Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen, which has seven en-suite bedrooms and a 50-cover restaurant, is owned by Cambrian Training Company, Wales’ leading apprenticeship provider to the hospitality industry. Aiming to establish itself as a food destination, the business is developing apprentices to become the next generation of chefs and front of house staff for the hospitality industry. “My focus at Chartists 1770 is to cook great food using the best seasonal, Welsh ingredients to create a casual, gastro style dining experience,” said Tully, who is originally from Builth Wells. “Our new menu offers refined Christmas food with turkey and a selection of game – venison, duck and rabbit. “Customers can expect the same international flavours that were so popular at Teulu Restaurant and which offer something completely different to any other restaurants in the area. “There is so much potential at Chartists 1770 which is the perfect environment for my food. I am looking forward to working with Paul to pass on our knowledge to inspire and mould the apprentices who all seem keen and excited which is great for everyone. “The four star restaurant with rooms grading is great, as we are one of only 17 across the whole of Wales. The next step is to let our food do the talking and if awards come, then that will be great.” Executive chef Jamie Tully (third from right) with the kitchen and front of house teams at Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen. Future plans by Tully, who has cooked for the super-rich and famous around the globe, include a taster menu for private dining events in four outdoor dining pods at Chartists 1770, with the food cooked over a charcoal barbecue. Arwyn Watkins, OBE, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, said: “Jamie has expressed what he wants to achieve now he is back home in Mid Wales and I am more than happy to provide a platform for him to deliver that ambition and take Chartists 1770 to the next level. “Hopefully, he will inspire our apprentices with the skills and knowledge he has gained whilst working in different countries around the world. He joins a talented team whose hard work and attention to detail helped secure the four star grading for Chartists 1770 at the Trewythen.” The restaurant is open from Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 2.30pm for lunch and from 5.30pm to 8.30pm for dinner, while the rooms are open seven days a week. To book a table go to www.trewythenhotel.wales/book-a-table . Executive chef Jamie Tully (left) with his team (from left) head chef Paul Fox, Rosie Koffer, Owen Fleming, Toyah Skilton and Russell Lee at Chartists 1770 at The Trewythen.
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A Santa Special on Corris Railway. Corris Railway is advising customers to hurry and pre-book limited tickets for Santa Specials on December 10 and 11. The Santa Special will be running every 90 minutes from 11am to 3.30pm on both days and tickets can be pre-booked through the railway’s website www.corris.co.uk . Meanwhile, progress continues with the railway’s new Falcon 0-4-2ST steam locomotive at Alan Keef Ltd. Buffers made by Corris Railway Society’s volunteers at Maespoeth Junction workshops have been fitted to the front and rear of locomotive number 10. The volunteers have also been busy continuing work on a new clerestory carriage which the new locomotive will eventually head and have fitted sprung buffers to the railway’s ex-Trecwn vans and installed a slate roof to a heritage carriage shed. Fundraising continues for locomotive number 10 which is scheduled to be operating at Corris next year. The railway’s Christmas cards and 2023 calendar can be purchased from the online shop at www.corris.co.uk Get Jerky will be title sponsors of Rally North Wales and have been involved in motorsport since 2018. (Image credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography) Rally North Wales has secured a new partnership with Trailhead Fine Foods for 2023 which will see the popular loose surface stage event move its base from Dolgellau to Welshpool. The March 25 event will be known as the Get Jerky Rally North Wales, promoting the Welshpool-based company’s leading nutritious, high-protein beef jerky snacks brand. Organised by Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Car Club (WSSCC), the rally will feature stages in world-class forest complexes, famed for their pivotal role in events such as Wales Rally GB. The move to Welshpool will offer new opportunities for the rally, ensuring the event remains fresh and exciting as it continues to progress. This new partnership with Get Jerky is an exciting phase for the rally with event organisers set to announce more details on the planned schedule and format in the coming weeks. WSSCC chairman Guy Weaver said: “Rally North Wales is overjoyed to welcome Get Jerky as title sponsors of the event and we are very excited to announce that Welshpool will be the host town for 2023 which in itself offers new opportunities for the rally. “Get Jerky is an extremely popular and trusted brand in motorsport and used Wales Rally GB in 2018 to launch the product to the world. We can really resonate with their business model and, as they are based in Welshpool as well, it made complete sense to move the event to their home town. “More information will be released in due course, but we would like to extend our thanks to Arwyn Watkins of Trailhead Fine Foods for supporting the event.” Mr Watkins, OBE, managing director of Trailhead Fine Foods, is equally delighted to partner with the event. “Our brand has been a constant feature in both modern and historic rallying championships in the UK,” he said. “When we were approached by Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Car Club for support, it was clear that both partners had a clear understanding of the challenges that are faced in running a motorsport event such as the Get Jerky Rally North Wales. “The rally’s importance to the economy of the host communities in Welshpool and Dolgellau is especially important to the Get Jerky brand and the organising team fully supports that priority. “This is a new partnership which has the potential to make a real difference. I expect to see some exciting announcements that will further increase opportunities within our communities, as well as deliver an environmentally positive impact solution to enhance the prospect of top-level motorsport in Wales for all.” More information about the event will be released in the coming weeks. A Santa’s Grotto, two reindeer and a spectacular fireworks display are just a few of the family attractions at this year’s Royal Welsh Winter Fair on November 28 and 29. Santa Claus and his reindeer will be taking time out from their busy winter schedule to meet children attending the event at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd. His grotto will be located in the Clock Tower, Tŷ Ynys Môn, near the bandstand, on both days of the event and he will be available from 2:30pm to 3:30pm and 4:30pm to 6pm on Monday and 11am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 3:30pm on Tuesday. Visitors can see the reindeer at the Forestry Small Action Ring, next to the bandstand, on Monday afternoon only, from 2pm to 6pm. Another main attraction this year is a fireworks display at 7pm on Monday. As usual, the Food Hall will be packed with delicious delights from traders across Wales and beyond and there may be a festive tipple for the grown-ups. School and college groups are welcomed at the winter fair, as the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) continues to support an important initiative to share knowledge about the agricultural industry and how food is produced. Groups interested in attending are asked to email requests@rwas.co.uk or call the RWAS office on 01982 553683. For more information about the winter fair or to buy tickets visit the RWAS website https://rwas.wales/ . Spotlight: Wales Best Guides2/11/2022
2023 will be the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of Wales Official Tourist Guides Association. The membership association was set up to be the guardian of global tourist guiding standards in Wales and to provide support and insurance for its member qualified guides, as well as a means of socialising and sharing ideas with other guides. Many of you will have met your local qualified tourist guides. Most of our customers come from outside Wales in the form of overseas visitors, tour operators or cruise ship ground-handlers who book our services. Our Guides’ listings can be found here: Wotga Guides in Wales - Wotga Wales (walesbestguides.com) . Specifically in Mid Wales we have long-standing Blue Badge guide Huw Davies, based in Llangeitho, Tregaron; Green Badge Guides include Mark Cole from Cardigan and Laura Thomas in the Brecon Beacons. Mid Wales Tours owner, Sean Westlake has made a great impact in the region since setting up with his unique motorcycle and sidecar tours. Any of the Blue Badge all-Wales Guides are qualified to guide in Mid Wales. Training and Trading In 2021 as a response to the total wipe out of guiding business during the pandemic and also to improve the commercialisation of WOTGA’s income potential, bringing benefit to Guides and capitalising on the wealth of skills and experiences amongst the WOTGA membership, we set up a social enterprise, Wales Best Guides Enterprises Limited. We call it WOTGA’s training and trading arm. Three WOTGA members are directors (innovator, Amanda Whitehead, finance expert Alison Hypher and myself, long-time project manager, Christine Evans). We have just begun to employ 5 part-time staff. Our Services as Wales Best Guides Enterprises Ltd:
Delivering training courses across Wales and online from an Entry Level programme Get Into Guiding, for volunteers and those who want a taster course to support a community project; Level 1 (Single Site) and Level 2 (Walking Guide) for one of our formal “badge” qualifications - the White Badge; the Level 3 Green Badge regional course for guiding on a moving vehicle or reach the pinnacle with a Level 4 Blue Badge Dragon, all Wales course. We are the only one of the four UK nations to have Guides recognised as official by their Government. The Welsh Government present the badges to those qualified. Our training is structured to meet European quality standards, which in turn match up with global standards. Our trainers are all qualified guides who have undertaken specialist train the trainer programmes.
With our wealth of expertise as qualified guides, all of whom have experience and achievements in other careers, we can deliver projects, outcomes, reports and action plans to support your work with the tourism sector. We don’t just talk about our visitors, we talk to them on a daily basis, bringing authenticity to your work. The WOTGA members are our consultants. They provide an expert pool of individuals to call upon according to the demands of a consultancy, e.g. local and regional; subject specialisms and cross-cutting theme experience. We also engage experts in other fields as required to complement our own skills and enable us to meet requirements.
One of our commissions has been working with Cynnal y Cardi and friends in Llandysul over the last year or so, to look at “Guided Cultural Adventures” aiming to attract visitors from the coast to the country. Wales Best Guides Enterprises Limited does not primarily offer Guided Tours. We are there to drive business to the 60 plus members of WOTGA who work as freelancers, either occasionally when cruise ships are visiting, or increasingly as full-time Tourist Guides with tour products available on online or by booking direct. Guides work business to business or increasingly, using technology as business to consumer, for the free, independent traveller (FIT) and local visitor markets. What makes a great Guide? Here are some essential qualities: Resourceful, knowledgeable, caring, patient, have great stamina, be a good listener as well as a talker, be confident to speak to groups, be interested in Wales and its stories, have tact, know what to talk about and what not to! Be safety and security conscious, be able to work as a team and work well with others, particularly with your coach driver. Know when to stand back and let the expert in a venue or attraction take over - but make sure you stay on time! Be always well-presented and smile! Be able to work to our practical quality standards, be a good problem solver and be ready for anything. Each day brings its own surprises!
Completing formal guide training is no small undertaking, both in time and investment, but the rewards are there for you, when you put in time and effort in establishing yourself once qualified. What better way to earn a living than telling the fabulous stories of Wales to an interested audience of guests from both far and near. There are two areas within Tourist Guiding where we need more supply: Linguists and Driver Guides. During the pandemic, we ran two online courses for linguist guides qualified in other areas and used by “other language” tour operators, so that these guides could provide a much better interpretation of Wales to their guests. This group focused on the Italian, Spanish and Russian-speaking guests. We still need more German speaking members, in particular for any languages spoken by the countries targeted by Visit Wales Welsh Government in their tourism marketing. Driver Guiding is increasingly popular. As a driver guide, you have a Local Authority plated vehicle which provides complete flexibility for your guests and an ability to reach places other larger groups may not be able to. Demand is out there. What next for Tourist Guiding in Wales?
Ultimately, the overseas market remains our core business. There is growth in cruise ship visits which we respond to, although it is recognised as difficult for these guests to reach the heart of Mid Wales in their time allowed. Our priorities for the next couple of years are to improve our profile within communities in Wales, to improve and increase our digital marketing and to increase the diversity of our membership. Of particular importance in helping us to do this is ”Get Into Guiding,” an Entry Level Community based programme of training. This course is just four days long and involves lots of practical work in your community, suitable for volunteers who undertake walking festivals or wellbeing walks locally or maybe you have a local heritage project and want to have a vehicle to present your information beyond an exhibition or online content. If you would like to hear more about this to complement your community project, do get in touch at: walesbestguidesenterprises@gmail.com.We have small pot of funding to part-match yours during 2023, so do get in touch.
Preparations are well underway for the annual Royal Welsh Winter Fair which takes place at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd on November 28 and 29.
The schedule for the butchery section, which includes competitions in dressed poultry, meat hampers, and various meat products, is now available on the RWAS website https://rwas.wales/ . Entries close on Monday, October 31 and must be submitted online. Classes for the section include middle, short back, and streaky bacon, beef, lamb and pork burgers, and various types of sausages. Each entry will be cooked and taste tested by the judges. All entries for the Bacon, Burger and Sausage competition must be clearly labelled and delivered to the Carcass Hall by no later than 8.30am on the morning of Tuesday, November 29. Entries are limited to two per class and judging begins at 10am. The entries must then be collected from the Carcass Hall no later than 4pm the same day. Sponsors for the Bacon, Burger, and Sausage competition are asked to visit the event website for more information or email sponsorship@rwas.co.uk. A crystal award for the section has been sponsored by Steve Morgan Catering. Caer Beris Manor, available for exclusive hire for weddings, business events, family celebrations and gatherings. Exclusive hire packages are being offered by a popular Mid Wales country house which has been forced to revise its business plans due to spiralling costs. Caer Beris Manor at Builth Wells has reluctantly closed Teulu Restaurant, launched this summer to rave reviews under globetrotting head chef Jamie Tully, and is now operating as a bed and breakfast. Existing bookings for weddings, group gatherings and Christmas events will continue as planned. However, a new venture will see the picturesque property, located in 18 acres of grounds on the banks of the River Irfon, offered for exclusive hire for team building activities, family gatherings and events. Exclusive hire packages begin at £3,999 for one day or £7,499 for two. Breakfast service costs an additional £650 a day or the commercial kitchen may be hired for £200 a day if customers wish to bring their own caterer. The Manor, which has 18 bedrooms sleeping up to 38 guests, can also be hired for weddings and events from £4,999 a day or £9,499 for two days. Couples can also hold their wedding ceremony in the grounds for an additional £500. For full details of the exclusive hire packages, contact the hotel on Tel: 01982 552601, email: info@caerberis.com or visit www.caerberis.com . Kimberley Southwick, who co-owns the Caer Beris Manor with her husband Omar and her parents, said: “This journey has certainly thrown us some curveballs since taking over the manor at the end of 2019, just before the pandemic. “But we’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a great family and team behind us and we are still standing and still as in love with the manor as we ever were!” Explaining the change of business direction, which has brought about the closure of Teulu Restaurant, she said: “During this current economic crisis, with the costs of food and utilities not only doubling but tripling, we can't keep raising prices as, ultimately, it’s the customer who pays the highest price when it comes to the restaurant. “We’re incredibly proud of the success of Teulu, but even with a packed restaurant and awesome reviews, it just could not be saved with what’s happening in the country right now. “It’s yet another tough time for us, as it is for so many, but we want to say this loud and clear: we are not closing! “The manor will run as a B&B for the foreseeable future and we are always open for locals to pop in for a drink or a cuppa. There are numerous dining options in and around Builth Wells and we are so happy to be able to support these businesses. “We’ve survived Covid, flooding and more, and we are confident that we will see through this economic crisis and will continue through with the smiles and warm welcome you know and love. Thank you for your continued support.” The historic manor house, which was once the home of Lord Swansea, is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent membership organisation representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia. |
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