welshboywonder's Qype profile

This bar used to be part of the Edwards chain (there is one in Cardiff on St Mary’s Street) and then NP20. Reflex is an 80’s themed bar theat plays 80’s music and has lots of 80’s memorabilia. The drinks are fairly priced and they often have special offers and cheap drink nights. The interiors have a retro feel, with Rubic’s cubes, poles for dancing, and a DJ booth for requests. A place to have fun with your mates, without going to a supersize club. May have to queue to get in and there is a small charge for entrance on the weekend.

A place for music. Had a lot of Indie acts and rock acts. A cool underground feel. Lots of students go there, and it has a little food hatch that does kebabs. A small venue which has two rooms with a bar between them and then a fair sized dance floor which gets quite busy with lots of people dancing! Gets very busy on weekends and there is door charge for entrance.

The venue is next to Newport market. Good for live music during the week, to view unsigned bands and start ups. I cool place to go for the Newport music scene for the alternative crowd.

Esporta is a Health Club located just off Avondale Road in Cwmbran. It used to be Club Indigo, but changed to Esporta a few years back. It features a full modern gym, swimming pool, aerobics room, cafe and children’s creche, and as part fo the building there is a health and beauty section, where you can get your hair cut, nails done, waxing and other beauty treatments. I used to be a member at this gym, and the facilities are of a high quality, the staff are very friendly and make a point of saying your name when you enter and it is a great place to relax after work or on weekends. The gym does get quite busy at 5 pm though.

The Congress is a small theatre based in Cwmbran Town Centre. I’m not sure how many people it seats, but I would say the auditorium is about the size of the largest screen in a big cinema (Cineworld). They put on small shows, a lot with children, and have some comedy acts, and local stars. They do not host major shows though, it is more on a local scale. Pantomimes at christmas etc etc. There is free parking for theatre available through Cwmbran Shopping, where the theatre is based, and the bus station is right next door, allowing easy access for visitors.

Very good chicken.. The place specialises in Take-Away chicken, primarily fried, and the do a meal deals election which you get chicken, fries and a drink (this can range from chicken pieces, to a chick burger or chicken kebab). They cook the food fresh when you get there, which is great, because it is a bit disappointing when you are really hungry and get a day long baked piece of southern fried chicken that needs a drink to wash it down! Remember that you will have to wait for the food though, so don’t be impatient. They staff are friendly and the place is clean.

I love chocolate, and Thornton’s is good. They do chocolate bars, boxes of chocolates, ice-cream and gifts. A purely indulgent shop. I remember they had a massive chocolate fountain and you could stick a skewer with a marshmallow in and taste the gooey chocolate. The boxes they sell can get quite expensive, but the chocolates are delicate and beautiful and great for a present. The do a continental selection with cappuccino flavoured, strawberry and marzipan chocolates, and a dessert selection, with a raspberry fool and lemon meringue pie chocolate. Great for chocolate lovers and those who want to try some.

Cheap and cheerful. Everything is a pound (unless the product is not worth a pound, in which most cases it would be 2 for a pound). You can buy a lot of stuff here, ranging from toiletries, to batteries, household cleaning products, sweets and chocolate, toys for the kids, and accessories for the car. What is rubbish about the place is that most of it is 'tat’. You are not really paying for quality here, more cheap goods for cheap prices, however they do sell a few brand names, so you know what you are getting form your money. Its worth a look, especially if you like to grab a bargain.

I have been banking for HSBC for 25 years, since it was previously Midland Bank. I have received a good service form them. The staff in the Cwmbran Branch have always been friendly and approachable. It is not difficult to make an appointment to see someone, and I haven’t had anything to complain about. The only bad thing is that there is a fee if I want to reduce my overdraft, which I find a bit strange. They do try and sell to you from time to time, but this can also highlight better products for you. In general, a good bank to be with.

This might seem a random thing to review on, but Boots do the most amazing Sandwiches! They have a great selection, ranging from triple chicken (with chicken and, chicken salad and chicken and bacon), to duck in hosin sauce wrap, and BLT. They do a sandwich meal deal for around £3.50, and in this you get a Sandwich, and Bag of crisps (or a chocolate bar) and a soft drink. You can also have pasta dishes and salads. Great for lunch time or when you are on he go. The downside is that because they are popular, after the lunch time period, the selection becomes limited.

This store is above TopShop in Cwmbran (opposite Boots). The store sells Menswear clothing for the younger man/teenager, and sells a range of Jeans, Shoes, Accessories, Shirts, T-Shirts, Suits and more. They are a market leader in high street fashion, with a flagship store in London. In Cwmbran, the store is as fair size, and offers a good selection. The store is clean and tidy. The staff are friendly when approached . The clothes look good, but sometimes the quality is questionable. i bought a shirt once which felt like wearing card board it was so stiff! All in all though, for someone who likes to follow the trends, this store will help you out.