Bearded Men team in quest for top tourism awards

A Llangollen outdoor pursuits company will be given its chance to shine in prestigious tourism awards later this month.

The Bearded Men - Jason Rickwood and Hugh Luckock - are up for Best Activity for their mix of outdoor activities in the Dee Valley and 18-year-old employee Hugh Owen is in the last four for the Rising Star award.

The Welsh Government is staging The National Tourism Awards for Wales to showcase the best of the best in the industry that employs nearly 12 per cent of the Welsh workforce and pumps £3.8 billion into the nation’s economy every year.

The ceremony takes place for the first time in six years at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Thursday, March 27, when a total of 48 finalists have been shortlisted in 12 categories ranging from Best Hotel to Best Event and including awards for Sustainable Tourism, Accessibility and Inclusivity and Dog Friendliness.

The event will be hosted by Aled Rhys Jones, a well-known broadcaster who’s also the Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.

Entertainment will be provided by the popular Welsh of the West End group who reached the semi final of Britain’s Got Talent and Band Pres Llareggub (Llareggub Brass Band) with their exciting blend of Welsh language pop, traditional New Orleans jazz and New York Hip Hop.

Tickets are available from https://www.walestourismawards.co.uk/the-awards/

Llangollen outdoor pursuits specialists The Bearded Men have already done the double at the North Wales Tourism Awards.

Jason said: “Hugh Owen started with us at 16 and has earned his spurs and is now a fully-fledged guide and takes a range of courses including canoeing, rafting and archery.

“We’re now in our seventh year, starting just before Covid hit and while we were one of the first to close we were the first to re-open and we turned that into a positive.

“We now employ between 20 and 30 people, 11 of them full time and have just taken on a hotel in Llangollen.

“We get people from all over the country coming here and increasingly from the USA and Canada thanks to the Ryan Reynolds factor at Wrexham Football Club.

“We believe in working with local businesses because we really love the town. It’s a great location for us because we’re within an hour of big population centres and people can be on the river or outdoors very quickly.”

The event has been welcomed by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning with responsibility for tourism, Rebecca Evans.

She said: “We’re proud to support The National Tourism Awards for Wales in this Year of Croeso as they provide an opportunity to recognise and celebrate excellence in an industry that is crucial to the Welsh economy.

“Congratulations to all who have been nominated for an award. Wales has so much to offer visitors – and the positive, high-quality experiences you provide for your guests contribute immensely to our attractiveness as a destination.”

Jim Jones, the Chief Executive of North Wales Tourism, who are organising this year’s event, said: “It’s wonderful to be hosting The National Tourism Awards for Wales here in North Wales.

“It is an opportunity to celebrate the best of the best in the tourism and hospitality sector in Wales and the exceptional job these businesses do in putting Wales on the international map.

“The sheer volume and quality of entries this year has underlined why Wales is a truly world class destination and showcases what we have to offer visitors from home and abroad.

“Tickets are available to all for what promises to be wonderful evening with fantastic entertainment and, most important of all, an opportunity to celebrate all that is best in Welsh tourism.”

 

The National Tourism Awards for Wales shortlist

 

Best Hotel

 

Gwesty Plas Dinas, Bontnewydd, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

 

Llangoed Hall, Llyswen, Brecon, Powys

 

Tŷ Milford, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire

 

Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan

 

Best B&B, Inn & Guesthouse

 

The Bull's Head Inn, Beaumaris, Anglesey

 

Plas Llangoedmor, Llangoedmor, Cardigan, Ceredigion

 

Glangwili Mansion, Llanllawddog, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire

 

Gellihaf B&B, Blackwood, Caerphilly

 

Best Self-Catering

 

Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Gwynedd

 

Bryn Tanat, Llansantffraid-Ym-Mechain, Powys

 

Clyne Farm Centre, Mayals, Swansea

 

Wonderful Escapes Wern-y-Cwm Farm, Llandewi Skirrid, Abergavenny

 

Best Caravan, Camping, Glamping

 

Go-Below Underground, Snowdonia, Gwynedd

 

Meadow Springs Country & Leisure Park, Ffinnant, Trefeglwys, Powys

 

Pembrey Country Park, Pembrey, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire

 

The Roost, Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil

 

Best Attraction

 

Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway,  Porthmadog, Gwynedd

 

Dan-yr-Ogof The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Abercrave, Swansea

Carew Castle & Tidal Mill, Carew, Tenby, Pembrokeshire

 

Tredegar House, Pencarn Way, Newport

 

Best Activity, Experience or Tour

 

Bearded Men Adventures, Llangollen, Denbighshire

 

Mountain Bike Wales, Llanbrynmair, Powys

 

Savage Adventures, Mayhill, Swansea

 

Rock UK Summit Centre, Trelewis, Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil

 

Bro a Byd (Those going the extra mile on Environmental Sustainability)

 

Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Gwynedd

 

Dan-yr-Ogof The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Abercrave, Swansea

 

Cambrian Cottages, Berllan, Gwyddgrug, Pencader, Carmarthenshire

 

Penhein Glamping, Chepstow, Monmouthshire

 

Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award

 

Tŷ Pren, Bylchau, Conwy

 

Canvas & Campfires, Llanwnnen, Lampeter, Ceredigion

 

Stangwrach Cottages,Llanfynydd Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire

 

Techniquest, Cardiff

 

Best Place to Eat

 

The Gunroom, Plas Dinas, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

 

Y Talbot, Tregaron, Ceredigion

 

The Plough, Rhosmaen, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire

 

The Sorting Room, The Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff

 

Rising Star

 

Hugh Owen, Bearded Men Adventures, Llangollen, Denbighshire

 

Abbie Woods, Llangoed Hall, Llyswen, Brecon, Powys

 

Charly Dix, Lan y Môr, Coppet Hall Beach, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

 

Charly Hayes, Fonmon Castle, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan

 

Best Event

 

Gwyl Fwyd Caernarfon, Gwynedd

 

Royal Welsh Show, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys

 

Wales Airshow Swansea

 

Royal Mint Christmas Experience, Ynysmaerdy, Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taff

 

Best Dog Friendly Business

 

Waterloo Hotel, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy

 

Plas Llangoedmor, Llangoedmor, Cardigan, Ceredigion

 

Clyne Farm Centre, Mayals, Swansea

 

Parkway Hotel & Spa, Cwmbran, Torfaen

 

 

 

Part of A483 closed after collision

 

MP backs tough new action to tackle anti-social behaviour

* Becky Gittins MP.

Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins has backed tough new action on antisocial behaviour and town centre crime as new Crime and Policing Bill is launched. 

The UK Government has just introduced a raft of measures, including new Respect Orders and action against shoplifting, as part of its flagship Crime and Policing Bill.

 

Respect Orders will enable swift enforcement against persistent antisocial behaviour offenders.

 

The Orders come as new data shows that North Wales failed to hand out a single Penalty Notice for Disorder for ASB in 2023 – down from over 1800 in 2010.

 

The new legislation also includes action on shoplifting, including introducing a new offence of assaulting a retail worker. The Bill will scrap a law which deprioritised the theft of goods under £200. Statistics show there last year there were 90 incidences of shoplifting per week last year in North Wales.

 

The Bill will also give the police new powers to enter premises without a warrant, enabling the police to search and seize stolen property swiftly which they believe is at an address.

 

This action comes as the number of snatch thefts last year reached 85,000 across England and Wales.

 

The new measures will be supported by the government’s plan to recruit 13,000 additional police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood policing roles over the course of this Parliament.

 

Becky Gittins said: “People in our towns and neighbourhoods across Clwyd East are rightly concerned about anti-social behaviour and I am delighted that action is being taken.

 

“This is an area of policing that has been deprioritised for too long.  Antisocial behaviour chips away at our communities’ confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims.

 

“This package of measures, including the introduction of tough new Respect Orders, and Government action on shoplifting, cannot come soon enough. The Crime and Policing Bill is a vital step towards the safer streets promised in this Government’s Plan for Change."

Plas Newydd's dazzling crocus purple patch

Llangollen’s historic Plas Newydd has once again been transformed into a stunning sea of purple and white as thousands of crocuses burst into bloom across its lawns.

Visitors to the picturesque site are being treated to a spectacular display of colour, marking the arrival of spring in the heart of North Wales.

Crocuses are among the first flowers to bloom in late winter to early spring, often appearing as early as February.

The vibrant flowers provide a crucial source of nectar and pollen for early-emerging bees and other pollinators.

The gardens at Plas Newydd are renowned for their romantic setting and rich history, famously associated with the Ladies of Llangollen. Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby made the site their home in the late 18th century and were lovers of nature and gardening.

The Ladies transformed the grounds into a romantic landscape filled with exotic plants, winding paths, waterfalls and decorative features that still enchant visitors today. The vibrant crocus display is a fitting tribute to their love of horticulture, adding to the beauty of the gardens they once cultivated.

The flowers are currently in full bloom and are expected to be at their peak for a further week. Visitors and photographers are encouraged to take advantage of this spectacular seasonal highlight before they fade for another year. The grounds of Plas Newydd in Llangollen are free to visit daily with gates closing at dusk.

Jillian Howe, National Landscape Community Engagement Officer, said: “The crocus display at Plas Newydd is always a breath-taking sight and this year’s bloom is truly exceptional. It’s wonderful to see so many visitors enjoying the gardens, just as the Ladies of Llangollen once did. Come and experience this stunning seasonal spectacle whilst the blooms are at their best!”

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning added: “Plas Newydd is a historic gem that we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep here in Denbighshire. The historic property offers a unique exploration of a wealth of history and is a brilliant place to visit for all ages.”

 

Panto group hand over £2,500 to their chosen charities

* Above and below: Cast and crew of Beauty and the Beast line up for the cheque presentations to their two chosen charities.

Llangollen Pantomime group held their awards night and fundraising presentation at the RAFA Club on Saturday night. 

The fantastic response from the Llangollen and surrounding community, which provided full houses every night of the latest show, Beauty and the Beast, enabled them to raise £2,000 for Hope House Ty Gobaith Hospice, whose representative, Vicky Bradbeer, was presented with a cheque for that amount.The group also raised funds for Llangollen Parks Group and Jess Evans received a cheque for £500 which will go towards their next project refurbishing Pengwern Park.

The group's Neil Barrett said: "It’s been a fantastic time for Llangollen’s Panto. 

"Beauty and the Beast went down a storm with everyone who came to watch our performances enabling us to give an amazing amount to our chosen charities.

"We can't wait to get started on our next production in January 2026."

County council reminds residents to sign up for garden waste service

Denbighshire’s garden waste subscription service will reopen to residents tomorrow Monday, March 3 with a revised payment structure which comes into effect from April 1. 

Following a temporary suspension of the subscription process earlier this year to allow for an essential upgrade, subscriptions will be available again from 8am on Monday.

 

The council is encouraging residents who are subscribing for the first time to do this in good time to ensure their container can be delivered in time for April 1 and to take full advantage of the 12-month service.

 

Those residents who have an existing subscription which extends beyond April 1 will only pay a proportion of the 12-month subscription fee - from their renewal date to March 31 2026.

 

The revised subscription service will run for a 12-month period from April 1 to March 31 each year with online subscriptions costing £45 this year. 

There is an additional £5 administration cost for subscription requests via the contact centre or the council’s One-Stop-Shops. Subscription fees are reviewed each year in line with inflation rates. Thereafter, from April 1 2026, all renewals, subscriptions, and upgrades will run in line with the financial year.

 

Denbighshire offers the two-weekly service as an optional and cost-effective way of recycling garden waste. With 26 collections per year, this equates to roughly £1.74 per collection. The subscription charge is necessary in order for the council to deliver this non-statutory service.

 

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Ahead of the rollout of the new garden waste subscription service, I would like to remind residents who want to sign up to do so at their earliest convenience to account for the delivery time of any new bins and to take advantage of the full 12-month service.

 

“We recognise that some residents experienced an interruption to their garden waste service during 2024, and as a gesture of goodwill the council will hold last year’s price for those affected residents for the 2025/26 period.”

 

Residents can check whether they have a live subscription on the bin collection dates page of the council’s website on www.denbighshire.gov.uk/bin-collection-dates

 

Happy St David's Day/Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus from llanblogger

 

Eateries near Llangollen awarded five-star hygiene ratings

Top five-star hygiene ratings have been awarded by the Food Standards Agency to a number of Wrexham establishments close to Llangollen.  

Amongst the restaurants, cafes and canteens to be granted the accolade are: 

• Homegrown at Acrefair, Wrexham; rated on February 24

• The Hampden Arms at Hampden Arms Llangollen Road, Acrefair, Wrexham; rated on February 24

• Aqueduct Diner at Old Lime Kilns Holyhead Road, Froncysyllte, Llangollen, Wrexham; rated on February 11

• Chirk Castle Cafe at Visitor Information Chirk Castle, Chirk, Wrexham; rated on February 11

Included in the pubs, bars and nightclubs awarded five star ratings are: 

• The Red Dragon Bar & Cafe at British Legion Club Holyhead Road, Chirk, Wrexham; rated on February 11

Amongst the takeaways rated as five-star is:

• Fish & Chip Shop at 21 High Street, Rhosymedre, Wrexham; rated on February 6

A5 collision warning from police