Penmaenuchaf in Dolgellau has completed the first phase of an ambitious refurbishment project.
 
The hotel has unveiled four beautifully designed suites on the top floor, as well as new kitchens, at this charming mountain retreat in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
 
Penmaenuchaf, an ancient, stone-fronted property situated at the foot of the rugged Cadair Idris and overlooking the Mawddach estuary, is the latest addition to Seren, and the group’s second hotel in Wales.
 
Owners Neil and Zoe Kedward have led the project with a vision to bring in a new level of luxury to the hotel and offer an enhanced sense of place, which lies at the very heart of their business ethos.
 
They collaborated for the first time with renowned, London-based interior designer, Nicola Harding who specialises in commercial and residential projects spanning the UK and abroad.
 
In order to reopen the hotel and continue trading in early February 2023, the kitchens and front-of-house areas were completed in just two weeks - a result of a motivated, local contracting team who reached such aspiring deadlines and overcame monumental changes and property developments.
 
Having endured a lack of investment for more than 30 years, Neil and Zoe’s goal was to triple the size of the old kitchens and front-of-house service areas. Also, to include a substantial pastry section and wash-up area separate from the main kitchen, to offer an exceptional working space for the team.
 
For the top floor, Nicola and her team were tasked with the challenge of transforming Penmaenuchaf’s five original bedrooms into four spacious new suites.

The new suites have been designed with a ‘home-from-home’ concept in mind and offer a seamless blend of old-world charm and modern design, whilst drawing on the hotel’s rich history and unrivalled setting in the dramatic mountainscapes of Eryri.
 
A rich colour scheme of pinks, reds, blues, purples and greens, delicate, patterned fabrics, wallpapers and traditional quilts create a naturally warming environment.
 
Framed and ornate pieces of antique Welsh lace are hung on the walls, traditional Welsh pottery blends with modern credenzas and beautiful pieces of antique furniture draw on Welsh culture.
 
Seren founder and owner, Neil said: “We’re delighted to have completed the first, exciting phase of our refurbishment work at Penmaenuchaf, with our four newly designed suites now ready for guests to enjoy.
 
“It's been a whirlwind of a time - having worked really hard to get the finance signed off by mid-January, we were only then able to formally appoint our designer Nicola Harding and begin the project.
 
“The design vision was to create a true sense of ‘hiraeth’ - a Welsh term that describes an earnest longing for a place, a home and a feeling – a place that holds some nostalgia deep in your soul. I hope Penmaenuchaf already represents the true definition of ‘hiraeth’, and we hope it’s a feeling our guests fondly take away with them.”
 
The second phase of Penmaenuchaf’s restoration project will begin in January 2024, with the aim of a late spring completion, and will include extensive work to the remainder of the bedrooms and ground floor lounge spaces.
 
It will also set in motion the beginning of a much larger project to restore and recover the grounds and historic gardens.
 
Tucked away in the dramatic Eryri National Park, Penmaenuchaf offers a relaxing, mountain retreat. Steeped in history, Penmaenuchaf is the perfect choice for those seeking to explore the local area rich in Welsh myth and legend, and those looking for both a cultural or adventure stay.
 
Alongside a peaceful getaway in one of 13 uniquely designed rooms and suites, guests can enjoy a relaxed dining experience of creative, modern British dishes. Head chef Thomas Hine has created a menu full of flavour using high-quality, seasonal produce, much of which is sourced right from within the national park itself.
 
Spanning 21 acres of breathtaking scenery, guests can nurture body, mind and soul, whether they’re meandering the perfectly manicured gardens, or venturing across the many scenic walking routes that line this dramatic part of the country.
 
Neil and Zoe started their adventure in 2008 with the purchase of Grove of Narberth, which was a derelict country house set in the Narberth hills. Since then, they have steadily grown the business and added venues to become a well-respected and high-quality hospitality operator.
 
Today, Seren is a wholly family-owned business that celebrates Welsh history, culture and community. Seren is the Welsh word for star and the company name represents its passion to nurture and support its teams, encouraging them to shine brightly and make a genuine contribution to the communities in which they are based.
 

​This year’s Royal Welsh Show will be greener and have a more modern outlook, an inaugural launch event at the Senedd was told yesterday (Wednesday).
 
Professor Wynne Jones, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) Board chair, told the Cardiff Bay launch that Cardiff University has been commissioned to undertake an environmental sustainability review of this year’s event.
 
“We are a society built on traditional values, but with a firmly modern outlook,” he said. “That will be noticeable as you walk around the show this year.
 
“We are launching the brand-new Welsh Food Village, Gwledd/Feast with ample seating and a live entertainment stage. Within the new food village, we will be hosting a Big Bocs Bwyd pilot project.
 
“Big Bocs Bwyd operates ‘pay as you feel’ food banks, promoting healthy diets, growing vegetables and delivers cooking lessons at some 50 primary schools across Wales.
 
“We’re putting a big emphasis on becoming greener at this year’s show. Having switched our energy supply tariff, all the electricity on the showground is from 100% renewable sources. We’ve introduced a new green policy, banning the use of single use plastics.
 
“On the Tuesday of the show, we will be launching our new vision for horticulture as we prepare for a major re-vamp of the section in 2024.”
 
Now in its 102nd year and widely recognised as one of the world’s best agricultural events, the show attracts more than 200,000 visitors over four days and this year is being held from July 24-27 at Llanelwedd showground, Builth Wells
 
Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said: “The Royal Welsh Show is the highlight of the agricultural calendar here in Wales and I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Llanelwedd again this year.
 
“There is much to look forward to, from the wonderful animals on show, to the array of competitions and the incredible amount of award-winning Welsh food and drink being showcased in the Food Hall.
 
“The show continues to go from strength to strength and I would like to wish Aled Rhys Jones all the very best in delivering his first summer show since being appointed as chief executive. I am sure it will be another major success.”
 
Funds raised by this year’s feature county, Glamorgan, will go towards two landmark projects - a Rural Leadership Programme and refurbishment of the South Glamorgan Hall.
 
“The Royal Welsh Show is one of our national beacons of excellence. We all feel an immense sense of love for and pride in it,” said John Homfray, show president.
 
For more information about what’s in store and to buy tickets go to the RWAS website https://rwas.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/ .

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has congratulated the Welsh Shearing and Woolhandling Team for taking three out of the six world titles at the 2023 Golden Shears World Championships.
 
The Golden Shears Sheep Shearing & Woolhandling World Championships, which showcases the art, skill and techniques it takes to be a world champion, were held at The Royal Highland Show in Scotland last weekend.
 
Shearing teams from 30 nations flocked to Edinburgh to compete at the event, which is held in a different location around the globe every three years.
 
In what became a fantastic win for Wales, Gwion Lloyd Evans claimed the world champion individual machine shearing title, with fellow Welsh shearer and previous world champion, Richard Jones finishing second.
 
In the team’s section, Evans and Jones combined superbly to take the team Machine shearing competition. The world champion woolhandling team event was won by Welsh pair Ffion Jones and Sarah-Jane Rees.
 
Elfed Jackson and Gareth Owen came third in the world blade shearing team championship. Elfed was also sixth in the world champion individual blade final.
Ably leading the Welsh team to their success was manager Alwyn Manzini.
 
RWAS chief executive Aled Rhys Jones congratulated the Welsh team on their excellent win. “The society, along with the whole of Wales, is so very proud of what the team has achieved in the Golden Shears,” he said.
 
“This is the best result Wales has ever had at the world championships and we cannot wait to welcome the team home to raise the roof at The Royal Welsh Show in just four weeks’ time.”
The RWAS thanked to the main sponsors of the Welsh team, Nettex Agri and Caleb Roberts Insurance Services Ltd.
 
People wishing to watch the world champions compete in the Royal Welsh Shearing and Woolhandling competitions are being encouraged to book their tickets in advance at https://rwas.ticketsrv.co.uk/tickets/ .

Congratulating all the medal winners, Susan Barrie said: “We were absolutely thrilled with the quality of the whole range of wines that we tasted this year. We consistently see great sparkling wines and they only get better.
 
“What is great to see though is the evolution of the other categories, especially amongst the still wines, and the quality we are seeing really shows such enormous potential for the future. 
 
“What’s also terrific is that the wines come not only from the largest producers but also some of the smallest, and from long established wineries to newcomers.”
 
Kerry Vale Vineyard’s award winning wine may be sampled at the company’s shop and wine café or during a vineyard tour and tasting when visitors discover how vines are grown to achieve the best quality grapes.
 
The vineyard will also be exhibiting at Shrewsbury Food Festival this weekend. Visit www.kerryvalevineyard.co.uk for further info.

A Mid Wales escape rooms attraction has won a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award from Tripadvisor after a series of great reviews from customers.
 
The coveted award celebrates businesses that have consistently received great traveller reviews over the last 12 months, placing the winners among the 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.
 
“We are thrilled to have received this award for the second year running,” said Lorna Morris, who co-owns Beyond Breakout in Newtown with her business partner Jo Woodall. “It is especially important as it is based on customers’ feedback.
 
“This has made us even more determined to get our new game finished and released as soon as possible.”
 
Check out all the reviews and discover more about Beyond Breakout at: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g616285-d19853844-Reviews-Beyond_Breakout_Ltd-Newtown_Powys_Wales.html
 
John Boris, Tripadvisor’s chief growth officer, said: “Congratulations to the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winners. The travel resurgence we’ve seen throughout the past year has even further heightened the competition.
 
“Earning a Travelers’ Choice Award demonstrates that you have provided great experiences to those who matter most: your guests. With changing expectations, continued labour shortages and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am continually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”
 
Located on the fourth floor of Newtown’s Royal Welsh Warehouse, Pryce Jones Building, Beyond Breakout offers indoor and outdoor escape games together with tailor-made team building sessions that have fun at their core.
 
Beyond Breakout is a member of MWT Cymru - https://www.mwtcymru.co.uk/ - a membership organisation that represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.

​A new addition to the equine section will be the Ridden Part-Bred classes, providing exhibitors with an opportunity to show non-pedigree horses.
 
This year's show will also host the national shows of the British Blonde Cattle Society and Kerry Hill Sheep Society.

​A new Egg Section has also been introduced this year, including cookery and craft competitions for both children and adults. Educational display boards of different poultry breeds and a children’s activity area will feature as part of this new section.

Along with the fantastic livestock, the show provides something to interest everyone through its wide range of activities and attractions.
 
New for 2023, the exceptional equestrian artist Santi Serra will be a top main ring attraction. Acclaimed as the ‘Spanish Horse Whisperer’, Santí will perform his mesmerising choreography act with his Arabic horses every day of the show.
The display is natural dressage, capturing the beauty of the horse’s movement and the harmony between animal and man.
 
Not to be missed are the Bolddog FMX Team. As the UK’s number one motorcycle display team, Bolddog Lings base their show around the world’s largest and most sophisticated mobile landing system.
 
The display features top-ranked freestyle motocross riders, incorporating the latest heart stopping tricks as usually only seen on TV.
 
More highlights in the main ring will include The Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh, one of the very few all-brass bands within British Army Music, and The RAF Falcons, the UK’s premier military parachute display team, with their exciting free fall display at speeds up to 120mph.
 
Returning to entertain the crowds will be the spectacular Tristar Carriage Driving, Meirion Owen and His Sheepdogs, Inter Hunt Relay and much more.            
                
With more than 400 retailers and trade stands, shoppers will find plenty of unique gifts, homeware, accessories and clothing to choose from. The Royal Welsh Show Shop will also be open throughout the event, where visitors can purchase all their Royal Welsh goodies, including the official limited edition show poster for 2023.
 
The Food Hall will once again be a hive of culinary activity, showcasing the very best produce that Wales has to offer. A wide range of companies will take part in the Royal Welsh food showcase, creating a real microcosm of the Welsh food and drink industry, from savoury delights to sweet treats.
 
This year, the brand-new Welsh Food Village will be launched, featuring an array of exciting food and drink options, along with a live music stage and seating to relax and soak up the atmosphere.
 
To tickle your taste buds even further, the brand-new pop-up ‘Pori / Graze’ restaurant will be open during the show, situated on the edge of the main ring alongside the Members Centre.
 
To find more about what’s in store at this year’s show, visit https://rwas.wales/royal-welsh/. Tickets are now available to buy online in advance to skip the queues and avoid delays.

The award of an MBE in the King’s official birthday honours list to a prominent figure in the Mid Wales tourism industry is richly deserved, says the chairman of MWT Cymru.
 
Rowland Rees-Evans, a director of Penrhos Park, Llanrhystud, says he’s delighted that the excellent work of Val Hawkins, chief executive of Machynlleth-based MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism), has been recognised after 24 years’ service.
 
The MBE recognises Val’s service to tourism and the economy of Wales.
 
“We at MWT Cymru are absolutely delighted and thrilled that Val has been recognised for the excellent work she has done over the last 24 years for the tourism industry in Mid Wales and Wales as a whole,” said Rowland. “Her MBE is richly deserved.
 
“On behalf of MWT Cymru board and members, we appreciate greatly the work she has done and continues to do to support member businesses. Val and her small team were truly exceptional during the Covid pandemic in getting information out to members across Mid Wales which was very important at a very challenging time.
 
“Val is respected across the whole of Wales for the important work she does to support the tourism sector, ensuring that the voice of Mid Wales is heard at government level.”
 
MWT Cymru, which has a team of four full and part-time staff, is an independent tourism organisation representing 600 tourism and hospitality member businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.
 
Val thanked the MWT Cymru directors and staff she has worked with over the years and member businesses and community groups for their support.
 
“I am part of a business community and, for a rural region, we collectively punch way above our weight,” she said. “Our strength lies in being a small but flexible and agile team which allows us to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.”
 
Val, who lives in Newtown, was born in Glasgow and joined Mid Wales Tourism as membership manager in June, 1999. She was promoted to general manager in 2005-‘06, a job title that developed to chief executive.
 
Widely respected across the tourism industry, MWT Cymru has built strong relationships with Visit Wales, Visit Britain and trade organisations across Wales.

The 38th annual Race the Train event at Talyllyn Railway takes place on Saturday, August 19.
 
The popular event - https://www.racethetrain.com/ - is organised by Tywyn Rotary Club in conjunction with the railway which provides the trains for athletes to race.
 
The event began in 1984 and has been held annually on the third Saturday of August except for 2020 and ‘21 during the pandemic. There are four main races of varying distance, each being age restricted, and a ‘Toddlers Trot’ for children aged up to nine years.
 
In the two senior races, runners compete against a train. The ‘Rotary Challenge’ - minimum age 17 years - sets off from Tywyn Wharf Station and the route takes runners through the town for one mile before they follow designated footpaths and cross private land, opened by landowners.
 
The runners race the train as far as Abergynolwyn Station where they and the train turn back for the return journey. The distance of the senior race is 14 miles.
 
The second race, the ‘Quarry Challenge’, begins at Quarry Siding, a mile short of Abergynolwyn as the upcoming train approaches. Runners race towards Abergynolwyn Station before turning to race the train back to Tywyn, a distance of 6.2 miles (10K). Minimum age for this shorter race is 15 years.
 
Two shorter events are open to younger entrants who don’t race against a train. The Dolgoch Challenge runs from Dolgoch Station to Tywyn Wharf, a distance of 5.5 miles and the minimum age for runners is 10 years.
 
The fourth event it the Tynllwyn Hen Challenge, a distance of 3.3 miles, with a minimum age of nine years.
 
The Toddlers Trot is run around a field near Wharf Station but uses the same finish line as for all the other four races.

Extract from the survey introduction.

​Meet In Wales develops and promotes Wales as a leading business events destination and they are currently undertaking a review of Business Events products and skills in Wales.

To take part in the survey, go to:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MeetInWales-Survey

The survey is anonymous and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

If you would like to undertake an in-depth one-to-one session with the research team via a telephone or a Teams/Zoom call, please indicate in your survey response.
​
The survey will close at 9am Monday 26th June. 

For more information about the Meet In Wales Destination Review 2023, go to:
https://businesswales.gov.wales/tourism/meet-wales-destination-review-2023

​

Cloverlands Model Car Museum in Mid Wales, which is home to a collection of around 5,000 model cars, is to host its first ever car meet and model valuation day Sunday, July 2.
 
Members of the Mid-Wales Classic Vehicles Club will be showing off their vehicles alongside the museum, located inside the Connections Heritage Centre at Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (www.wllr.org.uk) in Llanfair Caereinion (postcode SY21 OSF), from 11am.
 
Tickets for a train ride on thus railway this weekend include free entry to the model car collection. A model car valuation specialist will attend to value any models that are brought along.
 
There will be many surplus models, motoring books, memorabilia and magazines for sale and an impressive collection of more than 1,000 period prints on view, recently acquired from a generous local donor.
 
Originally established at Montgomery Institute in 2015, the museum began with a collection of around 2,000 models amassed by late motoring historian and model maker Gillian Rogers, of Trefnanney, near Welshpool, who sadly died on December 27 last year.
 
Ten other collections have since been loaned or given to the museum, including one from Canada, 1,000 Grand Prix and touring cars and a fine display of American cars.
 
For more information about the museum, visit www.cloverlandscarmuseum.com .
 
Both Cloverlands and the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway are members of MWT Cymru, which represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.