Quench SEPTEMBER 2015 Issue 153 IN THIS ISSUE THE STUDENT ABROAD TOP OF THE HUNGOVER SHOPS HANGOUTS DESTINATION CARDIFF YOUR DEFINITIVE STUDENT GUIDE TO LIFE IN THE CITY Image: Olivia Thomas Get involved in your local community, Gain & develop new skills and experiences, and make friends along the way! Cardiff Volunteering Gwirfoddoli Caerdydd CONTENTS 28 14 43 28 FEATURES TRAVEL FILM & TV Back To School The Student Abroad Location, Location, Location Let us jog your memory as to Cardiff students who have spent 6 why Cardiff could well be the best 18 semesters abroad give us a 36 Did you know Cardiff is a really place in the world student guide to European Cities popular filming location? Neither did we until we wrote this Refugee: Cardiff’s World’s Wackiest 8 Untold Stories 22 Hostels 38 The Best of Wes How we can lend a hand to those Travelling on a budget? Check A look at the work of the in crisis on our doorstep into one of these! maverick director CULTURE MUSIC FOOD & DRINK What is Culture? New culture editor Beau Gigs in the ‘Diff Milgi 12 Beakhouse asks the big questions 26 Our guide to the best venues no We interview the minds behind matter what your taste is 43 the best veggie restaurant in Cathays (we’re biased) Culture Calculated Festival Replay We give you the low-down on the Hungover Hangouts 14 28 We relive and review our best cultural activities on offer in 46 favourite festivals from this The best places to eat your the city this Autumn feelings when the going gets summer tough after a heavy night at VIDEO GAMES GLAM FASHION & BEAUTY Editors Pick Top of the Shops 30 Our new editors review the Let us point you in the direction games that have been keeping 16 of our favourite independent them busy over summer stores E3 32 The highlights of the gaming conference 3 Welcome Students! * £10 OFF WHEN YOU SPEND £25 OR MORE ONLINE DELIVERING ONLINE CODE: UNTIL CDFUNI10 DELIVERING Type in code when prompted at the checkout UNTIL DELIVERING5AM 7 DAYS A WEEK UNTIL COLLECTION OR DELIVERY DELIVERINGDELIVERING62 CrwysDELIVERING Road, CathaysUNTILUNTIL CF24UNTIL 4NN 02920 229977 Opening hours: 10am – 5am, 7 days a week www.dominos.co.uk /dominos.cardiff @CardiffDP Call dominos.co.uk Click & Collect Tap the app *£25 minimum spend excludes drinks, ice cream, 14 &21 portions of chicken, and combos. Collection or delivery – delivery areas and minimum delivery spends may apply. Offer only available at Participapting stores. Offer cannot be used with any other offer. Redemptions online only at www.dominos.co.uk. Subject to availability. To order on the website, you must click on the meal deals section and order from there. Full T&Cs see Competitions and Offers at dominos.co.uk. Offer expires 30th June 2016. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Hi! Welcome to the 153rd issue of Quench Magazine - and Welcome to Cardiff! Whether you’re glad to be back in the city again or it’s your first time here, we have A little introduction... packed this issue with insider tips and EAD OF DE DEPUTY - FEATUR tricks on how to make the most - H SIG E - ED LY ES CH IA N LI IT I out of the capital. With IN IEF IV L O EM OR L O R T O H a brand new team in I ED - place,already doing a Y fantastic job to create L I the magazine each month, M I thought it only right E to kick off the new term by letting them introduce I’m a 3rd year Journalism 2nd year Sociology. I As an obsessive coffee themselves to you. We hope student, wine connoisseur, love nothing more than drinker, gym addict and you enjoy reading this issue! cat- lover, sushi-eater. I’m spending time with my travel junkie, I love making responsible for everything friends having a couple of my life as stressful as let us know your thoughts and suggestions about how the magazine drinks. I cant wait for the possible - I don’t do being by tweeting us - @QuenchMag looks. challenge of editing Quench ‘bored’! ULTURE ULTURE - TRAVEL RAVEL SHION - C - C CE - T FA & B U E LI CY Y - EA A RG A U M U E O L A T B E Y G I like to question things I’m a second year I’m starting my first year Hi I’m Lucy, one of the Journalism student, with an and that sometimes results Journalism and English of English Literature so Travel Editors this year. I unhealthy shopping habit. in the world becoming a Lit student. I’m extremely like some of you I’m a study French and Italian, Round like the letter C, gurgling existential mess, interested in Culture fresher who’s excited about when I’m not at uni I tend squats have made my bum so I have to remind myself especially theatre. I write the next 3 years at Cardiff to be skiing or travelling rounder not bigger. You’re to enjoy it by watching film reviews of shows for my University. I love to travel and exploring new places! most likely to find me in the and reading novels, and website as well as Quench and have spent my summer gym or on the dance floor trying to get to know the and other independent in Croatia, Portugal and with a G&T in hand. people around me. branches. Belarus! HION & C USIC O GAM AS BEA USIC USI - M IDE ES - F U - M M ES - V A T K - M L Y C N M I A I JA O M J R T E A J Odd things that bring me 3rd year English Lit student A scouser going into my Philosophy student with a Journalism and sociology joy include: spontaneity, and rock music nut. Really second year of Diagnostic love for a bit of everything, student here to teach you complimentary bread and looking forward to getting Radiography (i <3 bones). whether it’s punk or country, about the ethics of video functional Apple chargers. connected with all our Dead excited to tell you all a good song is a good song. games journalism. I’m This year, Fashion & Beauty fellow music nerds and about Cardiff’s boss music I’m really excited to hear looking forward to working aims to challenge stereotypes getting some good, honest scene I especially love what you music lovers have with contributors this year- if and get you more involved. words printed over the funk/soul/garage/disco & to say about the music you want to write just send us year! Everton. Cardiff has to offer! an email! VIDEO G ILM & T M & TV D AND N - AM - F V FIL FOOD & DRI FOO DRI A ES OR - Y - NK - NK M N IA S N A A D I N S E A E L A D Z E S Psychology student born If anyone can watch a ten If you want to find me Second year studying I’m originally from Singapore on the release date of the season TV show in a week on campus, look for English literature! I love (Google it, the food’s PlayStation 1 (9th September it’s probably me. In my first the girl wearing double nothing more than good amazing). I’m always excited if you’re feeling generous). ever week of uni I wore a denim and radiating some food along with the to try out all sorts of food - Undefeated Crash Team different Marvel themed seriously good vibes. My experience of eating out sometimes foolishly so - but Racing champion with an t-shirt every day, and I hobbies include trying to and hope to express this I’d have to say my favourites embarrassingly large number think that says a lot about understand David Lynch passion in my writing are sashimi, steak, dim sum of trophies. the kind of person I am! films and forcing friends to and Singaporean food, of watch Friday Night Lights. course. 5 FEATURES So you’ve slogged your guts out through A-Levels, managed to miraculously survive results day and found yourself as a budding Cardiff University student. The world is your oyster; you’ve flown away from the nest and are ready for the time of BACK TO your life. And while you are more than likely to be ecstatically excited, you may also be, quite frankly, shitting yourself. With those endless questions clouding your impending uni experience; ‘What if everyone is weird?’, ‘What if everyone speaks Welsh?’, ‘What if I don’t like anyone? School What if nobody likes ME?’ you may be questioning whether Cardiff was the best choice. After all, prior to turning up with 3 suitcases full and a ton of kitchen crockery, you may have never set foot in the place. Rest assured, the majority of us have been there or are right there with you. Moving away to an unknown city is a big thing, luckily though, you’ve come to the right place, you’ve made the right decision, and for many, many reasons, you are going to love it. Here are just a few to reassure you! Coffee shops and charm Nightlife For those who love a bit of charm, quaint spaces and One of Cardiff’s ultimate drawing points and ultimately the individuality, you can almost certainly find a soft spot within most important factor for most of us has to be its nightlife. you for Cardiff’s Arcades.