Author: Rhys Gregory

Local entrepreneurs Chris and Glenn have breathed new life into a previously unoccupied kiosk on Porthcawl seafront by launching ‘Porthcawl Distillery’, a unique gin experience and gift-shop with support from the council’s Economic Development and Enterprise team. Porthcawl Distillery is a fully independent, family run business where every spirit created is unique thanks to a truly small batch and individual approach. With help from the ‘Business Start-up Fund’, a collaborative initiative with UK Steel Enterprise, the council has provided crucial financial support, in the form of 50 per cent of funds to cover the shop-fitting costs and the purchase of…

Refurbishment works have officially begun at Cardiff Dogs Home, marking a major step forward in improving facilities for lost and abandoned dogs in Cardiff. The refurbishment is being made possible thanks to the extraordinary fundraising efforts of The Rescue Hotel, a registered charity established in 2020 to support Cardiff Dogs Home. Launched by former Welsh rugby captain and Rescue Hotel ambassador Sam Warburton, their fundraising campaign raised over £500,000 to upgrade the kennels. This includes a generous £180,000 donation from the Pets Foundation. The works are being delivered in two phases. Phase 1, currently underway, involves transforming the existing stable…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards, in partnership with Gwent Police, has carried out a coordinated enforcement operation targeting the borough’s night-time economy. ‘Operation CHECK’ took place on the evening of Friday 25 July 2025, involving officers from the Council’s Trading Standards and Licensing teams. The multi-agency team visited several premises, including off-licences, takeaways, and taxi ranks, to check compliance with the Licensing Act 2003 and to help ensure a safe environment for the public. During the operation, a 14-year-old volunteer—under the close supervision of Trading Standards—carried out a series of alcohol test purchases. One premises in Aberbargoed failed by…

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Lifeline service has achieved a significant milestone by successfully obtaining the TEC Quality accreditation from the TEC Services Association (TSA), highlighting the team’s exceptional commitment to delivering high-quality technology-enabled care. The Quality Standards Framework (QSF) supports organisations providing Technology Enabled Care (TEC) acting as a “health check” for the service being provided and to strengthen service delivery. QSF Certification shows commitment to the principles of Quality, Safety, Innovation, and Continuous Improvement when delivering TEC solutions to South and West Wales residents. Cllr Anna Williams-Price, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability, Assets & Commercial said: “This accreditation…

Extra Welsh Government investment is helping thousands more older and disabled people to live more independently and safely in their own homes for longer.   The Welsh Government allocated an additional £5.5 million in capital funding and more than £1.25 million in revenue to the Independent Living Programmes in 2025-26. Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, recently visited Mr and Mrs Watkins who have been receiving support from Bridgend Care & Repair after being referred by their GP. Care & Repair is a Wales-wide charity working to ensure that older people have homes that suit their needs. They help around…

Every second matters in trading, but in some strategies, it’s not even a full second you’re fighting for—it’s milliseconds. I learned that the hard way working with a client running dual-broker arbitrage strategies. On paper, his EA was profitable, but his execution delays, hidden inside his hosting setup, were eroding nearly 40% of that edge. The fix wasn’t tweaking entry logic or optimizing code. It came down to relocating and right-sizing his Windows Forex VPS to align perfectly with his brokers’ server locations and the computational load his strategy demanded. That single infrastructure change tightened his average execution time by…

Driving at night can feel daunting, especially for female drivers who may be more aware of their vulnerabilities. The lack of daylight makes hazards harder to spot, and you might feel more exposed when driving alone. But with a few simple strategies, you can boost your confidence and stay safe while navigating the dark. By being proactive and adjusting your driving techniques, you’ll be prepared to handle the unique challenges of travelling at night effectively. Preparation is Paramount Check your headlights and taillights to make sure they’re working properly and are free of dirt, as a dirty light lens can…

Wales’ flagship light trail Christmas at Bute Park is launching a Kids Go Free offer on tickets today. It may be the middle of the summer school holidays but if book your Christmas visit to the festive trail between now and Monday September 1, you can get up to 2 FREE child (aged 3-16) tickets with one paying adult by using the code BUTEKIDS. Christmas at Bute Park is celebrating its fifth birthday this year and visitors will be able to enjoy exciting new light installations created by world-class creatives, as well as a redesigned route and fantastic food from…

Palé Hall – the AA Five Red Star and, Relais & Chateaux destination luxury country house hotel in Bala, north Wales – is launching a special series of intimate Chef’s Table dinners curated and hosted by its acclaimed Head Chef, Ed Marsh.   Hearth By Candlelight is a one-night event celebrating hyper-seasonal Welsh produce, and storytelling through food. In this intimate and exceptional setting, Ed will host just ten guests and invite them to slow down and savour a multi-course menu by candlelight in the new Private Dining Room Hearth, where each course is cooked over flame and served with intention. Those with a…

Construction workloads in Wales continued to rise through the second quarter of the year according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Monitor, which was underpinned by activity in both public and private housing. A net balance of 22% of surveyor respondents in Wales reported a rise in overall construction activity, which is the highest this balance has been since early 2022. This includes increases in both public and private sector housebuilding activity, with a net balance of 38% of respondents noting a rise in public housing workloads and a net balance of 24% reporting there was…