Author: Rhys Gregory

After 25 years at the helm, the owner of one of North Wales’ most prominent sound and lighting companies is stepping back and looking for a successor to take over the business. Arwel Hughes is a familiar face within the events community. He founded MAD Sound and Lighting in 2000, following his early days as a DJ at the Octagon night club in Bangor. Since then, the company has supported major events across the region, including the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Sesiwn Fawr in Dolgellau and the Eryri Marathon. But after more than a quarter of a century in the…

Lane7 Group has acquired the Par 59 business, including the Cardiff and Bristol sites, concluding a successful period for the brand under its founding joint-venture owners. Launched in March 2022 as a partnership between Elevens Group (co-owned by Gareth Bale and Jamie Humphrys) and DEPOT, Par 59 quickly established itself as a popular addition to the competitive socialising market, bringing a new mini golf, food and drinks concept to Cardiff city centre before later expanding to Bristol. In Cardiff, the business helped bring a long-vacant St Mary Street site back into use, before growing further with the addition of the…

Two Anglesey properties have undergone major renovations after the Development Bank of Wales confirmed a £1.25 million investment – via the Wales Flexible Investment Fund – to support The Neighbourhood Group’s latest regeneration projects. NH Bull Bay Ltd has secured £350,000 to acquire and renovate The Anchorage in Bull Bay, transforming the existing holiday accommodation into a single high‑quality eight‑bedroom holiday let. A further £900,000 has been provided to NH Rhosneigr Ltd for the acquisition and redevelopment of a property in Llanfaelog, which will become a high-end 11‑bedroom destination holiday home. Both NH Rhosneigr and NH Bull Bay are part…

South Wales Police are continuing to investigate a robbery in Cardiff city centre in which a teenage boy had his electric bike stolen. The incident happened at around 9pm on Friday, March 6 on Stuttgarter Strasse, near the junction with Windsor Place. A 17-year-old boy was approached at traffic lights by two suspects travelling on a moped. The passenger got off and stole the victim’s Carrera e-bike before making off from the scene. The suspects were last seen heading in the direction of Newport Road. Both individuals are described as white and were wearing balaclavas at the time of the…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he was caught supplying Class A drugs. 22-year-old Kian Meredith, from Townhill, was spotted taking part in an apparent drug deal on Prince of Wales Road by plain-clothed officers. After fleeing, officers eventually caught up with Meredith and he was arrested on Greenhill Street, hiding behind a car. In March, Meredith pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possessing a controlled drug of Class A. He has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. Sergeant Luke Tucker said: “Kian Meredith was caught in the act…

The ISPS HANDA Senior Open will return for a fourth time to Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in July 2027, further strengthening the county borough’s reputation as a leading destination for tourism and major events. The event is Europe’s only Senior Major golf championship and attracts global media coverage, along with large numbers of spectators and participation from some of the greats of the sport. Former Ryder Cup stars such as Pádraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clarke have all competed in the tournament in recent years along with the likes of Ernie Els, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Bernhard…

In February this year, Cardiff Council launched Codi Llais, meaning ‘raise your voice’, an ambitious new city‑wide singing and songwriting initiative that has brought together thousands of young people in one of the largest massed‑choir events ever held in the capital. The £60,000 project led by CF Music Education with support from Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government’s National Plan for Music Education, has united children from Years 5–7 across Cardiff, that culminated in a major performance at the Utilita Arena Cardiff this week. Bronwen Lewis, singer, songwriter and host of BBC Radio Wales’ morning show provided a surprise performance…

St David’s Catholic School has been praised for its welcoming, caring and inclusive environment following a recent Estyn inspection. The report highlights a strong sense of belonging across the school community, with inspectors noting that every individual is valued and that the school celebrates the diverse culture of its community with pride. Staff at the primary school in West Cross provide a nurturing environment, build strong relationships and have clear expectations for behaviour and learning. They display nurturing and respectful attitudes towards pupils to ensure pupils feel safe, happy and ready to learn. Headteacher Elizabeth Rogers has established a clear…

NEWydd Cleaning and Catering – one of North Wales’s largest providers of school meals and community services – is expanding its Board as it enters an ambitious new phase of regional growth. The organisation, which employs more than 350 people and prepares up to 14,000 freshly cooked school meals each day, is moving beyond its heartland to extend services into Cheshire and the Wirral. To support that growth, the Board is inviting experienced leaders to join them as Non-Executive Directors. Alongside its school meals operation, NEWydd is a Local Authority Trading company of Flintshire County Council and delivers professional cleaning services…

The manufacturing sector is facing a tough set of challenges in 2026. Costs are rising, and logistics are getting more complex for every business. Smaller firms must adapt quickly to stay ahead of mounting pressures. Local shops are finding new ways to stay profitable and competitive. They are moving away from old habits to meet the modern demands of the market.  Shifting Toward Regional Supply Chains Global shipping costs and delays have forced many shops to look closer to home. Relying on distant suppliers is no longer a safe bet for consistent production. Local networks help maintain a steady flow…