Deacon Blue to headline Llangollen Pavilion on July 4

* Deacon Blue headline at TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday July 4. 

Scottish legends Deacon Blue are set to light up summer 2026 as they bring their signature sound and electrifying live tour to Llangollen.

The Real Gone Kid and Dignity hitmakers will headline TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday July 4 as part of The Great Western Road Trip Rolls On tour.

Performing their biggest hits alongside songs from their latest album, The Great Western Road, Deacon Blue will be joined on the night by special guests Lightning Seeds.

* The Lightning Seeds will be special guests on the night.

Friends of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod can access pre-sale tickets from 10am on Tuesday via llangollen.net and tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday.

Speaking about hitting the road, frontman Ricky Ross said: “No-one knows where The Great Western Road ends up, least of all us! For now the road goes on and next summer we are taking the shows to some beautiful venues. We can’t wait to see you there and we promise to make every night very special.”

Celebrating 40 years since Ross and Dougie Vipond first formed the band, Deacon Blue’s Llangollen headline show will be a career-spanning night of hits including Chocolate Girl, Wages Day and Fergus Sings The Blues — alongside highlights from The Great Western Road, their most successful studio release in more than three decades, reaching Number 3 in the UK and topping the Scottish Album Chart.

Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios, the album reunites Ross and guitarist Gregor Philp as producers, with engineer Matt Butler, who worked on Deacon Blue’s classic debut Raintown. The record captures the band’s journey across four decades, reflecting on life, love and longevity.

With more than 7 million albums sold, two UK Number One albums, and a songbook filled with heartfelt, singalong hits, Deacon Blue remain one of the UK’s most enduring and best-loved live acts. Their headline show at Llangollen promises to be a celebration of their remarkable story – and a showcase of a band still creating, evolving, and connecting with fans new and old.

Joining them as very special guests are Liverpudlian indie icons Lightning Seeds, the masterminds behind timeless favourites Pure and Lucky You.

Bursting on to the music scene in the late ’80s with their shimmering debut Cloudcuckooland, the band quickly became one of the UK’s most cherished indie-pop acts. Led by songwriter and producer Ian Broudie, their catalogue spans era-defining hits like The Life of Riley, Sense, and Change. Renowned for melodic brilliance and feel-good live shows, Lightning Seeds continue to delight fans across generations – the perfect addition to an unmissable night at Llangollen Pavilion.

 

Deacon Blue join Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Tom Grennan, Billy Ocean, Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics and David Gray among the first headline announcements for TK Maxx presents Live at Llangollen Pavilion 2026, which is presented as part of an ongoing partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

 

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “We’re so excited that Deacon Blue will be performing in Llangollen as part of their tour next summer; they’re undoubtedly one of the UK’s favourite live acts. Having recorded their latest release at Rockfield Studios in Wales, it’s fitting some of the songs from that album will be heard in another iconic Welsh location…the Llangollen Pavilion.”

 

* For more information go to llangollen.net 

 

CONNECT WITH DEACON BLUE 
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CONNECT WITH LIGHTNING SEEDS 
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE 

 

Llangollen features in national story on proposed National Park

 

Llangollen, which is an integral part of it, features in a special feature in the travel section of last Saturday's Daily Telegraph looking at the arguments for and against the proposed new Glyndwr National Park.

The article, by senior writer Greg Dickinson, says the consultation process for the park is underway and public polling in recent years suggests the local population remains split on the matter.

It adds that in public surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024 the approval and disapproval ratios have been close. In the most recent poll there was an approximate 10 per cent majority in favour of the proposal, "but many still have concerns". 

The reporter first visited the famous waterfall at Pistyll Rhaedr where he spoke to the man who runs the cafe, Phill Facey. 

The attraction, not far from Llangollen, received around 80,000 to 100,000 annual visitors when Mr Facey moved from Norfolk to North East Wales in the late 1990s. 

Now, he said, the number was closer to half a million, adding: "There are weekends when it is so busy, you come here on a Saturday and there's nowhere to park, imagine double that number. During lockdown the road was gridlocked for more than four days.

"Wales is bankrupt. The only people who want a national park are those who are going to benefit from it materialistically - the landowners."

On the other hand, at Plas Newydd the writer spoke to Howard Sutcliffe, lead officer of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley (AONB) Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, who "believed there were deeper benefits to consider to a national park".

Mr Sutcliffe is quoted as saying: "It's really important, with the poverty we see in the country, that disadvantaged groups do get access to the countryside.

"National parks have a much bigger, better system of education to bring in ethnic minorities to come and enjoy the countryside."

The writer concludes: "It sounds like division among local residents, but in a sense it is not. All parties in the area, ultimately, want the best for their home and all agree that some degree of change is needed. The sticking point here is whether the national park status wood, or should, be the right thing to catalyse that change." 

 

* As this is such an important local topic llanblogger has tried to reproduce the full article below. To view it online, go to: https://www.pressreader.com/.../20251101/281655376319158

* Howard Sutcliffe, pictured right, is quoted in the story.

* A sidebar to the main story is a quick profile of Llangollen.

Dee Pizza and Wraps is semi-finalist in national competition

Llangollen's popular Dee Pizza and Wraps is one of the 20 semi-finalists from Wales in the 2026 14th British Kebab Awards.

* For the full story in Wales Online, go to: Wales' 20 best kebab shops | Wales Online

Collen Players' magical evening of mirth and melody

* The Players on stage for the grand finale.

The Collen Players promised their audience a cavalcade of mirth, melody and merriment with their latest variety show, Hammerbeams and Harmonies, and that’s exactly what they served up at the Community Hall last night (Friday).

And the side benefit was that a sizeable sum was raised for the current fundraising campaign to renovate St Collen’s ancient hammerbeam roof.

After the traditional opening remarks and warm up sing-song from the chairman, Mr Leo Naylor, the first act to take the stage was Deborah with an extremely melodic presentation of I Want to Sing Opera.

Phil Robinson was up next with his lively rendition of the old time classic My Old Man’s a Dustman.

Songstress and Collen Players regular Susan Stokes had a sweetly-voiced After the Ball Was Over for the audience. Then it was time for comedy as the duo of Chris and Neil offered a tale of domestic disaster and lyrical lamentation.

Lizzie Clifford presented two songs of sentiment, including They Say It's Wonderful from Annie Get Your Gun, before Collen Players favourite Colin Bourdiec closed the first act with a flourish of George Formby finesse.

Phil Robinson returned after the interval with a melody of menace entitled Mack the Knife specially for Halloween while Susan Stokes was back on stage with a novel parody of her previous number before Chris and Neil presented their hilarious Cissie and Ada routine, this time featuring Chris singing I Hold Your Hand in My Hand and There's a Hole In My Bucket.

Lizzie Clifford re-appeared, accompanied by Alison Jarvis and John Clifford, for a marvellous Three Little Maids. John had previously been on stage with an enthralling poem.  

On hand for some accomplished accompaniments were musicians Jayne (keyboard) and Clayton (drums).

The grand finale of the show came in his own inimitably entertaining way from Colin Bourdiec before the audience was encouraged to join in with a rollicking Down at the Old Bull and Bush to round of a highly entertaining evening.  

* Collen Players' Christmas show, Deck the Halls, a variety and music hall show in Victorian style, will be at  St Collen's Community Hall on Friday December 12, starting at 6.30pm. Tickets, including supper, can be booked by calling 01978 861768.

* Mr Chairman opens the show. All pictures by Jeanette Robinson.

* A divinely dramatic Deborah.

* A dark and debonair Phil Robinson as Mack the Knife.

* After the Ball with Sue Stokes.

* Neil and Chris become Cissie and Ada.

* Something Wonderful from Lizzie Clifford.

* Formby fun from Colin Bourdiec.

* Three Little Maids from school.

* The house band of Clayton and Jayne.  

Agency marks decade of improvements to homes of vulnerable

* Lynda Colwell, Chief Officer of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair, with Chair Clifton Robinson. Picture by Mandy Jones

An agency celebrating 10 years of life-changing success has secured £4.6 million worth of repairs and home improvements for vulnerable people.

The news was revealed at the annual meeting of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair which serves a vast area, stretching from Llangollen to Llanfairfechan.

Over the past decade the charity, a subsidiary of the Grŵp Cynefin housing association, has helped nearly 50,000 people aged 60 or over in privately owned or rented properties.

The aim is to help them continue to live safely, warmly and independently in their own homes and over the past decade.

Since the organisation launched in 2015 it has eased the burden on the NHS by saving 16,735 hospital bed days through its Hospital to Healthier Home quick discharge service.

It’s also assisted those in need access benefits they were previously missing out on - supporting 1,741 people to increase their income by a massive £7.4 million in the last 10 years.

The agency was created 10 years ago when the care and repair service in Conwy merged with its sister organisation in Denbighshire. At the same time, Grŵp Cynefin housing association was created with the merging of Tai Clwyd and Tai Eryri, and the agency became a part of Grŵp Cynefin.

Chair Clifton Robinson, who has vast experience in senior management and leadership roles in the housing sector, was deeply proud to lead the organisation.

He said: “I have been involved in lots of different organisations over the years, but I must say I feel with Care & Repair I have saved the best until the end of my career.

“I am so incredibly proud of Care & Repair both in terms of the staff, who are just tremendous, and also of my board colleagues - they are one of the best boards I have had the privilege of working with.

“The commitment of Chief Officer Lynda Colwell and her team is second to none. Their passion, their energy is incredible, they are just an absolute joy.”

He said key to Care & Repair’s success of the last decade was its relationship with the clients it has helped, and its commitment of helping people stay in their own homes as long as possible.

“We have had clients attend our board meetings and it’s been fantastic to hear from them about the difference Care & Repair has made to their lives.

“It is absolutely vital that people can stay in their own home for as long as possible.”

Chief Officer Lynda Colwell said: “It means the world to know you’re actually doing something for the good, that you can go home and think ‘I’ve helped somebody today, I’ve changed somebody’s life, I’ve made somebody safer, I have made them warmer’.

“It’s a sense of pride as well that we have a team who all work together, that we all have the same goals and strategies and want the same outcomes.”

Ms Colwell said the need for the services that Care & Repair provide will always exist, so finding the required funding in the future to do that work was essential.

She said: “Our adaptations grants are available but there are  more and more people needing them and the grant isn’t increasing by the volume of people who require our help. 

“The problems are not going to go away, and it will become more of a challenge to access grants over the next 10 years. 

“But our team are clued up, they are fully aware of the challenges that we face.”

The charity also acts as a vital link between vulnerable, older people and organisations which can provide financial support.

It recently stepped in to help a pensioner who was finding staying at home alone in her flat especially challenging after suffering a stroke and the sad loss of her husband.

Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair was first put in touch with a client  after she was referred to the charity from the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre at Llandudno Hospital regarding difficulties with accessing her shower cubicle safely.

After learning that the client’s husband was a veteran, caseworker Amanda Derbyshire contacted SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, to see if they could fund bathroom improvements.

The inquiry ultimately proved successful - with SSAFA paying for the transformation of the bathroom, funding work to remove the bath and fit a modern and accessible walk-in shower.

The partnership also produced other improvements, including more accessible steps to the back garden and better access from a side door.

Ms Derbyshire said: “Care & Repair have a hospital to home service and occupational therapists based at several hospitals in North Wales can refer to Care & Repair to help speed up discharges.

“We work quite closely with stroke wards and other wards in hospitals.

“When our client came out from hospital the original referral was for an assessment for extra rails or equipment in the shower.

“She felt really unsteady after the stroke and felt the rails probably wouldn’t be enough. We referred for an occupational therapist assessment through Conwy County Borough Council because they have Disabled Facility Grants (DFG) which they use for level access showers, stairlifts, that sort of thing.”

Amanda said the work was a great example of the difference Care & Repair can make to vulnerable people’s everyday lives.

She said: “It just shows what you can do if you do come across somebody in hardship. It shows another side of the caseworker service, that we can investigate other avenues of funding as well.

“I think the client would have really struggled to maintain her independence and personal care if the funding hadn’t been found because the step into the shower was too high for her to manage and the cubicle was quite enclosed.

“I really don’t know whether she would have been able to remain where she was, the work has really made a massive difference.”

Denbighshire young people urged to claim their savings

Many young adults in Denbighshire could have an average of £2,200 waiting for them in their unclaimed Child Trust Fund account.

Child Trust Funds were introduced by the UK Government in 2005. Accounts were opened for almost six million children born in the UK between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011.

Nearly half of Child Trust Funds in Wales remain unclaimed. According to the Share Foundation, around 1,240 accounts are still unclaimed in Denbighshire.

Young people aged 16 or over can take control of their own Child Trust Fund, although the funds can only be withdrawn once they turn 18. Families can continue to pay up to £9,000 a year tax-free into a Child Trust Fund until the account matures. The money stays in the account until the child withdraws or reinvests it into another account. If a parent or guardian could not set up an account for their child, the government opened a savings account on the child’s behalf.

Every 16-year-old is sent information about finding their Child Trust Fund from HMRC with their National Insurance letter. Anyone unsure about their situation should check with their bank or building society. Alternatively, young adults and parents can also search on www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds to find out where their Child Trust Fund account is held.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets said: “I strongly encourage all eligible young people to check their accounts and claim what is rightfully theirs. The investment could be placed into an adult ISA or put towards their education, housing or driving lessons.

"I would urge young people to use the online tool to track it down or, for parents of teenagers, to speak to them to ensure they’re aware of their Child Trust Fund. It could make a real difference to their future particularly at a time when finances are tight.”

The Child Trust Fund scheme closed in January 2011 and was replaced with Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISA).

* For more information on Child Trust Funds, visit www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds. Alternatively, visit https://www.meiccymru.org/do-you-have-money-hiding-in-a-child-trust-fund/, text 07943 114449 or call 080880 23456.

Llangollen pub appears in The Guardian's '30 of the best' list

A Llangollen venue has been listed among The Guardian's '30 of the best' UK pubs for 'an autumn escape with great food'.

* For the full story on Leaderlive, go to: Four North Wales pubs ranked on The Guardian's top 30 list | The Leader