CARDIFF : HA HA Bar or Slug and Lettuce?

Kez100

I'm off to Cardiff with the family and have plenty of clubcard vouchers to use. The children are growing now and eat adult meals so, as long as children are accepted, I am thinking of using some of my vouchers for a late lunch at one of the two establishments above. Has anyone any experience of Cardiff and these eateries?

Kez100

No problem .

Seakay

Ha Ha's is part of a franchise, very popular, freshly cooked food, quite pricey but good. All ages welcome, especially in the day; I would say "grown up" but not too intimidating. Fresh open feel, little sofas, tables and chairs, chunky wood, some food preparation in view. House wine is overpriced and not that wonderful, but if you avoid that you should have a nice time. Fish cakes and fish fingers are yummy, Bailey's latte is dreamy, but possibly not for family lunch! Here's a link to give you an idea of the menu:
http://www.hahaonline.co.uk/pdf/menus/haha_food_menu_c.pdf

Kez100

Thanks a lot. Menu helps me decide how many vouchers to get. We have to pay in full for drinks but won't be drinking as such, like you say.

pavlovs_dog

there are lots of the restaurants that you can use your vouchers for available in cardiff; bella italia on st marys street, ma potters in the old brewery quarter (just off of st marys street behind hard rock cafe), yates on westgate street by the millennium stadium and harry ramsdens down in the bay.

dont know if that helps by widening your choices a little bit

Kez100

I did find them but the other two seemed closest to where we are likely to be, I think.

You may be able to confirm : staying at Travelodge Central and going to New Theatre - eating at circa 4.30.

Second day going to Techniquest and eating circa 4.00 somewhere in between Techniquest and Cardiff Central station.

pavlovs_dog

depending on what day you plan to use them....

haha and slug and lettuce are indeed closest to the new theatre, but cardiff is a compact city. unless you are going to a matinee performance it wouldnt take much more than 15 minutes to walk from st marys street, or 20 if coming from westgate street, so i doubt that going to somewhere further out would be that much of an issue

if you wanted to use your vouchers on day 2, techniquest is a 2 minute walk from harry ramsdens.

hope that helps, and any cardiff questions i can help you with just ask :j

Kez100

Thanks a lot.

I do have a few :

Which 'voucher' eatery is closest to the Travelodge? Is the Vue Cinema at the Millenium Plaza an easy walk from the accommodation? Are taxis readily available? Is it possible to walk to Techniquest from Travelodge?

Seakay

The Vue cinema is a very easy walk from the Travelodge - like, 5 minutes or so down Wood Street and just your side of the river. Techniquest more of a challenge - OH would say that it was an easy 30 minutes, I would say rather more! However, you are very close to the bus station and the train station, eithr of which will get you to the Bay area or if you fancy a bit of a treat then the river taxi (from the river stop next to the Millenium Stadium, which is next to the Vue cinema and opposite the bus station) will get you to Cardiff Bay from where Techniquest is a much easier and pleasanter walk.
Taxis are available outside the train station, on St Marys Street, from an office in Westgate Street which is Parallel to St Marys Street, and from an office adjacent to the bus station.
If you get stuck away from the hotel then Dragon is (029) 20333333 - I think that this is the easiest to remember.

http://www.cardiffbus.com/index.html
http://www.cardiffcats.com/

Jonbvn

Using Wikimapia, aerial views of where you want to go are as follows:

Techniquest.
New Theatre.
Vue Cinema.

HTH!

pavlovs_dog

Kez100 wrote: »

Thanks a lot.

I do have a few :

Which 'voucher' eatery is closest to the Travelodge? Is the Vue Cinema at the Millenium Plaza an easy walk from the accommodation? Are taxis readily available? Is it possible to walk to Techniquest from Travelodge?

ma potters would be the nearest, followed by bella italia.

for ma potters - come out of travelodge, and cross over to opposite side of the road. turn to the left and walk up st mary's street. you will pass a sports shop and come to a lane - cardiff's infamous 'chippy lane'. turn right into chippy lane, and about half way down on the left hand side you will find 'coal' - this is cardiff's ma potters (might want to phone and check whether they will accept ma potters vouchers 08717031067).


alternatively for bella italia, instead of turning right ito chippy lane, keep walking up st marys street, past hard rock cafe. keep going until you are almost at the castle. bella italia will be on your left hand side.

for vue cinema - come out of travel lodge and turn left. walk past the philamonic and turn left at the prince of wales onto wood street. walk down wood st past the bus station. cross over when it is safe to do so. vue is in the big building in front of the millennium stadium. enter via the doors under the bar risa sign. they've recently stopped manning the downstairs ticket desk so you may have to take the elevator upstairs (two lots of elevators if i remember correctly). you buy your tickets at the popcorn desk on the first floor of the cinema (which is the 2nd/3rd floor of the building).


whilst down the bay, look out for the red dragon centre. this is about a 10 mintue walk from techniquest. there is an odeon cinema there (more expensive than vue) but also 10 pin bowling and a dr who exhibition if thats of any interest to your little ones for any torchwood fans amongt you, the torchwood HQ can be found in the oval basin down in the bay, just outside the millennium centre (the building that looks like an armadillo :rotfl: )