Cardiff Bay gallery, Bute Space has created a unique collection of the finest contemporary visual artists and designers from a diverse range of disciplines. Second Wave is on until September 13 2008.

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BARRY
Accessorise in style at Bryl’s Boutique

Ann Bryl definitely has her finger on the fashion pulse. From September 2008, the boutique on Barry’s High Street will be stocking umbrellas from the highly successful and iconic British designer, Lulu Guinness.

These exquisitely feminine umbrellas will reign over the high streets this coming season. Speaking of things iconic, Ann will also be stocking Ugg boots for women.

Here’s the science - called Ugg because they hug the legs, these very desirable boots are the most versatile boot in the world as they can be worn in hot and cold weather, at any time of the year and they insulate the foot but absorb moisture to prevent your feet from either sweating or freezing. They can be worn without socks. Science aside, teamed with jeans or mini skirts, on all ages, they look so good.

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RADYR
Radyr Golf Club has golf down to a tee!



Think of a game that can be played by people of all ages and abilities - girls and boys, and men and women alike. One which spans all generations and can become a game for life and chances are you’ll be thinking of golf.

It’s a sport that attracts some big name celebrities such as Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Jordan, Sir Steve Redgrave, Matt Dawson, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and many others.

Some people think that the sport can be costly with heavy joining fees, but clubs are now offering incentives for new members. One such club is the Radyr Golf Club which has halved its joining fees for a limited period only.

The Club was established in 1902 and is set in one of the most idyllic settings in rural heath land. It has a challenging parkland course designed by the legendary Mr Harry S Colt, regarded by many as the greatest golf course architect ever.

It’s not all golf though, even with an active playing membership of more than 750 with men’s, ladies and junior sections, as the Club runs several friendly events throughout the year and has a varied social calendar.

The Club welcomes visiting players and is ideally situated on the outskirts of Cardiff, with easy access from the M4 motorway and the A470. It’s the perfect destination for the local player and those visiting the area wishing to enjoy a round of golf in a wonderful setting.

The facilities of the Club are also for hire with the Drysgol Room ideal for business team meetings or private dining for up to 16 whilst the Main Suite can host dinners for up to 110 guests or seminars for up to 180.

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PENARTH
D:ZINE showcases new collection

Take a walk through Windsor Arcade in Penarth and you’ll come across a delightful interior design business called D:ZINE Interiors. Owner Bronwen Ackerman set up her design business from home in 2002 and has been situated at the showroom in the arcade since December 2007.



D:ZINE can help you with your interior design needs and features the best names in interior design such as Nicky Haslam, Mulberry, Zimmer and Rhode, Vaughn Lighting, Jacob Jensen and Neisha Crosland to name just a few.

Bronwen has a real passion for all things creative and is a firm believer in promoting artists and their work, having gained her appreciation from attending The New Academy for Art Studies in London, gaining a Diploma in Fine and Decorative Arts.

Her showroom boasts some recent works of art from Lynford Jones. Bronwen says,“I wanted to create a very eclectic interior and I felt Lynford’s work epitomised my style and sense of vitality. His work is honest and fresh, though I have a preference for certain styles of his work, such as those currently displayed in the showroom - Cityscape, £550 and The Water Front, £450. I like to think I have a discerning eye and Lynford’s work has created a great deal of interest.”

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LLANDAFF
Mulberry Street restaurant

Having heard great things about Mulberry Street restaurant in Llandaff, we decided to step a little bit out of our comfort zone of the Vale and head off into the quaint, but sophisticated, village of Llandaff to see for ourselves what all the fuss was about.

Mulberry Street restaurant is on the High Street and sits very well with other high quality businesses including a florist, hair salon, coffee shops and gift shops. I spent a good few hours in the morning divesting Mr Roberts of his hard earned cash and we then popped into Mulberry Street for lunch.

What immediately struck us was the decor. Pure sophistication. The same could equally be said about the staff who greeted us warmly and showed us to our table. There was a choice of menus, the a la carte, special lunch menu and our choice of ‘Little Dishes’, Mulberry Street’s take on tapas.

I went with the rare tuna niçoise, calamari fritti and hot smoked salmon. Mr Roberts couldn’t resist the meatballs with spicy tomato sauce, lamb kofta and his all time favourite of pan fried chicken livers. We accompanied our tapas choices with a broad bean and pecorino risotto.

The owner obviously has a keen eye for fine wines with an extensive selection of wines and champagne on offer. The knowledgeable staff member suggested an Italian Gavi di Gavi to complement our menu choices perfectly. I can quite easily understand why Mulberry Street is a regular haunt for Welsh celebrities. It may be its proximity to the BBC, but I would guess it’s more likely due to the outstanding food, the ambience and the impeccable service.



Open for lunch (12 noon to 2pm) and dinner (6.30pm to 10pm) Tuesday to Saturday with special lunch time offers available.

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CITY CENTRE
The Royal Hotel St Mary Street

If you’re planning a big night out in the town centre, what better way to finish it off than an overnight stay in one of the city’s hotels. No taxi fares or local transport to worry about and you can party on until the small hours knowing that there’s a bed with your name on it nearby.

With this in mind, you can’t get any more local than The Royal Hotel on Cardiff’s St Mary Street. With 64 cool, contemporary bedrooms, boasting some with the most spectacular views over Cardiff city, it has to be the first port of call.

Part of the Niche Group, owned by Alan and Alison Corlett, the hotel has just celebrated its 3rd birthday from re-opening on 13th August 2005. Niche currently operate three hotels with two more in the pipeline and their key philosophy is to provide a memorable stay with a great night’s sleep in luxurious surroundings, supported by excellent service.

The Royal is steeped in history as the original Royal Hotel dates back to 1865. Part of its historic background still stands the test of time, the historic function room, the Scott Room. It was named in honour of Captain Robert Scott, who was hosted by Cardiff Chamber of Commerce on June 13th 1910 for his last dinner there, before he sailed from Cardiff two days later on his ill fated expedition to the Antarctic. The Scott Room is where most of the Royal’s events are held. Given its locality and grandeur, the Scott Room is a popular choice for weddings, dinners and charitable functions. The Royal is proud of its relationships with charities and has sponsored events such as a lunch for Cancer Care Cymru, a dinner for Super schools, a fashion show for Homestart and in November they are hosting the Murder Mystery event for Cancer Care Cymru and a Rugby dinner for Red Sock.



There is also still a strong rugby connection with the hotel. Once the home of the Barbarians, who also had their own function room named after them, (who can forget that famous game when Cardiff’s own Gareth Edwards scored ‘that try’ against New Zealand!) the Royal hosts hospitality events for all the international games.

As Nicky Steiner, Director of Sales says, “Niche intends to remain a small group, so they will never lose touch with their core values, the service they offer to their customers, the quality of their products and the enthusiasm of their staff. They want their hotels to maintain a strong Niche brand, but they also like to work with properties that have their own history and character. The Royal hotel was part of Cardiff’s history and Niche restored it to suit the demands of the modern day visitor, without taking away its character and so it can now be part of the city’s future as well”.