Support urged for local High Street Heroes

Llangollen people are being urged to vote for a well-known local business in a competition to find Wales’s High Street Heroes.

The Welsh Government launched its Support Your High Street campaign last year to celebrate the valuable contribution our busy high streets make to the Welsh economy, as well as the vital role they play in community life.

A key action in the Vibrant and Viable Places Regeneration Framework, the aim is to encourage people and communities to use their local high streets.

The campaign is also running this year, with High Street Week taking place from September 19 – 26 with a new feature - the High Street Heroes Awards.

This year’s campaign and the High Street Heroes Awards were launched on June 5  by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths AM.

Mike Edwards, of Llangollen Cittaslow community group, has nominated the team at Gwyn the Butchers in Castle Street as High Street Heroes.

And Mike said: “Can I urge everyone through llanblogger to vote for Gwyn, Richard and Callum our wonderful local independent butcher.”

Voting for the High Street Heroes Awards is online via the Support Your High Street Facebook page Support Your High Street Facebook page (external link).

 

Belles on Bikes to ride in Chirk

The charity Sustrans, which is the organiser, has asked us to publicise the event below ...

Latest World Cafe event planned

* Last year's World Café event in full swing at the Town Hall.

AN event similar to the one which led to the setting up of Llangollen’s own community cinema is to be staged later this month.

At the end of last year, the Town Council arranged a World Café session in the Town Hall with the aim of achieving some of the initial targets identified by Llangollen’s newly-formed Cittaslow community organisation. 

Hosted by Cittaslow, the event sparked discussions about the possibility of setting up a community cinema.

And, following the hard work by a dedicated band of volunteers, the dream became reality when New Dot Cinema held its highly successful first film showing last month.

A follow-up World Café event will now be staged at the Town Hall on Saturday, August 29 between 11am and 3pm.


Town clerk Gareth Thomas said: “Back in 2010, under the guidance of the current Town Mayor, the Town Council conducted a survey.

“From this a series of internal meetings established criteria to judge the priority of any improvement and these were presented to the town meeting in early 2011 and a schematic plan was produced.

“The town’s designation as a Cittaslow town was a direct result of this process and many of the initial targets identified by the town plan are now encapsulated in Cittaslow Llangollen’s aims and objectives. 

“Using this designation, the Town Council are keen to drive forward a number of key projects, over the next few years, in collaboration with the local community.

“As part of this community engagement process Cittaslow headed up a World Café event, at the end of last year, in the Town Hall. 

“It was in that event that one of the discussions was had around opening of a Cinema in Llangollen.  

“From this idea a team of volunteers created New Dot Cinema, and the sell-out opening night on the 15th July in the Town Hall was a brilliant success.  All this in under six months from a casual discussion to high quality delivered product.”

He added: “This shows the benefits of collaboration and therefore the Town Council wish to build on last year’s event and are holding another World Café event this year to encourage greater community engagement on August 29 in the Town Hall with drop-in sessions between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm. 

“For this years café there will be tables manned by our local Assembly Member Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones MP, as well as county council representatives.

“Come and put your ideas and concerns on the table, have a coffee and try to find workable solutions to issues that matter to you.

“Don't miss out on your chance to help plan for the future of the town.”

Company has hot date with Hamper Llangollen

 

* The Dangerous Food Company's Llyr Jones and Dominic Haynes

with some of their fiery chillis.

 

One of the hottest companies around has almost quadrupled its business in a year - after putting on face masks and protective clothing to get it up and running.

 

The Dangerous Food Company, based in St Asaph, is now in talks with key industry player, Marks and Spencer, since unveiling its fiery chilli jams at the Hamper Llangollen food festival last year.

 

It went on to increase stockists of the breath-taking products from just 25 shops to 110 across Wales and Cheshire.

 

Company founders, friends Dominic Haynes and Llyr Jones, have also been in talks with luxury foods retailers – including Marks and Spencer – in a bid to further spread the appeal of the unique relishes they developed in their home kitchens.

 

The company’s unusual name comes from the fresh chillies they use – so hot that the duo had to wear protective headgear as they went to work on developing the unique recipe.

 

Now with 12 months of red hot trading under their belt, they plan to return to Hamper Llangollen 2015 bringing with them tastier jams than ever.

 

The popular event in Llangollen’s Royal Pavilion is recognised as one of the UK's top 10 food festivals.

 

Cadwyn Clwyd has provided financial support over the past few years to ensure the festival's long term viability, this was funded through the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

 

“We started out with just one jam, the original, but now we have five, plus a sixth recipe is in the making,” said Dominic.

 

He and Llyr live with their respective families, just a few yards away from each other, in St Asaph. They worked together at a North Wales dairy before launching the Dangerous Food Company.

 

Dominic, 32, said: “At first it started as a fun idea we had in a pub. Working in the food sector we already knew of chilli relishes on the market, but thought we could do better so we set about making our own at home.

 

"It took some time – and one or two disasters – to perfect our original recipe, but once we did, our families and friends loved it.

 

"We started selling a few jars as a hobby. Then following redundancies at the dairy, we both lost our jobs at the same time. That was when we decided to go for it and produce jams full time.”

 

They are allowed to call the relishes ‘jams’ because of the fruit content, though Dominic said only the very brave would want to eat these jams on toast for breakfast!

 

He said: “They are hot, hot, hot and spicy. But there is also a delicious fruitiness to them. It’s a lovely combination. They make a great accompaniment to savoury dishes, for barbecues, with cheese or meat, added to sauces or they can even be used to spice up a tin of baked beans.”

 

The range currently includes five flavours: red chilli with a hint of lime, jalapeño with bramley apple, habanero with mango, bird’s eye with morello cherry, and best seller, ghost chilli with blueberry, which is the hottest.

 

The pair are in the process of developing a sixth ‘secret recipe’ which they're

hoping to unveil at Hamper Llangollen 2015.

 

Dominic is responsible for marketing, packaging and sales while Llyr concentrates on the production side.

 

“We used to make all the jams ourselves but now we have an agreement with Patchwork Foods in Ruthin to use one of their units, which means we can meet strict production criteria, and still stick to our special recipes,” said Dominic.

 

“After a year in business we’re just glad that we’re able to keep ourselves employed and support our families, but without a doubt the pipe dream is that one day people will be able to see our jams sitting beside big luxury brands at the likes of Marks and Spencer.”

 

Hamper Llangollen chair Colin Loughlin believes this year's festival is going to be one of the best ever.

 

He said: “Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

 

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

 

"The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular - I can't imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting."

 

Information and tasty recipes can be found at www.dangerousfoodco.co.uk

and for more details about Hamper Llangollen 2015 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

New Dot's latest film inspires photoshoot

Fans of vintage fashion staged a photo shoot recently in Llangollen inspired by the next film to be shown at the town's new community cinema.

Photographer Keiron Preston and model Lottie Griffiths, owner of the local Lottie's Bespoke Vintage, were invited by cinema organiser Jen Sandiford to respond to 1967's PlayTime, which will be shown on Friday August 15 at Llangollen Town Hall.

"The film is set in super-modern 1960s Paris, with lots of geometric concrete and glass buildings," explained volunteer Jen Sandiford.

"As it's chic Paris, rather than swinging Carnaby Street in London, the characters are dressed quite formally with knee length skirts, pointed heels and beehives. That's what this fun photo shoot was inspired by."

She added: "Llangollen is a magnet for vintage lovers, with several good vintage clothes shops, antiques and rummage emporiums. We're encouraging people to come to the next cinema event dressed in any sixties-style clothing, and wanted to highlight where people can find the perfect
outfit."

New Dot Cinema Llangollen opened last month with a sell-out event show centred on contemporary silent film The Artist.

Audience members had the option of dressing in 1920's clothing, with many coming as flapper
girls or Bugsy Malone-style gangsters.

They aim to have the same success with visual comedy PlayTime by Jacques Tati, starring Monsieur Hulot.

As well as short films and the main feature, there'll be vintage music, quality refreshments and a licensed bar. The community cinema is run entirely by volunteers.

Tickets priced at £8 (£5 concession) are available at Lottie's Bespoke Vintage, Baileys Delicatessen (both Llangollen) and online at www.newdotcinema.org



















* Clothes in pictures from Lottie's Bespoke Vintage, Oak Street, Llangollen.

Art Club's open evening

Health centre opening faces likely delay

* Residents at last week's preview event for the new health centre. 

llanblogger exclusive

HEALTH chiefs have admitted that the opening of Llangollen’s £5 million new health centre is likely to delayed by about three weeks.

The centre, built on the site of the former River Lodge in Mill Street, replaces the town’s former Cottage Hospital, which closed in March 2013, and aims to build on its facilities.

Following a preview event last week for local residents there were rumours that the official opening, planned for August 24, might have to be delayed because of problems with the new telephone system.

And this has now been confirmed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which has been in charge of the development project and says it now looks likely the centre will not now open until September 14 - three weeks later than originally planned.

A spokesperson for the board said: “Unfortunately, while setting up the telephone and data systems in the new health centre, it has become apparent that the telephone cabling that has been installed to the building does not meet the design specification and will not be able to support the number of telephone extensions and IT systems that the new building requires. 

“The developers are trying to establish how this has happened and how quickly the problem can be rectified.

“We will not be able to move into the new building until we are confident that all its systems are operating correctly and so it is likely that the opening will have to be delayed. 

“If this is the case it is likely that the move will then take place on 14th September to allow sufficient time to re-schedule the works that need to take place at the time of the move (including the physical movement of furnishings and equipment and the switch-over of IT systems), to give patients adequate notice of the new date and to avoid the bank holiday week.

“Clearly, an unexpected delay at this late stage this is frustrating for everyone who has worked so hard on this project and we look forward to announcing the confirmed date for the move as soon as this has been agreed.”