Work
BBC Good Food Show Winter
24-28 November, NEC Birmingham,
www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com, 0844 581 1360
Discover the latest foodie trends at the winter version of the BBC Good Food Show. There’s delicious food to try and live cookery demos from celebrity chefs including Gordon Ramsay, James Martin and Rick Stein. Definitely worth a visit. Tickets from £20.50.
International Confex 2011
1-3 March 2011, Earls Court, London,
www.international-confex.com
It’s a little way off yet, but if your job involves organising any kind of event put a note in your diary now for the International Confex show. You’ll find lots to inspire you with a whole range of venues, destinations and support services.
Sport
England v South Africa
27 November, Twickenham, Surrey,
www.rfu.com, 0871 222 2120
Part of the Investec Internationals 2010, this is England’s last match in the series and a great event for corporate hospitality, coming less than year before the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The Cavendish Group and Keith Prowse both offer hospitality at Twickenham (www.cavendishg.com and www.keithprowse.com.)
The AEGON Masters Tennis
30 November – 5 December, Royal Albert Hall, London,
www.royalalberthall.com, 0845 401 5045
This end of season event brings together sporting legends such as Tim Henman, Pat Cash, Pat Rafter, Goran Ivanisevic and Mark Philippoussis, rolling back the years to play in an architecturally stunning venue. Tickets from £8.75.
Entertainment
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella
30 November – 23 January 2011, Sadler’s Wells, London,
www.sadlerswells.com, 0844 412 4300
Not exactly your typical panto, this version is set in London during the Blitz where Cinderella falls in love with an RAF pilot. Whenever Matthew Bourne is involved, you can be sure it’ll be stunning. Tickets from £10.
Lady Gaga
16-17 December, O2, London
www.theo2.co.uk, 0844 856 0202
If you’re looking for an unusual way to entertain clients – or you simply fancy it yourself – this could fit the bill. Lady Gaga’s catchy, high energy pop songs have a habit of getting in your brain and staying there, so you could be humming ‘Poker Face’ or ‘Paparazzi’ for days, if not weeks, afterwards. Tickets from £50.
Birdsong
Until 15 January 2011, Comedy Theatre, London,
www.thecomedytheatre.co.uk, 0845 505 8500
All too often, much-loved novels seem to lose something when they’re adapted for the theatre, but this stage version of Sebastian Faulks’ book has been playing to rave reviews since it opened in September. Being directed by Trevor Nunn probably helps, but why not decide for yourself? Tickets from £20.
Focus on... Cardiff
We go west to Wales and discover what Cardiff has to offer
Staying
If your boss prefers hotels to be small and personal, Jolyons hotel (www.jolyons.co.uk, 029 2048 8775) is perfect. Once a seaman’s lodge, it has just six rooms, all individually and lavishly furnished. It’s also opposite the Millennium Centre, so the location is great for business. Corporate rates start from £75 per night. If you want real value for money, the Big Sleep Hotel (www.thebigsleephotel.com, 029 2063 6363) has 81 sleek, stylish and very modern rooms but book online and you’ll pay just £45 per night, including continental breakfast. And don’t forget to check out the Malkovich Suite for conferences and meetings – day delegate rates from £20 per person.
Eating
Familiar names make travelling for business much easier, particularly when it comes to eating out. The Carluccio’s (www.carluccios.com, 029 2023 2630) in Cardiff is one of 49 restaurants around the UK, offering great Italian food at sensible prices. A great place for working lunches, and the breakfasts aren’t bad either. Expect to pay around £16 for lunch. And if you need somewhere with a really special setting, you can’t go wrong with Cardiff Bay. Cutting Edge (029 2047 0780) behind the Welsh National Assembly is popular with politicans, among others. Food is modern British (and Welsh!) with favourites such as sausage, mash and onion gravy and grilled sea bass, but the real star is the location. Prices from £8.50 for a main course.
Entertainment
There’s a whole host of well-known names appearing on stage at the Cardiff International Arena this November and December. If you’re feeling nostalgic, you might fancy Paul Weller (27 November) or Meatloaf (29 November), while X Factor runners-up JLS are performing on 4 December, followed by the Scissor Sisters on 6 December. For details and to book tickets, call the box office on 029 2022 4488.