Dominions Arcade

Standing in Cardiff’s youngest arcade, built in 1921 on the cusp of the Art Deco period, Hotel Indigo opened in 2017 and is part of the IHG Hotel brand.

The hotel itself was over five years in the planning, with extensive building works and decoration taking place to create a uniquely Welsh feel for both the interior and exterior of the building. “We love our arcade,” says Tom Gaskell, the hotel’s General Manager, “There can’t be many arcades in the world that have their own hotel!” Indeed, the hotel has had a lasting impact on the look of the arcade by commissioning a mural reflecting the history of the area, “I investigated a local street artist and found some work by Bradley from Illustrate Project,” explains Tom, “It has a Celtic band running the length of the arcade, with iconic buildings, landmarks and famous people woven in. My favourite portrait is of Shirley Bassey.”

With so many hotels in the city, Hotel Indigo feels it’s the Welsh identity that makes them stand out. The hotel retains some of the original architectural features, with impressive lion’s head sculptures looking down on the shoppers below, which is in keeping with the decorative stonework you find dotted along the street. Inside, Melin Tregwynt and other luxury Welsh brands helping to furnish the hotel, alongside local suppliers, such as Pettigrew Tea Rooms who deliver fresh bread and pastries every day. “We have super comfy beds too,” jokes Tom, “But we want you to go out and explore the city too!”

Being located close to the high street and within a short walk of the Castle, Principality Stadium and National Museum of Wales, exploring couldn’t be easier. In fact, the Hotel team are enjoying discovering their new home and love passing on tips to those staying at the hotel. “Morgan’s Arcade is great for shopping, it has some really cool boutique shops,” says Tom, “And Spillers Records, the oldest record store in the world. You can’t visit Cardiff without dropping in there.”