Cardiff - City of the Year

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

It's cut off from the rump of the centre of the city and hardly a place that people congegate in. You need to travel more in Europe, methinks.

By the way, the immediate view after exiting Cardiff General is pretty soulless. An opportunity squandered regarding first impressions. Bring back Astey's!

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yes you're quite right, it would be nice to tie it on more with the city centre.

Cardiff's problem is that it isn't quite big enough to keep both ends of town thriving at the same time. one bit will get some renovation and be on the up and the other end will go to shit, then a few years later it's vice versa.
perhaps with the expansion of Cardiff and the planned metro giving better connectivity then it can support a better city centre.

there is a real lack of interesting architecture in Cardiff compared to a lot of cities of a similar size - which is just down to the fact we were a fairly inconsequential market town until relatively late.
that weakness COULD become a strength though - we could encourage new buildings with good architecture, as there aren't many buildings in Cardiff that are really worth keeping compared to other cities. the trouble is, most new builds are not built to last and look terrible anyway

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Most of those journeys are commuter travel on the valleys lines

Cardiff doesn't have the inter City services that Bristol , Leeds , Newcastle etc has

It's out of the way

You only have to look at the size of Cardiff Central compared to other cities on Google to realise its not a major transport hub

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We're just sharing facts here Sludge.

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Originally Posted by Der Kaiser

I think they've done a decent job of it so far, considering the wider area redevelopment isn't complete and the Brains site and the entire of Dumballs Road area is now being redevelopment extensively.

One thing I would say in classic Cardiff Council fashion is that any serious redevelopment of the train station itself is now probably going to be very lacklustre and certainly nowhere near the original renders that were released a few years ago. They've penned the station in too much with developments, it should've been the first thing done. Maybe the new station slated for Newport Road and the private funded station in St Mellons (if that ever happens) will carry the load to allow for a complete closure and redevelopment of central, which is desperately needed.

Central Station needs a New Street/Kings Cross style redevleopment making it almost a destination in its own right.

Oh and a direct link to the airport, which is utterly ridiculous to not already exist, but here I am digressing.

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I think the disruption caused to the rail network by a redevelopment of central would be extensive and take far too long

A new parkway station to the north east would reduce a lot of pressure on central and smaller trains could take passengers into central to allow others to go on the main lines ?

How do most people get down the bay ?

I know it's not for everybody but it gets really busy

I go on the X2 service bus but also drive

The only way by train seems to be via central and I am sure the bus services are not great

I would have thought improving transport down there will ease the pressure on the city centre

I am sure the bay and the city centre would benefit from better transport links

The roads are ok

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

The irony

plenty of money is put into opera , classical and non contemporary music but very few people pay to go and watch it

A lot of white elephants in Cardiff , the millennium centre being a prime example

This capital city stuff thrown around is nonsense , it's just a name .

Cardiff should focus on getting the basics right instead of trying to be so pretentious

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Sounds like a bit of inverted snobbery to me.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Sounds like a bit of inverted snobbery to me.

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Well I know you like opera and religious sort of oddball stuff but when it comes to putting bums on seats it just doesn't work

It's incredibly right on and pretentious but there's no point in having somewhere like the millennium centre with a lovely 2500 seats and great facilities if some obscure organist is on stage in front of no audience

How are these places going to survive ?

It would be a great rock concert venue and the place would be full

It's all very well telling everybody what a great music scene and facilities we have but you need to be truthful and tell them the locals just ain't interested in most of the stuff

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Oh come on what about the BBC Wales building !

the civic centre is classy but as you say its out of the way

If it was in the middle of the city centre , say opposite Central station .....then it would be a place to chill , have open air stuff

As it is its very underused apart from the summer office workers

I don't think a lot of people gravitate there which is a shame

Birmingham and Leeds have some lovely central civic buildings and park areas

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What about the castle grounds? It’s huge, central and provides a great place to chill out, get wasted, hang out with family or meet mates…doubt anywhere has a park in the centre that big….where does it end?

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Originally Posted by goats

What about the castle grounds? It’s huge, central and provides a great place to chill out, get wasted, hang out with family or meet mates…doubt anywhere has a park in the centre that big….where does it end?

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Well if we are talking parks you and I have discussed this before and plenty of other cities in the UK have great parkland just like Cardiff

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

I think the disruption caused to the rail network by a redevelopment of central would be extensive and take far too long

A new parkway station to the north east would reduce a lot of pressure on central and smaller trains could take passengers into central to allow others to go on the main lines ?

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You're not wrong but central station being redeveloped is inevitable, and the disruption will have to be covered by other stations mentioned. Central Station simply has to redeveloped.

For what it's worth London Bridge and New Street were redeveloped and I think remained operational, it can be done.

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Originally Posted by goats

What about the castle grounds? It’s huge, central and provides a great place to chill out, get wasted, hang out with family or meet mates…doubt anywhere has a park in the centre that big….where does it end?

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It is lovely. You're the same end as me, if it's nice then i'll take a walk from my house and cut through by Tesco and walk through into the City centre. Sadly, Duke St looks dirty and tired and Queen St needs sorting out. A mini Borough Market would be good in Cardiff, somewhere cheap to get half decent food with a bit of variety.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Well I know you like opera and religious sort of oddball stuff but when it comes to putting bums on seats it just doesn't work

It's incredibly right on and pretentious but there's no point in having somewhere like the millennium centre with a lovely 2500 seats and great facilities if some obscure organist is on stage in front of no audience

How are these places going to survive ?

It would be a great rock concert venue and the place would be full

It's all very well telling everybody what a great music scene and facilities we have but you need to be truthful and tell them the locals just ain't interested in most of the stuff

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I go to 3 or 4 opera there each year and it's generally pretty full. What was it like when you attended?

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Originally Posted by Robin Friday's Ghost

I go to 3 or 4 opera there each year and it's generally pretty full. What was it like when you attended?

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I think we both know that pretty full isn't quite the same as full

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Well if we are talking parks you and I have discussed this before and plenty of other cities in the UK have great parkland just like Cardiff

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Cardiff is officially the greenest city in the UK

Cardiff has more than five parks per 100,000 people

Here are the top ten greenest cities in Europe, according to the study:

1. Paris, 7.62 parks per 100,000 people

2. Luxembourg city, 8.51 trees

3. Dublin, 6.47

4. Cardiff, 5.54

5. Lisbon, 4.59

6. Bratislava, 2.81

7. Helsinki, 6.02

8. Reykjavik, 3.05

9. Barcelona, 5.12

10. Belfast, 4.31

https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/reve...the-uk-112222#

The above is capital cities apparently :getscoat:

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Originally Posted by Baloo

The above is capital cities apparently :getscoat:

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So that's not correct then ?

Sludge you are an absolute disgrace. Slagging off our fantastic city constantly. You should be ashamed of yourself.

The number of parks is probably less significant than the acreage.

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

The number of parks is probably less significant than the acreage.

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Not too sure. I think people tend to use a local park if within easy reach. We have a small one around the corner that I often walk through and is quite busy with other likeminded locals. I rarely travel out of my way to visit a park these days.

Ultimately, different people like different things in Cities.
It depends what you are after.

Sydney, to me is the most overrated City that I have ever spent a significant amount time in and I’ve no desire to return but many people love it.

I think Cardiff is a great City as it is.

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Originally Posted by Wash DC Blue

Ultimately, different people like different things in Cities.
It depends what you are after.

Sydney, to me is the most overrated City that I have ever spent a significant amount time in and I’ve no desire to return but many people love it.

I think Cardiff is a great City as it is.

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People who have never really been anywhere else think ......insert name of city ......is the best

To suggest Cardiff has a good live music culture is an opinion that falls down if compared to many other UK cities

A nice civic centre , parks .....yes ...but the best ?

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Originally Posted by Alan Lung

Sludge you are an absolute disgrace. Slagging off our fantastic city constantly. You should be ashamed of yourself.

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Shut it Rupert

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

The number of parks is probably less significant than the acreage.

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True - but not totally reliable.

Sheffield is often quoted as the greenest city in Europe - but that is also a bit misleading. One third of Sheffield is in the Peak District National Park, and there are loads of parks (if not as many trees as a few years ago!) - many of them big. But there are still large swathes of the city that are covered by big estates, similar to most major cities in the UK, that are mostly brick, tarmac and concrete.

Number of parks and acreage are useful indicators - but spread of green space and access are also important.

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Originally Posted by Robin Friday's Ghost

I go to 3 or 4 opera there each year and it's generally pretty full. What was it like when you attended?

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I love the Millennium Centre. Opera is well supported there, but it's hardly just about opera. Musicals have good stints there with sellout nights. It supports all manner of artists on its public stage. We should be proud that we have somewhere like this in Wales. I was lucky enough to be a part of the support act for Brett Anderson last year. It might not have Sludge's metal bands, but it is a great venue that many cities would love to have.

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Originally Posted by Baloo

Not too sure. I think people tend to use a local park if within easy reach. We have a small one around the corner that I often walk through and is quite busy with other likeminded locals. I rarely travel out of my way to visit a park these days.

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That's wonderful but there's a difference between Jubilee Park and Hyde Park.

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

That's wonderful but there's a difference between Jubilee Park and Hyde Park.

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🤣

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

It's a fact that Liverpool has more art galleries than Cardiff

It's a fact that Cardiff Central is a very small train station and doesn't have the capacity of Leeds , Manchester Piccadilly , Sheffield Midland , Bristol Temple Meads etc

It's a fact that Newcastle has an extensive metro system , including an underground , Cardiff doesn't

I am all for people being proud to an extent of where they come from but most of the praise of Cardiff seems to be hyperbole and comes straight out of Wales Online

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Cardiff doesn't need a bigger train station. It's not a hub. As for smaller music venues, what's wrong with Club Ifor Bach? It's perfect.

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

That's wonderful but there's a difference between Jubilee Park and Hyde Park.

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I lived in London for 5 years and hardly ever visited Hyde Park. We were always kicking a ball around the local park in Muswell Hill. Hyde Park seemed to be mostly full of office/shop workers having their lunch and tourists on the few occasions I went there when there was no event on.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I love the Millennium Centre. Opera is well supported there, but it's hardly just about opera. Musicals have good stints there with sellout nights. It supports all manner of artists on its public stage. We should be proud that we have somewhere like this in Wales. I was lucky enough to be a part of the support act for Brett Anderson last year. It might not have Sludge's metal bands, but it is a great venue that many cities would love to have.

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Most of the events at the millennium, like St David's Hall, are poorly attended

It's a waste of money

If it had more bands , not just metal bands , more bands of any kind , that would be a start

It's an excellent venue , criminally under used

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Originally Posted by Baloo

I lived in London for 5 years and hardly ever visited Hyde Park. We were always kicking a ball around the local park in Muswell Hill. Hyde Park seemed to be mostly full of office/shop workers having their lunch and tourists on the few occasions I went there when there was no event on.

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Got to love Brockwell Park.

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Originally Posted by NYCBlue

Cardiff doesn't need a bigger train station. It's not a hub. As for smaller music venues, what's wrong with Club Ifor Bach? It's perfect.

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For every small venue like the Welsh club cities like Bristol have plenty more

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Most of the events at the millennium, like St David's Hall, are poorly attended

It's a waste of money

If it had more bands , not just metal bands , more bands of any kind , that would be a start

It's an excellent venue , criminally under used

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Rubbish. Why do you think events at WMC and SDH are poorly attended?

Edit: Actually, you don't give a feck about anything other than bands. Hence your opinion is worthless.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

For every small venue like the Welsh club cities like Bristol have plenty more

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So what?

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

So what?

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It's the thread you started

Cardiff is OK, in some ways good but it's not valhalla

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Rubbish. Why do you think events at WMC and SDH are poorly attended?

Edit: Actually, you don't give a feck about anything other than bands. Hence your opinion is worthless.

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The number of tickets sold for events

If an opera or whatever it is you are into is on for 6 nights but only has decent attendance on two then that's a poor attended event

On the odd occasion bands do get a slot at the millennium they normally sell out sharpish

There just isn't the population or demand for off the wall stuff which is the sort of stuff you clearly like

It's not that I don't like it , it's that very few other people do either

Cardiff is not a cultural city , never has been

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

People who have never really been anywhere else think ......insert name of city ......is the best

To suggest Cardiff has a good live music culture is an opinion that falls down if compared to many other UK cities

A nice civic centre , parks .....yes ...but the best ?

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Newport had fantastic music venues but I had to jump on the train for 10-15 minutes to get my jeans from Woodies.

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Originally Posted by Wash DC Blue

Newport had fantastic music venues but I had to jump on the train for 10-15 minutes to get my jeans from Woodies.

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Newport had some great venues

I think I have spoken to you before about that place half way up the hill going out of the city centre ....Stow hill or Al ty ryn ?

It had a dragon coming down from the ceiling? Huge thing

Saw a few metal bands there

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

I think we both know that pretty full isn't quite the same as full

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I also go to 30+ gigs a year at various venues. I'd say 3-4 are sold out. I've seen 2 contemporary music gigs at the WME. One was 'pretty full', the other had the circles closed. You don't really know what you're talking about.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I love the Millennium Centre. Opera is well supported there, but it's hardly just about opera. Musicals have good stints there with sellout nights. It supports all manner of artists on its public stage. We should be proud that we have somewhere like this in Wales. I was lucky enough to be a part of the support act for Brett Anderson last year. It might not have Sludge's metal bands, but it is a great venue that many cities would love to have.

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Of course it is. The annual Llais festival has some superb bands and artists - I assume that was when you played there? I saw John Cale there a while back.

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Originally Posted by NYCBlue

Cardiff doesn't need a bigger train station. It's not a hub. As for smaller music venues, what's wrong with Club Ifor Bach? It's perfect.

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The Globe, the Moon, Fuel, the Acapela, the Gate in Roath, the Earl Haig. Those are the ones I attend regularly.

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Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY

Most of the events at the millennium, like St David's Hall, are poorly attended

It's a waste of money

If it had more bands , not just metal bands , more bands of any kind , that would be a start

It's an excellent venue , criminally under used

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They aren't though. And because they aren't, you have obviously no evidence whatsoever for your insistence that they are. I go there regularly. I know you'll simply reply that the crowds are small but that doesn't make it true, it just makes you look daft and ill-informed.