Author: Rhys Gregory

Rugby fever will ignite Cardiff from the end of the month, as DEPOT prepares to host an electrifying Six Nations Fanzone experience! The excitement kicks off on Friday, 31st January 2025, with the opening clash: France vs. Wales. Gather your squad and immerse yourself in a celebration of sport, street food, and live music; whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply soaking up the atmosphere, the DEPOT is the ultimate venue to support the boys in red. What to Expect at DEPOT’s Six Nations Fanzone: Huge Match Day Screens: Witness every try, tackle, and triumph live on massive screens. Sensational Street Food: Savour mouth-watering dishes from local…

Business confidence in Wales has fallen into negative territory following disappointing sales growth and uncertainty from the autumn Budget, a survey of business leaders has found. Sentiment tracked by ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) for Wales, published today put confidence at -12.1 on the index for Q4 2024, well below the UK average of 0.2. Having been identified as the most confident in the UK during the previous quarter, Welsh companies are now some of the least optimistic in the country. Although domestic sales growth remained steady, performance continues to lag both the Welsh and UK historical averages. However, despite…

A PIONEERING pet retailer lined up another paw-some calendar of events as it prepares for further growth in 2025. A busy year for PetPlace – which has stores in Llangefni, Ruthin, Mold and Gledrid, Oswestry, and a HQ in Kinmel Bay – looks set to be replicated and even bettered over the coming 12 months. Reflecting on a “challenging year” for the industry, Managing Director Sion Pritchard said the award-winning company performed well and plans to provide loyal customers with even more incentives and activities from this month onwards. “Our amazing team are so dedicated and worked hard during what…

A year-long undercover investigation by BBC Wales has prompted calls for a far right group to be banned and for the police to investigate some of its members who were secretly filmed making racist comments and saying migrants who refuse to leave the UK should be shot. Broadcasting this week on BBC iPlayer and BBC One Wales at 9.00pm, the BBC Wales Investigates programme, Unmasked: Extreme Far Right, follows a year-long investigation into far right group, Patriotic Alternative. Former Counter-Extremism Commissioner Dame Sara Khan believes the UK government should urgently change the law to make groups like Patriotic Alternative illegal.…

A new community pharmacy has opened in Towyn as pharmacist Naeem Anjam looks to develop a network of pharmacies throughout North Wales. The fit-out of Towyn Pharmacy has been part-funded by a six-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales. With a dispensing contract from NHS Wales, it offers all NHS and some private services, independent prescribing for common acute conditions, opportunities for independent contractors to rent any one of its three consultation rooms, and a competitive retail selection. Naeem Anjam also runs Moelwyn Pharmacy in Blaenau Ffestiniog. He said: “I fell in love with North Wales when doing locum…

Bodega, Cardiff’s celebrated destination for fire-cooked Mediterranean small plates and an unparalleled wine-by-the-glass collection, has welcomed Rhodri Davies as its new Head Chef. Rhodri Davies, a Cardiff native and former contestant on MasterChef: The Professionals 2021, joins Bodega with an impressive culinary background and a passion for delivering elevated dining experiences. Known for his refined approach to seasonal cuisine, Rhodri honed his skills at two Michelin-recommended establishments; The Heathcock in Llandaff, where he mastered the art of technically accomplished, modern British fare; and Heaneys in Pontcanna working under Great British Menu chef Tommy Heaney. Since stepping into his role at…

Creative studio, Bleak Fabulous, in collaboration with This is Wales is set to unveil a stunning new curation that will showcase the stories of communities and creatives across Wales—each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of our nation. Bleak Fabulous previously garnered significant attention with their project It’s Called Ffasiwn, featured in Vogue, where the duo juxtaposed ‘bleak’ landscapes with ‘fabulous’ fashion, offering an original and compelling representation of the contemporary Valleys. Bleak Fabulous was founded by Clémentine Schneidermann, a French photographer and educator based in both Wales and France, and Charlotte James, a Creative Director, filmmaker, and educator from Merthyr…

Tŷ Hotel Newport, which opened in 2024, is using part of its £9.7m funding from Cardiff Capital Region’s Strategic Premises Fund to finance on site practical training for hospitality students as it prepares the next generation for careers in the sector. The Celtic Collection, which manages the hotel, collaborated with the University of South Wales to create a paid nine-month placement programme which provides hands on experience for students as they complete the practical training components of their hospitality and business management courses. The two successful applicants, Deepu Chandran and Dilakshan Classen, began their placement at Coldra Court Hotel before…

Celebrate St David’s Day this year by hearing first-hand about a great Welsh success story. For many years, the ACCA Cymru/Wales Saint David’s Day Breakfast has been a highlight of the business networking calendar in south Wales. The event brings together representatives from across the entire business community to network and to celebrate Dydd Gŵyl Dewi. And this year ACCA keeps to that tradition as it hears from a very special guest speaker who is not afraid to analyse and address the challenges sport, women in sport and Welsh society face. Guests will be able to hear from Rhian Wilkinson, Head…

Christina Wall, 32, from Adamsdown, Cardiff, has been jailed following a city centre robbery in May last year. Accompanied by two men, Wall approached the victim, a 23-year-old man from Roath, before punching him inside a multi-storey car park, then strangling him and attempting to gouge his eyes. Wall also told him they were in possession of a knife, threatening to kill him unless he emptied his pockets. Wall then took his mobile phone and wallet. Wall pleaded guilty to robbery and has been sentenced to eight years and three months in prison. Detective Constable Carys Davies said: “This was…