The Hayes
Coordinates: 51°28′44″N 3°10′30″W / 51.479°N 3.175°W
The Hayes (Welsh: Yr Aes) is a commercial area in the southern city centre of the Welsh capital, Cardiff. Based around the road of that name leading south towards the east end of the city centre, the area is mostly pedestrianised.
Scenes of BBC's Doctor Who and Torchwood have often been filmed here.[citation needed]
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[edit] Architecture
Cardiff is famous for its Victorian arcades. These include the Royal and Morgan arcades, both of which have entrances on The Hayes.
[edit] Renovation
In 2006, the shopping portfolio of The Hayes began an upgrade. With the closure of the David Morgan department store plans were made to renovate the building into new luxury apartments with retail units below, stores which now include T.K. Maxx, Azendi, Moss Bros., White Stuff and from November 2010, Wales's Flagship Urban Outfitters. Later with the Saint Davids 2 development came a new John Lewis department store and Central Library at the southern end and new retail units and luxury apartments running the full length of The Hayes. After months of work Saint Davids 2 opened in late 2009; the entire street and surrounding area was repaved and landscaped, at St David's Hall a large screen has been attached to the exterior for public events and the street now plays host to retailers such as Hugo Boss, All Saints, Reiss, H&M, Bose, Radley, Kurt Geiger, Crabtree & Evelyn, Ed Hardy, Links of London, T.M. Lewin, Crew Clothing, Fat Face, Leia, L.K.Bennett & Parkhouse the Jewelers. Jamie Oliver's restaurant, 'Jamie's Italian' can also be found on The Hayes. One of the most prominent new features of The Hayes since its redevelopment is 'Alliance', a 25m high sculpture by Jean Bernard Métais, a large stainless steel ring and pointed column which dominate the skyline outside Cardiff Central Library at the south end of the street.
[edit] Buildings and structures
At the southern end of The Hayes is the St David's, which is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK. Facing the centre is the former David Morgan department store which are now mixed use apartments and retail space. Spillers Records is also situated here, which claims to be the oldest record shop in the world dating back to 1894.
At the northern end of the area, and in addition to John Lewis and Debenhams in St. David's, is Howells department store, which is part of the House of Fraser group. Opposite Howells is St David's Hall, a large concert hall and exhibition centre. Nearby is the Old Central Library, now a pub, wine bar and the Cardiff Visitors Centre. The Old Library will also be home to the Cardiff Story museum, opening in late 2010.
Centrally located in The Hayes is a statue of John Batchelor - a 19th-century Liberal politician.
[edit] Cardiff Central Library
The new Central Library opened on 14 March 2009.[1] The former permanent Central Library was located a few hundred yards north of the present building and was knocked down to make way for the St. David's 2 development. The new library has six floors totalling and area of 55,000 ft² and 90,000 books.
[edit] St David's Hall
St David's Hall is a large performing arts and conference venue in The Hayes, and is the National Concert Hall and Conference Centre of Wales. It hosts the annual Welsh Proms, the Orchestral Series attracting renowned conductors and performers and the world famous biennial Cardiff Singer of the World competition. As well as classical music it also plays host to jazz, soul, pop, rock, dance, children's, r&b, musicals and other forms of world music, as well as light entertainment artists. The foyers in the centre are open and have regular free performances from often local groups, and the many foyers, balconies and bar areas are also used to host art exhibitions. It also has its own Celebrity Restaurant, on top of the numerous bars.
[edit] Alliance
Alliance is a 25 metres (82 ft) high sculpture in the The Hayes. The sculpture consists of a large stainless steel and enamelled metal arrow column and a hoop, which glows in the dark, and falls and rises with the tide.
The sculpture, paid for by the St David’s shopping centre as part of a £1.5m public art scheme in the city centre, was installed in the space between the new mall and Cardiff Central Library[2]
[edit] Café Quarter
An area known as Café Quarter is situated on Mill Lane in The Hayes, featuring different restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The area is promoted as one of the world's greatest café quarters.[3]
[edit] Adjoining streets
It is adjoined by:
- Trinity Street (towards Cardiff Market and Cardiff Castle)
- Working Street (towards Queens Arcade and Cardiff City Hall)
- Caroline Street (also known as Chippy Lane towards Central Bus Station and St. Mary's Street)
- Mill Lane (towards St. Mary's Street and Central Railway Station)
- Bridge Road (towards Bute Street and Cardiff Bay)
- Bridge Street (Towards Queen Street Station)
