Clothes were laundered quickly, business was clean and tidy, price was reasonable and the staff was…read morefriendly.

Super friendly owner!! Clean and tidy! In and out in an hour, great relief to find this place.read more

Top Hat Dry Cleaners & Launderette state that they are "Pontcanna's No. 1 Dry Cleaners, trading as…read moreTop Hat'... how quaint is that? The reality is of course, not too far from the claim. Having been around for over thirty years, and run efficiently, with care, Top Hat really are very good at what they do. It is not surprising then, that they handle some pretty prestigious clients. Famous ones too.. like the Cardiff Rugby and Football Teams. Check out all of the shirts that they've got hanging on the walls! But for all you bounty hunters out there... think twice before you go and nab one. Not only does the bloke that works there, (who wants to remain nameless), look like he could be a ferocious contender in the running-tackle stakes, but the shirts on display won't fetch much on the black market... they ain't worth much if they're not signed! 07817 151 921

TopHat dry cleaners is conveniently located on Cryws road, which means you can park on the street…read moreor down one of the side streets easily so as to quickly give TopHat your dry cleaning, they do a fantastic job and so far have always been quick and effective. When you walk in you find yourself confronted by rows of plastic covered clothes all ready to be collected, they run a very busy service. TopHat is a prestigious dry cleaners and have earned a respected status, I always choose them for my clothes when I don't want to risk it. They are also running a 3 for 2 promotion offer.

I've been going there for a few years and nothing is too much trouble for Mohamed and his Dad…read more Always made welcome. It's like a micro community and I have made new friends there And look forward to seeing everyone on my visits. Thankyou Mohamed and Dad for making what would ordinarily be a chore a very pleasant experience.

Penylan Laundrette is a marvellous place, but I fear that more socialising than washing takes…read moreplace here. Munir Malik, the owner, is a very congenial fellow, who possesses the kind of eyes that speak of wisdom, humour and compassion hidden deep within... although the humour makes a bid for freedom at reasonably regular intervals! He is more interested to know why I don't have any children than he is to enquire about why I haven't had my duck down duvet cleaned since the iron age, and why he's never been commissioned to perform a service wash on my behalf. His face alternates between quizzicality with a hint of condemnation, and alarm tinged with more than a little consternation. I just smile my answers back at him, explaining my position in a light-hearted way that's suggestive of a belief that I have no need to justify my decisions to anyone. I like Munir, and I like his laundrette. It is simple and unaffected, just like the man himself... what you see is what you get. If I ever decide to have my duck down duvet cleaned by a professional, this is where I will come!

Crwys Electrics are a local shop and electrical repair business that have been established since…read more1962. A Cardiff rental property management company I've been a customer of uses this company, and the staff have always come across as very honest and reliable. They do sales of new electrical products such as dishwashers and fridges, and they sell spares and organise repairs of most leading brands of domestic appliances - although they specialise in Statesman, Hoover, Hotpoint, Brandi, Whirlpool, Creda, Electricity, Bendix, Electrolux, Zanussi, Panasonic, Dyson and Goblin. Their washing machine repair initial call out charge, for example, is a very reasonable £20 - and they can often go on to fix the problem there and then because they carry the most frequently used spare parts on their vans. Oh, and if it's hoover bags you're after, they usually have about 210 different types in stock at any one time, including Goblin, Hoover, Electrolux and Panasonic, and many more!

Crwys Electrical is a retailer and repairer of electrical goods, unsurprisingly they have an array…read moreof electrical items, they also deal in used goods so you may pick up a bargain. If you need a small component they have a good stock, but don't expect to see a large selection of new electrical goods such as you would find at a Curry's, Comet, PCWorld etc. They have better technical knowledge than you will find from a large electrical retailer so if you need a washing machine repaired or any other electrical item, they may be able to help.

This branch of The British Heart Foundation has a spacious shop floor with which to display large…read moreitems of furniture that don't fit in the smaller outlets. It also carries smaller items of furniture, as well as white goods and general electricals. Sadly, the white goods and electricals are not reconditioned, and so they will only accept items that are working at the time of donation, but there's no guarantee that they will continue to do so once you get them home. They do perform function and PAT tests, so the portable appliances are likely to be more reliable. Nevertheless, white goods are the biggest sellers, which is pretty much the same story across the 87 outlets of this kind throughout the UK. Because of this they are always on the lookout for donations to replenish their white goods stock. It's always best to check with them first before loading heavy items into your car and hauling them all the way to the shop, as they will refuse certain items. They won't accept any gas cookers for instance. They also sell some new stock at reasonable prices. This is not damaged or redundant stock. Instead, they rely on buying in lesser known brands that do not carry such a hefty price tag.

Now we're talking. I've been looking for a place like this since I've moved to the UK - a showroom…read morewith an extensive range of second-hand furniture and electronics, not overpriced "antiques". Charity shops carrying larger home items are quite common in Florida, and all of the furniture in my respective family members' houses are sourced from these "thrift stores" and then reupholstered or repainted. Thankfully, this makes it difficult to spend £2,000 on a hutch or dining room table. Speaking of costs, the price here are rock bottom: Sturdy wooden dining sets for under £100, TVs for £25 and bedside tables for a fiver. For me, the appeal is owning a piece of furniture that can't be found in every home in Britain (ahem, IKEA). The staff here incredibly helpful - I wasn't in here five minutes before two members of staff politely informed me that the shop had an upstairs stock room, in case I couldn't find anything I wanted on the ground floor.

My boyfriend is the proud father of a lovely but incredibly demanding two-year old, who happily…read morespends her weekdays being looked after by the lovely staff at Cardiff University's Day Care Centre. Having seen first hand just how demanding a toddler can be, I can't express my admiration highly enough for the brave souls who go into full time childcare. His little bundle of joy is always well looked after, and her face lights up when we take her there - in fact, sometimes (despite our best efforts) we get the feeling she has more fun there than anywhere else. Being a working parent can be a tough deal, so knowing your beloved offspring are being well-cared for during office hours is invaluable. You don't just have to take my word for it though - this nursery won the prestigious NDNA (National Day Nurseries Association) Welsh Nursery of the Year 2010 award. Catering from ten-week to five year-olds, the nursery is open to the children Cardiff University staff and students - and I can't recommend it highly enough!

The Fancy Dress Shop on Clifton Street is, as far as I know, the largest shop of its kind in…read moreCardiff. I know of a coupe of others but they are only half the size. There may be one in the city centre that is larger, but I don't like shopping at chain stores and so I tend to give the main shopping streets a pretty wide birth if I can help it. I don't go a bundle on fancy dress parties, and tend not to bother unless I'm under some pretty heavy-duty duress to comply. I have only ever hired a costume once, and considered the whole episode to be a stress-inducing exercise. At least I didn't have to contend with the problem of choosing what kind of outfit to wear... the dress code was pretty strict, and so I was obliged to wear what I was told, (how much fun is that!?) Anyway, what I found stressful was the fact that I had to collect the darn thing and then not spill anything on it when I wore it and return it in mint condition to the hire shop... all very tiresome when you are working full time! I have had cause to use the Fancy Dress Shop however. I used to live and work at a visitor centre near St Hilary where we would regularly host weekend events that often involved performances of differing kinds. For one particular event I was tasked with delivering a number of costumes to the Fancy Dress Shop to be altered as I was one of the few people there that had a car. Once inside, curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't resist having a good look round. I was really impressed by the stock and would definitely use this shop if I was ever invited to a fancy dress party again... although, if my friends get round to reading this review, I'm sure that the chances of this happening would be pretty slim!

Fancy dress party? Masked ball? Skirt shortened? Nettie will sort it for you…read more Netties fancy dress shop is a second home to circus people, musicians, artists and Cardiff's alternative scene. At night elves work and play here, lights flicker, laughter and music can be heard. Nettie is also the mother of Club Love. As well as being a seamstress she puts on club nights with her 'Spiral brothers' DJ lover in venues around Cardiff and beyond. The recent Clifton street renovations whilst causing a lot of upset seems to have really benefited some businesses and this is one of them. The new Fancy dress shop front looks sparkly and inviting and you can instantly see what's on offer - wigs, novelty, off-the-rail stuff, retro items, alterations and the custom made.

This place has been in Cardiff forever, is well respected and one of few genuine hand engravers…read moreabout. Mr Kolb did great on my engraved ring, was exactly what i wanted, and no machine could do it., as i asked about at other engravers before being told to try Kolbs. Mr Kolb was indeed a character and helpful!, don't know what the guy above had done, but we were very happy. Clare.

Track 2000 converts tat into treasure…read more This not-for-profit organisation offers second hand furniture to those on a low income, it also trains the unemployed and aids the recycling effort to boot. You can pick up second hand beds, settees, wardrobes and white goods from their warehouse. The ethos is great and it's a fantastic asset for the Cardiff community, but I did find some of the furniture a little overpriced and some of the sofas in need a clean. The building itself is Victorian red brick, with a number of large biodiesel powered lorries loitering outside. Look out for the washing machine drums on the side of the building, which offering fantastic natural drainage and have been converted into ingenious plant holders. Bonus: Just ask and Track 2000 will deliver your furniture purchases

I love The Big Issue! I love everything it stands for and everything that it does! Not only does it…read morehelp unfortunate people get their lives back on track, but the magazine itself is a really useful resource, offering really insightful editorial, a healthy 'what's on' section and a plethora of jobs (usually for the caring trades and charities). When I'm in Cardiff I tend to buy my copy from Daniel, a Romanian father of two, who has been selling The Big Issue just outside Cardiff Central Station for the last two years. You'll find him quite close to the national Express offices and charity shops as you round the corner off Wood Street. These days he says that sales are significantly down, and only manages to sell about six or seven copies a day. With a wife and two children to feed, clothe and house, this is clearly not enough! He's resorted to borrowing from friends over the last few months. I used to know what proportion of the sale price the vendor retains. I think it's around a pound, with a cover price of £1.70. Sellers need to buy the magazines up front, and can return unsold issues with a refund. This avoids any abuse of the system, and helps the drug addicts invest in something a little more constructive. Head office 1-5 Wandsworth RoadVauxhall LondonSW8 2LN

Written by professional journalists and sold by homeless people, the Big Issue Cymru has excellent…read moreintentions. It aims to give the homeless a way of earning an income without simply begging, helping them save enough to get themselves into more stable housing situations, and then assimilate back into mainstream society. It also has a support and counselling arm, helping vendors with a whole host of physical and mental health issues. The publication itself is well-written, and while you might not be interested in every news story or feature, it does cover a good variety of social and environmental issues. I have one big problem with the Big Issue Cymru, though: why do I still see the same vendors on the streets of Cardiff now that were selling the magazine a decade ago? I know some of their faces from when I did work experience there, and I have bought the magazine from many of them over the years, yet still they are on the streets, selling the magazines, and not moving on into permanent housing and a brighter future. I wonder if after a while they start to feel safe being part of a community of Big Issue sellers, and their homeless status is normalised so that they get 'stuck' in that rut rather than moving on? And that surely goes against the aims of the venture. I hope that statistically the majority do move on from being Big Issue sellers, and that it's just a minority that get stuck in this way.