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All Features
The South Wales Magazine


Give the gift of live theatre this Christmas
As the festive season approaches, the search for the perfect gift is on. But what if, this year, instead of stocking fillers you could gift a moment of magic? Single White Female Iconic thrillers, heart-warming musicals and adventures for the whole family await at Wales Millennium Centre, find unforgettable experiences for everyone on your list . Single White Female 27 – 31 January 2026| Tickets from £17 The 90s cult classic takes to the stage for the very first time, starrin


Sephora opens in St Davids Shopping Centre Cardiff
Sephora brings the glamour (and the cwtch) to Cardiff with a showstopping new store opening. Sephora opens in St Davids Shopping Centre Cardiff Sephora UK has officially landed in Cardiff, marking the iconic brand’s first ever store in Wales and its 11th location nationwide. Opening in St David’s Centre, this milestone moment brings the world’s most loved beauty playground to the heart of the Welsh capital. Sephora opens in St Davids Shopping Centre Cardiff Beauty fans across


Christmas Magic Returns to Bridgend County Borough
The festive season is set to sparkle once again as Christmas returns to Bridgend County Borough, bringing with it a host of seasonal shopping promotions and a calendar full of festive fun for the whole family. Christmas in Bridgend County This year, town centres across Bridgend, Maesteg, and Porthcawl will be transformed into enchanting Winter Wonderlands , complete with dazzling Christmas Light Switch-Ons and lively parades organised by the local Town Councils. Visitors c


All I want for Christmas is my dream home…
Housebuilder sets late October deadline for buyers to reserve and be in by Christmas Barratt David Wilson Redrow South Wales (BDWR) This October, Barratt David Wilson Redrow South Wales (BDWR) is reminding house-hunters that there’s still time to secure a new home and be settled in by Christmas. With a reservation deadline of 24 October 2025, BDWR South Wales has available homes within a range of plots across South Wales — from Swansea to Cardiff and Newport. Buyers who act q


Strictly The Professionals UK Tour' is back and coming to Swansea
The official Strictly The Professionals UK Tour is back for 2026 - bigger, bolder and more breathtaking than ever before, with a sensational line-up of 11 professional dancers from the nation’s favourite TV show. (Strictly The Professionals UK Tour coming to the Swansea Building Society Arena) Theatre audiences across the country will enjoy an evening of world-class dance, stunning choreography and glamorous costumes, live and up-close from the 11 magnificent Strictly Profess


New names and firsts for Wales at St David’s Cardiff
St David’s Cardiff is set to round off the year on a high with a wave of exciting new brands launching in time for the festive season. (Moss Menswear at St David’s Cardiff) Traditional sweet store Mr Simms, fashion favourite Mango, menswear label Moss and toy giant LEGO have all launched new stores at the city destination in recent weeks. And there’s more to come, with global beauty sensation Sephora, K-beauty brand PURESEOUL, and the newly announced Charles Tyrwhitt plus W


Ocean Colour Scene Announce Moseley Shoals 30th Anniversary Tour for 2026
Indie-rock legends Ocean Colour Scene have announced a major UK tour for 2026, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their classic album Moseley Shoals. (Ocean Colour Scene) The 13-date tour will come to Utilita Arena Cardiff on 4 th Dec). Joining Ocean Colour Scene as the tour’s very special guests will be The Enemy . An artist pre-sale will begin at 9.00am on Wednesday 15 th October, followed by a venue pre-sale from 9.00am on Thursday 16 th , before tickets go on gen


Local Care Home Celebrates Black History Month
Residents and staff at Bryn Ivor Lodge care home in Cardiff came together this October to celebrate Black History Month with a week filled with music, learning, and cultural appreciation. The highlight of the week was a live performance by a singer Mary Ann and her talented string band Calypso, whose soulful set brought joy, energy, and togetherness to everyone in attendance. (Bryn Ivor Lodge care home celebrate Black History Month) Alongside the music, the care home organise


Special Halloween Candlelight Concert at Llandaff Cathedral
This Halloween, experience something truly spellbinding as Candlelight® brings a special musical evening to Llandaff Cathedral. Candlelight: Halloween Classics Immerse yourself in hauntingly beautiful melodies and iconic film scores performed live by a local string quartet, all set within the cathedral’s awe-inspiring architecture and illuminated by thousands of flickering LED candles. Prepare for a night where classical masterpieces meet the world of horror and fantasy. The


The practically perfect Mary Poppins musical comes to Cardiff this Christmas
Mary Poppins soars into Wales Millennium Centre with breathtaking effects, iconic songs and unmissable festive magic. (Mary Poppins musical at Wales Millennium Centre) This December, something truly magical is flying into Cardiff when Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s spectacular, Mary Poppins takes centre stage at Wales Millennium Centre from 3rd December, for six glittering weeks only. Based on P.L. Travers’ beloved stories and the iconic Walt Disney film, this production bri


9 ways to deck out your haunted house
After-dark decor to crown fright night celebrations and spooky soirées. By Sam Wylie-Harris. These Halloween-themed decorations and homewares look spooktacular (Matalan/PA) It’s one of the most anticipated dates in the fancy dress diary, and if you’re into dressing up, Halloween celebrations (October 31) are a real scream. And for a dose of devilish decorative drama, a flurry of eerie furnishings, thrilling tablescapes and themed feature walls make frighteningly good backdrop


The trending Halloween make-up looks to try for 2025
From Wicked’s witches to coquette clowns – here are the viral looks for this year’s Halloween. Wednesday Addams is part of the trending beauty looks for Halloween 2025 (Netflix/PA) You probably haven’t started thinking about your Halloween look, but you may already be assuming the easy options of cat or vampire, which require no more than a liquid liner or a little fake blood. This year however, there are some viral looks from cinematic references to snatched skeletons that a


Dress your front door with a warm autumn display
Wreaths, pots and pumpkins can make a difference. Celebrate autumn with festive decor (British Garden Centres/PA) If your front door area looks lacklustre, it’s time to warm it up with some welcoming autumn colours in rich burnt oranges, deep red accents, soft seedheads and textured foliage. “The trick is choosing plants that provide colour, texture and structure, all while celebrating the richness of the season,” says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Cent


9 autumnal homewares to celebrate the season
From gallery walls geared to the countryside, to snuggly soft furnishings, it’s all about feel-good vibes, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Cosy finds for the cooler months (Direct.asda/PA) With a nip in the air, dappled sunlight, and leaves starting to turn a brilliant burnt orange, crimson and gold, it’s Mother Nature’s way of telling us it’s time to cosy up. And what better way to start prepping your space for pumpkin spice lattes on the sofa, autumnal tablescapes and comfort food t


Don't miss Top Hat at Wales Millennium Centre
Top Hat is a dazzling whirlwind of romance, rhythm and Hollywood glamour, coming to the Wales Millennium Centre next month. (Top Hat at Wales Millennium Centre) Step into the glittering world of Top Hat, the musical equivalent of the finest vintage champagne. Effervescent, elegant, and exhilarating, this heady romantic cocktail sparkles with witty dialogue, stunning choreography, lavish sets, and gorgeous costumes. Irving Berlin’s unforgettable score features Hollywood classi


7 of the best autumn books for the keen gardener
Leaf through some of this season’s finest offerings. (Timber Press/Cool Springs Press/Frances Lincoln/PA) As the weather starts to close in, if you’ve finished raking the leaves, cutting your hedge, and weeding and mulching your borders, put your feet up with an autumn gardening book to offer inspiration for the seasons ahead. Whether you’re looking for terrific planting combinations, some mouth-watering recipes utilising your own home-grown produce, or creating a vintage par


Samin Nosrat’s sky-high focaccia
If you’ve never made focaccia, this is easy – but takes time. Samin Nosrat’s sky-high focaccia (Aya Brackett/PA “I’ve spent years tweaking and perfecting this golden, chewy focaccia recipe, which I originally developed for the Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat documentary series,” says chef Samin Nosrat. “Since then, I’ve replaced plain flour with strong white flour, whose higher protein content allows for more height and chew. I also added a few strategic turns, or folds, of the dough a


Samin Nosrat’s joojeh kabob roast chicken
Here’s the secret to succulent chicken. Samin Nosrat’s joojeh kabob roast chicken recipe (Aya Brackett/PA) “Growing up, my family didn’t eat out very often,” says chef Samin Nosrat. “But when we did, it was almost always at a Persian chelo kababi, where we’d each order a humongous platter of buttery saffron rice topped with two skewers of grilled meat and a grilled tomato. “We each had our favourites, and mine was invariably joojeh kabob – tender, tangy pieces of saffron-and-


How to wear the tartan trend this season
Here’s how to style the punkish-plaid trend for autumn/winter. The fashion week runways have revealed tartan to be the next biggest...


How to replicate a hotel bedroom at home
These easy upgrades can channel a five-star vibe, says Sam Wylie-Harris. Relaxation is the order of the day (Barker And Stonehouse/PA) There’s something special about a luxurious hotel bedroom… fresh bed linen, stylish decorative accents, a calming atmosphere, and peace of mind knowing every detail has been carefully considered. So is it any wonder we dream of the same sense of indulgence and comforting aesthetic at home? With thoughts turning to a fantasy turn-down service…
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