Author: Alice Gregory

An historic seaside hotel that’s in the running to be crowned the best in Wales has invested £120,000 in going green. The new eco-friendly measures at the Grade II listed Belmont Hotel in Llandudno have slashed its overall carbon emissions by 35 per cent and achieved a 45 per cent net reduction in gas consumption. According to manager Liam Donnelly, being shortlisted as a finalist in the Hotel of the Year category at the 2026 Welsh Hospitality Awards was the “cherry on the cake”, with the winner being announced in Cardiff on September 15. The Belmont, built in the 1850s,…

A North Wales estate agent has announced a series of internal promotions. Annie O’Brien has been promoted to Lettings Development Manager, while colleague Sophie Lewis becomes Senior Lettings Negotiator and Valuer at Cavendish’s Mold office. Two further promotions at the company’s Chester office see Emily Pickering moving from Sales Progressor to Senior Sales Progressor and Daniel Owen stepping into the role of Lettings Operations Manager. David Adams, Managing Director of Cavendish, said: “The promotions are all about recognising the contribution each of them is already making to the business, while also giving them greater responsibility as we continue to grow…

An £84,000 funding boost will help strengthen and expand a life-saving night time welfare centre in Wrexham for the next four years. The money for Hafan y Dref from Wrexham City Board has ensured the service can continue, protecting vulnerable revellers and extending its opening hours for busy periods like Christmas and major city events. The centre, on St Giles Way at the bottom of Town Hill, provides immediate medical attention to people who have become vulnerable due to drinking too much or taking drugs, or who are injured or unwell. The centre provides safety and assistance to anybody who has lost their…

A business executive who started work for a North Wales care organisation as a teenager is in the running for a major award. Kate Ackerley, 35, is a finalist in the Outstanding Service category at the Wales Care Awards after 14 years rising through the ranks at Pendine Park which has nine care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon. The business operations manager had Pendine running through her family – her mum Cynthia Edwards has worked for the company for 32 years while her husband, Richard, is also an employee. And the family connection runs even deeper with two of Kate’s…

Moneypenny is giving up to six young people the chance to learn, gain a qualification and begin their careers at its Wrexham headquarters through its new Apprenticeship Academy. Run in partnership with Coleg Cambria, the 14-month programme will give apprentices practical experience of working in customer service while they complete a City & Guilds Diploma in Customer Service. While there is plenty of discussion about the jobs AI could replace, Moneypenny believes it is also opening up new opportunities. As technology takes care of more routine tasks, skills such as empathy, good judgement, problem-solving and the ability to connect with…

The Cardiff Bay Card Show will return to The Red Dragon Centre this September for a weekend of collecting, trading and family entertainment. Held in partnership with Vendiboyz, the free event will take place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20. The two-day show has become a firm favourite with local collectors and will bring together fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game to browse, buy, sell and trade cards. A wide range of vendors will give visitors the chance to discover new cards, add to their collections and trade with fellow enthusiasts. The event…

TWO ambitious students are heading from Deeside Sixth Form Centre to leading UK universities as they take the next steps towards careers in medicine and international business. Aspiring doctor Oscar Taylor will study Medicine at University College London (UCL), while Mikey Knapp is heading to the University of Leeds to study International Business and Finance. Mikey achieved A grades in Maths and Business, an A in the Welsh Baccalaureate and a B in Economics, securing his place at Leeds following a successful two years at Deeside Sixth. Oscar, 18, from Ewloe, received offers to study Medicine from four of the…

Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival has unveiled the second wave of artists for its 19th edition, which will take place across the city from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 October. The festival will return with three full days of live music following the format used in 2024 and 2025. More than 150 artists are due to perform across ten stages at nine venues throughout Cardiff. Sŵn 2026 will form part of Cardiff Music City Festival for the third consecutive year. Running from 2 to 17 October, the wider programme will also include Llais and the Welsh Music Prize. Founded by Huw Stephens…

Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys amid congestion on several major routes around Cardiff this morning. Traffic Wales has reported delays on the A4232 southbound at Culverhouse Cross, with motorists warned to expect longer journey times. Congestion is also affecting the A4232 northbound at St Fagans. Meanwhile, drivers using the A470 are facing delays southbound at Nantgarw. Motorists travelling through the affected areas are advised to plan ahead and allow additional time for their journeys.

Former professional rugby player David ‘Jacko’ Jackson is closing in on the finish line of an extraordinary world-record-breaking endurance challenge that will see him run 100 ultramarathons in 100 consecutive days. The North Wales runner hopes to raise £100,000 for brain injury charities Headway UK and Head for Change through his challenge, ‘Mission IN-possible’. Starting on May 29 and finishing on September 5, Jacko will have spent 100 days pushing the limits of human endurance by completing a 50km ultramarathon every day without a break. The feat has broken the current men’s world record for consecutive ultramarathons, which previously sat…