Author: Rhys Gregory

This November, Alcotraz – the notorious bar behind bars – will be opening in Cardiff city centre. Inspired by TV and film productions that have masterfully brought infamous prison stories to life, Alcotraz promises an immersive, one-of-a-kind theatrical experience. With four successful sites already established across the UK, ‘Alcotraz: Cell Block Nine-One’ will accommodate 46 inmates for public experiences or private venue hires. Situated in the bustling Brewery Quarter, with a cell block comprised of ten individual cells, the size range caters to couples and larger groups making it an ideal choice for birthdays, stag and hen parties, as well as Christmas parties. Guests – or more appropriately…

Thanks to the support of our customers and Theatre Club, Swansea Grand Theatre has been able to carry out some much needed refurbishment in the auditorium. The main stage curtains and pelmet have been replaced, along with the curtains in the boxes on either side of the stage and the sound booth at the back of the stalls. The work is being carried out by J&C Joel and is being funded by the theatre’s Restoration Fund and a generous contribution from the Theatre Club’s committee. After 49 years of supporting the Grand the Theatre Club was disbanded in 2019 and…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council and Sustrans are partnering to deliver an innovative new project that could transform the way that domiciliary carers in the Vale travel for work. The Travel with Care project will see the Council purchase a fleet of 30 e-bikes that can be used by domiciliary care workers for travelling to work as company vehicles. Current domiciliary carers are often walkers, with no access to private vehicles and limited public transport available that meet their needs, particularly in more rural areas of the Vale. The Council hopes that care workers who would like to will now…

Glasses were raised to toast family-owned soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills who had a night to remember at the Powys Business Awards on Friday. The company, which has a workforce of 280 at Heartsease, near Knighton, was named the overall Powys Business of the Year, sponsored by Powys County Council. In addition, Radnor Hills became the first winner of the new Excellence in Sustainability Award, sponsored by Welsh Government, at the annual awards ceremony held at The Hafren, Newtown. Amazingly, all but 30 of the scheduled 230 guests managed to attend the event despite flooded roads across the county. Organised…

Ffilm Cymru Wales supports seven film festivals and community cinemas serving exciting cinematic experiences to audiences across Wales. Through their Film Exhibitor Fund, with funding from the National Lottery, Ffilm Cymru Wales provides £170,000 annually to support independent cinemas and film festivals to entertain and inspire people throughout the nation with a greater choice of films. As part of the organisation’s commitment to innovation, inclusion and sustainability, the fund encourages exhibitors to develop their work in an evolving sector, connecting their local communities through cinema. Nicola Munday, Ffilm Cymru Wales’ Audience Manager, says “I am always impressed by the resilience…

Owain Elidir Williams, the founder of Welsh language website and magazine Klust, has been named the winner of the Rising Star Award (Industry) sponsored by Songkick, at the star-studded Youth Music Awards 2023 in association with Hal Leonard Europe, held at London’s legendary Troxy on Wednesday 18 October.  The annual event represents a more diverse, inclusive and creative music industry, by platforming young people facing the biggest barriers to accessing music.   Owain Elidir Williams is the creator and editor of Klust – a bilingual music website that gives a platform to Welsh artists. In December 2022, he produced Klust’s first…

New, state-of-the-art sports facilities have opened in Cardiff as part of the Llanrumney Sports Campus (LSC) project, with the help of a £3.5m finance package from HSBC UK. The £8m LSC project, a collaboration between Cardiff City House of Sport, Cardiff University, Cardiff City Football Club (CCFC) and Cardiff Council, saw the development of a 16-acre sports centre. The HSBC UK funding went towards the creation of this complex, which will be available to local football, rugby, baseball, and cricket teams to use. A significant part of the development is a 10-acre playing area and community pavilion. This facility, which…

Construction of Bellway’s Heron’s Mead development in Newport is in its final stages. The Bellway scheme is creating 152 properties on part of the former Llanwern steelworks site and, with work nearing completion, there are now only seven homes remaining for sale. Heron’s Mead is the second phase of development completed by Bellway as part of the regeneration of the wider site, following the construction of 182 homes at neighbouring Monks Meadow. Bellway has now started work on a third phase of the project at nearby Alder Grove, with homes there due to be released for sale in January next…

The Football Association of Wales has opened the third application window of the PAWB Fund for 2023. The FAW PAWB Fund supports young people and families across Wales to access football opportunities and equipment. The application is open to 5–18-year-olds living in Wales and can be applied for on behalf of any young player, to support and assist them with accessing football opportunities and/or equipment. The following items are eligible for support through the fund: Grassroots Club Membership Fees Playing/Club Kit Football Boots Shin Pads Goalkeeper Gloves Sport Hijab Impairment Specific Equipment e.g. Sports Goggles Travel Costs e.g. Train, Bus…

As summer comes to an end and the nights become longer, people across the nation are preparing to set reminders to put their clocks back an hour on 29 October to reflect the change in season. Despite this routine occurring twice every year, many people are caught out by the extra hour lost or gained. But for people with dementia, the time change may cause more than just a surprise. The UK’s leading dementia charity, Alzheimer’s Society, has advised that people with dementia can find themselves disorientated by the clocks moving back. As winter mornings become darker, people with dementia…