Author: Rhys Gregory

Following the giant success of this year’s magical pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, Swansea Grand Theatre and Imagine Theatre have confirmed that Swansea audiences can look forward to a magic carpet ride with a glittering production of Aladdin,starring panto legend Joe Pasquale from 06 December 2025 to 04 January 2026. The show will also feature another spectacular digital set with animated scenes, which has become a regular part of the panto experience in the past few years. Joe’s TV career started as a runner-up on New Faces in 1987 and since then, he has gone on to be crowned King…

Joshua Partyka, 32, of Woodland Grove, rammed a car into two separate stores in a bid to steal, before taking £15,000 worth of bikes from a shop in Holywell. He appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentence today, Tuesday, January 7th, having previously admitted two charges of burglary and attempted burglary. He was sentenced to three years in prison. In the early hours of September 10th, Partyka drove a stolen Land Rover with false number plates into the Premiere store on Victoria Road, Brynteg, causing serious external damage to the store, and inside. He then drove to Mold and rammed…

Cardiff residents are being urged to take part in a budget consultation that will help shape the future of essential council services in the city. Thanks to a better-than-expected settlement from Welsh Government, Cardiff Council has seen a projected £60 million budget gap reduce to £23.4 million for 2025/26. Despite this improved financial outlook, several factors, including inflation and rising demand for services, mean the cost of delivering essential services like education, social care and dealing with the housing emergency, continue to rise. To address the £23.4 million budget shortfall, the council is proposing a combination of measures including efficiency…

The second phase of work to repair damage to the Aberdare Park boundary wall will start this week, with a local footway closure needed. A section of the structure opposite Broniestyn Terrace in Trecynon collapsed following Storm Bert in November 2024, and an initial phase of work to rebuild it was completed before Christmas. Council contractor Hammonds Ltd will now return to the site in the week commencing Monday, January 6, to repair several smaller nearby sections of the wall. The works location will be opposite Aberdare Park Primary School, just north of the section that was rebuilt in phase…

Working Wales, in partnership with EE, is hosting a recruitment event for individuals looking to kickstart their careers through exciting apprenticeship opportunities. The event will take place at the Careers Wales centre in Merthyr Tydfil, where attendees can learn more about the apprenticeship roles available at EE’s Merthyr Tydfil call centre. Event Details: Date: Thursday 9 January 2025 Time: There are 3 sessions available: 10am – 11am, 12pm – 1pm, 2pm – 3pm Location: Merthyr Tydfil Careers Wales Centre, 27 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8DP There are 42 Customer Service Apprentice roles on offer, which come with a starting…

An international engineering firm is the first company to sign a lease at Rhyd y Blew, the Welsh Government’s ‘Grade A’ industrial site in Blaenau Gwent, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, has announced. Halton Flamgard will lease the newly completed RYB1 unit at the site in Ebbw Vale, following an £8.9m investment by Welsh Government in the 52,582 sq ft low carbon facility. It will see the company, which manufactures damper units for clients in specialised industrial sectors, relocate its current operation in Pontypool to the larger modern premises. Part of a planned expansion, it will…

ITALIAN jobs will inspire students on the road to their chosen careers. Twenty-five learners from Coleg Cambria Deeside journeyed to Tuscany and Florence for a two-week education and employment visit. The groups – from Childcare, and Health and Social Care courses – spent time with organisations, schools and businesses while also taking in the sights and sounds of the country. A cohort from Sports also spent time in Italy over the summer. Health and Social Care tutor Steph Garrett said the trip broadened the horizons of learners and gave a flavour of Italian systems, while encouraging professional development. “The experience…

When it comes to slots, there is a bucket full of options. With the rollout of modern slots with amazing themes, features, and payouts, very few iconic slots have made it to the hearts of the players. Big Bass Splash is one of them. In this crowded market, if you ask us for one game that’s wildly popular, and the players go gaga over it, our answer will be the Big Bass Splash game. Thanks to its amazing features, vibrant visuals, and high pay scale, the game is ruling the slots market with a cult following. But there are tons…

An amber weather warning for snow in Northern England has been extended until January 6, 2025 (Monday) morning. This warning comes after a great amount of snow has already fallen, causing problems for travel in the area. The Met Office has said that areas such as Lancashire, Cumbria, and the Lake District will continue to experience snow until 6 a.m. Monday.  They also warned that higher areas could receive up to 15 cm more snow. This could cause even more travel delays and power outages and make it difficult for some rural areas to stay connected. Other weather warnings issued…

When it comes to venturing outside of Wales, it’s not every day that we find ourselves travelling for a pub experience. However, for fans of Jeremy Clarkson and his hit Amazon series, Clarkson’s Farm, the lure of his Diddly Squat Farm and its now-famous pub proved too tempting to resist. So, we packed our bags and headed off from Cardiff to see what all the fuss is about. Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, just a short drive from the Welsh border, the Diddly Squat Farm and its pub have become something of a cult destination for enthusiasts of…