Author: Rhys Gregory

A one-time guest house set in the idyllic surroundings of Eryri National Park will become a hostel aimed at adventurers exploring North Wales, thanks to a £500,000 equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales. Bryn Llewelyn, a 9-bedroom bed and breakfast near Betws y Coed, Conwy, has been converted into a 38-bed hostel after being acquired by Rowern Wong, an experienced mountaineer and property developer. After spending many years visiting and exploring North Wales, Rowern was keen to set up a business and a new brand which would offer good, consistent service to others visiting the area at an…

The Aldi store on Ferry Road reopened on Thursday 12th September at 8am, following a significant refurbishment and extension. Cardiff shoppers can now benefit from a larger retail space of 1315 sqm, offering an enhanced, convenient, and varied shopping experience, with a large range of award-winning British products at unbeatable prices to choose from. The new format has been created to make shopping even easier for Cardiff customers, with the store now having more space and clearer signs to make shopping effortless. Fresh bread and cakes have been moved to the last aisle, preventing them from getting squashed under customers’…

The Welsh Law Awards are making a final call for applications. Applications close Friday 20th September 2024. The Welsh Law Awards is set to recognise the outstanding achievements of the legal community, at a black-tie gala dinner on Thursday 17th October 2024 at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff. Sara Edwards, one of Welsh Television and Radio’s most popular presenters is to host the Welsh Law Awards once again. The categories for the 2024 Welsh Law Awards are: Commercial Law Services of the Year Employment Law Services of the Year Family Law Services of the Year Personal Injury Law Services of…

Urdd Gobaith Cymru has confirmed that Eisteddfod yr Urdd will be held in Newport in 2027. In a public meeting at Ysgol Gwent Is Coed, a hall of volunteers and supporters agreed to invite Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2027 to Newport. This will be the first time the youth festival visits Newport in its near 100-year history. Possible site locations are currently being discussed by the Urdd and Newport City Council. Llio Maddocks, the Urdd’s Arts and Eisteddfod Director: “I am so pleased to see Newport City Council and the whole of Gwent community’s support to hosting the Eisteddfod in 2027.…

City Hospice has announced that its inaugural Chair’s Lunch will take place on 18 October at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff. Established in 1984, the charity is marking its 40th anniversary this year. The exclusive ‘Leaders & Legends’ event, organised by the charity’s Chair Michael Baker and sponsored by Brewin Dolphin, will provide the south Wales business community with an opportunity to engage and celebrate with the charity in its 40th anniversary year and hear unique leadership insights from two of Wales’ most influential sporting figures. Interviewed by Deborah Thomas, special guests Nigel Walker OBE and Sam Warburton OBE will…

Tax and accountancy specialist Kilsby Williams has announced that it will be supporting Calon Hearts as its charity of the year. Calon Hearts is a Cardiff-based charity which promotes heart health in Wales and across the UK. Less than one in ten people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest but survival rates can be increased significantly if a defibrillator is used and CPR is performed. The charity’s mission includes teaching valuable CPR and first aid skills, and ensuring communities have access to defibrillators and are trained in how to use them. Calon Hearts also provides free heart screenings for…

A judge had ruled that Dennis Coles, 73, was unfit to stand trial for medical reasons, and so could not receive a criminal conviction. Instead, the case was heard as a trial of fact and the jury concluded Coles was ‘responsible for the act’. A trial of facts is a public hearing to determine whether an accused committed the acts alleged. They can either be found ‘not guilty’ or ‘responsible for the act’. Detective Constable Aimee Thomas, from South Wales Police, said: “In November 1977, a young girl was walking home from Girl Guides in Rumney, Cardiff, when she was attacked by…

COMMUNITIES are set to benefit from a £2m boost to neighbourhood improvement projects across the city. Extra investment in the councillor-led Community Investment Fund will see it double from £1m to £2m for spending on community projects including installing defibrillators, supporting community events and sprucing up community gardens. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “Councillors are uniquely well-placed to know what kind of small-scale projects and initiatives going on in their area deserve a boost from the council. “By offering a further £1m for councillors’ community budget schemes we’ll be able to make sure the money goes a long…

After proving a very popular choice for last year’s successful event, singer, songwriter and radio and TV presenter Mal Pope will host the 2024 Mayor of Neath Port Talbot’s Remembrance Concert. Tickets are now on sale for the event which takes place at the Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, on Friday October 25th, 2024 (7pm). Ticket prices: Standard £10.00; Concessions £8.00 (under 16, 60+, groups of 8 or more, Armed Forces Veterans, Armed Forces Reservists, Armed Forces Cadets, serving Armed Forces personnel). The Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Cllr Matthew Crowley, said: “I am delighted to see this important event…

Following the successful completion and handover of the new-build school, Ysgol Bro Penfro opened its doors to pupils for the first time on Thursday 5th September. The school represents an exciting new chapter for Welsh medium education in Pembrokeshire and will serve as a Welsh medium primary school for the whole of the south west of Pembrokeshire. The Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro building project has been funded by the Welsh Government through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, and Pembrokeshire County Council, and provides full day-care for up to 36 children aged 0-11 years, a 30 place nursery, and capacity…