If you live South Wales you’ve probably heard of the Vulcan pub, perhaps only as a result of the long-running campaign to save it from being demolished. The Vulcan is a pub that has been around for over 150 years, and the area that it is in has seen radical changes in the past 40-odd-years. It’s been around so long that the area that it was originally built in no longer exists, yet somehow it lives on, just. Where it [...]

With council elections coming up soon, May 3rd, Welsh citizens get their first chance since the last general election to decide who runs their area for the next four years. I would argue that these local elections are as important as, if not more important than, Parliamentary elections; the voter pool is significantly smaller, so in a lot of cases “every vote counts”, and the candidates that are being voted for can make a difference to a city, an area, [...]

Guest blog from my partner, Misia (@safetypin_) It was reported today that Adonis Kebab House in Cardiff has closed following an E.coli outbreak. Five people were affected – one was hospitalised. As far as I’m concerned, this simply isn’t acceptable. E.coli is easily preventable in cooked food. If fresh food is stored and cooked properly and preparation areas are kept clean, it is highly unlikely that an E.coli contamination will break out. But Adonis is not unique in its failure [...]

I love the Food Standard Agency’s hygiene ratings scheme, it was a long time coming – something that has been available in other countries for years, and I’ve blogged about it a couple of times before, here and here. The publishing of these records empowers the consumer to decide whether or not to visit an establishment, based on the standards that their kitchen is being run to, and not by vowing never to go there again when you have a [...]

Cardiff Council’s “Economy & Culture scrutiny committee” this week released a report digging into Cardiff’s night time economy, putting forward some recommendations that will go to the council’s executive meeting later this year. – Calls for a clear strategy and management of the night time economy – Better enforcement of licensing and other rules in the city centre by officers – Business signing up to a ‘standard’ for customer services – Investment in opening up the city centre at night [...]