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Monday, March 10, 2025

Eisteddfod to gain more control over running of Pavilion

* Madness headline at the Pavilion during last year's Eisteddfod.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will gain more control over Llangollen Pavilion next month as new arrangements are put in place for the management of the iconic site.

Festival chiefs say this will allow them to open up opportunities for year-round entertainment and other activities in the town.

Under current arrangements overall management and responsibility of the Pavilion site, home to the world-renowned International Eisteddfod, rests with Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL). 

This responsibility will change to the Eisteddfod, with a lease from Denbighshire County Council granted subject to agreed terms. 

This will allow the Eisteddfod, as owners of the site, greater flexibility to develop the site for the benefit of Llangollen and the wider north east Wales region, they feel.

Eisteddfod chairman John Gambles said: "We would like to thank Denbighshire Leisure Ltd for being custodians of the Llangollen Pavilion. 


* The NEW Sinfonia orchestra play on the Pavilion main stage last year.  

"I’d like to thank them for their ready co-operation managing the transition. This new arrangement with Denbighshire County Council provides a huge opportunity for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as we move towards our aim of becoming an all-year round organisation for the benefit of local people and visitors.” 

This summer, the Pavilion will host a range of world-famous acts including the Live at Llangollen Pavilion concerts which will feature headline shows by Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, James, The Script, Olly Murs and The Human League.

This year's Llangollen International Eisteddfod takes place from July 8-13, which will see 4,000 competitors from 35 different countries heading for Llangollen. 

The festival also has concerts by legendary frontman from The Who, Roger Daltrey, a concert celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, featuring One World conducted by Sir Karl Jenkins, KT Tunstall, Il Divo, Choir of the World with special guest Lucie Jones and Sir Bryn Terfel and Fisherman’s Friends.

The Eisteddfod say the new arrangement will provide more flexibility and allow it to further cement its partnership with live music and event promoters, Cuffe and Taylor, to attract more entertainment acts in the future.

John Gambles added: “Last summer’s events including concerts by Sir Tom Jones, Manic Street Preachers and Bryan Adams delivered huge economic benefits to the town of Llangollen. This is something we will expand for the benefit of our wider region. 

"In any new arrangement for the site, the Llangollen Eisteddfod would honour all existing bookings at the Pavilion for 2025. 

"We are also working on a number of exciting projects that will not only safeguard the future of our iconic Pavilion and hall but also ensure we realise the exciting potential of this amazing venue.


* Manic Street Preachers take to the Pavilion stage at the 2024 Eisteddfod.

"The new arrangements will not incur any additional costs for any party but will simplify the management arrangements by ensuring fewer parties are involved."

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said: “The team has worked closely with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Denbighshire County Council to ensure a seamless handover for everyone involved and we’re delighted that everything has transitioned so smoothly. 

"We would like to thank Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and wish them all the best in what we expect will be hugely successful summer ahead.”

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Denbighshire’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “The council is looking forward to working with the Eisteddfod as it embarks on these exciting new opportunities. 

"A core underlying principle of our Asset Management Strategy 2024-2029 is considering who best to own and operate each asset and identify opportunities for collaboration. 

"I’m proud of the collaborative approach between the council’s property team, DLL and the Eisteddfod for this site. 

"Llangollen is already one of the jewels in Denbighshire’s crown and a top-class tourist destination attracting, on average, over half a million visitors a year.

“There are exciting prospects ahead for the town and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as it looks to expand the opportunities and the use of the Pavilion. 

"This will bring significant benefits to the whole region. We’d like to thank DLL for supporting the Eisteddfod and maintaining this site over the past five years.”

Dates for local Citizens Advice drop-in sessions

 


Sunday, March 9, 2025

Museum officially re-opened after new roof installed


* Becky Gittins MP and the museum's Dave Crane at the official re-opening event. They stand under the smart new roof with friends and supporters in the background.

Llangollen Museum was officially re-opened by the area's MP yesterday (Saturday) evening after being closed for a long period to allow the installation of a new roof.

Becky Gittins told a large gathering of supporters and friends of the much-loved facility that supporting museum leaders with their bids for the funding required for the work was the first job she tackled after being elected last summer.

She said: "This is a very special event for me. They were the first to write to me and this was the first piece of casework I did when it looked like the project might have been in jeopardy.      

"I am thrilled to be here this evening to officially declare the museum open again and to be in the presence of so many friends and in such a vibrant community."

The new roof was urgently required after many years of troublesome leaks.

The museum's Dave Crane outlined the many enhancements to the building the new roof project had made possible, including improvements to the displays and a new kitchen and toilets.

A stairlift had been fitted up to the first floor display area and still to come are a new CCTV system and improvements to the website.

There was a loud cheer and applause when he said one of the most significant of things that had happened during the closure had been the museum purchasing the building from Denbighshire County Council.

He thanked a long list of people and organisations who had helped in various ways with the project, starting with the museum's own volunteers and team member Sue Evans who had helped prepare two major submissions for funding.

Funders for the project, he said, included the Lottery Heritage Fund, the Community Ownership Fund, the Denbighshire Key Fund, the Clocaenog Wind Farm Fund and the Welsh Government Collection Management Capital Improvement programme.

Llangollen Silver Band played as the evening's guests mingled and explored the revamped building.

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards was unable to make it to the re-opening but sent a message of best wishes.

She said: "Sadly, I was unable to attend the re-opening of the Llangollen Museum due to unforeseen circumstances.

"I’m very much aware of the sheer hard work and determination undertaken to save this much-loved museum in the heart of the town which cannot be underestimated. It is a glowing testament of resilience and courage in the face of adversity.

 

"I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest congratulations and heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with this project. Da iawn pawb."

Friday, March 7, 2025

Former Three Eagles to open under new owner this spring, says story

Following its closure last year the former Three Eagles gastro-pub will reopen to customers this spring after being sold to the owner of Fouzi's, according to a story today in the Leader.

* For the full story, go to: Llangollen: New owner confirms reopening of The Three Eagles | The Leader

Riverside Park facelift has now been completed

An extensive programme of improvements at Llangollen's Riverside Park is now complete.

The work, undertaken by Denbighshire County Council and funded as part of the Shared Prosperity (SPF) scheme, was recently topped off when the signage and street lighting lanterns were finished.

Full list of work at the park, which is enjoyed by locals and visitors, includes:


* Painting of Metal railings within the park


* Painting of all Street lighting within the park


* Refurbishment of existing benches and installation of some new ones


* Installation of some new bins


* Timber knee rail fence installation around bandstand


* Fixing some of the broken/missing timber and painted the ends of the MUGA, done via the sports pitch funding of SPF


* Repair of the retaining wall near East St car park


* Drainage improvements


* Repair of wobbly fencing on A5 side of the park


* New signage for the whole park including new posts


Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards said: It's a real good news story that all scheduled improvement works at Riverside Park are now completed."

Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council

Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is: 

Hall St jct with A5 Berwyn St, Llangollen HALL STREET 27/01/2025 28/03/2025 Gwaith Ar Wal Gynnal/ Retaining Wall Works OBR CONSTRUCTION

A539 Hill Street, Pengwern, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8EU HILL STREET 12/03/2025 12/03/2025 Adferiad/ Reinstatement /Road Closure

O/S NUMBER 20 CASTLE STREET 07/04/2025 09/04/2025 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A539 Hall Street, Llangollen. HALL STREET 12/04/2025 17/04/2025 Gwaith Draenio / Drainage Works NMWTRA (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

28 MILL ST MILL STREET 10/04/2025 10/04/2025 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Story of mountain biker's miracle high speed crash escape in national paper

* The headline in the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail has featured the story, with pictures, of a teenage mountain biker who smashed headfirst into a metal gate in a high speed crash before miraculously walking away unharmed while riding the One Giant Leap track in Llangollen.

* For the full story, go to: Moment mountain biker slams into farm gate at 30mph but miraculously walks away with barely a scratch | Daily Mail Online