Author: Rhys Gregory

MAIREAD Turner has designs on winning a prestigious national prize. The talented founder of Anglesey-based Mairead and Co Interiors is a finalist in this year’s BIID Interior Design Awards 2025. She and studio manager Lauren Morgan-Clarke are flying the flag as the only Welsh agency shortlisted this year. Their standout project? The Papered House, a listed Georgian gem in Beaumaris, lovingly transformed into a stylish, contemporary holiday retreat. “It’s such an honour to be recognised by the British Institute of Interior Design,” said Mairead. “To be the only Welsh finalist makes it even more special as it really validates all the hard work…

Swansea Building Society has extended its partnership with Swansea City Football Club, continuing as the official back-of-shirt sponsor for the 2025/26 season. The Society’s iconic green logo will proudly feature on the home and away kits for the upcoming campaign. This marks the latest chapter in a strong and growing relationship between the two Swansea institutions. As well as continuing its back-of-shirt presence on the home and away kits, Swansea Building Society will retain naming rights for the premium executive lounge at the Swansea.comStadium – the Swansea Building Society Lounge – which is also set to undergo renovations ahead of the…

Wales’ largest business representative body, FSB (Federation of Small Businesses), has today announced the appointment of Joshua Miles as their new Head of Wales. Josh’s appointment follows the upcoming departure of current Head of Wales Ben Cottam, and Josh will commence his new appointment in October. Josh joins FSB from his current role as Director of the Learning & Work Insititute in Wales – a leading organisation promoting lifelong learning and employment. Prior to that, Josh was the Director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport and earlier in his career, Josh had also held policy roles at FSB and CITB…

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Torfaen, Wales, has announced its reopening date following an extensive transformation. The much-loved farm has confirmed it will re-open its gates on Saturday 13 September 2025. The farm has been undergoing a major revamp in a bid to transform it into a high-quality visitor destination in Torfaen. The reopening will see upgraded existing buildings, a new play barn and brand-new animal facilities. The project includes extensive new play facilities, with the development of a new all-weather indoor Play Barn as well as new adventure outdoor play areas across the site. Greenmeadow’s animals, big and small, are being…

RSPCA Cymru is braced for an increase in reports about stray pet snakes – but owners can do their bit to help and avoid snake escapes. The charity is also expecting other snake-related incidents to rise this summer and is advising pet snake owners to be extra-vigilant in the warmer months. The warning comes after an RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer rescued a stray snake in a Greenwich, London fish and chip shop after receiving a report about a ‘python’ that was on the loose just last week (7 July).1 New data – launched ahead of National Snake Day this week…

Growing Llantwit Major-based Farmers Pantry Butchers celebrated success at the recent inaugural British Butchery Awards. The company, which won the Best Large Butchery Business in Wales Award, operates three standalone shops – another to open soon – and four franchise locations within garden centres across South Wales. The company also runs an online shop and wholesale and events catering businesses. The Wales categories were sponsored by Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, a leading Welsh work-based learning provider delivering butchery, food and drink manufacturing, hospitality and management apprenticeships. Formed in 2012, Farmers Pantry Butchers is committed to providing high quality, sustainable and traceable…

Wales Tech Week, the nation’s largest international tech summit, has today named Intellistack, formerly Formstack, a leader in data capture and workflow automation, as its Headline Partner for 2025. A global leader in AI-driven process automation, Intellistack supports more than 32,000 organisations worldwide. In a further show of commitment to Welsh innovation and global tech leadership, Aled Miles, CEO of Intellistack and Welsh Government Envoy to the United States, is returning to his position as Chairman of Wales Tech Week 2025, a role he held at the most recent Wales Tech Week in 2023. The international tech summit, powered by…

Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has announced the sale of The Merrion Hotel, a well-known hotel in Llandudno, North Wales, which has been purchased by Four Saints Hotels. Directly fronting onto the promenade, The Merrion Hotel is housed within a striking five-storey Victorian building and offers 62 ensuite bedrooms, many with sweeping views across Llandudno Bay, as well as a bar and lounge area which regularly hosts entertainment, and a restaurant which is open to the public. The hotel has been owned by the Bream family for over 75 years, and has been sold by brothers Gareth and…

University of South Wales (USW) graduate Mohammed Hassanin has overcome homelessness, addiction, and deep personal challenges to earn a first-class honours degree in Counselling and Therapeutic Practice. When Mohammed Hassanin walks across the stage this week to collect his degree, it won’t just mark the end of his studies – it will represent the culmination of a remarkable journey. A former rough sleeper who struggled with addiction, Mohammed, is now a qualified counsellor with big ambitions to help others to navigate their own emotional challenges. “I’ve just qualified with first-class honours,” he said. “Honestly, it still hasn’t quite sunk in.”…

A Leicestershire man has been sentenced to 32 months in prison following the theft of an historic candelabra valued at tens of thousands of pounds. Tyson Wilsher was jailed for offences including the theft of the candelabra from Cyfarthfa Castle – an incident which shocked a group of schoolchildren who witnessed it – on April 8. Wilsher, 31, was also this week sentenced for receiving stolen goods. A couple of weeks earlier, on March 24, a delivery driver had his silver Ford car stolen after briefly having left it running with the keys still in the ignition. At some point…