In The City: Cardiff
Daniel Khan sampled Transport for Wales’ First Class offering to enjoy a ‘bleisure’ trip to the Welsh capital
Business travel is a consistently growing industry as professionals attend conferences, networking events, and large-scale company activities. Flexible working has also created a new generation of travellers who look to work from exciting new locations or extend their work trip with some leisure time exploring a new city. With 42% of UK travellers now adding leisure time to business trips (source: IHG), the trend is now so popular it has earned its own term: bleisure.
As the global bleisure travel market is forecast to grow 500% by 2033 (source: Statista), I decided to explore this new “bleisure boom” and travelled to Cardiff for a weekend of work, sightseeing and Welsh hospitality.
Travel Sustainably: Transport For Wales
Transport for Wales launched its First Class offering last year from Manchester and Holyhead to Cardiff, providing a comfortable and greener way to start (and end) a business trip.
My journey began at Manchester Piccadilly on the Transport for Wales First Class service to Cadiff. The route offered a smooth and quick connection, with a changing backdrop of rolling countryside from the Welsh border towns.
The First Class carriage felt notably spacious, with generously proportioned seating designed for comfort and productivity. My reservation included a large table ideal for working, alongside power sockets for laptop/phone charging and a high-speed WiFi connection - a detail many travel providers still struggle to deliver. The First Class service also included several hot and cold drinks and some wonderful British snacks, including the Welsh Shepherd’s Aberffraw Biscuits, which added a distinctive local touch.
For those looking to unwind, First Class offers a full food menu and an impressive drinks selection, which helps make the return journey as enjoyable as the departure.
Guided tour of Cardiff Castle
Surrounded by sweeping parklands, which transform into an open-air concert venue in the summer, Cardiff Castle stands as the city’s historic heart.
Booking a guided tour is highly recommended, offering a journey through almost 2000 years of history. Led by an expert guide, the experience spans its Roman origins through to the Second World War, with particular focus on the Castle’s extraordinary Victorian interiors and decorations and the visionaries who created them. The tour also offers exclusive access to spaces closed off to the public, including Lord Bute’s lavish bedroom, the Winter Smoking Room within the Castle’s Clock Tower and the spectacular Roof Garden.
Work From Desg Park Place
Cardiff is an ideal hub for meeting business travellers from across Wales as well as the nearby cities of Bristol and Bath. For those seeing a central and sophisticated meeting location, Desg Park Place is within easy reach of both Central and Queen Street stations and offers a premium workspace, perfect for hosting meetings or for hot desking when visiting the city.
Stay at The Parkgate Hotel
For the weekend, I stayed at The Parkgate Hotel, awarded Wales Hotel of the Year 2024 by AA Awards. Part of the Celtic Collection, the Grade II listed building occupies a landmark position, formerly housing the city’s Head Post Office and County Court. Today, its heritage architecture shapes the hotel’s character as no two bedrooms are alike, each thoughtfully designed around the building’s original features.
On arrival, I received a warm, Welsh welcome from Front of House Manager Ryan and his team in the hotel’s striking reception area. My Junior Suite featured a sumptuous queen bed, a spacious bathroom with walk-in shower, bath and Elemis toiletries plus a separate living/work space that overlooked the Principality Stadium, with a desk, sofa, coffee machine and widescreen TV.
Dinner at The Sorting Room - the hotel’s Michel-listed restaurant - proved to be a highlight of the stay. Set within the grand rooms of the former Post Office, the brasserie-style restaurant has a relaxed and elegant feel, with gorgeous chandeliers and plush leather seating.
Welsh beef is a real feature of the menu, appearing in dishes such as Beef Wellington and Chateaubriand to share. I opted for a thirty-five-day dry-aged Welsh reared beef rump that had a rich, full flavour and a tender yet firm texture. It came with thick cut chips, roasted garlic, Portobello mushroom and a gorgeous Penderyn whisky peppercorn sauce. The service throughout the evening was warm and attentive. This is a great spot for a client lunch or dinner.
After dinner, I retreated to the hotel’s lounge bar, an elegant extension of The Sorting Room, where live music from The Apple Tree Theory set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Their unique, high-energy acoustic mash-ups of pop and folk classics provided the perfect finale to a memorable stay.
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Unwind at Thermal Suite Spa Experience at The Parkgate Hotel
After a full-on weekend of exploring, the Thermal Suite Spa Experience at The Parkgate Hotel offered a lovely wellness escape to recharge. The spa offers the opportunity to relax with a book on a lounger, unwind in the steam room or sauna or take a dip in the pool.
With several treatments on offer from OSKIA and TEMPLESPA and gorgeous views of the city’s skyline, the Spa at The Parkgate Hotel is a lovely, leisurely way
to round out a weekend of activity.
Dine at Bar 44
Cardiff’s dining scene is packed full of independently owned bars and restaurants and Bar 44 on Westgate Street is a standout. Set within a former canal warehouse, the space is brimming with character, defined by arched brick ceilings and long tables that are perfect for gatherings of friends or colleagues. The bar also holds the distinction of being the only venue in the UK to pour three different sherries from full sized barrels positioned behind the bar.
The ever evolving menu is designed for leisurely sharing with a mix of bar snacks alongside an extensive selection of tapas dishes. Highlights include the spiced sticky sherry glazed chicken with roast garlic and the fried baby squid in a smoky mojo rojo. Leave room for the Burnt Basque cheesecake which is not to be missed. Bar44 is a venue where guests come for the food and stay for the atmosphere.
Also worth exploring are its sister venue Asador 44 on Quay Street, for a hearty breakfast and Lab 22 for an extensive list of expertly crafted cocktails.
To discover vibrant destinations like Cardiff, easily accessible via the TfW First Class network, search tfw.wales
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