Written by Hope White-Heath and translated by Stevie Thomas
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The other night, I joined cocktail society for one of their infamous nights out. Even though it wasn’t a lively night in Aberystwyth it felt like one with them. We started off in Cambrian where I interviewed one of the social secretaries, Ffion. Here’s what she had to say about Cocktail Society:
H: “What is your favourite cocktail?”
F: “Probably a Blue Lagoon, I’ve tried it in bar 46, tried it in spoons. It’s tried and tested.”
H: “What’s the best thing about Cocktail Society?”
F: “We’re just such an inclusive society, we really try our hardest. Even though we are a cocktail society we are constantly promoting sobriety. You know, like with our alcohol awareness weeks. Also, if there’s someone who has drunk too much that night, they can always come to us to sober up a bit. I think we are very inclusive and it’s great that you don’t need a certain interest or talent to join our society. You can be any kind of person and have a place Cocktail Society.”
H: “What do you do if someone doesn’t drink?”
F: “We have a wellbeing officer; they tend to be the more sober in the night. I know a lot of people who don’t drink but still love a night out. We make sure everywhere we go has a mocktail or soft drink option. You don’t have to drink. When I was at the fresher’s fair so many times, I was like come join cocktail society! And people were like I don’t drink sorry. We really want to put the message out there that you don’t have to. It’s just a chance to get dressed up and go on a night out. Everyone loves a bit of fancy dress.”
H: “What variety do you have of people joining Cocktail Society?”
F: “We do have a big variety, I mean no one’s on the same course, it’s a big range. A group of 6 people can come and they don’t study on the same course and they don’t do the same sports but this is a society for all of them. A lot of outgoing people as well, although even if people aren’t outgoing, we would encourage them to come along, I’m sure they’d still have fun. Last week we had 4 girls show up and they were in Aber for the week, I think they were in some sort of uni programme, they were from Ukraine so they were just here for a week and then moving on. They came because they heard of some pyjama party and thought yeah, we’ll come along! Honestly, we welcome anyone and everyone.”
H: “What kind of person would you encourage to join cocktail society?”
F: “If you love a night out then come along. Even if you don’t want to come along to our Tuesday socials we have a lot of things during the day, even if you’re busy on a night come along to a coffee morning or a wellbeing walk. It’s a great way to meet new people.”
H: “Yeah, you seem really friendly.”
F: “Thank you! I’ve made so many friends through cocktail society and I know a lot of other people have as well.”
It is true, there is a large variety of people in the society. That came through in the fancy dress they chose. The theme for the night was, ‘British icons’ and there were the likes of David Attenborough, Naomi Campbell and Boris Johnson. There were Geography Students, Business students, English students and loads more. Everyone seemed to gel together with the basic aim of having a good night.
We managed to hit many Aber classics. Even stopping at Y Bañera, which cocktail society goes to every other week, for a fancier drink. After we went to Harleys. It was practically empty but that did not stop cocktail society’s quest for a good night. They marched on and begun a dance battle between two members. We finished the night in Academy where Cocktail society occasionally has cocktail making demos. When I left at a very respectable time of midnight, all of them were still in high spirits, dancing and laughing.
I would say if you’re thinking about joining cocktail society you should go for it if you like a night out and want to meet some friendly faces who will be the first ones on the dance floor.
Noson allan efo Cymdeithas Coctel
Y noson o’r blaen, ymunais efo Cymdeithas coctel am un o’u nosweithiau allan gwaradwyddus. Er and oedd yn noson bywiog yn Aberystwyth teimlodd fel un efo nhw. Dechreuon ni yn y Cambrian lle cafodd un o’u Ysgrifenyddion Cymdeithasol, Ffion, eu cyfweld. Dyma oedd ganddi i ddweud am y Gymdeithas Coctel.
H: “Beth yw eich hoff coctel?”
F: “Yn fwy na thebyg, ‘Blue lagoon’, rwyf wedi ei drio yn Bar 46, wedi ei drio yn ‘Spoons’. Mae wedi’i drio a phrofi.”
H: “Beth yw’r peth gorau am y Gymdeithas Coctel?”
F: “Cymdeithas mor gymhwysol ydym ni, rydym ni’n trio ein gorau. Er bod ni’n gymdeithas coctel rydym ni’n hyrwyddo sobrwydd yn gyson. Chi’n gweld, fel efo’n wythnosau ymwybyddiaeth o alcohol. Hefyd, os oes rhywun sydd wedi yfed gormod ar yr noson honno, maen nhw’n gallu dod atom ni i sobri tipyn bach. Credaf ein bod ni’n gymhwysol iawn ac mae’n wych eich bod chi ddim angen diddordebau na thalentau penodol i ymuno â’n cymdeithas. Gallech chi fod yn unrhyw math o berson a chael lle yn Cymdeithas Coctel.”
H: “Beth ydych chi’n ei wneud os nad yw rhywun yn yfed?”
F: “Mae gennym ni Swyddog Lles; maen nhw’n tueddu i fod y mwyaf sobr yn y nos. Rydw i’n nabod llawer o bobl sydd ddim yn yfed ond sy’n caru noson allan. Rydym ni’n gwneud yn siŵr bod pob man rydyn ni’n mynd iddo yn cynnig opsiwn moctel neu ddiodydd meddal. Does dim rhaid i chi yfed. Pan roeddwn i’n y ffair glasfyfyrwyr, cymaint o weithiau, bydda’ i fel dewch i ymuno â’r Gymdeithas Coctel! A fe fydd pobl yn dweud dydw i ddim yn yfed sori. Rydyn ni eisiau rhoi’r neges allan bod dim rhaid. Mae ond yn gyfle i wisgo i fyny a mynd am noson allan. Mae pawb yn caru bach o wisg ffansi.”
H: “Pa fath o
amrywiaeth o bobl sydd gennych chi yn ymuno â’r Gymdeithas Coctel?”
F: “Mae gennym ni amrywiaeth fawr, rwy’n golygu and oes unrhyw un ar yr un cwrs, mae’n amrediad mawr. Gall grwp o 6 o bobl ddod a dydyn nhw ddim yn astudio’r un cwrs a dydyn nhw ddim yn gwneud yr un chwaraeon ond mae hon yn gymdeithas iddyn nhw i gyd. Mae na lawer o bobl ymadawol hefyd, er, hyd yn oed os nad yw rhywun yn ymadawol, bydden ni’n eu hannog nhw i ddod, dwi’n siŵr bydden nhw’n dal yn cael hwyl. Yr wythnos ddiwethaf cafon ni 4 merch yn cyrraedd a roedden nhw yn Aber am wythnos, credaf eu bod nhw mewn rhyw fath o raglen prifysgol, daethon nhw o Wcrain ac felly roedden nhw ond yma am wythnos ac wedyn yn symud ymlaen. Roedden nhw’n dod achos clywon nhw am ryw fath o barti pyjama ac yn meddwl ie, bydden ni’n dod! Onest, rydym ni’n croesawu pawb a’i gi.”
H: “Pa fath o berson byddech chi’n annog i ymuno â’r Gymdeithas Coctel?”
F: “Os ydych chi’n caru noson allan, yna dewch. Hyd yn oed os dydych chi ddim eisiau dod i’n digwyddiad cymdeithasol ar ddydd Mawrth, mae gennym ni lawer o bethau yn ystod y dydd, hyd yn oed os ydych chi’n brysur ar noson allan dewch i fore coffi neu daith gerdded lles. Mae’n ffordd wych o gwrdd â phobl Newydd.”
H: “Rwyt ti’n dod ar draws yn gyfeillgar iawn.”
F: “Diolch! Rydw i wedi gwneud cymaint o ffrindiau newydd trwy’r Gymdeithas Coctel a dwi’n gwybod bod cymaint o bobl eraill wedi hefyd.”
Mae’n wir, mae yna amrywiaeth o bobl yn y gymdeithas, a oedd yn dod mewn gwisg ffansi a oedden nhw’n dewis y thema am y noson ac oedd ‘Eiconau Prydeinig’ ac yr oedd cyffelyb o David Attenborough, Naiomi Campbell a Boris Johnson. Roedd yna fyfyrwyr Daearyddiaeth, myfyrwyr Busnes, myfyrwyr Saesneg a llawer mwy. Roedd pawb yn ymddangos i gyd-fynd gyda’r nod sylfaenol o gael noson dda.
Roedden ni’n llwyddo i daro nifer o glasuron. Hyd yn oed yn stopio yn Y Banera, lle mae’r Gymdeithas Coctel yn galw draw pob yn ail wythnos, am ddiod mwy ffansi. Ar ôl i ni fynd i Harley’s. Roedd e bron yn wag ond nid oedd hynny’n stopio cwest Cymdeithas Coctel am noson dda. Aethon nhw ymlaen a dechreuon nhw frwydr ddawns rhwng dau aelod. Gorffennon ni’r noson yn yr Academi lle mae’r Gymdeithas Coctel weithiau yn cynnal gweithdai creu coctel. Pan adawais i ar yr amser parchus iawn tua chanol nos, roedd pawb yn dal mewn ysbrydion uchel, yn dawnsio ac yn chwerthin. Byddaf yn dweud os ydych chi’n meddwl am ymuno â’r Gymdeithas Coctel dylech chi fynd amdani os ydych chi’n hoffi noson allan ac eisiau cwrdd â gwynebau cyfeillgar a fydd y cyntaf ar y llawr dawnsio.