Pontcanna essentials
Facilities & Services: hospital, police & schools
Nearest Hospital
Heath Hospital
Location: Heath Park
, Cardiff
, CF14 4XW
Around a 9-minute drive from Pontcanna, or a 45-minute walk.
Local Police Station
Cardiff Central Police Station
Location: King Edward VII Ave
, Cathay’s Park
, Cardiff
, CF10 3NN
Open 8am till midnight, 7 days a week
Schools
Fitzalan High School
Location: Lawrenny Avenue
, (Canton & Leckwith)
, Cardiff
, CF11 8XB
Distance from the top of Cathedral Road, Pontcanna:
Drive Time: 10 minutes
Walk Time: 31 minutes
Severn Primary School
Location: Severn Road
, Cardiff
, CF11 9DZ
Distance from the top of Cathedral Road, Pontcanna:
Drive Time: 3 minutes
Walk Time: 9 minutes
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf - Welsh speaking secondary school
Location: Bridge Road
, Llandaff North
, Cardiff
, CF14 2JL
Distance from the top of Cathedral Road, Pontcanna:
Drive Time: 9 minutes
Walk Time: 30 minutes
Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch
Location: Lawrenny Avenue
, Leckwith
, Cardiff
, CF11 8BR
Distance from the top of Cathedral Road, Pontcanna:
Drive Time: 11 minutes
Walk Time: 30 minutes
Radnor Primary School
Location: Radnor Road
, Cardiff
, CF5 1RB
Distance from the top of Cathedral Road, Pontcanna:
Drive Time: 5 minutes
Walk Time: 12 minutes
St Aubin Nursery
Location: 503A Cowbridge Road East
, Cardiff
, CF5 1BB
Distance from the top of Cathedral Road, Pontcanna:
Drive Time: 3 minutes
Walk Time: 9 minutes
The Hollies Daycare Nursery
Location: 9 Sanatorium Road
, Cardiff
, CF11 8DG
Distance from the top of Cathedral Road, Pontcanna:
Drive Time: 9 minutes
Walk Time: 27 minutes
Getting around Pontcanna
Bus
Pontcanna is served by the number 24, 25 and 63 Cardiff Bus routes. There are bus links to the city centre, Llandaff, Rhiwbina and many more destinations.
Rail
There is no rail station in Pontcanna. Pontcanna's closest train station is Llandaff station, which serves the areas of Llandaff North and Whitchurch.
Major Road Links
Pontcanna is situated north and south of the A4119 and the A4232 handy for working out of the city. Furthermore, Western Avenue, which is a 5 minute drive from Pontcanna, serves as a quick link to the M4 and A470.
What's on in Pontcanna
Bute Park
Location: Bute Park
, Cardiff
Fancy some green, green grass of Wales? Yes please! The stunning park grounds at the heart of the city is the perfect picnic spot. Set within the grounds of the iconic Cardiff Castle, it's a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Our top tip - grab lunch from one of the numerous shops around the Castle, and sit in the park watching the boats go by on the river. Who said a working lunch had to be boring?!
Pontcanna fields
Location: Pontcanna Fields
, Cardiff
Pontcanna fields are at the centre of the area’s vast parkland, with cycle routes that run along Cardiff’s River Taff. No ordinary city park, it’s bountiful with facilities, riding school, pedal power cycle hire and a caravan/camping park.
River Taff - Taff Trail
The Taff Trail is a gorgeous cycle and pedestrian walking route which runs alongside the river Taff, through the middle of Pontcanna fields, through to Bute Park in the city centre, and further down to Cardiff Bay. It truly is a lovely route for a day out with the family or a spot of exercise.
Swalec Stadium
Location: Swalec Stadium
, Cardiff
, CF11 9XR
Swalec Stadium is home to the Glamorgan County Cricket Club and, having undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, has since played host to several England matches. Formerly known as Sophia Gardens, the venue has hosted competitive matches since 1967.
Kings Road Yard
Location: 183A Kings Road
, CF11 9DF
Kings Road Yard is a creative mews in Pontcanna, providing a number of workspaces. The courtyard is home to the renowned Kings Road Artists and a cluster of artisan establishments and creative businesses.
Eat in Pontcanna
Heaneys
Location: 6-10 Romilly Crescent
, Pontcanna
, Cardiff
, CF11 9NR
Heaneys is a chilled, relaxed bar restaurant situated in the heart of Pontcanna. Serving creative cocktails, extensive wines and sample or sharing plates to be enjoyed alone or between friends and family.
Milkwood
Location: 83 Pontcanna St
, Cardiff
, CF11 9HS
Milkwood is a small, friendly eatery offering a constantly changing menu informed by excellent Welsh produce, simple but sound cooking and a genuine love of food.
Bully's
Location: 5 Romilly Crescent
, Cardiff
, CF11 9NP
The award-winning Bully’s is an independent restaurant that has won a reputation for quality food, excellent customer service and an intimate atmosphere.
Kindle
Location: Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9SZ
Based in Sophia Gardens, Kindle combines fire food with natural wine in a vibrant, informal and unique setting. The restaurant, led by husband and wife team Phill and Deb Lewis, works closely with local farmers, gamekeepers and gardeners, to use ethical produce with a huge emphasis on provenance & sustainability. The sole focus of the small plates experience is flavour and balance, cooked over fire to an impeccable standard whilst doing ‘good things’ for the community and environment. (Source: Kindlecardiff.co.uk)
Brød
Location: 126 Wyndham Crescent
, Cardiff
, CF11 9EG
Find your hygge relaxing with friends in their cosy wood interiors. Great coffee accompanies some of the best baked treats in Cardiff, all made using traditional Danish methods.
Thomas by Tom Simmons
Location: 3 & 5 Pontcanna St
, Pontcanna
, Cardiff
, CF11 9HQ
The culinary vision of chef Pembrokeshire-born Thomas Simmons, this fine dining restaurant boasts an elegant and inviting atmosphere, with natural wooden furnishings and warm lighting that sets the perfect tone for a memorable dining experience.
The menu showcases a range of seasonal, locally-sourced Welsh ingredients that are creatively prepared to deliver a modern twist on classic French and British dishes – each one expertly crafted with attention to detail and presentation.
With two bars set over two floors, they also have an extensive list of wine and drinks. Definitely one for those special occasion meals, this highly regarded restaurant is a must-visit spot for foodies and locals alike.
Alex Gooch Award Winning Artisan Bakery
Location: 183A Kings Road Yard, 183A Kings Rd, Cardiff CF11 9DF
Alex Gooch Bakery is a delightful little bakery located in the heart of Pontcanna. The team bake 6 days a week using a long fermentation process encouraging pre-digestion of the grains to deliver nutritious and delicious, fresh bread and pastries. As well as serving in their shop, they’re well-known within the community and deliver daily to local markets, delis, hotels and restaurants. People don’t often realise it, but everything served in the bakery is vegan-friendly too!
Uisce by Heaneys
Location: 6-10 Romilly Crescent, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9NR
Self-described as “dog friendly, relaxed & vibey”, this highly-regarded fresh oyster & wine bar from Tommy Heaney and his team is nestled right next door to Heaneys. It is a little more laid back with more small plates and sharing dishes on offer. Stylish and sophisticated, the restaurant's elegant and refined décor with tones and stylish furnishings creates the perfect backdrop for a romantic date night or a special occasion with friends and family.
The Pontcanna Inn
Location: 36 Cathedral Road, Cardiff CF11 9LL
This trendy gastropub is housed in a charming Victorian building and features a contemporary and inviting interior with a mix of vintage and modern décor. It's a top choice amongst locals for watching live sports and having a drink al fresco on their front and rear terraces. In addition to the restaurant and bar, the Pontcanna Inn also offers cosy and comfortable guest rooms for those looking to stay in the area.
The Robin Hood
Location: 16 Severn Grove
, Cardiff
, CF11 9EN
This traditional pub offers the charm you would expect from a Pontcanna business. With a wide variety of entertainment including live music, pub quizzes and jazz, this bar has something for everyone.
Canna Deli
Location: 2 Pontcanna Mews, 200 Kings Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9DF
Brava Cafe / Stonebaked at Brava
Location: 71 Pontcanna St, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HS
The Cricketers Pub and Restaurant
Location: The Cricketers
, 66 Cathedral Road
, Pontcanna
, CF11 9LL
“Minutes walk from Sophia Gardens, The Cricketers is a delightful City pub with a flowered courtyard that is the most convivial in town. The cheerful staff serve gastro quality food, including very affordable weekday lunches. A treat for all!” - Claire Milligan, Food Writer
CannaDeli
Location: 2 Pontcanna Mews, 200 Kings Rd, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9DF
This wonderful deli offers a wide range of artisanal products, including cheeses, meats, olives, bread, and other delicatessen items, sourced from local and international producers. They a selection of delicious breakfast and lunch dishes too.
CPS Homes guide to living in Pontcanna
As one of the coolest places to live in the UK, it’s hard to say anything new about Cardiff’s most fashionable area. So we chatted to some Pontcanna locals to hear the truth behind the media hype.
Tree-lined streets, beautiful architecture, independent retailers, parkland, proximity to the city centre, great restaurants, relaxed cafés, and a private members club (that anyone can drink in) – what more could you want from a neighbourhood?
Not a lot, it seems – except perhaps more parking (many a resident’s chief gripe). According to The Times, Pontcanna is the 23rd coolest place to live in the UK.
Certainly it’s true that 25 per cent of Pontcanna residents siarad Cymraeg (compared to Cardiff’s average of 11%), and it’s long been a natural home to those who work at the nearby BBC studios. One can regularly spot a TV personality or rugby star, and locals casually tell of watching Charlotte Church sing a capella in the Robin Hood pub. But we are here to discover what makes Pontcanna truly special by speaking to the local residents.
Pontcanna: A city village
“There is a strong community spirit here – it has very much a village feel within a city,” says Pontcanna resident and dentist Dr Andrew Webber, who works at Cathedral Dental Practice.
Cardiff-born Andrew chose Pontcanna when resettling in Cardiff three years ago. “Having everything on your doorstep is one of the best things about it,” he says
“It’s a very sociable place to live. Jogging through Bute Park on a summer’s evening, then enjoying a cold lager outside one of the many local pubs, is a perfect way to unwind after a hard, working week.”
‘A village within a city’ is a phrase often used by residents. It may be a dynamic place, but there is both a sense of community and historical links, due perhaps to its relatively recent rural past. Indeed, its name stems from Pont Canna Farm, which probably took its name from a nearby bridge – pont is of course bridge in Welsh – over the Taff tributary, Whitehouse brook.
“A horse used to live in our front room,” jokes Kath Jenkins, a public sector professional and wife to Richard who we heard from previously.
These days the couple’s modern home, on one of Pontcanna’s tree-lined terraced streets, would not look out of place in an interior style magazine, but once the site comprised stables and access to an old bakery. It was a derelict house when they bought it in 2004, offering an opportunity to create their dream home in a location that otherwise may have been out of their budget.
Independent Pontcanna
The Pontcanna Pine site, also known aptly enough as The Dairy, sits on the cornerof Severn Grove and Kings Road, and has been the subject of a recent unsuccessful planning application. It’s the latest attempt at an incursion by chain supermarkets. So far they’ve been resisted.
The array of independent shops, cafés and restaurants certainly enhance Pontcanna’s sense of place. “It is very nice to be able to get all the ingredients to whip up a pretty splendid meal entirely from independent traders on your doorstep,” says Kath.
Great British Menu’s Tommy Heaney left his eponymous restaurant at the Great House hotel in Bridgend last year to open his first solo venture, Heaney’s Cardiff, in Pontcanna. As part of the thriving independent restaurant, coffee and brewing scene in Pontcanna, there is also Milkwood, The Smoke House and Brava. Located next to Co-Op supermarket, the Kings Road Yard comprises a Microbrewery, regular pop up market and several local designer shops.
Pontcanna or Pont-canton?
Not all changes are welcome: in spite of its Conservation Area status, Pontcanna will continue to be subject to more residential development, a natural consequence of high demand (and the vertigo-inducing property prices).
“Pontcanna is in danger of being overdeveloped in places,” suggests Kathryn. “Developers are looking to shoehorn as many flats as they can get away with into all available land. It’s a bit depressing because it often involves tearing down lovely old buildings.”
Yet while some Pontcanna pockets are certainly deep, chatting to regulars in the Brains-owned Halfway pub – a favourite of rugby legend Barry John, if you will –there is sometimes mention of the ‘Pontcanna pound’. It’s a light-hearted grumble about perceived inflated prices generally in the locality.
The unsung hero in Pontcanna’s celebrated status of the place to be is probably Canton. Rubbing up against the more rough and ready (some might say more real) area, with its bustling high street (and handy chains), allows Pontcanna to continue its village-like, gentrified existence.
There is also a sense that Canton helps keep Pontcanna’s feet on the ground. Or as one resident puts it: “Canton stops Pontcanna from vanishing too far up its own backside in a healthy, reality-check sort of way.”
Well, it tries at least.