 | ||
Clwb Ifor Bach (English: Little Ivor's Club, [ˈklʊb ˈivɔr ˈbaːχ]) is a Cardiff nightclub, music venue, Welsh-language club and community centre. It is known to the Cardiff Welsh-speaking community as Clwb (English: Club) and is often known by others on the Cardiff music scene as The Welsh Club.
Contents
Clwb Ifor Bach is used as a social centre by Welsh speaking people in Cardiff, as well as by many non-Welsh speakers. Until recent years, the club had a number of regular members only nights. This policy has been discontinued. Clwb Ifor Bach is the focal point for many Welsh-medium organisations and events in the area: social, educational, sporting and otherwise. English and Welsh are spoken equally throughout the club, and most staff are required to be bilingual. No anti-Welsh sentiment is tolerated in the club.
Location
Clwb Ifor Bach is located in central Cardiff, halfway down Womanby Street, a lane running from the front of Cardiff Castle, parallel to High Street/St Mary Street). At either end of Womanby Street are The City Arms, opposite the Millennium Stadium, and Dempsey's Irish Bar, opposite the castle. The club faces the rear of the Wetherspoons pub 'The Gatekeeper'.
History
Clwb Ifor Bach has existed since 1983 and was founded by Cymdeithas Clwb Cymraeg Caerdydd, a society formed with the purpose of establishing a Welsh language social club. The Chair was Welsh politician Owen John Thomas. The club is named for Ifor Bach, a famous rebel leader against English rule in the 12th century.
The building
The club is contained within an unassuming three-storey building. There is a bar, stage and dance floor on each level, varying in size from level to level. The top floor is the largest. The physical fabric of the club underwent a fairly major overhaul in the 1990s.
Music
The club is an important and enduring part of the Cardiff music scene. There are regular performances of live music on the club's stages. There are also regular themed music nights on a week-to-week basis, during which one of the club's floors may be given over to a particular musical genre for an evening. The range of music played is very wide, and includes reggae, folk, hip-hop, pop, rock, dubstep, drum and bass, house, electro, Welsh and more.
Comedy
In 2014 the club started holding comedy performances from established stand up and sketch comedians, usually on week nights.
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 union on the big screen.