The former Nice 'N' Tasty takeaway on North Road in Cardiff has sat empty for nearly 20 years on a prominent piece of land. Its owner, Vaughan Dickson, a 76-year-old former professional boxer, has told the story of the site and his own life, as well as the health problems that have made it difficult to realise his dreams for the building.
A life from Splott to the boxing ring
Vaughan Dickson was born and raised in Splott. He fought professionally across the UK during the 1970s under the name Vaughan Innocent, taking his mother Evelyn's surname. His childhood changed dramatically when his mother died from thrombosis, leaving him orphaned at just eight years old. He was then raised by his grandmother, Matilda Innocent, alongside his uncles, including Malcolm and Eugene Innocent.
His father, Desmond Dickson, had come to Britain during the Windrush era and served in the RAF. After his military duties, he returned to Jamaica, taking Vaughan and his mother with him, but life there proved difficult and they eventually returned to the UK.
Growing up as a mixed-race child in a very different Cardiff, Vaughan faced challenges from an early age. Looking back on his school days, he joked: "I was the only black kid in school, that's why I learned how to box."
Boxing and a career abroad
His uncles Malcolm and Eugene were both boxers. Eugene was just four years older than Vaughan, and the pair were raised together as brothers. Watching his uncles first drew Vaughan towards the sport. By the age of 18, he had become a professional boxer and went on to have 15 professional fights across the UK.
Boxing remained part of his life after his professional career ended, with him later returning as a coach. He also played rugby league, including a spell in Leeds where he stayed with his cousin Clive Sullivan, the Welsh rugby league legend who has a statue dedicated to him in Cardiff Bay.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Vaughan worked as an insulation engineer and spent periods abroad, including in Central Africa and Saudi Arabia. Years working in the industry later contributed to serious breathing problems, including pleural plaques. Vaughan eventually wanted something closer to home, which brought him back to a building on North Road in Gabalfa he had bought years earlier after seeing potential in the site.
The Nice 'N' Tasty years and its legacy
The building had previously been used as a weighbridge before being used by an advertising company. Vaughan turned the site into the Nice 'N' Tasty takeaway, creating a business of his own. When it opened in 2004, the small business became a familiar stop for students at the nearby Talybont halls of residence, workers and people passing along North Road. Breakfast rolls, baguettes, salads, chips, coffee and tea were served in the cafe.
Vaughan takes pride in owning the land and turning the old weighbridge into a successful business. The building became a physical reminder of how far he had come from his childhood in Splott. But after the takeaway closed in 2007, the building was left unused and the sign remained. Almost two decades later, it is still there as the area around it has changed.
For Vaughan, the property has never simply been an empty building. He still takes pride in the fact that people recognise it and use the old takeaway as a point of reference when travelling along North Road.
Health challenges and hopes for the future
His health has made dealing with the property increasingly difficult. Vaughan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's after memory problems began to emerge around 2016, while he also lives with Parkinson's and ongoing respiratory problems. He once had dreams of developing the site but these have never come to fruition. His partner, Barbara Lyn, now cares for him following health problems that emerged after his years as a professional boxer and insulation engineer.
Today, the building is used for advertising and storage. In the future, Vaughan hopes his children will be able to do something positive with the site. "I'd like to keep it for my kids, hopefully they can turn it into something good." For now, the old Nice 'N' Tasty sign remains where it has been for years.
