Softball is a great summer sport that is perfectly aimed at those who like to be active and…read moresocialise at the same time! The Cardiff league has been running now since 2006 and is made up of 8 teams that play from April through to August at Llandaff fields and Pontanna Fields. The league plays the co-ed slowpitch version of the game, teams are equally mixed between male and female players and the ball is pitched under arm. While at first glance the game my seem complicated, it is very easy to start playing and before long become addicted! I have been playing for many years and when the clocks change to BST (British Softball Time) I know it is time to get the glove out for Spring training. The league is a very friendly bunch of people, they always welcome new player to the league.

This is not for the faint hearted, its for people who can really swim and have probably done so all…read moretheir lives. You have to get through trials to get in so you or your children have to be good. What you in return is top class coaching and development at the really great international pool down in the bay. I think I was hoping more for a group of like minded people who just liked swimming. I am far to crap to ever get in the team but if you serious about swimming its a great club.

The track at this centre was the first purpose-built indoor athletics track to be created anywhere…read morein the UK. Used by students on sports courses at UWIC, as well as student clubs, the general public, and governing bodies such as the Welsh Netball Association, there's seating capacity for 690 spectators so it's also used to host major events. Although the centre is mainly intended for various types of athletics such as running, vaulting and jumping, it also accommodates other sports including netball, basketball and volleyball. The centre features a full competition 200 metre banked track; a 9-lane 60 metre straight; a separate 6-lane 140 metre straight; competition and training Long and Triple Jump pits; competition and training Pole Vault pits; a competition and training High Jump pit; training nets for all the throwing events; a fully equipped biomechanics laboratory.

I am a former athlete who used to train at the national sports centre in cardiff, i have now…read morestopped going there for reasons i shall explain. I was a high jumper and i have competed at a top level many times before. I trained at sofia gardens for roughly a year and half, i wasnt impressed with the coaching offered there i felt as if they just let anybody train us and wasnt interested about me, they have loads of football coaches there and a good level but for the high jump there was just the one who didnt really make a big effort and for me that was a really dissapointing and let down feeling. I really wanted things to change but they just didnt and for that reason i left, i know many others who have done the same. They just concentrate on what they want when they want.

Ultimate Fitness Centre is a newly opened gym and kickboxing facility opened just off City Road. It…read moreseems to be a replacement for the old Cardiff Kick Boxing outlet at 166 City Road. Denzil Lawrence and Spiro Micallef who used to operate out of this facility are now using Ultimate Fitness Centre, and the new premises carries the Cardiff Kickboxing insignia. I don't profess to know a huge amount about kickboxing, but it seems that Ultimate Fitness Centre are offering something a little different. Lee, a Muay Thai instructor, claims that Ultimate Fitness Centre are the only authentic Muay Thai Club in Cardiff, Barry, Rhondda and Vale of Glamorgan. He says that "there are many who claim this but can't back it with results, documentation or history". Apparently Muay Thai is different from kickboxing in that it is technically superior, and therefore I imagine it presents more of a challenge. Ring Lee for further details: 07792204881 Denzil Lawrence: 07932 253849 Spiro Micallef: 07710 477524

I have a lot of pent-up rage, so I thought taking a few classes at the Ultimate Fitness Centre…read morewould be like therapy, only funner. Armed with my fellow female partner-in-crime, I was ready for my first tutorial in ass kicking. The tuition is one of several offered by the gym, which includes a beginner class on Mondays and Thursdays at 6. You feel like you're in an authentic set up here, which of course adds to the Rocky-esque experience I was hoping for. The warm-up includes running, push-ups and sit-ups, followed by pairing up with a partner for a lesson in punching, kicking and elbow wielding (my favourite) using standard boxing gloves and pads. As my friend and I were the only two girls in the class, our instructor took extra time to explain self-defence manoeuvres which fell on gracious ears. The class is only £4 for the hour, and no sign up or registration is required. I'd recommend purchasing your own set of gloves, as the ones on offer smell like what you'd expect from sweaty boxing gear. Yeah, this ain't nothing like Boxercise. And I'm so going back.

I travel quite regularly with work, and since the Novotel is the hotel of choice for my business,…read moreI'm lucky enough to get to use the facilities here whenever I come down to Cardiff. In all honesty, I've used the pool facilities more often than the gym (forcing myself to get on an elliptical trainer when there's a spa pool I can relax in instead just never goes well!) but the gym facilities - while not the largest around - seem adequate for the clientele. A few treadmills, a few ellipticals as well as some stationary bikes in one side for the cardio junkies, while the other side of the gym is filled with free and static weights for the more buff of us (not me!). The pool is a reasonable size for a hotel swimming pool, with a beautiful spa pool (I love this thing!), a steam room and a sauna. I've also had a couple of times where I've been lucky enough to be the only person in there which is just bliss. Not sure how adequate it'd be if I were a paying member, but as a hotel perk it's pretty great.

From the owner: Exclusive, 4 Star Hotel-based Health & Fitness Club…read more InBalance Wellness by Novotel Cardiff offers contemporary and state-of-the-art facilities in a relaxing environment. Our highly trained and friendly staff offer a professional and motivational experience to help members achieve their personal goals. We offer complementary Lifestyle Consultations with tailor-made exercise programming to support you every step of the way. Whether your aim is to improve your fitness, tone up or to enhance general wellbeing, our facility caters for your needs and with a range of flexible membership tariffs, we will help you to achieve your goals. We offer quality service with the reassuring committment to every individual that we intend for you to make the most out of your membership. Facilities include: Resistance Gym Cardio Gym 15m Indoor Heated swimming pool Jacuzzi Steam Room Sauna Male & Female changing rooms Exercise Classes Personal Training Massage Treatments

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.

I was a member of Esporta for 3 years and really enjoyed my time as a member there. Why did I quit…read moremy membership? My circumstances changed and I felt it was a little too expensive to keep paying the membership. Luckily for me I used to go almost daily at around 2pm when the club was very quiet. After an hour in the gym I would go to the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and pool which I pretty much had all to myself. I used to sit in the tub over looking the pool fantasizing I was a billionaire and this was my house. I often considered calling security whenever another member tried to join me in the tub. As far as price is concerned they are more expensive but also better and more well equipped than Fitness First and not as expensive and not as good as David Lloyd.

I was a member here for about seven years and always used it at peak time (my kids were training…read morenext door). The good thing was that I always managed to get on a machine even though it was busy. And, mostly, there was enough room to swim. The pool is pretty small, only about fifteen meters but warm and clean. I went to a number of classes - the aerobics was a tad challenging but the 'body in balance' was just the job during a stressful week. Conveniently located next to the National Tennis Centre so the same desk deals with courts, tournaments and coaching. And conveniently for parents there's also a nice café with good coffee. And conveniently for kids they also do chips.

The 4 stars are for the quality of the facility as it is a community use venue and a well appointed…read moreone. The centre is connect with Cardiff FC which helps I guess. staff were helpful although they were not sure where all the equipment was. I believe the facility is available for hire however they have an extensive community programme so how much spec and time is available I would not like to comment on. The downside is that parking is very limited so always check if they have big events on or if the football club, which is next door, has a fixture.

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)