Author: Rhys Gregory

Ten chefs will cook off in the finals of Wales’ two premier culinary competitions later this month, with fantastic prizes awaiting the winners. The prestigious National and Junior Chef of the Wales contests, organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), will bring together talented Welsh chefs from across Wales and England in the quest of the two coveted dragon winners’ trophies. The finals will be held at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC), hosted by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s campus in Rhos-on-Sea from February 22-24. Former Junior Chef of Wales winner Andrew Tabberner, chef owner of Gaerwen Arms, Gaerwen, Anglesey, will…

Top 100 UK law firm, Hugh James, has advised Robert Price Builders’ Merchants on its first acquisition outside Wales – as it welcomes Hereford-based building supplier, Tudors, into its group. Robert Price is the largest builders’ merchants in south-east Wales. The acquisition of Tudors, and its two specialist branches (Roofing and Kitchens, Bathrooms & Landscaping), sees the network expanding to 27 branches across South-East Wales, and now Hereford too. Although Tudors are integrating into the Robert Price group, the newly acquired building suppliers will continue to trade under the Tudors name. The Hugh James team advising Robert Price was led…

Holiday home park managers Richard and Sue Hodgson are swapping five star caravans and lodges for the British waterways. The couple, who have managed Castle View Holiday Park in Harlech for the last four years, are taking a career break to explore the canal and river network of England and Wales in their narrowboat. Richard and Sue have been associated with Castle View and neighbouring Min-y-Don Holiday Parks for 17 years in all, having previously taken a three-year break to go travelling. They were involved in the development of both holiday parks by owners Salop Caravans Sitesand managed both. Now…

A Torfaen woman has been sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, for causing unnecessary suffering to her dog Bobbie who was found in an emaciated condition. Laura Marie Webb of Herberts Road, Garndiffaith, Torfaen, pleaded guilty to one animal welfare offence when she appeared at Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday 3 February) following a prosecution by RSPCA Cymru. The court heard how RSPCA inspector Simon Evans had met Bobbie on 21 April last year and saw that – although bright, active and alert – the dog had a very thin body condition. The inspector could see…

Cardiff-based English language school, Celtic English Academy, is getting ready to achieve significant business recovery and growth through exports, after winning a number of international contracts and diversifying its overseas offerings, with the help of the Welsh Government. Over the past three years, the British Council accredited school, which delivers online, in person and hybrid English courses to international students, has landed four major new contracts across Europe, Africa and Asia, which it sees as key to helping propel it back to pre-pandemic levels. Following a challenging year, the Academy has now set its sights on growing the business by…

After the disruption of the last two years plans are being made for the return of the Montgomery Canal Triathlon, the canal’s biggest event of the year. The Triathlon is organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and is supported by the Canal & River Trust in aid of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal. It is one of the most popular cross border events, starting in Newtown in Wales and ending in Shropshire. This annual event supports the restoration of the canal and ran for eight years before the coronavirus in 2020 caused a postponement to 2021. The…

A desire to protect and enhance the bee and pollinator population in Wales has led to an innovative project between two seemingly disparate businesses. Although drawn from different parts of the food industry, Ellis Eggs Ltd and Bee Welsh Honey have a common desire to boost the fortunes of bees and pollinators and highlight their vital impact on the environment. Jason Ellis, owner of the Hirwaun-based egg company, and Builth Wells bee farmer Shane Llewelyn-Jones have forged a collaboration that is already benefitting the environment and potentially creating commercial opportunities. Jason’s interest in the vital role of bees and pollinators…

A Creative Writing graduate from Aberystwyth University has topped The Sunday Times Bestseller List with her debut novel. Just days after its release, Susan Stokes-Chapman’s Pandora became the number one bestselling hardback fiction book in the UK, toppling Richard Osman’s The Man Who Died Twice. Born and brought up in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Susan spent four years studying at Aberystwyth University, graduating with a BA in Education & English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing. Responding to the news, Susan said:  “I am absolutely blown away by the response to Pandora, and never imagined the novel would be so well received. To…

The Duke of Sussex says he has “experienced burnout” and previously felt he was “getting to the very end of everything I had” in a recent live stream with tennis star Serena Williams hosted by BetterUp, a mental health company Harry has been part of since last year. How do we know when we’re experiencing burnout and what we can do to prevent it?  Professor Sir Cary Cooper, Advisory Board Member at Private Rehab Clinic Delamere, sheds light on the issue of burnout and how you can prevent it within the workplace. The full content is available below or in…

RCT Council will begin necessary work to stabilise the embankment next to a section of Llwyncelyn Road in Porth – a significant scheme which requires traffic to be reduced to one direction only, to ensure safety. The works area is a 170-metre length of embankment adjacent to B4278 Llwyncelyn Road, located between the Pontypridd Road and Leslie Terrace junctions. The embankment is slowly slipping and causing damage to the short wall next to the pavement – while during periods of rainfall, groundwater not captured by the drainage channel begins to collect on the footway below. The upcoming scheme will construct…