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Covid-19 resources

Support Cardiff’s independent businesses – open for deliveries and takeaway during COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown

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(PLEASE NOTE! THIS PAGE WAS LAST EDITED 12 JUNE 2020. IT IS NO LONGER BEING ACTIVELY UPDATED).

CARDIFF’S INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES – OPEN FOR DELIVERIES AND TAKEAWAYS!

We love independent businesses here at We Are Cardiff. They make up the soul of the city.  At the moment loads of these businesses are super vulnerable, so below is a list of ways you can support some of the city’s indies!

This page will be updated regularly and things are changing every minute (!) so please comment on this post if you think something needs to be added or removed.

LOCAL BUSINESSES – HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT!

The tech whiz that is Matthew Passmore has made a SEARCHABLE LIST OF CARDIFF SHOPS DOING DELIVERIES! Check out Cardiff Delivers

First up: we asked Twitter: How can we support local businesses? Full thread here

Outside of Cardiff, FIND MY DINE have this great list of eateries doing takeaway / delivery / gift vouchers across Wales

Also Hungry City Hippy has put together this list of how to shop local during the Coronavirus Crisis

INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES – BY LOCATION

I’ve done this list by location just to make it easier for you to see who’s local to you. Some businesses are delivering across the city, some only within a small radius, some are streaming services online. Please check with the businesses for full deets.

If you are going into these stores, remember – only shop for essentials, don’t stockpile, don’t be a dick, PLEASE RESPECT GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ON SAFE INTERACTIONS IN RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS. KEEP 2 METRES AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE, USE CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS IF YOU CAN ETC. AND WASH YOUR HANDS!!!

Multiple locations / delivery only

MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE CARDIFF DELIVERS WEBSITE FOR A FULL LIST OF BUSINESSES DELIVERING ACROSS THE CITY

Beanfreaks – organic / health food shop, store locations are city centre (St Mary Street) / Canton / Roath. Check for opening hours. Call 029 2025 1071 or Beanfreaks Facebook

Bruton’s Bakery – this AMAZING local bakery delivered free goodies up to the Heath hospital this week for the staff there. SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT THEM. Shops in Grangetown / Fairwater / Canton / Splott / Penarth. They have a website but are more active on Facebook: Bruton’s website | Bruton’s Facebook

Cardiff Quarantine Delivery – person on bike offering pick up and delivery of whatever you need –  for those who can’t get out and about! Cardiff Quarantine Delivery Facebook

Curado Bar – if you simply must get that bottle of dessert wine and mojama to try and get through the week, Curado got your back! The shop is doing deliveries across the city, see their Facebook for full list of items. Curado Bar Facebook | Curado Bar Twitter

Daisy & Belle Ice Cream – dairy and vegan ice cream deliveries across Cardiff. Daisy and Belle website | Daisy and Belle Instagram

Dusty Knuckle Pizza – delicious pizzas available for delivery! You can find them through Uber Eats and Deliveroo. Dusty Knuckle Twitter

Greazy Vegan – offering deliveries across the city through Uber Eats, every day! Greazy Vegan website | Greazy Vegan Twitter

Hard Lines Coffee – how you gonna get through the lockdown without dat caffeine zing?? Support this Cardiff indie through their online shop. Deliveries across Cardiff. Hard Lines website | Hard Lines Twitter

Holy Yolks – AMAZING HOLY YOLKS are doing Scotch Eggs AND ALSO co-ordinating food deliveries up to the Heath hospital for health care workers! PLEASE BUY THEIR EGGS AND DONATE TO THE NHS FUNDRAISER. Holy Yolks Twitter | NHS FUNDRAISER

Keralan Karavan – our FAVOURITE INDIAN TAKEAWAY! Their burgers and fries are out of this world. Support them and stuff your face. Keralan Karavan Twitter

Little Man Coffee – our favourite coffee house are doing specialty milk and coffee deliveries across the city! They’ve got a ton of stuff they can deliver, check out their Instagram for the full list. Little Man Coffee Instagram | Little Man Coffee Facebook | Little Man Coffee Twitter

The Med Shed – family run kitchen offering an authentic taste of the Med! Deliveries can be booked on weekends, menu changes weekly. Email The Med Shed | The Med Shed Facebook | The Med Shed Twitter

Naked Vegan – baked goods (the brownies – oh my!) – doing deliveries across Cardiff. Email for more info: sarah@thenakedvegan.co.uk. Naked Vegan website

Pop’n’Hops – BEERS! WONDERFUL BEERS! Help keep yourself nicely tippled and these dudes in business. They offer delivery across Cardiff, with a wide selection of ales / craft beers etc from all over the place. Pop’n’Hops Twitter

The Parsnipship – you usually see these dudes feeding the masses at festivals or at markets – now they are delivering their frozen delights across south Wales. Lucky us! Parsnipship website | Parsnipship Twitter

Riverside Markets – Rhiwbina, Roath and Riverside are reopening! Re-opening info as follows:

  • Rhiwbina – Friday June 12th 10am – 1pm
  • Roath: Sat June 13th 9:30am – 1pm
  • Riverside: Sun June 21st 10am – 2pm

Riverside Markets have updated their website with info about social distancing and other hygiene steps – please visit to find out more before visiting any of the location. Riverside Markets website | Riverside Markets Twitter | Riverside Markets Facebook | Riverside Markets Instagram

Totally Welsh – GET YOURSELF A MILK DELIVERY LIKE FROM BACK IN THE 80S! They also do juices, eggs, cheese, bread and other essentials. Direct to the doorstep, plus the bottles can go back to be cleaned and refilled. Totally Welsh website

Ty Caws – Formerly the Cheese Pantry in Cardiff Indoor Market, now delivering delicious cheese direct to your door across the city! Ty Caws Twitter | Ty Caws Instagram

Quantum Coffee – based in Cardiff Bay, they are still roasting, and doing deliveries across Cardiff AND THERE IS 20% OFF EVERYTHING ONLINE!  Quantum Coffee Twitter | Quantum Coffee Instagram | Quantum Coffee website

City centre

Cardiff Indoor Market – the indoor market has the following stalls are offering home deliveries:

K. Blackmore & Son Butchers – (Cardiff Indoor Market). if your supermarket has run out of meat, luckily for you these guys are rolling in steaks. K. Blackmore & Son Butchers Facebook page

Sullivans Fruit and Veg – (Cardiff Indoor Market) now doing fruit and veg box deliveries across Cardiff, Penarth, Barry, Sully, Dinas Powys. Call them on 0771012816 or for veg box orders visit their website. Sullivans Fruit and Veg website | Sullivans Fruit and Veg on Twitter | Sullivans Fruit and Veg Instagram

Brodie’s Coffee – you can find Brodie’s in the lovely little wooden hut in Gorsedd Gardens (in front of the museum). They’ve just reopened! Go pay them a visit and pick up a tasty treat for yourself. Brodie’s Coffee Twitter

La Pantera – margaritas, mezcal, tacos – all open for takeaway! La Pantera website | La Pantera Instagram | La Pantera Facebook

Chronic Fried Chicken – order in advance for tasty fried chicken – pick up or delivery within 1.5 miles of Sully’s Cafe.  Chronic Fried Chicken Facebook | Chronic Fried Chicken Instagram

Butetown / Cardiff Bay

Spokesperson – (Williams Way) bicycle upkeep and repair, offering online classes in how to maintain your bike and also emergency repairs. Spokesperson Facebook

Canton / Pontcanna

Cardiff Salad Garden – (Bute Park) growing delicious salad leaves and delivering them to your door, if you’re local (Pontcanna, Llandaff North and Taffs Well areas). Contact them 07715388771 or cardiffsalad@gmail.com. Cardiff Salad Garden Twitter

Crafty Devil Brewing – (Llandaff Road) beer! beer! beer! Collection from Canton or delivery. Crafty Devil Brewing website | Crafty Devil Brewing Facebook | Crafty Devil Brewing Twitter | Crafty Devil Brewing Instagram

Chapter Arts Centre – although the Centre is closed, there are still some businesses operating inside (like our buddies The Printhaus) – see this Chapter Tweet for more info

Kemi’s – (King’s Road) DELICIOUS food in Pontcanna still open for takeaway and deliveries! Peep the menu and order now! Kemi’s website | Kemi’s Facebook | Kemi’s Twitter | Kemi’s Instagram

Laura’s Greengrocers – (Cowbridge Road East) delicious fresh produce, doing veg box deliveries – call 029 2022 8796. Laura’s Greengrocers website

Lufkin Coffee – serving coffee at two locations in Canton / Pontcanna. Lufkin Coffee Instagram | Lufkin Coffee website

Pettigrew Bakeries – (Cowbridge Road East) delicious baked goods! Shop open for contactless pick up, and they can organise deliveries. Breads, snacks, fruit, veg, CHEESE! Call them between 7-11am on 02921 321270 or 07897 995409, minimum order £10. Pettigrew website | Pettigrew Twitter | Pettigrew Instagram

Pipes – (Kings Road) local brewery offering pick up over the weekend or delivery! Pipes website | Pipes Twitter | Pipes Facebook

St Canna’s Ale House – (Llandaff Road) open for takeaway and deliveries! Text 07890106449 with your order. St Canna’s Ale House Twitter

Cathays

Katiwok – (Crwys Road) delicious Asian cuisine doing contactless deliveries and takeaways. They’ve got a £6 meal deal for all key workers. Katiwok website | Katiwok Facebook

Riverside Sourdough – (Cathays Youth & Community Centre) I once bought a loaf of their bread and ate the whole thing still warm in the car before I got home. Didn’t share with anyone. No regrets. These dudes are supplying local stores but also doing a pre-order local pick up Tuesday and Saturdays from Cathays. Riverside Sourdough Facebook

Llandaff

Caffé Fragolino – (Waungron Road) Selling eggs, pasta and other essentials alongside takeaway food from the cafe. Caffé Fragolino Facebook

Llanrumney

Countisbury Fruit Supply – (Countisbury Ave) fresh supply of veg, fruit and bread available daily and the WONDERFUL man that runs the stall is offering free deliveries for those in need who live local and can’t get out. Please give this man all your monies and call on 02920791101 (there’s an answering machine, please leave a message, 24/7).

Roath

Albany Road Fruit and Veg stand – (Albany Road) this is open, plus owner Sam is a legend! go by and pay him and visit and pick up some lovely produce.

Eartha – (City Road) Eartha has now taken over the entire of the Blue Honey Local site (I still think of it as Milgi, because I am OLD) – head here for plant shop, café and restaurant focusing on working with local producers, growers and enterprises. Eartha Facebook | Eartha Instagram

Ripple – ethical lifestyle and zero waste – a great place to pick up food and other bits!  Ripple Twitter / Ripple website

Spice of Life – (Inverness Place) health food store selling dried foods, organic cleaning products etc etc. They’re doing contactless Click and Collect. Spice of Life website | Spice of Life Facebook 

Waterloo Tea – (Waterloo Gardens) the best tea in the UK! Still doing home deliveries and also co-ordinating a wonderful fundraiser for a temporary pop-up cafe serving free meals and coffee at the Heath hospital. Show them some love. Waterloo Tea new volunteer cafe fundraiser | Waterloo Tea website | Waterloo Tea Facebook

Riverside

Twin Made – (Odan Nos da) these crafty devils are selling hand made goods online, as well as releasing free crafting patterns for you to do at home, plus vouchers for future sewing / crafting classes. Twin Made website | Twin Made Facebook | Twin Made Twitter | Twin Made Instagram

Rhiwbina

One Mile Bakery – delicious baked goods, delivering to addresses within a one mile radius. One Mile Bakery website | One Mile Bakery Twitter | One Mile Bakery Instagram | One Mile Bakery Facebook

Thornhill

Thornhill Farm Shop – (Capel Gwilym Road) these dudes have fresh local honey! As well as jams, marmalades, chutneys, pickles, fresh meats, fruit and veg. They’re open for collection or delivery. Call 029 2061 1707 or visit Thornhill Farm Shop Facebook.

Slightly further afield…

Penarth

AB Snell and Son – groceries, newspapers, all your bits and pieces – reduced opening hours but also offering local deliveries of some products. AB Snell and Son website | AB Snell and Son Facebook

Griffin Books – independent bookshop are still taking orders online and doing deliveries. Griffin Books Twitter | Griffin Books website

Pizza Pronto – local pizza pop up, still open on reduced hours (check the site for details). Pizza Pronto website | Pizza Pronto Twitter | Pizza Pronto Instagram

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Online services

Blackdog – wellbeing services, offering therapy and wellbeing services online through Zoom. Blackdog website

Lucent Dreaming – local creative mag, offering pay-what-you-can reading and entry fees to creative writing competitions. Lucent Dreaming website | Lucent Dreaming Twitter

Green Squirrel – greener living social enterprise are running online workshops, craft-alongs and storytelling in lieu of  public workshops. Also delivering seed sowing kits and other treats! People can still book onto workshops to transfer onto a future date or buy a gift voucher to support. Green Squirrel website | Green Squirrel Facebook

 

That’s all for now. Peas. WAC x

See also:

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The People

Letters from Cardiff in lockdown: David, Pettigrew Bakeries

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Today’s instalment for the Letters from Cardiff in lockdown series comes from David Le Masurier of Pettigrew Bakeries. Please follow and support them as they keep you fed and in bread! We’re looking for your stories, so please contribute to Letters from Cardiff in lockdown! 

So we’ve been doing home deliveries for a while now.

We’ve had a lot of people ordering care packages, birthday gifts as well as essentials for themselves.

Last week, as we were finalising the daily orders for delivery, we spotted two identical addresses just the letter of the flat being different on each order. They were both for the same day and same building, but two different orders placed by two different people for two different addressees. To add to the coincidence they were both surprise birthday gifts, one for flat A and one for flat B.

When we got to the building to deliver there was only one buzzer, upon pressing it a voice answered and explained that both flat A and B share the same buzzer (weird) so who did we want for delivery? We explained, ‘well both of you!’

A few minutes later two strangers who live next door and share a door buzzer were both given birthday gift packages from Pettigrew Bakeries from their two friends, who also don’t know each other!

We all smiled, laughed a bit and they went back into their building wishing each other happy birthday and getting to know each other (at a safe distance).

A beautiful, random, brilliant little coincidence in this grim situation.

David (Pettigrew Bakeries)

Pettigrew Bakeries is the sister to Pettigrew Tearooms. An independent artisan bakery, baking real bread (really, really tasty bread!). They also stock a number of products from other Cardiff independent producers. Please PLEASE visit their website, order tasty treats from them, go visit their store in Victoria Park. Support our amazing local independents!

Follow Pettigrew Bakeries in the following places:

Want to write for Letters from Cardiff in lockdown? Find out how here…

See also:

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The City

Cardiff Indoor Market – the Christmas gift buying challenge!

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The challenge: 32 people to buy Christmas gifts for on a £300 budget! Can it be done? Cardiff Indoor Market enthusiast Jade Tambini tells us that yes, it can! 

cardiff indoor market by jeremy rees

This blog is all about my experience challenging myself to do a full Christmas shop at Cardiff Market with just £300 to spend.

The first thing that struck me about my decision to do my full Christmas shop at Cardiff Market this year, was the absence of stress and overwhelming panic that usually consumes me in the lead up. I’ve always been one to plan our day out in order to do the full shop in one day (much to my husband Paul’s terror). So the thought of getting it all done in one go at the market felt just wonderful!

I’ve spent a lot more time at the market recently buying lunch, fresh produce and more and have been won over by the variety of stalls there, fallen in love with the atmosphere and I’ve gotten to know loads of the amazing traders during my visits too. If you’ve not been to the market before, it’s hard to put into words how it feels to spend an afternoon browsing, bantering and buying, all I can say to describe it is that it’s a little bit like being transported to another time and place, sheltered from the world outside, like a safe haven almost to give you space to think, be and enjoy shopping.

In preparation for the shopping trip, I pled with my Facebook friends to let me borrow a ‘grannie trolley’ to make the day a more comfortable experience. Since we’ve got 32 loved ones on our huge Italian/ Irish direct family list, I couldn’t think of any other way. Amidst the mocking of my apparently ‘uncool’ idea, I managed to get hold of a shopping bag on wheels ready for a knockout day of shopping!

Without further ado, here’s a breakdown of some of the gifts I picked up during my four-hour shopping session, to get Christmas all wrapped up for under £300. I was joined by my mum and our family friend’s daughter, Heidi 12, who was super cute running around talking to all the traders, we were also later joined by Paul, my hubby!

cardiff indoor market
Mum and Heidi at Lovely Crockery

Note; if you are in my family please stop reading since you will likely find out what we’ve bought you for Christmas! That includes you, Paul!

  1. Bath bombs, soaps and candle sets from Luvely Bubbly

Julie is the loveliest lady you’ll meet, she has so much knowledge on the different products available at the stall and will talk to you about the person you’re buying for, suggesting recommended products to suit their personality and what they like.

For my brothers’ girlfriends I picked out raspberry swirl bath bombs and fruity glitter hand soaps. For my sister-in-law and my dad’s girlfriend the bath bomb, candle and soap boxes were perfect and at just £10 and £12.50 depending on which one you choose, were great value for a lovely gift! The candle and mini soap bag pictured is just £5!

cardiff indoor market

I also picked up some soaps for my mother in law. The stall has so many different types of soap whether it’s funky jelly baby flavour, parma violets, rhubarb and custard (they all literally smell like the sweets!) or natural more earthy organic smells that suited my mother-in-law’s taste really well.

  1. Asian delights from Lovely Crockery

I spent just over £60 in Lovely Crockery but I can’t begin to tell you how incredible Su’s products are and I got so much for my money. First, I bought these adorable bunny feet egg cups for my two nieces, they were only £3 each, can you believe?

Bunny feet egg cup
This bunny feet egg cup was just £3

I also picked out this gorgeous Japanese rice pattern tea pot for my mum which was only £13 and a pack of traditional teas.

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I bought my nana these super cute compact mirrors and lipstick holders, she’s always loved things like this so I thought they were perfect.

cardiff indoor market

I also bought her this lovely ‘cwtch’ mug! Since my family are all up north in Leeds and Pontefract I thought it was a nice choice to remind her of me in Wales.

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I also picked out bits and pieces for various little additional gifts for my my sister, mum, mother-in-law and sister-in-law which varied from under £1 to a few quid.

Browse Lovely Crockery’s range.

  1. Christmas Cards and wrap from JC Morgan cards

What I love most about JC Morgan’s card stall is the variety. I’ve always loved sending cards that match my family set. It’s hard to find cards like ‘Nana and Grandad’ and ‘to mum and her boyfriend’ and I always enjoyed receiving very specific cards like ‘to my granddaughter and her boyfriend’ before me and Paul got married, it just feels so much more personal. You just can’t get these old classics with the stunning verses inside in many place anymore either, and the prices are incredible here! Lots of people don’t like cards but my mum and nana especially always revel in reading the verses so it’s nice to pick some special ones!

Most of the cards I picked up were less than £1.50, the price they should be. I do love Marks & Spencer cards too, I’ll be honest, but they carry a big price tag for a card and supporting a local independent feels really nice. They are so helpful there, I couldn’t find a card I wanted and the guys there were going through all the drawers and finding me everything I needed. I also picked up wrapping paper, cellotape and gift tags.

cardiff indoor market xmas gifts

Half way through the trip my lovely husband popped in and took trolley responsibility – as you can imagine, he was delighted to be dragged around for the last hour of shopping!

  1. Festive boxes from Cheese Pantry

My favourite thing about the new Cheese Pantry stall that’s opened at the market, aside from Melissa and Jo the lovely gals working there, oh and the daisy bell, is the delicious cheese samples always available to try on the counter! My husband picked out three festive cheese boxes for our aunty and uncle and a couple of his closest cousins.

With delicious cheeses, hot Christmas chutney’s made locally by Penylan Pantry, and some crackers to compliment, we’re sure our relatives will be really pleased with their gifts!

On Melissa’s advice, we popped the cheeses in a tupperware to go in the fridge and have kept the boxes aside ready to prepare with some lovely ribbon we were given to gift wrap them! The gang there are so helpful, really worth a visit either for gifts or for a Christmas day cheese board!

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  1. Healing stones from Rocks and Clocks

My dad’s mum Grandma Angela is the sweetest, kindest lady you’ll ever meet. She’s very spiritual and has always prayed every night for everyone in our family, 30 direct cousins strong, as well as lighting candles in church for people when they need extra support. She’s had a difficult year with her mobility and some setbacks in her health and while she’s back on top form I wanted to pick out some healing crystals for her from Rocks and Clocks.

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I also picked up an incense set and a stress busting crystal for my friend who has a very busy job! The lady who works there consults on the different healing crystals and it’s really interesting to look at them and see which one’s you’re drawn to. She even cleanses them of other energy so they are brand new for you, in a special bowl before you take them away.

Cardiff Indoor Market

Lucky for us we have Christmas dinner all cooked and prepared for us, since my mother-in-law is the best you can get! If I wasn’t I’d have certainly been back this week to the butchers, fruit and veg stalls and fishmongers for my meats, vegetables and smoked salmon! Bakestones are selling gorgeous freshly baked Christmas cakes too which smell make the market smell like Christmas day even now!

All in all, a fantastic and stress free experience. My trolley was packed full when I got home ready to wrap and pop under the tree! I was on budget too with change for a Welsh Cake from Bakestones!

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As I left, I had been so in my own world that I hadn’t realised it had been pouring it down ALL day, so I even picked up a brolly for my walk back to the train!

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas!

Follow Jade on Twitter @jadetambini

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The City, Whats on

A very Cardiff Christmas – gift guide!

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We accidentally went to four Christmas craft fairs yesterday, so here are some lovely, local independent artists and businesses where you can find super special Christmas pressies this year. We’ll keep adding to this post as we find new stuff! Leave us a comment if you have an idea!

Nelly’s Treasures – gorgeous homeware, gifts and accessories.

Katherine Jones art – beautiful intricate prints of Cardiff and beyond.

Claire Hill jewellery – a favourite of ours. Claire makes beautiful, lightweight jewellery in her studio in Canton and sells it for incredibly reasonable prices!

The Power of Greyskull  – another one of our faves. Quality Cardiff-made leggings that DON’T FALL DOWN, even during aerial circus acts (certified by us).

Emily England designs – papercut prints, cute cards and beautiful books- the wonderful Emily has got you covered.

Penylan Pantry’s Christmas hampers – whether your weakness is cheese, chocolate, coffee or quite simply, damn good food, the Pantry girls have it covered in the different ranges available.

Screenprinted t-shirts from the Printhaus – print your own at the Snapped Up market this weekend!

Hula hooping wonderfulness from Elliecopter Hoops – keep fit and fun at the same time! Ellie runs classes all over Cardiff and sells her homemade hoops for a tenner.

Wonderful homewares from Anna Palamar – another maker who will be selling stuff at the Snapped Up market…

StitchCity – super nice map-based homeware and gifts!

Waterloo Tea 6 month subscription – the gift that keeps on giving!
Art prints from the SHO Gallery– such a great selection of local art at reasonable prices!

Ceramics for Everyone – Welsh tableware

Jade Fisher – unique, beautifully designed cards

High end fashion with Kiti in Pontcanna

Make an upcycled gift with a Green City event workshop – the bike tyre earrings are BANGING!

In Rainbows – quirky crochet and knitted taxidermy! The giraffe head went down a storm with my niece last Christmas…

Flow Knitting – lovely unique knitted necklaces.

Nomadic Me – minimalist style

Handmade Baby Bear – gorgeous knitted baby clothes.

I Loves The ‘Diff – always a hit!

And if all else fails…..

Aerial circus classes at NoFit State Circus – our Hana has been attending trapeze classes for years and it still makes her happy!

Afternoon tea at Wyndham Tea – not to be scoffed at (scoffed, yes)!

Chapter Friends membership – discounts on food, drink and ticket!

Gift vouchers for Nine Yards – prosecco, cheese and pastry! Our new favourite place in town.

DON’T FANCY ANY OF THE ABOVE? WHY NOT VISIT A LOCAL CHRISTMAS MARKET

Christmas Markets in Cardiff 2016

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The Arts

Christmas Markets in Cardiff 2016

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For those of you wanting to support local businesses during the Chrimbo period, we sent Benjamin Newman out into the cold to research all the best Christmas Fairs! Local shopping, local makers, mulled wines … celebrate the festive season!

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It’s a bit cold, isn’t it? The nights are drawing in, school children are waddling around in about 72 layers of clothing, the air is colder than Theresa May’s soul, and Christmas decorations have gone up far too early – yep, it’s Winter, and that means one thing: IT’S CHRISTMAAAAAAAAAS.

Ah…nothing like Christmas to distract you for long enough to (almost) nullify the sense of impending existential doom, is there?

Here’s a few markets and fun things you can get on with in Cardiff this festive season (if you haven’t frozen to death on your commute to work yet, that is). There’s lots on offer again in this wonderful city from vegan markets to Etsy-inspired stalls, so get stuck in!

Thursday 10 November – 23 December: Cardiff Christmas Market

christmas-market

The Cardiff Christmas Market has returned to brighten up Woking Street for a month and a half again (and increase the number of people walking down the street tenfold, sadly). However, it is still as varied and exciting as ever. The Market will ultimately become the main destination for original gifts in the city centre (do check out other areas of Cardiff for your shopping, mind). There’s a diverse range of high quality products with over 180 individual businesses taking part this year such as pewter work, heritage images of Wales and Welsh slate products, metalwork, photography, hand built and thrown pottery, silver and precious stone jewellery, original textiles, traditional wooden items and toys, original art works and cards for all occasions, handmade candles, specialist knotting, up-cycled china wear and re-cycled textiles, glasswork, and needlework together with many original decorative items for the house and garden. It’s got a lovely Crimbo vibe to it, too.

Venue: Woking Street, Cardiff

Cardiff Christmas Market Event on Facebook

 

Friday 25 November, 5:30-9PM: Penarth’s Handmade Market Christmas Special

Penarth Market.jpg

Penarth’s Handmade Market returns on Friday 25 November 2016 for a special Christmas themed shopping evening featuring 40 of Wales’ most exciting makers and food producers.

Grab your friends after work and join us for a shop and a drink. We will have loads of fantastic gift ideas, decorations, cards and food for the coming festive season.

Avoid Black Friday madness and support local business. You know it makes sense!

Venue: Paget Rooms, Victoria Road, CF64 3ES

Penarth Handmade Market on Facebook

 

Sunday 27 November, 10AM-4PM: Lou Lou’s Cardiff Vintage Fair

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Winner of ‘Best Vintage Fair’ at the last 3 national awards, Lou Lou’s returns to Cardiff’s City Hall with a fab vintage fair.

Find 40 stalls of vintage fashion, homeware and collectables nestled in this stunning location. Relax in a gorgeous tea room, watch a live performance and even get pampered in the vintage beauty salon!

TEA PARTY
The lovely ladies from LILS PARLOUR will be putting on a great spread of cakes and bakes fresh from their kitsch kitchen. Teas and cakes are served up on vintage china in the cute pop up tearoom. Don’t miss the delicious lemon drizzle!

HAIR AND BEAUTY SALON
For the perfect victory rolls, glamorous pin curls or sky-scraping beehives, make an appointment in our hair and beauty salon provided by POP UP PARLOUR. Appointments can be made in advance via email: popupparlour@hotmail.com

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
The lovely ladies from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES will be entertaining us with their close harmony singing!

Only £2 entry!

Venue: Cardiff City Hall

Lou Lou’s Vintage Christmas Fair on Facebook

 

Thursday 1 December – Sunday 4 December: GŵylGaeaf / WinterFest

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Get into the festive spirit with a Christmas food and drink festival on the first weekend of December. Chapter’s beer garden will be enveloped in a cosy marquee, serving festive beers, German sausages and other delicious nibbles. The perfect place to catch up with friends, exchange gifts and toast the season before December gets too busy!

Ewch i hwyl yr ŵyl gyda’n gŵyl o fwyd a diod Nadoligaidd ar benwythnos cyntaf mis Rhagfyr. Bydd ein gardd gwrw yn cael ei gorchuddio â phabell fawr glyd, a bydd yn gweini cwrw Nadoligaidd, selsig Almaenaidd a danteithion blasus eraill. Y lle perffaith i weld ffrindiau, i gyfnewid anrhegion ac i yfed llwnc destun tymhorol cyn i fis Rhagfyr fynd yn rhy brysur o’r hanner!

(Welsh language speakers are very welcome!)

Venue: Chapter, Market Road, Canton.

WinterFest on Facebook

 

Friday 2 December, 7PM-9PM: Seasons Christmas Market

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Seasons hosting their first Christmas market that will give customers a chance to shop from different stalls on the night from different businesses.

There will be a charity raffle, along with mulled wine, mulled cider, mince pies, singing & much more (it seems like it’s going to get pretty lit, to be honest).

Tickets are ONLY £5 per adult & £2 per child with a Christmas drink and snack included in the ticket price! Please do attend as proceeds from the event will be going to Welsh Women’s Aid.

Venue: Seasons, 47-49 Castle Arcade, Cardiff

Seasons Christmas Fair on Facebook

 

Saturday 3 December, 4PM-6:30PM: Rhiwbina Christmas Festival 2016

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RVE are rolling up their sleeves and have begun planning Festival 2016. Expect various stalls, food, fun and (hopefully) not rain (it’s become a bit of a tradition at the festival, it seems).

ANYONE WANTING TO APPLY TO HAVE A STALL at the Christmas festival should email eleanor.sanders@cardiff.gov.uk, although it may be a little late now.

Venue: Rhiwbina Village, Cardiff

Rhiwbina Christmas Fair on Facebook

 

 

Sunday 4 December, 11AM-5PM: Ab Fab Winter Wonderland Vegan Christmas Festival

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A vegan food festival containing lots of excellent stalls including the renowned ‘Cheese and Chocolate’ and ‘Cardiff Vegan Pizza Co’. Make this Christmas special for the animals & for ourselves – Come down to Depot in Cardiff for a day filled with wonderful cruelty-free food, health & beauty products, gifts and animal rescue charities!

£1 admission for adults and FREE for children.

Cannot recommend this festival and the lovely organiser Sue Thomas enough – please be sure to check this place out.

Venue: DEPOT, Dumballs Road, CF10 5FE

Winter Wonderland Vegan Christmas Fest on Facebook

 

Sunday 4 December, 11AM-7PM: Cardiff and Valleys Etsy Made Local 2016

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If you’ve ever gone on Etsy, you know it’s a labyrinth of amazing clothes, crafts and jewellery. However, the Etsy Made Local market is bringing all these fun things directly to you via a market stall! A fun-filled day of shopping, workshops and performances. For one day only Cardiff and Valleys Etsy Sellers are taking over Tramshed, lots of wonderful local sellers will be there, as well as a host of workshops and performances throughout the day. Watch this space and check out our website for more details www.cavetsy.co.uk

Venue: Tramshed, Clare Road, Cardiff, CF11 6QP

CAVETSY on Facebook

 

Sunday 4 December, 2PM-3:30PM: Upcycled Christmas Crafts #2

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An exclusive workshop at the CAVETSY Christmas extravaganza at the Tramshed. Join Green City to kick start a crafty Christmas! They’ll show you how to create beautiful, festive gifts and decorations from things that you might usually throw away. From upcycled Christmas tree decorations & garlands to wrapping paper, jewellery and lots more, you’ll take home plenty of crafty ideas & makes.

All materials provided, but you may need to bring along a few bits from home if you have them.

This workshop will take place in the upstairs bar at the Tramshed during the Cardiff and Valleys Etsy Made Local 2016. Why not make a day of it and enjoy browsing 50 stalls of local makers as well as live music, performances and workshops?
This workshop is suitable for ages 12+. Children aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult.

Venue: Tramshed

Upcycled Christmas Crafts on Facebook

 

Saturday 10 December, 4PM-10PM: Ethical Cardiff Night Market – Christmas Edition

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A cosy, alternative Cardiff Christmas shopping/eating/drinking experience with a chilled atmosphere and a diverse range of ethical local brands. There will be nature based products, veggie food, vegan food and treats, Christmas gifts that are good for the planet, handmade crafts, mulled wines, vegan friendly skincare for men and women, yoga pop up, vegan shop, live background music, a bar and more.

Venue: Cardiff Speaker Hire, Unit 4 Anchor Industrial Estate, Dumballs Road, CF10 5FF.

Get your FREE ticket here

Ethical Night Market- Christmas Edition on Facebook

 

Saturday 10 December – Sunday 11 December – Snapped Up Market – A Dickensian Christmas

The Print Haus is one of our all time favourite places, so we can’t wait for their Christmas market! Snapped Up Market returns this December bigger and better than ever!! This time round they’ll be open for not one but TWO DAYS!!! That’s right folks, all the fun and merriment but spread over an entire weekend!

They’ll have all your favourites that you can expect from their markets, with ‘Print your own’ workshops/ open studios/ stalls from some rather fabulous artists, makers and craft people and of course resident pizza kings Dusty Knuckle will take care of your taste bud needs.

The best place to grab some amazing unique Christmas gifts and enjoy in some festive fun!

Venue: Print Haus Workshops, 70A Llandaff Road

Snapped Up Market on Facebook

 

Sunday 18 December, 10AM-6PM: Festive Food Fair / Ffair Fwyd Nadoligaidd

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Chapter and Green City are doing it again and showcasing the best local Welsh produce!

Stock up on Christmas treats, stocking fillers, gorgeous chocs, tasty cheese, delicious meats and something special from the Caffi Bar.
For one day only!

Discover our Green Grotto, hosted by Green City. Join us for:
– Christmas craft workshops
– upcycled Christmas crafts
– and lots of family friendly fun!

Stallholders:
– Pipes Beer
– Gwynt Y Ddraig Welsh Cider
– TudorBreweryWales
– Tast Natur
– InnerCityPickle
– Cocoa Magic
– and many more TBC!

Venue: Chapter, Market Road, Canton.

Festive Food Fair on Facebook 

 

… aaaaaaand that’s a wrap. Be sure to check out as many of these as you can, it’s always a great help to the city to help local businesses and – for all of our sakes – avoid the madness that is Black Friday and get to supporting your city’s local businesses! 

Oh, and Merry Christmas. 2016 has been a weird one, right?

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The City, Whats on

Attention cheese lovers! Cheese Pantry to open in Cardiff Indoor Market, Saturday 26 November

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Holy cheeseboard Batman … Penylan Pantry – the award-winning Cardiff delicatessen will be opening a sister location in Cardiff Indoor Market this Saturday. The Cheese Pantry is an exciting new specialist cheese stall in Cardiff Central Market, and I can’t wait to eat my entire daily calorie allowance from it.

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The Cheese Pantry will offer the largest selection of exceptional British cheeses in South Wales, a bench for lunchtime cheese board customers and a selection of chutneys, crackers and gifts for sale – this will surely become Cardiff’s go-to spot for lovers of all things cheese.

Melissa Boothman, who along with business partner Jolene runs Cardiff deli/cafe Penylan Pantry, is delighted to be setting up shop in the market.

“We are so proud to be here inside such a beautiful historic building that has been at the heart of the city’s food trade for over 120 years and with such a strong sense of community.”

Penylan Pantry was opened in December 2013 by Mel and Jo, wanting to create a place to showcase all the fantastic produce from Wales and the rest of Britain. Their ethos is all about sustainability: low food miles, supporting local producers and therefore the local economy and aiming to maintain a 95 per cent level of recyclable waste.

Penylan Pantry - one of Elliot's choice spots in Cardiff
Penylan Pantry in Penylan, Cardiff

As a result of their hard work since opening, Penylan Pantry has won a Cardiff Life award for Best Cafe, and been Runner-Up three years in a row in the Observer Food Awards in Wales for Best Ethical Retailer, Best Cheap Eats and Best Independent Retailer.

When asked why she wanted to open a specialist cheese stall in Cardiff, Mel said:

“We are nuts about cheese! The smells, flavours, textures, characteristics, the rich history and varied stories that lie behind each one… did you know there are over 700 cheeses made in Britain?! Each one has its own tale to tell and we’d like to share some of those with you and showcase the absolute best of British cheese.”

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Cheese fans Melissa and Jolene are joined by cheese expert Owen, who has 14 years’ experience in the artisan cheese market as a buyer for the catering industry, sourcing the best British cheeses directly from the makers and farmers. If those credentials weren’t enough, he has also been a judge at The World and British Cheese Awards. Sounds like a cheese lover’s dream! Safe to say, Owen is a man who knows his Cornish Yarg from his Dorstone and he’ll be the head cheese monger at Cheese Pantry, imparting his knowledge and expertise to all staff. Unsurprisingly, Owen is also excited about the stall opening:

“We want to give Cardiff the very best cheese counter and this understanding of the cheese we sell will absolutely set us apart from any of the supermarkets. Working with the girls from Penylan Pantry is a perfect match, combining their passion for exceptional food, supporting British producers and their love of great cheese.”

“Their passion for cheese shines through and their know-how will be shared with you when you buy, showing customers how to cut, care for, wrap and present each cheese, including many cheeses which cannot be found anywhere else in Cardiff. What better time to head down to the market and pick up some fantastic cheese and top tips on creating the perfect festive cheese board.”

See you guys at Cardiff Indoor Market on Saturday 26 November for the opening, yeah??

Penylan Pantry website

Penylan Pantry Facebook page

@PenylanPantry

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