Author: Rhys Gregory

Christmas at Bute Park is back for 2024, and it’s fair to say it has outdone itself. This award-winning event has grown to become one of the standout attractions in Cardiff’s festive calendar, drawing crowds from far and wide. With over 100,000 tickets sold in 2023, the bar was set high – and yet, the organisers have managed to deliver a light trail that feels fresh, innovative, and even more magical than before. Running until 31st December 2024, this year’s experience is one for the books. If you thought last year’s trail was impressive, the 2024 edition has taken it…

Proposals to upgrade Bridgend Paper Mill will secure future success of site and help to safeguard around 345 jobs Tissue paper manufacturer WEPA UK has announced plans which, if approved, would represent a significant investment in their paper mill in Llangynwyd, near Bridgend. WEPA UK, a subsidiary of the WEPA Group based in Arnsberg Germany, produce hygiene paper products for the consumer retail sector, including toilet paper and kitchen rolls. The proposals include replacing an older tissue paper machine with a newer machine that is more sustainable. These upgrades will be important to secure the future success of the site,…

Halen Môn, the Anglesey sea salt company, has launched a new wild seaweed bathing and stargazing experience at its site overlooking the Menai Strait. The new event marks the reopening of an extended wild seaweed bathing visitor experience – the first in Wales – using recycled wooden barrels filled with warm, distilled water from the Halen Môn sea salt process and seaweed. Over the summer months, in preparation for welcoming more visitors to the site during the winter, Halen Môn has invested in additional barrels, new landscaping for the site and a new outdoor covered area for refreshments. The wild…

Plans to deliver over 300 new homes in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, have been unveiled, marking a significant step forward in tackling the area’s housing shortage. Persimmon Homes East Wales has submitted a full planning application to the Vale of Glamorgan Council for 339 much-needed, high-quality homes on land north of the railway line in Rhoose. So local people can see for themselves how the plan will benefit them and the local area, the developer has launched a website, providing an opportunity to submit feedback. The development – on a site allocated for housing for over 20 years – featuring…

Stena Linehas  announced their plans for the future of Prosperity Parc, on the old Anglesey Aluminium site at Holyhead. The plans will see the creation of a world leading, modern campus for new business investment, jobs and opportunity. The plans will revitalise the long disused site and create circa 200,000sqm of development as part of a low carbon campus, generating £578 million GVA; the equivalent to increasing the future size of the Anglesey economy by a third. The plans follow the work undertaken on the site to date which has included clearing the dilapidated buildings and remediating the land for…

Cardiff is about to get a new dining experience with the opening of ONJA on Barrack Lane. A £25,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales has part-funded the start-up costs. Self-confessed foodie and mum of two boys, Justina John has used the loan from the Development Bank to fund the fit-out of her new African restaurant and takeaway that will offer a taste of Tanzania. ONJA is due to open on Monday 16 December 2024. Open for lunch and early evening meals from Monday to Saturday, ONJA will offer authentic cuisine for dining in, delivery and takeaway. The…

One of Wales’ premier wine producers, White Castle Vineyard, has unveiled a new chapter in its history. For the first time the vineyard has harvested and processed its grapes onsite in a newly established winery using state-of-the-art equipment, paving the way for a future of increased wine production within Wales. The exciting development is the culmination of years of planning and investment in the latest technology, aimed at improving both the quality and quantity of White Castle’s award-winning wines. It also marks an important development for the wine industry in Wales more generally, as it increases the capacity and ability…

Conwy-based Dragon Fire Doors is scaling-up the maintenance and fitting of commercial fire doors following a £35,000 investment by the Development Bank of Wales. Established by Director Neil Wansbrough in 2015, Dragon Fire Doors is Q-certified and specialises in providing fire door surveys along with fire door installation and maintenance services for the social housing sector. Key clients include North Wales Housing, ClwydAlyn Housing, Linc Housing and Stori Cymru.  Other clients have included NHS buildings, outdoor pursuit centres, private care homes, houses in multiple occupation (HMO) and privately-owned businesses. The loan of £35,000 is the second investment by the Development…

Folk singer Mari Mathias performed in the Welsh language to thousands of people on the opening day of one of India’s largest music festivals. Mari Mathias, a singer-songwriter who interprets traditional folk melodies for contemporary audiences, took to the main stage at the Hornbill Music Festival 2024 on Sunday, December 1, and Monday, December 2. The 24-year-old began her solo set in front of a large projection of the Welsh flag, before welcoming Naga folk musician Seyievinuo Chuzho to the stage. The pair performed a piece of music they collaborated on that brings Welsh and Naga languages together. Mari and…

Transport for Wales has named one of its new trains ‘Gavin and Stacey’ as they ‘step into Christmas’ and join celebrations for the final episode of the famous BBC series. The new Stadler Class 231 trains have been recently added to the Vale of Glamorgan line and are part TfW’s £800 million investment into brand-new trains and they’ve already seen an increase in passengers. Local children from Barry Island Primary School (pictured above) took part in the Christmas event, welcoming the newly-named train to Barry Island Station. Over the summer period, 57,000 more people were using the service compared to…