Author: Rhys Gregory

The Cheltenham Festival is now consigned to the memory bank but racing fans don’t have long to wait for the next instalment of major spring festival action in Britain. The Grand National Festival at Aintree takes place from Thursday April 3rd until Saturday April 5th, with the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl amongst the key prizes on day one. A number of irish betting sites are offering betting on the Day 1 feature. Will we see any of the beaten Gold Cup runners on Merseyside, or will it be a fresh horse that takes this prize? The Real Whacker heads for…

In recent years, achieving a good work-life balance has become a significant goal for many people in Wales. As work demands evolve, more people are recognising the importance of integrating personal interests and hobbies into their daily routines. Across the country, from the bustling cities of Cardiff and Swansea to the quieter, scenic areas of Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire, Welsh residents are embracing a lifestyle that allows them to thrive both professionally and personally. This increasing emphasis on balance is reshaping how people approach their careers, leisure activities, and overall well-being. Flexible Working and Remote Opportunities The growing availability of flexible…

Dunelm, the UK’s leading homewares retailer, has reached the exciting milestone of 200 stores having opened the doors of its brand-new store in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Based in the Dowlais Top Retail Park, the 30,000 square foot store creates around 40 new jobs in the local area. The store hosts an extensive range of homewares and furniture, including heritage brand Dorma and the recently launched Sophie Robinson x Dunelm collection, for those who love to embrace colour and pattern. There is also a dedicated Made to Measure department – enabling customers to create bespoke, expertly crafted curtains and blinds in…

Diane Greening, an Airport Duty Manager at Cardiff Airport, has thanked her colleagues for donating £667 to UCAN Productions, a charity that supports her son. Ethan Greening was born with rare generic condition called MPS1. The symptoms mean he has faced many difficulties. Diane and her family have been raising awareness of UCAN Productions, a Welsh performance and creative arts charity for blind and partially sighted children, young people, adults and their friends. Ethan’s story has been featured on the BBC’s The One Show and performed the ‘Greatest Showman’ on Children in Need, as part of the Challenge Squad, in…

The Development Bank of Wales has invested £35,000 in Brynrefail-based RAW Adventures, a mountain activity company run by husband and wife Kate and Ross Worthington. The micro-loan is the second investment by the Development Bank in the company, having previously supported the business during the Covid-19 pandemic. The office team of five are all qualified leaders and instructors. They regularly work with individuals as well as charity and corporate groups of all ages and abilities, operating Climb Snowdon days, guiding on Welsh 3000s challenges and offering bespoke mountain adventures in Eryri and throughout the UK. RAW also supports all aspects…

An entrepreneur from North Wales is on a mission to introduce festivalgoers, families, and corporate teams to the excitement of airsoft, thanks to a £15,000 Start Up Loan from the British Business Bank. Within Range Airsoft is a mobile interactive airsoft target range, bringing competitive, skill-based shooting experiences to events across the UK. Using cutting-edge AttackSense electronic targets, the range offers multiple game modes, allowing players to test their reflexes, accuracy, and speed in an engaging and safe environment. “I’ve been passionate about airsoft for over a decade, but I noticed there was a gap in the market for something…

A woman from Neath Port Talbot has been jailed after admitting to arson. 36-year-old Laura Evans, from Port Talbot, deliberately set fire to a towel within an address on Velindre Street. This caused a nearby bed to also set alight, engulfing the bedroom in flames. There were no other people within the address at the time. She has this week been sentenced to four years in prison. Detective Sergeant Jonathan Holding said: “Were it not for the intervention of the fire service, Laura Evans’ irresponsible and reckless actions could have resulted in significant damage being done not only to the…

In a meeting of Council last week (12 March), elected members agreed a £4m injection of funds from Welsh Government to allow the crucial next phase in the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl’s redevelopment project to go ahead. Funding has been secured as part of the new joint working agreement between the council and Welsh Government which has allowed the local authority to invest additional finance into the regeneration programme for Porthcawl, and support specific projects, such as the redevelopment of the Grand Pavilion. The approval of the funds will enable the next phase of the redevelopment works to begin on the…

Proposals to make major sustainable travel improvements in Newport city centre have been progressed. The plans set out a series of improvements to Newport railway station, Queensway and Old Green roundabout, and include: A new public transport interchange at Newport rail station, linking rail and bus services, making the station a hub for sustainable travel Highway revisions to replace Old Green roundabout, with priority access lanes for buses and simplified active travel routes which are convenient and attractive for all users Opportunities to improve the public realm, including the areas around Newport Castle The proposals take forward key recommendations of…

Blackwood Town Centre hosted the hugely successful Blackwood Spring Fair on Saturday 8th March, the first event of 2025. With over 6,000 visitors in attendance, it was the busiest day of the year so far. Lots of families, couples and friends of all ages enjoyed the event. Involved in the fair were a huge number of stalls selling food, drinks, and craft, as well as others offering useful information. There was an abundance of free activities such as giant games, crazy golf, a bowling alley, animals and bird of prey displays. A new addition for this year was a busking…