The Corporation

There are only really two reasons you’ll give The Corporation a shot: if you want somewhere uncomplicated to watch big screen live sport or you live within about four doors of the pub. The welcome isn’t all that warm for non-​locals, the general atmosphere isn’t anything to write home about and there’s nothing drinks-​wise that five dozen other pubs in Cardiff don’t pull off at least as well. But if the Chapter arts centre around the corner is too highbrow/​pricey and the rugby isn’t on terrestrial TV at the nearby Wetherspoon’s, The Ivor Davies, it will at the very least tick two boxes.

The Corporation holds a special place in my heart for serving as my sweet reprieve from the pretentious denizens of the Chapter café bar at lunch time. Whilst the Chapter bar does its job, post-​show, serving as a meeting place for the dramatics alumni to jealously extend their fake praise to actors and directors of the latest successful show, it can sometimes (read: usually) look like a parody of itself. The guys in skinny jeans tip-​tapping away at the keys on their Macbooks, just so everyone knows they’re Important Writer Type People, and the girls sat drinking coffee, passing off Oscar Wilde quotations as their own wit can make you want pick up a hatchet and just go to town.
The Corporation is a thoroughly unpretentious haven for those among us who realise writing doesn’t necessarily come with a dress code. It serves good food throughout the day; pub fare, aye, but it does the job. On top of this, the alcohol is cheap and there are a bevy of entertainments on offer. Few things are better than going for lunch with a cast and shooting some pool for an hour or so. It also looks absolutely beautiful, being built in one of those huge, regal building that pubs should be in.

The Corporation is a really beautiful pub that stands on the corner of Llandaff Road and Cowbridge Road East, in all of its glorious symmetry! I don’t know much about the style of architecture that has been used to create the majestic façade, but it reminds me of Austro-​Germanic buildings in a way. (If anyone can enlighten me I’d appreciate it).
Sadly, owing to the demand in this area for sport on demand, and the need to play games whilst downing a few pints, The Corporation, is yet another drinking hole that is adorned with big plasma screens spewing out all of the usual matches… rugby, football, pool, cricket, golf, women’s darts… They also have pool and darts in–
house for the more athletic amongst us, who are not simply satisfied with just watching it!