Claire Grove Buttons

This is a shop down an arcade that is fast becoming one of my favourites in Cardiff, Castle Arcade. Particularly because of the peculiar balcony and L-​shaped structure, you just feel shut off from everywhere else in the city even though you are simultaneously in the heart of it.
Claire Grove Buttons is a little craft shop that knows its buttons. I think it encapsulated the mood and quaintness of the old shopping arcades of Cardiff, being a quiet place to have a look at some buttons. But it’s not just buttons, they’ve got all sort of odds and ends for those that enjoy making things jewellrey or customising clothes and all that sort of thing. For those that don’t feel so creative, don’t let that put you off, because Claire Grove Buttons creates things of its own that are premade and ready for sale. It can be a great place to pick up a unique piece of jewellrey or a wee trinket that can make a different and thoughful gift.

I went here just the other day, it’s a Button shop! seriously, can you believe we have a dedicated button shop in Cardiff? This is outstanding, I have never seen a Button shop anywhere else, ever, so for this Button shop, I applaud you and am very grateful for all the beautiful buttons you bring into my life.
I’m one of those people you see, that will buy an item of clothing and will generally hate the buttons, therefore I want to change them. Queue the Button shop to my rescue. I have the choice of silver buttons, black buttons, gold buttons, wood buttons — you get my drift. There is every kind of button you could ever ask for, selling for roughly around a £1 each, can be lower or higher, depending on the quality of the button.
They also sell bits of jewellery and other craft bits and bobs here, I just love it and recommend it if you are like me and like a bit of craft in your life.

What a little oasis in the middle of town. Claire Grove buttons has never lost its charm. It’s still small and very beautiful as are most of the gorgeous bijou buttons. I took my neices in there and we spent over 2 hours in there and spent about £30 quid. How can a bag of buttons cost so much? Only if you go there can you experience the true CB experience. Unfortunately there’s not enough room to turn around most of the time. I walk in and back out the same way as there’s not enough room for a 3 point turn. They say three’s a crowd, in Claire Grove that is a fact.
I have to plan visits as if I go in just on the off chance i could be lost for days. The idea is to either buy buttons and beads and make your own jewellery at home or make them in the shop using a selection of chains and leather cord. They also do really lovely jewellery, mainly silverwork.

Anyone who likes to customise clothes and accessories, make their own jewellery, or is just generally and arts and crafts kind of person will adore this shop.
I am one of those people.
At the moment, I’m rather a fan of big and interesting buttons on clothing. Sadly, there’s not a lot of it around, and that’s where this shop comes in. I buy cardigans I like and swap the buttons for some that have been carefully chosen from this shop.
And there are so many buttons that I like, I’m going to have to keep buying cardigans so that I can keep buying pretty buttons.
This shop doesn’t just sell buttons; there are also beads and things to make your own jewellery with, as well as other gifts. You should also check out Clare Grove’s art; her Half Baked Beings are available as prints or on cards and are really quite funny.

This vibrant little shop is one of the first that catches your eye as you walk into the arcade from the Castle end, and it’s virtually bursting at the seams with brightly coloured buttons and beads. Castle Arcade wouldn’t be the same without it!
It’s a real treasure trove for anyone who’s into making their own jewellery or clothes, or you can simply customise some of your high street clothes by replacing the original buttons with more unique or interesting designs from this shop. The buttons and beads are made out of all sorts of materials, including wood, glass, metal, fabric and even ‘beetle juice’ (actually made of ‘lac’, a resin secreted by a tiny insect!). If you want to match a button on an item of clothing, they suggest you take it in with you to be sure you get the closest colour and size match.
Their jewellery making accessories include necklace clasps and earring hooks as well as the many different beads, and they also offer a repair service or can design new items for you.
The shop also sells unique and amusing greetings cards and prints designed by Claire Grove herself, who is an artist — plus home made diaries, gift bags, and ready-​made necklaces and earrings.

Unfortunately I’m not the most of artistic of people, nor do I have the patience to make my own jewellery, my best mate on the other hand is obsessed and is constantly dragging me into this shop.
As Tanya mentioned there really are buttons galore here, which you really just can’t help looking at. When it comes to the beads available, they’re rather traditional (think wooden), but I think it’s rather nice that this place can still survive in this day and age.
As Tanya said, you should really check this place out for yourselves, and who knows when the buttons on my Karren Millen coat fall off for the umpteenth time (inevitably causing me to loose them), I might be brave enough to buy some buttons from here and sew them on myself.

There are not many button shops left in the world. This is sad.
Claire Grove has been open for over 25 years as has become one of those well loved local establishments that has a stream of people goggling in the window. I would urge you to go inside.
There are buttons from all over the world. Big, small, dull, colourful, fabric, glass… You name, you can buy it and sew it on to your jumper. They’re a great idea for sprucing up tired items of clothing. There’s also a wide variety of beads on offer.
This is a fascinating shop which will throw something new at you every time you have a look around. Certainly worth 5 minutes of you time.