Three Eagles flies to success in trade awards

* The Three Eagles team celebrate their success in the awards.

The Three Eagles Bar & Grill in Llangollen has been named one of the best county venues in the National Pub & Bar Awards 2021, taking top spot for Denbighshire.

The awards aim to put the finest on-trade businesses across the UK in the national spotlight, showcasing just how diverse and creative the hospitality industry really is, as well as how these operations have survived the pandemic. 

A total of 94 pubs and bars received the prestigious honours this year.

The venues, which have been selected on overall best practice across a number of operational categories, will be officially crowned at a red-carpet celebration at 30 Euston Square on Monday September 6. 

At the grand final 15 regional winners will also be announced, as well as the overall national winner.

Three Eagles will go up against seven county competitors in a fight for the regional title and hope to be in the running following its return to service post-pandemic.

Adam Gaunt-Evans, director or restaurants and bars for One Hundred Knights which runs the Three Eagles, said: "It's a true testament of how hard the team have worked to get us back up and running since we re-emerged from lockdown. 

"I'm so proud of everyone involved and we're thrilled to win the County National Pub & Bar Award for Denbighshire. 

"The atmosphere and experience at the Three Eagles is unrivalled and we have a fantastic following of customers, we hope we can go all the way in the final."

“I’ve never been prouder of this industry,” says Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which hosts the event. 

“The entries for this year’s awards demonstrated the undeniable value that communities place on their beloved pubs and bars. 

"To be able to acknowledge the hard work and diligence of venues across 94 UK counties is an absolute privilege. These outstanding venues deserve this recognition now more than ever.”

* View the full list of county winners online at https://nationalpubandbarawards.co.uk/

Visit the Three Eagles website online at https://thethreeeagles.co.uk/

Covid rule changes in Wales from tomorrow

In Wales, some changes will come into effect on 17 July and these will see up to six people able to meet indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation.

There’ll be no change in the rules around face-masks in Wales for the time-being.

This differs to England, where – from 19 July – there will be no limit on the number of people who can meet indoors and face-masks will no longer be mandatory.

In Wales, organised indoor events will be able to take place for up to 1,000 people seated and up to 200 standing, and ice rinks will be able to reopen.

Nightclubs in Wales will remain closed for the moment.

Proposed changes in Wales from August 7.

If all goes well, Wales will move to Alert Level 0 from August 7, when all premises will be able to open (including nightclubs) and most – but not all – restrictions will be removed.

There will be no limits on the number of people who can meet indoors, including in private homes. However, it will still be a legal requirement to wear a face mask indoors in shops and other indoor public spaces, except for hospitality venues like pubs and restaurants.

Some venues might still have to restrict numbers, based on the risk assessments that all premises will need to undertake.

In a joint statement, Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire councils call on residents to be aware of the differences:

“The changes in restrictions follow the success of the vaccination programme, which has weakened the link between infections, serious illness and hospitalisation in both Wales and England. Thanks to vaccination, the number of people ending up seriously ill or in hospital remains low at the moment.

“However, the Delta variant continues to spread and the virus still poses a serious risk to health. We’re also seeing young, fit people suffering from long-Covid, which is having a major impact on their lives.

“Everyone living, working and visiting Wales is asked to respect the difference in restrictions between England and Wales, and to stick to the regulations in place.

“Visitors to Wales are also asked to respect staff working in tourism, hospitality and leisure industries, who are all continuing to do their utmost to look after the health and welfare of those they work for and with."

 

Railway bosses encouraged by support for re-opening

* The diesel railcar as seen in the station at Llangollen. Photo: LRT

Llangollen Railway Trust (LRT) says it is encouraged by the support given to the resumption of train services last Friday. 

And that included a donation of £153 from the town's Oggie Shop & Fine Foods where customers have been making donations into a collection box in the shop.

Llangollen Railway Trust (LRT) finance director Phil Freeth said: "We really are appreciative of support like this from a business in the town,

"All donations are gratefully received and effectively fed back into the local economy. 

"We're all in this together. Thank you very much Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods and to their customers."

Last weekend a limited service of diesel railcars operated from Llangollen to Berwyn in what was seen as a ‘shakedown exercise’ to ensure the operational arrangements went to plan.

The number of passengers carried on this initial, hourly shuttle service exceeded 450.

Passengers were comfortably accommodated within the social distancing needs of the heritage diesel railcar and produced fares revenue in excess of £3,000 as a useful contribution towards the LRT’s overheads. 

Many of the passengers also made contributions to the revival find.

LRT chairman Peter Edwards said: “Given the short notice available to announce the railway was able to reopen, we are pleased to have welcomed so many people to Llangollen. 

"Many came from within our 50-mile radius catchment area, but others from further afield, all anxious to show their support."

He added: "The ride to Berwyn reminded many passengers of the early years of the restoration of the Llangollen Railway and some had memories of childhood visits on Santa Specials when his grotto was at Berwyn.

“Many recognised the shuttle service as a first step in the reopening of the line through to Glyndyfrwdy when various essential engineering works are completed, hopefully during August when steam engines may return.

“An interesting analysis of the ticket sales indicates that a number of passengers took advantage of Berwyn station to start or end their walks around the area of the Dee Valley Gorge. 

"It is this ability of the Llangollen Railway to provide access to the Dee Valley’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that we wish to encourage people to use when the line is fully open to the new terminus at Corwen.”

Trains continue Fridays to Sundays from today (Friday) with an hourly service from Llangollen starting at 11am through to 4pm.  

Revised Welsh Government Covid restrictions will apply and masks must be worn on the trains. 

A 15-minute stop over at Berwyn allows for a visit to the historic Chain Bridge or  time to ntake a longer walk to the Horseshoe Falls and return on later train.

LRT operations director Mike Williams said: “The success of the first weekend is down to the railway’s team of volunteers. They have pulled out all the stops and made great efforts in all departments to return the stations, trains and track to operational condition after so long a shunt down period.”

Clwyd South should be pilot for community bank, says MS

Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates says his constituency should be a pilot area for the Welsh Government’s plans to create a Wales-wide community bank. 

The Labour politician’s seat has seen 80% of its high street banks close since 2015 – more than any other area of North Wales – and now has just one surviving branch. 

Mr Skates launched the plans for a community bank during his time as Economy Minister, and this week met Banc Cambria project lead Mark Hooper to put forward the case for the area he represents to be home to one of the 30 branches initially planned. 

He said: “It’s been well documented that Clwyd South is the worst-hit part of North Wales in terms of bank closures thanks to the UK Government abandoning its agreement with the sector that that last branch in each community should remain open. 

“The big banks are equally as culpable and have turned their backs on our communities in much the same way the UK Government has. They have been their profits ahead of their customers’ needs. They might think that keeping a cashpoint, replacing branches with mobile banks or simply asking people to do their banking online is acceptable, but customers don’t see it that way. 

“That’s why the Welsh Government launched the plans for a community bank to provide everyday banking throughout Wales.” 

Mr Skates added: “There isn’t a single community in our area which hasn’t been affected by bank closures. Brymbo, Cefn Mawr, Chirk, Corwen, Rhos, Ruabon … the list goes on. 

“Clwyd South spans around 240 square miles, and with the number of closures we have seen in recent years we have arguably the strongest claim of anywhere in Wales for one of the first community bank branches. 

"I strongly believe we should have at least one branch here of the 30 planned initially. I have put the case forward as robustly as I can and will continue to make it.”

Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said the community bank – the first of its kind in the UK – will be "a mutual owned by, and run for the benefit of, its members". 

The Welsh Government says the move will improve access to bilingual banking services for people and businesses, as well as create jobs. 

Update given on re-shaping plan for St Collen's

* People at the consultation event are shown plans of the project.

* One of the boards interpreting aspects of the proposals.

The public have been given further explanation on plans to re-shape centuries-old St Collen's Church to make it more adaptable to future demands.

Last October, Father Lee Taylor, unveiled an ambitious scheme to upgrade the historic place of worship with the aim of making it a hub for a wider range of religious and social uses.

The Genesis Programme proposals include:

* The removal of pews at the front of the nave to allow a raised platform stage to be built for worship and performance events    

* The provision of a folding kitchen to provide refreshments at cafe-style social gatherings

* Repositioning of the font to a more practical location      

* The installation of modern LED lights in the roof to highlight its historic beauty

* Fitting glass doors at entrances to allow the heavy oak front door to be left open to make the building feel more welcoming

* A new chapel for private worship where the current vestry is sited

* Replacing the traditional pipe organ with a digital version

During the first of two community consultation events in the church yesterday evening, blueprints, artist's impressions and interpretation boards detailing various aspects of the proposals were displayed around the church.

Father Lee, along with church members and a representatives of the architects were on hand to explain things in detail.

Later Father Lee said it had been a very successful evening and, despite being delayed by the pandemic, he was sure that the plan would now proceed as quickly as possible although, as yet, he could give no firm date when a start on the project would be made.    

When introducing the plan last autumn he said: “St Collen’s has for almost fifteen centuries been a place of worship for the people of Llangollen and beyond.

"The church has been cared for by succeeding generations who have seen fit to make some significant alterations to the building as its purpose has developed in a changing culture. 

“The challenge of re-ordering the church is to ensure that the church is able to reinforce its role as a focal point in the community. This means providing a building which is sufficiently flexible which the wider community can utilise for community gatherings, concerts, school performances and the like." 

The second of two community consultations planned will be held at the church this Sunday, July 18, at 12.15pm.

It is open to all and refreshments will be provided. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP on 01978 861768, or email: stcollens@gmail.com 

Wales will move to Covid alert level 1 from Saturday

* First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Wales will move fully into alert level one from 17 July. 

The changes were paused four weeks ago because of the emergence and spread of the delta variant across the UK and to enable more people to be vaccinated in Wales.

And there will be further changes to the rules outdoors as Wales takes the first careful step towards a new alert level zero.

Alert level zero is set out in an updated Coronavirus Control Plan, which is published today. If the public health situation allows, Wales will move to this level on 7 August.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "We are entering a new phase of the pandemic. Cases of the virus have risen sharply since the delta variant emerged six weeks ago but, thanks to our fantastic vaccination programme, we are not seeing these translate into large numbers of people falling seriously ill or needing hospital treatment.

"We can be reasonably confident that vaccination has weakened the link between infections and serious illness. But there is still a risk that this third wave of the pandemic could cause real harm – either direct harm from the virus or indirect harm from for example people having to isolate.

"We can move to alert level one for indoor spaces from 17 July and go further for outdoor spaces because we know the risk of transmission outdoors is lower.

"We are also publishing plans for a new alert level zero, which will have fewer legal restrictions but which will still need all of us to take steps to protect ourselves."

From 17 July, Wales will move fully to alert level one, including:

• Up to six people can meet indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation.  
• Organised indoor events can take place for up to 1,000 seated and up to 200 standing.
• Ice rinks can reopen.

Wales will also take the first step into alert level zero as the limits on the numbers of people who can meet in public places or at events will be removed.  Outdoor premises and events will also have greater flexibility around physical distancing.

Also from 17 July other changes include:

• New rules for children’s residential activity centres so children in groups of up to 30 can visit.
• A specific requirement for employees to provide comprehensive information on the risks and mitigations identified in the COVID risk assessment  with their employees.

If Wales moves to alert level zero on 7 August, all premises would be able to open and most – but not all – restrictions will be removed and replaced with the ongoing requirement for all organisations and businesses to carry out Covid risk assessments. These will determine what reasonable measures are needed to be put in place to keep workers and customers and visitors safe.

There will also be no legal limits on the number of people who can meet others indoors, including in private homes.

Face coverings will continue to be required by law in most indoor public places and on public transport at alert level zero from 7 August, with the exception of hospitality settings.

The First Minister said: "The pandemic is not over and the virus continues to spread across Wales, which makes it really important for everyone to say yes to vaccination and to do everything we can to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.

"Even though vaccines have weakened the link between the virus and hospitalisation, we are seeing young, fit people suffer from long-Covid, which, for some, has a major impact on their lives.

"We have the headroom to continue to gradually remove restrictions, but each and every one of us has a really important part to play to keep Wales safe as we head into the summer."

The First Minister has also confirmed that people who have who have been fully vaccinated in the UK will no longer need to self-isolate if they are returning from an amber list country, in line with the position in England and Scotland.

Railway lands £143,000 grant boost

* Scene from the film Back in Business shows the train pulling into Berwyn station.

Llangollen Railway has been awarded a grant of £143,290 from the Wales Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2. 

And its finance chief says the cash windfall will ensure the heritage line's future into next year.

The purpose of the funding is to assist with salary and overhead costs both ahead of and during the initial weeks of reopening.

"We are delighted to have been given this grant," Phil Freeth, the Trust's finance director, said. 

"It enables us to be confident of being able to employ staff for certain essential positions, which we hope will include at least some staff previously employed by the PLC if they haven't already got positions elsewhere. 

"Crucially, the award secures the railway's immediate future in uncertain times, certainly into 2022, and beyond if visitor numbers hold up."

The news follows a successful re-opening last weekend with the diesel railcar operating to Berwyn station.

After part of the business running the railway went into administration earlier this year, it ran its first train again last Friday.

Now operated by the Llangollen Railway Trust, and after a lot of hard work, the first train, DMU Class 108, ran from Llangollen to Berwyn.

* A short video, entitled Back in Business, and taken from the cab of the DMU is now viewable on Youtube by following the link: https://youtu.be/JuqiW6n9lQQ