Old pub's new roof making 'fantastic progress' says update

* The picture of work on the Star Inn's new roof included in the latest update.

Work to put a new timber roof on Llangollen's old Star Inn is going well, according to the latest social media update from its owners.  

The historic hostelry on Queen Street had been closed and derelict for some time until it was bought last year by former Ysgol Dinas Bran pupil David Anderson whose company is carrying out a major renovation to turn it back into a community pub - or hub - with the emphasis, he says, on making it a place where people feel safe and comfortable. 

In a recent post on the pub's own Facebook page he revealed that Saturday November 7 has been chosen for the grand re-opening, with a soft opening the day before.

For the past week or so traffic has been restricted to one lane, controlled by lights, on the A5 outside the pub to allow scaffolding for the roof work to be erected.

And the latest update, posted last Friday, says: "It's been another incredibly busy week here at The Star Inn, Llangollen, and we're delighted to share some fantastic progress on our roof restoration!

"As you can see from the photos, the new timber roof structure is really starting to take shape, with the team working hard to bring this important part of our historic building back to life.

"It's certainly no small job, but every new beam brings us another step closer to welcoming you all through our doors!

"A massive thank you to the hardworking team carrying out the restoration. The effort, skill and craftsmanship going into this project is incredible.

"We're not just putting a roof back on a building – we're bringing a much-loved Llangollen pub back to life after six years!

"Thank you to everyone in the community for your continued encouragement, patience and support. It really does mean the world to us.

"Keep following our journey – there's plenty more progress to come!"

Railway plans to give passengers 'scariest night of the year'

* The railway will be at its spookiest on October 31.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway is preparing for what it calls "the scariest ride of the year" as it gears up for Halloween on Saturday October 31.

Trains and stations along the line will be transformed with creepy decorations, while railway volunteers are planning plenty of surprises for passengers daring to travel through the Dee Valley.

Visitors are being warned to keep their eyes open for strange happenings in the signal boxes, surprises waiting at stations and who knows what passengers might encounter as their train plunges into the darkness of Berwyn Tunnel.

At Carrog passengers should keep a particularly close eye out for Emyr’s bike, which has developed a mysterious habit of moving when nobody appears to be riding it.

Those brave enough to make it all the way to Corwen should also be on the lookout for the legendary Ronnebacked Monster.

Anita Piatkowska from Llangollen and Corwen Railway said: “We want to create the ultimate Halloween experience. From the moment families arrive at the Railway, there will be something to see and discover. 

"We’ll have decorated trains and stations, surprises in our signal boxes and plenty happening all along the line. Even a journey through Berwyn Tunnel might feel a little different on Halloween!

"There are rumours about Emyr’s bike at Carrog and the Ronnebacked Monster at Corwen, but people will have to come along and discover for themselves what is real and what might just be a Railway ghost story. It’s going to be spooky, great fun and something the whole family can enjoy. We want everyone to dress up, get involved and help us make this the scariest ride of the year.”

There is also a special treat in store for the railway’s younger passengers.

The first 100 children to book will receive a free Halloween Activity Pack, worth the price of their ticket.

* The Halloween Activity Pack for young travellers. 

Each spooky bag is packed with Halloween goodies, including a paper monster mask, Halloween stickers, a colouring puzzle book, pencils, spooky tattoos, a sticky fidget toy and a spinning top toy.

The Halloween Activity Pack can be added when purchasing tickets at checkout. Only 100 free packs are available and they will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Families are encouraged to come dressed for Halloween, with witches, ghosts, monsters, vampires and other spooky characters all welcome aboard.

As darkness falls over the Dee Valley, Halloween at the railway will take another turn with a special Ales from Wales Spooky Halloween Special.

The popular evening train will receive its own October 31 treatment, with lots of surprises planned along the journey.

Before departure, Mark ‘Macca’ Jones will be performing live on Platform 1 at Llangollen from 5pm, playing what he has promised will be his scariest set ever.

Passengers can enjoy the live music and atmosphere at Llangollen before boarding the train for a Halloween journey along the Dee Valley after dark.

Tickets for the daytime Halloween Spooky Specials on Saturday October 31 are available to buy online now. Families wanting one of the free Halloween Activity Packs should add them at checkout when purchasing their tickets.

* Halloween Spooky Special tickets:
https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/products/halloween-spooky-special?date=2026-10-31

Tickets for the evening Ales from Wales SPOOKY HALLOWEEN Special are sold separately and can also be booked online.

* Ales from Wales SPOOKY HALLOWEEN Special:
https://llan.hops.org.uk/tickets/special-events-in-2026/real-ale-train

Llangollen Twenty Club to stage Christie's Murder on the Nile

Did you know that Murder on the Nile is based on Agatha Christie's famous 1937 novel Death on the Nile?

Christie originally toyed with the story as a stage idea before turning it into one of her most celebrated Hercule Poirot mysteries.

Years later, she adapted it for the theatre, creating Murder on the Nile, the play which will be performed by Llangollen Twenty Club at the Town Hall from Wednesday-Saturday November 11-14.

Set against the glamorous backdrop of Egypt, this classic whodunnit is packed with secrets, jealousy, romance and, of course, murder.

Find out whodunnit by seeing Murder on the Nile, nightly at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm matinee on the Saturday of the run.

* Tickets, at £14 and £12 concessions, are available now at Llangollen Oggie Shop, Courtyard Books and online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollentwentyclub

Llangollen Food Festival again finds the recipe for success

 

                  * The Town Hall was packed with visitors from early on.

The 2026 Llangollen Food Festival has once again found the recipe for success.

With the first day crowd hitting what appears to have been record levels the town was centre was buzzing with delicious-looking displays of all things edible - and drinkable. 

In recent years the gala event has expanded to become a multi-venue affair and that was once again the case, with events taking place in Centenary Square, the Town Hall, Market Street and its car park, Gales Wine Bar, Blas Cookery and Wine School, the Silver Band Hut, Riverside Park and the Railway approach road and platform. 

But the whole experience was even better this year thanks with much better signage and visitor directions, including bar-coded leaflets available at multiple locations.

Today and tomorrow around 100 exhibitors are selling everything from mead to mugs to macarons filling Llangollen with the sights, sounds and smells of some of the finest food and drink North Wales and its surrounding area has to offer.

 

Crafts exhibitors are always an important part of the Food Festival and this year, for the first time, they have a dedicated craft area in the wine garden at Gales Wine Bar. 

Visitors will find handcrafted jewellery, handmade gifts, bespoke lampshades among many other craft makers. 

 

To overcome the town's notorious parking problems, for the first time there is a dedicated parking area just outside the town at Llandyn Caravan and Camping site, just off the A539. There is a small charge to park and a shuttle service is available to take people from the parking site into town.

 

Xplore, Wrexham’s science discovery centre, has been on hand to entertain children with all sorts of food-related experiments. 

 

A programme of free demonstrations are taking place at Blas Cookery and Wine school in Parade Street. First up this lunchtime was Dylan Owens, Executive Head Chef Director at Manchester City FC.

There has also been music galore in Riverside Park and Centenary Square with a fantastic line-up of local bands and solo singers across the weekend. 

“Live music has become an important part of the festival,” says Pip Gale, chairman of the Food Festival. “We have some great food concessions at Riverside Park and having brilliant music alongside just makes it a great day out for everyone.”

 

* Details of exhibitors, the line-up of entertainment and workshops can be found on the new Llangollen Food Festival website: https://llangollenfoodfestival.com/ and on the Food Festival’s Facebook page.

The Railway has its own programme events for the Food Festival, which continue tomorrow Sunday with:

All day | Food Festival at Llangollen Station

All day | Railway Café and Waiting Room Real Ale Bar

Quality produce from the Café, with Welsh ales and Blas Wines in the Waiting Room.

Food Festival trains from Llangollen:
10am Steam | 11.05am Diesel | 12.20pm Steam | 1.45pm Diesel | 3.15pm Steam

Food Festival trains from Corwen:
11.05am Steam | 12.20pm Diesel | 1.45pm Steam | 3.15pm Diesel | 4.20pm Steam

12.20pm | Afternoon Tea on the Dee
Take your reserved seat for Afternoon Tea and a journey through the Dee Valley.

12.20pm | The Glyndŵr Steam Roast
Alternatively, travel by steam to Corwen for a traditional Sunday roast at the community-run Owain Glyndŵr Hotel.

3.15pm | Afternoon Tea on the Dee
A second opportunity to enjoy Afternoon Tea aboard the Railway.

4.20pm | Glyndŵr Steam Roast return
Steam Roast passengers depart Corwen for Llangollen.

Around 5pm | Back in Llangollen

* Expert advice on seasonings from a Town Hall stallholder.

* Tasty-looking treats galore at the Town Hall.

* The wine garden at Gales attracted a throng of browsers.

* A colourful display of hand-crafted lampshades and other goods on show in the wine garden.

* A range of food stalls fill Centenary Square.

* Llangollen Food Share's strong presence in Market Street.

* Sweet treats in Market Street.

* Stalls take over the top section of Market Street car park.

* A wide range of filling fare available in the food court  at Riverside Park.

* Dylan Owens, Executive Head Chef Director at Manchester City FC, gives a demonstration of his culinary skills at Blas Cookery and Wine School.

* One of the band's that provided entertainment on the bandstand in the park.  

* Gourmet food on offer at one the stalls on the platform.

* The stall offering sausage on a stick at the station was doing a roaring trade.

* Centenary Square was even more packed with visitors during Saturday afternoon.

* A folk duo entertain the crowd on the square.

Latest roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council

Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is:

AT JUNCTION WITH QUEEN STREET/BROOK STREET until 17/10/2026, Adfer Adeilad / Building Renovation CORE HIGHWAYS (WREXHAM)

From Castle Street to East Street, MARKET STREET, 28/11/2026, Ffair Nadolig / Christmas Fair CHAPTER 8 SOLUTIONS, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A5 Berwyn Street across Market Street, Llangollen, 28/10/2026 - 30/10/2026, Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing NMWTRA (DCC), Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OPPOSITE 14 PENGWERN, 29/10/2026 - 30/10/2026, Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY, Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

This year's Llangollen Christmas Appeal is launched

 

Castle to be lit up for Baby Loss Awareness Week

 

Castell Dinas Bran is to be specially lit up to mark Baby Loss Awareness week from October 9-15.

The illumination of the ancient landmark, which can be seen for miles around, is arranged by Katy Davies and Sian Davies using local company ORB Sound and Lighting. It will be lit between 7 and 8pm next Thursday October 15 and is part of the Global Wave of Light.

The special week will also see a Tree of Remembrance set up in St Collen's parish church as a special place to remember little ones who are much loved but never forgotten.