Gwyn the Butchers makes awards shortlist

* Gwyn's famous shop in Castle Street.

A WELL-KNOWN Llangollen butchers shop has sliced his way through to the shortlist of a prestigious national competition to find high street champions.

Gwyn Davies in Castle Street has reached the final three in the food and drink retailer category of the Welsh Government’s High Street Heroes Awards.

The competition aims to honour businesses which help to make town centres great.

Members of the public were asked to nominate individual businesses and services in the six High Street Favourites categories - food and drink, fashion, health and beauty, leisure, home and garden, professional and financial services, eating out on the high street and community service provider.

Established for almost 40 years, Gwyn Davies Butchers put their success down

to providing the local community with quality meat and a friendly, personal service.

Over the years, owner Gwyn has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities, from supporting local raffles and selling tickets for local events, to supporting major fundraising events in aid of Welsh Air Ambulance and The Shooting Star Appeal for a dedicated cancer treatment unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

As the one of the longest standing businessman in Llangollen, Gwyn was recently honoured to receive a visit from HRH Prince Charles, who was in the town for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Gwyn is a Welsh speaker, which he feels really helps when interacting with his customers and in helping to keep the language alive.

Gwyn said: “You can’t beat a high street location for footfall; my old landlord called our high street the ‘golden mile’.

“It’s so important to support local high streets, we’re very lucky in Llangollen, that there are no empty shops, which unfortunately can’t be said for many towns.

“It’s a great honour to have been nominated in the High Street Heroes Awards. It’s nice to know our customers appreciate us!”

The winners of all categories will be announced during High Street Week, 19–26 September 2015.