Qype: The Canadian in Cardiff

Cardiff

Hmmm. Where do I start? There's a lot to tell about The Canadian. Some good and some not so good...
It's big - there's a skittle alley, a tabled area for food and another area with a pool table in the middle that can be moved away if there's an event on and a dance floor's required. They show sport live on a very big screen. Sometimes the landlord brings down his Wii and punters can have a play. Don't touch the man's pool cue though - made that mistake once in my ignorance and it got tense there for a while!
Went last halloween and they had the funniest band playing. I say band. There was a big guy on guitar dressed like uncle fester who amused the crowd by putting a lightbulb in his mouth and making it light up and a small guy with a black wig who looked a bit like Peewee Herman. He was the singer and I thought he was really good. Then I was told that there was an awful lot of backing track going on! I still thought he was good though!
The landlord and land lady are very friendly (they even offered us a tab one night when we were a bit short) and do their best to organise live music events and entertainment. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to let them down and the place can often be a bit dead. There are the regulars though and these are...spectacular! One guy spends all night feeding pounds into the jukebox and then singing along so loud that you can only hear him and not the track! He always seems to sing the same stuff though! Then there's the really really drunk guy that looks like a Thunderbirds puppet version of Noel Gallagher. He just sits there drinking, by himself, until he figures out he might not be able to get up if he has another drink. Then he goes home.
There are others, but these are the best of the bunch.
There's a little smoking area out the back or you can stand out the front of the pub (but not after ten o clock - they are mindful of the neighbours as the pub is at a crossroads between 2 streets).
The pub is in an awkward position and this can show. Some nights it's dead and on others it's buzzing and you can have a whale of a time.
Why not try it out for yourself?
Check out my review of The Canadian - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Calahonda in Urbanizacion Oasis de Costa del Sol

Urbanizacion Oasis de Costa del Sol

Calahonda is a small town in the Costa Del Sol. Up in the mountains there are lots of lovely white apartments and holiday complexes that are pleasing to the eye and away from the maddening crowd. This is where I spent a week in June 08.
There is a small train that runs regularly from the beach area to the top complex in the mountains, stopping off wherever you want on the way down or up (providing you tell the driver as you hop on). If you're feeling fit, of course, you can walk, but it's a tough trail in heels or flipflops. Being lazy and a bit sun-frazzled, me and me mates caught the choo choo. It's so cute! But the ride is really bumpy. If you've got big boobs, wear a good bra, or you'll be in agony by the bottom! In fact, it's a bit tough on the old bottom too!
We stopped off at the little 'strip' just before you hit the beach area and went to an Irish bar to meet friends before going on to the one and only mexican restaurant in the village. It was lovely to sit outdoors in great weather, having cold beers brought to our table by a young, hot, waiter. Plus they were playing cheesy rock videos on the tellyboxes. What more could a girl want?
The mexican (name escapes me, sorry, but it is the only one there!) was also good. Nachos for sharing are a good laugh, but you might have to scrape off some guacamole as they seem to empty the whole tub over the plate! A couple of friends had the Chimechanga and when it arrived, some of them, my sister in particular, went pale at the sight of it. It was HUGE! You'd have to be Joey from Friends to get through a whole one by yourself.
Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming and I would go back there for a holiday in a heartbeat. If you want sun, swimming and chilling out with your mates, then Calahonda's a good call (and it's cheap too).
If you have a hire car like we did (man, how many times did I hit the kerb? It's HARD driving on the other side of the road) I would really, really, really advise a trip into Ronda. It's a wonderful old town up in the mountains with a rich history ad a huge george running through it. Also has the oldest bullring in Spain if you fancy adding a little history to your holiday.
Check out my review of Calahonda - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: The Clifton in Cardiff

Cardiff - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

every evening, between 5ish and half past six, there is a guy stood at the bar in the back room of The Clifton with a home made sign that reads 'gone for a fag' and everytime he nips out the front for a ciggie, he props it against his pint of bitter. Just for that, you've got to love The Clifton.
There's a big front lounge, with flat screen TVs and a jukebox and some brown leather sofas, but we usually congregate out the back room where there's a pool table with LOADS OF ROOM around it, meaning you don't have to keep sayibg 'excuse me' or angling your cue at 45 degrees to take your shot. It's 50p a game, which is much cheaper than most places in Cardiff and the table is decent. So are the cues come to think of it.
The back room leads off to a smoking area with undercover seating and those really bright orange lukewarm heater light. Motly they stay switched off, thankfully.
If you go early in the evening, the TV out the backroom will be switched on really loud and you will see the following: wales today followed by either Emmerdale or Corrie. After that, it's anyone's game and you can either switch it off or put some sport on - they are your two choices.
There are usually some very drunk people patronising The Clifton of an evening, but usually they are funny and friendly and not aggresive and intrusive. You can earwig on some genuinely genius conversations if you sit out back and have a fag. If you don't have a Cardiff accent, you will be immediately accosted and asked 'you're not from around here are you?'. You will say no and then you will be told 'no, i didn't think so, not withthat accent'! It's brilliant. Often, people who have said this to you before were so drunk at the time that they can't remember and you go through the whole rigmarole again. Wonderful.
Top tip: don't play the bar manager at pool, he's a demon, and don't turn the TV off in the middle of a saop.
Abide by these rules and you're golden.
Check out my review of The Clifton - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: The Clifton in Cardiff

Cardiff - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

every evening, between 5ish and half past six, there is a guy stood at the bar in the back room of The Clifton with a home made sign that reads 'gone for a fag' and everytime he nips out the front for a ciggie, he props it against his pint of bitter. Just for that, you've got to love The Clifton.
There's a big front lounge, with flat screen TVs and a jukebox and some brown leather sofas, but we usually congregate out the back room where there's a pool table with LOADS OF ROOM around it, meaning you don't have to keep sayibg 'excuse me' or angling your cue at 45 degrees to take your shot. It's 50p a game, which is much cheaper than most places in Cardiff and the table is decent. So are the cues come to think of it.
The back room leads off to a smoking area with undercover seating and those really bright orange lukewarm heater light. Motly they stay switched off, thankfully.
If you go early in the evening, the TV out the backroom will be switched on really loud and you will see the following: wales today followed by either Emmerdale or Corrie. After that, it's anyone's game and you can either switch it off or put some sport on - they are your two choices.
There are usually some very drunk people patronising The Clifton of an evening, but usually they are funny and friendly and not aggresive and intrusive. You can earwig on some genuinely genius conversations if you sit out back and have a fag. If you don't have a Cardiff accent, you will be immediately accosted and asked 'you're not from around here are you?'. You will say no and then you will be told 'no, i didn't think so, not withthat accent'! It's brilliant. Often, peole who have said this to you before were so drunk at the time that they can't remember and you go through the whole rigmarole again. Wonderful.
Top tip: don't play the bar manager at pool, he's a demon, and don't turn the TV off in the middle of a saop.
Abide by these rules and you're golden.
Check out my review of The Clifton - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: The Clifton in Cardiff

Cardiff - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

every evening, between 5ish and half past six, there is a guy stood at the bar in the back room of The Clifton with a home made sign that reads 'gone for a fag' and everytime he nips out the front for a ciggie, he props it against his pint of bitter. Just for that, you've got to love The Clifton.
There's a big front lounge, with flat screen TVs and a jukebox and some brown leather sofas, but we usually congregate out the back room where there's a pool table with LOADS OF ROOM around it, meaning you don't have to keep sayibg 'excuse me' or angling your cue at 45 degrees to take your shot. It's 50p a game, which is much cheaper than most places in Cardiff and the table is decent. So are the cues come to think of it.
The back room leads off to a smoking area with undercover seating and those really bright orange lukewarm heater light. Motly they stay switched off, thankfully.
If you go early in the evening, the TV out the backroom will be switched on really loud and you will see the following: wales today followed by either Emmerdale or Corrie. After that, it's anyone's game and you can either switch it off or put some sport on - they are your two choices.
There are usually some very drunk people patronising The Clifton of an evening, but usually they are funny and friendly and not aggresive and intrusive. You can earwig on some genuinely genius conversations if you sit out back and have a fag. If you don't have a Cardiff accent, you will be immediately accosted and asked 'you're not from around here are you?'. You will say no and then you will be told 'no, i didn't think so, not withthat accent'! It's brilliant. Often, peole who have said this to you before were so drunk at the time that they can't remember and you go through the whole rigmarole again. Wonderful.
Top tip: don't play the bar manager at pool, he's a demon, and don't turn the TV off in the middle of a saop.
Abide by these rules and you're golden.
Check out my review of The Clifton - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: The Clifton in Cardiff

Cardiff - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

every evening, between 5ish and half past six, there is a guy stood at the bar in the back room of The Clifton with a home made sign that reads 'gone for a fag' and everytime he nips out the front for a ciggie, he props it against his pint of bitter. Just for that, you've got to love The Clifton.
There's a big front lounge, with flat screen TVs and a jukebox and some brown leather sofas, but we usually congregate out the back room where there's a pool table with LOADS OF ROOM around it, meaning you don't have to keep sayibg 'excuse me' or angling your cue at 45 degrees to take your shot. It's 50p a game, which is much cheaper than most places in Cardiff and the table is decent. So are the cues come to think of it.
The back room leads off to a smoking area with undercover seating and those really bright orange lukewarm heater light. Motly they stay switched off, thankfully.
If you go early in the evening, the TV out the backroom will be switched on really loud and you will see the following: wales today followed by either Emmerdale or Corrie. After that, it's anyone's game and you can either switch it off or put some sport on - they are your two choices.
There are usually some very drunk people patronising The Clifton of an evening, but usually they are funny and friendly and not aggresive and intrusive. You can earwig on some genuinely genius conversations if you sit out back and have a fag. If you don't have a Cardiff accent, you will be immediately accosted and asked 'you're not from around here are you?'. You will say no and then you will be told 'no, i didn't think so, not withthat accent'! It's brilliant. Often, peole who have said this to you before were so drunk at the time that they can't remember and you go through the whole rigmarole again. Wonderful.
Top tip: don't play the bar manager at pool, he's a demon, and don't turn the TV off in the middle of a saop.
Abide by these rules and you're golden.
Check out my review of The Clifton - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype