Visitors flock to Hamper Llangollen

* Ken Skates AM with chairman
Colin Loughlin at the busy festival. 

A tourism supremo hailed the Hamper Llangollen food festival as the best ever and said it crowned a “golden age” of artisan produce in Wales.

 

The popular event, recognised as one of the top 10 food festivals in the UK, drew in thousands of food lovers, all hungry to sample and buy everything from the finest cheeses and freshest meat to designer ice cream and cookies.

 

A host of new products were unveiled, some of which were specially devised for the show, and there were also practical cooking demonstrations from top chefs.  

 

One of the visitors was Ken Skates, Wales’s Deputy Minister for Tourism and Culture and local Clwyd South Assembly Member.

 

He said: “The festival has grown every year in spectacular fashion but this is the biggest and best yet.

 

“It’s much busier than I have ever seen it before. Hamper Llangollen is now one of the biggest food festivals anywhere in Wales and makes an enormous contribution to the local economy in the order of £500,000 a year.

 

“We are rapidly entering a golden age of artisan food and drink in Wales and this festival is helping to crown and promote that.”

 

Mr Skates added: “I’d like to pay tribute to the organisers for all the hard work which goes into making it the success it is and also the many exhibitors who come here to showcase their fantastic produce and goods.”

 

Festival chairman Colin Loughlin said this year’s Hamper Llangollen had been the busiest so far.

 

He added: “We had 111 stallholders, 13 of whom were making their debut with us. That’s particularly pleasing because it’s our constant aim to attract new exhibitors to make it as diverse as we can.

 

“The event gives a huge boost to the local economy and this year we reckon that amounts to at least half a million pounds.

 

“A number of local charities, including our chosen one Nightingale House, had a presence at the festival and attracted plenty of support which is marvellous to see.

 

“Myself and fellow organisers are extremely happy with the way everything went.”

 

Trying a tipple at Rosie’s Cider out in the pavilion exhibition area was retired baker Alwyn Thomas from Denbigh.

 

He said: “I come to Hamper Llangollen every year because I’m very much a foodie person having run my own bakery for many years.

 

“I’ve been sampling the Black Bart cider which is particularly good and has a really nice flavour.”

 

Delighted with this verdict was Steve Hughes who has been running Rosie’s Cider from its base in Llandegla for the past 10 years.

 

“I’m glad they like it because all my cider is made from the finest local apples, many of which come from our own 17-acre orchard,” he said.

 

“I exhibit at Hamper Llangollen every year because it’s my local event and attracts so many people.”

 

Sampling the goodies from a range of stalls were Ben Davis from Corwen and his six-year-old daughter, Orla Davis-Wood.

 

Ben said: “I’ve been trying out the coffee and Orla’s having a bit of everything as we go round the stands.

 

“We like to come to Llangollen because the variety and quality of food and drink available here is illuminating.”

 

Wrexham Lager has been making a big impression on discerning drinkers since it was reintroduced a few years ago following a long break in production.

 

Doing a roaring trade on their stall were brewing company director Janet Gaffey and her daughter Emma.

 

Janet said: “This is the fourth year we’ve brought our lager along to Llangollen for people to try and it’s going down very well.

 

“We like to show off the lager at Llangollen because it’s such a good local show that attracts so many visitors.”

 

Lapping up his sample of Wrexham’s finest was Adrian Taffinder from Marford and his son Gareth from Tanyfron.

 

Adrian said: “I’m a big fan of this lager and when they stopped making it some years ago it made me go crazy. So when they brought it back I thought it was fantastic and being able to have a taste of it here is great.

 

“I like to visit the Llangollen festival and have been here most years. There’s a good range of produce and it’s good to meet the people who make and sell it and to give them a bit of feedback.”

 

One of the producers who came up with a new line specially for this year’s festival was Chilly Cow ice cream based at Llanychan, near Ruthin. 

 

Hannah Griffiths, who works on flavour development for the company, said: “We devised a honey and lavender ice cream for the show and we’ve had lots of people trying it out.

 

“In the first few hours on Saturday about 30 people must have sampled it and many of them said they’d be buying it.

 

“We’ll definitely be coming back here next year.”

 

Amongst those impressed with the new variety of ice cream was Guto Jones and his partner Julie Bowyer from Higher Kinnerton who were there with Julie’s mum, Beryl Gregory, from Chester.

 

Julie said: “It’s great to try something that’s completely new on the market and the honey and lavender was brilliant.

 

“Although my mum comes here every year it’s my first time at Llangollen but I’ll certainly be coming again.”

 

Beryl said: “The new ice cream is very creamy and just delicious.”

 

Trying out the apple cake at the stand of Corwen-based Temptations were Ceinwen and Gwynne Thomas from Wrexham.

 

Ceinwen said: “It’s really nice and I enjoyed the sample. I come to this show every year because my husband and I really enjoy trying out the different things on offer.”

 

Chrissie Ashworth, who runs Temptations, said: “The cake they tried is made from locally grown apples because I like to use the ingredients that are available at any particular time of the year.

 

“Hamper Llangollen is my favourite show because it has such a fantastic family atmosphere.”

 

And although she only started her Rhyl-based company, Mama Zo’s, which specialises in home-made cookies and lemonade in July this year, owner Zoe Gamble said having a stand at Hamper Llangollen was a must for her.

 

“It’s a very important festival and we couldn’t afford to miss it,” she said.

 

“We’ve been very busy and people have been trying out our entire range. Everything is made by hand and I even squeeze the fruit for our lemonade myself.”

 

Another major highlight of the festival were the cookery demonstrations by top chefs over both days.

 

These included a popular appearance by Luke Thomas, Britain’s youngest head chef from Connah’s Quay who now has restaurants in Chester, the Cotswolds and Berkshire.

 

Another crowd-puller on both Saturday and Sunday was Graham Tinsley MBE, executive chef at Carden Park Gold Resort and Spa and director of Cowny’s Castle Hotel.      

 

Comedian Silky swapped the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for Hamper Llangollen to do stand-up behind a cooker rather on the stage in his debut culinary demo, which was a hit with the audience.

 

 * Taste testing Tempatations cakes are Ceinwen and Gwynne Thomas with Chrissie Ashworth.

 

 

* Alwyn Thomas and Glyn Thomas try Rosie's Cider from Steve Hughes. 

 

 * Trying Wrexham Lager are father and son, Adrian, left, and Gareth Taffinder with Janet Gaffey and Emma Gaffey from the brewery. 

Call for new Cefn Mawr health centre

* Campaigners outside the former Co-op building in Cefn Mawr which they would like to see become a health centre.

A petition has been launched to demand a new health centre for Cefn Mawr.

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has been at the forefront of a campaign to lobby Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to find a new premises for Caritas Surgery, and he’s now calling for public support.

The Labour AM said: “Cefn Mawr needs this and I – along with local councillors Ken Bathers and Derek Wright – am determined to help make it happen. If the strength of local feeling over this issue can be conveyed to the health board and replicated in our petition, then we will have a very strong case to make this happen.”

The former Co-op site has long been mooted for a new facility, but the health board says there are ‘some complexities’ over the location.

Cllr Bathers, chairman of Cefn Community Council said: “The people of Cefn and the surrounding area need a new medical centre and the surgery is desperate to move. The building is falling apart and parking is a nightmare. Llangollen has just had a new health centre, so has Chirk, and Ruabon and Rhos have excellent facilities. Cefn deserves something too.

“The old Co-op site ticks all the boxes. It is close to Rhosymedre, which has the highest population of senior citizens in the area, the site is on a bus route and there is ample car parking. It’s the only place that could be used. People need to speak up and sign up.”

Cllr Wright added: “Cefn is long over-due a health centre considering its population and the location. The Caritas practice is not fit for purpose, it has inadequate toilet facilities, poor disabled access and parking is ridiculous. The sooner we get a 21st century centre the better – in line with other major villages and towns south of Wrexham.”

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones said: “There is real need for this in Cefn Mawr and I have given my full support to residents in their campaign. I have signed the petition and will be working with Ken to ensure that local voices are heard.”

The petition can be signed at several places in Cefn, including Caritas Surgery and Cefn Mawr Post Office. Mr Skates will also be at Tesco in Cefn Mawr on the morning of Friday, October 23rd, to gather signatures and support.

Davies sees red over no yellow lines

A county councillor for the area has seen red over the lack of yellow lines on the A5 opposite Stans supermarket in Llangollen.

Stuart Davies said: “I’m horrified to learn that the saga of the yellow lines opposite Stans is still ongoing.

“The Welsh Government agency, the North Wales Trunk Agency, are the ones who are supposed to maintain and look after our trunk roads here in Llangollen.

“They were asked to put double yellows opposite the new Stans supermarket over three years ago.

“They agreed to do this in principle but then said they didn’t have enough funds.”

Cllr Davies added: “I got the local Assembly Member, Ken Skates, involved and we thought that the works were to be done this financial year.

“Nothing has happened so far and I’ve now been told that `funding consideration’ only is being done.

“This when we see the Welsh Government spending £20 million on just a study for the M4 and a Labour AM being sacked for questioning it.

“Yet we can’t get a couple of thousand pounds spent here in a bid to safeguard OAPs crossing the A5 to the Post Office.”

Ken Skates AM said: “The Minister said in January that the work will be put forward for funding consideration in the next financial year, as opposed to guaranteeing that it will be approved and completed before April.

“However, I’m as keen as anyone for this to be addressed and have written to her again to ask what the situation is. As soon as I have a response, I will pass it on to Cllr Davies and llanblogger.”

County brings non-payers to court

Denbighshire’s zero tolerance approach to tackling environmental crime in the county continues, with thirteen people being fined for not paying fixed penalty notices for offences.

 

A recent hearings at Llandudno Magistrates Court heard cases against 11 people for littering and two for allowing their dogs to foul in public without cleaning up the mess.

 

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Environment, said: “Taking court action against those failing to pay their fixed penalty notices is very much a last resort.  What we want to see is people respecting their environment and not committing offences such as littering and failing to clean up after their dogs in the first place.

 

“We need to respect and protect our environment and the vast majority of residents in Denbighshire do so responsibly and lawfully. It’s only a small number of people that disrespect the environment in this way.

 

“We will continue with our efforts to educate the public and we will be vigilant in our communities with action being taken against those who blatantly show little respect to the environment and hamper our efforts to keep Denbighshire’s streets clean and tidy”.

 

Denbighshire works closely with Kingdom Security and partners such as North Wales Police to promote and maintain tidy, clean streets.

Llan set for weekend of foodie heaven

* The Dangerous Food Company. Llyr Jones and Dominic Haynes.

 

 

Thousands of foodies will be flocking to Llangollen this weekend for one of the biggest events in the UK's culinary calendar.

 

The popular Hamper Llangollen has been recognised as one of the Top 10 food festivals in Britain.

 

There to greet the gastronomes on Saturday and Sunday  will be a  host of top chefs and organisers are confident the event at the home of the International Musical Eisteddfod is on course to be bigger and better this year.

 

Graham Tinsley, the star of ITV's Taste the Nation and a former captain of the Welsh Culinary Team, will be joined in the show kitchen by Luke Thomas, the kingpin behind a number of restaurants in Chester, the Cotswolds and Berkshire.

 

Another of the kitchen stars will be Dai Chef, now based at  Bodnant Welsh Food, the centre of excellence for Welsh food, who famously cooked for opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti while he was head chef at the Bryn Howell Hotel just down the road.

 

 * Bims Kitchen, Afonwen, launch two new products ready for Llangollen food festival.  James Adedeji and his wife Nicola Adedeji in their kitchen.

 

Among the hundred plus exhibitors will be one of the hottest companies around.

 

The Dangerous Food Company, based in St Asaph, has almost quadrupled its business in a year - after putting on face masks and protective clothing to get it up and running.

 

They unveiled their fiery chilli jams at the Hamper Llangollen last year and went on to increase stockists of the breath-taking products from just 25 shops to 110 across Wales and Cheshire.

 

For those who want something a bit cooler, Chilly Cow Ice Cream will be launching their new honey and lavender variety at Hamper Llangollen.

 

Anna Taylor who runs the company based at Llanychan, near Ruthin, will be using honey farmed just down the road from her by enthusiastic beekeeper Brian Dacre, a carpenter who makes hand-crafted bee hives as well as farming bees.

 

Anna said: “Brian’s honey is pure gold, just delicious and there’s big demand for it, plus it’s local to us, so perfect for using in a new flavour of ice cream."

 

It will be a bittersweet occasion for a scientist who swapped the laboratory for the kitchen by launching a cooking sauces brand.



* Chilly Cow Ice Cream, Llanychan.
Launching new Honey ice cream ready
for Llangollen festival.
Pictured: Owner Anna Taylor.

  

Dr Beatriz Albo returned to the lab to develop an exciting new range of Spanish tapas meals and delicious aiolis created in memory of her mother.

The new range will go on sale at the festival.

 

“Hamper Llangollen was my first food festival, so it is special to me,” said Spanish-born Beatriz, whose Wrexham business has taken off faster than she could ever have imagined.

Also there will be company that fuses the tastes of Africa and Wales and is launching a new dessert topping.

 

Bim's Kitchen, whose hot and spicy African inspired relishes have been a big hit across the UK.

 

African baobab and cocoa nib sour caramel sauce has brought together the food of two continents.

 

It includes Anglesey sea salt alongside exotic ingredients from Africa.

 

The recipe is a first entry into the sweets market for Flintshire-based Bim’s Kitchen, founded by James Adedeji and his wife Nicola.

 

Their previous condiments such as African baobab chilli jam, chilli coconut relish and lemony piri piri sauce have all been savoury accompaniments.

 

James said: “It is a fantastic event. That’s why we chose it to launch our new sour caramel sauce. It is the first time we have tried something sweet like this so it will take us in a new direction and we’re very keen to find out what festival goers think.

 

*
 * Chef Graham Tinsley.

“The advantage of launching it at a festival like this is that people can actually taste it in front of us and tell us exactly what they think there and then, something they can’t do when buying it off shop shelves to take home.”

 

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 Hamper Llangollen 2015 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Skates hits out over tax credit cuts

An Assembly Member has warned that Tory tax credit cuts could cost his constituents as much as £3,000 a year.

Ken Skates, AM for Clwyd South, fears the UK Government’s decision to impose cuts of around 10% of families’ monthly incomes could have a ‘hugely detrimental’ impact on their living standards, the life chances of their children and the local economy. 

The cuts will affect three million working families across the UK.

Mr Skates said: “In Clwyd South alone, more than 5,000 families will be affected. Some 3,500 of these are working families. Figures show that households will be an average of £1,300 worse off, but that some will be up to £3,000 out of pocket as a direct result of the Tories’ cuts to tax credits.”

Mr Skates is encouraging his constituents to join the campaign against the cuts by signing the petition at labour.org.uk/taxcredits.

He said: “Tax credits are designed to ensure that work pays. Cutting them undermines the value of work, and means that the UK Government is penalising those who work hard every day just to get by. I’m asking residents to join me in sending a clear message to the Tories that these cuts to working people’s living standards are unacceptable.”

Mr Skates added: “This is another example of how the Tories are making working families bear the brunt of deficit reduction while some of the wealthiest people in the country have received a tax break. It’s just not right.”

Special medal for Llan man

* Dave Short with his medal. 

A well-known Llangollen man has been honoured for his years of service with HM Revenue and Customs.

Dave Short, who now works at the post office in Stan’s supermarket in the town, was recently awarded the Imperial Service Medal plus certificate and supporting documentation.

He said: “Many people may know me through various activities in and around Llangollen.

“Although not a native of the town I am a founder member the railway and spent most Saturdays and Sundays in the town.

“After leaving school I moved to Trevor and eventually Llangollen when I got married.

“My son and daughter both attended Ysgol Bryn Collen and Dinas Bran.

“After a short period of employment at.ECTARC I secured a full-time job at the Inland Revenue in Wrexham where I worked until leaving their employment in June 2014.”

He added: “Never did I think any more until I received a letter stating that Her Majesty had awarded me the Imperial Service Medal.

“I was speechless for once and wondered whether it was a wind up until the medal and correspondence from the Medals Office arrived.

“I consider this the greatest honour of my life and I thank the many people who have spent time to congratulate me on this award, which is given to civil servants from all branches on recommendation upon retirement.”