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The South Wales Magazine


Cardiff Speed Puzzle Championship: My First Attempt at Speed-Puzzling
There are hobbies you do to relax and then there are hobbies you suddenly attempt under pressure, surrounded by strangers, a ticking clock and the creeping realisation that two hours disappears far faster than you ever imagined. That’s how I found myself staring down at 500 scattered cardboard pieces at Cardiff’s first ever speed-puzzling championship. Competing in the UKJPA Speed Puzzle Championship Cardiff 2026 Hosted at Cardiff City House of Sport, the buzzing event brough


A New Era in Patient Care at St Joseph’s Hospital Newport
St Joseph’s Hospital has successfully performed its first robotic assisted surgical procedure, marking a significant milestone in its continued investment in advanced patient care. Robotic-Assisted Surgery from Mako SmartRobotics™ at St Joseph’s Hospital in Newport. Following a recent investment of over £1 million, independent private healthcare provider St Joseph’s Hospital in Newport is now able to offer all patients considering hip and knee replacement surgery even more ac


Hand crafted Furniture in South Wales
The BOX Furniture and Chunk Monkey are redefining handmade furniture with premium, handcrafted pieces designed to fit homes of every shape and size. The BOX Furniture and Chunk Monkey hand made furniture. South Wales is home to two sister furniture brands making big waves with hand-crafted, premium pieces, The BOX Furniture and Chunk Monkey. Both began with a passion for quality craftsmanship and have grown into distinct brands, each offering a unique approach to modern livin


Restaurant Review: A vegan feast at Mowgli Cardiff
We were invited to try the brand-new vegan menu at Mowgli Cardiff, a fresh plant-based addition to the restaurant’s vibrant Indian street food offering. Mowgli Cardiff Tucked along the bustling stretch of Church Street, Nisha Katona’s much-loved Indian street food concept has built its reputation on bold flavours, playful interiors and a fresh take on home-style Indian cooking. Known for small plates designed to share rather than the traditional curry house format, Mowgli pro


Climbing for Aled: A Mother-Daughter Mission to Machu Picchu
Sian and her mum Sylvia are taking on an 11-day trek through the Peruvian jungle in memory of Sian’s late son Aled. Battling altitude, splints and age, they’re walking to raise funds for Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice. Climbing for Aled: A Mother-Daughter Mission to Machu Picchu Trekking at altitude through the Peruvian jungle to the lost city of Machu Picchu would be a challenge for most people. But Sian Milligan, 44, who will be heading for Machu Picchu with her mum Sylvia Wal


Buddy, the biggest rock & roll musical comes to Wales Millennium Centre
Mega-smash musical Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story comes to Wales Millennium Centre from 14-17 May 2026. Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story comes to Wales Millennium Centre Buddy – the original ‘jukebox’ musical – has enjoyed phenomenal success, playing a record-breaking 4,900 performances over 614 weeks on tour in the UK and Ireland, as well as 5,822 performances over 728 weeks in London’s West End. Featuring a multi-talented cast of actor-musicians, Buddy presents two terrific hou


All New Priscilla! Bigger, Bolder and More Fabulous Than Ever
Dust off the sequins and prepare to party, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical is strutting into the Wales Millennium Centre this spring in a glittering, feel-good spectacular you won’t want to miss. Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical is at Wales Millennium Centre Celebrating 30 fabulous years since the iconic film first captured hearts, this dazzling new UK and Ireland tour promises bigger laughs, bolder costumes and more sparkle than ever before. Based on the


Upside Down House comes to Cardiff
Cardiff is no stranger to bold new openings, but this spring the city is quite literally turning things on its head. Upside Down House, Cardiff Upside Down House UK is bringing its gravity-defying experience to Cardiff, making it the brand’s very first Welsh location and adding a playful new landmark to the capital’s ever-evolving visitor scene. Opening on Queen Street, the attraction places itself firmly at the heart of the action, just moments from Cardiff Castle, the bustl


Future-focused New Homes in an Idyllic Heritage Location
Nestled in the picturesque grounds of The Vale Resort and historic Hensol Castle, Hensol Grove is an exclusive collection of sixteen sustainable new homes by independent housebuilders Acorn Property Group. Hensol Grove is an exclusive collection from Acorn Property Group This impressive scheme is set out over two phases with The Mews offering ten 2 & 3 bedroom homes, while The Villas will consist of six 4 & 5 bedroom detached houses. An exceptional setting, The Vale Resort is


Llanmoor Homes at 60
A trusted, family-run Welsh housebuilder combining heritage with modern, sustainable homes. Llanmoor Homes, Tondu For six decades, Llanmoor Homes has been a trusted name in housebuilding across South Wales, combining the reassurance of a family-run business with a progressive approach to modern living. Founded in 1966 by Chartered Accountant Brian Grey, Llanmoor has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality new homes in sought-after locations, from Neath Port Talb


The best luxury Easter eggs
Luxury Easter chocolate, tried and tasted, for those who truly savour the art of chocolate. Jacob the Sheep or Jenny the Sheep Easter Eggs by Bettys Jacob the Sheep or Jenny the Sheep Easter Eggs, £19.95 each, Bettys Two utterly charming Easter eggs, handcrafted by Bettys’ expert chocolatiers. Jenny, the White Chocolate Sheep, is made with rich, creamy Swiss white chocolate, indulgent yet balanced, melting smoothly without being overly sweet. Jacob, the Milk Chocolate Sheep,


‘You don’t need to hit 10k steps’: Rita Ora’s workout philosophy and why less can be more
The British artist says listening to her body has helped transform her relationship with fitness. Rita Ora now opts for low impact strength training as opposed to intense cardio (Primark/PA) Rita Ora, 35, has spent more than a decade living at speed. From chart-topping singles and global tours to becoming an X Factor judge and a familiar face on prime-time TV, her career has been defined by momentum. And in an industry where visibility is currency and stamina is key, slowing


8 ways to weave moss green into your scheme
From paint finishes to furnishings, be moved by muted greens, says Sam Wylie-Harris. A mid-green at one with nature, cue this feel-good hue (Annie Sloan/PA) Calm, comforting and versatile, moss green has a natural, grounding aesthetic – and a go-to thanks to its tranquil energy as we transition into spring. Moreover, these leafy shades have a positive effect on the senses, and are a brilliant way to boost your wellbeing with the growing ubiquity of mindfulness and self-care i


The Curry Guy’s butter chicken recipe
Give your curry true depth of flavour in the slow cooker. The Curry Guy’s butter chicken (Kris Kirkham/PA) “Butter chicken is usually made with grilled tandoori chicken, and the creamy yogurt marinade is mixed with cream to make the sauce,” says Dan Toombs, otherwise known as the Curry Guy. “This version is quite a lot easier but you still get a very good, if perhaps less authentic, butter chicken.” For this recipe, you can make your own spice blends and pastes, or use store


I visited ‘Cathy’s bedroom’ from Wuthering Heights ahead of the new Margot Robbie film
With Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights due for release, Sophie Goodall visited a romantic Airbnb ‘setcation’, located in West Yorkshire. Cathy’s Thrushcross Grange bedroom (Sophie Goodall/PA) The classic tale of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights – especially the passionate entanglement between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff – has captivated swathes of readers since its publication in 1847, cementing the story’s status as a timeless masterpiece. Yet despite its widespread


Are statins the best choice for me?
Discussing your personal circumstances with a GP is essential when considering statins. Statins are often taken to lower cholesterol (Alamy/PA) New research suggests that most side-effects linked to statins are not caused by the drugs. The new study, published in The Lancet, looked at data from 123,940 people who were were followed up for an average of 4.5 years after initiating treatment and took part in 19 clinical trials comparing the effects of statins to a placebo. Resea


The bank of mum and dad: How to help adult children without harming your future finances
Financial experts tell Lisa Salmon about sensible ways parents can protect their money while helping children with big expenses. Supporting your children shouldn’t come at the expense of your own financial wellbeing (Alamy/PA) Having kids is expensive – and never more so than when they get older and parents’ primary role seems to morph from giving love and care to being head of the bank of mum and dad. Because while the financial outlay for younger children tends to centre ar


From the Great Pyramid of Giza to the new Grand Egyptian Museum – how to do a bucket-list trip to Cairo
Kirsty Masterman discovers a wealth of history – and Cairo’s famous street food – in the Egyptian capital. Egypt Pyramids of Giza across desert (Alamy/PA) “Keep moving” orders a voice deep from the abyss, as a length of people, as far as the eye can see, try to avoid bashing their heads on the ancient rocks above them, me included. Sweat dripping from my brow, there’s no chance of stopping to catch my breath. A few moments ago, I’d joined the crowds to marvel at the oldest of


Ping Coombes’ crispy Bangkok eggs recipe
Change up brunch with this sweet and spicy version. Crispy Bangkok eggs (Sam Folan 2026/PA) “I took the family to Bangkok two years ago. We went to this highly recommended restaurant and one of the dishes the girls raved about was fried eggs in a sweet and spicy sauce,” says Ping Coombes. “They could not get enough of this, so I set out to recreate it. The secret to the crispy edges on eggs is the amount of oil you use.” Crispy Bangkok eggs Ingredients: (Serves 2-4) 6–7tbsp v


Margot Robbie goes sheer at Wuthering Heights premiere in London
Robbie sported a British designer for the occasion. Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi arriving on the red carpet (Ian West/PA) Margot Robbie stepped out in a Dilara Findikoglu custom gown at the London premiere for the highly anticipated Wuthering Heights. Margot Robbie in Dilara Findikoglu (Ian West/PA) Coming to UK cinemas on February 13, Robbie celebrated in a sheer corseted Gothic gown with moss green, blooming seams and a matching choker. It is a British label that she has
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