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!

Well, on the plus side, it's a friendlier - much friendlier - place than the Cathays Conservative…read moreClub. However, it is still very much a local club for local people. You won't find yourself shunned but you probably also won't feel the gentle relaxed atmosphere of other places around here, like Gassy Jacks or Mr Smiths. The main problem really is a lack of atmosphere which means that you can sit and have a quiet drink but there's no real buzz in the air. There's nothing there to make you want to stay for a second or third drink. The prices are pretty good, though, so you're pocket won't mind if you do decide to stay.

I have been informed that the previous comments were posted by students. Its a pity you didn't see…read morethe club before all you students moved into the area and drive all the residents and old club members away. As for people hanging round the entrance, this is the scene outside most buildings since the smoking ban came in, so I think your comments are quite unjustified . Adrian Lock (club member)

On a Friday night this bar has karaoke. I LOVE karaoke! It's not that I ever get up there,…read moreespecially not on my own (though there are private booths in Tiger Tiger where you can do karaoke, and that's my favourite place in the world for a night out. Show tunes are my thing!) but it's always a good night out. Particularly if you've got some confident friends. There are pool tables which are in pretty good condition and are only 50p a game, though it does get busy so I would say go earlier if you're looking for a quiet game. It's a great place to go on any day of the week, though. It tends to get a bit busier from about 8/9 onwards so if you're looking for a relaxing drink I'd say get there early or go to a pub.

I love this place. No pretense, no faffing about, no cocktails. Just beer, somewhere to sit, people…read moreand... well what more do you need? Music? This is one of my favourite places to go for music in Cardiff, especially on a Thursday night. They have a regular 'jam session' and you'll be amazed at the variety. I've seen trumpets, saxes, avant garde fiddle improv and all sorts. You get a lot of the best musicians in Cardiff - and further afield - come together to play some music. But its not cliquey - not by a long shot. One evening whilst sitting supping on a pint, from a pint glass that was pint glass shaped, at a pub table, I heard the jam session give way for a regular who had been learning the piano. She played the Entertainer. Ok, she wasn't brilliant and it was a bit halting, but I've never heard such applause! Everyone in the bar supported her, fully, and there was no judgment. It was like being in a dream, a cultural oasis, a picture of how society should be. Oh, and did I mention the covers bands? I knew it was the pub for me when I heard a band covering the Velvet Underground. Brilliant! (But just be warned before you head to the ladies - and maybe take your own loo roll)

The Riverside Warehouse is a local community centre for young people aged between 10 and 25 who…read morelive in the Riverside area of Cardiff, or nearby. It hosts a whole range of different activities designed to give young people something fun to do, and a place to make or meet friends. There's a large indoor hall used for sports such as 5-a-side and table tennis as well as dance and keep fit sessions, parties and events. The warehouse hosts events such as fashion shows, quizzes and multi-cultural festivals from time to time, and also houses a recording studio for creative music-makers, and offers a range of IT facilities including computers with internet access. At the moment their various themed nights include Girls' night on Mondays (5pm-8pm), an over 13s night on Wednesdays (6pm-9pm), a Juniors' night for those aged 10-13 on Thursdays (5.45pm-8.45pm), and an over-13s football coaching night on Fridays (6pm-9pm). While I can't claim to be a 'fan' myself (as I don't quite fit their target market), this is an obvious asset to the Riverside community. With a constant stream of young people wandering in and out of the centre, it seems to have been successful in creating a popular hang-out for young locals who fancy getting out of the house to play Playstation or meet their friends.

In 2007 with a little help from a lottery grant, a disused building in Riverside was transformed…read moreinto a community asset. The Riverside Wherehouse was a godsend to the Riverside community and especially to its youth. When I visited the warehouse a t-shirt printing workshop was on the go, a drum workshop was banging and a fine curry was being cooked. The Riverside Warehouse also runs some fab festivals. Recently the Riverside festival took place down the road from the Warehouse in Dispenser gardens. The festival had a positive, multicultural vibe, food, story telling and music were on the menu and there was a focus on green issues. The warehouse itself has a PA system and computers and they offer music and dance workshops. Inside there is a court for football and basketball, opposite the building is a small council playground. Check it Riversiders.

Private club but only £15 to join. Good place for a quiet beer and a game of snooker.read more

Fantastic Open Mic Nights on Wednesdays! Open to members and non-members !…read moreFour rotating house bands and open mic in middle for musicians of all ages!

This club opening hours are sporadic on the best days, it depends if the manager (M) feels like…read moreopening, no one is going to go there if there is a chance of it being closed early or not opening. one wonders why she is doing this? The manager has made the club pay out £20,000 to travelling folk as they claimed she is racist towards them and would not let them enter the club, her husband is on the committee which is against club policy. Something is not right here which is a shame as when my dad went here it was a lively club, bingo/shows every Saturday, yearly outings (free) for the kids and pantomime production as well as going to the real pantomime. The manager however does take a GREAT INTEREST in doing her private buffets, and has no problem opening on these days. Gone are the old days, maybe the Memorandum and Articles need amending to cover clubs interests if club ends up bankrupt

My cousin booked wedding buffet here and was lefty really upset. Contact was near impossible before…read morethe wedding buffet as this place was always closed and nobody to answer phone (landline -business line, not mobile as advised by WHICH). Make sure you take out wedding insurance as things that were promised were not given. Food was bland and not enough, decor was old tat but luckily my cousin took some of her own stuff. They tried to get her to pay in cash and kept pushing for this, (not sure why),make sure you pay with credit card although they were not happy with this. On occasion club organiser was rude at questions asked and because deposit was paid made it clear that it was non refundable, so if you cancelled deposit would be lost. Black guests were questioned on arrival! not sure why? My niece posted a non favourable review too, immediately afterwards 5 GREAT reviews were posted which were probably false, so please beware of fantastic 5 star reviews. My poor cousin was devastated but made the best of a shoddy wedding buffet. So take heed, book here at your peril, because once your deposit is paid the communication turns sour especially if you have a complaint. Club will try and get any bad review removed so share this info with anyone who's thinking of using this club. Have a look at some of the previous negative reviews (engagement parties that they have ruined too)and the attitudes of the staff.

Oh, Games Workshop…read more This shop is a gaming and hobby shop for all those people obsessed with fantasy and role playing, in all its guises. You can makes your own figures, paint them and create scenery. You can buy books on how to do just this, or just a good old plain fantasy book. But this shop is also so very much more. In the centre of the floor are tables where epic battles are fought and lost/won, where heroic deeds go on a few metre from the pavement. Oh, Games Workshop. How you suck in the lives of teenagers (and, admittedly, lots of adults too) and chew them up. Hours of role playing later, the little tykes will stagger out into the harsh sunlight and feel a staggering loss at there being no orcs or wizards on the high street. This is a shop and social club for all those people with a sense of miniature adventure.

"To each his own", I think whenever I'm on my travels and faced with yet another gaming shop…read more Cardiff boasts quite a few, and I think it's a testament to the gaming culture that these places still manage to thrive - I don't really understand the nature of it or how it works, but I know one thing is certain, the Games Workshop must be doing something right as this place is always alive with customers acting out epic battles on the large tables in the shop floor's centre. Games Workshop offers a wide selection of figurines, accessories, and books for games of all sorts, including Warhammer, Lord of the Rings, and other specialist games. The range of stock here is impressive, and I'm sure if you're a gaming enthusiast, you'll be able to find what you're looking for.

The Drama Association of Wales creates opportunities for people to become actively involved in…read moretheatre activities which are 'rewarding, fun and of a high standard.' It also houses the largest specialist Drama lending library in the world. Over 300,000 volumes of plays, biographies, critical works and technical theatre books including the entire Playsets and Lending collections of the former British Theatre Association.Wowzer. Loads of books. I'll race ya. The association was founded in 1934 and has been a registered charity since 1973. It offers a wide and varied range of services to Community Drama. Most of their membership is based in Wales, but they also have members from across the world. Members include amateur and professional theatre practitioners, educationalists and playwrights.

From the owner: DAW is a charitable organisation that believes that the arts should be accessible to all. We…read more work on a membership basis and aim to assist each individual with their specific needs in order to bring high quality drama to communities across the UK

A great venue for entertainment and live music…read more The building is truly unique with some fantastic features. Right in the middle of the city centre next to the train station. The food was excellent and a superb wine list all at a very reasonable charge. What more could you ask for?

From the owner: Cardiff Masonic Hall is the ideal venue for business or social events. Built 150 years ago, the…read morehistoric venue has several function rooms suitable for meetings from two to 180 people. For business seminars, conferences or training sessions to parties, dinner-dances or live music shows, the unique Cardiff Masonic Hall will provide a friendly welcome. Licensed to hold wedding ceremonies, Cardiff Masonic Hall combines the romance and grandeur of the Victorian era with the luxury, style and exclusivity you would expect from one of Cardiff's most impressive addresses. The atmospheric interior of the building provides a perfect backdrop for outstanding wedding photographs. The Hall boasts a fully equipped commercial kitchen and team of chefs capable of producing delightful meals for 180 diners, or more intimate family or business meals. Our Bar Manager ensures we always provide a comprehensive wine list and excellent range of well-kept real ales, all at very competitive prices. The Cardiff Masonic Hall events team is experienced in anticipating and providing all the equipment and services required for a successful function. With excellent parking, bus and train facilities so close, Cardiff Masonic Hall is a popular choice for event organisers looking for a venue with a difference.