A VISIT to Cardiff, for me, feels a little bit like coming home.

I spent three years in Cardiff as a student back in the late ‘70s and have spent numerous weekends there over the years.

But a recent trip to our capital was more special than almost any I can remember. I was meeting up with my university buddy, Denise, the friend I shared accommodation with for two of my three years of study.

We met at the end of our first year, when we both arrived late for an English tutorial and stood outside the door, unsure about whether to venture in.

Ridiculously, we hadn’t seen each other for more than 30 years, as Denise has been living in St Andrews, Scotland, for the last three decades.

So it was an emotional reunion, with lots of hugs, and we retraced our steps and relived many happy memories.

Not so many reminiscences about lectures and course work, more about the nightlife and our university romances!

To be right in the centre, I had booked into Ibis Cardiff Centre, one of the city’s newest hotels, having been open for just nine years.

It’s in a great location, in Churchill Way, close to the train station, at which Denise was arriving, and also near to the shopping areas.

While it’s an affordable rather than a luxury hotel, the rooms are bright and comfortable, and I loved the quirky ship’s cabin-type bathroom.

The buffet breakfast was exceptionally good, better than I have had in some four-star hotels in the city. The cooked breakfast was fresh and tasty, regularly replenished. And there was everything from porridge, to pastries and smoothies for those wanting to go down the continental route.

But what made this hotel stand out for me was the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. Nothing was too much trouble.

There’s so much to do in Cardiff.

It was proclaimed the nation’s capital in 1955 and since then, and certainly since my university days has grown and changed so much.

The revitalised waterfront area at Cardiff Bay, which has spurted up from the old docks area, is home to the Wales Millennium Centre and Mermaid Quay, with its shops, bars and restaurants. And it is where you will find architect Richard Rogers’ striking Senedd building, which houses the Welsh Government.

This capital city is full of so many contrasts - thoroughly modern but also distinctively Welsh.

I love the unique Victorian and Edwardian arcades which you can find hidden around the centre, with some great independent shops.

Definitely don’t miss the chance to breathe in all the fishy flavours at Cardiff Market. Pickings galore.

If it’s nightlife you are after, and a large number of visitors to Cardiff are there for just that, the main pub or cocktail action is in the vicinity of St Mary’s Street.

And Cardiff boasts a huge selection of gastronomic delights – from Spanish tapas to great British and Welsh food, burger bars and Michelin-starred dining.

It poured with rain the day Denise and I linked up in Cardiff, but it didn’t get in the way of our celebrations.

We spent time revisiting our old halls of residence, Senghenydd, which has grown a bit since our day.

We also wandered down St Mary’s Street trying to find the nightclubs we frequented during our uni years. Most of them were in basements, we seemed to remember, and we could only afford to go to them in the week when there was free admission!

All too soon it was time to wave Denise off, until the next time…

It’s all in the detail

Ibis Cardiff Centre has 103 rooms, including six rooms for people with reduced mobility.

Room rates start from £51 per night

Address: ibis Cardiff, Churchill Way, Cardiff, CF10 2HA. Tel: 02920 649250. Email: [email protected]