Handy Hints For Cardiff

[shielfield]

As a first timer to the Grand Prix in Cardiff, does anyone have any recommendations on what time to go, what to buy etc? Really looking forward to the experience and want to make the most of it!!

[Hazzman]

I wouldnt give tips, I would say enjoy yourself and discover.

[shazzybird]

Enjoy your day!!!! The whole Cardiff experience is excellent, I would suggest though buying your airhorn cannisters at your home track as they tend to be a bit light on the gas and very temperamental (oh and get lots of them as you tend to use half a dozen just on the build up )

[rabbit]

Merchandise and stuff is on sale from the morning outside the stadium so you could do like a lot of people and head to get any stuff you want before the afternoon when it gets really manic there.

 

I'd say make sure you're in Cardiff city centre from midday onwards - the atmosphere really starts to build. Get yourself to one of the pubs - the forum local is the Prince of Wales and you'll find plenty of us there. You'd be surprised who you'll see. What time you get to the stadium depends on whether you want to see Bonnie Tyler I guess. Whatever though, just have a great day - there's no other event like it.

 

Are the U15s doing a few races this year? If so I hope that it's after the music and not before only I missed it last time.

[Guest PanthersChamp06]

Yep I agree with Rabbit, if you get there early enough iy is quite amazing watching the Crowds Gather round everywhere. Might have to pop in this time to the Prince Of Wales, when I got there it was packed and you couldnt get in

[Steve Turner]

I think it was Papa Bazarou that named a quality pre-GP boozer from last year. With a not-so-busy beer garden. Think I'll have to get him to remind me what it was.

Only problem with the Prince of Wales is it takes 20 minutes to get served... and SOME OF US buy a lot of drinks It's traditional to go there though, it would just be nice to add another, maybe better, one.

We lost Sam's bar didn't we...anyone know if it's re-opened ?

 

My advice, shielfield...go to enjoy it from start to finish. Don't expect, or even wish for any good racing. That way, your day out can only be enhanced by it when it comes.

Ultimately, (unless some git spoils it for ya), the whole experience is exactly what you make it. So meet up with friends, make new ones, drink beer, sing songs, laugh, scream, drink more beer, make more noise, smile til your cheeks hurt, have a nightcap, then sleep !

 

Oh hang on...squeeze some speedway in there somewhere as well.

 

Bring it on !!!

[Guest Shale Eater]

My first Cardiff experiance was last year and it was amazing!!!!!! So just go there, enjoy yourself and make sure you have about a million air horns

 

BTW, I'm gonna make an appearance at the Forum gathering this year, so you have all been warned

[London Witch]

We lost Sam's bar didn't we...anyone know if it's re-opened ?

 

 

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It had already re-opened when we went there last August. Has a new trendy name now, "Zync" or something similar.

 

BTW, I'm gonna make an appearance at the Forum gathering this year, so you have all been warned  

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God help us!

[Deano]

Take a pair of ear plugs.........It's very very very very...I SAID VERY VERY VERY LOUD!.....Enjoy....

[youngy105]

I echo what everyone else has said.........just enjoy it. It's a fanstastic day out and with the pairs at Swindon the day after why not make a great weekend of it.

[f-s-p]

I think it was Papa Bazarou that named a quality pre-GP boozer from last year. With a not-so-busy beer garden. Think I'll have to get him to remind me what it was.

Only problem with the Prince of Wales is it takes 20 minutes to get served... and SOME OF US buy a lot of drinks    It's traditional to go there though, it would just be nice to add another, maybe better, one.

 

Malcolm Holloway has highly recommended the pub right across the main entrance, "Arm's something?" Having met and spoken with Mr. H a trust him with every speedway info he gives. And It's of no coincidence that I have traded my basic outlet T-shirt for a Ryan Fisher team-shirt in that same bar for a pint of beer from... Mr Ryan Fisher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited April 21, 2006 by f-s-p

[Papa Bazarou]

I think it was Papa Bazarou that named a quality pre-GP boozer from last year. With a not-so-busy beer garden. Think I'll have to get him to remind me what it was.

Only problem with the Prince of Wales is it takes 20 minutes to get served... and SOME OF US buy a lot of drinks    It's traditional to go there though, it would just be nice to add another, maybe better, one.

We lost Sam's bar didn't we...anyone know if it's re-opened ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Steve - Its Callaghans Irish Bar on the corner of Castle Street and the Millenium stadium walk and under the Holliday Inn, the beer garden is a sun trap, and would be perfect for a forum meet up, not forgetting its my birthday on June 3rd !

 

Here is an article from a Cardiff night out website . .

 

http://www.bigcardiff.co.uk/articles.php?article_id=40

 

What more could you ask for - a large Irish bar located right alongside the Millennium Stadium walkway. You can be stood at the bar drinking your Guinness one minute, and in your seat in the stadium the next!

 

Being so close to the stadium - Callaghans is an obvious favourite on match days. I was once stood near the doorway during a Wales v Ireland match and a stadium steward walked in offering 2 free tickets to the match. Needless to say, I took the tickets and Callaghans has been alright by me ever since! Wales lost the match incidentally, no surprises there then.

 

Callaghans has all the essential ingredients for being a good Irish bar:

 

- They serve a good pint of Guinness - which will only set you back £1.50 after 9pm.

- The atmosphere is always good humoured...and generally very loud with it!

- Live music can be enjoyed here EVERY night of the week.

- The walls are dripping with all manner of replica Irish antiques!

 

Being a hotel bar (located under the Holiday Inn) Callaghans is also open later than other pubs. It is generally open until 2am on most nights of the week.

 

There is a good range of bar food served throughout the day including all the usual dishes: burgers, pizzas, baguettes, steaks, and ofcourse, the 'All Day Irish Breakfast'.

 

Callaghans Irish Bar

Castle Street,

Cardiff,

CF10 1XD

 

Tel: 029 2034 7247

[Steve Turner]

I didn't realise you were on the payroll, Papa B !

 

Sounds like it could become the new home...

Thanks mate

[Midnight Blue]

Hate to put a negative attitude to this post but i find Cardiff a bit of a bummer to get to and find accomadation (expensive aswell).

 

Having been twice before and really enjoyed the weekends i find it tough to justify the cost (having said that i can afford it ?) and long drive.

 

If only the Millenium stadium could be transported to London or Manchester!!

 

Looks like i will be watching a recording this year as i am working that day too.

 

Have a great weekend and dont forget the ear plugs.

[DanTheMan]

having never been msyelf yet, do you really need earplugs ? is it that loud ?

[Steve Turner]

If you're concerned, or you've got dodgy ears, or suffered headaches from noise before...then take some plugs

 

Alternatively...

a group of friends went last year for their first ever speedway meeting. I jokingly advised them that because it gets loud, it might be best to buy some airhorns and join-in !

They did just that and loved it !

[youngy105]

The noise isn't that bad...I find it adds to the occasion.

[FairyTasha]

Another place to puy airhorns and air horn canisters is car shops. We get ours from Camberly Auto factors near us, think the canisters were about £3.50 and one with the horn was about £4-£5! Cheaper than the tracks.

Edited April 22, 2006 by FairyTasha

[SCB]

Hate to put a negative attitude to this post but i find Cardiff a bit of a bummer to get to and find accomadation (expensive aswell).

 

Having been twice before and really enjoyed the weekends i find it tough to justify the cost (having said that i can afford it ?) and long drive.

 

If only the Millenium stadium could be transported to London or Manchester!! 

Yes, Cardiff is a lot further from Workington that London (it's closer by a pretty negligable amount BTW) and the cost of hotels in affluent South Wales is a lot more than any hotel in London! NOT.

 

If you want to stay in the centre of Cardiff, the weekend a big event is taking place in the city centre, you'll pay loads (as you would anywhere). Howvever, use your brain and stay in Newport, pay a lot less and still only be a bus and a train (maybe only a train) ride away from Cardiff and down the road from the Newport meetings on the Friday and Saturday. Newport to Cardiff is less than the distance from 1 side of London to the other! What you spend on bus/train fares will almost be saved on parking costs!

 

 

So my tips, save a bit of cash and stay in Newport, spend the money you've saved on a hotel by drinking a little more, by loads of airhorns (or if you're an old fuddie duddie buy some ear protection as your ears WILL still be buzzing when you get to bed), don't buy a programme as filling one in under the influence is near impossible (easier now with the current format I guess). Get to cardiff for mid-day and get into a bar (they're all by the stadium, for a reason!) and generaly have fun, you'd have to really try hard not to! If you really want to, you can even go and do some shopping pre-meeting!

Edited April 22, 2006 by SCB

[shazzybird]

Steve - Its Callaghans Irish Bar on the corner of Castle Street and the Millenium stadium walk and under the Holliday Inn, the beer garden is a sun trap, and would be perfect for a forum meet up

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Any forum folk with children be warned they don't allow kids in there