Author: Rhys Gregory

With Help to Buy Wales – the scheme introduced to provide a shared equity loan to buyers of new-build homes – contributing to soaring sales at one of Cardiff’s newest developments, Solicitor Rachel Down is celebrating the part it has played in helping her achieve her own property dream. Rachel, 28 – who has temporarily been living with her parents in Bridgend to help her save – has recently purchased a two-bedroom balcony apartment at Schooner Wharf; a prestigious development of 85 luxury 1 and 2-bedroom apartments, situated on the waterfront overlooking Cardiff’s East Dock. Speaking about being able to…

A FORMER Wales and British Lions player, who is now Chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union, has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Wales (USW). Gareth Davies received the honour during USW’s annual summer graduation ceremonies, which are held in Treforest, Newport and Cardiff. A former international fly-half and British and Irish Lions tourist in 1980, Mr Davies earned 21 caps for his country and captained Wales on five occasions. He has held senior executive positions with the Newport Gwent Dragons, CBI Wales, BBC Wales, Cardiff RFC, S4C, the Sports Council for Wales, the Royal Mail and…

Commenting on the latest ONS construction output figures, Marc Jones, Director of Operations at UK leading specialist recruiter Acorn said: With Brexit exacerbating the skills crisis, the construction industry has a key role to play in building the foundations of our future economy, figuratively and literally. After a broadly negative start to 2018, it’s a relief that UK construction output rose by 2.9% in May, when economists had been looking for growth of just 0.4%. The latest figures, released this week (10thJuly) by the ONS, also reveal that this month-on-month rise stemmed from increases across all types of work, and…

A rundown former railway building on the walkway at Meliden, Prestatyn, is undergoing a £1.2 million revamp, transforming the empty building into a hub with a shop, café, heritage, bike hire facility, and business units. The Grade II listed building – to be known as Y Shed – will be extended with four shipping containers transformed into serviced and affordable business units. The project is being spearheaded by charitable housing association Grŵp Cynefin and Meliden Residents Action Group and tenants are now being invited to register their interest in the spaces which will become available for hire when Y Shed,…

The Caerphilly Big Cheese is back this month (27th-29th July) promising to be BIGGER than EVER. Set in the shadows of Caerphilly Castle, the second largest Castle in Britain, this annual festival brings together local and regional Welsh food & drink producers in one of the largest travelling food halls in the country. With a dedicated cheese market featuring quality cheese producers from all over the country. [aoa id=”1″] Entertainment is the life and soul of the festival with live music acts, choirs and dancers. Caerphilly Castle is transformed into a medieval encampment with re-enactment displays and battles. See what…

As the summer holidays approach it’s the perfect time to start thinking about packing the family bags and heading out camping in Wales. But what’s a family holiday without the dog? So that you needn’t leave your furry friend behind, outdoor specialists Millets have sniffed out five of the UK’s best dog-friendly campsites in collaboration with camping experts Cool Camping. Dewslake Farm in Pembrokeshire has made the list, with spaces left to book this summer. They’ve also put together some top tips on how to keep your pet – and your fellow campers – happy during your stay. A spokesperson…

St David’s Cardiff, Wales’ leading shopping and leisure destination, has welcomed Daniel Wellington, the world-famous maker of timeless watches, as it opened its first store outside London this week. Daniel Wellington was founded in 2011 and burst onto the scene with its sleek, classic aesthetics capturing the hearts of the fashion conscious, celebrities and influencers alike, and its minimalist designs were quickly on the wrists of millions of people worldwide. Its best sellers will be of no surprise to fans of the brand – the Classic St Mawes, part of the flagship collection features a simple dial with a tan…

Critical care services in Wales are set to benefit from a new annual £15million fund, the Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething has announced. The funding will be used to strengthen critical care so it can continue to deliver the very highest standard of care to those who need it in the future. It will help to redesign the way critical care services in Wales are delivered and develop a national model of care for those who are critically ill. This model will look at developing and expanding the workforce, increasing the number of critical care beds and the options for transferring…

Mischief Movie Night is the hit show where movies are improvised live on stage and it’s coming toCardiff’s New Theatre from 18 – 22 July, direct from the West End where it got a nom at the prestigious Olivier Awards for ‘Best New Comedy’ earlier this year. During the show audiences get to call the shots by suggesting a genre, location and title – and the movie is then brought to life live on stage, complete with rewinds, fast forwards, directors’ cuts and a live score. What could possibly go wrong?! It’s a genuine comedy blockbuster and stars the original…

Talented Luke Evans, aged 14 years, from Bargoed in the South Wales Valleys has recently celebrated winning the IKR MSA Minimax Welsh Championship, but it’s his combination of his love of racing and charity fund raising that makes him a real winner. Since starting indoor karting with TeamSport Cardiff, aged just 10 years old, Luke quickly developed a real talent for the sport.  After his first visit during a school holiday back in 2014 he got the racing bug and has since then completed over 600 races. He still holds the cadet lap record at the track despite racing in…