incognito instead, sometime before Christmas.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Probably old news but it's been confirmed in the WM that the WRU have purchased Yates (Jacksons) on Westgate St and will be turning it into hospitality/ticketing/museum. No great loss to the world of pubs and clubs in my opinion. Hopefully this will mean that the WRU will get rid of the portacabins currently used for flogging tickets and start a general clean up of the area. Hope springs eternal.

Also sort of bar/club news - Les Croupiers are moving to a unit near the new Cardiff City stadium. As well as a casino there will also be a sports bar and chinese restaurant. In todays WM.

I wonder what will happen to the current premises in St Mary St? Inside they are huge. I had a crazy idea that the rear of the premises facing on to Bakers Row could be renovated and that street become a groovy little destination with Copa, Metro's, Les Croups and maybe another bar/restaurant type venue. Unlikely to happen, but it would have been nice....

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

turn it into an afflecks palace, a miriad of bohemian shops and eclectic mix of music. i used to love afflecks in Mancehster, if you ever ge to go there, it is on the corner of Tib Street off Oldham Street.


Afflecks Palace

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I remember Afflecks well from my student days in Mcr 81-85. Huge poorly fitting military overcoats for <£5 that I could wear to the Hacienda!.
I think I encountered my first chick pea there as well!
Cardiff did have something similar, albeit smaller, called Dickens Arcade opposite the castle on the site of what is now Revolution...

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Shame about Les Croupiers moving. I’m not a casino person myself, but I think that means there are no longer any casinos in the centre of Cardiff, which isn’t great news from a variety of nightlife perspective.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I don;'t know Dai, I've known for a while they are moving down the Cardiff City Stadium, which will be good on match day as we can spend a few hours in there (a good friend of mine is general manager in there).

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Mark
I remember Afflecks well from my student days in Mcr 81-85. Huge poorly fitting military overcoats for <£5 that I could wear to the Hacienda!.
I think I encountered my first chick pea there as well!
Cardiff did have something similar, albeit smaller, called Dickens Arcade opposite the castle on the site of what is now Revolution...


I often wondered if Dickens Arcade was a figment of my imagination. I recall it being a jumble of antique clothing shops, a cafe, a record shop and some weird places selling the type of crap you get in the Oriental Shop in High St arcade. Everyone I've mentioned it to never knew what I was on about. I always thought the Philharmonic Hall (now housing the late and unlamented Square pub) would make a good place for that type of eclectic shopping experience. Sort of like a Jacobs Market for younger and trendier people.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Jantra
I don;'t know Dai, I've known for a while they are moving down the Cardiff City Stadium, which will be good on match day as we can spend a few hours in there (a good friend of mine is general manager in there).


Oh, I’m sure it will be good for the business, I just find it disappointing when options are reduced in the city centre. I certainly don’t blame them for the move and I’m sure it will be a good place for Cardiff City fans to take their mind off the inevitable disappointment at season’s end….












Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Someone posted a couple of weeks ago that Gilbys in the Bay had closed..

Well I walked past there yesterday and there was some activity, and A4 sheets of paper everywhere saying something along the lines of 'New restaurant opening soon. specialising in the finest welsh and international produce..blah blah blah."

Great news anyway.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I work at The Media Centre in Culverhouse Cross and the original Gilbys (the one just outside the Media Centre) looks like it's closed down.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

I've heard a rumour that Wetherspoons have bought the Cross Inn on Gabalfa Flyover (aka East aka Mujibs aka Eastern Manor). Could be absolute rubbish of course but it does seem like the type of place that 'Spoons go in for.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

It's a pity that Gilbys in the bay closed. The "express" café section seemed to have taken off quite well. I was using it regularly for sandwiches and the occasional hot meal.

Cant say it surprised me though. I didn't think that they could sustain the lease for such a site simply on cheap lunchtime food. It never really got established as a fine restaurant and I think its location didn't help them with walk in trade. The other outlets in the Millennium Centre seem to have done much better - perhaps because they open directly off the lobby.

I'm interested to see what appears there in the future - there's a phone number on the signs, so I might call to enquire.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Y Mochyn Du gets a good write up in the guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/sep/08/city-town-pubs?page=3

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

The outside of Glo on Churchill Way has been painted orange, and it now seems to be called "Wow".

Not sure if it has an exclamation mark or not.

Re: Bar/club activity in Cardiff

Its turning into a gaybar. I'd heard this rumour at Mardi gras. They originally were on Bute Terrace in the "doomed" bar in Harlech Court - doomed as it always seems to close after a few weeks.

Cardiff's gay scene, if anyone is interested, is getting rather saturated and I don't think it'll be too long before somewhere else closes. It now has:

Kings Cross
Golden Cross
Icon
Exit
X
Pulse
Wow (http://wowbarcardiff.com/)
4Play
X:it (in the bay)

X is only half-gay really, hosting straight nights targeted at those wanting to stay out later than most places on St Mary's street. Maybe this will go the whole hog and ditch its gay history.

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