George Thomas Hospice Shop

Charity shops are a dime a dozen in Cardiff. Generally speaking, they’re all the same basic store too. You’ve got your clothes section that dominates most of the floor space and two of the walls, you’ve got a books/​DVDs/​CDs/​misc section that’ll take up the back wall and will contain any cutlery given in by someone with the remarkable lack of foresight required to think anyone else would want to buy their used forks. You’ve got vinyl on the floors, and cufflinks under the till. That’s it. They open at 9:30, they close at 4:30 and that’s the experience in a nutshell.
The George Thomas Hospice Shop, however, is different. And by God do they know it. Inside, you’ll find the most wonderful esoteric junk lying around and you will absolutely have to have it. You’ll walk passed, as something glints and catches your eye. You’ll think «I’ll buy that later». And then, the shop will never, ever open. Never again. Your salivating tongue will leave the pavement damp for days, but they’re staying locked up. The next time you walk passed, the shop will be open, but your trinket will be gone.
And that’s how they get you. From then on, you’ll stalk the aisles of the store, Gollum-​like, desperate to catch the best deals before anyone else. They’ll have you. You will be one of theirs.
That’s not exactly a bad thing, either. Despite the erratic opening times, this place has some of the more interesting charity shop fare. See for yourself.

This charity shop raises money for palliative care, which they give freely to people with terminal illnesses. The shop is less of the modern oxfam renovated kind and more of the older style shop fitted with every item found haphazardly.
I’m always on the look out for some good literature and I’ve found some real gems before in charity shops, such as «1984, George Orwell» a great read was found looking through a charity shop.
It’s rewarding knowing what you pay will go towards a charity so don’t be shy have a browse and maybe find some retro products on the shelves.

(Also known as Hosbis Gofal)
There are a few charity shops in this area that operate for the same charity. This one, on Crwys Road, is a good old-​fashioned charity shop. It has everything that you would expect to find — frames next to old women’s clothes. Baby shoes and tables. Board games and chinaware. Having said that, I am a little worried that it might find itself left behind by the other shops in the area, all of which are doing a Mary Portas and updating themselves. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen more than one person in here… Please make the effort to shop at charity shops if you need something everyday — they probably have it! And the people here are LOVELY.