Author: Rhys Gregory

The way Brits take holidays is changing. Shorter, more spontaneous, and closer to home – the ‘microcation’ is fast becoming the UK’s travel trend of the moment, with Brits increasingly swapping the long-haul for meaningful breaks of under five days*. For those looking to make the most of the Easter holidays, Celtic Manor Resort offers an ideal base. Set among the rolling hills of the Usk Valley in South Wales, the five-star resort’s Welcome to Feel Good initiative has been designed around exactly this need: rest, connection and the freedom to slow down, without having to go far to find it. Jenna Carr,…

Proposals for a new Aldi supermarket in St Mellons have been unveiled, with residents invited to share their views ahead of a planning application being submitted to Cardiff Council. Property developer Robert Hitchins Limited, in partnership with Aldi, is looking to bring a new food store to Plot A, Wern Fawr Lane, at Eastern Business Park. The scheme would repurpose a surplus parking area and represents what developers describe as a significant £7 million investment into the local economy. If approved, the development is expected to create up to 40 new jobs at the St Mellons store. Aldi says roles…

Plans to deliver a once in a generation tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay have taken a major step forward following a landmark agreement between Swansea Council and Batri Ltd. The deal will see the former Tir John landfill site transformed into a major new solar farm, creating the clean energy foundation for a wider programme of renewable energy projects, including the proposed tidal lagoon. The lagoon would harness the power of the tides to generate predictable, renewable electricity. The wider project will create thousands of skilled jobs and drive significant long-term economic growth for Swansea and the wider area. The…

A popular trattoria and pizzeria has opened its first Welsh restaurant in Cardiff’s city centre, supported by a £350,000 loan from the Investment Fund for Wales, via FW Capital. The first Bosco opened in Bristol in 2014, and the brand operates out of four locations across the south-west of England. Known for wood-fired Neapolitan-styled pizzas and high-end Italian dining, Bosco’s new restaurant is already proving popular with diners in Cardiff. A £350,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Wales, via FW Capital, funded the refit of premises on High Street, as well as providing working capital. The…

Mrs Buckét, the award-winning commercial cleaning company, has announced a number of changes to its senior leadership team. As part of the update, Kate Ablett has been promoted to Managing Director. Formerly People and Operations Director, she takes over the role previously held by founder Rachael Flanagan. This shift will allow Rachael to focus on the company’s long term strategy while continuing to represent the brand as a leading ambassador. Swansea-born Kate, who now lives in Caerphilly, has been with Mrs Buckét for four years. She joined as Head of People, where she played a key role in introducing the…

Greenmeadow Community Farm’s first spring since re-opening is now in full swing, with newborn lambs, piglets and chicks signalling the start of the new season. Since the re-launch of the farm last September following a major transformation, the visitor destination is flourishing with over 40,000 visitors and 6,000 members. The farm has also welcomed more than 2,000 people from events and 1,500 from school visits. The extensive renovation works across the farm included new indoor and outdoor play facilities, a revamped farm house and cafe called The Farmer’s Table, and a stunning Haybarn that can be booked for events and…

Families can get on the housing ladder for as little as £325 a month, with towns in the North East amongst the UK’s most affordable locations, according to new analysis from Zoopla, one of the UK’s leading property websites. Shildon in the North East is the most affordable town in the UK for families looking to buy a home, This new analysis comes at an important time for the housing market as we enter the busy Easter home buying season. While uncertainty is building on the back of events in the Middle East, Zoopla’s data shows sales holding up as…

Award-winning Cardiff bakery business Pettigrew Bakeries has announced plans to open a brand-new headquarters and bakery café in Penylan this summer, marking its biggest investment to date, and opening a major new chapter for the much-loved local brand. Set to open from June 2026, the new ‘Breadquarters’ will be based at the Design Quarter on Colchester Avenue, bringing all baking under one roof for the first time. The 5,500 sq ft space will allow Pettigrew Bakeries to significantly increase capacity, create ten new jobs, streamline day-to-day operations and create a new customer-facing bakery café with a theatre-style window into the…

A man from Dyffryn is taking on the ABP Newport Half Marathon to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of his dad, Gary. Kurtis Olding, 29, will be running the race, which is part of the ABP Newport Marathon Festival, with his brother-in-law Curtis, 26. The pair have already raised more than £2,000 for the charity and are hoping their total will continue to increase. Kurtis’ dad, Gary, was diagnosed with MND in July 2024. Tragically, the disease claimed his life the following year and Gary passed away in July 2025, aged just 58. Kurtis, who…

A significant new chapter is beginning at one of the Llŷn Peninsula’s most cherished historic homes. Following the completion of a major reroofing project in 2024, detailed investigations at Plas yn Rhiw have confirmed that the next phase of its restoration will begin this spring. To allow this essential conservation work to take place safely, the house will remain closed throughout the 2026 season. Plas yn Rhiw has been cared for by National Trust Cymru since 1952, entrusted to the charity by its final residents – the Keating sisters, Eileen, Lorna and Honora, who moved to the house with their widowed mother in 1939. Originally built in the 17th century,…