Inner-city Welsh neighbourhood named among UK's coolest by Time Out

Neighbourhoods in Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow all made the list

A Cardiff suburb has been named one of the seven coolest neighbourhoods in the UK by Time Out magazine. The area with a sea of local coffee shops and a diverse range of restaurants and brunch spots only a stones throw from the city centre was handed the accolade in the eight annual edition of the ranking.

According to the magazine, what makes a neighbourhood cool is a “genuinely exciting roster of restaurants, cafés and bars, irrepressibly colourful nightlife and art scenes, and a welcoming and diverse community”.

The coolest neighbourhoods in the UK were chosen by local Time Out contributors and saw Canton come in at an impressive third place, behind Camberwell in London and Digbeth in Birmingham.

Time Out wrote: “For years, Canton was seen as a funnel for football fans heading to the nearby Cardiff City Stadium, but now it’s a thriving neighbourhood.

“Reached via a 30-minute walk from the city centre, it’s home to a selection of shops and cafes which are well worth the amble out of town; Chapter Arts Centre offers everything from indie flicks and vogue balls to top-class cocktails, while Hard Lines Coffee and Ffloc boast exquisite lunch offerings.

“Then there’s Corp Market, a defunct pub refashioned into a brilliantly eclectic traders market which is also home to Head Above The Waves, a non-profit skatewear boutique and mental health support hub.”

The magazine added a ‘locals tip’ at the end. They said: “Swish new bakeries may be creeping up all around Canton, but the OG institution remains the area’s finest. Established in 1898, Brutons The Bakers’ chocolate ring doughnuts are the stuff of local legend – simple, unpretentious fare served crispy-hot.”

The list also features London Road in Brighton, Cotham in Bristol, Ancoats in Manchester and Finnieston in Glasgow.

Camberwell and Digbeth also made the magazine’s list of the 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world which was topped by Jimbōchō in Tokyo and Borgerhout in Antwerp.

The former Barclays bank in Canton has recently been transformed into the latest location of the award-winning Haystack café, known for their impressive pancake stacks and breakfasts.

However, despite the glowing review by Time Out magazine the neighbourhood still faces ongoing challenges. Cowbridge Road East has been battling with anti-social behaviour for years with daily thefts, street drinking, drugs and fighting cited by local traders on the road. In April this year, the road saw 123 crimes reported in just one month.