Author: Rhys Gregory

Businesses representatives from across Mid Wales left a Newtown workshop this week with the tools and knowledge to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to attract more bookings and improve their online visibility. Funded by Welsh Government and delivered by Mid Wales Tourism (MWT Cymru) for Visit Wales, the free workshop was the first of second series designed specifically for tourism and hospitality businesses, regardless of their previous experience with AI. These businesses are being encouraged to embrace the next evolution of digital marketing by understanding exactly how AI is changing the way visitors search, discover and plan their…

The Cardiff Wine Passport is making a long-awaited return this August, bringing back its popular invitation to explore the Welsh capital one independent bar, restaurant and glass of wine at a time. Returning for the first time since March 2025, the 2026 Cardiff Wine Passport will give people seven weeks to discover some of the city centre’s best independent hospitality venues, exchanging six passport stamps for six specially selected drinks along the way. Cardiff-based hospitality consultant Jane Cook created the initiative in 2022 – as a fun and accessible way to encourage people to try independent venues they might not…

Two homes offering scope for modernisation and a woodland lot comprising two separate parcels in North Powys will go under the hammer at a collective property and land auction in Shrewsbury this week. The Glyn at Frochas, near Welshpool, is a substantial character house requiring refurbishment, with a guide price of £175,000 to £200,000. Tyn y Ddol at Llangynog is a three-bedroom detached home with striking mountain views and scope for modernisation, guided at £250,000.  The third Mid Wales lot comprises around 1.58 acres of woodland and amenity land formerly part of Y Gribyn at Llawr-y-Glyn, Caersws, with a guide…

An MVHR system works quietly throughout the year, bringing fresh air into living rooms and bedrooms while removing humid, stale air from kitchens and bathrooms. Because it runs in every season, its maintenance needs change with the weather. A useful MVHR maintenance checklist is not a long list of technical jobs. It is a small set of timely checks that protect airflow, filtration and the heat exchanger. Most are safe for a homeowner; faults involving wiring, fans, ductwork or system balancing belong with a qualified engineer. Why seasonal MVHR maintenance matters Filters collect different loads during the year, from spring…

For anyone who truly loves motoring, the appeal goes beyond just getting from A to B. It’s about the engineering, the design, the sound, and the feeling of being behind the wheel. Joining a car club is one of the best ways to dive into this world, turning a solitary hobby into a lively, shared experience. These groups offer many benefits that cover every part of car ownership, from social events to practical help. Whether you own a classic, a modern sports car, or just admire a particular brand, a car club gives you a unique way to connect with…

Every year, thousands of graduates leave Welsh universities ready to enter a technology sector that looks very different from the one their lecturers trained in. Cardiff and Swansea have built genuinely competitive tech scenes, start-ups are multiplying across the country, and employers are hungrier than ever for people who can build and ship reliable software. Yet one of the most valuable skills in that pipeline rarely gets mentioned in careers advice: knowing how to test software using AI. For graduates trying to stand out in a crowded job market, understanding AI tools for testing is quickly becoming one of the…

Thousands of homes across parts of west Wales will be subject to a hosepipe ban from this weekend after Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water confirmed a Temporary Use Ban (TUB) following weeks of exceptionally high demand. The restrictions, which come into force at 10am on Sunday, July 19, will affect around 33,000 properties across parts of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. But what happens if you ignore the ban, and can you legally be stopped from using a hosepipe? What is a hosepipe ban? A hosepipe ban, officially known as a Temporary Use Ban (TUB), is a legal restriction introduced by water…

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is introducing a Temporary Use Ban (also known as a ‘hosepipe ban’) across mid and south Ceredigion, together with parts of north Pembrokeshire and north Carmarthenshire, following a prolonged period of exceptionally high demand for drinking water. The area’s water supply is part of a single water supply zone served by two water treatment works. The company is today issuing a public notice confirming that temporary restrictions will come into force from 10:00 on Sunday, 19th July to help protect essential water supplies after demand in the affected area remained significantly above normal throughout the recent…

The wait is almost over for one of Cardiff’s biggest new entertainment venues and after getting an exclusive first look inside Hollywood Bowl XL ahead of its opening, we think it’s set to become one of the city’s most popular attractions. Opening at St David’s Cardiff on Monday 20 July, Hollywood Bowl XL is the company’s first ever XL concept, bringing together bowling, electric go karting, interactive darts, arcade games, food and drink under one roof. Located across two floors, the venue has transformed the former buffet restaurant unit, with entrances from both the outside of St David’s 2 and…

A 44-year-old man appeared in court following an arrest made by Counter Terrorism Policing Wales. Sajid Idris, from Cardiff, today (17th July) appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court, charged with offences of disseminating a terrorist publication, intending or reckless to encouragement of an act of terrorism, and supporting the proscribed organisation Al- Muhajiroun. He was remanded in custody ahead of a further hearing at the Central Criminal Court on Friday 21 August, 2026. Assistant Chief Constable Trudi Meyrick, South Wales Police, said: “We understand how concerning these charges will be to the Cardiff communities and our wider communities of South Wales and want to…