Author: Rhys Gregory

Speaking at an event for industry leaders in Cardiff last night, the BBC’s Director-General, Tim Davie, announced record-breaking figures for Gavin & Stacey in Wales, saying: “nothing demonstrates the BBC’s ability to bring people together like the extraordinary success of Gavin & Stacey”. 1.8m people in Wales, or 59% of the Welsh population (compared with 20.9m/32% of UK population), have now watched Gavin & Stacey: The Finale, making it the most watched TV moment in Wales since at least 2002, ahead of the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony peak of 1.4m. In Wales you’re twice as likely (than the rest of…

The highly anticipated Cardiff Wine Festival will return for its 4th edition later this year. Taking place on 16th and 17th May, and promising two days of wine tastings across three sittings, the Cardiff Wine Festival is organised by Cardiff Wine Events – a collaboration between WinesnVines (independent wine merchants) and Vinitalia (operators of popular Cardiff Italian restaurant, Casanova). This year, the event will move to a new home at The Hilton for 2025 – embracing a chic blend of classic-meets-contemporary luxury, the new venue will provide an elegant setting to spend the day trying out a variety of delicious and interesting wines and spirits.…

New research from leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP finds that, while many businesses expect they will need to secure additional funding to support their growth this year, the majority are currently finding it difficult to access the funding required. The firm’s research* which surveyed 800 businesses in the UK, finds that 70% expect that they’ll need to apply for additional funding this year. The most common amount expected to be needed was between £10million – £25million. The top reasons noted for this extra funding are to ‘invest in new premises or equipment’ and to ‘invest in R&D…

The Celtic Manor Resort has been praised for its strong commitment to sustainability and community engagement after securing golf’s leading environmental certification for its Twenty Ten Course. The renowned golf course has championed sustainability as a key priority since it was designed and built to stage the 2010 Ryder Cup while protecting habitats for dormice, otters, badgers and other indigenous wildlife and plant species. After stepping up its sustainability practices with the appointment of a dedicated Environment and Ecology Stewardship Manager, the Twenty Ten Course has now won GEO (Golf Environment Organisation) Certification, the international benchmark for sustainable golf course…

Conwy Mind is proud to announce the official launch of the ‘Changing Minds’ project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing mental health support across the Conwy region. This project has been made possible through a generous £360,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. The ‘Changing Minds’ project is designed to provide low-level, easy-access mental health checks and to build a community of mental health champions across the county. Our goals are to reduce stigma, encourage early intervention, focus on individual strengths, and normalise conversations about mental health. By focusing on early intervention and community engagement, the project seeks to…

Holiday park operators across Wales are facing huge increases in housekeeping costs when changes to employer National Insurance and the National Living Wage come into effect in April. The Class 1 National Insurance secondary threshold is dropping from £9,100 to £5,000, while the main rate will rise from 13.8% to 15%. The National Living Wage, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour for employees over 21, will rise by 6.7% to £12.21 per hour. Ruthin-based Godfrey Group, the only holiday park housekeeping provider with UK-wide coverage and a strategic partner of Hoseasons, has calculated the impact that the changes will…

A tawny owl rescued from a tricky predicament has been released back into the wild – thanks to successful partnership working. The owl had become tangled on a branch by its wing and was found hanging around 20 feet high above fast flowing water in Bedwas, Caerphilly – behind Pantglas Industrial Estate – on the morning of Tuesday 28 January. Following calls to the RSPCA and South Wales Fire & Rescue Service, RSPCA Inspector Sophie Daniels attended the scene along with the fire service. “This was a really tricky one – and we thought we might not be able to…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after pleading guilty to a string of thefts and drugs possessions, including a theft totalling £1,000 from a city launderette. On September 7, 2024, 43-year-old Ross Philippart, from Strand, in the city centre, entered Uplands Laundrette and stole a handbag from behind the counter. The bag itself was worth £100, and it contained a £700 gold ring and £200 cash. After extensive enquiries, Philippart was arrest and charged with theft on September 18. He appeared at Swansea Magistrates Court on January 2, originally pleading not guilty but then changing his plea to guilty.…

Denbighshire County Council has issued a £300 Fixed Penalty Notice to a Flintshire business for breaching their duty of care in relation to waste disposal. A Flintshire Business owner has been fined following an investigation by Denbighshire County Council’s Environmental Crime team, relating to a large-scale fly-tipping site that was discovered in Llanynys. The investigation into the fly-tipping site uncovered items that traced back to a business in Flintshire, and a fixed penalty notice was issued as part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to tackle fly-tipping and reduce illegal waste disposal across the district. Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for…

The payment options you provide for players can make or break your online casino. One option that will make players stay is Google Pay. Many think of it as a fast and safe payment gateway, its benefits are far more than just that. Take a look at how your online casino can benefit from Google Pay. Convenience and Speed First, the obvious, Google Pay has almost no competitors when it comes to fast and safe payments. Players can make deposits in seconds without manually entering credit card details or bank information. Instant Transactions Deposits made through Google Pay are processed…