Author: Rhys Gregory

Singer and West End star Gareth Gates and Drag Race UK favourite Divina de Campo have been announced in the cast of the UK premiere of The SpongeBob Musical, arriving at Wales Millennium Centre on 6 – 10 June 2023. The SpongeBob Musical stars Gareth Gates (he/him) as Squidward, Divina de Campo (she/her) as Sheldon J. Plankton, Lewis Cornay (he/him) as SpongeBob, Irfan Damani(he/him) as Patrick, Chrissie Bhima (she/her) as Sandy, Richard J Hunt (he/him) as Mr Krabs, Sarah Freer (she/her) as Pearl, Eloise Davies (she/her) as Mrs Puff, Hannah Lowther(she/her) as Karen and Rebecca Lisewski (she/her) as Mayor. They are…

Internationally renowned fine artist and textile designer, Kaffe Fassett, is bringing his colourful exhibition to Mid Wales in 2023. National Trust Cymru’s Powis Castle and Garden is delighted to announce the opening of ‘Colour with Kaffe: a textile exhibition at Powis Castle’ on Saturday 18 February. Featuring some of the artist’s most-loved pieces and new ones inspired by the castle itself, the exhibition will be open until the end of the summer holidays. Shane Logan, General Manager at Powis Castle and Garden, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Kaffe and his team to bring this colourful exhibition to Powis…

A phone app that puts GPs in touch with hospital consultants for expert advice is also being used by dentists in Swansea Bay in a UK first. After being used successfully by GPs, Consultant Connect has now been adopted by dentists in both general dental services (GDS) and community dental services (CDS) in Swansea Bay. There are currently 19 GDS practices signed up to use Consultant Connect, making Swansea Bay University Health Board the first region in the UK to use the app within dentistry. Staff can access advice on behalf of their patients from consultants in orthodontics or restorative…

Savills and joint agent Calan Retail, on behalf of Mahavir Properties, have agreed the letting of Unit 10, 11-25 Queen Street, Cardiff, to Roxy Leisure, who will open the first Roxy Lanes venue in Wales in early Spring 2023. The property has a prominent ground floor entrance, with the trading area spanning approximately 20,000 sq ft on the first floor. Roxy Leisure was founded by Matthew Jones and Ben Jones in 2013 and currently has 13 sites across the UK in Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol. Cardiff will be its first site in Wales. Roxy Lanes…

Global design and technology firm, Arcadis IBI Group Inc. (“Arcadis IBI” or the “Company”),  has announced planning permission has been granted for a new 270-person primary school with Meithrin in Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf. Construction is scheduled to start in April 2023 on the site of the former Chubb Factory, with an anticipated open date of 2024. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council selected Wynne Construction to lead the design team, which includes: architects Arcadis IBI Group, landscape architects Land Studio, civil & structural engineers Curtins, MEP engineers Troup Bywater Anders, and planning consultants Kew Planning. Once complete, the school is expected…

PUPILS and their families had a second opportunity to celebrate the festive period at a leading North Wales school. Ysgol Eirias rescheduled its popular Christmas concert following its cancellation in December. Headteacher Sarah Sutton took the difficult decision to close the Colwyn Bay secondary school earlier than planned for the winter break following an isolated incident of rodent activity in one of the education blocks. The matter was investigated and dealt with immediately, in conjunction with pest control experts, the local authority and industrial cleaners. “The timing of the closure was unfortunate given the activities we had planned for the…

Wales will be taking on Ireland on Saturday February 4th at Principality Stadium. With the kick-off taking place at 2.15pm – there will be a full city centre road closure from 10.15am until 6.15pm to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely. The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy – please plan ahead – and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park & ride at County Hall in Cardiff Bay. Gates open at 11.45am, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early. Please pay…

A project to convert surplus food into ready meals, a study exploring how vertical farms utilising controlled agricultural environments could re-localise food production, and a project to grow fruit and vegetables by retrofitting aeroponic technology into redundant buildings have been awarded feasibility funding from a £2.1 million sustainable food production challenge. The challenge, which is a partnership between Cardiff Council, Monmouthshire County Council, the Cardiff Capital Region Challenge Fund, Welsh Government, and the SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) Centre of Excellence, aims to identify and support projects that can harness the potential of land, technology, and people to increase the sustainable…

Community sports facilities in Llandaff Fields are set to be transformed, with a new Padel Tennis centre, new café and community space, the resurfacing of the tennis courts, the development of a community tennis facility for all ages and abilities, the installation of cricket practice nets and, subject to funding, a new permanent clubhouse for Llandaff Cricket Club. Cardiff Council are in the process of drawing up lease arrangements with the cricket club, Tennis Wales and Padeltastic Ltd following an ‘expressions of interest’ exercise aimed at securing investment in the existing facilities, bringing new recreational and sporting opportunities to the…

Neath Port Talbot Council has agreed terms, subject to Planning Permission being secured, for a new retail development on the former Burrows Yard site at Aberavon, Port Talbot. While there remains a lot of work to be undertaken, it is hoped the development on the site of what was formerly a council depot and petrol station, will now help regenerate the local area. The council has been negotiating the disposal of the land to supermarket chain Aldi for use a food retail superstore. Also, the council plans to construct another retail unit on its retained land, which is to be…