Meet Ryan of Roman Taxis… the man driving the beat behind the LLMAs Best Covers Band

This week, Kym caught up with Ryan from Roman Taxis. The Newport and Blackwood-based taxi firm is proudly sponsoring this year’s Love Live Music Best Covers Band Award. A fun Q&A revealed some great insights into Ryan, his experiences, and the story behind Roman Taxis.

Q: How long have you been in the taxi business?

A: 16 years. My father was a driver at Dragon Taxis, and after that we set up Roman Taxis together. He now runs the Newport branch, while I’m based at our newer Blackwood branch.

Q: What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened in one of your taxis?

A: Sadly, not a funny one—recently a passenger passed away while we were taking them to a hospital appointment. It really puts things into perspective.

Q: Is there a passenger you’ll never forget?

A: There have been quite a few! Nicky Campbell, the BBC TV personality, was a real character. Chris Evans once ended up on a random night out locally. Titus Welliver, who plays Harry Bosch in Bosch, has also travelled with us. We drove strongman Eddie Hall to Celtic Manor—he then drove off in his tank! I also had Jamie and Louise Redknapp… well, almost. They told us who they were, but we still didn’t have a car available for them.

Q: Have you ever had a full-on singalong in your cab?

A: All the time! We even have a car equipped with a karaoke system so there’s really no excuse to not join in.

Q: What do you like to sing in the car?

A: Sometimes I’ll go for Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car or Car 67 by Driver 67—perfect songs for a taxi driver!

Quickfire Round

Early airport run or 2am nightclub pick-up?

Early airport run. Fewer kebabs involved!

Chatty passenger or quiet ride?

Chatty passenger

Sat nav or “I know a shortcut”?

Shortcut, of course!

Tea or coffee?

Coffee

Best shift—day or night?

Daytime—it’s busier

Q: Tell us more about your business. What makes Roman Taxis stand out?

A: We’re professional, reliable, family-run—and we mix modern tech with old-school values. Basically, we know what we’re doing and we still answer the phone properly.

Q: You’re often working through the night—what music keeps you going?

A: All day in the office, we usually have Newport City Radio on. At night, I tend to go for blues, jazz, and easy listening.

Q: You’re sponsoring the Best Covers Band award at the Love Live Music Awards 2026. How important is it for businesses like yours to support local events and projects?

A: It’s massively important. Give local, get local.

Q: If someone needs a taxi right now, how can they get in touch?

A: Email us at info@romantaxis.co.uk,

 call 01633 400071, or—better still—use our app!

Q: If every passenger could hear one message from you, what would it be?

A: I actually have two messages:

Download the Roman Taxis app

Have a pleasant journey

Q: Do you currently have vacancies for drivers?

A: Yes—if you’re a Newport or Caerphilly badged driver, please get in touch.