Author: Rhys Gregory

Buying a home in Wales feels like the finish line. Months of searching, negotiating, paperwork. Then the keys arrive. Hidden costs, unexpected repairs, and regulatory demands have a habit of surfacing in the first year of ownership, often before the new furniture is even in place. With Welsh property prices still at a level where even small surprises matter, first-year ownership costs deserve closer attention than most buyers give them. What Survey Deficiencies Show Up After Completion? Most buyers in Wales choose a Level 2 homebuyer survey because the fee is lower. That decision can cost more later. Hidden damp,…

A BBC Wales investigation has found that women desperate to become parents are being harassed for sex and offered cheap, illegal sperm samples online. Swipe Right for Sperm, a new BBC Cymru Wales programme airing on BBC One Wales on Monday 8 June and BBC Two on Thursday 18 June, has discovered that individuals who are unable to access fertility treatment are seeking out options on social media, which is driving a growing unregulated market – with some even turning to “Tinder for sperm” websites. As part of the investigation, the team paid £100 for a next-day delivery sample from…

You have to hand it to TGI Fridays. Like much of the hospitality sector, the restaurant chain has faced its fair share of challenges over the last couple of years. Closures across the UK, including restaurants in Cardiff and Swansea, have left many wondering what the future holds for one of the country’s most recognisable casual dining brands. Rather than retreating, TGI Fridays appears to be doing the opposite. From collaborations and foodie challenges to a steady stream of menu updates, the brand is clearly working hard to tempt customers back through its doors. The latest addition is the new…

The UK’s new car market delivered its strongest May performance since before the pandemic, with registrations rising 7.1% to 160,662 units, reported the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The performance was the best recorded for the month since 2019, although still -12.6% behind pre-pandemic levels. Registrations in Wales last month rose 6.95% to 5,152. A resurgence in private buyers drove the increase, with registrations up 17.2% as consumers responded to increasingly competitive offers from an unprecedented range of brands and a 6.4% increase in model choice – including a 25.6% uplift in BEV products year to date. Fleet demand…

Wales is set for a mixed week of weather, with sunshine and showers dominating the forecast before temperatures could climb into the mid-20s by next weekend. According to the Met Office, Monday began on a wet note across much of Wales, with spells of heavy rain and gusty winds affecting many areas during the morning. However, conditions are expected to improve through the afternoon as the rain clears eastwards, allowing for a much drier and brighter end to the day with sunny spells developing across the country. Despite the brighter conditions, temperatures will remain below average for the time of…

Crimestoppers is launching a new campaign to highlight the growing impact of neighbourhood crime across the UK and empower people to share information anonymously to help protect communities. From burglary and robbery to shoplifting and phone theft, neighbourhood crime is reshaping everyday life, affecting people’s sense of safety at home, their confidence on their streets and trust in local high streets and public spaces. Latest figures show the scale of the issue with more than 509,000 shoplifting offences, 224,000 burglaries, and 129,000 thefts from the person recorded across the UK. In addition, there were an estimated 590,000 incidents of retail…

Celebrated Seventeenth Century North Wales Panteinion Hall is up for sale online at auction with a guide price of £350,000. The historic hall building, at Ffordd Panteinion, in Friog, near Fairbourne, in Gwynedd, dating from the1630’s and an adjacent lodge, are being sold by Paul Fosh Auctions. The hall, in 1.3 acres of grounds with the Panteinion waterfall near its gates, has most recently been used as an arts and events venue and latterly as exclusive holiday accommodation. Sean Roper, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “This sale presents a wonderful opportunity for an entrepreneur or investor to acquire a historic Welsh…

Thomas Carrol has announced its sponsorship of the South Wales Premier Cricket League, marking an exciting new chapter for one of Welsh cricket’s leading competitions. The South Wales Premier Cricket League brings together the top 20 clubs from across South Wales, creating a highly competitive environment featuring some of the strongest cricket clubs across the region. The announcement follows the recent appointment of Thomas Carroll’s Director of Sales Operations, Douglas Spencer, as Chair of the South Wales Premier Cricket League. Douglas becomes only the second Chairperson in the league’s 17-year history. Cricket has been a lifelong passion for Douglas. Beginning…

The Games and Animation Academy of Wales has been officially launched at the University of South Wales’ Cardiff Campus. The Academy places Wales at the forefront of the global digital entertainment economy, creating a national and international centre of excellence to nurture creative talent and drive industry and innovation. The launch event saw professionals from across the Games, Animation and Visual Effects sectors enjoy tours of USW’s industry-standard facilities, which include computer labs equipped with the latest software, green-screen and VR technologies, workshops for model making, 3D printing, film studios and much more. Guests also met with students on a…

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) has unveiled the newly refurbished Glamorgan Hall at the Royal Welsh Showground, completing a major improvement project to one of the venue’s largest and busiest exhibition spaces. Spanning almost an acre, the Glamorgan Hall plays a key role in hosting trade stands, exhibitions, competitions and a variety of events throughout the year. Originally built in 1975 and previously known as the South Glamorgan Hall, the building has now been renamed following the completion of the extensive refurbishment programme. Over the past year, the hall has undergone a significant transformation. Improvements include a complete roof…