Author: Rhys Gregory

ICC Wales, Newport’s state-of-the-art convention centre, has been confirmed as the first Welsh venue to host the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Congress in its current format, which will take place in June 2024. The five-day event, which is expected to welcome more than 2,000 delegates, is set to boost the local economy by £5.8m, with attendees from all parts of the UK seeking accommodation in hotels across Newport and Cardiff. The Congress will take exclusive use of ICC Wales with its sister venue at Celtic Manor Resort supporting by providing accommodation, meeting spaces for fringe events and by hosting…

Fonmon Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan is kicking off the next bank holiday and half term with a weekend of magic and mayhem featuring magicians, magic and a quest hunt. Running on May 27-29, the ‘Magic and May-Hem’ weekend incudes an adventure challenge taking players around Fonmon’s extensive estate through woods and gardens, the Jurassic Wales dinosaur park and the Medieval Court and Grange searching for the ‘magic word’ – which will conjure up a chocolate gift. Along the way, questers will meet wizards, witches and owls. The event will also give visitors complete access to the whole estate…

Collaboration by politicians, businesses and local authorities is the best way to promote tourism across Mid Wales, a Wales Tourism Week meeting heard on Friday. MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism) organised the meeting at Penrhos Park, Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth to celebrate the annual tourism week which showcases the quality of the country’s tourism offer to both UK and international tourists. Ceredigion MP Ben Lake and Ceredigion County Council leader Councillor Bryan Davies met a small group of MWT Cymru leaders and member businesses from the tourism and hospitality sectors. The meeting was hosted by Rowland Rees-Evans, a director of Penrhos…

FLINTSHIRE home buyers will be able to enjoy their first look inside show homes as part of a landmark regeneration scheme from this weekend (May 27). Anwyl Homes is building 183 new homes at Summer Bridge, as part of the wider redevelopment of the former RAF Sealand site in Deeside, known as The Airfields. Up until now, homes have been sold off plan from Anwyl’s nearby Maes y Rhedyn development in Llay. From this weekend buyers will be able to view two professionally styled and fully furnished show homes. They’ll also be able to utilise digital technology to help them…

FinTech Wales, the independent membership association and champion of the Tech and Financial Services industry in Wales, has recruited Ollie Vincent as its Office and Community Manager. The not-for-profit organisation has also moved to its first office in the centre of Cardiff, featuring a variety of high quality work and event spaces that are available to members and advocates of the Welsh FinTech ecosystem. Ollie Vincent joins from DESG, where he spent over two years as Head of Operations, developing DESG from a building site to an award-winning co-working and event space. In his new role, Ollie will be leading…

A one-day Woodland Fair to raise awareness of the Celtic Rainforest Project will be held in the Elan Valley on Bank Holiday Monday, May 29, from 10am to 3pm. Various project partners and charities will be available to chat to visitors with updates on the project which is attempting to rid beautiful ancient woodlands of invasive species and encourages improved management by conservation grazing. Visitors will be able to browse craft and food stalls which showcase local producers, artists and crafters, including artist Amanda Skipsey with her whimsical art and jewellery and MAC Chocolates with delicious artisan, handmade chocolates. Lavender…

A new family entertainment centre has opened in Llanelli, creating 30 jobs with 17,000 square feet of soft play facilities, a bowling alley, sports court and indoor go-karting. Run by Georgia and David Edwards who previously owned The Play King in Dafen, Pinopolis has opened in the former CEM Days car showroom on Sandy Road. The fit-out was part-funded by a six figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales following an introduction by Visit Wales. With Wales’ first and only immersive Brunswick Spark Bowling lanes, Pinopolis is open from 10am to 10pm seven days a week and has a…

At Powis Castle and Garden in Welshpool, the Wisteria Floribunda is now in full bloom. The seasonal must-see that stretches out across the garden’s Italianate Terraces is thought to be over 150 years old. Dotted with huge yew hedges and topped by the striking medieval Welsh castle, the world-famous garden cared for by National Trust Cymru is open everyday, 10am-5pm. To catch the wisteria at its best plan a visit to Powis Castle and Garden within the next week or two

A fantastic, fun-filled couple of days was enjoyed by thousands of visitors to the Royal Welsh Smallholding and Countryside Festival in Llanelwedd at the weekend. The two-day event was a celebration of rural life, showcasing the diversity of the Welsh countryside, and proved to be a great day out for young families, smallholders and anyone with a love for the great outdoors. With opportunities to benefit from a wide variety of information at the Smallholder’s Centre, smallholding farmers were able to learn about all sorts of interesting activities, including talks on getting started with their farming journey, beekeeping and goat…

Cardiff Dogs Home has received a £95,000 grant from the National Lottery to support its thriving volunteer project, which currently sees between 30 and 40 new volunteers inducted each week. Every year the award-winning team at Cardiff Dogs Home care for hundreds of lost or stray dogs while they wait to be reunited with their owners or found a forever home. Volunteers play a significant role in that team, helping carry out many different tasks, but mainly taking the dogs out for walks. The National Lottery grant will help fund a Volunteer Co-ordinator role, as well as volunteer training, regular…