• Added: 2nd of September 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Events and Entertainment

Cardiff CF10 1UG
029 2087 8500

vjm63 said
A good place to go - hosts some good events
St David’s Hall opened in Cardiff in 1982 – a 200 seat concert hall set right in the middle of Cardiff. It hosts everything from rock concerts, orchestral concerts, Cardiff singer of the world, ballet performances, plus gamelan, the reduced Shakespeare Theatre company, and free lunchtime concerts - in fact there is something on almost every day of the week. They advertise most of the evening concerts several months in advance - and if you want to go to any of the really big name events, it is worth becoming a 'friend' of the place so that you get advance ticket informaiton and availability!

There is not only the concert space – there are two bars where you can have a relaxing drink, or something to eat in the restaurant, exhibition spaces for local and national artists.

We tend to pop in quite oiften and have a look at what the various exhibition is, and maybe have a coffee, rather than go to the evening shows. It is really easy to get to, since it is right in the middle of Cardiff.

• Added: 2nd of September 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Arts and Culture

Cardiff CF24 3JW

vjm63 said
Local modern arts centre
The Gate is an awful lot of things all in one building - somewhere you can go for a coffee and a bite to eat; somewhere you can take the kids to an acting dance class; sopmewhere you can go to learn ballet, salsa or pilates; somewhere you can see concerts in a wonderful small setting; somewhere you can just pop into to see the latest exhibition that is along the walls.

It is all in what used to be a church, and has been carefully redesigned inside to keep many of the features - the gallery that used to give extra seating for services is still there - but a floor means that a new floor has been created which gives space for concerts, for instance.

It is worth going along just to see what they have - you will be surprised!

• Added: 2nd of September 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Food and Drink

Cardiff CF10 1BG
029 2066 5041

vjm63 said
superb place to buy great food
We have been buying pasties from this shop for years – it is one of our regular pauses on any trip into Cardiff city centre. The pasties are usually warm/hot from the oven, and taste wonderful!

The pasties are baked on the premises, and they really are as good as any you could get elsewhere. Not only do they do three sizes of the traditional Cornish pasty medium, large and extra large – but they also do a wide range of other pasties – vegetarian, wholemeal pastry, cheese and bacon, chicken… there ought to be something there everyone might like. They do also do sandwiches – but we only go for the pasties.

Frankly, I would have no problem with recommending this place to anyone – if you like good Cornish pasties, you will love these!

• Added: 1st of September 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Arts and Culture

Cardiff CF10 3NP
029 2039 7951

vjm63 said
A good place to wander in and learn
The National Museum in Cardiff is in an easy to get to place, and within its building hosts a lot for the visitor.

Many of the dispalys are permanent - such as the Evolution of Wales exhibition - which tells the story of Wales right from the Big Bang, through geology, dinosaurs, and on to the present day.

There are also what you might consider the 'usual' galleries displaying such as paintings and china, plus the world's largest known leatherback turtle...so a lot to explore.

during school holidays they tend to put on special events in the Glanely Gallery, where children (sometimes of all ages) can go along and find out about something hand-on - this could be anything from butteflies to rocks. They also do lunchtime talks on many different subjects - and all of this is usually free of charge.

• Added: 1st of September 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Sightseeing and Attractions

Cardiff CF5 6XB

vjm63 said
A very good day out - and you learn something(s)
St Fagans is an open air museum, part of the National Museums of Wales group, which records the history of Welsh life. They have the main building which hosts displays of costume and some crafts, plus the restaurant selling good welsh-sourced food.

Outside there are over forty different buildings that have been re-built on the site, which were painstakingly taken down from their original location and brought there so that they can be preserved. It is a superb place to go for a day out (when it is decent weather!) – you can walk all around the houses, go inside and see how people used to live and work, what they had inside to cook with of to light their homes – all sorts of details.

There is also the manor house – the 16th Century castle that you can take a tour around, plus depending upon the day you can talk to genuine craftsmen and women working in some of the small businesses – even try some bread baked on site!

They also host open some air theatre every summer, which takes place even if it is raining – which is an experience in itself!

Well worth the trip.

• Added: 31st of August 2008
• Area: Cardiff
• Category: Restaurants

Cardiff CF23 9PD

vjm63 said
good for families
We have been going to this harvester for years, and always enjoy it. The main meals are reasonably filling, but the real plus point is that you can have as much in the way of salad and bread rolls as you like - which is great to fill up teenagers.

Their menu is fairly chicken-based, but they also do burgers and steaks. If you choose just a main meal, plus have a lot of salad, and perhaps one drink, then each person can eat for well under a tenner each, which is not bad value nowadays. Granted, they do have some wonderful puddings - and the icecreams are well worth opting for if you have the space.

We try to get there before 6.30 on a weekday, when there is a special early bird 1/3rd off most meals - if you can manage it, this is worthwhile, although it can get busy between 6pm and 7.30 pm because of this.

Worth going - and lovely to have the salad variety.

• Added: 31st of August 2008
• Area: Bangor
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Bangor LL57 3UR

vjm63 said
Good value for the price
I stayed in this hotel this year, having found it on the Internet. It was easy to book, and the website gave good clear instructions as to get to the Hotel, even for someone who did not know North Wales.

I was surprised how small it was when I got there - but I had no problems checking in (and was told the bar would open pretty well when I was ready!)(it was after 6pm). For someone more used to large commercial identikit hotels, it was small and unusual - with floors that creaked and sloped in places, narrow passageways and stairs, etc - but the room was adequate.

The hotel advertised free wireless internet access - I was not able to get mine working, but that could have been a laptop fault.

I had an evening meal in the bar - just me and two I assume locals were there eating, and the food was brought quickly and tasted good. They have had good reviews for the food(some were pinned up at the reception), and I must admit is was tasty and filling.

Breakfast again was very good - plenty of food, brought quickly and hot, and with no sense of being rushed. They even had radio 2 on in the background - quite pleasant!

The only downside was that the hotel is right next to a train line - so you do hear trains passing during the day/evening. It did not disturb my sleep, however, so was not a major problem.

I would recommend this hotel - definitely refreshing after the mass-market sameness of many I have been in!

• Added: 31st of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Birmingham B40 1QA

vjm63 said
reasonable quality and standard for price
I have stayed at this hotel a several times in the last few years for conferences that were elsewhere in the NEC complex. Although it is on the edge of the NEC, it is still easy to get to and from the other locations - and there is no charge for parking your car as there is at some of the other hotels.

The hotel is good for the price, particularly considering how popular it is bound to be. The rooms are a good size, and well maintained - no problems at all. The breakfast is very good - it is a help yourself style which gives you the most flexibility, and for £7.50 per person is pretty good value. Although it did not apply to me, I notice from the website that they are doing a kids eat free offer as well - so I would consider using this chain for family trips.

Overall, i had no problems with my stay, and could get what I needed/wanted from this visit - easy checkin, a good night's sleep, and a good breakfast the next day. I also was able to leave my car there until the evening, which was useful and saved me hassle.

• Added: 31st of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Birmingham B40 1PP

vjm63 said
over rated
I stayed in this hotel one night on a business trip a couple of years ago - and whilst the hotel itself was ok, I did have major problems with checking in.

I booked my room months before, and fortunately took a copy of the booking information and receipt with me. I found that when I got there, because someone else with the same surname had cancelled their booking the week before, mine had also been cancelled - and the hotel had not had the courtesy to inform me of this, even by way of an automatic email to let me know. I therefore had a bad half hour or more explaining the situation to at least three staff before I was able to get a room - when I had been up already for 12 hours that day.

When I got to the room I found that there were no tea/coffee facilities, and no towels. I assume I had been put in a room that was spare. Therefore it took me over an hour in total to check in fully and get to a stage I could wind down at all. I was not impressed, and I have not stayed there since.

I am sure most of the facilities are great, but this experience seriously coloutred my appreciation of things on that trip. For well over £100 a room, I would expect better service than this. I have not had a similar experience elsewhere.

• Added: 31st of August 2008
• Area: Treharris
• Category: Restaurants

Treharris CF46 6ED

vjm63 said
Good restaurant
This restaurant is very small - possibly the smallest I have been in. It is a converted old Police station, hence the name - and the staff evencdress accordingly. It has been open since 1998, and is tucked away in Nelson - but well worth finding.

The food is good stuff - we have been there for Christmas meals, and the portions are wonderful! Service was quick, the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable, and you feel as though nothing is too much trouble for them all. I found out later that they also do a regular specials such as a three course sunday lunch for under £16. The chef is willing to cater for special diets - and uses as much fresh food as possible so quality and standards are high.

It has won a number of awards for both the food and accommodation - and is currently with five stars for the Wales restaurants with rooms category.

I would thoroughly recommend this place.