The Globe
Albany Road, Cardiff

Situated in the suburb of Roath, Cardiff, The Globe has been transformed from a dilapidated cinema into a chic live music cavern. On entering the two-floor venue, there’s very little trace of its former self with worn-out seats and stuffy ushers replaced by plush furnishings that take stylistic influence from Eastern Europe. A spacious dance floor in the middle of the venue fills with excitable punters as the night wears on. Some old touches have remained, with a vast red curtain hanging dramatically over the live stage, welcoming in the entertainment.

The bar is well-stocked too with a hefty selection of beers and lagers on tap – a combination of standard favourites with the odd foreign tipple thrown in for good measure. For those not in the mood for necking pints, a list of tasty cocktails should see you right. The entertainment varies throughout the week from live blues, rock, ska and funk (amongst several others) provided by both local and international artists. The venue capacity (at 350) is ideal for catering for a number of diverse bands, something that’s clearly been lacking in the capital in recent years.

Away from the evening’s antics, The Globe takes on a different character during the day – a place of pure ambience to enjoy a lunchtime coffee or snack on some light bites. Whether you’re looking for a chilled afternoon or a hectic evening of live music, The Globe caters for both whilst avoiding the bustle of the city centre.

Ambience: Chilled in the afternoon, live music cavern in the evening
Beers: Extensive range of bottled and draught lagers
Cocktails: Watch out for their exclusive Sailor Jerry’s cocktails in the New Year
Telephone: 029 2045 2151

GLAM
Greyfriars Road, Cardiff

It seems every second nightspot that has opened in Cardiff over the past few years has aspirations of representing a classier cut above the competition. Glam’s two-floor upstairs areas are only borderline recognisable from the landscape of predecessor Q Bar. Glam is an entirely different proposition, however, and one that makes the hazardous pursuit of navigating Greyfriars Road of an evening – ‘taxigeddon’ traffic jams, vomiting Valleys girls heading for nearby super-club Oceana – worth the hassle. Once inside, the initial ambience of an interior swathed in black and fuchsia pink is infinitely more soothing than the combination sounds on paper, an oasis of chilled calm. The visually impressive results of a £500,000 refit, lavish seating continues a luxurious atmosphere. Upstairs, hanging curtains maintain a hazy-edged appearance, with private bays available by reservation. Should you wish to flash the cash, meanwhile, VIP status buys into a comfy separate lounge with its own small drinks dispensary and pick up from anywhere in the city by chauffeur-driven Mercedes. The imagination shown behind the bar is perhaps the only comparative let down, with a fairly standard selection in the beer department aside from Peroni on tap, although the spirit shelves atone with particularly good ranges of vodkas and liqueurs. Chances are you’ll be too entranced with Glam’s interior to care that much about minor gripes anyway.

Punters: Relaxed clubbers and the house music crowd’s upper echelons
Drinks: Cocktails £5-£8, Shooters £4, Draughts £2.80-£3.80 a pint, Bottles £2.60-£3.80; Spirits £2-£8 a single, £3.50-£14 a double, £80-£150 bottle service, Champagnes £40-£110 a bottle, Wines £3-£4.70 a glass, £10.90-£14 a bottle
Ambience: Classy but chilled
Contact: 029 2022 9311

THÉ POT
Crwys Road, Cardiff
Among the many greasy spoon cafes and takeaways of Crwys Road, in Cardiff’s Cathays, lies an oasis for the more genteel and artery conscious. Like stepping into a lovingly restored barn conversion; the exposed brickwork, wooden furniture, and freshly baked cupcakes on the counter give the place a rustic and wholesome charm that are mirrored by the food on offer.

It’s not every night you are encouraged to cleanse away the December grime with a steaming mug of non-alcoholic apple cider with a ginger cookie. After completing this thawing out process we tackled the menu. With winter weather outside, salad isn’t the first thing that comes to mind to warm the bones. Their choice of Japanese butternut salad with warm bacon and brie salad proved an exception to the rule, providing not only the sustenance and nutrition required to combat the cold, but also the comfort and taste much needed in these dark months.

The meals were preceded by a generous bowl of pitta and houmous to share, and washed down by the very enjoyable, smooth, crisp, and my personal new favourite beer – Kirin Ichiban lager. It seems that owner Natalie has drawn on some personal experience for the business, highlighted in the French, Mediterranean and Japanese influences. It’s not often that a proprietor's personality is so evident without stifling the business’s own character, but here the venue itself seems to soak in and delight in its new persona.

Open for brekky, lunch and now also late in the evenings with a full drinks license, Thé Pot should prove a magnet for those who appreciate the slower side of life and demand something a little more mellow from their nights out.

Punters: The hip and healthy who know what’s good for them
Ambience: Rustic and wholesome charm
Drinks: Exotic and surprising. Be prepared to try something new
Contact: 029 2025 1246

Raising the bar

<<<BACK This venue on Westgate Street has struggled to find its feet and establish an identity since long-standing incumbent Bar M closed its doors over four years ago. From a Moroccan themed club to R’n’B haunt it has taken on many different guises. Now with brand new owners, brand new management and a totally new personality the current manifestation Tabu seems to have hit a chord, and is bringing in a totally new crowd. This seems to be done by emphasising a slick quality that pumps through this club’s very sinews. Now encompassing the whole ground floor and basement, the first thing that strikes you about the interior is the attention to detail. That attention is also extended into everything from the vast cocktail list through to the service. Knowledgeable baristas are fast becoming a dying breed in South Wales so it’s good to know you’re stepping into an environment where such traditional values are still respected. Step downstairs and you can’t help but notice the striking illuminated crucifix, which lights up the whole corner adding an extra touch of cool as it contrasts with the plush black surroundings. The music is deliberately eclectic, with a quality control on good music meaning that all genres seem to be catered for as long as they pass the quality test. Mani, the ex-Stone Roses and current Primal Scream bassist, was the guest DJ for the launch, and according to my sources expect a lot of the same calibre guest DJ’s in future. Like Mani himself, Tabu oozes an understated cool with a fun, mischievous streak.
Punters: Style conscious music lovers
Drinks: The best in cocktails
Ambience: Understated cool
Contact: 029 2039 9400
Jo Roberts