What's on at Pengwern Hub this May

What's on at Pengwern Hub this May:

Museum talk cancelled

The talk by Dr Jack Hunter planned for tomorrow evening, Wednesday April 29, at Llangollen Museum has been cancelled due to illness.

Genesis GV60 sets new EV benchmark

Genesis GV60 drive by Steve Rogers

They’ve been around for nearly five years so why aren’t Genesis models flooding our roads like the new Chinese brands?

The obvious answer is Chinese models are massively cheaper but while they are well equipped you can’t make a like for like comparison with this GV60 which warrants superlatives like exquisite, luxurious, and desirable.

The biggest problem for this premium brand is breaking into the cartel that is Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and you can throw a resurgent Volvo and Lexus into the mix as well.

From my experience the one thing Genesis does a lot better than its rivals is attract attention, yet the first question I’m asked is ‘what’s this’? People think the GV60 is stunning, which it is, but still can’t identify with the badge. When so many Chinese brands look as if they have been cloned, at least Genesis models have a refreshingly individual style.

Before diving into whether the GV60 lives up to my billing, a quick recap on the Genesis back story. The company has been building cars for a decade but only turned up here in 2021 with an all electric GV60 and a few petrol and diesel saloons and SUVs, all of which have now been converted to electric. For them the internal combustion engine is history.

Here is the bit you can identify with. Genesis is the posh arm of Korean kings Hyundai and Kia - think Toyota and Lexus. That sort of parentage should be enough to convince us that Genesis is not doing a runner from our shores any time soon. It’s here to stay.

Which is a good thing because the GV60 is pretty damn good. A minor update last year amounted to a larger motor, up from 77.4kWh to 84kWh, some cosmetic updates and naming changes. Nothing else needed to be done, they got it right the first time.

So now we have the entry rear wheel drive Pure, jumping to Sport and the ridiculously quick all wheel drive Performance although why you would want to spend an extra £13k to hit 62mph in four seconds is beyond me. I suppose it's for those who enjoy an adrenalin rush which you do get because I have experienced the thrill when you hit the boost button to unleash 480bhp.

You don’t get that on the Pure but don’t worry, it is no slouch and will take you further down the road than its macho brothers before the batteries run dry.

With the soaring price of fuel switching to electric has suddenly become more appealing and a range of 348 miles eases range anxiety, except a full charge from my wall charger only yielded 310 miles although I still got that mileage.

It is an efficient set up with an i-pedal to increase battery regeneration, and with a heat pump there is no loss of range when the heating is switched on. I’ve got solar panels at home so I can fill up for less than a tenner. Food for thought.

All the adjectives used in the opening apply mainly to the cabin which really is exquisite. I have always used Audi as the benchmark for quality fittings but Genesis matches it and gives the interior the wow factor.

The 27in one piece touchscreen sets it off surrounded by a variety of contours, quality leather and lashings of brushed aluminium trim and switches. Yes, switches for the heating, heated seats, quick keys, and a rotary controller for making selections from the screen which you don’t have to touch if you prefer not to. A small drawback is that you can’t read what’s stamped into the aluminium quick keys at night.

On top of that, the GV60 is refined with very little road or wind noise, comfortable, and in spite of its near two tonnes of weight holds itself together through twisty bits.

The equipment and safety list for the Pure warrants nothing more than an ‘okay’ and I would be tempted to spend another £4,170 (is that an ouch!) for the innovation plus pack. This brings biometric technology for face and fingerprint entry, an excellent head up display and surround camera, and a superb safety cell that provides protection front back and sides. All it needs is to be bullet proof to make it impregnable!

Verdict: GV60 is no more costly than its premium rivals and deserves to do better. It is very much a desirable package, but becomes expensive if you add the option packs.

What the wife says: ‘I want one’.

Favourite feature. I’ve got two: The crystal dome in the centre console that rotates to become the gear selector, and the pull out drawer instead of a drop down glove box.

Fast facts

GV60 Pure

£53,300 (£62,605 tested)

Motor: 84kW

Range: 348 miles

10-80% DC fast charge 18mins

Home AC charge: 10 hours

0-62mph 7.8secs; 226bhp

Boot: 432 litres; 53 litre front locker

Insurance group 38

1st VED £10 then £200 a year

Take a tour through Llangollen's rich history this Saturday

                        

Our Historic Llangollen/Hanesyddol i Bawb is staging another tour through the town's intriguing history this Saturday, May 2. 

Following on from the success of last year's event of the same name, the latest Tour Through Time will take place throughout the day in a variety of locations.

Attendance is free, people can join or leave at any stage and no booking is necessary, say organisers.

The day's programme is:

10am - St. Collen’s Through Time: a guided journey through the history of St Collen’s, revealing its remarkable heritage and the ongoing work to conserve, reinterpret and make the church more accessible for all. St Collen’s Church, Regent Street, LL20 8HU. 

11am - Crime and Punishment in Early Victorian Llangollen: hear the stories of Victorian criminals and how they were punished in Llangollen’s first magistrates’ courtroom, gaol and police station. The Lock Up Heritage Centre, Victoria Square, LL20 8ET. 

12noon - Welcome to Plas Newydd: discover the story of two remarkable women and the home they created in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Wales. Plas Newydd, Hill Street, LL20 8AW. Why not stay for lunch at the delightful 'Stable Tearoom' at Plas Newydd? 

2pm - Hands on History: A journey through history and prehistory, viewing and experiencing items from the Stone Age to the present day. Llangollen Museum, Parade Street, LL20 8PW. 

3pm - Celebrating the Llangollen Railway: A look back at the preservation and development of Llangollen Railway. Llangollen Railway, Abbey Road, LL20 8SN. 

4pm - Peace and Music across the Years: the story of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, LL20 8SW. 

The Corwen hotel where it's fit for a Welsh legend to eat

Llanblogger taste test

* The Owain Glyndwr right in the heart of Corwen.

Although the Welsh legend it's named after was temporarily away from his nearby plinth, The Owain Glyndwr Hotel in Corwen was very much all present and correct the day we called there for Sunday lunch recently.

With origins dating back to the 13th century, it's long been a gathering place for travellers and locals - possibly even the great man himself as he had manor at nearby Glyndyfrdwy and he is believed to have launched his 1400 revolt in the area. 

One of the few remaining coaching inns along the historic London to Holyhead route, the hotel sits proudly in the heart of Corwen’s historic centre, just steps from the 12th-century church and ancient graveyard - and also that statue of its legendary namesake which on our visit was away being repaired after a close encounter with a lorry.

After a period of decline, the hotel was bought by the local community in September 2024 with support from a UK government grant. 

Since then it has been carefully restored to retain its heritage while offering all the comforts of modern hospitality.

* The excellent beef Sunday lunch we ordered.

* The pleasant dining area adjacent to the bar.

And that includes serving up a rather delicious Sunday lunch, which my wife and I sampled and very much enjoyed.

The Sunday menu, including other traditional variants based on chicken and so on, provides the choice of large or small helpings. I hadn't noticed this until it was pointed out to me by the staff member who very efficiently took our order. But I'm glad she did because the small version was plenty large enough for me, thanks.

Based, in both our cases, on a succulent and sizeable slice of prime beef, our promptly-delivered meals were augmented by a pleasing array of trimmings, including some toothsome roast potatoes, a big roasted carrot, some cauliflower cheese, a portion of subtly oniony-cabbage and the fluffiest of Yorkshire puds. Not forgetting individual boats brimming with thick, tangy gravy. 

There was an interesting range of desserts on the blackboard which we didn't get into, both of us being too full after that "small" roast job.

The community team who now run the place have done an excellent job of facelifting the dining area adjacent to the bar where we were to be bright and clean while still retaining it's historical feel.

The cost of two excellent meals plus a half of Guinness and blackcurrant and a glass of fruit juice - guess who had which - came to a reasonable £32.25, which is remarkable value in today's recession-crippled times.

There's free parking not far away where the pavilion used to stand and it's dead easy to get to on the train direct from Llangollen.

Had The Owain Glyndwr been serving up Sunday lunches like this back when he was in the vicinity I reckon the man it's named for would have been delighted to eat there. 

Special event marks locomotive magnate buried in Llantysilio

* Charles Beyer. 

* Oliver Lang, Alastair Rodgers and Hazel Rodgers, Tracey Lang and David Hennigan will be paying respects at Llantysilio Church where Beyer is buried.

A special commemorative event will take place in Llangollen this summer to honour the life and legacy of pioneering railway engineer Charles Beyer. 

The event on Tuesday June 2 will mark exactly 150 years since Beyer’s death and will form part of wider recognition linked to LGBT+ History Month 2026, highlighting lesser-known aspects of his life alongside his major contribution to railway engineering.

Bringing together local residents, railway enthusiasts and historians, the day will feature a unique programme combining heritage, history and a traditional steam train journey through the Dee Valley.

In an unusual and symbolic format, the commemoration will begin with the first part of a church service at St Collen’s Church in Llangollen at 10am. The service will then pause, allowing attendees to travel by steam train from Llangollen Railway Station at 10.40am to Berwyn Station.

For the occasion, a special Charles Beyer headboard has been commissioned for the steam locomotive, created in partnership with the East Lancashire Railway, adding a unique and fitting tribute to the journey.

* The steam train with its Charles Beyer headboard.

On arrival at Berwyn, a commemorative plaque will be unveiled, commissioned by the Institution of Civil Engineers, recognising Charles Beyer’s significant contribution to engineering. 

Participants will then process across the Chain Bridge to Llantysilio Church, where the service will resume. Both services will be led by Father Lee Taylor, Vicar-in-Charge and conclude with a graveside tribute, creating a powerful link between the locations that defined his life and legacy.

The event will then continue with a reception at Llantysilio Hall, the former home of Beyer, including refreshments, tours and short speeches, before the return journey to Llangollen later in the day.

As part of the wider programme of commemorations, a further event will take place at Brookfield Church, Gorton on Sunday June 14. This will include a special service from 10am to 11am focusing on Beyer, Peacock and the church’s historic links to the company, alongside a thanksgiving for Richard Peacock. 

* All Steam Ahead from Wales to Lancashire for Charles Beyer Life Celebrations. Mark Llewellin (left) with Keith Whitmore (right), pictured alongside East Lancashire Railway Pride Train staff.

Refreshments will follow, before an afternoon session of talks between 1pm and 3pm featuring contributions from Michael Bailey, Robert Herpai and Anthony Dawson. Each talk will last around 20 minutes followed by questions, with the event closing at 4pm after further refreshments.

Charles Beyer was one of the most influential engineers of the 19th century and co-founder of Beyer, Peacock and Company, one of the world’s most important locomotive manufacturers. 

The company built engines for railways across Britain and around the world, including for the Great Western Railway and the London Underground, as well as exporting locomotives internationally.

Born in 1813 in Saxony, Beyer moved to England as a young man and established his career in Manchester, becoming a leading figure in locomotive design during the industrial revolution. He later settled near Llangollen and rebuilt Llantysilio Hall, where he died on June 2 1876. He is buried at Llantysilio Church, a short distance from Berwyn Station.

Beyer also had a lasting connection to Manchester’s social and sporting history. As a major benefactor, he helped fund the construction of St Mark’s Church, one of three churches he supported in the area. This church later became the birthplace of Manchester City FC, originally founded there in 1880 as St Mark’s, Gorton.

Keith Whitmore, a Director of the East Lancashire Railway and one of the organisers, said,: “This will be a very special and fitting tribute to Charles Beyer in the place he chose to call home. The way the service moves between Llangollen and Llantysilio, using the railway itself, makes it a unique and meaningful event. 

"It is also an opportunity to tell a fuller story about Beyer, including aspects of his life that are not always widely recognised, and to highlight the contribution of figures from what we now recognise as the LGBT community to railway history.”

Peter Dickinson, Station Master at Berwyn Railway Station, added: “Berwyn, recently acknowledged as the most beautiful railway station in the UK, has a direct connection to Charles Beyer through its proximity to Llantysilio Church, where he is buried. It will be an honour for our station to play a part in this important commemoration. 

"The unveiling of the plaque at the station, alongside the arrival of the steam train and the continuation of the service here in the valley, will make this a particularly memorable and special occasion for everyone involved.”

The event forms part of a wider programme of commemorations taking place across the UK, with further events planned at heritage railways and museums connected to Beyer’s life and work.

*If anyone would like to attend the event,  email info@llangollen-railway.co.uk or call Alderman Keith Whitmore, Director at East Lancs Railway on 07879 891 153.

Event Itinerary – Tuesday June 2:

• 10.00am: Service begins at St Collen’s Church, Llangollen

• 10.20am: Service pauses

• 10.40am: Steam train departs Llangollen Railway Station

• 10.50am: Arrival at Berwyn Station

• 10.55am: Unveiling of Institution of Civil Engineers commemorative plaque at Berwyn Station

• 11.00am: Procession across Chain Bridge to Llantysilio Church

• 11.40am: Service resumes with graveside tribute

• 12.30pm: Reception at Llantysilio Hall (refreshments, tours and speeches)

• 2.00pm: Return train departs Berwyn

• 2.15pm: Arrival in Llangollen

Eisteddfod chairman responds to questions raised by licensing public notice

* Eisteddfod chairman John Gambles has responded to questions about the public notice.

In response to questions raised about a public notice published today by Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, its chairman John Gambles has put out a statement this evening (Monday).

In it, he says: “As Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, I want to reassure residents regarding the recent premises licence application for the Llangollen Pavilion.

"This application represents a straightforward administrative update following the transfer of the Pavilion’s management to the Eisteddfod on April 1 2025 from Denbighshire Leisure. 

"It does not introduce any changes to the nature of the licence itself, which has been in place for over 20 years. The terms, conditions, and operating framework remain exactly the same.

 

“Since taking on the Pavilion, we have been incredibly proud of what has been achieved by our dedicated team of volunteers. They have worked tirelessly to breathe new life into this much-loved venue, bringing a diverse programme of events that both celebrate culture and support the local economy. 

"These include major events such as Wales Comic Con and a range of concerts and performances that attract visitors from across the region and beyond.

 

“We are particularly excited about our special fundraising concert taking place on Friday May 8 2026, featuring Meibion Marchan, alongside outstanding artists including Angharad Huw, Branwen Medi Jones, and Rhys Meirion, who will also act as compère. Events like these showcase the very best of Welsh culture while helping to secure the Pavilion’s future.

 

“We understand that some residents, including our county councillor Karen Edwards, have raised questions. 

"I want to be absolutely clear: this is a procedural application only. There are no changes to licensing hours, activities, or the way the venue operates.

 

“Our commitment remains firm - to ensure that the Pavilion continues to play a positive and responsible role in the life of Llangollen. We are equally committed to supporting the wider local economy, not least through increased visitor numbers and improved parking provision, which benefits businesses and residents alike.

 

“We will continue to engage openly with the community and ensure that the Pavilion remains a source of pride for the town.”