Shanty flashmob lined up for Fringe show next month

* The Old Time Sailors will appear at Dinas Bran in April.

Llangollen Fringe has signed up a novel flashmob musical outfit for a show next month.

The Old Time Sailors will appear at Ysgol Dinas Bran - a new venue for the Fringe - on Friday April 29.

The sailors are billed as "17 of the finest shanty-singing sailors from around the world".

They'll play over 30 songs at Dinas Bran, where the audience is encouraged to sing and dance along with them.

The Fringe team says: "The flashmob performance is designed to take you back in time through an unforgettable trip to the 19th century. 

"Every member of the audience receives a copy of the Sunday Sailor, their own newspaper-shaped program which includes the lyrics to all their songs, plus personalized postal stamps, in order to sing along and become a sailor for one epic night.

"We're also excited to be using Dinas Bran Shool, which has amazing acoustics and plenty of space for everyone to boogie. And, donlt worry, the usual refreshments will be available."  

MP visits railway exhibition at town museum

* Simon Baynes MP with manager Gill Smith at Llangollen Museum. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes recently visited the Llangollen Museum Railway exhibition at the town's museum. 

Along Lost Lines centres on the Ruabon-Barmouth railway and Mr Baynes met with museum manager Gill Smith and museum adviser David Crane.

 

Mr Baynes praised the exhibition for its "incredible insight" into local history and also took the time to thank volunteers at the museum for their dedication in ensuring that people are able to access information on the history of the area.

 

Gill Smith said: "Mr Baynes visited Llangollen Museum to view the railway exhibition which has been put up by Peter Dickinson. 

"The exhibition runs until April 3 and we very much appreciate the support given by Simon and the time spent with him."

 

Simon Baynes said: “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Llangollen Museum and would highly recommend going to see the exhibition if you’re able to. 

"It gave a great insight into the local history of Llangollen. I would like to thank Gill, Dave and the volunteers at Llangollen Museum for their efforts and wish Llangollen Museum the very best for the future."

Rhug Estate makes food donation to Llan care home

* Bethan Mascarenhas and residents of the Old Vicarage Care Home during a recent visit to Rhug Estate to learn about how the organic chicken is reared on the farm. 

Rhug Estate has made generous donations of its award-winning organic chicken to local hospices and charities.

These include The Old Vicarage care home in Llangollen, Ty Gobaith/Hope House in Oswestry and Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury. 

Whenever there is surplus stock, whether it is Rhug’s award-winning organic meat from the farm or items in the farm shop, Lord Newborough is always keen for local charities and residents to benefit. 

Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate, said: “I am pleased that we have found some good local causes to support once again. I believe something positive should always come out of our business having surplus stock.” 

Old Vicarage owner Bethan Mascarenhas said: “Thanks to Lord Newborough and the staff at Rhug Estate for their generous donation and for a lovely warm welcome when we visited. 

"The chicken was put to good use in lots of delicious recipes by our cooks. 

"We loved seeing the estate and hearing all about its history and values. It is great to have local ingredients on our menu, especially when they are shared with the likes of Raffles in Singapore! It was a real treat for our residents.”

Rhug’s chickens are slow-maturing birds that free range on organic pastures for 12 to 16 weeks – that is more than double the amount of time a standard supermarket chicken lives on farm. 

The estate saw a surge in online customers when the pandemic hit in 2020. 

Its award winning organic chicken was out of stock for a number of weeks but is now available to buy from the farm shop and from the website: www.rhug.co.uk/shop and customers can have them delivered direct to their door if they live on mainland UK. 

Welsh Government calls for 'meaningful action' from Chancellor

 

The Welsh Government has said today's Spring Statement must be used to provide meaningful action to tackle the cost of living crisis.

In a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Welsh Government’s Finance Minister Rebecca Evans (pictured) called on the UK Government to “act now and stand with the Welsh Government to provide a full crisis response to the cost of living emergency.” The Welsh Government has said UK Government decisions on unemployment support, changes to universal credit and increases in taxes on income are adding to the pressures on household budgets. It calls for the uprating of welfare benefits – currently set at 3.1% - to be significantly increased in the context of inflation levels expected to hit almost 8% by April. The Welsh Government is also calling the reversal of the decision to remove the £20 universal credit uplift. The case for a windfall tax on the excessive profits made by big energy companies, with money raised to be spent on supporting vulnerable households, has been described as “irrefutable” by the Finance Minister. The Welsh Government has also put forward a number of other suggestions to help people. Proposed measures include moving the social policy costs to general taxation, introducing a low income energy tariff to better target support to lower income households, and providing further and increased support through the Warm Home Discount and other winter fuel payment schemes. Rebecca Evans, said: “We have invested more than £330m to support people through the cost of living crisis, nearly double equivalent support in England. “But it is the UK Government that has the key levers, particularly through the tax and benefit system, to offer people more financial protection. “The cost of living crisis is very real for people, and is set to get worse from April. No one can afford to underestimate the gravity of the challenges we face. The suggestions we have made are effective, practical measures that would help people pay bills and put food on the table. Now we need the UK Government to listen, act, and stand with us to provide a full crisis response to the cost of living emergency.” The Finance Minister also calls on the Chancellor to take the necessary steps to secure the UK’s energy security, in response to the major geopolitical crisis arising from the Ukraine conflict. She calls on greater investment to incentivize renewable energy generation to meet net zero targets and support a more resilient domestic renewable energy system.

Planning application submitted to transform Royal Hotel

* The Royal Hotel during lockdown.

* An artist's impression submitted with the application showing how the riverside elevation of the hotel could look.

The planning application to transform Llangollen’s historic Royal into a ‘destination hotel’, potentially with a Michelin star restaurant, spa and terrace with the ability to create an estimated 45-plus jobs has been submitted to Denbighshire County Council.

The council’s planning search portal contains details of the scheme, submitted in the name of Matt Jones of MAVI Properties Ltd based in Middle Sontley, Wrexham.

According to council documents, the application for the hotel, which dates back to 1752, is Grade II Listed and has been closed since 2019, involves demolition of existing extension and erection of replacement four-storey extension to the side and rear.

It also features the erection of a two-storey extension to existing courtyard and an extension to an existing rear balcony including installation of canopy and decking.

Also planned on the site, which covers 1,375 square metres, are alterations to internal room layouts, repair works to external goods and windows and associated works.

The application further explains that the aim is the proposed refurbishment and extension of the hotel to “create a destination venue and to improve accessibility of the existing historic element.”

It explains there will be: “Works consisting of partial demolition of existing a 1960’s extension to facilitate the creation of an all-new spa extension with additional high-end accommodation above. New restaurant area to be created to existing basement with extended external decking area.”

The application adds that in 2019 a public consultation meeting was held at the Royal Hotel to allow local residents and business owners to opportunity to meet the project team and to review and discuss the design intentions.

It says: “During this meeting, the project’s aim to turn the Royal into a ‘destination hotel’, potentially with a Michelin star restaurant, Spa and terrace with the ability to create an estimated 45+ jobs were discussed.

“The intention to develop the project with the Local Authority and CADW was stated, to not only preserve the historical characteristics of the building, but to also provide an asset to increase footfall to the town. As part of the discussion, the issue of erosion to the existing riverbank wall was raised. Remedial works were subsequently completed in 2021.”

The application states that there will be no demolition of any Listed buildings, either partial or total.

It goes on to say the redevelopment would provide the opportunity to employ the full-time equivalent of 45 people.

* The application, reference number 03/2022/0174, can be viewed on the council’s planning portal at: https://planning.denbighshire.gov.uk/planning/search-applications?civica.query.FullTextSearch=03%2F2022%2F0174#VIEW?RefType=PBDC&KeyNo=32536 

New Dot Cinema to screen West Side Story

Llangollen's New Dot Cinema is set to bring a Broadway classic to the big screen at the Town Hall on Friday April 8.

Steven Spielberg’s hit remake of West Side Story sees love at first sight strike when young Tony spots Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City.

Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks, two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.

With seven Oscar nominations, five BAFTA nominations and two BAFTA wins, this film has been a hit with audiences and critics alike.

The film promises to be a great night out, so much so that New Dot are bring back their popular prosecco tables, which means that for £35, a group of four can enjoy reserved seats with chilled prosecco and a stash of popcorn waiting for them.

Tickets are available online for the discounted price of £6, or on the door for £8. Doors and the bar open at 6.30pm, the film begins at 7pm. New Dot is working towards being cashless, so asks people to bring along their card, or the correct change.

Buy your tickets online at here.

Young 'Uns set to open up their Little Shop of Horrors

 

* Celyn Orton Jones (Audrey), Ethan Le Cheminant (Seymour) and Shea Ferron (Mr Mushnik).

Preview by llanblogger

Talented teenagers from Llangollen Operatic’s junior section, the Young’ Uns, are due to roll up the shutters on their version of horror/comedy rock musical Little Shop of Horrors at the Town Hall next week.

And they manage to ring the absolute most out of the piece, with music by Alan Menken and words by Howard Ashman, which tells the tortured tale of Seymour, a simple lad who works at a run-down flower shop on the seamier side of New York who accidentally finds himself with a very novel way of boosting business.

The cast numbers fewer than a dozen but make every shot count as they sing, dance and act their way through the plot with aplomb.

They’re particularly at home with the early 1960s rock ‘n roll and early Motown style songs which include such stand-out numbers as Skid Row (Downtown), Somewhere That’s Green and Suddenly Seymour.

The part of geeky but well-intentioned Seymour is extremely well filled by Ethan Le Cheminant while Young ‘Uns favourite Celyn Orton Jones makes a sweet but resourceful Audrey, his love interest.

Their big idea which breaths new life - or otherwise - into the wilting flower shop is a mysterious plant which simply grows and grows – to the point where it becomes a crowd-pulling attraction.

The only problem is that to sustain itself the plant, dubbed by Seymour Audrey II, needs a regular supply of human blood, which becomes something of a problem - especially for the dastardly dentist Orin, portrayed with spirit by Will Heath, who could really do with being extracted from his overbearing relationship with poor Audrey.

While it would be wrong to give the game away, suffice it to say that the props department have done an excellent job of recreating some very realistic and gory body parts one of which just happens to be clothed in a dental uniform.  

After years of sterling service with Young ‘Uns Shea Ferron is now away at college on a performing arts course. But when the call came for someone to play the key role of Mr Mushnik, the flower shop proprietor, he was quick to answer it and brings to bear his considerable acting skill to animate the cranky old New York Jewish businessman.

Providing plenty of musical impetus throughout the fast-paced show is the terrific trio of Heledd Edwards (Crystal), Grace Roberts (Chiffon) and Katie Clark (Ronette).

Kamil Grzelak and Will Robinson are great back-up characters while Sophie Siddall and Freya Mortimer operate the monstrous plant, played by Ethan Roberts.

There’s also a formidable live band on hand to help move things nicely along.

Robin Crowley jointly directs the show with Jo Lloyd, musical director is Julian Cattley and producer is Pamela Williams.     

Little Shop of Horrors comes to the town hall stage from Wednesday March 30 to Saturday April 2, with two performances on the Saturday at 2pm and 7.30pm.  

·       Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety or the outlets in town, The wharf, Jades, Oggies, Tourist Information Centre and Georges cafe, at £12 and £10.

* The trio of Grace Roberts, Heledd Edwards and Katie Clark with Audrey.

* Seymour with the plant.

* Seymour with Mr Mushnik (Shea Ferron).

 * Seymour and Orin (Will Heath).