Author: Rhys Gregory

Eight talented Welsh chefs will cook off in the prestigious 2026 National Chef of Wales final to be held at ICC Wales, Newport early in the new year Both the National and Junior Chef of Wales finals, organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), are being held alongside the Castell Howell Trade Food Service Show at ICC Wales on January 20 and 21. The National Chef of Wales final – the country’s premier culinary competition – will be contested over two heats on January 21. The finalists are Daniel Jones from Abergwaun Hotel, Fishguard; Dion Jones from Rookery Hall…

The Magic Lantern in Tywyn has been voted Cinema of the Year in the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). More than 130 cinemas entered the awards, supported by Kia and voted for by cinemagoers, and in excess of 100,000 votes were cast during the first round of voting. The final five nominees were then selected by a specially appointed jury, taking into account the public vote and the cinemas’ contribution to their community, environmental sustainability and making cinema accessible for all. Following a final round of voting, in which over 19,000 votes were cast, the Magic Lantern was crowned the…

North Wales Police officers executed a series of drug warrants across the Western and Central districts this week. These warrants formed part of our ongoing, proactive response to organised criminality operating across the region. A detailed and long-running investigation has focused on the activities of suspects based in the Anglesey, Gwynedd, and Conwy areas. Officers targeted individuals suspected of engaging in the large-scale supply of cocaine and cannabis across North Wales. Additional warrants were executed simultaneously in Greater Manchester and Merseyside as part of this aligned policing work. The over-arching operation – planned and undertaken by officers from multiple departments…

Morriston is set to step back in time on Saturday December 13 as the community comes together for Morriston Victorian Day, a festive event designed to celebrate local heritage and support town centre businesses. Running from 10am to 3pm, the event will transform Morriston with a Victorian themed atmosphere as the countdown to Christmas continues. Residents and visitors can expect a full day of festive activity, with local shops offering special deals alongside live music, craft stalls and fayres spread throughout the town. The day will also feature displays and information from local heritage groups, giving people the chance to…

On Sunday, December 21 at 12 noon, residents and visitors are invited to one of Swansea’s most iconic landmarks, Oystermouth Castle, for a free community event filled with festive music and seasonal cheer. Hosted by the award-winning charity group The Friends of Oystermouth Castle, Carols in the Castle promises an afternoon of joyful carol singing in the stunning historic setting of the castle grounds. Guests can enjoy performances from Mal Pope and Mumbles A Cappella, featuring beloved Christmas songs for all ages. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the beauty and heritage of the castle while enjoying the spirit…

Swansea Council is set to agree a lease that will secure the future of the city’s airport. Cabinet has agreed to grant a long-term lease to the Swansea Airport Stakeholders Alliance (SASA), securing the future of the airport and its recently reinstated Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) licence. The decision follows a Cabinet report outlining options for the site after a period of interim arrangements. It builds on progress made since July 2024, when successful talks led to SASA taking temporary control of the airport to ensure it remained open after the previous operator surrendered its lease. Since taking over, SASA…

Founded in 1893 in Cwmparc and still thriving more than 130 years later, the iconic Parc & Dare Band has been honoured with a Blue Plaque. The band’s origins are deeply rooted in the community. Much of its early funding came directly from the miners of the Parc & Dare Collieries, who each contributed one penny per week from their wages to support the band’s development. This spirit of community pride and solidarity continues to define the band today. Over the decades, Parc & Dare Band has achieved an extraordinary record of success, including dozens of championship first prizes. The…

A major step toward securing the long-term future of Blackwood Miners’ Institute (BMI) has been confirmed this week. On Wednesday 10th December, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet, meeting in its capacity as Trustee, approved a series of recommendations outlining the positive work undertaken over recent months to support the venue’s sustainability and development. Cabinet agreed to progress plans to undertake a market-testing exercise that will assess interest from experienced external cultural organisations in managing the day-to-day running of the venue. This approach will allow the council to retain ownership of the iconic building, while securing a delivery partner to increase…

Residents in Wales are being urged to check their tumble dryers following a national safety alert involving approximately 85,000 appliances. Households with specific models of integrated heat pump tumble dryers manufactured by Haier must check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair because of the risk of fire. The product safety alert has been issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Affected brands include Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna and Montpellier. Now Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Service are urging households who may have one of the affected appliances to: Immediately stop using any affected…

The first six months of Network North Wales has seen new train and bus services introduced, along with improvements to station infrastructure with more exciting developments to come. Network North Wales is a long-term vision to deliver an integrated high-frequency public transport network in the region. To mark the first six months the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates travelled on a newly wrapped train on the renamed Wrexham to Liverpool line.  The design reflects the areas on the route of the train, with places included following consultation with passengers. In September a new bus service has…