Cardiff Castle Cardiff City Hall
19 Cardiff
experience food and drink is to taste it all for yourself , and there is no better way to do that than to join a food tour .
Sian Roberts runs Loving Welsh Food , and has been running Cardiff Food Tours since 2015 . “ For the last six years I ’ ve been introducing leisure and corporate clients to Cardiff ’ s food story , but also bringing in its heritage ,” she says . “ Clients meet the people behind the story , such as Ashtons fishmonger in Cardiff Market , which supplies local hotels and venues , and Wally ’ s long-established deli .
“ We have expanded to offer virtual events full of music , poems and tastings and participative team building itineraries incorporating local food and drink .”
Venues , hotels , restaurants and retailers that offer fantastic examples of local food sourcing are not in short supply . Corporate groups can either dine in-venue and experience this ethos or organise a dine-around for delegates , or even organise a tasting tour . However , it isn ’ t just the dining experience , but also the setting . Whether it is the main hall in the Exchange Hotel , Cardiff Bay or the famous Coal Exchange , where the world ’ s first
£ 1m coal deal was made in 1904 , guests will be fully immersed in the city ’ s history .
The ornate Banqueting Room at Cardiff Castle can accommodate 100 diners , who will find themselves right at the heart of Cardiff ’ s history in the middle of the city .
National Museum can accommodate 300 delegates within its striking main hall , and as you would expect , food is placed front and centre . The team run a weekend food festival at St Fagans National History Museum Cardiff in September each year to showcase local produce and retailers . Other venues to try include Mercure Holland Hotel & Spa and Principality Stadium .
Neil Piper , Head Chef at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama explains : “ We often find that clients want to see Welsh dishes or the use of local ingredients on the menu . It helps to make the event distinctively Welsh .”
Street food warehouse setting pioneered by Depot Cardiff offer an informal conference venue option , and Nick Saunders , the MD , says that the innovative style proved an instant hit .
“ I set up Depot Cardiff to bring
events to Cardiff . We transformed an old warehouse into the coolest venue in Cardiff . It took off instantly creating pop-up events such as Bingo Lingo , an alternative to the traditional bingo game , food and drink festivals ,” he says .
“ We have since moved to a larger warehouse space ( 2,043sqm ) with a beer garden . We now provide an alternative option for informal conferences and meetings as well as parties with a difference ”.
Tom Simmons , head chef of Thomas Restaurant and Ground Bakery , is one of the area ’ s leading culinary experts , and he personifies the region ’ s passion for food . “ Having established a restaurant at One Tower Bridge , I opened my Cardiff restaurant just before the pandemic hit ,” he says . “ What a learning curve it has been . I am originally from West Wales and am passionate about combining French inspired cooking and Welsh local ingredients .
“ We are now in a great position with the restaurant vibrant once again and a newly opened bakery close by . We offer a first-floor private dining room for 30 diners and are working with Meet Cardiff to provide an exclusive dinner menu for clients at selected outside venues .” CN www . conference-news . co . uk