Boots & Bread

Loudoun Square lies at the heart of the mile-long stretch of Cardiff’s dockland housing, commonly known as Tiger Bay. The area is home to one of the oldest multi-cultural communities in the UK: as the coal metropolis of the world for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, Cardiff attracted a wealth of immigrants to work aboard ships and to build and service its docks. Explore the cult underbelly of Tiger Bay with some of the city’s contemporary writers. From the broken Maltese family living in Trezza Azzopardi’s (b. 1961) The Hiding Place, to the biography of local girl, Dame Shirley Bassey by John L Williams (b. 1961). One of the most important literary figures of this area is Leonora Brito (d. 2007), who shone a light on the black history and culture of the Docks and Tiger Bay. Her acclaimed collection, Dat’s Love and Other Stories, has been reissued by The Library of Wales. Tiger Bay (1959), a British film starring John and Hayley Mills, includes many scenes shot in the docks area. 21st century Cardiff Bay offers much to the urban adventurer. Lose yourself in a book and a snack at the Octavo Bookshop Cafe & Wine-bar.