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A 6ft 9ins Game of Thrones star has been announced for Wales Comic Con's second date of the year in Llangollen this summer.
* For the full story in the Leader, go to: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/26040813.game-thrones-haf-r-bj-rnsson-set-wales-comic-con/
A well-known Llangollen resident is entertaining the public on the other side of the world just as he does back home.
Bill Kong so loved volunteering every year at the town's world-famous Musical Eisteddfod that he moved here from Hong Kong a few years back with his family.
He is currently staying in the former British colony due to family commitments.
While over there he is combining his other great passion - fine wine - with singing, which he did regularly at the popular open mic nights in Gales Wine Bar for a number of years.
Out in Hong Kong Bill has just started a new job as the resident sommelier at a French bistro where he has launched regular wine and food nights which include open mic performances.
And already proving a star turn at the microphone are Bill himself accompanied on piano by his wife Selana, who became another well-known figure in Llangollen.
Sending back a message to their many friends in Llangollen via llanblogger, Bill said: "I've sent some pictures of my first successful wine and open mic night last month.
"Can you let my friends in our town know that I miss them all but tell them that we need to be here for the forseeable future."
Llangollen's Mill Street car park features in plans by Denbighshire County Council to provide suitable facilities for motorhome owners in various locations across the county.
With its Denbighshire Motorhome Aire project the council aims to address the issues of unauthorised overnight stays by motorhome owners at locations where there is no legal right to sleep overnight in a vehicle.
The scheme sets out to prevent the environmental and social problems caused by illegal camping and provide better facilities for overnight motorhome and campervan stays across the county. The proposals will also support local tourism.
Mill Street in Llangollen is one of six locations where areas to support motorhomes and campervans are being developed.
Planning applications will be submitted for each site to facilitate the installation of the relevant infrastructure to support the project.
The proposed work will be funded from Welsh Government Brilliant Basics Funding which is aimed at improving essential visitor infrastructure and the UK Government Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF)
The proposed sites include:
The project has focused on areas that are known hot-spots for unauthorised overnight stays, that are popular with tourists, and have nearby local businesses that would benefit from visitors to the Aires sites.
This project aims to provide short stay (2 nights maximum) overnight parking for motorhomes on public car parks / areas which are located adjacent to towns and existing facilities.
The focus of the project at all sites will be to provide a safe and secure, overnight parking facility along with the ability to empty wastewater/foulwater and to refill a motorhome with fresh water. No BBQ’s will be allowed, no fires will be allowed, no awnings will be allowed and no tents will be allowed. The motorhome bays will be basic, hardstanding areas purely for short stay use only.
It is proposed that motorhome users coming to the Denbighshire County Council land owned sites will be able to pay for their stay via a new tariff on the current carparking mobile phone app or onsite meters.
Any work at the sites should planning be granted will include measures to prevent unauthorised parking at these sites.
Paul Jackson, Head of Highways & Environmental Services, said: "We know that the use of motorhomes has increased, especially since the Covid pandemic where everybody took on staycations in the UK. The project’s innovative proposals will help provide great facilities for those wishing to travel across Denbighshire and provide a fantastic boost for tourism and businesses where these sites are located once they come online."
Nissan Qashqai e-Power drive by Steve Rogers
Here’s
a good quiz question. Which electric car gets its power from petrol?
I
can hear you saying ‘there’s got to be a catch’ which is the reply I got when I
threw it in at a party. No one came up with the answer and there is no catch.
The
Nissan Qashqai e-Power.
Qashqai
is unique in that the petrol engine generates power for the battery that feeds
an electric motor that drives the car. A clever stop-gap solution until we have
to go all electric. Here you have the ease of a quick refuel rather than
hooking up to a charging post.
That
is not going to happen too often either with the e-Power capable of more than
600 miles from its 55 litre tank. I know because I covered all but 500 miles
and still had 134 miles left averaging 56mpg and on longer runs topping 70mpg.
On one slowish 15 mile drive my return was an astonishing 80mpg. This is a
massive increase on the previous e-Power when my week’s average was 43mpg.
The
Sunderland built Qashqai e-Power debuted in 2024 and has just had an upgrade to
keep pace with the stream of new plug-in hybrids. Body styling stays the same,
there was no need to tinker it looks fine as it is. The upgrades have increased
power, lowered emissions and improved fuel efficiency by 15 per cent and my
figures can vouch for that.
The
extra power comes from a new 1.5 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine fitted with a
bigger turbocharger to deliver more torque. A sprint to sixty takes just over
seven seconds which is quicker than before. In sport setting it feels feisty
although not quite as free flowing as the plug-in hybrid Geely Starray reviewed
last week.
An
area that needs improvement is the ride. It is not awful and is happy enough on
well tarred surfaces but the story changes on pitted B roads. Here you really
feel the thuds coming through the chassis, something also noted by my
passengers.
Qashqai
has always been a roomy family SUV crossover, wide enough for three adults
across the back with enough legroom for six footers. The wide hump in the
middle of the floor cuts into leg space and there is no sliding or reclining
seat found on some rivals.
Boot
space is not the best but plenty big enough although you do lose 49 litres in
this top Tekna+ model because of the big sub-woofer under the boot floor. A
useful feature is a raised split board that can be slotted into the floor
creating a small compartment. Good for keeping shopping bags in place.
The
cabin generally gets a big plus for two reasons. First it feels quality with
warm alcantara fabric breaking up the plastic surfaces along the dashboard and
door cappings.
The
layout is excellent with a touchscreen supported by a bank of switches for
heating and other key features. Even the steering wheel controls are logically
linked to the info strip in the driver’s display and although I would have
liked a simple switch for lane assist I memorised turning it on or off from the
steering wheel.
As
for technology it has been revamped with Google mapping taking over the air
upgrades and security that allows the car to be monitored, sending a warning if
the car has been tampered with or towed. Voice control is efficient, just ask
Google and it will change the radio station, set a destination or adjust the
heating.
Tekna+
has a long spec sheet but the driver safety aids stand out with adaptive cruise
control, emergency braking, including for pedestrians, and rear cross traffic
alert making this a safe space.
Nissan
was the first company to introduce a surround camera and that has developed to
cover just about every eventuality. It is up there with the best.
The
e-Power is another milestone in Qashqai’s remarkable story which now spans 20
years. Honda will argue it invented the SUV crossover a decade earlier with the
CR-V but no one took any notice, yet everyone latched on to the Qashqai formula
so much so that they are the most popular cars on our roads.
The
biggest threat to e-Power is the flood of Chinese plug-in hybrids and given the
choice I would go for the cheaper, roomier and well equipped Geely Starray, but
it is a very close call.
What
the wife says: My pick is the Qashqai. It is good to drive, has all the
features I want, and you don’t have to do everything through a touchscreen
which I find a dangerous distraction.
Favourite
feature: The massive panoramic roof.
Fast
facts
Qashqai
e-Power Tekna+
£43,210
( range starts £34,860)
1.5
litre petrol; 201bhp
0-62mph
7.6secs; 105mph
61.4mpg
combined
105g/km.
1st VED £405
Boot:
504 - 1447 litres
Insurance
groups: 16-30
Following the outstanding success of the footplate passes during this year’s Branch Line Gala, Llangollen and Corwen Railway has launched a brand-new series of Footplate Pass experiences on both steam and diesel locomotives, now integrated into the regular timetable.
The first opportunity for visitors to enjoy this unique experience will take place on Sunday 3 May, marking the beginning of an exciting new programme that places passengers right at the heart of railway operations.
Feedback from those who took part during the gala has been overwhelmingly positive, with organisers describing the response as “incredible” and confirming they have been inundated with requests to bring the experience back.
These exclusive experiences allow participants to travel on the footplate itself, alongside the team, for a full line journey between Llangollen and Corwen. Along the way, passengers will enjoy a truly spectacular route through some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes – passing landmarks such as Berwyn Tunnel, Horseshoe Falls, and Llantysilio Hall, as the railway hugs the banks of the River Dee for much of the journey.
Matthew Carty, Head of the Railway’s Footplate Department, said: "This is a truly exhilarating way to experience the railway – right at the heart of the action. Being up on the footplate alongside the team, you’re completely immersed in the sights, sounds and sheer power of the locomotive as it works along the line. You feel the heat, hear every beat of the engine and see the railway from a perspective very few people ever get to enjoy.
“The feedback from our Branch Line Gala footplate pass holders was incredible – we’ve been inundated with requests to bring this experience back. We’re absolutely delighted to now offer it as part of our regular timetable, giving more people the chance to experience the railway in such a unique and unforgettable way while taking in some of the most stunning scenery in the country."
Each Footplate Pass includes:
Passengers must complete a medical questionnaire in advance to ensure suitability for the experience.
Pricing:
Confirmed Dates
Steam Footplate Passes: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/special-events-in-2026/steam-engine-footplate-ex
(All steam departures: Llangollen – Corwen 10:00 / Corwen – Llangollen 11:05)
Diesel Footplate Passes: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/special-events-in-2026/diesel-engine-footplate-e
(All diesel departures: Llangollen – Corwen 11:05 / Corwen – Llangollen 12:20)
This new initiative not only offers an unforgettable experience for railway enthusiasts and visitors alike, but also supports the ongoing work of the railway, with proceeds being reinvested into the Footplate Department.
* Tickets are on sale now at Steam Experience: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/special-events-in-2026/steam-engine-footplate-ex
Diesel Experience: https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/special-events-in-2026/diesel-engine-footplate-e and demand is anticipated to be high following the popularity of the gala experiences.
Q: I’m becoming more aware of how much energy our household gadgets and appliances use, and it’s making me think about our bills. Do you have any tips to help us cut down on energy use and save some money at home?
A: It’s completely normal to worry about rising energy bills. The good news is that adopting a few simple habits into your daily routine can make a real difference. Here are some practical tips to help you take control of your energy use and save money.
Reducing the length of your shower time can help. Try reducing the water temperature of your shower too, as cooler showers use less energy.
Using your washing machine's 'eco' cycle takes longer, but uses less energy. For laundry that isn’t heavily soiled, use a cold cycle (20 or 30 degrees Celsius).
If possible, hanging your washing outside is an effective (and free) way to dry clothes - weather permitting! If not, using a heated clothes airer instead of a tumble dryer is a good option as they are cheaper to run.
In the kitchen
Air fryers, microwaves and slow cookers usually use less energy than an oven or hob. Putting lids on pans while you’re cooking and using the right size pan for the amount of food you are preparing will use less energy heating it.
When you boil the kettle, measure out the water you need. Boiling water in the kettle before adding to the pan will also help your food cook more quickly meaning you use less energy.
Defrost your fridge or freezer once or twice a year and don’t hold the door open for extended periods of time - this will help use less energy to stay cold.
Check the temperature on the thermostat - between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius is fine for most people.
Check your heating times - if you have a boiler, set the temperature two or three degrees lower, (or programme it to be off) when you’re out or asleep.
Check the thermostatic radiator valves - some have numbers on them. You can set each one to the lowest number that keeps the room comfortable. Set them to 3 or 4 for rooms you want warmer and 1 or 2 for rooms you want cooler.
Install radiator reflectors behind radiators on external walls if your house isn’t well insulated. These are easy to install even in rented homes, and will make rooms feel warmer.
You can find out more about energy saving tips here. If you're worried about paying your energy bills you can get advice on our website or contact your local Citizens Advice.
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Being special guests at a thrilling local football match, an encounter with a cut puppy and a barrage of bike problems have been highlights of the past week for the three Llangollen area lads cycling to Thailand for charity.
As they headed across the desert area of Uzbekistan the Westheads - Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham - stopped off for a few days' well-earned rest in the town of Bukhara.
There they met Vladimir, who plays for local soccer side Buxoro in the Superliga, and he invited them along as his guests, free of charge, to their match against Nasaf.
There were free football shirts for the trio and the warmest of receptions from the rowdy crowd.
The lads reckoned they'd never felt so welcome and said game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, had been one of their best experiences of the trip so far.
Unfortunately, their daily video log shows that the next few days shows was a bit of a mood-breaker, with one bike problem rapidly following another.
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Showing the fortitude which has characterised their marathon journey they eventually found solutions to their mechanical ills, which meant having to thumb lifts from passing motorists to the nearest bike shops.
One thing that lifted their drooping spirits was coming across a cute abandoned puppy along the way, which they took to immediately. And after they gave it some water and a few cuddles it just wouldn't leave them alone.
Knowing that they couldn't take the dog along with them they tried to find a home for it with local families, without success. So the pooch, which they named "Westie", spent another night with them in their hotel.
As they hit the legendary city of Samarkand, their latest video shows them making a major route change which will now take in the nearby countries of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and another range of mountains.
The lads are making their mammoth 1,000 journey in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack in 2024.
They've raised a massive £27,000-plus of their £50,000 charity target since they left Llangollen eight months ago.
* llanblogger is recording their adventures along the way. To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads
