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All dressed up and nowhere to go? - What's hot and what's not |
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| Pubs Cardiff's reputation as a good place for a night out dates back to the 1840's when the crews of the ships loading coal in the Marquis of Bute's new east dock flocked ashore to the pubs and dives of Butetown. They were greeted with enthusiasm by the locals who soon found they possessed a natural talent for parting sailors from their money, a tradition that was to last for over a century. But the docks are no more and the last drunks were thrown out of the Casablanca and North Star Clubs in a different milennium. So where do you go these days for a night on the razz as the locals say? Leaving aside the city centre for a moment, you may like to consider a stroll around some of the city's suburban pubs. There are a lot of them still - and unlike the town centre pubs, many haven't been tweaked and modernised to increase revenue - you can still find strip lights, ripped vinyl seats and formica if you know where to look. There are a few new pubs and sadly many, many that have called 'time' for ever - from the New Sea Lock in the Docks (Cardiff Bay) via The Mitre in Llandaff to the Radyr Arms. Closed Pubs of Cardiff are shown in Grey text. Cardiff is a popular destination for Hen and Stag nights and has a reputation for being lively especially on weekends. If you're from outside the UK or Northern Europe, this can be startling at first as, unlike their continental cousins, younger brits do not believe in pacing themselves where alcohol is concerned and will go all out to get drunk as quickly as possible. While noisy and boisterous, a night out in Cardiff is as safe any big city and very few vistors experience violence or crime. When there are Rugby Matches on at the Millenium Stadium, the pubs in the town centre are very busy but the atmosphere is great. Cardiff is relatively small and the influx of thosands of supporters makes a noticeable difference. The mood is always good humored even when Wales lose. ( Just as well then! ) |
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Cardiff's famous Pub CrawlThe Canton Mile - Start at the top of Cowbridge Road East and drink your way into town. Drink sensibly and keep off the shorts untill you've passed the Corporation or you won't make it! All these hostelries are on or visible from Cowbridge road with the exception of the Insole which is down a side street on your left just after you pass Canton Post Office. |
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| Ty Pwll Coch | Take an Ely bus or a city line train to Waun-gron park. On leaving the station turn right and cross over Western Avenue at the traffic lights and follow the footpath through the small park into Lloyd Avenue. At the bottom of Lloyd Avenue, turn left then first right into Windway Road. The Ty Pwll is at the bottom of Windway Road. |
| Victoria Park Hotel |  |
| The Clive | |
| The Maltings | |
| The Insole | |
| The Corporation | |
| The Canton | |
| The Canton Cross | |
| The Goscombe | |
| The Ivor Davies | |
| The Admiral Napier | |
| The Lamb and Flag | Now an estate agents |
| The Crown | Also an estate agents! |
| The Foresters | |
| The King's Castle | |
| The Royal Exchange | |
| The Wyndham | Now an office |
| The Westgate | Traditional finishing point - although if you're still spitting feathers you could always go on to gain bonus points by visting Millers and the well hidden Mitre in Riverside. Or you could head north up Cathedral Road and siarad cymraeg in the Cayo Arms or the Mochyn Du - 'Peint o Stella os gwelwch yn dda' should get you started.. |
2010What's on in Cardiff this Spring. Your one-stop guide. |
Our Top ThreeBarfly Jongleurs Walkabout |
