Author: Rhys Gregory

Chef Tommy Heaney has enjoyed fame as a result of starring on the BBC’s Great British Menu, experienced success with Restaurant Tommy Heaney at The Great House in Laleston, and recently announced plans to open second premises right here in the Welsh capital. Then, after purchasing the former Arbennig restaurant & adjacent deli in leafy Pontcanna last month, TV chef Tommy Heaney launched a crowdfunding campaign to help him cover the costs of refurbishing the site. Keen foodies were invited to pledge for a chance to enjoy dinner at the new restaurant cooked by a variety of guest chefs (including…

One of Wales’ best loved indoor markets will welcome a whole new range of traders this week. Swansea Market will host its first monthly farmer’s market from 9am-3pm on Friday and Saturday (July 13-14). It will mean a vibrant new feel to the heart of the historic, bustling attraction. Guest stallholders will offer everything from fudge, ice cream and deli delights to furniture and bathtime treats. Those behind the farmer’s market are the Swansea Market Traders Federation, Swansea Council and the Swansea Business Improvement District (BID). Federation chairman Chris Evans said: “Our farmer’s market will give more shoppers more reasons…

Welsh housebuilder Waterstone Homes has secured a seven-figure funding package from Wales’ leading building society, Principality, in support of its latest housing projects and ambitious growth plans.  The Bridgend-based property developer, part of the Jehu Group of Companies, has received £3.35m worth of funding from Principality Commercial to assist with the construction of its new Usk Field development in Llanishen, North Cardiff. Already taking reservations off plan, the new residential development will consist of 20 luxury family homes, with three, four and five-bedrooms priced between £500,000 to £730,000, plus five affordable houses. Waterstone Homes was able to secure the loan…

A PARTNERSHIP between Coleg Llysfasi and LEAF Education highlighted innovation and technology in agriculture as part of a groundbreaking schools competition. The inaugural Innovation School of the Year in Food, Farming and Environment competition was organised by Llysfasi and LEAF Education (Linking Environment and Farming) at the college’s Denbighshire campus. The initiative brought together 14-16 year-old students and their teachers from across the UK to take part in a final prize weekend, which included a range of educational activities centred around farming, food production and the environment. The overall winner was Reddish Vale High School, Stockport, whose students enjoyed getting…

Conwy’s iconic castle has undergone the first stage of an historic twinning link with the ancient Himeji Castle in Japan which featured in the James Bond movie, You Only Live Twice. The mayors of the two communities have signed an agreement in the form of an illuminated manuscript as part of an initiative which is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. The Mayor of Himeji, Toshikatsu Iwami, and Conwy Mayor Samantha Cotton pledged to strengthen cultural and educational ties and promote tourism focused around the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They put their signatures side…

Films from the past and the history of rural cinema will be the focus for an evening at Ceredigion Museum on Saturday 14 July 2018. Doors open at 7pm. Radio and TV presenter Francine Stock will be choosing four of her favourite film to talk about, from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. Joining her on the stage of the former Coliseum Cinema will be historian Jamie Terrill. Jamie is studying the history of rural Welsh cinemas as part of a PhD at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University. Jamie has been tracing the early…

Life insurance provider, Prudential, has found that half of us are planning to continue working after reaching retirement age.

The South Wales Chamber of Commerce is running a petition calling on the Welsh Government to press ahead with the construction of the M4 Relief Road around Newport. The petition is published on the Assembly’s website and is a chance for people across South Wales to stand up and show their support for this vital piece of infrastructure being built. The petition is open for everyone to sign and will be considered by Assembly members if enough people sign it. https://www.assembly.wales/en/gethome/e-petitions/Pages/petitiondetail.aspx?PetitionID=1320 Harri Lloyd-Davies, President of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce said: “The need for a new motorway around Newport…

Despite uncertainty surrounding the terms of Brexit, small British businesses are increasingly optimistic about international trade – especially with Europe. In fact, the majority expect to increase overseas sales in the next year, according to data released today by international payments company, OFX. OFX’s annual survey of 500 small business owners and senior managers found that 62% feel confident about doing business outside the UK. In addition, the majority of small businesses (46%) said that Brexit-related uncertainty around the UK’s future trade deals and customs arrangements had no effect on their appetite for international trade, with only 15% reporting that…

Swansea College of Art’s Surface Pattern Design team is delighted to announce that their Swansea Street Wrap collaboration with the Station2Sea project, the team at Volcano Theatre and Swansea Council is complete! The art students have been busy designing pattern-charged interventions for the city, and the winning designs, as voted for by the public, have revamped High Street’s previously unloved utility boxes. Passers-by might have noticed these popping-up on Swansea’s High Street recently. The 3rd and 4th year students on the Surface Pattern degree programme have been inspired by Swansea College of Art Professor of Practice Mark Eley, who is…