How to Do a Pub Crawl in Cardiff

The Welsh capital of Cardiff, although a small city by most people’s standards, still packs in a good enough ratio of pubs and bars per square mile for even the most die hard drinkers. This trendy city, situated on the south coast of the country, is becoming more and more popular with tourists and is home to a burgeoning student population and the huge Millenium Stadium.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Look at a map of Cardiff to get your bearings and to locate each of the pubs you’ll want to visit. Handily, the city is very compact and you can walk around the centre of it with ease. Once you’ve planned the route, make sure everyone in your party knows it so that if anyone gets lost, they can easily rejoin the group at the next pub.
2. Decide what kind of venues you’re going to go to. There’s no way you’ll be able to work your way through every pub and bar in Cardiff city centre in one day let alone a night, so narrow it down to those that are appropriate for your group. For example, big chain pubs like Edwards and the Walkabout might offer the cheapest drinks deals, but their cheesy music won’t be for everyone.
3. Find out what everyone’s budget is for the night, and make sure you don’t plan to visit anywhere that’s too expensive on your pub crawl. If the places charge too much for drinks, people will have to drop out halfway through when their money runs out.
4. Get in touch with Cardiff’s tourist information centre or visit their website (see Resources below) if you’re completely new to the area. They’ll be able to provide you with maps of the town centre and suggestions of places to go.
5. Head to St Mary Street for a high density of mainstream bars, many of which are open until really late. There are also a couple of venues here that offer roof terrace drinking for when the weather is fine. The Cardiff Bay and Greyfriar’s Road areas offer more upmarket bars and restaurants, while if you’re looking for something a little cooler, head to Windsor Place just around the corner.
6. Ask as many locals or people who have visited Cardiff before for their advice on where to go. Guidebooks and tourist information are useful, but only through word of mouth will you be able to get a real feel for a place before you go.
7. Remember to book yourself somewhere to sleep–-you don’t want to be wandering around all night waiting for the first train home! Cardiff has plentiful accommodation for all tastes and budgets, so shop around before booking to find the right deal for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the dress codes of all the pubs or bars that you’re going to be visiting to make sure you’ll be allowed into them all. Some pubs don’t allow customers wearing trainers or sports clothes in.
• Look out for each other, especially if you’re in a group of girls. Don’t let anyone go home alone without putting them in a licensed cab, never leave your drinks out of your sight and never walk off on your own without telling the others where you’re going.
• Don’t forget your ID (a driver’s licence or passport)--if you look under 21, bar staff will not serve you without valid proof of age
• Smoking is forbidden in any public place in Wales, and this includes pubs, clubs and bars.

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