Qype: Salt Bar in Cardiff

Cardiff - Nightlife - Clubs

It's awful. Truly awful.
Salt is a chain and this particular link is very weak.
The food is greasy and fatty and generally not very good, and the layout is all over the place (booths, tables, big donut shaped couches all in one room). A hideous spiral staircase just made for falling down spears the centre of Salt in the Bay.
The upstairs bar isn't much better, but it does have a terrace outside, so you can escape the confines of the bar if the weather's good enough.
On the weekend, the place is rammed (it opens late). The music is bad and the dancing worse. Generally people are very, very drunk. It's a favourite on the hen/stag scene.
Yuch.
Check out my review of Salt Bar - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Hard Rock Cafe Ltd in Cardiff

Cardiff - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Cafes & Coffee Shops - Cafes

A bit kooky, a bit quirky the first time you go, it doesn't take long though for the the Hard Rock to become a bit gimmicky. There's loads of memorabilia on the walls, packed in around the giant TV screens (which were playing some truly shocking glam rock videos when I popped in for a drinks one Sunday night - Aerosmith's video for Crazy is like soft porn!) - though a lot of the memorabilia belonged to people that i'd never heard of! There is a wonderful photograph of Elvis in a spangly suite and cape hanging by the back door well worth checking out.
There isn't a lot of choice at the bar (only Stella, Becks or Boddingtons on tap) but the price per pint is reasonable (as in 'under £3'). The burgers are fairly good (can't remember how much they cost) and they do a mean milk shake. There's a limited seating area out the back, inside the Brewery 1/4, so smokers are catered for.
I guess you know what you're going to get with the Hard Rock Cafe and they don't disappoint. Unfortunately, they don't inspire either.
PS - why are the waiters covered in badges (or 'buttons' as they are called in the US)? Can anyone shed any light?
Check out my review of Hard Rock Cafe Ltd - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Cardiff Central Railway Station in Cardiff

Cardiff - Travel & Hotels - Stations

I'm a fan of Cardiff Central Train Station. It's big and bustling and you get a great glimpse of the city landscape from the platforms.

Downstairs, where you can buy your ticket from the teller or from one of the machines, you'll find a pasty kiosk, a confectionery kiosk, a WHSmith (which doesn't open until 7am and sometimes a bit later than that) a baguette and coffee shop (which sells alcohol) and a Marks & Spencer. Stocking up on stuff for the journey isn't a problem here. Oh, and there's a big clock hanging above the entrance to M&S. Big clocks are coooooooooooool.

There are cash machines out the front of the station along with a kiosk selling newspapers (handy if you're an early morning traveller as Smiths probably on't be open). Out front is also a taxi rank and an NCP car park. The station has its own open-air carpark out the back, but spaces are limited.

Upstairs on the platforms you've got your standard stuff - toilets, waiting area, kiosks, benches etc.

For newbies to the Cardiff, when exiting the station via the front, you'll be facing Cardiff Central Bus Station (currently undergoing massive renovation). Take a right and walk until you reach the Great Western Pub and you will find yourself on St Mary's Street (lots of bars and shops). Take a left and walk the whole length of the street and...ta daaaah - the castle is there at the end.
Check out my review of Cardiff Central Railway Station - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Shrewsbury Railway Station in Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury - Travel & Hotels - Stations

I was off to Aberystwyth from my home in Cardiff, entrusting myself to the rail system, so naturally I had to get on a train and go to England before getting on another train and travelling back into Wales and cross country to Aber.
That's how I found myself standing on platform 4a of Shrewsbury Station on a drizzly October day, clutching a cardboard cup of nasty coffee and coveting it like it held the last vestiges of warmth on planet earth.

But back to the station itself. It's a fair size - 7 platforms i think. Accessible from platform 4 is 'The Lemon Tree' cafe and kiosk, which sells food and drink (should have gone for late, not filter), newspapers, magazines etc. They have a handful of tables scattered at the back of the shop.

There are plenty of benches along the platforms, but the corrugated roof covering platforms 4a and 5 seemed to have leaks all around each support pillar.
Check out my review of Shrewsbury Railway Station - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Times Square in New York

New York - Arts & Entertainment - Landmarks

Even if you've seen it a million times on the tellybox, nothing can prepare you for the moment you climb out of a yellow cab on Times Square. It's better than Disneyland. But you must go at night to get the full impact of all those dazzling billboards and lights.
I suggest wandering around for a while until your head spins and you can't take it anymore. Then head to the top of the Marriott Hotel and visiting the revolving bar. It takes an hour, apparently, and spins a whole rotation, giving you the best view of New York. The cocktails are fabulous as well. Finding the 'special' lift that takes you from floor whatever (40 or something) to the restaurant above is a bit of a challenge though (oops, i mean special 'elevator'!).
When i went last October, Puff Daddy was walking in the back entrance surrounded by 'paps' and cameramen. He's tiny in real life. The diamond in his ear was HUUGE though.
Check out my review of Times Square - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Times Square in New York

New York - Arts & Entertainment - Landmarks

Even if you've seen it a million times on the tellybox, nothing can prepare you for the moment you climb out of a yellow cab on Times Square. It's better than Disneyland. But you must go at night to get the full impact of all those dazzling billboards and lights.
I suggest wandering around for a while until your head spins and you can't take it anymore. Then head to the top of the Marriott Hotel and visiting the revolving bar. It takes an hour, apparently, and spins a whole rotation, giving you the best view of New York. The cocktails are fabulous as well. Finding the 'special' lift that takes you from floor whatever (40 or something) to the restaurant above is a bit of a challenge though (oops, i mean special 'elevator'!).
When i went last October, Puff Daddy was walking in the back entrance surrounded by 'paps' and cameramen. He's tiny in real life. The diamond in his ear was HUUGE though.
Check out my review of Times Square - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Times Square in New York

New York - Arts & Entertainment - Landmarks

Even if you've seen it a million times on the tellybox, nothing can prepare you for the moment you climb out of a yellow cab on Times Square. It's better than Disneyland. But you must go at night to get the full impact of all those dazzling billboards and lights.
I suggest wandering around for a while until your head spins and you can't take it anymore. Then head to the top of the Marriott Hotel and visiting the revolving bar. It takes an hour, apparently, and spins a whole rotation, giving you the best view of New York. The cocktails are fabulous as well. Finding the 'special' lift that takes you from floor whatever (40 or something) to the restaurant above is a bit of a challenge though (oops, i mean special 'elevator'!).
When i went last October, Puff Daddy was walking in the back entrance surrounded by 'paps' and cameramen. He's tiny in real life. The diamond in his ear was HUUGE though.
Check out my review of Times Square - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Times Square in New York

New York - Arts & Entertainment - Landmarks

Even if you've seen it a million times on the tellybox, nothing can prepare you for the moment you climb out of a yellow cab on Times Square. It's better than Disneyland. But you must go at night to get the full impact of all those dazzling billboards and lights.
I suggest wandering around for a while until your head spins and you can't take it anymore. Then head to the top of the Marriott Hotel and visiting the revolving bar. It takes an hour, apparently, and spins a whole rotation, giving you the best view of New York. The cocktails are fabulous as well. Finding the 'special' lift that takes you from floor whatever (40 or something) to the restaurant above is a bit of a challenge though (oops, i mean special 'elevator'!).
When i went last October, Puff Daddy was walking in the back entrance surrounded by 'paps' and cameramen. He's tiny in real life. The diamond in his ear was HUUGE though.
Check out my review of Times Square - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Times Square in New York

New York - Arts & Entertainment - Landmarks

Even if you've seen it a million times on the tellybox, nothing can prepare you for the moment you climb out of a yellow cab on Times Square. It's better than Disneyland. But you must go at night to get the full impact of all those dazzling billboards and lights.
I suggest wandering around for a while until your head spins and you can't take it anymore. Then head to the top of the Marriott Hotel and visiting the revolving bar. It takes an hour, apparently, and spins a whole rotation, giving you the best view of New York. The cocktails are fabulous as well. Finding the 'special' lift that takes you from floor whatever (40 or something) to the restaurant above is a bit of a challenge though (oops, i mean special 'elevator'!).
When i went last October, Puff Daddy was walking in the back entrance surrounded by 'paps' and cameramen. He's tiny in real life. The diamond in his ear was HUUGE though.
Check out my review of Times Square - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Juboraj Express in Cardiff

Cardiff - Restaurants - Take Away

Holey shmoley, this takeaway's good. Specially for a Monday night (traditionally not a good night for takeaways - not that i'm suggesting that the weekend's leftovers are sometimes farmed out on a Monday night or anything remotely like that).

Basically, it went like this: got home from work, didn't fancy cooking, did fancy a curry, local curry house is out of favour as it's got a bit poor (OK, a lot poor) so looking for somewhere decent. Surf tinterweb and up pops Juboraj Express - the takeaway branch of South Wales Indian giant Juboraj. The website is funky and informative (drag your mouse over the menu to turn the pages!) and the selection on offer is extensive. Ring through your order, wait an hour and bingo - delicious food to your door.

We ordered chicken tikka bhuna, lamb rogan josh, chana massala, keema nan and pilau rice. It cost just over £19, which is pricier than lots of other takeaways, but it was worth every penny. I figured that out about two seconds after the first forkful of chana massala. Then again with the first bite of chicken and when i got to the lamb it was so good it made me giggle.

There was enough left over for lunch the next day (except for the rice - note to self: more rice next time), which makes the higher prices easier to swallow.

Top marks to Juoraj Express. Needless to say i'll be calling again.

Oh, I forgot to say that the food is delivered in a dinky little box. Coooooool!
Check out my review of Juboraj Express - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype