Retros, Cardiff (All about cheese, fun and not taking anything too seriously!)
It seems that the 90s is everywhere these days, from the music we listen to, to the clothes we wear, to the programmes we watch on TV. And now the 90s has even started to infiltrate our nightlife. Everywhere we look there is a new warehouse rave, packed full with people wearing bindis and trainers all trying to master the art of the ‘House Shuffle’. However, what many of us seem to forget is that the 90s wasn’t so serious. It meant the Spice Girls, Pic ‘n’ Mix and Saturday mornings spent trying to get your pet aliens to have babies, get your slinky to walk down the stairs and watching Friends. And it’s to this effect that we look to the Welsh Capital, Cardiff, and the venue Retro. A venue that’s all about cheese, fun and not taking anything too seriously; Retro is popular amongst anyone that just wants to let their hair down and have a good time.
There are a few things you should know before you get to Retro. First, they operate a strict guest list system, so get your names down quickly, it’ll save you time and money at the door. Second they are big on their door policy. They want to ensure that the atmosphere is as good as it possibly can be and everyone has a good time. If you’re into fancy dress then this is a great chance to let your imaginations run wild! If you don’t like fancy dress (boring!) then it’s a chance to wear your best dresses, shirts and shoes.
Retro is spread over three floors, with three bars, including their weird and wonderful cocktail bar, two dance floors and lots of comfy seating areas for you to relax after you’ve finished partying like its 1999. And with the club staying open till 4am on Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll definitely be glad that there’s somewhere to rest your weary feet.
And of course being a cheesy, 90s nightclub there’s always Karaoke. That’s right, every Thursday at Retro you can expect to hear the beautiful harmonies that Wales has become famous for. Ok, maybe you won’t get Katherine Jenkins style high notes, but you will get slightly tipsy Spice Girls belting out “Mama I Love You” to a crowd of equally tipsy sailors, geeks and lifeguards.
And that brings us onto the best thing about retro, the cocktails. Don’t expect your usual Margaritas and Long Island Ice Teas, the cocktails here are a little less sophisticated, but a lot more tasty. First up we have their usual concoctions. These include old Retro favourites such as the Retro Chiller, a combination of Amaretto, Triple Sec, Cranberry Juice and Lemonade. Then we have the classics, Retro’s own spin on the classic cocktails that we’re all used to. These are a little more expensive at £4.75 each, but definitely worthy the extra expense. Then we have their crowning glory. Do you remember that Pic ‘n’ mix that was mentioned earlier? Well Retro has decided to take this one step further and has created a mouth-watering mix of cocktails all inspired by our favourite childhood treats. Whether it was Parma Violets, Drumsticks or Flying Saucers, you can expect to find it here. Replicated and mixed with alcohol to remind you that the best thing about the 90s wasn’t the music or the clothes, but the sweets! All they need to do now is start selling Freddo’s for 10p each!
By Paige Bromley