Salsa City Forum » News and Chat » Callaghan's on Tuesdays

I had a good time at Callaghan's last night but I wish they'd play more salsa during the free dancing period. They tend to favour merengue because it's easier for inexperienced dancers to dance to, but I'd be happy if it was even a 50/50 mix.

If you go, be careful where you put your drink and keep an eye on it, two weeks in a row I've had a pint stolen. Note to whoever's doing this: Callaghan's has free admission, but that's not supposed to include free beer.

Much more salsa than merengue played at Callaghan's last night so, in my opinion, a great improvement. The class start-time is getting later and later, though, it was 9.30pm before things got going. It seems that Callaghan's is having the same problem that The Toad had, of letting their schedule be dictated by the least committed students. Like The Toad, they should seize control of their own schedule and start classes at a time of their choosing, people would soon get used to it and the more enthusiastic dancers would thank them for it.

Nobody nicked my beer, by the way, so, a pretty good night.

Callaghan's, is a much more relaxed space muisc is good and not to many odd bods.

Come on down and support it.

is maaaarvelous! but havnt been able to make it for couple of weeks, blasted work! :-/

Callaghan's is good as a salsa night, as I always have great dances with the guys there and the salseros and salseras are generally quite friendly! Although I would have to criticize the actual establishment itself - I have to say that it completely lacks the atmosphere that Cuba has - it doesn't really help that all the lights are on, and it does actually feel like you are dancing in a pub, which is crap! And Callaghan's is a bit of a treck from the heart of town (espcially when you're wearing heels!). And the running over of classes is slightly annoying, as I only go for the social dancing after. But, like I said, I get some good salsa in as the dancers truly make it for me, so that is fab!

Something did really hack me off 2 weeks ago there - I was on my way to the Ladies' when some big guy comes over to me and freakin' IDs me!!Was so pissed off!! I look youngish but don't think I look younger than 18 though! (I'm actually 20!) I wasn't carrying ID cuz I don't carry anything when I go out salsaing, so I kinda explained that and kinda gave the guy a lot of attitude (probably not the best of actions to take tho!) Anyway, so he let me off but that still pissed me off greatly. I'm still not going to carry my ID as I don't want to risk losing my driving license, but anyone who sees me being carried off by a big guy out of Callaghan's - you know why! Sorry I'm having a bit of a rant here, but it's just f***ing annoying that they're being so arsey when it's not exactly like the place is rammed, they're not IDing on the door like any normal establishment would(so you know to bring your papers), if they threw me out I would have been a vulnerable girl alone on the streets of Cardiff and it wasn't like I was wanting to purchase alcohol or anything!
Ergo, Callaghan's staff = assholes.
Callaghan's as a location = okayish
Salsa = fab.

End of rant! See you on Tuesday ;)

Very entertaining rant, Saz. You should have IDed him! I mean, if some guy comes up to you in the middle of a bar and demands your id, how do you know he even works there?

I agree that the late classes are a real showstopper. They start too late, they go on too long, and they try to cram too much in so nobody actually learns anything. But, hey, it's free. So we can't really complain.

He was a big scary-looking guy who didn't happen to be dancing salsa, therefore he must have been a bouncer!
Are the classes actually free, Hugh? Or just the social dancing after? If the classes are free then I might try them out, instead of having to wait for them to end :)

The classes are free, at least, they were free up until I last went, a few weeks ago and I'm pretty sure they still are.

I hope they don't make an effort to ban under-eighteens from Callaghan's. There's no reason why they should. It's perfectly legal for sixteens-to-eighteens to attend a dance class in a bar as long as they don't buy or consume alcohol and stick to soft drinks. I contacted the licensing department of Cardiff police specially to get the real information and that's what they told me.

Wow, thanks Hugh for getting that info for me, as I wasn't sure what the deal was with ages. I've just turned 21 so they'd better not insult me again ;)! Ended up going to Cuba on Tuesday after all. In some ways I really wish that Callaghans didn't have the classes on at the same time as Cuba as I remember when Cuba used to be packed with really good dancers. Now there are just the classes which are full of beginners, and they disperse after the lessons are over. There were only about 2 good male dancers I danced with at Cuba and about 1 beginner for the social dancing after. Shame, as Cuba is the place with the better atmosphere and location! :) I'm going to try out Wed at La Tasca this week, never been dancing there before!

Thanks for the useful Cuba review. It’s interesting to see others’ opinions of the various venues.

The Cuba bar has never been my favourite for several reasons:

• dancing area too small and too hard
• too much beer on the floor, making my shoes soggy
• not enough salsa played after the classes
• music too loud
• funky disco lights shining in my eyes
• not a high enough proportion of committed dancers to beginners

But everyone’s different and plenty of people seem to like the Cuba bar.