Clwb Ifor Bach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clwb Ifor Bach (English: Little Ivor's club) is Cardiff's Welsh-language club and community centre.
It is known to the Cardiff Welsh-speaking community as Y Clwb (Welsh: The Club); and often by others as The Welsh Club.
Y Clwb is the social centre for the Welsh-speaking people of Cardiff (and others). It used to be members-only at times, but no more. It is the focal point for many Welsh-medium organisations and events in the area: social, educational, sporting and otherwise. English and Welsh are equally spoken throughout the club (most staff are required to be bilingual) and no anti-Welsh sentiment is tolerated.
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[edit] Location
The club is very centrally-located in Cardiff, halfway down Womanby Street (which is a lane running from the front of the castle, parallel to High Street/St Mary Street). At either end of Womanby Street are the pubs The City Arms (overlooking the Millennium Stadium) and the Irish pub, Dempsey's (overlooking Cardiff Castle).
The club also lies opposite the rear of the Wetherspoons pub on Westgate Street.
[edit] History
Clwb Ifor Bach has existed since the 1970s. It is named after Ifor Bach, a local rebel against English rule during the 12th century.
Some claim that the club used to be members-only and/or Welsh-speakers only, but this has certainly not been true for some decades. However, at busy times, e.g. during an international rugby weekend, the club can become members-only to avoid disappointing its membership.
[edit] The building
The building is an unassuming three-storey building. There is a bar, stage and dance floor on each level - of varying sizes. The top floor is the largest. Physically, the club had a fairly large overhaul in the 1990s.
[edit] Music
The club has been an important and enduring part of the Cardiff music scene. There is often live music to be had on one of the club's stages. There are also regular themed music nights on a week-to-week basis, one of the club's floors may be given over to a particular musical genre for that evening. The range of music is very mixed (reggae, folk, hip-hop, pop, rock, Welsh, etc). In addition to the membership fee, there can be an additional door fee for specific floors or bands.
[edit] Events
Events are listed on the club's website and on the noticeboard in the foyer. As well as musical events, other events take place, such as society meetings, conversational evenings, or watching rugby on the big screen.
