Does Cardiff city centre scare you at night?

[spacemonkey]

I think Cardiff is one of the safest cities i've ever been to in the UK. There's nowhere in Cardiff i wouldn't walk at night. The city centre is very boozy obviously, but it's the smaller towns binge drinking that scares me more.

In my 22 years of living here i've only been assaulted once, and that was by some bloke who thought it would be clever to kick in a 13 year old outside his highschool for no reason.

 

[jannerboyuk]

I think Cardiff is one of the safest cities i've ever been to in the UK. There's nowhere in Cardiff i wouldn't walk at night. The city centre is very boozy obviously, but it's the smaller towns binge drinking that scares me more.

In my 22 years of living here i've only been assaulted once, and that was by some bloke who thought it would be clever to kick in a 13 year old outside his highschool for no reason.

Not totally convinced by this. Definitely better then London (and i find Tottenham worse then Brixton by miles although always found Newham/stratford ok) and much better then fucking Gillingham which is the nastiest place in thr south of England imo. But having worked in St Mellons including regularly finishing at 10om and having to wait for the bus its not a place i would want to walk through there at night. Not having a go at St.Mellons per se but just that i have experience there and would mention Ely and Fairwater and Riverside but thats by reputation not experience. Overall though i would agree that for its size Cardiff seems like a chilled out place to live and I intend being here for a while exactly for that reason.
Roath is the nicest of all.

 

[Col_Buendia]

I've lived here for over 15 years and the only time i've ever been assulted was by a copper.

cardiff's a dream, no grief what-so-ever. it's the main reason i stayed here.

"A dream"...?? well, I dunno Zog, you and I must take different substances to facilitate sleep

But would I be wrong in assessing that the three comments above seem a little out of step with the prevailing view?

I certainly get verbal abuse on a regular basis, I mean, off the top of my head, walking home one night, past the Orange shop onto the end of Queen St, with two mates equally non-descript (certainly not dready crusty hippy whatever pidgeonhole looking people), and some dickhead shouts "here lads, Glastonbury is THAT way". Y'see, for me, that is grief, not much grief, but unwarranted, unnerving and unnecessary. Maybe some people just don't notice this sort of stuff, or can happily ignore it when it happens, but I can't (yet). Maybe I need a new walkman with louder earphones!

Saying that, mind, I don't know that many other UK cities, and therefore I wasn't making a comparison when I asked the original question. But christ, if people think Cardiff is one of the safest cities, I'm not fooking leaving

 

[dynamicbaddog]

There was a fighting culture among the valleys people long before the pits closed.

Probally true unfortunalty , I grew up in Aberdare/Hirwaun and when I used to drink there (around 1982) it was almost impossible to go into pubs without some prat attempting to start on you. Though last time I was in Wales I was staying with relatives in Ponty and thought it was all very peaceful and friendly (maybe on that particular weekend all the nutters were out visiting Cardiff )
Did anyone see that programme on Sky One last year where they featured Hirwaun as one of Britains Toughest Villages?

 

[King Biscuit Time]

I've only been to Hirwaun once, to see these bad boys get blown up!

Didn't fancy hanging around for a drink afterwards though!

 

[Alf Klein]

I hear Dorothy's have replaced the chicken curry with coq au vin.

Really?

 

[Alf Klein]

That's where I grew up!

Except not in a particularly "rough" part of town, although I swiftly moved into the city centre in my teenage years, and lived there, close to the main entertainment drag for 6 years. Never saw the like of Caroline St, though.

What, though, is a "fighting culture". I mean, people like lots of things, but how does "fighting" come to define the culture of a given area? And who started it? (If you know what I mean )

Edited to add: I was being slightly ironic when I asked if people actually enjoyed fighting! But enjoying fighting makes as much sense to me as enjoying being shagged by an alsatian. I know some folk are into it, but it beats me as to why.

I grew up near Cardiff. Also lived in Belfast for a couple of years. Never saw any brawling there. More puke in the street than anywhere elese I've been though. People more pissed up than anywhere else as well. Didn't seem to be any menace in the 'safe' bits of town though.

 

[phildwyer]

Really?

No.

 

[spacemonkey]

I mean, off the top of my head, walking home one night, past the Orange shop onto the end of Queen St, with two mates equally non-descript (certainly not dready crusty hippy whatever pidgeonhole looking people), and some dickhead shouts "here lads, Glastonbury is THAT way". Y'see, for me, that is grief, not much grief, but unwarranted, unnerving and unnecessary.

That does suck, but really, is there anywhere in britain these days where thats unlikely to happen? I got shouted out by a load of local kids in a tiny fishing village in cornwall a few months back. I don't think they've even heard the word 'crime' down there.
Definately agree with the headphones though, good idea. Pisses them off if they don't get the attention they crave.

Out of interest any suggestions for safer cities than cardiff (not based on crime rates) but a 1st hand view....

 

[Alf Klein]

No.

I'm glad

 

[zog]

I certainly get verbal abuse on a regular basis, I mean, off the top of my head, walking home one night, past the Orange shop onto the end of Queen St, with two mates equally non-descript (certainly not dready crusty hippy whatever pidgeonhole looking people), and some dickhead shouts "here lads, Glastonbury is THAT way". Y'see, for me, that is grief, not much grief, but unwarranted, unnerving and unnecessary. Maybe some people just don't notice this sort of stuff, or can happily ignore it when it happens, but I can't (yet). Maybe I need a new walkman with louder earphones!

Saying that, mind, I don't know that many other UK cities, and therefore I wasn't making a comparison when I asked the original question. But christ, if people think Cardiff is one of the safest cities, I'm not fooking leaving

I'd treat the Glastonbury comment as a bit of banter myself. I grew up in Coventry where if you went out at night you went out for a fight - hence I don't live there no more. In comparason Cardiff is sweet.

 

[Gavin Bl]

There was a fighting culture among the valleys people long before the pits closed.

Merthyr is the same, mainly stupid brawling, but alarming on a friday night if you've been away for a while. It is a long standing thing though - my step-father recalls (back in the 1940s) begging his mum to let him stay up to watch the fights when the pub across the road threw them out at closing time. While Mam might have ruled the roost at home, otherwise S. Wales was a man's world - a very macho culture. I think there's also a defiance in there, which is a distorted echo of the resentments at the towns history and radical working class credentials.

I guess a bit of a diff is that back then, you tended to get it IF you were looking for it - still true now, but maybe less so.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Merthyr is the same, mainly stupid brawling, but alarming on a friday night if you've been away for a while. It is a long standing thing though - my step-father recalls (back in the 1940s) begging his mum to let him stay up to watch the fights when the pub across the road threw them out at closing time.

Aye, we used to make our own entertainment before television...

 

[Gavin Bl]

Aye, we used to make our own entertainment before television...

As my nana used to say

"None of THEM have seen the inside of a PROPER chapel this long time."

that, or

"catholics, probably"

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I bet they'd seen the inside of some other offical buildings though...

 

[Lucky JACKSON]

Fuck it!
Openly honest there's an aspect of myself that skirts and flirts with anti-social energy.
Dunno.
As a rule I despise violence, am quite cowardly in my own conduct but I\m a huge fan of idiocy especially when it's sanctioned by alcohol.
Still hate violence but it comes with the territory of misbehaviour and drink is an ace agent for making poor decisions which appeal to my sense of humour.
I'm from Barry and carry and abstract pride everytime its name gets mentioned in negative terms.
It's a weird one, so in short I'm not against 'lad culture' I just wish it could kidk it in a way that isn't depressing or crap and fuck with kneejerk, shorthand preconceptions.
I guess it's an instinct thing that doesn't belong to the intellect but acting the maggot shouldn't stop you being inspirational.

 

[Col_Buendia]

Nice to hear an opinion from the other side of the street, as it were

LJ, if you've the time, a question or two:

As a rule I despise violence, am quite cowardly in my own conduct but I\m a huge fan of idiocy especially when it's sanctioned by alcohol.

Does that mean you like watching a brawl? I mean, I know folk go and watch boxing, wrestling, etc, so some people get off on that. But if you were spectating at a St Mary St punch-up, how far would it have to go before you might shout "enough"? In terms of physical injury? And do you feel any responsibility for what happens by merely being a spectator?

It's a weird one, so in short I'm not against 'lad culture' I just wish it could kidk it in a way that isn't depressing or crap and fuck with kneejerk, shorthand preconceptions.

How do you think that would work...? I mean, could it be possible for lads and non-lads (if you know what I mean) sharing the same physical space without mutual antagonism?*

I guess it's an instinct thing that doesn't belong to the intellect but acting the maggot shouldn't stop you being inspirational.

Dunno what you mean by this...

*I've just had this mental image of a group of nerdy students walking round town with copies of the Iliad under their arms, shouting at beery blokes "hey lads, the Burberry shop is THAT way" and then bursting into uproarious laughter. Walter Mitty? Moi?

 

[ddraig]

Nice to hear an opinion from the other side of the street, as it were
<snip>
How do you think that would work...? I mean, could it be possible for lads and non-lads (if you know what I mean) sharing the same physical space without mutual antagonism?*
<snip>

nice one, though it was just me being slow this morning

the bit in bold can often work at outdoor/free parties imo
not always mind, but u can sometimes see a bit of a range of people all appreciating the freedom aspect of it. and mutual love of loud music

 

[beat23]

I used to walk home alone through city centre on Saturday night at 2/3 am or later all the time at uni. Quite suprised by how many of you think Cardiff is really leary. I mean too many people do get stupidly drunk, I've seen some shouting and people just coming up to me and being dicks, but like somene said for the most part that's banter.

I've always felt safe in Cardiff comapred to say Swansea which I think is at least ten times more agressive and threatening in the city centre. And I'm from Llanelli - there's places you just don't go anywhere NEAR on a saturday night unless u want to get battered, knived or have a brick thrown at you. (the getting battered and brick throwing incidents have both happened to mates of mine relatively recently) Someone got stabbed in the middle of town in the middle of the day about 2 months ago. Cardiff barely makes me flinch in comparrison.

b23

 

[phildwyer]

So it seems we have a consensus: Cardiff is very violent and dangerous, but nowhere near as violent and dangerous as everywhere else in South Wales. That's alright then.

 

[beat23]

So it seems we have a consensus: Cardiff is very violent and dangerous, but nowhere near as violent and dangerous as everywhere else in South Wales. That's alright then.

Hahahahaha probly true!

 

[Belushi]

So it seems we have a consensus: Cardiff is very violent and dangerous, but nowhere near as violent and dangerous as everywhere else in South Wales. That's alright then.

LOL, thats pretty true ime.

 

[Col_Buendia]

To be fair, my original question was more about perceptions, rather than trying to establish "just how violent Cardiff may or may not be". I actually really like Cardiff, but the closing time circus makes me feel edgy, and I was wondering if others felt the same.

I only wish I could manage half the phlegm of the likes of Zog and b23 who seem to be able to let "banter" bounce off their backs. Any recommendations for improvements in that area?

Overly sensitive, me.

 

[phildwyer]

I only wish I could manage half the phlegm of the likes of Zog and b23 who seem to be able to let "banter" bounce off their backs. Any recommendations for improvements in that area?

Yes, do like the locals and get extremely pissed before walking home. Not only will the banter be water of the proverbial duck's back, but you will soon find yourself engaging in such traditional Caroline St customs as wolfing down Dorothy's chicken curry until nausea sets in and shouting obscenities at Charlotte Church. Before you know it you'll be a local yourself and you can move on to shouting banter at nerdy students.

 

[lunatrick]

I grew up in roath, and from my point of view cardiff isn't that bad at all.....yes there is pissed shouting, and a general chaotic leeriness, but nothing that serious. It has got a bit of a bad rep since those cctv programs about st mary's street on tv in the last couple of years - but in my experience the mid eighties were much worse, and I totally agree with the comments about other south wales towns...a walk in the park in comparison.

 

[Allen CCFC]

I really think that going down the Bay for a drink is the solution.

Had great nights there. It does have a tinge of over 25's night but what the heck.

Allen CCFC

 

[King Biscuit Time]

Where do you go after 11 though?! - Evolution!!

No thanks - Just say no kids.

 

[ddraig]

I really think that going down the Bay for a drink is the solution.

Had great nights there. It does have a tinge of over 25's night but what the heck.

Allen CCFC

and a tinge of 'money' no?

and fakin 'white shirted men'

give me a knackered pub (millers ) without the judgemental grief anyday

 

[LilMissHissyFit]

Yes, do like the locals and get extremely pissed before walking home. Not only will the banter be water of the proverbial duck's back, but you will soon find yourself engaging in such traditional Caroline St customs as wolfing down Dorothy's chicken curry until nausea sets in and shouting obscenities at Charlotte Church. Before you know it you'll be a local yourself and you can move on to shouting banter at nerdy students.

There is that aspect to it. I'm not adverse to a Dirty dot's special when Ive had a few.

I wonder whether its worse for Blokes or younger women? I never feel worried down there becuase I'm not a fighter and none of my friends are either and I just go straight from A-B dont get in any arseholes way, dont attract any arseholes and as a result don't get any grief. Whereas blokes in particular can kick off or get kicked seemingly for really stupid things like bumping into someone and spilling the top inch of someone pint and of course young women seem to get themselves into fights over 'you looked at my boyfriend, dont you go looking at my boyfriend' and related childish crap
*yawn*

 

[Col_Buendia]

Hmmm, and I wonder how much worse it is for people on their own... not that I'm suggesting that pissed up blokes would pick on other people on their own (!). Most people seem to be talking about being out with mates, but my experience from last Sunday was coming home on my own (even on the bike) and that makes it more of a challenge.

Dorothy's Chicken curry...? But hasn't that got... like... chicken in it?