If you’re like me and feeling Christmassy already, and craving some festive nibbles, I would definitely recommend a visit to Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland this year, which has an unprecedented array of food options. It’s the perfect place to drag your flatmates, go on a wintery date night, or show off to any friends and family visiting this festive season.
Winter Wonderland’s cosiest bar this year is undoubtedly Tafarn, which is new to this year’s selection. A large tent adorned with twinkly fairy lights gives the warmest and jolliest atmosphere to Winter Wonderland, with a full bar serving draught beers, ciders, spirits, and wines (mulled or not!). There are also non-alcoholic options, such as the creamiest hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows. I would be surprised if this hasn’t already become a favourite of many students heading to the festivities, or fans flocking there from the stadium after the Autumn Nationals this year.
Once again this year, City Hall Lawn is host to the largest variety of Christmas treats, with the large white canopy making an appearance once again and hosting many food vendors. Tuck in here to a hot chocolate with all the fixings, hot chips with rich curry sauce from Grill House, warm sugary donuts coated in Nutella or biscoff sauce from Doughstop, boozy apple crumble with custard, or even a delicious gyro, with mouthwatering tzatziki.
While enjoying your food under the canopy, you can sit at one of the many picnic tables and will be greeted with live music which is happening all season. In terms of drinks on the lawn, there are mulled wine stalls, or you can enjoy a refreshing beverage in Sur La Piste, the alpine ski-style bar, or the Ice Bar, where ticket-holders can enjoy a shot and drink of their choice amongst intricate ice sculptures.
Before getting your ice skates on in the Castle grounds, you can tuck in to a Yorkshire pudding wrap complete with all the trimmings, and then wash that down with another hot chocolate, or a mulled wine if you fancy. As you walk through, you will also be greeted with the mouthwatering smell of bratwurst sausages, and toasted marshmallows, which can be bought and melted on one of the many open fires around the ice rink. Students can also use the ‘skate and sip’ offer at the ice rink this year, which includes a skating session followed by a selected drink from the bar.
Overall, this year’s Winter Wonderland has a delicious range of food and drinks, which will be available until the 5th January, so there is plenty of time to head down and sample everything on offer.