Feast of flavours planned for 2023 Llangollen Food Festival

Around 60 exhibitors have been confirmed for the highly anticipated 2023 Llangollen Food Festival, set to tantalise taste buds across town on October 14 and 15.

Prepare your palate for a weekend of gastronomic delights as the Llangollen Food Festival returns bigger and better than ever before. This year's festival promises an unforgettable celebration of food, drink, and entertainment, taking place at various venues throughout the charming town of Llangollen.

With a diverse array of exhibitors from across Wales and beyond, the 2023 Llangollen Food Festival will showcase the best of Welsh and international cuisine. From artisanal cheeses to mouth-watering chocolates, from succulent meats to fresh produce, our exhibitors will offer a smorgasbord of delectable treats to satisfy every craving.

Food enthusiasts can look forward to live cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs who will share their culinary secrets and inspire your inner chef. A whisky and cheese tasting evening with Penderyn whisky and Welsh cheese from The Little Cheesemonger and a wine tasting evening with Pip Gale of Gale's Wine Bar will give you the chance to discover new and exciting flavours. 

And to round off the first day, Llangollen Railway will be running its famous Ale train in partnership with Hafod Brewery. Tickets will be available for the tasting events and the Ale Train will be available soon at the Food Festival website and social media pages.

It's not just about the food – the 2023 Llangollen Food Festival will also feature live entertainment that will keep the whole family entertained. Soak in the lively atmosphere as you enjoy musical performances throughout the weekend.

For the younger foodies in the family, there will be a wide range of children's activities, ensuring a fun and educational experience for kids of all ages. From interactive food-themed activities to hands-on cooking classes, there's something for every little chef in the making.

This year's festival promises an extraordinary culinary adventure, celebrating the finest in food and drink in a picturesque setting. Whether you're a serious foodie or just looking for a fantastic weekend out, the 2023 Llangollen Food Festival has something for everyone.

* For more information and to stay updated on the festival's latest news, visit the Llangollen Food Festival website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

llanblogger takes a short break

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in about a week's time

Art exhibition opens based on inspirational Dee Valley

* Above and below: some of the artwork featuring in the exhibition at the Dory Gallery.

* Artist Mikey Jones live painting a mural on the walls of the gallery.

A new exhibition which invites you to take a fresh look at the Dee Valley and the works of art it inspires opens in Llangollen's Dory Gallery in Regent Street today (Saturday).

The Dee Valley landscape, which had its official preview to an invited audience yesterday afternoon (Friday) has been a source of inspiration to artists, poets and tourists for centuries, drawn to the area in search of the sublime. 

It became a hub for artistic activity in the 18th century, captured on canvas by renowned painters such as Richard Wilson, Paul Sandby and JMW Turner, and beautifully described in words and poetry by writers including George Borrow, Thomas Pennant and William Wordsworth.

Following this tradition, the Our Picturesque Landscape project is presenting an exhibition of over 60 contemporary works of art inspired by the scenery of the Dee Valley.

Through thoughtfully commissioned paintings, poems, installations, photography, drawings, textiles and even a myriorama, the exhibition will explore our connections with the landscape, and highlight the unique balance between the stunning natural beauty and important industrial heritage of the area.

The exhibition will be open at the Dory Gallery until Sunday October 8 accompanied by a full programme of events, art workshops and family friendly activities. For up to date details go to: www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyAONB.org.uk

The exhibition is part of the Our Picturesque Landscape project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Hannah Marubbi, Partnership Officer for Our Picturesque Landscape project, said; “There is strong artistic heritage in the Dee Valley, and the picturesque qualities of the landscape continue to inspire creatives today. 

"We are really looking forward to celebrating the fantastic and diverse works of art that have been created throughout the Our Picturesque Landscape project, and sharing them with the community through a programme of free, interactive events.  We are grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the £1,382,400 funding which has made our project and this exhibition possible.”

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are: 

CASTLE STREET, AT THE JUNCTION OF DEE LANE, LLANGOLLEN, 27/09/2023 27/09/2023 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works MORRISON UTILITY SERVICES LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

O/S MALTHOUSE BUTLERS HILL 21/09/2023 22/09/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement HAFREN DYFRDWY (DANIEL) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

CHURCH STREET, AT THE JUNCTION OF CHAPEL STREET, LLANGOLLEN, 25/09/2023 25/09/2023 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works DWR CYMRU/WELSH LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure.

Working Denbighshire offering help to school leavers

Following on from results month, Denbighshire County Council’s Working Denbighshire team are reminding recent high school and sixth form leavers that free support and help is available.

Working Denbighshire is an employability service which aims at supporting Denbighshire residents, aged 16 and above through coaching, training, and mentoring. 

Part of this service offers Wellbeing support. This has been put in place to help participants who don’t feel ready to go straight into employment or a placement. The dedicated wellbeing team have organised free weekly activities to raise aspiration, increase motivation and engagement. Activities planned include Beach Yoga, Lama Walking and Coffee Mornings, all aimed to improve participants confidence and skills for the future. 

Working Denbighshire also have dedicated teams in place for students that feel ready to go straight into employment but would benefit from 1-2-1 support and guidance with career development. Experienced mentors are on hand to help with job searching, CV writing and to support individuals through application processes for training, volunteering and placement opportunities, all focused around their choice of career. 

Support doesn’t stop there, as the team is trained to work to the needs of the individual and will even offer financial support for students experiencing financial barriers when trying to access training, placement or employment. 

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said: “Working Denbighshire are there to help school leavers with any employment advice they may need. 

"The team can also help with finding training and further qualifications and finding a work or volunteering placement.” 

David Morgan, Working Denbighshire Manager at Working Denbighshire said: “It is important that we offer a 1-2-1 personalised service to each of our participants as everyone needs a different level of support, especially young people who have recently left education.” 

Geraint Davies, Head of Service for Education at Denbighshire County Council said: “Leaving school or sixth form can be a confusing time, with many roads to choose from. Working Denbighshire are there for school leavers, if they decide to go straight into work after finishing their education.”

Working Denbighshire is part funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme which supports those most disadvantaged in the labour market to overcome the barriers preventing them from gaining employment. 

Working Denbighshire has received £3,529,632 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

* To sign up to receive support from Working Denbighshire visit - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/jobs-and-employees/working-denbighshire/forms/contact-us-working-denbighshire.aspx or to find out more about the service - https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/jobs-and-employees/working-denbighshire/working-denbighshire.aspx

Railway stages diesel gala this weekend

Llangollen Railway is planning a Diesel Gala this weekend, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September.   

Visitors will be able to board a variety of trains which will run an intensive timetable between Llangollen and the newly-opened station at Corwen.

The station at Corwen re-opened in June of this year, the latest westward extension of the railway which runs on the former Ruabon to Barmouth route. The line is now ten miles in length.

On both days, trains will depart Llangollen on the hour, between 10.00 and 15.00, according to the timetable published under the auspices of ‘British Rail's Llangollen and Corwen Railway', part of the ‘Dee Valley Region'.  

The journey to Corwen takes 40 minutes, calling at Berwyn, Glyndyfrydwy and Carrog. Return trips from Corwen will leave hourly between 11.15 and 16.15, calling at the same stations on the way back.

Three additional trains will run on Saturday only, departing Llangollen at 16.00, 18.45 and 20.35.  These return from Corwen at 17.05 and 19.45, though the 20.35 only travels as far as Glyndyfrdwy.  

Both the 18.45 and 20.35 are named trains – the Sulzer Symphony Scenic Landcruise – and do not call at intermediate stations.  These trains, which have bar facilities, will be topped and tailed by Classes 25 and 47.

Some trains will be hauled by Class 25 D7659, the last locomotive to be built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton, in 1966. It is visiting the North Wales line courtesy of the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust. Class 31 31271, also doing its part to haul trains, was built by Brush Traction in 1961 and is visiting courtesy of A1 Locomotive Group.  

The final locomotive in the trio will be Class 47 1566, built by BR at Crewe Works in 1964. They will be hauling a mixture of suburban and Mark 1 coaches.

Two freight services will also run. Passenger capacity for these services is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a warning on the timetable, however.  Passengers are asked to ‘bash sensibly', with a further warning that “anyone who appears intoxicated or behaves in ‘bellowing or flailing' will be asked to leave the train”.

Your chance to have a say in stage group's future

* A scene from the Twenty Club's production of the Vicar of Dibley in 2022.

The long-established Twenty Club of Llangollen are holding their annual general meeting at the RAFA Club in Llangollen on Wednesday September 20 at 7.30pm.

A spokesperson for the stage group said: "Everyone is very welcome. We are always keen to have new members to take part in this lively society whether it us treading the boards or backstage or front of house performance week.

"This is your chance to have a say in the future of the club, and there us even a fun quiz immediately after the meeting."