Young chef's starring role at Hamper Llangollen

Britain’s youngest head chef will have a starring role at food festival in North Wales - fresh from cooking Welsh Cakes on the beach in Dubai.

 

Luke Thomas, of Connah’s Quay, will be among a celebrity line up at Hamper Llangollen 2015 where he will be championing fresh, local ingredients.

 

The 21 year old says he can’t wait to pass on some of his award winning culinary tips to festival goers.

 

Entrepreneurial Luke (pictured right) says he is as passionate about food as he was when he clinched the UK’s FutureChef 2009 trophy, aged just 15.

 

Today he is the kingpin behind a number of restaurants in Chester, the Cotswolds and Berkshire, but he remains hands-on in the kitchen.

 

He said: “What I enjoy doing is just browsing round the exhibitor stalls and finding some lovely local ingredients that I can cook up on the podium. It might be the plumpest local sausages, Welsh oysters or seasonal fruit and vegetables but I know there will be plenty of choice there.

 

“I will be aiming to make three dishes in a half hour, simple recipes using great ingredients, designed to show people that they can achieve delicious cost-effective meals at home quickly and without having to spend hours on preparation.”

 

This year’s Hamper Llangollen will be at the Royal International Pavilion over the weekend of October 17 and 18. It is a favourite on the culinary calendar for Luke, not least because he grew up in Wales and, when not travelling the world, he still lives at his family home in Connah’s Quay.

 

It is expected that this year’s 19^th annual event will again attract thousands visitors to browse over 120 stalls.

 

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.

 

Luke became the youngest head chef in the UK when at age 18 he opened Luke’s Dining Room at Sanctum on the Green, Berkshire. It won the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Restaurant of the Year award in 2013.

 

Since then Luke has gone on to open Luke’s Eating House and Gin Rickey’s in Chester, partner with Puma Hotels to create Luke’s Broadway in the Cotswolds, and launch Retro Feasts, at first in London’s Mayfair and earlier this year at The Beach, Dubai.

 

Retro Feasts is inspired by some of Luke’s childhood favourite recipes, like home-made cottage pie.

 

He said: “It’s simple food with a little bit of a twist. I’ve put a modern take on some old favourites, spicing them up a bit and making them a little more exciting, fragrant and fresh, but without taking away the essentials and the old fashioned nostalgia factor.

 

“One concept behind Retro Feasts was to spread the word about how good British food can be. The UK is home to nature’s very best ingredients and some of the best cooks in the world. They’re all right here on our doorstep and we should be shouting about it from the rooftops.

 

“That’s why I love events like Hamper Llangollen. It’s a chance to get even more people involved and enthusiastic about the fabulous food surrounding us.

 

“I love to talk to people about cooking, and to get their honest feedback. One of my greatest passions is being able to pass on a simple tip that might help someone turn a mid-week evening meal into a real show-stopper.”

 

Even after several years in the business, Luke remains Britain’s youngest head chef, but despite his success he says he is always keen to learn more.

 

He said: “I wouldn’t lie and say I am in the kitchen seven days a week. Nowadays there’s so much going on with the way the business is so rapidly developing that it’s impossible for me to do that. But I do get in the kitchen as often as I can, whether it be in Chester, Berkshire, London or Dubai. Cooking is where I am happiest, I love the buzz of the busy fast-paced environment, the creativity and the satisfaction of serving great food.

 

Hamper Llangollen 2015 will also include cookery demonstrations by members of the Culinary Guild of North Wales, led by Graham Tinsley, who has cooked for the Queen, is part owner of the Castle Hotel, Conwy, and consultant chef at Carden Park Resort, Chester; Denise Baker-McLearn, of Bethesda, who specialises in creating delicious meals using ingredients which would otherwise go to waste; and comedian and musician, Silky, who will be swapping jokes for yolks, showing off his cookery skills in public for the first ever time.

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."

 

* For more details about Llangollen Food Festival-Hamper Llangollen visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Legion branch battles with fresh numbers crisis

 * Llangollen RBL branch plays a key role in the annual Remembrance Day parade. 

LLANGOLLEN’S Royal British Legion branch has been saved from closure for the second time in 18 months.

The branch, which was founded 92 years ago in time to consecrate the town’s cenotaph in November 1923, first ran into problems in March last year when the man who had served as both its chairman and secretary had to stand down through ill-health.

In a desperate move to keep it open, another branch stalwart, John Lawton, stepped into the breach to take on both these roles on top of the position of treasurer.

Later, the branch switched its monthly meetings from the Hand Hotel in the town to Llangollen Royal Air Forces (RAFA) Club in a bid to attract new members.

But, following months of dwindling attendance figures, a fresh crisis developed when just one person turned up to the July meeting.

This meant a commemoration of the 70^th anniversary of VJ - Victory over Japan – Day by the legion was unable to take place on August 15.  

However, John Lawton says a new emergency plan has since been drawn up to keep the branch afloat.   

Mr Lawton, who lives in Wrexham and previously been secretary of the Historic Warships in Birkenhead and a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadet Corps, said: “We’ve done everything we can think of get more people coming along to meetings but without success.

“After the two world wars the branch was thriving but over the years membership has gone down and down.

“I think that’s because members naturally become older and pass away and is also due to the fact that when they leave the services lots of people don’t want to be bothered thinking about them until about 20 years later when they want to look up old mates.

“It reached crisis point for our branch last month when just one person turned up for our monthly meeting at the RAFA Club.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t even be there myself because of personal issues.”

Mr Lawton added: “The July meeting was where we were due to work out our plans for the VJ Day commemoration in Llangollen but because only one person turned up that couldn’t be done and the legion failed to mark this very important occasion as we should have done.

“There were a few more people at our August meeting and we’ve now formed a new committee and been looking at some ideas about taking the branch forward.

“We’ll be at the World Café meeting at Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday August 29, which is a forum for community groups like ours to meet the public and discuss new ideas.

“We’ve pulled the branch back from the jaws of death again but now we really need some support from the community to keep it going.”    

LlanBikeFest team's big thank you to town

 

 

* Members of the LlanBikeFest team line up to say thanks to the host town.

 

Organisers of LlanBikeFest 2015 have already booked to bring the show back to Llangollen Pavilion next year.

 

One of the team behind the popular biker event held last month, John Hutchinson, reveals the piece of forward planning in a message of thanks to residents and businesses in the area.  

 

He says: "Many thanks for the fantastic support received from the town and the Royal Pavilion.

 

"What a fantastic weekend. The weather smiled on us and everyone had a great time.

 

"The support we received from everyone involved was amazing, including Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club, Mayor Mike Adams, the excellent Royal Pavilion staff and local people and businesses of all shapes and sizes."

 

He adds: "We said from the outset that we want to make this an annual event – so we have already booked July 23 and 24, 2016.

 

"Apart from making the whole event bigger and better, the main thing we want to do next year is to make it a real Llangollen Festival, with lots more activity in and around the town.

 

"Thanks again to everyone who made LlanBikeFest 15 such a success. Roll on LlanBikeFest 16!"

 

 

Entry deadline for gardening club show

Entry forms for the Llangollen & District Open Summer Show have to be received by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26.

If you need a form you can download one from the website www.llangollengardeningclub.co.uk
or email lindathane@gmail.com.

The show opens its doors at 1 p.m. on Saturday, 29th August at St Collen's Community Hall.

Admission is 50p with under 13s free.

Dr Rhys Davies will present the trophies to the winners at 3 p.m.

There will be a plant stall, gardening book stall, refreshments and a raffle.

Support Tour of Britain urges county council

Denbighshire residents are urged to support the Tour of Britain as it races through the county for the third year running.

The North Wales leg of the Aviva Tour of Britain 2015 will take place on Sunday, September 6.

The race will travel from Conwy County in to Denbigh from the Bylchau direction.

It will go through Vale Street, Denbigh and along Ruthin Road.

The race will then head through Brookhouse, Llanrhaeadr, Rhewl and in to Ruthin. 

Later it will then head through Ruthin Town Centre and will take the Mold Road through Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd, Clwyd Gate, Llanferres, Loggerheads and into Flintshire.

Estimated times of arrival of first bikes:

• Denbigh – 2.09pm
• Llanrhaeadr – 2.18pm
• Rhewl 2.19pm
• Ruthin – 2.27pm
• Llanbedr -2.31pm
• Llanferres – 2.41pm
• County Boundary with Flintshire – 2.46pm

The roads will be closing shortly before the race arrives and will re-open when the majority of cyclists have travelled through.

Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Community Development, said: "We are delighted that the race is coming back to North Wales and to Denbighshire. The support over the past two years has been tremendous and we hope to emulate that kind of support this year and give the cyclists a warm welcome.

"Cycling events are becoming ever more popular and Denbighshire has demonstrated that it is a great location for large events of this nature. The support of crowds is extremely important so I would ask you to get out on the route and get involved in the excitement and buzz of this great event."
For further information about the race, please visit: www.tourofbritain.co.uk

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.

Town Council seeks public support for initiatives

The Town Council is seeking the public's support for two important community initiatives it is running.

The first is the Llangollen Community Cafe event on August 29 at the Town Hall.

The event will be an open door drop in session between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm, preceded by Cittaslow Llangollen AGM at 10.00am.    

Ken Skates AM, Susan Elan Jones MP, the Town Mayor Cllr, Major Mike Adams, and Cllr Sheena Burrell, chair of Cittaslow Llangollen have all agreed to host tables. 

Town clerk Gareth Thomas said: "Please come and have a coffee, put your ideas and concerns on the table 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."

At them August 29 event the Town Mayor will launch this year’s Community Support Grants for
Voluntary Organisations.  

Working with Cittaslow Llangollen, the Town Council is offering Community Support Grants to fund facilities, equipment and activities that are important to the local community. 

These awards must benefit members of the community in general and are limited to the geographic area of the Llangollen Town Council electoral boundaries.  

Town clerk Gareth Thomas said: "It has been proven over the years that small cash grants can really make a big difference in helping communities get schemes and projects started.

"The Town Council are keen to support projects that will make Llangollen more innovative, safe, welcoming, supportive and caring, business friendly and accessible."
 
The Community Support Grants are funded under the Town Council participatory budgeting fund and therefore as in previous years the Residents of Llangollen will help the Council, and Cittaslow Llangollen, decide how this money is spent and a residents voting event which will take place on the Monday October 19 in the Town Hall. 

Application forms for the scheme will be available after the launch date.

The total cost of each project should not be greater than £500 and lower-cost projects are encouraged to maximise the number of projects that can be helped. 

Your project should be capable of being finished, and your grant paid to you, by or on February 29, 2016 and the closing date for applications is September 30.
  
If you have in the past been a recipient of a grant from the Town Council or would simply like to have a presence at the Community Cafe then space is available.
 
* For more information on either of these two initiatives contact the town clerk, Gareth Thomas, on 01978 861345, or by email at: llangollentc@btconnect.com