it's on cardiff issue 3

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24//Valentine’s Day Guide

14//Food News

21//National Chili Day

Our top tips on getting a date and romancing them in Cardiff

All the most delicious pieces of news from Cardiff’s food scene

We are all loved up with Welsh chilli sauce this month and explore some of the best producers

08//On Our RadarHelping you keep up-to-date with all the latest goings on in the city

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Contents

58//Event GuideStumped at what to do this month? Stick these in your diary

12//Little Black BookWe ask our favourite pop-ups their favourite places to go around the city

32//Highlighted EventsCheck out our list of this month’s top events from around the capital

Regulars

Food

Features

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28//Recipe for loveWant to impress you Valentine? Cook up some Latino heat thanks to Las Iguanas61//Competitions

Win tickets to the snooker and the Six Nations this month

56//Wedding GuideSo we hear you got engaged! Check out our guide to help you prepare

42//Breaking your ResolutionWho are you trying to kid with your gym membership? Try out these indulgent places

46//Six NationsOur guide on the rugby plus an interview with Scott Andrews

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40//The Staves

34//Five Minutes With Omid Djalili

The Staveley-Taylor sisters hit The Glee Club in the Bay this month and are one to watch

The comedian and actor gave us an insight into his live standup act

50//Comedy ClubJason Manford’s Comedy Club announces their new venue and it’s right here in Cardiff

38//Chris from Enter ShikariFrom rhinos to superpowers and Bollywood beats, we chatted to Chris about them all

Nightlife

Music, Arts and Theatre

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After our digital issue last month, we are back on the streets of Cardiff with our Love Issue, but you don’t have to be all loved up to enjoy what’s within these pages.

Aswell as a Valentine’s Day and a wedding guide, we’ve got interviews with rockers Enter Shikari, top comedian Omid Djalili, singer Rumer and I’m A Celeb star Craig Charles; we’ve got all the tastiest news, hot off the grill from new restaurants across the city; we’ve got a Six Nations guide plus a guide on the most indulgent places to break your New Year’s resolutions, and if all that wasn’t enough, we’ve got listings for our top picks of events, gigs and shows happening throughout February.

February may be the month of love, where you’re supposed to cherish those you hold dear, but what we love the most is this city and so we’ve strived to bring the people who live and work within it, a magazine full to the brim with all of the best tidbits to keep you entertained and informed about its goings on.

Jordan Harris, Editor

Welcome

Don’t forget, we aren’t just a magazine, we are Cardiff’s largest online database of events so get on your computer and check us out!

For all the best news, interviews, previews and reviews, head over to:

www.itsoncardiff.co.ukAnd don’t forget to follow and like us on social media:

Enquiries:[email protected]@itsoncardiff.co.uk02921258600

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C@itsoncardiff

52//We Meet Craig CharlesThe I’m A Celeb star’s Funk and Soul Club comes to Cardiff and we met the man himself

54//Rumer has it...We found out how to romance the lovely Rumer this Valentine’s Day

49//Harry Potter QuizBuffalo Bar are hosting weekly Harry Potter quizzes so we interviewed Dudley Dursley

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ON OUR RADARKeeping you up-to-date with all the latest news

With the boom in budget airlines, going on holiday is cheaper than ever but what can really break the bank is finding a nice place to stay. Some prefer five star accommodation and all its luxuries, whilst others prefer the basic amenities of a hostel, but as Cardiff’s brand new boutique hostel are set to prove, there’s no reason you can’t have the best of both worlds.

The Safehouse Hostel, owned by keen travellers Tom Hughes and Dan Wimpelberg, is set to swing open its doors to the “weary and the wise” in March and offers an affordable place to stay with the benefits of more expensive accommodation.

“Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and has an abundance of reasons to vist and a choie of places to stay – some cheap and some expensive,” they announced on their website. “What we wanted to create was a place that is reasonably priced but also offers great customer service.”

The historic hostel is undergoing renovation to restore its ground and first floors to their original state, complete with high ceilings and parquet flooring, whilst the spacious bedrooms will have all the convenience of modern accommodation.

“We saw the building in Cardiff,” explained Dan. “It has been empty for eight years and it seemed a shame that no one was doing anything with it. There is a Grade II listed staircase that runs through the building and the way it is situated made the building difficult to make into flats. Previously it was offices for the Football Association of Wales, however with little parking and no lift, it didn’t seem as viable for offices as it once was,” he continued.

“To us, all of these factors made it the perfect location for a luxury hostel,” he added.

The spacious bedrooms are designed to give guests more personal space than an average hostel and range in size from the smaller private rooms to dorms sleeping up to 12 people.

As well as a luxiorous place for travellers to rest their heads, The Safehouse, jointly financed through private investors, a crowdfunding campaign and the Government, offers its guests free walking tours and free breakfast.

“It’s a bit of a labour of love, but it should be really nice when it’s finished,” Dan said.

Boutique hostel set to open

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We’ve got BBQ pop-ups, burger pop-ups and we’ve even got a cinema pop-up in the form of Motley Movies. Screening cult classics like The Goonies, as well as a Halloween special, complete with live zombie action, it’s a must for anyone who values the viewing experience as much as the film itself.

A glorious hybrid between a coffee shop, cocktail lounge and tapas bar, Tuckers also hosts regular Film Nights. Organised by the Cardiff University Film Society, the events are only open to members, but they are a great opportunity for students to grab a film and a bite to eat.

For a refreshing break from the mainstream cinema drudgery, Chapter offers an eclectic mix of films in its charming two-screen cinema. From blockbusters to foreign films and short film festivals, Chapter has it all and don’t miss the chance to sample their sweet potato fries while you’re there.

The Cathays creative space not only boasts a diner, weekly pop-up shops, a radio studio and gallery, it will also be launching its schedule of film screenings in its basement in the coming months after a couple of successful Christmas movie viewings including Elf.

What do you get when you cross a Hollywood actor, a Scottish personal trainer and a Welsh clothing company? No, it’s not a cracker joke we found in our pocket left over from Christmas, it’s actually the three parties behind a new fitness challenge aiming to raise money for charity.

My Peak Challenge, the brainchild of the Scottish star of hit series, Outlander, Sam Heughan, along with his trainer, John Valbronesi and South Wales-based clothing company, Bear Strength, aims to raise valuable funds in aid of Leukemia & Lymphoma Research.

Formed in 2013 and owned by Newport-born brothers Gareth and Andy Shears, Bear Strength offers fellow fitness fans a clothing line that is both fashionable and functional, for all levels of expertise and recently approached Sam and Peak Fitness was formed.

“Bear Strength got in touch with me and wanted me to be an ambassador with them,” he explained. “We wanted to work on a project that we could raise money for charity and reach out to people across America and the rest of Europe, so we created Peak Fitness,” he continued.

The challenge, a fully scalable programme, designed to suit all ages and abilities, encourages people to reach their peak fitness but that doesn’t necessarily mean doing as Sam does and running multiple marathons.

“I hope it instills in people the joy of small challenges and the positives you can get from simple things from going outdoors; it doesn’t have to be a mountain side or climbing a hill, it’s about smaller challenges,” he said.

If you want to get involved, head over to Bear Strength’s website: www.bearstrength.co.uk

Hollywood Heughan at his peak

MOVIE GUIDEWith the BAFTAs and Oscars taking place this month, the awards season is officially in full swing so what better time therefore to step out and experience film at its best and most unusual? Robin Nierynck of film blog, Cardiff Reel, round up Cardiff’s eccentric film-viewing locations. Check out her blog at: www.thecardiffreel.wordpress.com

1. Motley Movies

2. Tucker Lounge

3. Chapter

4. CF24 Project


ON OUR RADARKeeping you up-to-date with all the latest news

Welsh OpenSnooker

What with the Six Nations, February is dominated by rugby and its oddly shaped balls, but if you like your balls a little smaller and a lot more colourful, get yourself down to the Motorpoint Arena where the best of the best in snooker will be competing in the 2015 Welsh Open.

Running between February 16-22, the world-ranking event, is set to take place in Cardiff for the first time in over a decade after being moved from its previous venue of Newport.

The competition also sees the return of hot shot and reigning champ, Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has won the Open three times.

“The Welsh Open has been good to me over the

years,” the five-time World Champion said. “I always enjoy it and I’ve played some of my best snooker there,” he continued.

“I always liked the venue in Newport but I understand the event needs to grow, and we need space for more tables and more players, and hopefully that will help create a great atmosphere.

“I remember playing in Cardiff when the event was there before, it’s a good place,” he said.

Other than Ronnie, recent winners of the BBC-Wales televised Welsh Open include Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Ali Carter, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson and if you fancy going, flick to page 61 to find out how to win tickets.

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They bought us The Goonies, they bought us Wayne’s World, they bought us Top Gun; in fact, they bought us nearly all of our favourite cult classic movies ever and after their Halloween extravaganza that saw the popular pop-up cinema take over the haunted basement of Portland House’s vaults, Motley Movies are back in action next month in the former Cardiff Bay bank.

“Tell me more, tell me more,” we hear you ask. Well for one night, Motley will be turning the Bute Street venue into Rydell High for a special showing cult classic, Grease.

And if that wasn’t enough, accompanying the film, being shown on Friday March 13, will be

pop-up burger team, The Beefy Boys who have been making waves on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Hereford based pop-up grill may be new to Cardiff’s pop-up scene but they’ve caused quite the stir throughout Britain and even the world after being named the UK’s Best Burger in Grillstock’s burger category and coming second in the World Food Championships in Vegas for their Butty Bach burger.

If that grabbed your attention and got your stomach grumbling, get your tickets now by heading over to their website: www.motleymovies.co.uk, and they’ll be back at the rooftop on Jacob’s Market, as well as a few other venues, again this Summer.

Motley Movies is back


LITTLE BLACK BOOKThis month we ask our favourite pop-ups what’s in their little black book of their favourite haunts around the city to drink in, eat in, relax in and let loose in

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Best place for a cup of Joe?Plan B and Coffee Barker in town; great quality coffee and heading suburban, the Penylan Pantry serve insanely good coffee.

Favourite spot in Cardiff?You’ve got us thinking about picnics in Bute Park now... roll on Summer 2015!

Best place to grab a bargain?Has to be from the Roath andRiverside markets right? Local producers selling their wares that they’re passionate about.

Best Place for a pint?With so many great places to get a great pint (we’re ale drinkers), we have to pick a few; local to us in Llantwit Major, it has to be The Old Swan. But in suburban Cardiff, The Lansdowne (CAMRA Real Pub of the year, dont’cha know) and back in town, we love a beer or three in BrewDog.

Best place for a burger?Got Beef on Whitchurch Road and it has to be the Heisen!

Best place for a fry up?The Tuck in Cafe on Cowbridge Road East in Canton has been a family favourite for years. Generous portions and served speedily. “Beans, tomatoes or a bit of both?”

Best night out in Cardiff?It has to be Mill Lane; whether you want something to eat or something to drink it has a great atmosphere and inevitably always ends in Dorothy’s on Caroline street - best chippy around!

Best place for a cocktail?Gin cocktails in the Potted Pig. There’s a fantastic atmosphere in there and it has excellent customer service.

Best place for a fry up?The Pot on Crwys Road, you can’t beat their full Welsh! Cheeky nod to the Breakfast Burrito too.

Favourite spot in Cardiff?Bouncing on Blackweir Bridge or a summers day at Thompson’s Park!

Best place for a burger?They’re local and are doing a good job, we’d have to toss a coin between a Soprano from Got Beef and a John Wayne from The Grazing Shed.

Best place to chill out?A Sunday night yoga-lates session at Lechyd Da Gym in Canton is the key to chilling out! It’s a mix of yoga and pilates.

Best place for a cocktail?Big chains, Las Iguanas and Wahaca do delicious cocktails, but you can’t beat a Milgi’s Mojito.

Best place to grab a bargain?If I’m honest Clas Ohlson for random bits for the farm!

Best place for a fry up? We’ve got a big soft spot for the American Breakfast at The Pot. It’s the maple syrup... and the homemade pancakes.. and the bacon..

Best place for a cup of Joe? You mean hot chocolate? Coffee Barker if we’re talking white, Pettigrew Tea Rooms if it’s with all the extras or Coffee #1 if it’s on the run.

Best place for a burger? I did slightly obsess with Chucks burgers during SFC at The Depot, they were seriously good.

Best place to chill out?It’s got to be a local beach or forestry walk with the dogs.

Hang Fire SmokehouseMeat & Greek

Ffwrnes Pizza Wild Fig

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@meatandgreek @hangfirebbq


Cardiff is inundated with restaurants serving cuisines from all over the world but somehow neglects to offer a true taste of Wales. It is refreshing therefore to see Pitch, a Welsh inspired joint that uses locally sourced ingredients, open in the city centre.

The product of Ben Browne, with the support of ex-Cardiff Blues rugby player, James Down, Pitch opened recently with a menu packed full of local gems such as The Full Welsh breakfast complete with potato and leek cakes, Welsh pancakes, Celtic Pride burgers and an array of Welsh liquors and ales plus cocktails including The White Welshman (a Welsh take on the classic White Russian).

With their impressive menu that is as Welsh as Sam Warburton and Tom Jones jousting with a couple of leeks atop a pair of red dragons, the restaurant on Mill Lane are hoping to add a whole

new dimension to our food scene that has seen an influx of restaurants of late that cater for a variety of tastes, such as Mexican, Asian and French, yet seems to miss out on our traditional dishes.

“We opened wanting to use local produce,” said Ben, “then I realised that there weren’t any Welsh restaurants in the capital so I went for it,” he continued to explain.

“Our food is as Welsh as it can be, the food is delivered from Cardiff market nearly every day, the meat and seafood all come from Wales and our house spirits are all Penderyn whisky, gin and vodka,” he continued.

“I’d like to bring local Welsh food to the restaurant scene,” Ben explained. “We’re proud to be Welsh and serve the amazing produce that we have on offer here!”

PITCH PERFECT ON MILL LANE

FOOD NEWS


BACK ON THE STREETS

When you hear the letters M and M, you might think of a bleached blonde rapper, or even a couple of red and yellow talking pieces of chocolate, but when we hear them, all we can think about is Mint and Mustard, who have recently reopened their popular Indian street food restaurant, Chai Street.

Back in 2012, Chai Street garnered much praise and was even one of only two Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants in Cardiff, but due to plans to expand their flagship eatery, Mint and Mustard, they decided to close the venue located on Whitchurch Road.

Two years on, Chai is back on our streets and re-opened on January 15 at 153 Cowbridge Road East, where it resumed selling it’s high-quality Indian street snacks and meals made using only the freshest, lightest and most authentic ingredients used in India.

“The new location will continue our original vision for Chai Street – taking the Mint and Mustard philosophy of fresh, healthy and delicious Indian food re-defined for contemporary tastes and applying it to the exciting street foods of India to create the perfect food-on-the-go experience,” they announced.

“We’ve selected some of the best and most exciting street food dishes from across India to deliver all the flavours of its famous city food redefined to an exceptional standard,” they continued.

Having given the restaurant a new look, Chai Street aims to be more than just a place to grab a quick bite to eat and hopes to create an environment where people can meet up, chat and relax, which is an integral part of Indian city life.

Chai Street is open everyday from11am-11pm.


Spring may well be the traditional time of renewal but this Christmas saw the rebirthing of one of Cardiff’s oldest pubs, The Old Market Tavern.

The pub, run by Nicholsons Pubs, returned to its roots when the tavern opened its doors once again after an extensive period of refurbishment, reviving its original 19th Century name.

Thought to have been built in the 1600s, the pub was bought to the public eye due to the exploits of its circus owning landlord Joe Holbrook. After Holbrook passed away, an elephant named Lily drank a pint in the memory of her owner, much to the delight of the pubs’ punters.

The Tavern will be pulling pints from eight available taps, selected from some of Britain’s best breweries

by their in-house ale expert and cask master and you can even get 25p off your pint of cask ale by downloading the new free Hop Circle app that is complete with tasting notes and promotions throughout the year.

Alongside their selection of real ales, the pub boasts a traditional menu hosting hearty British classics such as fish and chips, steak and ale pie made using the pub chain’s own Pale Ale brewed in collaboration with St. Austell Brewery, slow-braised pork belly and veg and goats’ cheese Wellington, as well as a slap up Sunday lunch complete with Yorkshires and gravy and an indulgent selection of desserts.

The Old Market Tavern is located on Trinity Street and is open Mon-Weds 8am-11pm, Thurs-Sat 8am-Midnight and on Sunday from 10am-10.30pm.

OLD MARKET TAVERN GETS NEW LOOK

FOOD NEWS


Forget your Mcdonalds and forget your Burger Kings because Five Guys is taking the UK by storm and the signs have started to go up in their first home this side of the Severn.

The burger chain, who were previously pushing for a 2014 opening have confirmed that their opening date is now looking more like March 2015, but they have secured a venue and it’s in the Brewery Quarter.

Originally established in Washington DC by Jerry Murrell and his quartet of sons in 1986, hence the name, the US burger giant has been rapidly expanding on both sides of the Atlantic with over 1,200 US joints to its name, as well as opening 15 UK restaurants since bringing its burgers to our shores in July last year. Now Five Guys have set their sights west to open their first ever restaurant in Wales.

“We’ve been focusing on the trend setting markets as a priority and some say you have to march across the UK in an orderly fashion but we are picking cities that are setting the tone,” explained John Eckbert, the chain’s UK Chairman. “Cardiff is an important city in the UK, especially for us, and has been on our radar for some time,” he continued.

Set to open next month in Cardiff’s city centre, Five Guys will be bolstering an already booming burger

FIVE GUYS OPENING NEXT MONTH

scene, but what they claim sets them apart from other chains is their commitment to freshness.

“Five Guys is a very simple offering,” explained John. “Its menu is quite limited, it’s just burgers and fries but what makes us distinct is the way we cook our food.

“If you’re going to make a burger for your mum what would you do?” he continued. “Well, we start with picking the best ingredients.”

From their apple-smoked bacon to their hand formed, grain fed beef patties, and from their fresh cut French fries, everything is done in house, and there’s not a freezer in sight.

“It’s that attention to freshness,” John said. “What Pret did to sandwiches, we are doing to burgers.”

But if their quality wasn’t enough, the chain boast a huge amount of quanitity to boot. With 15 different toppings and sauces to choose from, the possibilities of what to pack on top of your burger are seemingly endless and there’s a total of 250,000 different ways you can have your bespoke burger, which makes a change from plain old lettuce and tomato.

“We are very excited to be there and we think it’ll be a great area for us,” John proudly stated, and it’s fair to say that we are too.


FOOD NEWSGINA’S HAS ITDOWN TO A TEA

Last month was National Tea Month but just because it’s February, doesn’t mean that the fun is all over because brand new tea house, Gina’s, has just opened opposite Cardiff Castle.

Located at the far end of High Street and looking out over the majestic castle, Gina’s recently swung open their doors to the public serving a variety of teas, coffees, breakfasts and crêpes.

The venue, that has become popular with students looking for a relaxed place to work, boasts an Indian Bohemian vibe complete with soothing sounds slowly resonating from the stereo system and a mash of funky furniture, but it’s the extensive selection of teas on offer that has really got the city’s Darjeeling drinkers going.

Owned by the guys behind Sophie’s, Gina’s is the little sister to the popular High Street Arcade crêperie and has an impressive array of teas and coffees available within.

From Karak Chai (an Indian Tea) to Teh Tarik (a Malaysian Tea) and from Cafe Bon Bon (a Spanish style coffee) to Bullet Proof Coffee (a very potent and nutritious cup of coffee with metabolic rate increasing ingredients), Gina’s has it all.

On top of all of that, they will be brewing a range of exotic and detoxing loose leafe teas including Camomile, Honeysuckle Flower Tea, Black Tea Chai, Aurveda Yoga Tea and Black Tea Flavoured Vanilla Supremo, all at the extremely affordable cost of £3.50 per pot.


NATIONAL CHILI DAY

Chilli in Wales

Also check out...

Okay, okay, we know that National Chili Day on February 26 celebrates chili con carne, but who cares

because we’re interested in different types of chilli this month; chilli sauce and the country of Chile and

we’ve been exploring the links those two things have with our homeland of Wales. If it is chili con carne

that tickles your fancy however, flick over to page 28 for a recipe courtesy of Las Iguanas.

When people think of Wales, images of cawl, cockles and leeks come to mind, but what doesn’t come to mind is chilli sauce, but we’ve got our fair share of cracking chilli growers and sauce makers thriving within our homeland.

Producing heat in the heart of Wales, Chilli of the Valley, is one such company. Formed and owned by Dan Reed, the sauce making started out as a hobby but has grown much like the hundreds of plants that flourish in his greenhouse.

Mixing his love of chilli sauce with his Welsh roots, his sauces are positively Welsh with names such as Bwgan, meaning ‘ghost’ and made using ghost chillies, or Maerdy Gras which carries with it a tall tale of a man from the Rhondda who settled in New Orleans.

If that’s got you gagging for a bit of heat, check out their website where you can order some of Dan’s sauces: www.chilliofthevalley.co.uk

Hot Diggidy Dog’s hot sauce that adds a volcanic erruption to your grub.

Hang Fire Smokehouse’s Louisiana Hot Sauces plus their range of bbq sauces.

Welsh Dragon Chilli’s funky chilli sauce bottles featuring cartoon aliens and yetis.

Ever heard of Watkin Wakins? How about Robert Jones? Well they are a pretty big deal down in Chile

and although they are Latin American, as their names suggest, they are of Welsh decent. Even their first

President after democracy was restored in 1990, Patricio Aylwin, can trace his ancestors back to the land of the

dragon.

You see, although the majority of Welsh people who settled down that end of the world set up home in Patagonia, a few

made it across the Argentine border to set up farms and ranches and there are still a number who speak the ‘language of heaven.’

Wales in Chile


Treating herby Suzanne Hoare

If you sit in the ‘I embrace Valentine’s Day’ camp, or – more importantly – the lady in your life does, then make sure that February 14 is her best Valentine’s Day yet. If she is one to succumb to the traditional romantic gestures (I’m talking shop-bought card, jewellery and a box of chocolates) then there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you feel like going that bit further, or doing something a little different, here are a few ideas.

If posh nosh is your other half’s weakness, Michelin star chef James Sommerin’s restaurant in Penarth could be a real winner. The taster menu is sure to be a culinary delight, but be sure to book well in advance to avoid the embarrassment of being turned away and taking her to get a Big Mac. If she doesn’t have quite such expensive taste, ask yourself what her favourite food is. If it’s pie and mash, give her pie and mash!

For extra points, why not make the meal she loves the most with your own bare hands? You could make a day of it and buy the ingredients together from a local market like Riverside, Roath or Rhiwbina and cook up our feast of love on page 28.

If it all goes to pot and your cooking isn’t up to scratch, at least you tried. We love a trier. It’s endearing.

Gifts certainly aren’t obligatory, but a hand-made card can’t fail to show thoughtfulness. Flowers are cliché, perhaps, but they are also guaranteed to put a smile on your loved one’s face. Have a browse in Sunflower and I in Cardiff Bay where you can find the most interesting and beautiful blooms. Just because it’s Valentine’s doesn’t mean you have to give her red roses.

Sometimes experiences are more meaningful than gifts you just wrap up. A Valentine’s treasure hunt would quite possibly be one of the best things ever. Anything that shows consideration and fun is a winner in our book. It could be at home, or it could be in a place which means something to you both.

If you aren’t that creative, why not treat her to a day at a spa like St David’s or have a browse round the Cardiff museum. See what’s on at Wales Millennium Centre or the New Theatre in February and book some tickets.

Food

Experiences

Gifts

St. Valentine’s Day Guide


Treating him

Treating yourself

When it comes to treating your man, us fellas are pretty easy. We’re a simple folk really. Just put a beer in our hands and we’re good to go, so why not treat him to a nice craft beer from The Gravity Station of The Discount Supermarket that has Cardiff’s largest selection of bottled beer? Or check out the Riverside Market on a Sunday and get him a bottle or two of locally brewed Crafty Devil beer.

If he likes the finer things in life and you’re looking to spend a pretty penny, why don’t you take him to Watches of Wales, because nothing says ‘I love you,’ like a new timepiece.

Gifts

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Simple.

And much like treating a lady, give him what he wants. If he

likes a takeaway, heck give the man a takeaway and get him

a box from Hokkei; if he likes a burger, treat him to Got Beef;

if he likes pizza, take him to Pizza Pronto. You get the idea.

Nine times out of ten though, he’s just going to enjoy whatever

you fix him because we aren’t fussy. Just remember to check

any allergies and you’re golden.

Food

When it comes to an experience, February is the easiest month to spoil him because I’m pretty sure, but don’t hold me to this, most guys in this city, would kill for a ticket to the rugby, so get on the phone and book some.

by Jordan Harris

Experiences

On your own on Valentine’s Day? Well there’s no need to reach for the Ben and Jerry’s and your Friends boxset. Just because you’re single, doesn’t mean that there’s nothing for you to do.

For a starter, it falls on a Saturday night and although that means the restaurants will probably be packed with loved up couples, the bars and clubs are going to be couple free and will be packed full of like-minded, single folk like yourself, so get on your gladrads and paint the town redder than a cherub’s arrow.

When the 14th comes around though, your best bet is Cardiff’s favourite single lady, Miss Jones. The venue, located on Merthyr Road, is hosting an Anti-Valentine’s event so forget all that soppy rubbish and ready yourself for a night out on the tiles.

St. Valentine’s Day Guide


Getting a date

Initiating conversation is half the battle. Once you’ve got the ball rolling you’ll be fine but first you’re going to have to break the ice and what better way to do so than with some of our favourite chat up lines:

•Fancy getting a Hogwurst because you are Frankly Ze Best.

•THE WELSH SCRUM! Sorry, I just wanted to say something heavy enought to break the ice.

•Want to go to Little Man Coffe Co. with me, because I like you a latte.

•Do you fancy going for a pint? Anyone can see you’re not just a pretty face... you’ve got Brains.

•You remind me of Grazing Shed’s Uncle Pedro because you’re super hot.

•Do you work in Madame Froamge because you and I would brie perfect together.

•Have you had Hang Fire’s ribs recently because you’re smoking.

Talk the talk

It’s all well and good planning your date, but don’t

get ahead of yourself here. If you don’t have a

significant other and have your eye on someone but

don’t know how to ask them out, try out some of

these tactics. Just don’t blame us if they don’t work

and you end up alone.

People should love you for who you are but you can’t just approach someone you fancy looking like you’ve just crawled out of a cave; you’ve got to put a bit of effort in and tidy yourself up.

Head to Body Basix or Body Image for a bit of a makeover or get yourself to Bentley & Co or Bluntts for a nice hot towel shave and a smart trim.

Get some new threads in the abundance of shops situated in Cardiff’s arcades and head to St. Kitts in Morgan Arcade for some smellies so you don’t ask someone out smelling like Adam Jones’ sock.

Fix up, look sharp

If approaching someone in person is just too nerve wracking, and don’t worry if it is, head online.

We live in 2015 after all and we are well and truly in the digital era so there’s no shame in signing up to a dating website. Even the celebrities are at it and Matthew Perry and Jennifer Anniston have both admitted to using some sort of online service to bag themselves a date or two, so have Halle Berry, Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan.

As well as the abundance of the more well known sites, such as eHarmony and Match.com, there are also a fair few sites dedicated to helping you find a partner in Wales so fire up your computer and get looking for love.

Head online


Take ‘em outAs previously mentioned, Miss Jones will be hosting their Anti-Valentine’s Day event, but that doesn’t mean couples are banned, oh no!

After a successul St. Dwynwyn’s Day celebration last month, Miss Jones on Merthyr Road in Whitchurch will be reserving their upstairs area for the lovers to wine and dine each other, making it the perfect place to be on February 14 whether you’ve got a date or you’re looking for one.

Miss JonesJust because St. Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year doesn’t mean you’ll want to stay in with your date. Why don’t you treat them to some VIP treatment at one of Cardiff’s premier venues, Mocka Lounge.

Mocka Lounge

If you’re in the market for something a little racier, a little raunchier and a whole lot more X-rated, head down to Ladybird on St. Mary Street who are hosting a Fifty Shades of Grey night to celebrate the release of the movie,

Not only will the basement be transformed into Christian Grey’s notorious dungeon of pleasure, the first 50 people down there will receive free tickets to go watch the film. To top things off, they’ll be 2-4-1 cocktails all night including the aptly named Screaming Orgasm and the Extra Dirty Martini.

LadyBird


Recipe for love

Bit on the side: GuacamoleIngredients

•3 ripe avocados, two mashed and one diced•25g diced white or red onion•10g chopped jalapeno or red chillies•chopped fresh coriander to taste•25g diced fresh tomatoes•juice of a fresh lime

MethodHalve the avocados and remove the stones. Scoop out the flesh from two and mash them in a bowl, keeping back one avocado to dice to add texture.

Combine all of the avocado gently with the other ingredients, season to taste and serve with corn chips or fresh crudités of carrot, cucumber, celery or your favourite vegetables.

To start: ChampinonesIngredients•50g chopped onions•3 cloves chopped garlic•1 tbsp dried oregano•2 tbsp chilli puree•750g sliced button mushrooms •25ml vegetable oil•25g plain flour•150ml whipping cream•300ml milk•A pinch of salt•1 tsp cracked black pepper•1/4 tbsp paprika•20g chopped coriander

MethodAfter thoroughly washing the mushrooms, place the oil, onions, garlic and oregano into the pan and start to sweat through. As they start to take colour, add the mushrooms and leave to sweat, stirring occasionally.

When almost cooked through, add the chilli puree and the paprika. Stir it in and then add the flour to make the roux.

Gradually add the milk whilst stirring until all of it has gone in, then add the cream and let the mix simmer for 10-15 minutes, then add the salt, pepper and coriander.

Garnish with a sprig of coriander and serve with tortillas or bread.

For mains: Chili con CarneIngredients

•20ml vegetable oil•1 teaspoon ginger puree•1 clove of chopped garlic•60g diced onion•300g minced beef•200g diced steak•1 tablespoon chilli puree•3/4 tablespoon tomato puree •15ml lemon juice•375g chopped tinned tomatoes •Pinch ground cumin•250g cooked black beans •A pinch of salt•20g chopped coriander

MethodCrush and roughly chop the garlic and coriander.

Heat the oil in a pan with the onions, garlic, ginger and chilli puree and cook to add colour, then add the the cumin, crushed chilli and sauté for a couple of minutes.

Add the diced steak and seal, add the minced beef, cook until browned then add the tomato and chilli puree, chopped tomatoes and beans and cook for about an hour to reduce it.

Stir in the lemon juice, chopped coriander, check seasoning and remove from the heat.

Serve with rice, four white tortillas, corn chips and garnish with watercress and a tablespoon of soured cream and enjoy it with a side of guacamole. Now all you have to do is remember not to eat like a total slob and put your date off.

Rustle up some Latino heat a

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Recipe for love

For mains: Chili con Carne

Rustle up some Latino heat a

nd im

pres

s

your date with th

ese

Las

Igua

nas

reci

pes


SomethingSweet


For afters: Pistachio Mousse & Chocolate EspumaPistacchio Mousse

•100g pistachios•250ml double cream•1 1/2 gelatine leaves•100g sugar

Chocolate Espuma•150g dark chocolate•200ml double cream•3 medium eggs

MethodBake the nuts in the oven and blend them until you have a smooth paste. Heat the sugar, gelatine and 50ml of cream in a pan and then place over ice so that it semi sets. Whip 200ml of cream and fold in the nut paste. Slowly fold that into the gelatine mixture and chill in the fridge for two hours.

Heat 200ml double cream and add sugar before pouring that over the chocolate. When it’s melted, beat in the eggs and pour into an espuma can and squirt into a bowl and add the mousse.

Or try out the Mexican MessIngredients

•4-5 meringue nests or single meringues•6 tbsp mascarpone mix (see below)•400g quartered strawberries or raspberries soaked in Hibiscus syrup•4 tbsp Hibiscus syrup to drizzle•Sprigs of mint to garnish

Mascarpone Mix•125g yoghurt•125g mascarpone•15g caster sugar

Hibiscus Syrup•25g Hibsicus flowers•1.25 litres boiling water•250g caster sugar

MethodSoak the Hibiscus flowers in boiling water overnight. Allow them to chill then place them in water in a large pan with the sugar and boil it until you have one litre remaining, then strain it and leave it to cool down before adding the strawberries or raspberries and leave it in the fridge.

Crush most of the meringue nests into large chunks into a bowl.

Whisk all of the mascarpone mix ingredients together and add it into the bowl along with the strawberries and carefully fold all of the ingredients together.

Spoon the mess into bowls or glasses and crush the remaining meringue into large chunks over the top.

Drizzle the hibiscus syrup over the top and garnish with mint.

To drink: Brazilian BeetsIngredients

•1/2 beetroot•2 tsp ginger syrup•1 tsp sugar•40ml Las Iguanas Magnifica Cachaça•16ml Velvet Falernum•16ml lemon juice•pinch salt•pinch cayenne

MethodMuddle the beetroot with the sugar then add the rest of the ingredients.

Shake hard with some ice and double strain it into a chilled cocktail glass.

Sit back and sip and hope that the South American passion will rub off on your date.

Sweet


FEBRUARY’S HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

Check out The Welsh Open Snooker at the Motorpoint Arena between February 16-22 where the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan will be competiting for the title.

Between 13-28 this month, the Welsh National Opera will be performing Dominic Cooke’s surreal production of The Magic Flute at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Russell Kane, star of Live At The Apollo, is coming to Cardiff’s Glee Club on February 8 along with a couple of his favourite comedians for a bit of a jolly.

Between February 10-14, the award winning production of One Man, Two Guvnors will be hitting the stage in New Theatre.


FEBRUARY’S HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

Are you at an all time low? Well how about you and me meet at six to talk about it? On the 9th? At Motorpoint? Oh you mean their co-headline tour? Gotcha.

If you’ve got kids, or you just want to let it go, get yourself down to St. David’s Hall on February 16 where there’s three sing-a-long performances all day.

Are you a Valentine’s Day hater? Or perhaps you’re looking for love? Well head down to Miss Jones on the 14th for their Anti-Valentines Day event.

An ear drum splitting line up of bands will be playing this year’s Kerrang! Tour 2015 at Cardiff University’s Great Hall on February 13.

Head over to our website for Cardiff’s largest database of events!www.itsoncardiff.co.uk


Omid DjaliliFIVE MINUTES WITH...

The comedian and movie star returns to St. David’s Hall on February 21 and we got the lowdown on his show

Is stand-up your first love?I’ve done lots of different things and enjoyed them but stand-up, when it goes well - it often doesn’t - is definitely a love. There’s something deeply satisfying about a good gig. I’m not often happy with myself as an actor. I get upset when I see myself acting on screen, mostly because of the way I look. But as a stand-up it’s always a bonus if you look heavy or awkward or damaged…in my case it helps in fact.

So you feel very much at home in the stand-up arena?When I was working on Moonfleet last summer Ray Winstone told me,

‘I don’t feel I come alive on set until I’ve done a fight scene and thrown my first right hook’. Similarly, I don’t really feel I’ve

come to life unless I’ve triggered laughter from a crowd. It’s probably an

illness… a comedian’s illness. But I don’t panic like I used to. If a joke misses or backfires I

know there’s a hundred

more on their way. But it’s


strange, I’m getting more serious off stage and savour even more the times when I’m on it. There’s always something in my mind telling me ‘enjoy it while you can, this isn’t going to last much longer.’

Do you feel fired up on stage?Not really fired up, but sometimes I am genuinely upset when a show is over. I would love to go on all night… in a way I understand Ken Dodd who famously starts at 8pm and sometimes finishes at 2am. My problem is I just don’t have the material. So I usually just take the feeling of loss and disappoint-ment off with me when I say goodnight and drive home alone in the dark thinking of the good times and how I can say more next time and say it better.

Is your relationship with the audience important?Most comedians are sensitive to audience reaction. Generally speaking, comics like people. Stand up is basically one person talking to many people. It’s a bizarre dynamic… public speaking has been with us for thousands of years. I remember even feeling a panic when I was younger that I should get up and speak because I’d have to one day so best start young. If you’re not too nervous about speaking and saying what’s on your mind in a one on one then that openness is what you need on stage. It’s important not to be too hung up about what people think of you. Finding a comedy voice can take years though.

What themes will you be addressing in the new show?Growing older. We all struggle with it. As Dave Allen once said, ‘I enjoy getting older. I have to because there’s no choice’. When you hit your forties you understand life better, but at the same time your body is more prone to fail. So you have to find a way of joining your received wisdom with physical prowess. A lot of men who hit 40 try to do things that make them feel more alive because they want to prove themselves. That’s why I did Splash! I wanted to do something out of the box, stretch my courage and prove I was still a young man at heart even though my bits were dropping off.

What else will you be discussing?Relationships. I think I’ve maybe come to understand the secret to them now. I know when a woman gets married, she has to learn to forgive her man from day one. Because men are idiots. Before they become conscious human beings, that is. They can take years doing the wrong thing before they learn to adjust their behaviour. So women need patience

and forgiveness… and a voice to articulate what the man is doing that is wrong in a way a man can hear Otherwise it’s over.

You also address the subject of celebrity... Yes… I talk about the fact that when you become a celebrity… or in fact in any line of work where you feel you are important somehow in a worldly sense because people around you are telling you so… there is a period when you become an arse. It happens to everyone. You start believing your own hype and behave foolishly. A more eloquent way would be to describe it as becoming “a plaything of the ignorant”. Not many talk people about this “arse”phase but I’m happy to. I became an arse. I’ll go there. And it’s bad….

Has your become less overly political?I don’t feel the same pressure to talk about things in the news any more. On Twitter, comics feel they constantly have to comment on things that are trending and put their oar in. But nowadays if everyone is talking about fracking I’ll just talk about Peters and Lee (1970’s singing duo).

Is there such a thing as an archetypal comedian’s mentality?Erm… not really. But most comedians I know do have a filter missing. They usually ‘go for the gag’, even if it’s at the expense of total social humiliation, but they still do it because they know it’ll be great story they can tell later (or even use on stage). It’s almost as if comics need to be loved and talked about more than being respected. Stories circulate amongst comedians about who did what & when and stories are told with such relish they almost become myth. I talk about this is show…

Are you happy with where your career is?Well… I think in life you have to count your blessings otherwise you’ll never be happy. But I haven’t worked out the reason why I’m overweight yet, and I really shouldn’t be. It’s an issue that takes precedence… so forgive me for not really answering your question.

There’s something deeply satisfying about a good gig

“


We’ve been doing a bit of research into the word ‘Shikari’ and found out that a Shikari was a an Indian big game hunter that used to hunt things like Bengal Tigers from the top of an elephant. So with that in mind, if you could perform a gig atop any animal, what would it be and why?(Laughs) On top of an animal? Hmm, I don’t know! I think rhinos would be pretty cool. They just look pretty badass.

And we also found out that Shikari is a comic book superhero that has dragonfly wings, so if Enter Shikari had their own comic book series, what superpower would you have?I guess to have the power to inject musical genius into someone we came across.

That’s so inspirational. Okay, so you guys have been together a while now and the line up has stayed the same. What’s the secret to a happily married band?I think a lot of bands get together at uni


Chris BattenFROM ENTER SHIKARI

Ahead of their upcoming gig at Cardiff University’s Student Union on February 17, Jordan Harris caught up with the band’s bass guitarist, Chris, to talk about everything from elephants and rhinos to superheroes and their new album

or something like that and I guess you’re automatically in the situation where you have to spend a lot of time with people and I think, for a lot of bands, that feels flat because, you know, they don’t really know the people. Whereas with us, I think our secret is that we’ve known each other since primary school. Rob, Rou and I have known each other since we were five-years-old. We were already friends before we were ever getting into the band and we’re more of a family than a band just making music.

Your latest album dropped last month, and you’re renowned for using a whole range of sounds and taking inspiration from a lot of genres, so can fans expect anything new?For us the only targets we set ourselves is to just write music that we find exciting so really it’s just a progression. We’re not afraid to take influence from anywhere and we’ve become very comfortable being fearless really. The new album is very extreme in a way. It’s got some of the most delicate things we’ve ever written and there’s one

song that’s just a piano and Rou singing, but then there’s another song that’s by far the heaviest thing we’ve ever written. So yeah, it’s a bit more extreme in each way really.

You touched upon your influences and being fearless with regards to where you take inspiration. With that in mind, would you ever throw in some Bollywood beats into your music because we also found out that there’s a Bollywood film from the ‘40s called Shikari?(Laughs) If it felt right at the time. We’re not opposed to anything. I wasn’t aware that there was a Bollywood film made! I’ll have to look into it.

And finally, our favourite Enter Shikari song is Sorry You’re Not A Winner, but what is the best thing you’ve ever won?Hmm... I won a raffle once. Some champagne. I’ve never really won a contest. I’ve always been the guy who says ‘oh don’t do that, you’re never going to win.’


A decade ago, three sisters took their living room harmonies onto the stage for the first time at a local open mic night. Back then they performed as The Staveley-Taylors, but after a friend penned them as The Staves on the pub’s chalkboard, the name stuck.

Ten years on and the trio have gone from strength to strength in the Uk and the US, and this month they are set to bring their folk fanfare to Cardiff Bay’s Glee Club on February 16.

Nourished on the souds of The Beatles, Carole King and Neil Young growing up, the Staveley-Taylor sisters were never going to be your average, run of the mill girlband but the prospect of producing music like any other pop group never really appealed to the siblings.

“You can only play what’s in your heart and what you love,” said Emily, who along with Jessica and Camilla, make up the band. “You can’t really decide what kind of music you’re going to make, you just kind of follow the sounds that you have an emotional reaction to and you write things that need to be written from within you to feel something about them,” she continued.

So if you want to treat your ears this month, head down to Mermaid Quay and have a listen to these sisters doing their thing.

For our full interview with Emily, head over to our website.

The Staves play Glee Club


Katiwok Mowlana

Places to break

The grilled chicken (makhsoos) here redefines the word ‘tender’. While you’re trying to work out how they achieve this feat, treat yourself to a freshly-baked flatbread as long as your forearm. Slather it in garlic sauce and salad, feast on that chicken, and wonder why you’ve not been here before. The menu features indigenous Persian dishes at very reasonable prices to satisfy your hunger and your wallet.

Specialising in big flavours, Katiwok serves noodles, rice and even pizzas with a Pan-Asian twist. The essential choice here, though, is the eponymous kati rolls. Available in a range of fillings, from Mumbai chicken to paneer and spinach, and the Karachi shami minced mutton to the ‘Special’ stuffed with chicken noodles, these filled flatbreads are available in several levels of spiciness.

Nothing says ‘comfort food’ and ‘sod the diet’ quite like a bag of fish and chips. And even if it means a detour, some are worth the extra effort. The queues outide the Pentwyn branch tell their own story; food is cooked to order, which means some waiting, but it’s worth it. Portions are generous and there’s plenty to choose from. Eat in for maximum pleasure and if you feel the need to congratulate yourself for a stab at virtue, there’s a range of grilled fish options on the specials board.

It’s February so those resolutions of eating healthy and working out can be put to bed because it’s time to enjoy some of the city’s finest places to chow down in and Jonathan Swain, author of The Plate Licked Clean blog, gives us his recommendations of places to pig out and break those New Year’s resolutions. For more reviews, check out his blog; www.theplatelickedclean.blogspot.co.uk

Cafe MalaysiaAn underrated gem hidden in Cathays, Cafe Malaysia serves an authentic taste of the Far East. Dishes are packed with flavour (the spicing runs the whole gamut from mild to fiery) and prices are very reasonable. Check out their two-course £10 lunch or take your time with the evning menu; the buttery layers of the roti canai flatbreads dipped in curry sauce are a luxurious pleasure. Treat the sambal with care!

A TASTE OF THE EAST

PLAICE TO BE

your New Year’s resolutions


Places to break

Burger and Lobster Hogwurst

The New York Deli

your New Year’s resolutions

A new opening in Autumn of last year, Hogwurst has taken Cardiff by storm. Nestling deep in student territory, it serves superior Native Breeds dogs in locally-baked bread with an inventive range of toppings. Decor is eclectic, lived-in and instantly welcoming: cakes and pastries are baked on-site and show real flair. The dogs are the star, of course, but the Outlaw Fries smothered in homemade curry sauce are a highlight. The coffee is a real draw, too. Did I mention you can take your own alcohol with you..?

A recent high-profile opening for this London mini-chain; a stripped-back menu (go on, see if you can guess what they sell) is delivered impeccably in stylish surroundings in The Hayes. Indulge yourself with a whole lobster - go for the standard £20 one-and-a-half-pounder with salad and fries, or for some real extravagance check the board for that day’s specials, featuring some redoubtable specimens. Drench it all in lemon and garlic butter, or go for a roll crammed with tail and claw meat. Don’t be one of those ‘one day...’ people!

Famed for its sandwiches, rolls, bagels and other lunchtime options, this is a Cardiff institution. For something to place your resolutions firmly on the back burner, though, head straight for the Richie Parks Special; an appropriately mountainous conconction of salt beef, melted Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles. It comes wrapped in foil as advance warning you’ll be taking it home to continue this new, beautiful relationship. It’s a challenge to finish it in one sitting. Not that it would be advisable. Cough.

MEAT AND BUNSYou don’t have to be the Oracle at Delphi, or Danescourt, to know Cardiff has gone burger crazy this last year. The Grazing Shed, Got Beef, Urban Tap House; the big three dominate the scene. Look a little more closely though and you’ll find some sterling work being done in less heralded venues, like an Indian spin on the typical patty and bun from Pramod Nair at Chaholics. Spit and Sawdust stand out though; a social enterprise skate park making everything from scratch, using organic beef and sourcing bread from local family bakers, and providing startling value.

ALSO CHECK OUT...


Six Nations

February fixturesWales v England

Millennium StadiumFeb 6

KO 20.05

Scotland v WalesMurrayfield

Feb 15KO 15.00

France v WalesStade de France

Feb 28KO 17.00

With the Six Nations kicking off this month, ahead of the World Cup this September, Cardiff is more rugby mad than usual and we can’t wait for the first whistle to blow.

First up; England. Who can forget the last time England came to town? A Grand Slam in the bag with only a misfiring Wales obstructing their path to glory. Result? Wales 30 England 3. BOOOM! England gained some revenge last year at Twickenham, but redemption for that humiliation seems to be high on their agenda.

England captain Chris Robshaw, one of the few in his team to come out of that game with any real credit has delayed surgery on a shoulder injury to ensure he is available. A massive gamble? Well given the fact that England and Wales are in the same group in September, probably not. It’s vital Wales come away with a victory here. With a settled squad and England in something of a state of flux, not knowing their best combinations, Wales are more than capable of getting a result.

The other home game Wales face is against Ireland. Impressively, Ireland beat both the Southern Hemisphere teams they played in the Autumn; South Africa and Australia. The Irish are in the best form of any of the Home Nations at the moment, and this will be the toughest of all five games.

Two consecutive defeats to the Irish will have hurt Wales. In 2013, Wales staged a second-half fight-back to finish with a more respectable 22-30 defeat than they probably deserved. Last year, Wales capitulated in Dublin losing 26-3. They were never in the game and the coaching team will want to rectify those results.

The remaining three games are all away. Scotland, France and Italy all provide their own unique challenges. Scotland are improving steadily, so will be no pushovers and France... anyone predict their results these days? As for Italy, again a team on the up, is a game Wales should win.

By the time Wales play Italy on the March 10, the Championship will probably have been decided. England face both their toughest opponents in Wales and Ireland away from home. Ireland have to travel to Cardiff but have France at home. The eventual winner will come from one of these teams.

This may well be a disappointing tournament results wise, but the work being done behind the scenes will stand Wales in good stead. Predicting the eventual winner is difficult in light of that. It will be, as usual, a rollercoaster ride though. The talking is almost over and the action is about to begin

Fired up for

the rugby? Thought so! Steve

Matthews from new rugby blog, www.stevematthews40.

wordpress.com, gives us his insights on the tournament and we round up the

best places to watch the matches and talk to one of the boys flying the Welsh flag about the sport


With the welcome return of Motley Movies to Portland House this year, the venue is becoming the city’s best place to catch cult films but it will also be showing the games this Spring for a price of £15 which includes entry and a hot buffet and they’ll also be a bunch of drinks offers.

Before a home match, Zerodegree is busier than Paul Potts’ fork but after the hoards cross the road to the stadium, the brew pub is the place to be to enjoy pitchers of freshly brewed craft beers and some stunning pizzas.

The cocktail bar, located on, yup, you guessed it, Mill Lane, will be showing the games and if you want to enjoy them in style, get yourself a hospitality package costing £99pp that includes a two course dinner supplied by Spiros, as well as a three hour open bar. After the game, celebrate a Welsh win or drown your sorrows with their evening package costing £200, which gets you a reserved area and two bottles of house spirit and mixer.

The club on Greyfriars Road will be showing all of the Welsh games and we are told that not one game goes by without a player being spotted there. We just hope our boys aren’t in there on the cocktails before the opening match against England.

Brewhouse, the winner of The Best Entertainment Pub in the West Midlands and Wales, will be showing the matches in an electric environment

NAME: SCOTT ANDREWS

CLUB: CARDIFF BLUESPOSITION: PROPWhat has been your proudest moment of you career to date?Earning my first Welsh cap an playing in the Millennium Stadium.Who is your rugby hero?Keith Wood

What’s the hardest you’ve ever been tackled?Ofa Fainga’anuku, a Tongan prop who played for Glasgow!What’s the best part about playing for your country?It’s like a dream come true. Playing in front of all your friends and family and all the supporters of Wales. It’s a great feeling, which is hard to describe.Which rugby player wouldn’t you want to meet in a dark alley?Faao Filise!What is it about the game you love the most?The togetherness you create within a team. From the ridiculous training, to having beers together. And the atmosphere in terms of banter amongst the squad everyday is brilliant!

Caps9

Height6’ 22”

Weight119KG

Top places to kick back and relax whilst enjoying the rugby...Portland House

Zerodegrees

Ten Mill Lane

Brewhouse

Tiger Tiger


Did you ever wish that Dudley got a letter to Hogwarts?Every year I’d read the books and hope that Dudley would be going off to Hogwarts and he would have an exceptional storyline or someone would turn him into a person in Voldemort’s army so I always hoped that might happen. It was always exciting reading the next book trying to work out what might happen.

The Harry Potter series is now in the past, was it sad leaving that chapter of your life behind?Yes obviously but at the same time no because it was a long chunk of my life and it’s kind of good that it’s over and you can get on with the next chapter of what you want to do, so it is sad but at the same time it feels very right that it’s over. So what is the next chapter for you?I’ve done a lot. I went to drama school and I’ve done a lot of theatre over the past four years and I’ve done a few TV bits and pieces so it’s been quite heavily theatre related over the past two years so I’d love to do some screen stuff; some meaty, serious indie film would be exciting. The cast of the Harry Potter films boasted some serious talent, who did you learn the most from with regards to your acting?Because our Dursley bits were quite self contained, I only really got to get to know Richard Griffiths and Fiona Shaw who were both a huge influence on me as a person and as an actor. Certainly Fiona because the job I did out of drama school was with her at the National Theatre so it was lovely to rekindle and to keep that working relationship going and it was quite weird because Daniel (Radcliffe) started working with Richard on stage so it was an ongoing relationship.

The struggle for a

MuggleBuffalo Bar are hosting a Harry Potter quiz every Monday until February 9, so Jordan Harris chatted to Harry Melling who played Dudley Dursley to find out about how he felt about not going to Hogwarts and what he’s been up to since


Not just a club, Tiger Tiger is a bit of everything. A place to grab a bite to eat in their restaurant during the day, somewhere to relax with a couple of beers or cocktails in the evening and a venue to let loose in after dark, but now they are about to add ‘comedy club’ to their repertoire of functions.

The chain, which has venues all over the country including London and Manchester, as well as right here in Cardiff, has just announced that they have partnered with top funnyman, Jason Manford, to bring weekly comedy nights to their customers in Cardiff and Manchester.

“I wanted to put something back into what comedy has given me and earlier this year I partnered with my brother to open Manford’s Comedy Clubs all over the country!” the Manchurian comedian

said. “These two new venues will bring our total number of clubs to over 30,” he continued.

Launched in Cardiff on January 31, Manford’s Comedy Clubs are fast becoming the best known comedy brand in the UK, with more and more venues welcoming the show to their stages each and every month.

“This is a great example of our entrepreneurial strategy,” explained Jenna Edwards, Operation Manager at Tiger Tiger. “I am delighted to be working with both Jason and the Manford’s Comedy Club team, and all involved look forward to seeing some exciting results and some excellent comedy!”

As do we Jenna, as do we.

Jason Manfordbrings comedy club to

Cardiff

Comedy genius, Jason Manford, has launched his Comedy Club right here at Tiger Tiger in Cardiff, which brings the total amount of venues to 30 clubs


brings comedy club to

Cardiff


We meetCraig CharlesFrom Corrie to I’m A Celebrity, Craig Charles has done it all and he’s back in Cardiff this month with his Funk and Soul Club at The Globe on February 13

You’ve had a huge career spanning from Kochanski to The Cobbles, but which one’s been the funnest to work on?They’ve all been completely different things you know? I mean Takeshi’s Castle was fun to make because I didn’t have to be on it! I just had to turn up and have a few pints and take the p*ss! Robot Wars was good ‘cause it was quite exciting. Dwarf was good ‘cause it was really funny and I really like

Corrie ‘cause my best mate, Simon Gregson, is in it

and we get to work together everyday so everything brings its own benefits.

Robot Wars played a huge part for us growing up but will we see its

return anytime?I don’t know.

It got very

dangerous towards the end and the robots were cracking all the screens and things like that. There were robots that smashed through the screens and ended up in the audiences’ lap and you know they’d be arms and legs everywhere so it got a bit dangerous but if they sorted out the safety issues I’d like to see it return.

Did you keep any parts of the robots after the show wrapped up?Not really. I used to have Matilda as a guard dog outside my house chasing the postman but the police came round and put a stop to that.

What is it about Cardiff that keeps you coming back?I love Cardiff, I love Wales. I was in Swansea last night. We did Sin City in Swansea last night and we played The Globe here. I’ve got great memories of the Millennium Stadium because every time Liverpool play at the Millennium Stadium in a final we always won so that was always good. That was a long time ago of course but then I’m a very old man.

Red Dwarf made a return last year so are we looking at seeing another one this Christmas?No, we’ll see Red Dwarf 11 and Red Dwarf 12 at the end of next year though, with all the same cast. We still can’t get rid of Chris Barrie. We’ve tried our best but he keeps on hanging on in there.

And what about a Red Dwarf film?God let’s not even talk about Red Dwarf movies. It’s a sitcom you know and we spent ten years trying to make a movie and it never happened.

Cardiff has a big Sci-Fi scene, but has anyone approached you about being in Dr. Who?About being a black Dr. Who? Wouldn’t that be something? I’d rather be Dr. What. Put me down for a Dr. No for that question.


Rumerhas it...

Where did the name Rumer come from?Well when my mum died she left me a list of books to read and they’re all about India and Pakistan and I lost the list and I was really upset about it because I couldn’t find it and I was trying to remember what was on the list and the only thing I could remember was that one of the books was written by a lady called Rumer Godden and so when I found the list and I saw it, I really liked the name Rumer so I kept it.

What’s the weirdest rumour you’ve heard about yourself?People don’t talk about me like that; they don’t really care. I think the weirdest thing for me is that

Ahead of her Cardiff gig on February 27 at The Gate Arts and Community Centre, Jordan Harris, caught up with Rumer to find out more.

I’m boring but I’m the opooosite of boring.

You’re music sounds like you’d find it in a romantic film and with Valentine’s just round the corner, how would you like to be romanced?I would like to go for a walk in the park and then go for afternoon tea or probably just go for a curry. I find going for a curry really romantic; find a nice cosy corner of a curry house with a fake waterfall and then maybe catch a late movie.

Your music seems to be influenced by your own personal experiences and changes as things change in your life. Is that a fair assumption of your songs?I think that’s all you can do when you’re a song writer. You just write about the life that you’re living so it’s a progression as I’m moving through things onto the next thing. It’s definitely a genuine transition and a genuine journey and a change into a different person.

So what does the next chapter in your journey hold?I started my own record label called Night Owl and it’s really just for the development of creative art such as music but also script development so basically it’s a development of stories so I’m really into that because I’m trying to create a little community of artists so that’s something I’m really passionate about. Obviously more music, more tours and singing but I’m going to get more active within the artistic community as well.


We saw you got engaged {When the big day comes around, we want getting hitched to go down without a glitch, so from the dress to the cake, here’s a guide to preparing for the big dayP hotographer

Rings

Caterer

Entertainment

Your rings are a symbol of your eternal love for one another so you don’t want just any old band of tin, you want the real

deal.

For a true piece of Wales, check out the award-winning Welsh Gold Company in Queens Arcade or head over to Royal Arcade and have a look at the prestigious rings on

offer in David Edwards, a luxury independent jewellers.

Alternatively there’s Crouch in St. David’s, which is owned by the Fraser Hart group that has been specialising in jewellery since 1936. If you want something a little different, Jonathan David, on St. Mary Street, will help you create bespoke rings.

It’s going to be the best day of your life, unless of course you win the EuroMillions, so you’re going to want a top notch photographer to take snaps on the day so that you can

remember it forever.

Penarth based Sian Owen’s contemporary style is perfect for any wedding as is Francesca Hill Photography, or how about husband and wife duo Oliver + Ruth, located in Penylan,

who effortlessly capture the emotion of the day.

Then there’s Chris Francis who adopts a photo-journalistic approach to document the event unobtrusively to produce an emotive and stylish array of photos. He even does a free

pre-wedding shoot too.

There are many things that you don’t want to happen on your wedding day. Someone screaming ‘I OBJECT!” is one, falling down the aisle is another, but one thing you definitely

want to avoid is hungry guests.

Enlist the professional help of award winning EJ Catering, who cater, quite literally, for all weddings. Or what about

Spiros who will create bespoke menus for you.

If you want something a little bit different however, check out Got Beef or Hogwurst for gourmet burgers and hot dogs.

The wedding bands on your fingers aren’t the only band you’re going to need as you’ll want some music so head over to www.southwalesweddingbands.

com.

The agency has a huge compilation of artists in a variety of genres from rock to soul to get your guests moving to the beat.


We saw you got engaged { }When the big day comes around, we want getting hitched to go down without a glitch, so from the dress to the cake, here’s a guide to preparing for the big day

Wedding cake

Venues

The Dress

F lorist

After the dress, the venue is arguably the most important thing to nail down. Afterall you don’t want to get married in a run down old social club... or maybe you do, who are we

to judge.

If however you’re looking for something a little more upmarket check out De Courceys Manor. The prestigious site dates back to the Victorian era and is steeped in history

and class making it an idyllic location to get married.

Then there’s Castell Coch just outside the Diff or the lovely St. David’s Hotel, which will definitely give your wedding the wow factor. If you’re both footie fans however, take a look at

booking your wedding in Cardiff City’s stadium.

Every bride needs a bouquet, as do the tables at the reception, and Cardiff has a huge flowerbed to pick from.

Why not try Covent Garden? No, no, we don’t mean trekking to London for some flowers, we’re talking about the premier

Cardiff florist on Shirley Road in Roath.

If you’re looking for something a bit more sustainable, take a look at Alison Bentley as, other than making your wedding day look amazing, her top priority is reducing the global footprint of their flowers and so use those grown in the UK.

Want something a bit more quirky? Que Flowers with a Twist, an award winning modern florist that specialises in unusual flowers and design. Want a rugby ball shaped bouquet? You

go one.

No one wants to get married looking like they’ve just been dragged across the pitch of the

Millennium Stadium.

There’s an abundance of shops and going to one would be nonsense so be sure to check out Laura May Bridal in Cathays, Cardiff Bridal Centre on Mill Lane and Perfection on Duke Street.

Whether you like a traditional fruit cake or a sponge, the cake is a pretty big deal and trying all the samples is definitely the best part about getting married... well apart from being

joined in holy matrimony to your one and only of course.

Be sure to check out Little Cake Cupboard who won the Best Wedding Cakes at the Welsh National Wedding Awards

2013 and are located in Castle Arcade.

Other tasty cakeries include Cakey Wakey who have generations of experience, or Love, Peace and Cupcake.


FEBRUARY EVENT GUIDEKatheryn Roberts and Sean

Lakeman02/02/15

St. David’s Hall8pm£13

Dimitris Dekarallas03/02/15

St. David’s Hall1pm

from £5.75

Charlie Simpson03/02/15

The Globs7pm

£16.50

Collabro04/02/15

St. David’s Hall7.30pm

from £19.50

Aswad06/02/15

The Globe7.30pm

£20

King of Pop starring Navi07/02/15


from £17.50

You Me At Six and All Time Low

09/02/15Motorpoint Arena

7.30pm£33.50

St .Petersburg Orchestra10/02/15

St. David’s Hall7.30pm£5-£42

MusicSimian Ghost

21/02/15Clwb Ifor Bach

6.30pm£6

Cloudbursting21/02/15

The Globe7.30£10

King Charles22/02/15

The Globe7.30pm

£12

Richard & Adam at The Movies in Concert

24/02/15St. David’s Hall

7.30pmfrom £23

Abba Mania27/02/15


from £12.50

Kerrang! Tour 201513/02/15

Students Union7pm

£16.50

The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club13/02/15

The Globe9pm£10

The Staves16/02/15

The Glee Club7pm

£12.50

Sing-a-long Frozen16/02/15

St. David’s Hall1pm, 3pm, 6pm

£15

10cc17/02/15


from £29.50

Enter Shikari17/02/15

Students Union7pm

£19.50


FEBRUARY EVENT GUIDE Want to fill your diary with even more events in Cardiff? Head over to our website for the city’s largest online database of events:www.itsoncardiff.co.uk

The Comedy Carousel05/02/15

The Glee Club7pm£10

Russell Kane & Friends08/02/15

The Glee Club6.45pm

£16

Omid Djalili21/02/15

St. David’s Hall8pm£23

Johann Straus Gala01/02/15

St. David’s Hall3pm

from £17.50

Twelve Angry Men17-21/02/15New Theatre

2.30pm and 7.30pmfrom £9.50

Six Nations: Wales v England06/02/15

The Millennium Stadium20.05pm

Price TBC

Welsh Open Snooker16-22/02/15

Motorpoint Arena7.30pm

Price TBC

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience02-11/02/15

Wales Millennium Centre7.30pm

£45

The Business of Murder03-07/02/15New Theatre

2.30pm and 7.30pmfrom £8.50

Showtime08/02/15

St. David’s Hall12pm and 5.30pm

from £10

One Man, Two Guvnors09-14/02/15New Theatre

2.30pm and 7.30pm£11

Richard III10-23/02/15

Wales Millennium Centre£12

Comedy

Sport

Theatre


SNOOKER TICKETS

WIN!P

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credit: A

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WIN!

SNOOKER TICKETS

WIN!

We have three pairs of tickets to the semi finals of the Welsh Open on February 21, courtesy of World Snooker, to give away so head over to www.itsoncardiff.co.uk/competitions to enter! Feb 9

Closes:

RUGBY TICKETSThanks to leading energy company SSE SWALEC, we are offering one lucky reader the chance to win four tickets to Wales v. Ireland on March 14 plus the chance to compete in the ‘Up and Under’ challenge at half time to win 10 tickets to SSE SWALEC Finals Day on May 3. For more info and to enter head over to: www.itsoncardiff.co.uk/competitionsFeb 27

Closes:

Pho

to cred

it: Alessio

Brag

adini http

://bit.ly/1ztyO

h2

it's on cardiff issue 3

Documents

month of love

city weve

best news

love issue

celeb star craig charles

glee club

soul club

singer rumer