TASTY CHRISTMAS TREATS
AT MERMAID QUAY

Herb & Ellie's, the gorgeous coffee shop and deli in Mermaid Quay at the heart of the waterfront, has the perfect gift for the foodie in your life.   Herb & Ellie's hampers make a great gift all-year-round but are particularly good Christmas presents for food-loving family and friends.

Choose a Gourmet Coffee Selection or a Luxury Tea Hamper.  Or why not design your own individual hamper with a selection from a wide range of luxury items stocked in the deli including organic, herbal Teapigs (silk temples of whole herbal teas) and fabulous range of Welsh products that we stock such as Cariad Chocolate Lovespoons, toffee, Welshcakes, jams and chutneys, laverbread, beers and ciders.

Hampers are available in small, medium or large and all come individually wrapped and beautifully presented, just in time for Christmas.  Prices start at £15, with the average price at around £30.

Meanwhile, just a few doors up from Herb & Ellie's, Mermaid Quay's Fabulous Welshcakes will start selling their truly fabulous Festive Spice flavour star shaped Welshcakes on 1 December.    They are baked freshly in the shop every day and also available in gift bags.   A traditional enamel biscuit tin and gift bag of Welshcakes make a lovely and delicious Christmas present at £14.45.

MERMAID QUAY:
MAKING PRESENT BUYING AN ART

Looking for an unusual and distinctive Christmas present for him or her? 

As always Castle Galleries, the art gallery in Mermaid Quay on Cardiff's waterfront, has a wide range of figurative, landscape and contemporary art with original limited edition prints and sculptures on offer.

Or, why not pick up a piece of "art in miniature", a luxurious new range of art-inspired gifts and accessories.

Combining the ever popular style of talented artists such as Caroline Shotton, Govinder and Simon Claridge with a fashionable twist, these pieces make exquisite gifts for a just about anyone; perfect for Christmas.

Choose from elegant, limited edition silver cufflinks, jewellery and keyrings or luxury purses and wallets. All handcrafted using the finest materials, these timeless pieces make a style statement for the discerning shopper.

Plus there are on-trend messenger bags for the boys and a classic tote bag and an elegant clutch for the girls; ideal for the party season.

From the funky fun of Caroline Shotton's bovine-inspired pieces - which include Moona Lisa, Cow with a Pearl Earring and the Laughing Cowvalier - to Drew Darcy's sexy Naughty but Nice and Guilty Pleasures or the sophisticated Bright Lights, Big City from Neil Dawson, there's something for everyone in the Castle Galleries' gift & accessories range.

Prices start at less than £40.

More information about Mermaid Quay at
www.mermaidquay.co.uk . 
Further information about Castle Galleries at www.castlegalleries.com

TWO NEW RESTAURANTS AND
A CHAMPAGNE BAR TO COME TO
MERMAID QUAY

Côte Brasserie is due to open at Mermaid Quay on 24 November, one of two exciting new restaurants joining the line up at the waterfront eating and drinking venue.  It will also soon be welcoming South American restaurant Las Iguanas, along with VIP Lounge, a new champagne bar.

Inspired by new trends in Paris, where diners are turning away from over complicated, expensive French food, the highly successful Côte offers a modern approach to classic French dishes such as steak frites, tuna Niçoise, moules marinieres and corn-fed chicken from Languidic in the heart of rural Brittany.  The menu evolves seasonally and a range of changing specials ensures that there is always something new for regular guests to enjoy.

Côte already operates 15 restaurants - mainly in the South East of England, with two more due to open shortly.   The Mermaid Quay branch, which is due to open later this year, will be its first in Wales.   It will overlook Roald Dahl Plass and face the Wales Millennium Centre.

Awarded the Best Value Restaurant in the UK by the Good Food Guide and consistently reviewed favourably by the press and regular guests alike, Côte is backed by restaurant entrepreneur Richard Caring, who also owns some of the UK's most highly acclaimed restaurants such as The Ivy, J Sheekeys, Le Caprice in London as well as the Soho House Group and Wentworth Golf Course.

As well as Côte, Cardiff's top culinary hotspot will also shortly see the arrival of Las Iguanas and a new champagne bar - VIP Lounge.    It is said you can eat you way round the world at Mermaid Quay and the new outlets will certainly add the exciting range of global cuisines on offer.

Quirky Latin American restaurant Las Iguanas is to open a 4,692 sq ft restaurant on the waterfront at Mermaid Quay with views across Cardiff Bay.   The latest restaurant in the 22+ group, will feature Las Iguanas' trademark mouth-watering South American dishes, cocktails and tapas, all served in an environment that evokes the best of Latin life with sumptuous interiors and an ambiance that moves seamlessly from comfortable coffee, lunch or lounging during the day to a buzzy evening vibe with subtle changes to lighting, music and layout.

The menu at Las Iguanas is authentic and exciting from signature Brazilian dishes Xinxim, creamy lime chicken or Moqueca, a Brazilian mild curry, to sizzling fajitas and Mexican street food.  Daytime set lunches provide exceptional value for money while Las Iguanas is family friendly with a fun and quirky children's menu and smaller portions of main courses for hungry kids.    Latin authenticity carries through to the bar, where Caipirinhas, the classic Brazilian cocktails, are made using Las Iguanas' own award-winning Magnifica Cachaça produced and distilled at its sugar cane plantation near Rio de Janeiro.   The extensive cocktail list is complemented by a selection of wines and beers from Latin America.   It is the perfect addition to Mermaid Quay's vibrant international dining range.

Las Iguanas will open at Mermaid Quay early next year (2011).

In addition, local entrepreneur Margaret Studt - who has already been hugely successful at Mermaid Quay with her two existing restaurants Demiro's and Eddie's Diner - is to open the new VIP Lounge champagne bar in a stunning 1,490 sq ft first floor unit overlooking Roald Dahl Plass and Bute Crescent.

Lee Simmonds, Centre Manager of Mermaid Quay, commented:
"We are looking forward to the opening of these new outlets at Mermaid Quay.  Côte's decision to open its second outlet outside the South East of England at Mermaid Quay - alongside the arrival of our first South American restaurant, Las Iguanas, and the new Champagne Bar - underlines our position as the premier dining destination in Wales.  We are continually working hard to bring new experiences to Mermaid Quay. With such a strong and varied line up of restaurants we need to ensure that they complement the existing restaurants - which these new operators do perfectly."

CHRISTMAS IS MORE FUN
AT MERMAID QUAY

Right on the waterfront in the heart of Cardiff Bay, Mermaid Quay is a great place to visit this Christmas. 

With more than 25 restaurants, cafés, bars and the Glee Club, it's ideal for celebrating with family, friends or colleagues.  Whether you want a party atmosphere or something more intimate, it's all here at Mermaid Quay.

There's a host of unusual gifts that you won't find elsewhere in the shops at Mermaid Quay as well as great fashions and accessories - perfect for any occasion.   Or glam up with a Ken Picton hair do or take time out by visiting the salon for top-to-toe pampering.

And then there's the an extensive events programme, which will include:

LIGHTS SWITCH ON:
19 NOVEMBER (4pm - 6pm)

Mermaid Quay is teaming up with Pudsey, the Children in Need gang and Behnaz Akhgar from the BBC weather team to switch on its Christmas lights  Have fun and raise money for charity with street theatre, costume characters, traditional fairground games, a bouncy castle and even a bucking reindeer. The lights go on at 6pm.

ON THE ROAD TO CHRISTMAS;
4 December (5pm - 7pm)

Festive market stalls, fairground rides, live music with Red Dragon culminating in a spectacular firework display.

CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN THE BAY:
4 & 5 December (12pm - 8pm)

Craft and produce markets in Landsea Square (next to Café Rouge), the Wales Millennium Centre and Red Dragon Centre complete with workshops, treasure hunt, live music, Christmas carols and fun for all the family.

MEET SANTA & HIS LIVE REINDEER
AT MERMAID QUAY:
18 - 19 DECEMBER (12pm - 4pm)

Santa, two of his favourite (real) reindeer and elves are taking time off from their busy schedule to visit Mermaid Quay.  Have your photo taken with Santa on a traditional sleigh pulled a reindeer.  £1 charge to Children in Need.  Pet a reindeer and find out what they eat, where they live and how they fly.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON THE QUAYSIDE

Your favourite choirs will be performing traditional favourites and more contemporary Christmas music on the quayside every Thursday (5pm - 7pm) and Saturday (2pm - 5pm) in December.

PLUS LATE NIGHT OPENING

Mermaid Quay shops will be open till 7pm every Thursday in December.

COOL TIDINGS FOR CHRISTMAS TREES

Tired of the same old Christmas tree?  Take a trip Polka Dot in Mermaid Quay, at the heart of Cardiff waterfront, to give your tree a trendy new look.   The tiny store, a veritable treasure trove of gifts and accessories, has just taken delivery of a gorgeous selection of Scandinavian-style decorations.  There's lots of red, white and natural colours, rattan and rustic wood hangings as well as Nadolig Llawen baubles, decorations made from Welsh cloth and ribbon.  Prices start at £1. 

Polka Dot also a great range of hand made Christmas in Welsh and English.

Further details on www.mermaidquay.co.uk