Llan becomes region's comedy capital

 

 

* Ignacio Lopez.

 

Llangollen is becoming the comedy capital of North Wales, with audiences flocking to see top comedians from all over the world.

 

The Llangollen Comedy Club has been running for the past two years and has built up a reputation as one of the hottest venues in Wales to perform.

 

Names such as Tom Wrigglesworth, Mick Ferry, Lloyd Langford, Bethany Black and Howard Read have appeared so far at the monthly shows, generating large audiences.

 

* Keith Carter as Nige.

“At the moment each show is selling exceptionally well, with both online sales and evening walk ups over 80% up on 2014," said club organiser Paul Brown.

 

"We are seriously having to look at moving some shows to a bigger 400 seater hall in the International Pavilion.

 

“This will obviously have an impact on the economy of Llangollen as people visiting the show are coming from out of the area, with many visiting the excellent restaurants in the town before or after the show. This will only increase as the Comedy Club continues to grow.

 

* Host: Silky. Picture by Andy Hollingworth.

"The intimate nature of the club, where the comedians actually sit with the audience before going up on stage, is key and gives the opportunity for performers to try out new material in preparation for larger shows and TV appearances.

 

“Sarah Millican loved it here and tried out material in preparation for her UK tour. This meant the Comedy Club audience were the first to see Sarah’s new show and at a much more affordable price. Since then we’ve been in discussions with some really big names in the world of comedy so watch this space.”

 

“The Comedy Club is a great asset to Llangollen in so many ways. Not only does it give us, and the surrounding communities something to smile about, but brings in much needed revenue to the shops, cafes, pubs and hotels through footfall to the town,” said Denbighshire county councillor Rhys Hughes.

 

The next show on Friday February 26 sees the return of Keith Carter as his alter ego ‘Nige” along with Ignacio Lopez and host Silky.

 

Tickets are priced at £9 and can be bought online at www.radiantevents.co.uk or on the evening on the door.

County warns over fish salesmen

Denbighshire’s Public Protection officers are warning consumers across the county to beware of salesmen trying to persuade householders to buy fresh fish.

 

There have been reports to Denbighshire Trading Standards and North Wales Police in the last week of traders selling door to door, asking residents, including older people, if they would like to buy fish.

 

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager said: “We have concerns regarding the matter, especially as to whether the fish sellers are registered as a food business operator which is a legal requirement for all food businesses, and indeed if they are adhering to all food safety and hygiene regulations which applies to such businesses, including the display of the relevant food hygiene rating for the business.

 

“When buying fish from door to door salesmen, the purchaser very often has no way of knowing how the fish have been stored and whether they are safe to eat. These type of sellers commonly use non-refrigerated vans, and there may be issues with the labelling, quality and descriptions of the fish and they may pressurise residents to buy more than they actually need.

 

“As with any doorstep caller we would urge people not to be tempted to buy and ask them to leave.  The best place to buy fish is from a reputable fishmonger at an established shop or stall or even with a trader with a regular prearranged round.”

 

* Anyone wanting advice on doorstep trading, or to report an incident, can contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language) which gives free, independent and impartial advice on all consumer issues, or the police on 101.  Any person feeling intimidated or threatened by any doorstep seller should shut the door and call the police emergency number 999.

Davies pleased as Boris backs Brexit campaign

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies says he’s pleased that Boris Johnson has joined the Brexit campaign for Britain to pull out of the European Union.

He said: “I’m pleased to see the great Boris (pictured) injecting life into the debate about in or out and congratulate him for coming out on the Leave side. 

“I remember him well from the 1997 General Election when he stood for Clwyd South and put up a superb fight.

“I was his press officer at the time and we spent the campaign going around the constituency spreading the word.

“The Clwyd South chairman, Ian Reynolds, said of him at the selection meeting, `A Prime Minister in the making’ and I am confident that his prediction will come true.”

Cllr Davies added: “Boris will be the game maker and I confident we will be saying goodbye to the diktats coming from non-elected officers of the EU.

“Boris was and is a superb communicator and has the ability to lead us to a resounding No to the EU. 

“After watching Cameron’s useless negotiation results I was ready to publicly burn my membership card and boycott the Conservative Conference here in Llangollen.

“But since Boris has come out in favour of Leave its game on again.”

The Welsh Conservative Party Conference will be held at Llangollen Pavilion on Friday and Saturday March 11 and 12.
 

 

Museum stages art competition

Llan event showcases food and drink sector

 

* Rhian Cattell with her company's new roasting machine.

 

A coffee roasting company is brewing up plans to double the size of the business.

 

Denbigh-based Owen & Edwards will be one of the star attractions at an event to promote the food and drink industry in Denbighshire.

 

Another role model at the A Taste for Local networking event at Llangollen's International Pavilion on Wednesday March 9 will be Ruthin-based Patchwork Pate which is about to launch the UK’s only dairy-free chicken parfait.

 

The aim of the event being organised by Denbighshire County Council is to give people involved in the hospitality and tourism industries the chance to mingle with some of the county’s top local producers.   

 

It's being held as part of Denbighshire Business Month starting on March 2 and people wanting to attend can do so via the website Denbighshire.gov.uk/marchforbusiness

 

Richard and Rhian Cattell launched Owen & Edwards a year ago and have since built up a solid customer base at cafes and restaurants across the Clwydian Range area.

 

After investing around £20,000 in state of the art coffee roasting equipment they are now aiming to brew up even more success by doubling the size of their business with an expanded range of products and a much larger number of sales outlets.

 

Rhian said: “We’re both coffee lovers and decided to start the business as something we could do and enjoy together.

 

“We developed Owen & Edwards with a coffee roasting business owned by my husband’s family in Devon and they have given us lots of help with it.

 

“We came up with our own blend called Espresso No.1 and began distributing the coffee around the Denbigh area.

 

“We gradually developed our range to include blends called Famau, after the mountain, and Hiraethog after the moorland above Denbigh, along with a decaf.

 

“We are doing well with our local customers but have decided to step things up by making a major investment in a roaster, which is now installed at our base on the Denbigh Industrial Estate.

 

“This now gives us the ability to expand into other areas such as Llangollen and Wrexham and to double the number of places where our products are on sale. We’ll also be looking to expand our range of blends.”

 

Rhian added: “We both have other part time jobs – myself with a housing association and Richard as a project manager – and cover the coffee business between us during the week.  But we're now getting to the stage where it can support more of our time, which is great news."

 

“We’re really looking forward to the networking event in Llangollen where we’re hoping to get some fresh business opportunities and meet new customers.”

 

Also eager to meet new people to do business with at the March 9 event is Rufus Carter from Patchwork Paté.

 

Rufus said: “The dairy-free chicken parfait is designed to appeal to the growing `free-from’ market – free from wheat, sugar and dairy.

 

“The parfait is traditionally a smooth pate made with 60 per cent butter. But we’ll be using a machine developed for the paint industry to inject vegetable oils into the recipe.

 

“We began to develop the new product in January and it is due to be launched in April.

 

“From our point of view meeting potential new customers at the Llangollen networking day is a fantastic opportunity and we’re looking forward to being there.”

 

Another Denbighshire based business saying cheers to the event is former computer software programmer Alyn Ashworth, founder of Denbigh Brewery, or Bragdy Dinbych in Welsh.

 

He said: “I produce a range of beers including a light and hoppy bitter called John the Thumbs, a brown ale called Earl’s Folly, Goblin Tower, which is a ruby mild, a seriously strong ale and a lager.

 

“I also do occasional beers like Christmas Ale and another called Plum Ale, which uses and celebrates the distinctive type of plums that the Denbigh area has long been famous for.

 

Alyn added: “I usually show off my products at events like beer festivals and local food markets, so I’m looking forward to the networking opportunity at Llangollen because I’m a small company with big ideas.”

 

Among the guest speakers at the event will be TV hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones who will issue as rallying cry for better networking  between food suppliers and producers.

 

Carolyn Brindle, Denbighshire council’s lead officer for Business Support and Local Growth, said by embracing local produce, restaurants could make their businesses distinctive. 

 

 “If a place wants to be chosen as a destination then it has to have a unique and distinct offer,” she said.

 

“Everything from edible flowers, through to bread, beer, meat, ice cream, cider, cheese, whole food bars and much, much more is made in Denbighshire.”

 

Carolyn said March for Business month was designed to help businesses help themselves.

 

"It features a mixture of speakers, workshops, one-to-one advice and networking covering subjects such as HR and employment and social media over the course of the month,” she said.

 

“One particular focus is on promoting our food and drink offer.

 

“We have a number of great producers in the county and we would like to see more B&Bs, retail and hotels using this produce when they refresh their menus, for example.”

 

* A Taste for Local will start at 10.30am and finish at 1.30pm, at Llangollen’s International Pavilion, on Wednesday March 9. People wanting to attend can book their place at Denbighshire.gov.uk/marchforbusiness or ring Janet Turner on 01824 706896.  Places are free but space is limited.

 

AM welcomes pledge on older people's tax break

 

*Ken Skates AM with Llangollen resident Viv Burke.

 

A promise to give older people in North East Wales ‘a £26,000 tax break’ has been welcomed by the area's Assembly Member.

The Welsh Labour has announced six key campaign pledges for May’s Assembly elections.

 

These include doubling the capital limit people can keep from the sale of their homes if they need to go into residential care.

Ken Skates, Labour AM for Clwyd South, said: “We believe that people in old age who need extra help – those who have played fair and paid in – deserve a fairer deal.

 

“We will double the capital limit they will be allowed to keep on the sale of their home should they need to go into care – effectively a £26,000 tax break for thousands of older people in Wales.”

 

Mr Skates’ constituent Viv Burke, who suffers from a degenerative condition, said the pledge would be ‘a huge help to older people and their families’.

Viv, from Llangollen, added: “My mother is in care. This would be massive for countless people like me and families like mine, and a reward for those of us who have paid their way all their lives.”

Other Welsh Labour pledges include tax cuts for all small businesses and free childcare for working parents.

Warning over council tax refund calls

Trading Standards officers in Denbighshire are warning residents to be on their guard against potential scam phone calls advising of a council tax refund.

 

The warning comes after reports were received that residents are being telephoned and the caller has some personal information such as their name, address and council tax banding.

 

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager said: “This appears to be a national scam or at least a variation on similar events reported nationally.  Our advice is to put the phone down on these scammers and then report the call.  Anyone concerned about their Council Tax account is able to get more help from calling 01824 706468.

 

"If people think they've been scammed, or know someone who has fallen victim to a scam, they can get advice and report it to trading standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06, for the Welsh language service call 03454 04 05 05, or alternatively report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, to help stop it happening to others."