Author: Rhys Gregory

HEINEKEN UK is investing £39m in upgrading and reopening pubs in its Star Pubs’ estate in 2024 – demonstrating its confidence in the resilience of the great British local in the face of global uncertainty. The move will create an estimated 1,075 new jobs. A quarter (612) of HEINEKEN UK’s 2,400 pubs are in line for improvement, with 94 of these set for makeovers costing on average £200,000. The investment will also cover works to reopen 62 long-term closed locals in 2024. By the end of the year, HEINEKEN UK will have reopened 156 such pubs since the start of…

Spanish galleons once crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the American coastline, sailed the Caribbean Sea and explored the Pacific Ocean, discovering and establishing trade routes on behalf of the Spanish Crown – and now a galleon is coming to Cardiff Bay for the public to explore. Floating museumGaleón Andaluciais a unique replica of the armed merchant vessels that were used for these maritime expeditions from the 16thto 18thcenturies and will dock in ABP’s Britannia Quay before opening to the public from Friday May 10th- Sunday May 12th, from 10am-8pm. A visit includes a self-guided walking tour with the opportunity to…

Welsh rock and roll memorabilia will be going under the hammer to raise money for charity. 60 Ft Dolls drummer, Carl Bevan, has collected a variety of unique items connected to icons of the Welsh rock music scene, leading artists and creatives. The 60 Ft Dolls were a key part of the Welsh music scene during the Cool Cymru era – a time when the band’s hometown, Newport, was dubbed “the new Seattle” by the New York Times in the 1990s. Carl, now a renowned landscape artist, with exhibitions selling out within minutes of opening, has organised – The Great…

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has successfully completed the sale of The Royal Goat Hotel in Beddgelert, North Wales. Located within the Snowdonia National Park, The Royal Goat Hotel is highly popular amongst tourists and couples looking to tie the knot. The Grade II listed property, which was originally built in 1802, features 32 bedrooms, a dining room, restaurant, bar and function room. The business has been owned and operated by David and Valerie Cattrall for the last five years. They comment on the sale, “The Royal Goat is a beautiful building, and we wish the new owner all the best…

Runners looking to take on a marathon challenge next year can sign up to the ABP Newport Marathon Festival now. The date has been set for the second instalment of the new-look event, which saw the addition of a new half marathon distance to the marathon and 10K races. Next year’s event will take place on Sunday 13 April 2025 and those keen to secure their spot can take advantage of special launch offer pricing. This will allow them to save 25% versus general entry in the Marathon, and £10 off general entry for the Half Marathon. However, they will…

The future of a thriving community hub on the outskirts of Newport, that is home to more than 10 local businesses, charities and community groups, has been secured thanks to investment from a local firm of architects and a £300,000 regeneration grant from the Welsh Government. The former Trebor sweet factory on Rogerstone’s Wern Industrial Estate, which recently lay empty for more than five years, has been brought back into use as a community hub by a local church group, which began using it to run Sunday services back in 2015. Faith Church rented the building from previous owner, Avana…

A 35-year-old man from Bridgend has been convicted of grooming a 12-year-old girl following a guilty plea at Cardiff Crown Court. On Thursday May 2, Matthew Cheshire, from the Sarn area, was sent to prison for four years and three months and was issued with a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Detective Constable Laura Davies from South Wales Police’s Online Investigation Team (POLIT) said: “Matthew Cheshire demonstrated predatory and manipulative behaviour when grooming who he believed to be 12-year-old child. “POLIT and the Digital Forensic Unit carried out the investigation and further sexual communication with another child was revealed and…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has awarded local volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Honorary Freeman and Freewoman status. Cllr Lis Burnett visited the RNLI lifeboat station at Penarth to present the crews with a plaques to mark this achievement. The ceremonial titles recognise the service RNLI volunteers have provided to residents and visitors to the Vale in the lifesaving charity’s 200th anniversary year. Cllr Burnett said: “The RNLI is a charity that relies on the commitment and generosity of volunteers to help keep people safe along our country’s coastline. “As the Vale is a coastal county, we…

Plans to increase the capacity of a proposed new school building in Newtown so pupils from another school can also be included could be given the go-ahead if a recommendation to Cabinet is approved, the county council has said. Powys County Council is proposing to increase the capacity of the proposed new school building at Ysgol Calon y Dderwen so that pupils from Treowen C.P. School can also be included.  It is the intention that, from September 2025, pupils continue to attend the existing Treowen building until the new building at Ysgol Calon y Dderwen is ready. When the new…

Protecting endangered species and reintroducing an historic flour mix for breadmaking are among the latest schemes in rural Swansea to get a funding boost. A number of further schemes have now been awarded funding from Swansea Council worth a combined £108,000 as part of an overall rural anchor project being funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The latest schemes to benefit include: – An otter and water vole restoration project at Penllergare Valley Woods. Led by the Penllergare Trust, the project will include the creation of further ditch and pond habitats for water voles, the…