So glad found this place as met Mark. Although he 55 we 20 nothing wrong with 55 year old man being…read morewith younger girls ..im sure lots of grown men do it? drinks good too..obviously mixing from diffrent households while threw covid risky but we careful where else would you find staff like this

This place is great. The atmosphere and the ambiance is very nice. Paul the manager is polite and…read morevery knowledgeable on drinks. They have a bartender named Author, who is Cardiff Bartender of the year. The guy can make some serious drinks and is a great conversationalist.

Perched on the edge of the river Taff near the Millennium Stadium's walkway, next door to Holiday…read moreInn Cardiff, Callaghan's is an Irish pub although there's more emphasis on live gigs than anything particularly Irish. I think they still have Irish folk on, on one night a week - but other nights see open mic, Celtic rock, Djs, and so on. It has outdoor balcony seating which overlooks the river, with a fairly spacious garden area with picnic benches. On match days the place inevitably fills up with sports fans very quickly, as it's just a couple of minutes' walk around the corner from the stadium, but apart from that it's also popular with some students and live music fans.

Callaghan's is the large Irish bar placed directly across from Cooper's Field and just behind the…read moreMillenium Stadium. And when I say large, I mean it. I've been there countless times, and I don't think I've managed to see the entire thing yet. I've seen bands play on the main stage, gone to a different part of the pub and been unable to hear them. It's actually quite a wonderful aspect of the place. Being directly below the large Holiday Inn hotel, the pub is peppered with load-bearing pillars that can't be removed which adds a little something to the ambience of the place. It closes off small portions of the bar so that patrons can feel like they have a degree of privacy, which is always nice. The pub is especially great on home match days, when they roll down the screens, turn on the projectors and let the atmosphere from the stadium next door seep into the crowd. It's a bit of a nightmare afterward, having to navigate the stadium crowd and the pub punters, but it's worth it for the experience. In short, the beer is cold, the cider is crisp, the whiskys are many and the atmosphere is great, and that's all that matters.

I've been to St David's hall a couple of times now, mainly for comedians like Ross Noble and Sean…read moreLock. As a venue, it plays hosts to a huge variety of acts and entertainment. In the coming week alone you can see acts as varied as Stan Stennett (?), Brian Conley, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Roy Chubby Brown. It's not the most aesthetically interesting or pleasing venue in Cardiff, being beaten hands down by the Millenium Centre in the Bay, but it nevertheless remains the favoured venue for most acts, probably due to it's slightly larger seating capacity of 2000 (as opposed to 1897 in the Millenium Centre). It still hosts the annual Welsh Proms aswell. My own experiences have all gone pretty smooth, with very little queuing and helpful, professional staff. I suppose it's good that there's nothing of note I can really say here, as the things that would tend to stick in your mind about something as general as a concert hall would in all likelihood have been bad experiences anyway. It's a top venue though and it's important to Cardiff as a city to have somewhere encouraging the arts and being constantly active in doing so.

I have always found St David's Hall to be a little bit of a strange venue. That's not to say it's…read morenot good. Just odd. I think that's because it was, when built, quite a modern design, and that design was not universal enough to quite stand the test of time. What remains is an odd mixture of wood, green carpets and wide areas which make sense when they're full of people, but which are just tired when not. That being said, the selection of music, comedy, ballet and theatre in this venue is great. The theatre itself is vast, but seems much more intimate because of their carefully tiered seating. Seats encompass the stage, and there is a massive organ on display. Unfortunately, I've always found this venue to a little dampening to sound. Or the speakers aren't loud enough, or something. A good venue though.

If you haven't been to The Gate yet you probably should make an effort to get over there. Its a…read morebeautiful venue with a theatre housed in what used to be a church. Its all wooden and quite inspiring. It also houses dance studio's, an exhibition area and great little cafe. Its quite an amazing community arts centre that deserves lots of support. There's all sorts going on, like dance classes, pilates, open mic nights, quizes and lots lots more. If your a fan of arts you should subscribe to their mailing list and if you live near by check out the cafe bar.

This converted church is now a modern, airy, community arts centre-type venue holding a whole host…read moreof different events, ranging from live music and dance to visual art exhibitions. These performances and regular nights often showcase local talent, from amateur right through to professional artists, and spanning all age groups. Although the centre's ethos is Christian, it does welcome everyone of all faiths, or those with no faith at all! It has a large, trendy café space with comfy sofas hosting regular events such as the Dance Café on the second Tuesday of each month, when people can meet, dance to Motown and Soul, and socialise with a resident DJ and dancer on hand to keep the place moving. Then there's funk fusion night, featuring the six piece band Miles Behind. They even hold debates on current affairs topics, regular quiz nights, open mic nights, and Science Café night when people explore topics relating to science and technology. The venue itself is actually a bit hidden away, just behind City Road, in a Grade II listed building in Keppoch Street, so you have to hunt it down a bit to find it.

Despite a few issues, Clwb consistently maintains its status as possibly the best nightspot in…read moreCardiff. Where other clubs rise and fall, Clwb remains, playing the role of the alternative Oceana to the slightly less rude boy crowd. The reason for this seems to be because whilst other clubs have a niche that slowly dwindles over time, Clwb has enough room and enough nights to cover all the bases. Every week they cater to the drum and bass crowd, to the indie boys and girls, to the hipsters, to the RnB fans and even to those among us who dig a little (or a lot of) soul. On top of this, you have the regular gigs from international, national and local bands that bring in the crowds as well as sets from world-famous DJs such as Grooverider and you have a club that everybody loves for one reason or another. Unfortunately, the problem a lot of people have with Clwb is the pretentiousness that goes with it. Whilst the staff and the club itself remain relatively grounded, it seems the status as one of the top clubs has definitely gone to a lot of the regular's heads. This snobbish atmosphere and poseur attitude puts a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths, but if you can get passed the douchebags wearing sun glasses and leather jackets in a night club, it is one of the best nights in Cardiff.

Also known as the Welsh club to all the English speakers out there. Clwb Ifor Bach is easily my…read morefavourite club in Cardiff. Coming from London originally and spending all my time in Camden, it's hard to find anything else in the country that comes close to there for alternative clubs. Infact, I've been very disappointed with a lot of the alternative clubs here that all feel inclined to adhere to the 15 year old NME readers. Clwb isn't like this. Consisting of 3 floors, all of which are different themes depending on what night you go. Generally the bottom floor has anything from the 60's to present all night and have even heard the likes of Devo etc in there. That pleases me! The middle floor can be closed at weekends, but if you go on a wednesday it's the funk room. I've walked in before to see the whole dance floor playing limbo in there and have funked it up royally in there many a time. Upstairs on a wednesday plays NME hit list...Though the odd good choon does escape from the speakers. On a saturday it becomes the drum and bass room. For that you have to specify your going to that room, otherwise you will pay twice to go in downstairs and then upstairs. Confused? So am I. Drinks are dirt cheap in here and I can't remember a time I've paid more than £1.50 for a bottle of fosters and shots are of a similar price if your looking to drown your woes in the satan's liquids. There also a load of gigs happening here all the time and suggest you go to the website to see who's playing. The list is very diverse as I've seen people like Rueben to Will Haven here personally. All in all I am very fond of this place and celebrated my graduation here as I would not go anywhere else if I want a great night out.

What I like most about Bogiez is that it feels very inclusive for all. Everyone is accepted there…read morenot matter of age, race, creed or taste in music. Anyone can go. The music is primarily metal, with a good helping of old school rock to boot. It doesn't have quite the same atmosphere because it's no longer in a church! - but the crowd help to make up for that. Let's hope it can move to the Coal Exchange when it re-opens. Drink prices are okay, they seem a little higher now that they have moved from The Point to The Venue. But the central location does mean that you can head there after going to other places in town first. And chippy lane is just around the corner

longstanding established rock and metal club based in the heart of Cardiff. The venues have changed…read moreover the years but the friendliness and love of music is still going strong. The club has its own website and a lot of the regulars meet up socially outside of the club. The Dj's cater for eclectic tastes and the drinks are cheap. I love the fancy dress nights and the New Years parties are infamous!

If you're a floppy quiffed, tight jeaned dour arty trendy wannbe - and i don't mean this is a…read morenegative way although as I write this I fail to see how this could be a compliment - then you will love Cardiff Arts Institute. Its air attempts to reek of pretension and the odour of the in crowd - the wall of marigold gloves is a testament to that. Having said that i was welcomed by a smiling bar maid who was more than happy to serve me. Which I found odd, I almost expected her to look me up and down disdainfully before walking away in disgust. I only spent a couple of hours there with a few mates and it was a quiet night so I can't say I experienced it at its best but I wouldn't say this is ever going to be my local or a regular haunt of mine - why? I loathe what its trying to be it doesn't feel natural - maybe I'm being a bit harsh - I just have a natural anathema to all things pretentious - it's only a personal view you may love it there. There are some nice design touches about the place and part of me can imagine it being a nice place to hang out but that part of me is very small indeed.

Don't be put off by thinking you need to be an Art student to get in here. You don't, though arty…read moretypes will defiantly appreciate the decor more than most. Its pretty much just a really good bar and music venue. The interior really must be seen, its far more unique and off the wall than any other bar in Cardiff. There is some amazing stuff going on here from poetry reading to amazing DJ's and artists. There's something for everything so check out their website now!

The North Star is a vast pub cum restaurant and music venue occupying a prominent position on North…read moreRoad in the Maindy / Gabalfa area of Cardiff. It is an incredibly inspiring and important addition to the cultural wealth of the city. Opened in October last year, it is already the home to a cosmopolitan mix of locals, business people and students, as well as regular visitors from all over the city and beyond. When you walk into The North Star you can appreciate why it has such a draw. The old Victorian mansion-sized building has been lovingly refurbished with impressive style. The modern look, embellished with antique flourishes and an eclectic use of period furniture, has been created by Tim Rice, one of Cardiff's most successful designers, leading The North Star to be shortlisted for 'The Best Bar and Restaurant Design Awards' within months of its unveiling. It also scooped up another accolade when it was voted the fifth best 'cheap eat' in the UK by The Guardian. There's more to say about The North Star than I've got space here on Yelp. It's a multi-faceted business that offers a lot, to many. Managed by a brother and sister team, with Alex taking care of front of house, and her brother conjuring up epicurean delights in the kitchen. The food, organic and locally sourced wherever possible, is extensive in range and all homemade from scratch, including the relishes, dough's and even the Yorkshire puds! Dishes are predominantly Italian, but the menu frequently includes Welsh favourites like cockles and lava bread, Monmouthshire lamb and potted pig. With deals like '2 for 1' operating from Monday to Friday, customers are visibly increasing on a weekly basis. Specialty dishes are changed regularly, usually prompted by the advice of their local butcher, J T Morgan, who tips them the wink about all the best seasonal cuts on offer. Established in 1861, J T Morgan Butchers have occupied a position of importance at the indoor market, in central Cardiff, for more years than anyone can remember. A family butchers that have moved with the times, they are presently one of the most recognized purveyors of free range and organic meat and poultry in South Wales. Not surprisingly, The North Star makes the most of a good thing. As well as fantastic Sunday lunches, boasting the most succulent roasts in town, they're also hosting BBQ's on Friday and Sundays over the warmer months. Live music is on offer most days of the week, kicking off on Wednesdays with the Open Mic Night hosted by Rowan Liggett, who is also Co-Director of The Miniature Music Press, a really well produced A5 music magazine and 'What's On', that you can pick up for free at a whole host of places around the city. The North Star also has a sister pub worth mentioning; The Vulcan in Cathays on Wyvern Road, another haunt of the ubiquitous Rowan Liggett, who runs the Open Mic nights here as well. Frequented mainly by students, this is a cool live music pub, also designed by Tim Rice, that is equally well worth checking out. www.theminiaturemusicpress.com/

So the North Star has recently undergone a big renovation which is probably why I got some discount…read morevouchers to go and test it out. Its in a bit of an odd place really and right on the middle of the student area which is why I guess I had never been tempted to go there sooner. Went for an early dinner, the food was nice but not outstanding. I liked the relaxed atmosphere of the place and all the comfy looking leather sofa's. It would be a lovely Sunday place hangout I think. Prices are probably aimed at the students so its fairly cheap and there seems to be lots of events going on. Just wish parking was easier round there.

I went to see Rain Man here a few months ago featuring Oliver Chris and Neil Morrisey. As a…read moretheatre virgin as it were, I entered with much trepidation, unsure of what to expect. I was highly impressed. It's decorated quite lavishly in a pretty old-fashioned way. It certainly conformed to every imagining I had of what a theatre should look like inside and was in keeping with the history of the building, built in 1878. Onto the bar then! The service was quick and the drinks were reasonably priced. A surprise, as I thought I'd get stung for a drink here. A cool service they provided (I have no idea if this is standard fare or not) is that you could order drinks for the intermission, so when you come out, rather than waste any precious time queueing and paying, your drinks are there waiting for you with your name on! I thought this was brilliant. As nobody really wants to stand up in the middle of a tense scene and shuffle past an entire row, there was the expected mad rush for the bathrooms at the end of the performance but the toilets were adequately sized which was great. I'm not a big theatre person but I had a really enjoyabke night here and would definitely go back if something that took my fancy came to town.

The New Theatre is an old classic looking theatre that I always remember when visiting it on school…read moretrips to see what shows they had. I vaguely remember seeing 'The Hobbit' on stage and that was enjoyable. The New Theatre is one of the oldest buildings in Cardiff and still delivers shows for everybody. If I were to put a certain category of shows the New Theatre has it would be pantomimes. Everyone loves the pantomime and The New Theatre knows this, it has had shows like Aladin, Dick Whittington and a variety of other shows. It does have some drama plays too. I went to and see Romeo and Juliet with my girlfriend. However, this does bring me to mention a problem the auditorium has. We were sitting at the back of the stalls and unfortunately we had a giant pillar between our seats so we couldn't even see each other, this wasn't exactly the most romantic way to spend an evening watching Romeo and Juliet's final scenes and all I have to comfort me is a pillar. New Theatre I beg of you, please knock this pillar down. The New Theatre is an old classic theatre that still has a buzz when a performance starts. It may not have the most contemporary shows but it's brilliant for families. My only problem is that annoying pillar. Knock it down!

This relatively new live music venue opened in October 2009 in Millennium Plaza, and has a capacity…read moreof 810 standing / 400 seated. It not only hosts gigs, but also has a string of big club nights coming up. They have a pretty active Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/musichallcardiff which is really good for being amongst the first to hear about new shows scheduled there (as you don't have to keep remembering to check their website regularly). The stage is quite substantial - nearly 10 metres wide and nearly 5 metres deep. For bands, there are two dressing rooms and a shower, and there's on site catering available (or a kitchen). It's well equipped from a technical spec point of view, with all the details about microphones, monitors, FOH system, lighting and so on included on their website.

Millenium Music Hall is one of the two venues at Millenium Plaza, and is responsible for some…read morepretty epic entertainment. (I'm going to see the Go! Team in Februaray, and can't wait... (not least because by then the winter will be nearly over!) They are also threating to bring some major club nights to Cardiff, so things look to be n the up for Cardiff nightlife! Dates for your diary... 19 Nov 2009 Gary Numan (live on stage) 21 Nov 2009 Silent Disco Cardiff 21 Nov 2009 Bogiez 3 Dec 2009 Reverend and the Makers 5 Dec 2009 Bogiez 9 Dec 2009 Saw Doctors (live on stage) 10 Dec 2009 C-Y-N-T xmas party 16 dec 2009 Goldie Looking Chain 19 Dec 2009 Bogiez 26 Dec 2009 Back in the days 27 Dec 2009 Hippo Club reunion 31 Dec 2009 Bogiez NYE BALL 31 Dec 2009 Silent Disco Cardiff NYE BALL Useful Info: Office: cardiff@retroclubs.co.uk - 02920 340737 Lost Property cardiff@retroclubs.co.uk - 02920 340737 Bookings / Events: Steve Lewis: musichallcardiff@live.co.uk Tickets: www.millenniummusichall.co.uk Jobs: cardiff@retroclubs.co.uk