Author: Rhys Gregory

The latest multi-million pound luxury lodge development in Denbighshire has secured the backing of the Development Bank of Wales. Bryn Morfydd Hotel and Lodge Park at Llanrhaeadr, near Denbigh, closed in January 2009 and fell into disrepair. The 15-acre site will now be redeveloped by Jamie Hughes of HHH Park No 1 Limited with a £2.2 million loan from the Wales Business Fund being used to part-finance the construction of 68 luxury lodges. The deal was completed with the assistance of North Wales law firm Lanyon Bowdler who acted on behalf of HHH Park No 1 Limited. James Guile of…

The Pottery reopened on Friday 25th March 2022 as a new look Sizzling Pub following an extensive refurbishment. Staff and locals at the Pottery celebrated the pub’s reopening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, following a major remodel. Located in Pontypridd, the refreshed Pottery resumed serving guests after being closed for 29 days. Commenting on the pub’s new look, general manager, Christopher Rickards, said: “Bringing the new look Pottery to Pontypridd is really exciting for the whole team. At the Pottery, we want to offer great food and great value for all our guests, and we’re thrilled to be providing the…

Reigning British Rally champion Matt Edwards stormed to a National win at Saturday’s WKD Trained Dogs Rally North Wales after a gruelling day in the forests surrounding the Dolgellau rally base. Edwards, from Conwy and co-driver Hamish Campbell blasted their FIAT 131 Abarth to a nail-biting Historic category win in the National Rally. Matt Hirst and co-driver Declan Dear made it back-to-back Interclub victories, taking their Ford Fiesta R5 to six fastest times in a fine display during what would be a difficult day of competition for many crews. The popular motorsport event, sponsored by leading multi-disciplined dog training firm WKD Trained…

Work has begun on the installation of a new solar array that will generate green electricity for Aberystwyth University. The £2.9m investment will provide up to 25 per cent of the annual electricity needs of the Penglais Campus and reduce the University’s carbon emissions by just over 500 tonnes annually, and up to 12,000 tonnes over its anticipated 25-year working life. Covering an area of 3.8 hectares of University-owned land on Fferm Penglais, the new array will feature more than 4500 individual solar panels and is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of July 2022. The electricity generated…

A powerful, immersive art experience that taps into the ‘limitless potential of the human mind’ is coming to Cardiff in May as part of the UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK festival. Dreamachine, presented at the Temple of Peace in Cathays Park between May 12 and June 18, is inspired by a little-known 1959 creation by artist-inventor Brion Gysin. His experimental device used flickering light to create vivid illusions, kaleidoscopic patterns and explosions of colour in the mind of the viewer. The 21st Century equivalent is a seated experience, between an hour and 90 minutes long, that is designed to be…

A four-day bank holiday weekend will take place between Thursday 2 June – Sunday 5 June 2022 along with a series of national events designed to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Bridgend County Borough Council has made a step-by-step guide available to help residents who want to mark the occasion with a street party or other community celebration. Residents coming together to organise street parties marking royal or other national events are a British tradition. The Platinum Jubilee will offer communities throughout Bridgend County Borough a great chance to get together and hold a celebration with neighbours. To support this…

The Mayor of Neath Port Talbot’s Covid Response Awards took place on Thursday, March 24th, 2022) in the beautiful surroundings of Margam Country Park’s Orangery. The awards were designed to recognise and reward the outstanding contributions of individuals, groups and organisations in our community during the Covid-19 pandemic. The main sponsor for the awards ceremony was John Pye Auctions. Here are the winners: Health & Wellbeing Award – Run4All Neath for organising a running club to help the physical and mental wellbeing of residents throughout COVID-19. Presented by Louise Fleet, Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan Supporting Education Award – Gemma Ness…

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething has today announced appointments to a new Economic Ministerial Advisory Board, which will provide expert advice on economic policy issues to the Welsh Government. The Board will provide timely, relevant and expert external advice on specific economy-related matters, by identifying both current and future economic challenges and opportunities to develop Wales’ economy and help it to thrive. Along with formulating advice and presenting it to Ministers, Board members will discuss policy ideas and act as a sounding board for future policy development – offering robust challenge and testing out key policies where appropriate. Professor Andrew Campbell…

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has visited a successful Welsh exporter to see first-hand the challenges and opportunities facing the business following the coronavirus pandemic, and encouraged more Welsh companies to capitalise on Welsh Government support to export their goods and services internationally. Gwent-based Industrial Automation and Control Ltd (IAC) was established in 1989 and is one of the leading industrial control systems integrators in the UK. It has a particular expertise in the manufacture of variable speed drive systems, with its products used by many of the world’s leading electrical brands. IAC, which employs over 65 people at a modern…

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt today outlined the progress of the Homes for Ukraine scheme in Wales and highlighted the further support Welsh Government have provided to the humanitarian crisis. Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt said: “We have seen an overwhelming response from people in Wales as they have signed up in their thousands to the UK Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme to act as a potential sponsor for someone fleeing the war and to open their homes to them. This really is our Welsh Nation of Sanctuary in action. Those expressions of interest are now turning into…