Author: Rhys Gregory

A further 20 children’s play areas in Cardiff will be re-opened on Monday (27thJuly) following the initial 30 sites that opened last week. Play areas are being opened on phased basis, following a safety first approach and with a view to ensuring that children across the city have some play provision in their local area as quickly as possible. The 20 play areas that will open from lunchtime on Monday are: Adamscroft open space (Adamsdown) Belmont Walk (Butetown) Windsor Esplanade (Butetown) Trelai Park (Caerau) Bute Park Play Trail (Cathays) Maindy Park (Cathays) Whitland Crescent (Fairwater) Maitland Park (Gabalfa) Heol y Delyn (Lisvane) Watkin’s Square (Llanishen) Waun Fach (Pentwyn)…

This July, the first ever Welsh Wine Week will see a calendar of virtual events hosted by vineyard owners and friends from the hospitality, food and drink industry, take place via social media and video platforms.  The week’s free events are designed to give audiences in Wales and beyond the chance to discover the country’s growing number of vineyards and reveal its range of award-winning vintages, including those that have already reached international notoriety. There are almost 30 vineyards in Wales, and all are owned by independently-minded pioneers using Wales’ unique micro-climates to produce small quantity, terroir-driven, quality wines. Following…

The new Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill in Swansea will open its doors to customers on Friday 14 August. This new culinary destination is set to become one of the city’s most exciting dining experiences and those keen to be one of the first to try out the new restaurant, which is located in the SA1 area of the city, can now contact the venue to reserve a table. Set against the backdrop of Marco Pierre White’s unique monochromatic styling, the restaurant’s surroundings are matched by the menus which are devised by arguably the UK’s greatest chef. Bringing…

“We are now working very effectively remotely…I think there’s a chance for Wales to grab some of that opportunity from London” is the view of Starling Bank founder and CEO Anne Boden MBE during a Learnings from Leaders: Forging our Tech Future virtual event as part of the first ever Wales Tech Week.  Anne was taking part in a round table, supported by Welsh Government tradeandinvest.wales on the resilience of Wales’ tech sector from the perspective of its leaders – one of over 100 sessions covering a wide range of content from armoured polar bears to manufacturing in space that…

Law firm Blake Morgan has announced the promotion of 17 individuals in its Cardiff office. The promotions are across a range of practice areas and reflect the team’s commitment to finding relevant, realistic legal solutions for their clients and their contribution to the continued success of Blake Morgan. The success of the Blake Morgan construction and property teams is reflected in the promotion of Adam Carbis to Legal Director, while Natalie Lawley, Andrew Morgan, Victoria Morley-Jones and Charlotte Neads are all promoted to Senior Associate. Tanya Barrett, Holly Dobbins, David George and Rhiannon Peploe-Williams – all in the property team…

This summer, local bicycle enthusiasts in Cardiff are being encouraged to take part in the House-to-House Challenge, a new virtual fundraising event from Ronald McDonald House Charities UK (RMHC UK). The charity offers free accommodation to families with children in hospital and is in need of vital funds after losing a huge amount of income through the COVID-19 crisis, and cancelling major fundraising events- its main source of revenue. Held throughout August and September, the House-to-House Challenge invites participants to jump on an exercise bike at home, or take a bike out with family and friends in the great outdoors.…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the news that bovine TB vaccine trials are due to begin shortly in England and Wales. The trials form part of a longer-term strategy towards possible vaccine rollout by 2025 and will be conducted over the next 4 years on behalf of the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government and Defra. Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Senior Policy Officer, said: “Bovine TB continues to be one of the most significant issues facing cattle keepers in Wales, with more than 12,000 cattle slaughtered in 2019 due to this disease.   Losing TB-free status is devastating to…

With traditional food events off the agenda this summer, many Welsh food and drink producers have had to find other ways of reaching the public. This has resulted in several ‘virtual’ food events being set up across Wales. Instead of the public physically entering the Festival – as initially planned – people looking to explore the tastes of West Wales will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds via the internet. The voluntary-run event, says co-ordinator, Diana Vickers, has been born out of the need to create an alternative outlet for artisan producers who had planned to set up…

A Welsh housing pioneer has been hailed as a “legend of the sector” after announcing that he is calling it a day. Gwynne Jones, who has retired as the managing director of housing association Cartrefi Conwy, says he will have many fond memories of working with the innovative organisation. Mr Jones joined Cartrefi Conwy after it was created by a majority vote by tenants in 2008 in favour of transferring the 3,800 properties from the ownership of Conwy County Borough Council. Among his proudest achievements was masterminding a £30 million modernisation programme of the properties and bringing them all up…

Cardiff Council’s planning committee has voted to grant Schroder UK Real Estate Fund (‘SREF’), the owner of Mermaid Quay, the popular mixed-use destination on the waterfront in Cardiff Bay, planning consent for the extension and improvement of the centre’s car park. The car park extension, which has been designed by the Cardiff office of architects Austin Smith Lord, is the latest phase in the fund’s multi-million pound strategic repositioning of Mermaid Quay, in line with Cardiff Council’s ambitious vision for the future of the Bay. Built 20 years ago, at the same time as the rest of Mermaid Quay, it…