Author: Rhys Gregory

Thousands of food lovers got a taste of the Welsh language at a popular festival – as well as the international language of coffee Organisers of the Llangollen Food Festival were thrilled with the turn-out over two bustling days at the popular event which has been hailed as one of the highlights in the UK’s culinary calendar. Visitors also given the opportunity to sample the delights of the Welsh language as they browsed more than 100 stalls at the famous International Pavilion. The festival teamed up with Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych, one of a network of organisations established across Wales…

A 3-19 maintained special school in Tonteg has unveiled a new woodland forest garden that will surround the pupils with the sights and sounds of nature, following a donation of £23,500 from the Aviva Broker Community Fund. The school, which accommodates children with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties, was awarded the funding for the project after being nominated by the Llantrisant branch of insurance broker and risk management specialist Gallagher. Ysgol Ty Coch’s brand new woodland area was officially unveiled at a launch event on Thursday 17 October attended by special guests including Pontypridd MP, Mick Antoniw, Mayor of…

Halloween and bonfire night are traditionally some of the busiest times of year for fire crews. Last year, between 26th October and 6th November South Wales fire crews attended 232 deliberate fires – a 22% decrease on the previous year. Although the number of incidents have declined, more can be done to keep this number decreasing as attending firework and bonfire misuse incidents can cost lifesaving minutes in firefighters getting to a road traffic collision or a house fire for example. In 2018 alone crews attended 60 incidents relating to fireworks and bonfires. Fireworks can be spectacular, but they are…

The firm, which recently relocated to new premises in the Capital Quarter, is the UK’s largest second charge mortgage lender and is the only UK provider to offer bespoke pricing to ensure it offers customers the most competitive rates. Acquired by Australian-owned Pepper Money in 2018, Optimum Credit was established in 2013 by the leadership team and now employs 130 people in its offices in Cardiff. Commenting on the achievement, Optimum’s Chief Executive Officer, Sam Marshall, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for us and something of which all of us at Optimum Credit are very proud. When we started…

St David’s, Wales’ leading shopping, dining and leisure destination, celebrates its tenth birthday on the 22nd October. Since opening its doors in 2009, the centre has attracted tens of millions of visitors and cemented Cardiff’s place as one of the best shopping cities in the UK. As well as welcoming hundreds of brands into the heart of the city centre, many of which remain firsts for Wales, the centre has hosted some of the biggest shopping events in the UK. From its annual Student Night event and more recent Big Night Out, to its now famous Christmas Toy Appeal and…

Move over Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones, Wales has just landed its own star-hunting trail, and it’s more star-studded than an A-list red carpet. The Cambrian Mountains destination of Wales has just opened a new astro-tourism trail recognising its recent accolade as one of the UK’s top spots to go star-gazing. Six stellar places  have been awarded Dark Sky Discovery Site status, putting them right up there on the celestial map. The trail, which covers a driving distance of just over 50 miles, can be visited over the course of a few nights for a glimpse of Orion, The…

A world-leading brain research imaging centre is offering A-level students a virtual MRI scan as part of a new Cardiff University initiative for schools. The CUBRIC (Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre) VR scan takes pupils through different stages of the scanning process, which is used to provide detailed images of the inside of a body. The scan, which can take place anywhere using the VR headset provided, is part of a new ‘Brain Box’ activity kit for A-level psychology and biology students, funded by a Wellcome Trust public engagement grant. Other activities include a dodgy dice game, a colour-confusing…

Welsh commercial law firm Acuity Law has agreed a £10 million litigation funding facility with the UK’s largest litigation funder by volume, Augusta Ventures. From its headquarters in Cardiff and offices in Swansea and London, Acuity provides legal advice to a portfolio of national and international business clients. The preferred arrangement offers Acuity’s clients competitive funding rates, with a time-efficient process in place to ensure effective decision making. Under the terms of the facility, Augusta will fund the full cost of pursuing a claim, including legal fees and expert witness costs and other agreed disbursements. This arrangement provides Acuity’s clients…

On 26 July, a closure order was awarded against Azmar Mini Market of 92 Commercial Street, Newport Two stores selling thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco have been closed following a lengthy investigation by trading standards officers at Newport City Council. Evidence the Zam Zam Shop at 58 Commercial Street, Newport was selling illegal and counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco at vastly reduced prices, went before Newport Magistrate’s on 10 October. As a result the council was successful in gaining a closure order for the premises. Early this year, on 26 July, a closure order was awarded against Azmar Mini…

A Cardiff taxi driver had an unexpected passenger on board – after discovering an orange corn snake under the bonnet of a taxi. RSPCA Cymru was contacted after the shock discovery was made in the Grangetown area of the city last Friday (11 October). The animal welfare charity attended, and was able to reach the snake – which was found just beneath the bonnet of the vehicle on Stockland Street. Fortunately, despite being a little underweight and cold, the snake had no major welfare concerns and has now been transferred to specialist facilities for boarding and care. RSPCA officers regularly…