St. David's Hall
St. David's Hall
4
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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Neighborhood: City Centre
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
592 reviews
Excellent
263
Very good
202
Average
67
Poor
31
Terrible
29
wilsdj
Cardiff, UK37 contributions
Jun 2022
Before I begin I just want to say I wasn’t on the receiving end of any of the treatment described below but seeing it happen to others has left a very bitter taste in my mouth. Everything a previous review left in November 2021 for the Van Morrison concert I can relate to.
It’s sad to say a venue once known for being laid back and welcoming has become an experience that you’d expect someone like Mark Drakeford to be behind.
During an interval when the lights were still up and well before the main act began, some steward doing an impression of Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout came running around telling random people, “switch ya phones off.”No please or explanation for this order, which I hasten to add again wasn’t directed at me.
I had a good vantage point though and could see plenty of other people clearly messaging or looking things up on their phones and they were left in peace.
So why were only certain people targeted?
This occurred at least 15 minutes before the main act started too. If the intention was to deter people from getting their phones out during the concert, it was pretty pointless. Most were oblivious to the strange lady’s antics.
Throughout the main act’s performance I could see people doing as you always see people at concerts doing and taking photos/filming a clip. Happens all the time. However, not to the extent that I’ve seen at other concerts. Very few people were doing it.
At one point towards the end of the concert another steward, who had no sense of appropriate behaviour, could be seen tapping or poking random people and making the throat-slitting gesture! Now firstly I was led to believe touching someone without their consent constituted a battery, so what training that bearded wonder has had I dread to think.
A baffling way to communicate too and I could see a lady a few rows in front of me was completely perplexed by the throat slitting gesture. Laughable again though because this steward also only approached a few people and there were clearly other people in the same row as those approached doing the same thing, who were not afforded the same special treatment.
Considering with the cost of living as it is and the last 2 years of forced closures, venues ought to be grateful people still bother coming out, especially on wet Tuesday nights.
I’d rather go and see a show in another city/town in future if the act/band/artist I want to see is performing at St David’s Hall after this experience. The acoustics may be good but the experience is marred by the complete OTT reactions by the stewards.
PS have to laugh at some of the optional extra questions I can answer at the end of the review,
1) Would you recommend this place or activity to a friend looking for an exciting and thrill-seeking experience? Absolutely not unless they would find being poked or tapped and given a throat slitting gesture by a member of staff as “thrill seeking” or “exciting!”
2) Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for couples?
Um… no. I think the antics of the stewards would likely kill that mood.
It’s sad to say a venue once known for being laid back and welcoming has become an experience that you’d expect someone like Mark Drakeford to be behind.
During an interval when the lights were still up and well before the main act began, some steward doing an impression of Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout came running around telling random people, “switch ya phones off.”No please or explanation for this order, which I hasten to add again wasn’t directed at me.
I had a good vantage point though and could see plenty of other people clearly messaging or looking things up on their phones and they were left in peace.
So why were only certain people targeted?
This occurred at least 15 minutes before the main act started too. If the intention was to deter people from getting their phones out during the concert, it was pretty pointless. Most were oblivious to the strange lady’s antics.
Throughout the main act’s performance I could see people doing as you always see people at concerts doing and taking photos/filming a clip. Happens all the time. However, not to the extent that I’ve seen at other concerts. Very few people were doing it.
At one point towards the end of the concert another steward, who had no sense of appropriate behaviour, could be seen tapping or poking random people and making the throat-slitting gesture! Now firstly I was led to believe touching someone without their consent constituted a battery, so what training that bearded wonder has had I dread to think.
A baffling way to communicate too and I could see a lady a few rows in front of me was completely perplexed by the throat slitting gesture. Laughable again though because this steward also only approached a few people and there were clearly other people in the same row as those approached doing the same thing, who were not afforded the same special treatment.
Considering with the cost of living as it is and the last 2 years of forced closures, venues ought to be grateful people still bother coming out, especially on wet Tuesday nights.
I’d rather go and see a show in another city/town in future if the act/band/artist I want to see is performing at St David’s Hall after this experience. The acoustics may be good but the experience is marred by the complete OTT reactions by the stewards.
PS have to laugh at some of the optional extra questions I can answer at the end of the review,
1) Would you recommend this place or activity to a friend looking for an exciting and thrill-seeking experience? Absolutely not unless they would find being poked or tapped and given a throat slitting gesture by a member of staff as “thrill seeking” or “exciting!”
2) Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for couples?
Um… no. I think the antics of the stewards would likely kill that mood.
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paul brown
4 contributions
Nov 2021
We went to see Van Morrison on 07/11/21 and paid £68 per seat:
We were told not to use mobile phones or recording equipment during the gig. About 10% totally ignored this. A guy 2 rows in front of us was particularly flaunting the rules which annoyed the chap next to me, he kept leaning over and telling him to turn the phone off. After about 40 minutes a member of staff had a word with him - the chap next to me explained to the staff that the guy had been CONSTANTLY recording the whole thing (like we'd all like to).
The guy then stopped trying to disduise the recording and held his phone up in the air to get a better view whilst recording. Meanwhile the staff just stood and watched.
The staff are made up of women in washed out "T" shirts and men in shirts that must have once been white and years age may have seen an iron. I must add that they were both armed with a torch..............
My advice is that if you intend to go to this venue - IGNORE anything they say, record the whole thing, sit back in the really uncomfortable seat and have a fag because F*CK all will happen !
Pay top whack for SH*T service - next time I'll bring some booze, drugs, and cigs.....
We were told not to use mobile phones or recording equipment during the gig. About 10% totally ignored this. A guy 2 rows in front of us was particularly flaunting the rules which annoyed the chap next to me, he kept leaning over and telling him to turn the phone off. After about 40 minutes a member of staff had a word with him - the chap next to me explained to the staff that the guy had been CONSTANTLY recording the whole thing (like we'd all like to).
The guy then stopped trying to disduise the recording and held his phone up in the air to get a better view whilst recording. Meanwhile the staff just stood and watched.
The staff are made up of women in washed out "T" shirts and men in shirts that must have once been white and years age may have seen an iron. I must add that they were both armed with a torch..............
My advice is that if you intend to go to this venue - IGNORE anything they say, record the whole thing, sit back in the really uncomfortable seat and have a fag because F*CK all will happen !
Pay top whack for SH*T service - next time I'll bring some booze, drugs, and cigs.....
Written November 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roxy
Cardiff, UK14 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Visited St David’s hall last night to see the superb Jimi Love and his band. The sound quality was poor unless you moved to the front as I think the band had underestimated the speakers and output they would need from PA system. The performance was fantastic and a real fitting tribute to Prince. The venue itself is hard work, being seated for this type of performance doesn’t work for me. There is no atmosphere in the bar area and the bar staff are not very welcoming. The stewards couldn’t wait for everyone to leave at the end which meant chatting the band was difficult. This place needs to relax and take s good look at the experience it is offering the customer.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark P
Cardiff, UK13 contributions
Nov 2021
I like St David's Hall but not right now. On Sunday 31st Oct I went to see Clannad, their farewell tour delayed for almost two years due to Covid. The 'safety precautions' deployed are entirely inadequate. They say you can remove masks once seated as you are facing away from others - no science involved in that one, it is simply an excuse to jam people elbow to elbow. My wife was sitting next to a guy who was coughing from his boots - "it's just a head cold". People at the side, in front and behind him all donned their masks. Half an hour into the concert we moved to some empty seats away from others. THEN in the intermission he came over, leant over us to apologise at length! AAARRGGGHHHH!!! Now 3 days later I have a healthy cough myself, thank you very much. My wife is a Vaccination Supervisor and I resent people and establishments who ignore the science.
Written November 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
301lisa33
Coventry, UK2,013 contributions
Dec 2019
Clearly, how you experience this venue depends on what you go to see. We visited to see a ballet.
Seats were chosen for ease of access and exit. However they were directly in front of the control booth and conversation during the performance was annoying.
The performance was excellent with a live orchestra. The lighting was not quite balanced since the dresses changed colour across the stage, which was distracting. Was the light at the front of the stage deliberately kept low because of the orchestra?
Seats were chosen for ease of access and exit. However they were directly in front of the control booth and conversation during the performance was annoying.
The performance was excellent with a live orchestra. The lighting was not quite balanced since the dresses changed colour across the stage, which was distracting. Was the light at the front of the stage deliberately kept low because of the orchestra?
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter B
Pencoed, UK121 contributions
Sep 2021
September, 2021.Was looking forward to seeing Neil Diamond tribute concert, with my wife.
Acoustics very poor. Far too loud, so could only hear 'noise '. The performer did one song without the band and was very good. Left the first half to get a drink and escape the noise.
In company with numerous others complained to the floor manager that we all wanted to hear the performers and he thanked us and said it would change.
Second half, no change, so after another 15 minutes, we gave up and left the theatre.
Sad, as we think the performers had a very good voice.
Acoustics very poor. Far too loud, so could only hear 'noise '. The performer did one song without the band and was very good. Left the first half to get a drink and escape the noise.
In company with numerous others complained to the floor manager that we all wanted to hear the performers and he thanked us and said it would change.
Second half, no change, so after another 15 minutes, we gave up and left the theatre.
Sad, as we think the performers had a very good voice.
Written September 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaynor91
Cardiff, UK624 contributions
Sep 2021
My husband and myself went to watch the matinee performance of River dance today. First time we've been to a venue since the pandemic started. Everything went smoothly, we've been to St. Davids hall numerous time and have never been disappointed. The show was absolutely fantastic, great acoustics, beautiful, mesmerising singing, amazing musicians and what can I say about the dancers, they leave you speechless. My husband commented that this is the best show he's been too, and believe me we've been to quite a few. Well done to St. David's hall, for the smooth running and organisation and well done to the River dance company, absolutely fantastic!!!
Written September 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaz57
Cardiff, UK157 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
I’ve been to St David’s Hall a number of times for various concerts. The venue is easily accessible, being in the middle of Cardiff and the range of concerts available is excellent. It’s one of my favourite venues and I always look forward to going there. If I had one criticism (and it’s just a small one), I find the acoustics of the main hall are sometimes more suited to classical music or speech, than ‘popular music’. It doesn’t stop me from going however!
Written May 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melaver
Cardiff, UK119 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Went to st David's hall to watch a concert, I like this hall as it smaller than other venues. We was seated on level 3 which is straight forward to find. The staff are friendly are helpful.
The hall is situated in the centre of cardiff town in the Hayes.
Parking available all around the town centre.
Would recommend
The hall is situated in the centre of cardiff town in the Hayes.
Parking available all around the town centre.
Would recommend
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth H
150 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Found this venue to be good size and organised and friendly staff. It was £2.35 for bottle of coke and £3 not too bad for this type of setting. Having previously visited a similar setting where I found it impossible to get snack during an interval, was really impressed with the amount of ice cream sellers they had. I would definitely visit again.
Would benefit from more toilets to aid queue.
Would benefit from more toilets to aid queue.
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Functions
The refreshment facilities at St David's Hall are operated by Cardiff Catering, an in-house catering service to all the council venues, including Cardiff Castle, City Hall, County Hall, The Mansion House and St David's Hall. The company offers a very flexible and versatile service, which can cater for all size and types of function, including catering for a wide variety of dietary requirements.
From a simple buffet lunch for informal meetings to full silver service for gala dinners for heads of state to themed menus to suit your corporate needs; Cardiff Catering have comprehensive experience of all types of requirements.
We also have a variety of hot beverages and wide range of snacks available at the bars.
Written October 4, 2019
Hi
My husband and I have just seen Collabro on 5 April and we thought they were very, very good. I do however have a complaint that the whole show was far to ear splitting loud and the lighting during Collabro's performance was far to much and blinding. The lighting and sound needs to be far more controlled and relaxing for the audience.
Written April 6, 2019
While I can't comment upon that particular performance, generally music can be very much louder than audiences (& performers) may truly enjoy. I began my life as a professional musician over 45 years ago & have specialised in music at 'comfortable' volumes, which continues to go down well with all sorts of audiences. It's more musical, performers play better...yours is a very pertinent comment therefore.
Written August 15, 2019
Is the view from the rear stalls (row P) disrupted by an overhang of the tier above?
Written January 25, 2019
Wld k51/52/ in the stalls be better than bbs 36/37 tier1.
Written April 12, 2018
I am sorry, I have only been to the venue once and so do not know the seating plan well enough.
Written April 15, 2018
I wore jeans. I even wear jeans at the opera. Sorry this is a late answer; I only just found question
Written March 22, 2018
do you know if there are lifts to level 6 tier 9 as my mother has trouble walking
Written January 21, 2018
There are lifts there however not sure to what level they go. Sure your mother will be fine.
Written January 28, 2018
Please can anyone tell me what food is available?
Written September 27, 2017
we didnt eat at the hall. suggest that you call or check website.
there were eople eating but didnt check what was on offer.
Written October 12, 2017
What part is teir 11 is it at the very top?
Written July 23, 2017
Hi Suzie,
You can download a free seating plan of St David's Hall if you look up the Theatre on line. Tier 11 is at the very top and dead centre. Having been to a few concerts there, I found that the venue is quite 'cosy' really and all seats provide a fairly close connection to the stage, unlike some of these stadium venues. Hope this helps. Bryan.
Written July 24, 2017
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