Author: Rhys Gregory

Wales has long ceased to be just a land of picturesque hills and ancient castles. For young residents, it’s also a vibrant digital world, where meetings take place in chat rooms, voice chat rooms, and game worlds, and local stories live not only on the streets but also in news feeds. In the evening after school or work, many Welsh people don’t go to their usual pub, but rather to an app on their phone or a favorite online platform, where friends are already waiting. The online space has become a place where three important parts of life come together:…

Across Wales, families are working out how to keep elderly relatives at home. Not in a care facility. Home. Waiting lists for residential care have stretched. Costs have gone up and kept going. Most older people say the same thing when asked directly: familiar streets, the same front door, the neighbour who waves on Tuesday mornings. That is what they want. Making that possible usually means changing the house. Bathrooms show the cracks first. Older Welsh properties, compact layouts, fixtures nobody has touched since before mobile phones existed. Bathing gets difficult before it gets dangerous. Families start looking, a grab…

Cardiff is set to introduce a new Visitor Levy after plans were approved by Full Council, following a public consultation that showed strong backing for the move. The levy will see a small charge applied to overnight stays in the city from April 2027, made possible by new Welsh legislation that received Royal Assent in September 2025. Almost 2,000 people responded to the consultation, with 62% supporting the introduction of the levy, 33% opposed and 5% neutral. Awareness of the proposal was also high, with 91% of respondents saying they were either very or quite aware of the plans. Supporters…

Plans for a series of major concerts at Blackweir Fields in Cardiff this summer are moving forward, with organisers confirming five headline shows while a planning application is currently under consideration. The events, branded as Blackweir Live, are set to bring a number of high-profile acts to the Welsh capital, including The Cure on June 24, Teddy Swims on June 26, Lewis Capaldi on June 30 and July 1, and Pitbull on July 4. A premises licence for the site was approved in April 2025, allowing for up to six events to be held at Blackweir Fields each year. However,…

Cardiff Music City Festival will return for a third year of boundary‑pushing music this autumn. The 2026 festival will run from Friday October 2nd to Saturday October 17th filling venues, clubs and pop‑up locations across Cardiff with two weeks of bold programming which pushes the boundaries of music innovation, performance and technology. Featuring global stars, homegrown talent, immersive events, talks, installations, unique collaborations and unmissable one‑off events the festival will once again proudly encompass: Sŵn – Cardiff’s annual new‑music festival. Llais – Wales Millennium Centre’s international arts weekend. Welsh Music Prize – celebrating the very best music made in or…

Detectives investigating the murder of a man in Pencoed have issued a fresh appeal for information, urging a jogger who may have key details to come forward. South Wales Police say the man was seen running along Felindre Road shortly before 1am on February 28, around the time of the incident in which David Rogers was fatally injured. Officers believe he may have passed the scene just before it happened and could be able to assist with the investigation. They are also appealing for anyone who visited the Chatterton Arms between 7:30pm and 11:30pm on February 27, or Pencoed Rugby…

Loungers has opened the doors to Lansio Lounge in Tenby this week, creating around 30 new jobs for the local community. Located on South Beach, the former Salty’s Beach Bar has been completely reimagined by the Loungers design team.  The transformed space features richly patterned wallpapers, colourful tiling, stripped wooden floors, oversized vintage sofas and upholstered lounge chairs, all brought together with an eclectic mix of artwork.  Statement wall and pendant lighting create a series of cosy corners and elegant dining areas for guests to relax in throughout the day.  A huge mural depicting Tenby features on the back bar.…

A major new retail opening has landed in the Welsh capital today, as JD Sports has officially opened the doors to its new Cardiff superstore. Shoppers can now step inside the brand-new flagship, which spans around 31,936 square feet, making it one of the largest JD Sports locations in Wales. The retailer has relocated from its previous Queen Street site to a much larger unit on the lower level of the Grand Arcade at St David’s, close to Size and LEGO. The long-awaited opening has been teased in recent weeks, with anticipation building around what is set to be one…

A new waterfront café-bar is set to open in Barry next month, bringing a fresh venue to a long-unused seafront site. Loungers has confirmed that Morio Lounge will open on Wednesday, May 13 at Nell’s Point, taking over the former toilet block which has been unoccupied for several years. Located on Whitmore Bay, the new venue will operate as a laid-back café-bar serving food and drinks from morning through to evening, seven days a week. The menu will cater to a wide range of tastes, including gluten-free and vegan options, while the venue itself is designed to be welcoming for…

South Wales Police have issued a warning to communities across the region following a rise in reports of courier fraud targeting vulnerable and elderly people. The force says criminals are impersonating bank staff or police officers in a bid to trick victims into handing over cash, bank cards and other valuables. In some cases, victims have been defrauded out of thousands of pounds. Offenders are using increasingly forceful tactics, including intimidation, to pressure individuals into complying with their demands. Typically, victims receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from their bank, who then attempts to arrange for money…