One Hundred Knights reveals its future plans

* The Royal Hotel is operated by One Hundred Knights.

North Wales-based hospitality and leisure operator One Hundred Knights has announced it is set for further expansion in 2021. 

The business is responsible for operating The Royal Hotel, which dates back to 1752, plus wedding venue Tyn Dwr Hall and the Three Eagles Bar & Grill. 

It says that enabling works are continuing at The Royal and that there are plans to open a new restaurant this autumn.  

Knights Construction Group began restoration works at The Royal in July of this, starting with structural works to secure the river wall beneath the hotel footprint. 

One Hundred Knights says new locations have now been identified to further develop the leisure portfolio “bringing new jobs and additional prosperity to the region”.  

One Hundred Knights MD Matt Jones said: “There are big plans happening, the silver lining to what has been a tough year is future growth. 

“We’re enormously proud of our company culture, the community of people we work with and the businesses we operate. Armed with a winning formula, we plan to open more hotels and restaurants in the next five years.” 

The team behind the hospitality group of companies say it has used the previous 12 months to plan for a successful comeback, alongside devising new strategies for growth under the One Hundred Knights brand and development of its senior management team. 

Matt Jones said: “Following a substantial period of progressive growth we have restructured the senior management team to ensure dedicated support in key areas across finance, commercial and marketing. This will prove integral to the team in driving commercial success, with our sights firmly set on further development and rapid expansion.” 

Yvonne Jackson, CEO of Condor Hotels, has been appointed to the One Hundred Knights board of directors to support plans to refurbish and re-launch The Royal Hotel. 

A business consultant, she has over 30 years of hospitality experience, having held senior management positions at 4-star deluxe hotels. 

Since the lifting of restrictions wedding venue Tyn Dwr Hall, which is now in its fifth year of trading, has enjoyed its first full month of weddings, whilst the Three Eagles was recently awarded a 2021 Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Award – its second since the start of trading in 2018. 

“As our reputation grows, so does our confidence in what we can achieve as a group. This is a truly exciting time for One Hundred Knights and our team,” Matt Jones added.

“We will open our new restaurant in the autumn and look to identify further opportunities for new restaurant ventures in the coming 12 to 18 months. 

"Enabling works on The Royal Hotel have already begun in earnest. A full refurbishment and renovation will take place before a newly-realised Royal Hotel is opened to guests in late 2022. 

“The boutique 4* experience will offer something incomparable for the area and entice a broad market to visit the town and surrounding areas whilst providing additional investment for the local economy. 

“From there we see One Hundred Knights will become as a dominant force, with further properties in the coming years both regionally and on a national scale.”

Smoke alarm appeal follows fire in Llangollen

Two appliances from Wrexham, one from Llangollen and one from Oswestry attended a property fire in the Llangollen area yesterday at 2.22pm (Monday 16th August).

The fire was under control by 3.20pm and resources remained on scene until 5:48pm.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service says in a post on its Facebook page: "The fire is thought to have started in the kitchen due to an electrical fault in the dishwasher."

Adam Leatham, from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “There were no smoke alarms installed within this property that could have given early warning of the fire.

"It’s vital to be prepared should the worst happen – make sure you have a smoke alarm and do not tamper with it. If it does not work then please get in touch with us to help you address this.

“A working smoke alarm can give you the time you need to get out, stay out, and call 999. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by testing your alarm regularly and by planning and practising an escape route.”

“We offer free safe and well checks for all residents – a member of the Service will give fire safety hints and tips, help you to formulate a fire escape plan and provide new alarms - all free of charge.

“To register for a free safe and well check, please call our Freephone number between 9am and 5pm on 0800 169 1234, email cfs@nwales-fireservice.org.uk or visit the website www.northwalesfire.gov.wales”

New look planned for Riverside Park's mini golf

llanblogger exclusive

* How the re-styled mini golf at Riverside Park will look. 

People will soon be able to take a look at some of the Dee Valley’s top attractions ... without leaving Llangollen’s Riverside Park.

That’s because there’s a plan to completely facelift the old mini golf range there, with each of its nine holes being based on model representations of the area’s major crowd-pullers, including Plas Newydd, Valle Crucis Abbey, Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen’s ancient bridge, the Horseshoe Falls and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

The idea of using the golf course to showcase all these local tourist spots comes from the team behind the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which recently took over the running of the range and nearby refreshment kiosk.

Paul Evans, manager of Plas Newydd, home of the Ladies of Llangollen, is now also responsible for their development and explains how the transformation is gradually starting to take shape.

He said: “Denbighshire County Council, which runs the park, traditionally leased out the kiosk and the golf.

* The kiosk in the park which has been upgraded.

“A local couple held the lease for 12 years up until the pandemic struck. Like lots of other places it then had to close and they did not renew the lease. The AONB looked at it and decided to take over.

“We’ve now started to run the kiosk on the same lines as we have successfully used at the cafe in Plas Newydd and we also intend to give the mini golf a completely new look.

“We see this as a good opportunity to do something for the town and also to use the new features as a showcase for Plas Newydd and other major attractions in the Dee Valley.”

Paul, who had a summer job working in Riverside Park when he was 16, added: “We want to try and replicate the success we’ve had at Plas Newydd down at the park.

“The kiosk was completely gutted with new flooring and a re-wiring. We’ve also installed a state-of-the-art machine for making good quality coffees and teas.

“At the moment we’re also serving cold drinks and ice creams but our aim is to eventually offer things like home-made cakes and sausage rolls all sourced locally like at Plas Newydd.”

Detailing what’s in mind for the mini golf, Paul said: “We’re aiming for a totally new experience. It will be a nine-hole course with each of the holes representing an area of importance within the Dee Valley.

* The old crazy golf course soon to be given a new look.

“We’re also hoping to have a big map on the side wall of the kiosk directing people to where they can visit the attractions themselves.

“We have a specialist company working on the project and we’re still going through the design process so I can’t say yet when this is likely to be finished.

“The idea is to highlight the whole of the Dee Valley and perhaps to incorporate some walking routes, one of which could be from the park up to Plas Newydd with people leaving their cars in town where there’s more parking than up at Plas.”

As things recover from the pandemic, Paul said the kiosk was currently opening as and when it could during the summer but he added that the aim was to extend the traditional season from April through to October opening seven days a week.

To do this effectively it will have to be adequately staffed and Paul revealed that, in the wake of Covid-19 restrictions, this had been “a nightmare”.

He explained: “Like everyone else we’ve had trouble with recruitment – for both Riverside Park and Plas Newydd.

“We’ve had two recruiting drives over the past few months and only now are we starting to get enough of the right people. But I think we’re nearly there.

“We’ve taken on the park attractions as a long-term project and we want to gradually build them up to the point where they become real assets to the town.”

Ensuring that the best use it made of Llangollen’s outdoor attractions is something of a family affair for Paul and his wife Jessica.

In her own right she has created a new organisation known as the Llangollen Parks and Open Spaces Project, which includes the future well-being of Riverside Park.

Paul said: “She’s been looking at ways of funding and getting grants to upgrade facilities and pay for adequate maintenance. She’s also been trying to find out what sort of improvements people would like to see and speaking to the local MP and Senedd Member along with the town and county councils.

“There’s lots going on behind the scenes but one of the things she’s looking at is the possibility of putting in a splash park at Riverside if the right sort of funding can be secured.” 

Suzuki unveils its one-size-fits-all Swace

Suzuki Swace drive by Steve Rogers

Getting a new car is exciting, deciding which one can be a headache.

Which is the best body shape, best engine; do you go for electric? Then there are the various trim levels and those pricey option packs. I'm getting stressed just writing about it.

But what if there was a 'one size fits all' car. Give a big hand folks to the Suzuki Swace, one body (estate) one engine size, so need for a spread sheet and a pack of aspirin.

Car spotters will notice a remarkable resemblance to the Toyota Touring Sports which, apart from a different front bumper and light signature, is its twin. Suzuki has teamed up with its Far Eastern friend in a quid pro quo collaboration where it gets two models in return for help in the Indian market where Suzuki rules the roost.

Against the Corolla with its three body styles, two engines and five trim levels the Swace is a bit like a pack of cards without the Ace, king and queen, but along with the big Across SUV, a carbon copy of the Toyota Rav4, it gives the brand more numbers on the road.

There is no shame in sticking a Suzuki badge on the bonnet of a Corolla because the Derby built Toyota is a damn fine car with a proven record for quality and reliability so why not fill your boots.

Suzuki has chosen to take the 1.8 litre petrol hybrid rather than the meaty 2-litre hybrid which could spoil its chances for customers wanting a bit of performance. A sprint to sixty in around 11 seconds is a tad pedestrian these days but the flip side is lower emissions than many rivals and excellent economy, in fact in town driving it is often the electric motor that does the work.

Suzuki claims an average of 64.2mpg and matching that is possible. The delivery driver topped 61mpg on his 160 mile journey, most of which was motorway, while my week's driving mix returned a credible 57mpg.

Like Corolla the gearbox is the automatic CVT transmission which isn't everyone's cup of tea with its mildly annoying whine under acceleration that becomes noisy when pushed to the rev limit. To be fair flat out acceleration is not really the name of the game, so not something to trouble  mum, dad and the children on a trip to the seaside.

And Swace is a good family car. There is room aplenty for three in the back and while boot space is not class leading it is up there with the best. The tailgate opens to a wide unobstructed flat floor with the seats down and there is an option to lower the floor for a bit more carrying capacity.

There are just two trim levels and the entry SZ-T is not left wanting with dual zone automatic air conditioning, heated front seats, heated steering wheel and rear camera among the highlights.

Moving up to SZ5 adds keyless entry, park assist, front and rear parking sensors, blind spot and rear cross traffic alert, auto dipping LED headlights and a wireless charging pad for a mobile. Doing without these will save £1,800.

There is no onboard navigation but this can be remedied by linking a mobile phone directions app to the eight inch touchscreen via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The screen sits high in the centre of the dashboard, is easy to see and has short cut buttons. The layout is functional rather than fancy but easy to use and heating controls are separate which is always a bonus. The quality of trim is good with a mix of spongy plastic and soft touch fabric.

Driving Swace is neither exciting nor boring, somewhere in the middle, with decent grip should you want to push on. I took a turn in the back to see how the other half live and found the suspension a little unforgiving over poorer surfaces and particularly potholes where the thump goes through the spine.

In reality Swace has a mountain to climb against its Corolla cousin let alone a host of top notch rivals, but here's the thing. If your ideal motor is a 1.8 litre hybrid estate with a good spec, space for five, low running costs, enviable reliability and with a badge less common than a Toyota, Ford or Volkswagen, then why not give this jack of all trades a whirl.

Fast facts

Swace SZ5 CVT auto

£26,299 (SZ-T £24,499)

1.8 litre + electric motor 122bhp

0-62mph 11.1secs; 112mph

64.2mpg combined

99g/km. VED £135

Boot 596-1232 litres

Insurance group 17

Collen Players invite back live audience for music hall show

* A past pre-lockdown music hall show by the Collen Players.

A live audience will be whisked back at least a century next month when Llangollen’s Collen Players stages its latest music hall and variety show.  

The group was formed a couple of years ago by the town’s vicar, Father Lee Taylor, who himself is a big music hall enthusiast, to revive the Victorian-style of entertainment. 

So far its performers have donned their period costumes to present four sell-out shows in the Community Hall which is always dressed for the occasion to recreate the atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century theatre. 

The most recent show was last November whch, due to Covid-19 rules on public gatherings, had to be pre-recorded and then live streamed on the group’s Facebook page. 

But now all restrictions have been lifted it’s time to invite back a live audience to the next lavish production which is on Friday, September 3, again in the Community Hall and starting at 6.30pm. 

Father Lee said: “It will be great to welcome back a real live audience for our latest show because there’s nothing quite like the feedback you get from them. 

“Traditional music hall is all about the audience joining in by singing along and laughing at the jokes and that’s exactly what we’ll be inviting people to do. 

“Myself and all the cast are looking forward to it immensely and can’t wait for the show to begin.” 

Once again Father Lee will chair the evening’s proceedings, introducing the acts and doling out his corny line in banter along with a couple of his own songs. 

Waiting in the wings will be a nine-strong cast – the largest so far - who will present a range of entertainment from period songs and monologues to magic and knock-about comedy. 

They include regulars Gethin Davies, Mike Connolly, Clare Wall, Shea Ferron, Phil Robinson, Neil Barratt and Dave Lyne alongside newcomers Paul Edwards ‘The Welsh Wizard’ and Louise Cielecki.

* Tickets are £15, including supper, and are available by emailing: stcollens@gmail.com

Roadworks alert for Vicarage Road

The following local roadworks alert has come from one.network:

Vicarage Road 18 August — 20 August   Delays unlikely - Traffic control (give & take)   Works description: Boundary box Install 25mm Job in Footway (6mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )...   Works location: OUTSIDE PROPERTY KNOWN AS BRYN HELYG...   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.   Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000060404335

Roadworks alert for local trunk routes

Forthcoming roadworks on the nearby Newbridge and Chirk bypasses and the A5 are highlighted in a story on Leaderlive. 

* For the full story, see: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/19511970.upcoming-roadworks-need-aware-wrexham/