Author: Rhys Gregory

A Cwmbran-based van dealership has purchased its trading premises with the support of a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK. The Van Centre Cwmbran has purchased a 2-acre site on Springvale Industrial Estate in Cwmbran, South Wales. HSBC UK funding has allowed The Van Centre Cwmbran to purchase the site which it has operated from since April 2021. This purchase will allow the business to expand its current premise further to meet increased demand. The Springvale Industrial Estate site will be renovated by Glenn Saunders Ltd, owners of The Van Centre Cwmbran, to include an on-site café for customers. Renovations…

A passion for VW camper vans and outdoor living has inspired Cowbridge couple Candice and Matt Holbrook to start-up and grow their own sales and conversion business. Based at Penllyn Industrial Estate between Bridgend and Cowbridge, Holbrook Dubs takes its inspiration from the young entrepreneur’s surname and the popular nickname for VW camper vans. It started trading in January 2020 when Candice and Matt converted their first camper van during lock-down having sold their own VW to help with costs. The family-run business has since grown significantly offering bespoke packages including offering customers the option to pick a van along…

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has successfully completed the sale of two convenience stores: County Stores and Bargain Booze in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. Operated by Filji Varghese since 2008 and 2012 respectively, the two sites have been purchased by expanding retailers, Kishore Manikonda and Saritha Ravilla who have exciting plans for the businesses. County Stores is centrally located in the county town of Haverfordwest, close to the main train station, and draws most of its trade from the many surrounding residential and commercial properties. Operated under Premier branding, the store is also within close distance to Haverfordwest Castle,…

Today, Netflix reveals how its investment in Welsh-made content, such as Sex Education, boosts the country’s economy, with every £1 spent on series and films generating a further 80p of spending across the UK. From all four seasons of Sex Education being shot in various locations across Wales, to the highly anticipated upcoming thriller Havoc filmed in Cardiff, Netflix productions have helped boost the UK economy. Anna Mallett, Production EMEA, UK, APAC said: “Wales is home to some of the world’s most-loved Netflix content, the  global success of  Netflix series like Sex Education has a real impact not only on…

On the day of Wales’ first World Cup match, activities were launched and a number of exciting projects that have been underway in Ceredigion were revealed. Ysgol Henry Richard Year 5, 6 and 9 pupils came together to have a film Premiere, poem unveiling, activities and a music video on Monday 21 November. It all started with all Ceredigion Primary Schools taking part in a workshop to create a poem with the poet Ceri Wyn Jones. The schools set about creating and then Ceri Wyn organized the work that was received, turning the poem into a rap. The rap follows…

Shoppers heading into Swansea city centre this Christmas can travel on buses for free every Saturday and Sunday during November and December. Swansea Council has confirmed the ‘Free-Ride Swansea’ public transport offer will be back up and running for the festive period and follows a successful free travel initiative which ran throughout the summer holidays. Starting this Saturday (November 19), the latest free offer will run every Saturday & Sunday in the run up to Christmas Day and will continue for a further five days from 27 – 31 December. The Council is urging the travelling public to make use…

A resident of Hillside Care Home in Goodwick has celebrated a remarkable 108th birthday. Ivy Skeate’s birthday fell on 1st November and Ivy celebrated with tea and cake and family visiting the next day. Annette Narbett, Registered Home Manager at the Pembrokeshire County Council-run Hillside, said Ivy was delighted to receive a card from His Majesty The King to mark the occasion. Hillside’s oldest resident, and one of the oldest people in Wales, Ivy was born just after the outbreak of the First World War.

RCT Council’s FREE festive parking initiative in Aberdare and Pontypridd, from 10am each day in December, continues again in 2022 – as we encourage residents to Shop Local and support our high street traders this Christmas. Now in its ninth consecutive year, parking charges in Council-owned car parks within the two towns will not be applied across the whole of December – from Thursday, December 1, to Saturday, December 31 inclusive. The busy Christmas period provides a boost for our town centres, and we encourage visitors to join in the festivities and explore what our wonderful traders have to offer. In Aberdare,…

Transport for Wales (TfW) launched brand-new South Wales Metro trains at Caerphilly Train Station on Friday 18 November. In attendance was Cllr Sean Morgan, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Julian Simmons, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation and Christina Harrhy, Chief Executive of CCBC. The Class 231 trains are part of a multimillion pound investment into local transport. They will enable the trains to run faster, allowing more frequent services over key routes and they will provide much needed increased capacity. James Price, Transport for Wales CEO said, “The arrival of these brand-new trains is another major milestone…

The Milbourne Chambers building — regularly referred to by locals as ‘Samuel’s Corner’ due to jeweller H Samuel’s long-standing residence in the building — is one of Merthyr Tydfil town centre’s most iconic structures. And in November 2022, the Victorian building has become home to one of its most exciting business ventures yet, with the arrival of Italian restaurant Casa Bianca. The much-loved Welsh chain will soon occupy the historic building on the corner of Glebeland Street and High Street — bringing a taste of southern Italy to the heart of Merthyr Tydfil. To mark this new culinary chapter, here…