Author: Rhys Gregory

Excitement around Wales’ biggest tourism awards ceremony is mounting after a record number of entries and nominations. Hundreds of industry representatives will attend the 2019 Swansea Bay Tourism Awards when they return to Swansea’s prestigious Brangwyn Hall next month. Over 8,000 public nominations and business entries were received this year – the highest since the awards started 13 years ago. The glamorous ceremony is due to take place on the night of Thursday, November 14 – and tickets are already selling well. The awards are organised in partnership between Swansea Council and the local tourism trade association Tourism Swansea Bay.…

A Swansea cultural gem is the only Welsh venue to be selected as part of the respected British Art Network this year. The Swansea Council-run Glynn Vivian Art Gallery will be working with British art professionals and public collections across the UK, to share expertise, research and ideas across cultural organisations. The British Art Network aims to develop curatorial skills and collection knowledge; and to foster greater collaboration between partners leading to dynamic collection displays and exhibitions of British art for audiences across the UK. The Network’s programme for this year includes early-career curator bursaries to support new talent. Glynn…

An ancient fabric dye favoured by Japanese Samurai warriors for its natural antibacterial qualities has inspired a textile designer to create a new collection of high fashion scarves. Talented designer Gethin Ceidiog Hughes, 27, from Denbigh, in North Wales, has launched the Japanese denim scarves using indigo dye and techniques mastered by traditional weavers – and uses Halen Môn (Anglesey Sea Salt) mixed with white distilled vinegar as a finishing agent. The new range is the result of six months of painstaking research and experimentation. The launch was timed to coincide with the Rugby World Cup in Japan and to…

Swansea Building Society has appointed two new front-line mortgage managers to further expand its East Wales operations.  Lloyd Williams from North Cornelly has recently been appointed as Branch Manager at the Society’s Cowbridge branch. Williams is currently the Assistant Manager at the Cowbridge branch and has seven years’ experience in financial services.His new role will see him responsible for the branch and mortgage sales/operations in and around the Bridgend/Vale of Glamorgan areas. A fluent Welsh speaker, Williams has been with the Society for over four years. Laura Cox from Croesyceiliog has recently been appointed as the Society’s new Business Development…

A Newport ballet dancer and Wales’ Principality Stadium feature in a new piece of contemporary art by world-renowned artist, David Mach RA, to mark the start of six weeks of celebrations for The National Lottery’s 25th birthday. The giant collage titled ‘United By Numbers: The National Lottery at 25’, features a mix of famous and lesser-known people, places and icons from the worlds of sport, film, the arts, communities and heritage. They have been brought together in one iconic image to represent The National Lottery’s incredible impact on life in the UK over the past 25 years. Newport ballet dancer,…

Popular winter attraction, Cardiff Winter Wonderland, will open at City Hall Lawns from 8th November 2019, unveiling its brand-new Alpine Ice Trail for the first time. The Trail will be an open-air ice-skating experience running 250m long, making it amongst one of the longest Ice Trails in Europe and guaranteed to be the only one found in the UK this winter. Visitors can still expect its usual ice rink facility -which allows for 300 visitors on the ice during each skating session- but the Trail will allow visitors to explore the majority of the site without taking their skates off…quite…

The Campaign for Real Ale will be launching the largest beer festival ever seen in Wales in Spring 2020. The Great Welsh Beer Festival – Cardiff 2020 will run from 22-25 April at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, celebrating Welsh beer, food and music like never before. Following an agreement to triple investment in the annual Cardiff festival (taking place this week from 16-19 October), this truly ‘destination event’ will feature: An outside marquee venue with capacity for over 5,000 festival-goers (an increase from 700 this year) Triple the number of local beers on tap and dedicated brewery bars A ‘trade…

South Wales Police is appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, October 15). The collision, involving a blue Renault Kangoo and a black Renault Megane, happened at approximately 4.10pm between Baverstocks and Hirwaun. Despite the efforts of the emergency services, the driver of the Kangoo, a 63-year-old man, died at the scene. The 27-year-old driver of the Megan was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, where he remains in a critical condition. The road currently remains closed to allow investigation work to continue, but…

A new plan to complete the development of Cardiff’s International Sports Village has been released by Cardiff Council today. The new plan aims to attract a number of new ‘adventure sport’ attractions to build on the existing facilities to establish a national-level visitor attraction and includes: an improved pedestrian area connecting the facilities together a new public space for year-round outdoor events; a new ‘Leisure Box’ facility hosting a range of adventure sport activities ‘under one roof’; extending Cardiff International White Water centre and adding further new attractions; delivering a ‘destination’ food and beverage promenade on the waterfront; potentially adding…

Llanmoor Homes have announced the launch of an ambitious new Travel Plan at their Cae Sant Barrwg development in Bedwas near Caerphilly. The scheme is set to be the first of its kind for the County Borough, with Llanmoor Homes keen to lead the way in incorporating a sustainable travel plan for residents. Located in Bedwas, Caerphilly the popular Cae Sant Barrwg development consists of a community of 240 new homes and features a range of their most sought after house types. The award-winning home builders have been working alongside Caerphilly County Borough Council to provide all new homeowners at the development with the travel packs.…