Author: Rhys Gregory

FOOD lovers across Wales and England are being urged to use public transport to get to one of Britain’s top food festivals. Abergavenny Food Festival takes place on 20 and 21 September. The Festival plays host some of the brightest lights of the food world with 180 exhibitors and programme of chef demos, talks, and family entertainment. To support the event, Transport for Wales is offering a regular free shuttle bus from the town’s Railway Station direct to the festival on both the Saturday and Sunday. Abergavenny has regular direct trains from Cardiff, Newport, Cwmbran, Pontypool, Hereford, Ludlow, Leominster, Shrewsbury…

A man has been charged after an elderly man was scammed of thousands of pounds by someone pretending to be a police officer. Last week we urged people to be vigilant after an 80-year-old man had £16k stolen from his home in Riverside, Cardiff. A second similar incident involving a 78-year-old man from St Mellons was reported on Monday. Nawaf Abdullahi, 20, from Islington, London, has been charged in connection with these two incidents. Abdullahi appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court earlier this week (Thursday, September 11) charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and participating…

A farmer’s daughter from Carmarthenshire is promising to build her dad a new bridge after scooping £250,000 in the People’s Postcode Lottery. Isara Panicker, 38, from Cwrt Henri near Carmarthen, shared the £1 million Millionaire Street prize with three neighbours after their postcode, SA32 8SJ, was announced as the winner on Saturday 13 September. Each ticket was worth £250,000. Isara, a mum-of-one, said: “We need to build a bridge at the farm. When the river rises, it’s not easy to cross. I promised dad we’d get it done one day – and now we finally can. “It’s definitely better to…

A total of £4 million has been allocated towards town centre regeneration projects across Mid Wales (Powys and Ceredigion) over the next two years (2025-2027). Welsh Government has made the award to Powys County Council, working in partnership with Ceredigion County Council, as part of its Transforming Towns programme. Funding is available for up to 70% of project costs, up to a maximum of £300,000 per application, for schemes which address priorities outlined in a town’s placemaking or investment plan. More information on Transforming Towns Placemaking Grants for 2025-2027: Ceredigion: https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/business/funding-and-grants/transforming-towns-placemaking-grant/ Powys: https://en.powys.gov.uk/transformingtowns Placemaking Grants in the two counties are…

This year, National Grief Awareness Day was observed on the 30 August 2025, and as a fitting acknowledgement of grief and bereavement, and to those experiencing loss, a short film created by young people was officially launched on 29 August 2025 in Arad Goch, Aberystwyth. It is estimated that 127 children and young people are bereaved of a parent every single day in the UK, with 78% of 11-16 year olds saying they have been bereaved of a close relative or friend, according to one survey held by Winston’s Wish Bereavement Charity. The idea to create the short film, which has…

The glamorous Child of Wales Awards 2025 returned for its fourth year on Friday, September 12, bringing an evening of inspiration and celebration to Swansea Arena. Hosted by BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones, the star-studded event welcomed a line-up of famous faces including actress Melanie Walters, Love Island’s Emily Moran, Nicole Samuel and Liam Reardon, The Traitors star Andrew Jenkins, as well as rugby legends Sir Gareth Edwards and Gareth Thomas. Family, friends, celebrities and sporting greats came together to applaud the achievements of Wales’ remarkable young people, with awards recognising courage, resilience, fundraising, leadership and community spirit. Categories…

Academy Music Group Limited (AMG) has today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Cardiff Council to take over the running of and re-open Cardiff’s iconic St David’s Hall. The agreement will safeguard the future of the venue, preserving the National Concert Hall of Wales as a centrepiece of Cardiff’s cultural fabric and securing its legacy as a world-class music venue. Once reopened, St David’s Hall will host an eclectic programme of events, developing and supporting the venue’s renowned classical programme and community focus alongside contemporary shows. “Cardiff is a vibrant city with a thriving music and arts…

Tickets are now on sale for the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot’s Remembrance Concert 2025 which will be hosted once again by musician, composer and TV and radio personality Mal Pope. The popular event has been staged for many years in the Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, which is currently closed due to a multi-million-pound overhaul. The £16.9m project to transform the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot into a modern cultural hub is part of a wider town-centre regeneration plan funded by the UK Government. As a result, this year’s concert, on Saturday 1st November 2025 (starting at 7pm), will…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has played a key role in the successful redevelopment of the former Rates building in Aberdare town centre, helping to secure Welsh Government funding to bring the historic site back into use. Working with Morris Property Developments Ltd, council officers supported the application for major grant funding which has delivered 10 modern apartments and a new commercial unit on High Street. All apartments have already been let, while Coco’s Coffee and Kitchen has opened its doors in the retail space, expanding its popular Aberdare-based business. The Grade-2 Listed, early to mid-19th Century building has great historical…

On Saturday 11 October, Newport Food Festival will once again bring the city centre to life for a day of food, drink and fun. With over 90 stalls lining High Street and surrounding areas, there will be entertainment and activities for all the family. The chef demonstrations will bring together some of the best local culinary talent and this year will host not one but two celebrity chefs. Headlining the fantastic line up at Newport Market will be Matt Tebbutt, TV chef and presenter. Matt will be joined by Cyrus Todiwala, Hywel Jones, Carl Cleghorn and Adam Whittle. The demonstration…