Two people are on the pavement outside a bridal shop at night. One person lies face down on the ground while another, wearing a colourful floral dress, leans over them holding a phone. A white wedding dress is visible in the window behind them, next to a red sign that reads “sale”.

Maciej Dakowicz captures Cardiff's drunken debauchery beautifully

Words: Anya Lawrence
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Date: 2 October 2012; Work
Photography
Publication

Let’s make no bones about it, Britain is Europe’s binge-drinking capital and if photographer Maciej Dakowicz’s new book (and my experience of being a student in Cardiff for three years) is anything to go by, it is a reputation the partygoers flocking to the streets of the Welsh capital are proud to live up to.

From bodies sprawled across the pavements, bloody noses, shameless flirtation and no end to the scantily-clad and fancily-dressed, Cardiff, and indeed Maciej, have witnessed it all.

Spending five years documenting the Saturday night revellers as they spill onto the streets (and into the chip shops) of the city, Maciej’s new book Cardiff After Dark takes no prisoners, laying bare the emotions that come with one gin and tonic too many, and the photographs stand as a stunningly poignant documentation of Britain’s drinking culture. From elation and joy to sadness and humiliation, Maciej captures it all rather perfectly.

Cardiff After Dark by Maciej Dakowicz, published by Thames & Hudson is available now and the series is on show at The Third Floor Gallery in Cardiff from October 14 until December 2.