APRIL 2017
! EE FR
MAGAZINE
? n o s ’ t a Wh hly guide t Your mon ents v to local e
The bestWherefamily days out to take the kids this Easter
TOP 10
Castles to visit this spring
A laughing matter THE REGIONAL COMEDY SCENE IS NO JOKE
INSIDE J Homes & Interiors J Restaurant review J Property of the month
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MAGAZINE
More than just skin deep
Clever storage
Page 4 NWM 2017
is the key to a
Llandudno Junction Industrial Estate LL31 9SX
great kitchen
Open Mon-Fri 9:30 - 5 then Saturday 10-4
info@greentreekitchens.co.uk
www.greentreekitchens.co.uk
01492 585477
MAGAZINE
Dear Reader North Wales. What a place. Maybe, just maybe, I’m biased. But the recent accolade bestowed upon the region from the travel experts at Lonely Planet suggests that I’m not.
According to the guide’s annual Best in Travel
We want to hear from you!
tell a fictional tale or two.
list, which was published at the end of last year, North Wales is the fourth best region
And, because North Wales is our home, we
to visit – in the world. And, I hasten to add, it
will be bringing your homes and interiors to
was the only place to make the list out of the
these glossy pages. Property is a passion for
entire UK.
many of us here so, whether you are looking to move or improve, you are in the right place.
Praise indeed. And reason (as if we needed one) to launch North Wales Magazine ¬– a
So welcome to the first edition of North
celebration of everything that this dynamic
Wales Magazine – a brand new, independent
area has to offer.
publication that represents the diversity, individuality and sheer gloriousness of our region.
From what’s-on listings to the latest information on the local wining, dining and culinary scenes, we will be a comprehensive
Enjoy.
lifestyle companion and the go-to guide for the region. We will also celebrate the great outdoors (even if that means bringing your wellies), examine a spot of local history and
Kate Hamilton Founding Editor
wales MAGAZINE whats on 8 pages of bus orci luctus
WHERE’S THE FIRE? Llandudno, that’s where. Finally, North Wales has pizzeria to be proud an artisan of. Kate Hamilton Austin – the man went to meet Morgan behind our local wood fire.
many homeowners regard them as the best, and most practical, choice.” An interesting point – because in today’s modern world, flooring isn’t always what it seems. Innovation in printing and improved manufacturing techniques have led to tiles pushing the boundaries
FOOD & DRINK
“Because tiles can now replicate so many other materials, and are no longer associated with cold floors, many homeowners regard them as the best, and most practical, choice”
of design. Creative and trend-led, ceramic tiles come in a myriad of colours, finishes, patterns and sizes – and don’t even have to look
“The main benefit of using [ceramic] tiles is their durability, and the fact that they are very easy to install,” continues Grant. “With tiles
sales manager. “This simply means a porcelain tile is much more
can achieve any look you like – wood-effect, marble-effect or aged-
hardwearing and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use; the extra
“Wood has certainly made its mark in the interiors world, but many
effect. You get the benefits and practicality of porcelain (including
density is a result of a slightly different manufacturing process.”
easy maintenance) without the cost that comes with using other
in the bathroom, concerned about the effects of moisture and
materials, such as real wood or stone.”
INSIDE FOOD AND DRINK ROUND-UP RESTAURANT REVIEWS
British Ceramic Tile’s marketing manager, David Richards. “Thanks
But, while ceramic tiles are only recommended for interior walls
to advancements in inkjet technology, wood-effect ceramic tiles are
and floors, porcelain tiles are a more popular choice for floors that
offer a more cohesive look.
ideal for the bathroom, offering the same design aesthetics but with
anticipate heavier traffic – such as kitchen floors, hallways and
Many of Nicholls & Clarke’s porcelain floor tile ranges offer an
the added benefits of being waterproof, durable and easy to install.”
even commercial applications – as they are increasingly resistant to
‘outside’ version, which is an anti-slip version of the same ‘inside’
scratching and chipping.
NWM 2017 Page 43
tile – giving people the opportunity to roll the same floor tile used in an internal living area straight outside on a patio, giving the effect of
Ceramic printing also allows for natural stone, including marble, to be convincingly replicated, bringing the natural look into the home
“Although they look the same, the main difference between ceramic
extended living space and gaining that all-important indoor/outdoor
but with a lower price tag and a more practical finish.
and porcelain tiles is that a porcelain tile is denser and less porous
flow.
J
NWM 2017 Page 73
The latest from the world of interiors, plus some fascinating properties that are currently on the market
As British high streets go, Llandudno’s main thoroughfare unusual. A host is pretty of dining options are available, but Pizza Express there isn’t a Prezzo, or Zizzi’s in sight.
J Subscribe. If you want to ensure that you receive each and every copy of North Wales Magazine then why not subscribe? All you pay for is the post and packaging.
But that’s
brilliant I hear you say – we’re proud dining scene. Which of our independent, is all well and good local until, of course, decent pizza. you want to get a Enter Johnny Dough’s – the new pizzeria in town that is by storm. It seems taking Llandudno that good quality, fresh pizza – created sourced produce from locally wherever feasibly possible – is just wanted. Add in what the area an exciting cocktail list and a choice offering good value of local beer all for money and it seems that you success. have a recipe for But how did it all begin? Meet Morgan Austin, the man and who was once, behind the pizza literally, a man with a van.
And, just like our European neighbours, many Welsh homeowners are now opting to continue their tiled floor into the garden in order to
humidity, which can cause the timber to warp and buckle,” says
Page 72 NWM 2017
than a ceramic tile,” says Neil Kirwan, Cosentino housebuilder
builders and designers are rightly skeptical about using real wood
like tiles as we traditionally know them.
J Keep in touch. North Wales Magazine might be a new publication, but we want you to see it as your publication. So send in your contributions, letters, photos and short stories (not forgetting your contact details!) and become part of the North Wales Magazine family.
“A friend of mine had a pizza oven on a trailer,” explains quizzed on Johnny Austin, when Dough’s roots. “He needed some help working at a windsurfing one weekend festival, so I offered £4,500 in those to give him a hand. three days, and He took I thought: I can do that.” But, like all things Austin undertakes, he put his own spin on it. “Cooking pizza off the back of a trailer wasn’t ideal,” the course of that he says. “I learnt over weekend alone that when the wind got up toppings
“
Johnny Dough’s ethos is to serve the best pizza at the most affordable price
subscribe@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk
”
NWM 2017 Page 51
J
director at Designworks Tiles. “Because tiles can now replicate so
whatson@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk
editorial@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk
In this issue...
many other materials, and are no longer associated with cold floors,
J Are you organising or taking part in an event that should be covered in our what’s-on listings? Then make sure you tell us! If you’ve got something to shout about then let’s shout louder, together.
Meet the man behind Johnny Dough’s, Llandudno’s newest pizzeria, in our Food & Drink special
NWM 2017 Page 5
Ali Hough: Mobile 07940 730421 email sales@tattydivine.co.uk
MAGAZINE
Contents 09 What’s On? Your comprehensive guide to all of the best events,
16 The Big Picture Well a picture does tell a thousand words…
35
Rupert Bates talks to Steve Morgan, the local
30
25 Easter outings The best family days out to be had this school holiday
You don’t have to travel far to go back in time – some of the most impressive castles in the world can be found on your own doorstep
35 No joke then the last laugh is on you says Dave Rothnie
39 Town in Focus The best of Llangollen
39
The latest news from our local food heroes and the area’s wining, dining and culinary scene
65 Homes and Property the latest homes to come on the market
97 Win! Two family tickets to Greenwood Forest Park are up for grabs
Printing Design 2 Print Builder Street West Llandudno, LL30 1HH
North Wales Magazine is new, independent, regional magazine. It is distributed through the door of households in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey. It is also available as a FREE pick-up across the region at carefully selected outlets.
If you didn’t expect North Wales to be a comedy hub
month, get inspired by the latest interiors and see
Sales Director Grant Hamilton
Contact Us editorial @northwalesmagazine.co.uk sales @northwalesmagazine.co.uk subscribe@ northwalesmagazine.co.uk
30 Top 10… Castles
Explore a reader’s home, peruse our property of the
Art Director Simon Marriott
With thanks to Desh Kapur Photography
housebuilder with a big heart
45 Food & Drink
Sub Editor Suzanne Frost
Contributors Dave Rothnie Rupert Bates Alison Hough Belinda Mortell Tim Watson Cai Ross Julian Hughes
shows and days out in North Wales during April
19 Interview with… Steve Morgan
Editor Kate Hamilton
65
Disclaimer: All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part (electronically or in print) without written permission is strictly prohibited. Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of published content, and any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of North Wales Magazine. The publishers assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from participation in, or as a result of, any offer, competition, information or advertisement contained within the magazine. North Wales Magazine does not endorse any of the advertisements featured. All words and images remain the property of their respective owners and all copyrights are observed. North Wales Magazine is not associated with any newspaper group.
NWM 2017 Page 7
wales MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE
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F O O D & D R I N K | C O N S E S S IO N S | E V E N T S
Top tip
felis elementum porttitor. Nunc interdum lacinia fringilla. Proin et accumsan augue.
LLANDUDNO’S PREMIER ATTRACTION
UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL - MAY 2017
Llandudno Pier is the premier attraction to visit whilst
Easter Weekend “ Live Music @ The Bar”
on holiday in Llandudno, a fantastic holiday venue in
Easter Sunday 16th April The River City Jazz Band
Wales. We are Wales’ longest Pier and offer superb views, concessions, a relaxing stroll and excellent food stalls. Relax, and enjoy the leisurely pace as you explore our friendly shops and stalls. Take a stroll and enjoy the
Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza 30th April – 1st May “Live Music @ The Bar” Saturday 29th April Dave Lee Vaughn Sunday 30th April & Monday 1st May The River City Jazz Band
beautiful views of Llandudno and the Irish Sea.
Spring Bank Holiday “Live Music @ The Bar”
Llandudno Pier & Attractions are open 10a.m till late
Saturday 27th May Dave Lee Vaughn
during the Summer 2017 Season.
Sunday 28th May The River City Jazz Band
SCHOOLS / GROUPS WELCOME WITH PARKING NEARBY | DISABLED VISITOR ACCESS NORTH WALES NO.1 AMUSEMENT ARCADES | SUPERVISED CHILDRENS PLAY AREA SPECIALIST SHOPS
01492 876258 | simonmason@llandudnopier.com
Page 8 NWM Llandudno Pier,2017 North Parade, Llandudno, Conwy LL30 2LP
wales MAGAZINE
What’s on MAGAZINE
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Easter egg hunt As well as helping the Easter bunny find where he lost his eggs, children can learn about the latest buzzing additions to this hive of activity at Penrhyn Castle in Bangor
1st
WSSCC Rally WSSCC Rally North Wales offers
1st & 2nd
Binocular and Telescope weekend
classic stages in the Dyfi Forest complex in Dolgellau. It will host
Come along to RSPB Conwy for some hands on advice
some of the best modern day and
from our friendly, expert and impartial team. Whether
historic crews on the event
you are looking for your first pair of binoculars or thinking about upgrading your telescope, we can help to find
1st
something which
South Stack Photography Competition
will suit your needs
To mark its 40th birthday in 2017, RSPB South Stack in Anglesey has announced a photographic competition to find iconic images that celebrate the wildlife, people or landscape of the reserve throughout the seasons
1st & 2nd
Prisoner Convention Weekend
1st
To celebrate the 50th
spring – with a day of special activities announced to coincide
anniversary of The
with its arrival.
Dragonfest at Wrexham Museum An enormous Dragon sculpture is to descend on Wrexham this
Prisoner, the Six of One Society will be hosting
1st
a bonanza of Prisoner
Real Ale Train
related activities at
Step onboard The real Ale Train at Llangollen Station and
Portmeirion – from an
soak up the atmosphere while enjoying the Real Ales on
Election Parade to a
offer. Departs at 6.30pm, arrives back approximately 9.30pm
Human Chess Game
NWM 2017 Page 9
MAGAZINE
What’s on
5th-8th
Romeo and Juliet Combining circus and theatre for audiences as young as 7 and as old as old man time himself. For those who loathe
2nd
Autism friendly bubbly Sunday
Shakespeare, those who love Shakespeare and those in
Dr Zigs will set aside its fabulous bubble barn in Bangor for
between who just want a good
children on the autism spectrum today. Starting from 9.30am,
night out – at Theatr Clwyd
the barn can be all yours for 25 minutes. Friends and siblings are welcome to come along in the afternoon
2nd
6th-8th
Visit the spring 2017 wedding fayre in Venue Cymru on
The Welsh National Opera
Llandudno’s Victorian promenade
presents Madam Butterfly at
Venue Cymru Wedding Fayre
Madam Butterfly Venue Cymru. Performances start at 7.15pm 4th
Pond Dipping at Bodnant Garden
8th
Llynnon Mill After a little bit of uncertainty, it has been announced that
It’s a strange world
Angelsey’s Llynnon Mill will
under water. Come
open for the season today
and discover some of the weird and wonderful things that live in our pond
6th
Fred MacAulay and Peter Brush at Theatr Clwyd Fred MacAulay as seen on Mock the Week, The News Quiz and Just A Minute is beside BBC New Comedy Award Finalist Peter Brush 8th – 11th
The Big Build 6th
Castle Fun Day
This free event for children aged 8-12 years will take
Pop along to Penrhyn
place at RSPB Conwy. Kids
Castle for a day of family
will be encouraged to use
fun. Games on the lawn,
their imagination and skills
storytelling, crafts and
to create their own life size
fun trails for explorers of
nature structure with pallets,
all ages!
natural materials, hammers and saws.
Page 10 NWM 2017
10th
The amazing bubbleman Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences worldwide for over 30 years with the magic, science and fun of bubbles, and now he brings his art to Rhyl Pavillion
10th
The Bootleg Beatles Tracing the Fab Four’s journey through the sixties, the world’s most famous Beatles Tribute band continues to draw critical acclaim from across the globe with their stunning recreation of the greatest songbook of all time at Venue Cymru
11th
Open-air theatre
8th-9th
Comic Con
An interactive day of family theatre fun set against the beautiful backdrop of Plas Newydd House and
Wales Comic Con returns to Glyndwr University Students
Gardens in Anglesey. Performances last approximately
Guild, Wrexham, with more signings, panels, exhibits and
25 minutes and will involve a small amount of walking
displays – plus plenty of cosplay
in the gardens.
8th – 23rd
Anglesey Open Studios event
12th & 19th
photographers, film makers, printmakers, installation
Workshops with Wild Elements
artists and craftworkers will open their studios to visitors.
The National Trust has
Organised by The Anglesey Arts Forum
enlisted the help of the
For two weeks Anglesey-based painters, sculptors,
Wild Elements team to 9th
Mayor’s Variety Night with Ken Dodd
help kids tick off some of their “50 things to before
Mayor of Mold’s Variety Concert, in aid of the Mayor’s Save
you’re 11 and ¾” lists at at
a Life appeal, at Theatr Clwyd. An evening of music and
Penrhyn Castle
comedy with the legendary Sir Ken Dodd
13th
One night of Elvis 10th
Clwb Celf Pasg
Lee Memphis King, Europe’s most successful Elvis Presley tribute artist,
During the two-hour workshops at Galeri Caernarfon,
recreates the essence of the King at
children will have an opportunity to create collages and
Venue Cymru
other Easter themed crafts
NWM 2017 Page 11
MAGAZINE
What’s on 14th & 15th
Beauty and the Beast Does it have to be Christmas for a jolly old panto? Oh no it doesn’t! Keith Chegwin and Basil 16th
Brush come to Rhyl
Golden egg hunt
Pavillion this Easter
Edward I, King of England from 1272 until 1307, paid to have over 400 eggs coloured and gold-leafed, to be used as Easter gifts in at least one year. Why not try your hand to solve the clues at Conwy Castle?
14th
Maunder: Olivet to Calvary
14th-17th
Easter Weekend
Mold Choral Society presents Maunder: Olivet to Calvary at midday in St Matthew’s Church, Buckley
Enjoy all the eccentricity 15th – 17th
of a Mad Hatters Party in Portmeirion’s picturesque
Easter Medieval Weekend
piazza. Dress up, drink
Children can come along to Beaumaris Castle and take part in
magic potions and indulge
special knight schools where they will enjoy a spear drill, try
in a fantasy afternoon tea
on some armour and see how archers defended and attacked
- tickets from £20. Then
the castles back in medieval times. There will be lots of crafts
on Sunday, join our Easter
and demonstrations of medieval life, and birds of prey to see.
parade before hunting for eggs in the village grounds 16th
Harlech Medieval Easter Quest
15th & 16th
Step back in time at Harlech castle with the Ardudwy
Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom
knights, with have-a-go archery, combat displays, and weaponry demonstrations.
From the makers of Peppa Pig comes this BAFTA award-winning
16th
television animation
Easter Egg Hunt
live on stage at Venue
Hop along to Criccieth Castle this Easter in search of coloured Easter eggs and you’ll be
Cymru
rewarded with a chocolate one.There will be numbered and different coloured Easter eggs hidden around the castle for you to find.
Page 12 NWM 2017
17th
S4C’s Cyw at GreenWood Forest Park
20th
Come to Greenwood Forest
Llandudno on April 20th
Daniel O’Donnell National treasure Daniel O’Donnell announces his Spring tour for 2017, and visits
Park to meet S4C’s fabulous presenters of Cyw. Huw, Catrin, Dona Direidi, Seren
21st-23rd
stars of their TV programmes
A Day Out With Thomas
including Sali Mali and Sam
Peep! Peep! Thomas the
Remembering Fred
Tân – will be putting on shows
Tank Engine is back
Strictly Come Dancing
and making appearances
at Llangollen Railway
stars, Aljaz and Janette
throughout the day
Station for a Day Out With
will be bringing their
Thomas. This fun-filled
‘Remembering Fred’
event offers children and
tour to the Pavilion
their families the opportunity to take a ride with Thomas, meet
Theatre, Rhyl
and Lobs – and some of the
22nd
April Race Meeting Six races will take place
21st
The Fat Controller and enjoy trips on Thomas’ friends
throughout the course of the day at Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse. Tickets start
22nd
from just £7 and children
Ghost Hunt
go free
Bodelwyddan Castle has a long-established reputation as a haunted house – and you can now take part in an investigation to experience Bodelwyddan after dark for yourself in this month’s Ghost Hunt. From 9pm-3am, adults only 23rd
Gran Fondo Conwy The Gran Fondo Conwy is an epic cycle sportive set in the heart of North Wales. Setting off
22nd
TRAKZ Busking Festival
from Conwy Castle, the three Gran Fondo routes travel around some of the best climbs, views and roads the counties of Conwy and Denbighshire have to offer
Llandudno Junction Trakz, a street Festival bringing 27th
together for a fun, family
Rod Stewart Songbook
26th
friendly event. Taking place
Jim Cregan, who co-
Food that tastes real, direct
from 11am until 4pm, the
wrote, co-produced
from the producers. Wander
festival will also feature a
and musically
the stalls at RSPB Conwy to
craft fair, car boot, workshops
directed for Rod
buy your fresh vegetables,
and a family inflatables area
Stewart for almost
local meats, cheeses, jams,
two decades, brings
pickles and more
the local community, railway and businesses in the area
22nd
Pasta making course
Conwy Farmers’ Market
his music to life at Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl
The essential course for all pasta enthusiasts, you will be using fresh ingredients
27th
in order to discover how to
Stand-up in a Brewery
make raviolis, tortellini’s and
The best in UK Stand-up featuring Steve Royle + support. MC Dave Rothnie also hosts the
linguine on this free course at
audience joke competition at Stand-up in a Brewery in Llandudno
Bodnant Welsh Food
NWM 2017 Page 13
MAGAZINE
29th
What’s on
Big Rock Festival, Penmaenmawr A full day of reggae, ska, 2 tone and 80’s music with live bands and DJs. Full bar from 11am, fair rides and food stalls.
29th
Creative Rhos Festival Come along to Rhos-on-Sea for ‘Creative Rhos’ where there’ll be entertainment, artists, local groups, schools and charities all taking part showing off their creativeness. A chance to buy some new art and crafts, local produce, enjoy demonstrations, listen to local musicians, find a club or hobby
29th – 30th
Sea kayaking course A weekend course for paddlers who want to get to grips with sea kayaking. Based around the coast of Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula, it’ll give you a basic knowledge of coastal waters and the kayak handling techniques specific to the sea. Organised by the National Mountain Sports Centre at Plas Y Brenin 29th & 30th
Tasting weekend Sample some of the great produce that the National Trust stocks in its shop at Penrhyn Castle on this special taster weekend 29th – 1st May
Harlech and the War of the Roses Step back in time at Harlech Castle and discover what life was truly like in the 1460s, when members of the Wythe Retinue take you back to the War of the Roses.
29th – 1st May
Llangollen Walking Festival There are some great walks for you to choose from this year - some old favourites and some cracking new walks within the UNISCO World Heritage Site and Clwydian Range 29th – 1st May
Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza
30th
The famous Llandudno Victorian
Step back in time to 1348. Rumours abound that the newly invested Prince of Wales
Extravaganza, which has been known to
- Edward, eldest son of Edward III, also known as the Black Prince - is coming to
attract 300,000 visitors, runs for three
visit Caernarfon Castle. Come and help with the preparations
A Knight’s Return
days at the end of this month Are you organising or taking part in an event that should be covered in our what’s-on listings? Then make sure you tell us! whatson@northwalesmagazine.co.uk
Page 14 NWM 2017
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MONDAY 29 MAY - SATURDAY 3 JUNE Tickets from £9.50 BOX OFFICE 01492 872000 venuecymru.co.uk
LONDON ★ PARIS ★ NEW YORK ★ SYDNEY ★ TOKYO ★ LLANDUDNO NOW BOOKING! NWM 2017 Page 15
MAGAZINE
Page 16 NWM 2017
The big picture Located on the Llšn Peninsula, the village of Porthdinllaen is steeped in history. It is also home to an idyllic beach and, it has been argued, one of the best beach bars in the world. The Ty Coch Inn is located at the centre of the village, which is now owned by the National Trust, and is the perfect place to sit back, relax and soak up North Wales at its best‌
Photo courtesy of Desh Kapur Photography. deshkapur.com
NWM 2017 Page 17
MAGAZINE
Page 18 NWM 2017
Welsh
foundations
From his childhood upbringing in Llandudno to building one of Britain’s largest housebuilding companies, Steve Morgan has come quite a way. Rupert Bates listens to his story, and hears why North Wales had such a large part to play in his journey
Redrow’s Goetre Uchaf development enjoys a superb location on the outskirts of Bangor, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy North Wales town
The accent is unmistakeably Scouse as befits a man born in Garston and who very nearly bought Liverpool Football Club. But ask Steve Morgan about life and business – both past and
drive, having not one, but two paper rounds before school in
present – and North Wales is at the heart of the conversation.
the morning to earn extra cash.
Redrow Homes is the biggest housebuilder in Wales and
Morgan switched to John Bright grammar school in
one of the largest and most successful in the UK. It recently
Llandudno, playing in the same football team as Joey Jones,
announced record half-year revenues of £739m and pre-tax
who went on to play full-back for Wales and Liverpool,
profits of £140m. Its target is annual turnover of £1.9bn in
winning the European Cup in 1977.
2019 building more than 6,000 homes a year in Wales and
Morgan started out, as a teenager, working on building sites
England.
in North Wales. Be it labouring, sewerage, mixing concrete, laying pipes, or groundwork, he loved the science of civil
I have got to know Morgan well over the years. His business
engineering and construction.
drive and acumen has seen him assemble a huge personal fortune, but pounds have never dulled his passion and his
Morgan’s first private housing scheme was in Denbigh,
success has seen thousands of jobs created and thousands of
followed by a second development in Kinmel Bay.
people purchase the home of their dreams. The name Redrow, with the company founded in 1974, was Redrow’s headquarters are at St David’s Park in Ewloe,
actually dreamt up at his kitchen table in Rhyl, with the ‘red’
Flintshire and while the Redrow product stretches
taken from Redwood Drive in Rhyl and the ‘row’ from his first
throughout England, North Wales is where it all started.
home in Harrow Drive, Runcorn.
The Morgan family moved to Llandudno when Steve was 13. The next house was in Rhos-on-Sea and a school move
The North Wales connection runs deep over the years with
to Colwyn Bay, with the football mad teenager frequently
family homes taking in Tremeirchion, Llandyrnog and Ruthin
hitching to Anfield to watch his beloved Liverpool. As a North
and early Redrow offices in Mold. “I love the people of North
Wales schoolboy there was an early example of his business
Wales,” he says.
NWM 2017 Page 19
MAGAZINE
A helping hand Steve Morgan has gifted over £200 million to The Morgan The Morgan Foundation is committed to helping those helping children and families in desperate need
Foundation in a move which will benefit thousands of charities and community groups, particularly those helping children and families in desperate need. The donation is believed to be one of the largest ever made by a British businessman. The donation marks a new era for the charity, which was formed by Morgan in 2001. Since that time it has committed £35 million to good causes in North Wales, Merseyside,
The founder and chairman of Redrow has come an awfully
West Cheshire and North Shropshire – establishing itself as
long way in business and in life, but little has changed
one of the biggest charities in the region. In addition, The
internally, as a tour of his sites highlighted. Ask any
Morgan Foundation has distributed 47 specially adapted
housebuilding chief, especially an owner-driver, what
smiley buses.
gives him most pleasure in his job, apart from heartening weekly sales figures, burgeoning profits and victory over an
The donation has been made in the form of 42 million
obstructive planning committee, and most will say visiting
shares to The Morgan Foundation, representing 11.36% of the
sites, sniffing the market and galvanising their teams at
issued share capital of Redrow PLC.
the coalface.
“Steve Morgan’s incredible generosity will mean a huge and
It is easy to dismiss this claim as PR spin; the very idea that
profound step-change for The Morgan Foundation,” said
the boss prefers the shop floor to the walnut boardroom table;
Jane Harris, administrator of The Morgan Foundation. “Our
an earthy chat over a mug of builder’s tea in the show home
ethos is based on making a difference and Steve’s gift of
to the power business dinner in the swanky restaurant. The
over £200 million means we will be able to help thousands
overriding interest is surely the number on the bottom line
of more people in need. We can also ramp-up the donation
of the balance sheet, not the number of pillows in the master
of smiley buses which have made such a positive impact to
bedroom.
the disabled and socially isolated in our region. Don’t talk to Morgan about pillows. I’m not sure how many “I’m also delighted to say we are actively planning some
were tossed aside as we made a tour of Redrow schemes.
very exciting, and significant, capital projects and we’ll be
Morgan walking up the path to a show home has caused
announcing more details soon.”
many a site manager and sales negotiator to cross themselves and that’s just the fear of getting Morgan’s tea wrong.
For more details on The Morgan Foundation visit: www.morganfoundation.co.uk
There is nothing he misses: he can spot a wrong-sized architrave from 100 paces, read a floor plan with his eyes
Page 20 NWM 2017
“
Outside of building homes and places, The Morgan Foundation he set up raises millions for charity and the work is clearly very close to his heart
”
While the Redrow product stretches throughout England, North Wales is where it all started
shut, pick up most tools on-site and do the job. In fact, for all
But the Redrow chairman then proceeded to answer a series
the corporate baggage he has to deal with as leader of a FTSE
of detailed questions about the location, the layout and the
250 company, it is on-site that he is perhaps happiest.
value, while all the time assimilating customer feedback and price levers.
To Morgan if something is out by 10mm it may as well be a mile. If he calls for the tape measure you’re in trouble. “To be
Morgan understands the bigger picture in terms of housing
a true professional and successful in this business you have
market confidence and economic growth. He also understands
to have an eye for detail, but also an absolute passion for what
the smallest picture, even shifting the angle of the photo frame
you do,” said Morgan.
on a bedside table in the show home. Proud of his product and people? Very. Satisfied? Never.
It was a fascinating insight into what makes one of the biggest names in British housebuilding tick. Attention to detail? That’s
The only other UK housebuilder to match the reputation and
not the half of it. You can’t quite smell the fresh paint as you
profile of Morgan is Tony Pidgley, founder and chairman of the
would ahead of a royal visit to a school - fresh coffee certainly
Berkeley Group and they are good friends.
and a degree of nerves among the sales consultants - but there is a difference between attention to detail and over-fussy.
“I have so much respect for Steve, starting Redrow from
Morgan is fastidious, but not to a fault and invariably, and not
nothing, leaving it, going back to save it and turning it into
just because he’s the boss, he is right.
what it is today,” said Pidgley. In 2009, having left in 2000, Morgan returned to Redrow to find a trading loss of more than
“Have you been giving them anything?” said Morgan, meaning
£44m on revenue of just over £300m. The transformation has
by way of incentives, to a sales negotiator.
been extraordinary.
“I gave one purchaser tea and a custard cream,” replied the
Morgan’s work ethic remains undimmed by success, but
sales negotiator, prompting a laugh from the boss and much
he knows how to play hard too and enjoy the fruits of his
relief from her. But Morgan was then on a mission to inspect
endeavours and the finer things in life with a great generosity
the show home; borrowing a pad and pen he jotted down notes.
to others.
“That rug’s got to go and why haven’t we got the bi-fold doors?”
Steve Morgan CBE built Redrow from nothing and a tough upbringing lit a flame, firing the value of working hard
Morgan called for a tape measure. “As I thought, this work
to achieve anything. Would he have been so driven and
surface is 75mm out.” Then a few more pillows and fluffy
successful had he been born with a silver spoon in his
cushions hit the floor. One viewer during our tour recognised
mouth?
Morgan and cheekily suggested the Redrow boss give him something off the price. “We can give you a cup of tea and a
“No,” Morgan replied instantly, while pointing out that it
custard cream!”
was wrong to equate a tough upbringing with an unhappy
NWM 2017 Page 21
MAGAZINE
Redrow’s Goetre Uchaf development provides much needed quality family homes in Bangor
childhood, growing up happy, but with a young zeal to succeed and values learnt early. “I don’t work for the money any more. I love what I do.” He refers to his businesses as ‘she’ – not just a person, but a woman to love. While planning issues and delays choke off housing supply, Morgan says there is a fundamental lack of understanding of a housebuilder’s business model. “Take the accusation we land bank. Ludicrous. We can’t afford to. Carrying costs hits product and the bottom line. Politicians don’t get it. We
Redrow’s Heritage Collection offers traditional craftsmanship and modern interiors
create homes and jobs, both directly and indirectly.” So where are the Steve Morgans of tomorrow? Can a young entrepreneur starting from nothing get on the housebuilding grid and develop in volume? After all, the country needs them. “There are a lot of barriers to entry, be it finance or planning. It is certainly harder to get started these days,” said Morgan. “But we must encourage the next generation and there needs to be more support for smaller builders. We are lucky to be in an industry that creates a legacy and positively affects so many lives.” Outside of building homes and places, The Morgan Foundation he set up raises millions for charity and the work is clearly very close to his heart. Morgan may be tough and stubborn, but any character references will be peppered with words like honesty and integrity, dealing in handshakes. He will always share the credit with staff, past and present, for he believes passionately in the team ethos, but knows he remains the culture and conscience of his business. I have enjoyed a buttery Burgundy with him at a Redrow Homes launch and sat next to him in the directors’ box at Wolverhampton Wanderers – the football club he owned from 2007, before selling last year. “Be it housebuilding or football, you have to commit blood, sweat and tears
Steve Morgan has gifted over £200 million to The Morgan Foundation in a move which will benefit thousands of charities and community groups
and will only get out what you put in.” The work ethic is relentless, but he is always the first to suggest a glass of Meursault and a gossip at the end of the working day or the final whistle. n
Rupert Bates is editorial director of leading housebuilding trade magazine Show House and new homes portal www.whathouse.com
Page 22 NWM 2017
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NWM 2017 Page 23
wales MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE
whats on 8 pages of bus orci luctus
MAGAZINE
whats on 8 pages of bus orci luctus
MAGAZINE
PENRHYN QUARRY
8 pages of bus orci luctus MAGAZINE
8 pages of bus orci luctus M A G A Z I NE
BETHESDA Home to the world’s fastest, and Europe’s longest, zip line.
Velocity & Adventure Terminal
FFOREST
BETWS Y COED With adventures for almost any age Fforest is the perfect place for a family day out
Zip Safari, Tree Hoppers, Fforest Coaster Treetop Nets, Plummet & Skyride
SLATE CAVERNS
BLAENAU FFESTINIOG The largest zip zone in Europe and incredible underground adventures.
Titan, Bounce Below & Caverns
After Velocity why not visit
Zip World adventu res are subject to restri ctions. For more inform ation call or go online.
RESTAURANT
01248 601 444 • ZIpworld.co.uk • #EXPERIENCEADVENTURE • ENJOY A HERITAGE TRAIN RIDE THROUGH THE DEE VALLEY
WHERE WILL YOU GO TODAY?
Page 24 NWM 2017
www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
Dr Zigs hand makes all of its toys and bubble mixes which are environmentally and ethically sound
A
family affair
Greenwood Forest Park is hosting its Easter Eggstravaganza from 1st -23rd April
North Wales boasts some of the best family attractions in Europe. We unveil some of the best days out to be had this Easter – come rain or shine.
As the school holidays loom many parents start to
Whether they want to make a splash on the UK’s
worry about how they are going to entertain the
only solar powered water ride, jump aboard the
kids. Dragging your little darlings away from their
world’s first people powered roller coaster, leap upon
screens isn’t always easy in this digital age, yet you
the super bouncy Giant Jumper or zoom down the
long for the time when a bucket and spade was all the
longest sledge run in Wales, children love exploring
entertainment they needed.
Greenwood Forest Park.
The good news is that North Wales has some of the
Voted Best Family Attraction in North Wales for six
best days out you can possibly have – so if you’re
years running, Greenwood will be taken over by
going to get them off their iPads, then this is the place
Cyw the Welsh language Children’s television block
to do it.
on Easter Monday, so come and meet their fabulous presenters Huw, Catrin, Dona Direidi, Seren and
Mention Greenwood Forest Park to most children and
Lobs and some of the stars of their TV programmes
they are off the sofa before you know it. North Wales’
including Sali Mali and Sam Tân.
leading family adventure park is set in 27 magical acres, and it’s pulling out all the stops for its Easter
Meanwhile, in the Forest Theatre, you’ll find plenty of
Eggstravaganza from 1st -23rd April.
entertainment throughout the Easter holiday, including Ricardo the Pirate and Harley’s Showtime – they just
NWM 2017 Page 25
MAGAZINE
Bounce Below gives thrill seekers aged seven and up a shot of pure, unadulterated fun in a spectacular setting deep underground
Greenwood Forest Park has been voted Best Family Attraction in North Wales for six years running
can’t wait to make you laugh. Or get creative in the craft area
Conwy Valley, this extraordinary place is a sight to behold –
where you can see local crafts people and make something
it’s home to a 300-metre world-first inland surf lagoon which
unique to take home with you.
sits against a backdrop of forest and mountains.
GreenWood Forest Park has also just unveiled its latest
Offering family-friendly surfing for all ages and abilities,
addition to the park. The new attraction, named the Magic
Surf Snowdonia’s revolutionary design and engineering
Chair / Cadair Y Gyffwrdd, will give children the opportunity
delivers different wave profiles in specific zones of the lagoon,
to shrink their parents in a fabulous optical illusion – without
so absolute beginners can surf safely alongside the more
an app in sight.
experienced.
Another way to get your parents to look smaller of course is
You can surf as part of a lesson, or book in for a freesurf (that
simply to get higher up yourself. Zip World’s Treetop Nets are
means you go in without an instructor). Surf board hire is
set in the magical Douglas Fir forest in North Wales and are
included in the cost of beginner and intermediate sessions,
designed to offer an amazing and adventurous way for both
and you can hire a wetsuit from £5 per day.
children (ages three and up) and adults to play up high in the trees.
Surf Snowdonia’s Surf Academy is led by former British and multiple Welsh surf champion Jo Dennison. Her team offers
Unlike traditional high ropes courses, you’ll be completely
friendly, patient and professional coaching with structured
surrounded by 3m high walls of netting – which means you
lessons and courses for children from age five, teenagers and
are always safe and therefore you do not need harnesses.
family groups.
Unique features include the longest net walkway in Europe,
As well as surfing there’s the super-fun Family Crash &
winding through 250m of woodland, with large trampoline-
Splash – a Wipeout style over-water obstacle course which
like nets and tunnels allowing the whole family to run, bounce
guarantees from spectacular splashdowns! There’s the
and leap between connecting tree houses.
catapult blob for older children (age 12 plus), and an oceanthemed soft play area for the younger ones.
However, if your children are more water babies than little monkeys, then a visit to Surf Snowdonia Adventure Parc is
Of course, jumping in the water is one thing – having it
most definitely in order.
rained upon you is quite another. And, with this being North Wales, it is always sensible to have a rainy day option up your
Located about seven miles from the sea in the heart of the
Page 26 NWM 2017
waterproof sleeve.
Surf Snowdonia offers familyfriendly surfing for all ages and abilities
The catapult blob at Surf Snowdonia is suitable for children 12 and over
Zip World’s Bounce Below is the first facility of its kind in the world. Hidden underground in a disused cavern, are trampoline-like nets hung at different levels (the highest being 180 feet above the cavern floor) linked together by walkways and slides. Bounce Below gives thrill seekers aged seven and up a shot of pure, unadulterated fun in a spectacular setting deep underground. The impressive site, in a former slate mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales, lets you play, slide, roll, jump and bounce from net to net in a cavern the size of a cathedral. Following a massive refurbishment, the Bounce Below experience now offers four new industrial slides, the height of two double decker buses and six new levels of bouncing fun, giving underground adventurers 400 additional square metres to explore. Visitors enter a network of enormous
The Llechwedd Deep Mine Tour tells the story of the men and boys who worked in Snowdonia’s slate mines and built an incredible industry which roofed the world
caverns hidden underground, once home to a working Victorian mine, and now brought back to life as the only subterranean playground of its kind, offering a unique adventure in a beautiful and historic location. Also buried deep under the mountains of Snowdonia lies another extraordinary experience. The Llechwedd Deep Mine Tour tells the story of the men and boys who worked in Snowdonia’s slate mines and built an incredible industry
You’ll start your visit on the UK’s steepest cable railway.
which roofed the world.
The clock will turn back 160 years as you travel 500 feet underground into the belly of the mountain.
Experienced from the point of view of a Victorian mining family, the tour uses cutting-edge enhanced reality
Once you arrive in the tunnels of the old mine,
technology, light projections and special effects to tell the
extraordinary light projections, enhanced reality technology
story of blood and guts, determination and resilience, risk
and explosive special effects will transport you to another
and endeavour.
time and place.
NWM 2017 Page 27
MAGAZINE
Zip World’s Treetop Nets offers an amazing way for both children (ages three and up) and adults to play up high in the tree
Accompanied by one of Llechwedd’s friendly,
the bigger kids have gone back to school, Dr Zigs hosts its
knowledgeable tour guides, you’ll meet the mine’s owner
special toddler sessions. Between 10 and 3pm every Thursday,
and founder John Whitehead Greaves as well as some of
toddlers (and their parents!) are invited to visit its sensory
the men and boys who spent up to 12 hours a day, 6 days a
activity zone for just £2.50 per child.
week, working underground in semi-darkness. With a toddler ball pit, toys, activities and – of course – You will even meet the quarry ‘danger man’ in person and
bubbles, this is a great way to get out and about with your
witness the extraordinary Victorian safety checks that
little ones before they join the dreaded digital age and burst
were conducted more than 100 feet above the mine’s floor.
your bubble for good… n
However, while the hour and a half tour is family friendly, it isn’t suitable for very young children or pushchairs. So, if you have toddlers in tow, a visit to Dr Zigs bubble barn could be just what the doctor ordered.
Contacts
An award winning company which specialises in Giant
Bounce Below: www.zipworld.co.uk
Soap Bubbles and fun, Dr Zigs hand makes all of its toys
Dr Zigs: www.drzigs.com
and bubble mixes which are environmentally and ethically
GreenWood Forest Park:
sound. Suitable for all members of the family (Dr Zigs put
www.greenwoodforestpark.co.uk
Mrs Jones and her wheelchair inside a giant bubble for her
Llechwedd Slate Caverns:
106th birthday), its Bubble HQ in Bangor is home to some of
www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk
the biggest bubbles in the world.
Surf Snowdonia: www.surfsnowdonia.com Treetop Nets: www.zipworld.co.uk
And when the Easter holidays have come and gone, and
Page 28 NWM 2017
Gypsy Wood Park is a magical day out for visitors of all ages, which all the family will love.
D I S C O V E R
Wales
There are loads of things to see and do at our outdoor park in the foothills of Snowdonia in North Wales, and we’re a must-see attraction for all animal, nature, outdoor, train and fairy lovers. Bring your wellies to explore the wetlands, meet all the different animals who live here, find the fairies, make a wish, hop on Woody’s train and enjoy one of our fabulous adventure play areas; just some of the events and attractions available at Gypsy Wood Park.
O N A PA D D L E B O A R D
Open 27th March until Autumn, please check website for specific dates! We will be open daily from 10.30am to 5.00pm. Please note that in inclement weather we may close early, or in severe conditions we may remain closed for the day.
Tel: 01286 673133 Manned 10.30 AM to 5.00 PM during the season
www.gypsywood.co.uk
PSYCH ED PADDLEBOARDING.COM HP horizontal - Snowdoniapass copy.pdf
1
23/03/2017
gypsywoodpark@btinternet.com
10:45
Snowdonia Pass is the must-have visitor discount card giving you access to over 50 participating attractions, activities, restaurants, shops and accommodation providers. Each pass costs just £5/person and lasts for 12 months – giving you incredible value for money!
Get yours and start saving today! T&Cs apply. Visit www.snowdoniapass.co.uk for full details.
NWM 2017 Page 29 www.snowdoniapass.co.uk | www.attractionsofsnowdonia.com
MAGAZINE
ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT
Top 10 castles Brush up on your history before venturing out this spring, and keep a few facts up your sleeve in bid to really impress the kids…
Beaumaris
Beaumaris has been deemed as the most technically perfect castle in Britain. Featuring classic proportions and perfect symmetry, Beaumaris was built according to Edward I’s ingenious ‘walls within walls’ plan on the Isle of Anglesey.
1 Did you know?
Work began in the summer of 1295, overseen by Master James of St George, but was never
The four castles of Beaumaris,
officially finished due to lack of funds. Work finally came to a halt in 1330 – with the castle
Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech,
still not built to its intended height – by when a whopping £15,000 had been spent. http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/beaumaris-castle
and the attendant fortified
towns at Conwy and Caernarfon, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Bodelwyddan
2
Bodelwyddan Castle is situated close to Glan Clwyd Hospital near Rhyl. Originally built around 1460 by the Humphreys family of Anglesey as a manor house, Bodelwyddan’s most important association was with the Williams-Wynn family, which extended for around 200 years from 1690. It is now a Grade II* listed building and is open to the public as a historic house museum with some very impressive gardens. And if you can’t fit everything in in one day, you can always stay at the castle hotel, which has recently undergone a £6 million renovation. bodelwyddan-castle.co.uk
Page 30 NWM 2017
3 Caernarfon Caernarfon is another of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses and, like the location of all of his defences, the site of Caernarfon castle was shrewdly picked. The former site of a Norman motte and bailey castle and, before that, a Roman fort, Caernarfon is one of the most impressive castles of its time. The original design includes polygonal towers, with Eagle Tower being the most impressive of these, as opposed to the more traditional round towers. Edward’s son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born in Caernarfon castle in 1284 – and just under 700 years later, in 1969, the investiture of the current Prince of Wales, HRH Prince Charles, took place here. http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/caernarfon-castle
,
Conwy
,
Another fortress built for Edward I by Master James of St George, Conwy castle is one of the finest medieval fortifications standing in the
4
UK today. An estimated £15,000 was spent building the castle, which was the largest sum Edward spent in such a short time on any of his Welsh castles between 1277 and 1307. Edward’s trademark ‘walls within walls’ weren’t needed at Conwy, as the rock it sits on provided enough security itself, but you will find two barbicans, eight towers and a large bow-shaped hall all located within its unusual elongated shape. But,
Chirk
even if castles aren’t really your thing, it would be a shame to miss out on a visit to Conwy and
Chirk Castle was built on the Welsh-English border in order to keep
the amazing views that are provided from its
the Welsh under English rule. Again the location of Chirk Castle was
battlements.
chosen extremely carefully in order to make the most of its defensive
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/conwycastle
abilities. Construction began in 1295 on a rocky escarpment at the head of the Ceiriog valley, and contained some impressive feats of engineering. Chirk Castle had the most up-to-date defences for the time, with round ‘drum’ towers that allowed archers a wide firing field creating a ‘killing zone’ where the fields of fire overlapped. However, despite the courtyard well being is 28.5 metres deep, it only
5
held 300mm of water in the bottom and therefore could probably only support a garrison of 20 to 30 men. Good job then that slyly hidden murder holes enabled what few men there were to drop missiles down on invaders… www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle
NWM 2017 Page 31
MAGAZINE
6
Fun fact
When Harlech Castle wa completed in 1295, the se came up to the stairway allowing supplies to be delivered by boat. Over 7 years later and the castle now situated around hal mile inland.
Criccieth Llywelyn the Great began building Criccieth Castle in the 1230s. It is believed that the Welsh prince may have taken design inspiration from a range of English castles, hence its English style of gatehouse. Despite its pure Welsh start however, Edward I’s forces took the castle around 50 years later, and undertook their own improvements. These included remodelling a tower for stonethrowing engines. The gatehouse had another storey added at this point, and several towers were reinforced.
Denbigh
7
With around half a mile of town walls, Denbigh Castle is another typical stronghold
An outer barbican was also added to
of Edward I’s. From 1282, the English king’s 13th-century campaign in the area was
the curtain wall. Unusually, Criccieth
strengthened by the conception of an English borough. By building over this Welsh
Castle may have given its name to
stronghold, Edward ensured that all signs of Dafydd ap Gruffydd, the previous
the town, rather than the other way
occupier, were removed for ever. Henry de Lacy, one of the king’s commanders,
round. Its suggested origins are ‘crug
was given the job of building the new castle along with master mason, James of St
caeth’ – ‘crug’ (hill in Welsh), ‘caith’
George. A Welsh rebellion, led by Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294, captured the partly
(captives) – the name given to the jail
built castle but Edward’s reign and building programme were soon restored. You
on the hill, a function once held by the
can see still see the two phases of building work today – the post-rebellion work
castle.
is marked by different colour stone, thicker curtain walls and a hint of Caernarfon-
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/
style angular towers.
criccieth-castle
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/denbighcastle
Page 32 NWM 2017
as ea y, e 700 e is lf a
Gwrych
A relative latecomer to the North Wales castle
8
9
Harlech
Yet another one of Edward I’s masterpieces, Harlech
scene, Gwrych Castle
Castle cost £8,190 to build, making it one of his
was built between
cheaper investments. It was also constructed in record
1812 and 1822 by Lloyd
pace between 1283 and 1295 by an army of nearly a
Bamford-Hesketh
thousand skilled craftsmen and labourers. The castle,
as a memorial to his
again overseen by James of St George, boasts two
mother’s ancestors, the
rings of walls and towers, with an incredibly strong
Lloyds of Gwrych. Upon
east gatehouse making it impenetrable from every
the original site was
direction. In addition, a 200-foot long stairway joined
an Elizabethan house
the castle to the cliff base, meaning that supplies were
named ‘Y Fron (rounded hill) which, by 1810, had become
easy to access. When Harlech castle was first built, a
derelict. The main building that we know today was
channel would have connected the castle and the sea,
completed by 1825 when Bamford-Hesketh got married.
meaning that a boat could sail up to the moat. Seven
When he died, the castle passed onto Robert Bamford-
hundred years later, the sea has receded and the castle
Hesketh and his wife, Ellen Jones-Bateman, who planted
appears almost stranded. Today, the recently installed
much of the present gardens with their enormous monkey
‘floating’ bridge makes access to the castle accessible
puzzles and yew trees. Their daughter, Winifred, was the
for everyone.
only surviving child of Robert Bamford-Hesketh and so
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/harlechcastle
became an immensely wealthy heiress upon her father’s death. Winifred was an extraordinary woman for her times; she single-handedly managed her landed estates which totalled several thousand acres – a rare circumstance for a Victorian woman. She lived at Gwrych until her death in 1924 and since then the castle has changed hands numerous times and fallen into disrepair. A trust has now been formed that hopes to reinstate the castle to its former glory. While Gwrych isn’t permanently open to the public, large-scale open days are organised for visitors several times a year to view the restoration works and for guided tours of the historic buildings and gardens. http://gwrychtrust.co.uk
Penrhyn
Penrhyn Castle was built between 1820 and 1833, by the well-known architect Thomas Hopper, for George Hay Dawkins Pennant. Known for his unconventional style, Hopper chose not to follow the current fashion for Gothic architecture, plumping instead for a neo-Norman design.
10
Hopper also supervised local craftsmen while they designed and built the castle’s furniture. Before he died in 1840 Pennant had charged his son-in-law (Edward Gordon Douglas) with developing the castle’s collection of paintings. Douglas did this extremely well, amassing an exceptional collection of Spanish, Venetian and Dutch paintings. The collection gave Penrhyn its reputation of being ‘the Gallery of North Wales’ at that time. In 1949, after the death of the fourth Lord Penrhyn, the land and title separated. The title went to Frank Douglas Pennant, who became fifth Lord Penrhyn, and the land went to the fourth Lord’s niece, Lady Janet Harper. Only two years later Penrhyn Castle came into the care of the National Trust. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/penrhyn-castle
NWM 2017 Page 33
wales MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE
ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT
whats on 8 pages of bus orci luctus
MAGAZINE
whats on 8 pages of bus orci luctus
MAGAZINE
8 pages of bus orci luctus MAGAZINE
8 pages of bus orci luctus M A G A Z I NE
Page 34 NWM 2017
COMEDY CENTRAL
Llandudno, home to the biggest comedy conference in the UK, is a growing force in comedy. Dave Rothnie looks forward to a year of laughs.
Tucked away in a packed, dimly lit room at the Great Orme Brewery on Builder Street in Llandudno, some of the UK’s best stand-ups pull in the crowds while staff pull pints of craft ales brewed on the premises. In little more than a year, 3rd Space, which attracts crowds of more than 100 every month, has established itself as an independent beacon of hilarity on North Wales’ comic headland. It’s a growing scene. While comics ply their trade at the brewery, at the end of March the cream of the UK comedy industry, along with hundreds of wannabe writers and performers looking to learn their trade flocked to Craft of Comedy UK, an annual event held at Llandudno’s Venue Cymru
NWM 2017 Page 35
MAGAZINE
Now in its fourth year, the three-day event opened with an exclusive live recording of the Now Show, the long-running acclaimed satirical Radio 4 production fronted by Hugh Dennis and Steve Punt, followed by a performance and interview with Alan Davies, one of the country’s best-known stand-ups and a regular on BBC’s QI. Craft of Comedy is the brainchild of Steve Doherty, a radio production executive who moved to Llandudno in 2006 from London where he worked for the BBC and produced hit shows such as Have I Got News for You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Doherty’s modest, unassuming demeanour belies the breadth of his contacts book, and Craft of Comedy attracts the great and good of comedy. This year was the biggest yet and featured workshops and discussions led by leading lights from stand-up, production and writing. The likes of Mark Watson and Dominic Brigstocke both hosted sessions, while Joel Morris and Jason Hazeley –who have breathed fresh, satirical life into the
“
When I was student my university paid for me to go to the Radio Academy conference, an industry event where I rubbed shoulders with the great and the good
”
Ladybird book series with their bestselling adult take on the format – ran a comedy quiz, for those who thought that they knew their Black Books from their Blackadder.
only event of its type in the country and promises to put
Llandudno on the map in a way that San Diego is a magnet In between, leading executives from the BBC and independent
for comic book aficionados. “It’s successful because it’s very
production companies swapped and pitched ideas in an
much a collaboration with Venue Cymru, and we couldn’t do it
informal atmosphere designed to help budding comedy
without each other,” continued Doherty.
writers and performers launch their careers. The genesis of the event began in 2012, when Doherty ran “When I was student my university paid for me to go to the
two stand-up shows featuring Phil Jupitus, Paul Merton and
Radio Academy conference, an industry event where I rubbed
Brigstocke to raise money for St David’s Hospice. “I brought
shoulders with the great and the good,” said Doherty. “That set
some industry friends over and we ran a session on comedy.
me on my career path and I’ve never forgotten that experience
We received some really positive feedback and that formed
and that ethos is what CoC is all about.”
the kicking off point for CoC.”
By covering every aspect the genre, Craft of Comedy is the
For a town that used to be famed for its live entertainment,
Page 36 NWM 2017
STAND-UP IN A BREWERY 1-3 Builder Street, Llandudno. LL30 1DR.
Saturday April 1 CoC showcase special
Saturday April 27 The best in UK Stand-up featuring Steve Royle + support. MC Dave Rothnie + audience joke competition
Saturday May 27
Craft of comedy
Now in its fourth year, the three-day event opened with an exclusive live
The best in UK stand-up featuring Dan Thomas, Sarah Breese, Steffan Evans. MC Dave Rothnie + audience joke competition
Monday June 19 to Saturday June 23 Edinburgh fringe@3rd Space featuring Harriet Dyer, Brennan Reece, Tony Burgess, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Gein’s Family Giftshop
recording of the Now Show
Llandudno’s burgeoning comedy scene provides a glimpse of a bright future. The scene is thriving across the region. Venue Cymru is already an established destination for comedy arena
In the past North Wales punters in search of a good laugh
stars such as include Ross Noble, Jimmy Carr and Russell
have been forced to make the trip to Manchester and
Brand, who will play to packed houses during 2017, as well
Liverpool, but the aim of 3rd Space is to bring the same
hosting Kill for a Seat Comedy night, a monthly event hosted
comedians that grace those stages to Llandudno, at the same
by Silky that also takes place Llangollen and Mold.
time sparing the audience the travel and babysitting costs associated with a 150-mile round trip.
Meanwhile in June, over at the Great Orme Brewery, 3rd Space will host a week-long festival where comedians will
And, with some many comedy luminaries heading to
offer an exclusive preview of their Edinburgh sets before
Llandudno in the coming months, it could soon establish
they head up to Scotland to perform.
itself as a permanent fixture on the gig list of every renowned stand-up. “I think Llandudno would be a great
Tudur Owen, a star of Welsh comedy who took his show the
place to host a full-scale comedy festival,” concludes Doherty.
LL Factor to Edinburgh last year, runs a comedy night at Ty
“It’s a great location and has sizeable venues as well as
Golchi, the café he owns near Bangor. Also in Bangor, Four Good
plenty of spaces that would be ideal for comedy.” n
Comedians – which is co-run by Ian Cooper, who is from Colwyn Bay – plays host to a regular evening at the Blue Sky Café. Cooper was also behind the Syria benefit gig at Bodafon Farm last month, where Welsh comedy legend Noel James performed.
Dave Rothnie is a freelance journalist The blossoming of independent venues and the growing
and promoter and compere of Stand-Up In
comedy scene also reflects an improving economy in which
a Brewery, 3rd Space at the Great Orme
people have more disposable income for entertainment but
Brewery, Llandudno. For tickets and further
still want to shop and stay local.
information contact dcrothnie@gmail.com
NWM 2017 Page 37
Enjoy some
family fun... And get
RSPB Conwy
RSPB Lake Vyrnwy
RSPB South Stack
RSPB Ynys-hir
rspb.org.uk/conwy 01492 584091 LL31 9XZ
rspb.org.uk/southstack 01407 762100 LL65 1YH
rspb.org.uk/lakevyrnwy 01691 870278 SY10 0LZ
rspb.org.uk/ynys-hir 01654 700222 SY20 8TA
Image: David Tipling (rspb-images.com). The RSPB is a registered charity in England & Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. 830-2286-16-17
closer to nature on our reserves this spring
Exploring
Llangollen
Whether it’s for a weekend away, a family day out or you just fancy playing tourist for a day in your own town, there’s plenty to do in Llangollen. Dave Rothnie Reports.
Valle Crucis Abbey Two miles from Llangollen, the evocative ruins of Valle Crucis lie in green fields beneath Llangollen’s steep sided mountains. Abbey dating from the 13th century is two miles from Llangollen. It is well worth a visit and shows the sheer scale of buildings in the 14th century. It was largely destroyed during the reign of Henry VIII but many original features remain, including the glorious west front complete with an elaborate, richly carved doorway, and beautiful rose window.
Llangollen is small town of 3,000 people in Denbighshire but it is big on charm and has something for everyone. The pulsating River Dee quickens the soul and its bubbling energy is felt throughout the town, which is a bustling hub of arts and entertainment, cafes, restaurants, shops and bars, all wrapped in an air of legend and tradition. The town is best known for hosting the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod which takes place every July which brings in some 120,000 visitors and turns the town into a vibrant international stage. This is a well-spring of creativity which underpins the town’s burgeoning arts scene, but it only scratches the surface of Llangollen which all year round offers an eclectic and often surprising mix of picturesque walks along Unesco world heritage site, adrenalinefuelled water sports, the only standard gauge railway in North Wales and a wealth of bars, cafes and restaurants to suit every palate. And its compact size makes it easy to navigate whether for a pushchairfriendly stroll along the canal, or an afternoon shopping in the town’s rich array of independent boutique shops.
NWM 2017 Page 39
MAGAZINE
What to do Walk the town trail on clearly marked route to enjoy the best the town has to offer including:
1. Plas Newydd Visit the the world-famous home of the Ladies of Llangollen, runaway aristocrats Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby. In 1780 they moved into a modest cottage together and turned it into a Gothic fantasy of stained glass and carved oak. Their ‘romantic retirement’ captured the imagination of regency society and attracted a steady stream of prestigious visitors such as William Wordsworth, Sir Walter Scott and the Duke of Wellington.
2. St Collen’s Church From Plas Newydd, follow Butler’s Hill back down the A5 and cross into Church Street. Enter the churchyard through the iron gates next to the Hand Hotel. The church was founded in the sixth century by Saint Collen, Christian warrior and later hermit on Glastonbury Tor, who apparently retired there after vanquishing a man-eating giantess. But don’t worry, there’s no sign of that.
3. Top family pick! Heritage Railway The only standard gauge railway in North Wales huffs and puffs for almost 10 miles through the stunning Dee Valley, an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty. Thanks to a long-awaited 2.5 mile extension completed in 2014 by the team of volunteers, you can now ride all the way to Corwen via Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog.
4. Llangollen Wharf
A favourite walk is the town side of the bridge stroll along Dee Lane and Victoria Promenade to Riverside Walk. This passes gardens with views of the steam trains, ducks, a bandstand, tennis courts,
In 2009, Unesco designated 11 miles of the
bowling green and children’s play area. For a more challenging
Llangollen canal a world heritage site. Including the
walk, the remains of Castell Dinas Bran (Crow Castle) seen high on
Horseshoe Falls and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. You
an isolated hill above Llangollen and reached by a steep climb. From
can catch boats in both directions from here but
the top the views of Llangollen and the Dee Valley are stunning.
you’ll need a motor and a head for heights to cross Thomas Telford’s ‘stream in the sky’.
5. Llangollen Bridge.
Llangollen was established in the 7th Century when the monk St. Collen, from which the town takes its name, was instructed to find a valley by riding a horse for one day and then stop and mark out a
This beautifully restored chain bridge is a
“parish” - a place to build his hermitage or cell in the custom of the
wonderful spot to river watch
times, with tiny church, hospice and outhouses all enclosed within a wall. The famous Dee Bridge, was built by Bishop Trevor of Trevor Hall in I345.
Where to stay The Chainbridge Hotel
boasts original features blended with modern interior
One mile from the town centre and dating from 1828, The
design and facilities such as free Wifi and rooftop hot tub.
Chainbridge Hotel is an historic country hotel, with a unique
Hill Street Llangollen
location on the edge of the River Dee. Family rooms available
www.manorhausllangollen.com
(up to five people). Berwyn Rd, Llangollen LL20 8BS
Gales of Llangollen
www.chainbridgehotel.com
Situated in one of the oldest streets in Llangollen and a
The Wild Pheasant
few seconds from the high street, Gales has 15 en-suite
The Wild Pheasant re-opened last December following a
bedrooms and also
revamp. The newly-refurbished three-star hotel retains the
18 Bridge St, Llangollen LL20 8PF
charm and original features of a 19th century building with
www.galesofllangollen.co.uk
a contemporary spa. Family rooms available. Berwyn Rd, Llangollen LL20 8AD
Panorama Cottages
www.wildpheasanthotel.co.uk
Converted from farm buildings, these self-catering cottages are located 1.5 miles from Llangollen and lie on the
Manorhaus
Panorama, part of Offa’s Dyke. Dinbren Road, Llangollen,
This five-star boutique B&B in the centre of Llangollen
LL20 8ED
Up to the I9th century Llangollen town was located south-east of the bridge around Bridge Street and Church Street, and to the north-west around the old village green, which has now disappeared, but is remembered by such names as ‘Green Lane; and ‘Green Lodge’ which still exist. Nearly all of this densely populated area disappeared to allow the building of the Ruabon to Barmouth railway in 1862. Llangollen became important because of its prominent position on the main London to Holyhead coaching road which was improved by Thomas Telford from 1815 and continued for some 15 years. The Canal was also constructed around this and combined to bring considerable immigration into Llangollen during the early part of the 19th century. These improved communication routes and local natural resources made an ideal location for newly developing industries. The old Water Mill opposite
The Panorama.
the Railway Station had already functioned for hundreds of years when
Worlds End and The Panorama, a spectacular and dominating outcrop of Carboniferous Limestone from Worlds End and Eglwyseg to Trevor is stunning. Great outcrops of limestone providing walkers and climbers with ample scope to escape civilisation for a while. You can also drive along the single track toad and park up - take a picnic for a wonderful peaceful day out.
on a site later to be occupied by a tannery after the business had
a new Flannel Mill was erected at the north end of Church Street expanded and moved across the river to Lower Dee Mills. Many objected to this noisy new Flannel Mill, not least Lady Eleanor Butler and the Honourable Sarah Ponsonby, known as the world-famous ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ who looked upon `this monstrous building’ with contempt from their home Plas Newydd. During this time Plas Newydd was visited by many of the famous and distinguished of the time, although only the favoured were allowed admission.
NWM 2017 Page 41
MAGAZINE
Eating and drinking 1. The Corn Mill. On the site of the original Old Mill, this pub,
Today the house receives thousands of visitors each year as one
operated by Brunning & Price, offers a range
of Wales’ most famous tourist attractions, while the old mill is
of great real ales as well as fine food from an
now a riverside pub offering real ales and sumptuous food with
extensive menu to suit all ages and tastes. Sit
fine views.
inside the bustling bar or on the riverside terrace and watch the world go by.
2. Dee Side café Bistro
The Railway closed to passenger traffic in 1965, and to goods in 1968 but steam trains continue to puff through the station thanks to the efforts of the Llangollen Railway Society.
An extremely popular, excellent bistro located on the water’s edge, this has an intimate, informal feel
A group was formed to renovate and reopen part of the line in
and offers a full range of drinks light bites or full
September 1975, with just 60 feet of track which has now grown
meals, including good vegetarian food.
some 7½ miles along the Dee Valley passing wonderful scenery
3. Fouzi’s café bar Pizzeria
and giving a glimpse of how this 65 mile journey must have looked like in its heyday. The only standard gauge railway in North Wales
Fouzis Café was established in 2008 offers a
now huffs and puffs for almost ten miles through the stunning Dee
choice of fresh Italian pizza and pasta as well as
Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It also offers Thomas
a choice of other international dishes. 7 Bridge St,
the Tank Engine rides for the younger rail enthusiast.
Llangollen
4. Bar Naranja @Manorhaus Llangollen.
Whether for a family day out, an evening’s entertainment or a weekend enjoying the plethora of attractions, Llangollen is a North Wales gem. n
As well as being a boutique B&B (see places to stay), Manorhaus also offers a seasonal cocktail menu and now has a tapas bar, called Bar Naranja.
Dave Rothnie is a freelance journalist who has a
Hill Street Llangollen. Happy Hour 5pm to 6pm.
passion for all things North Wales and comedy. He lives in Colwyn Bay with his family
Festivals, fun and sports
1. Kayaking. Llangollen Canoe Club has a diverse membership from GB Team Members, full on river runners and freestyle paddlers right through to absolute beginners. Lessons and boat hire are available from a range of providers, including http://www.proadventure.org, www.tnrcoaching.co.uk/canoe-hire and www. tynantoutdoors.com 2. For those who prefer a more chilled water-based experience, you can embark on a horse-drawn boat trip or a motorised trip in fully weatherproof heated boat over to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. www.horsedrawnboats.co.uk 3. Razorlight are set to headline Llangollen’s first ever three-day VANgollen festival, which promises a “relaxed vibe of VW camping, daytime chilling and great music”. Royal International Pavillion, Vangollen.com. Saturday May 20th. 4. Llangollen Fringe Festival, various venues, July 13 to July 23. The 20th annual Llangollen fringe festival will take place from13th to 23rd of July. 5. Shop. The town enjoys a rich offering of independent, off-beat shops. They include the Harley’s vintage Boutique and Fizzywiggs’ sweet emporium. If you’re looking for baby clothes or gifts, make a bee line to Llangollen Baby.
Page 42 NWM 2017
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“Gyda bwyd blasus a golygfeydd syfrdanol o fae Llandudno mae Bwyty Y Review Venue Cymru yn cynnig prydau amser cinio a chyn sioeau. Lleolir y bwyty ar y llawr cyntaf ac mae’r awyrgylch i’ch ymlacio yn ogystal â’r cynnyrch lleol a rhanbarthol Cymreig o safon yn golygu mai dyma’r ffordd berffaith i giniawa. With delicious food and stunning views of Llandudno’s bay, Venue Cymru’s Y Review Restaurant offers lunch and pre-show dining. Located on the first floor the relaxed atmosphere combined with quality, local and regional Welsh produce makes it the perfect way to dine. Ar agor am ginio Open for lunch Mawrth – Sadwrn / Tuesday – Saturday 12-14.30 Bwyty cyn y theatre 21/2 awr cyn y perfformiad / Pre-theatre dinning from 2 1/2 hours prior to performance
Y Review, Venue Cymru, Promenade, Llandudno www.venuecymru.co.uk // 01492 873641 Page 44 NWM 2017
FOOD & DRINK INSIDE Local chocolatiers Restaurant profile Recipes Wine column
NWM 2017 Page 45
MAGAZINE
Page 46 NWM 2017
a good
egg
It’s Easter and that can only mean one thing – chocolate eggs. Kate Hamilton had a cracking good time bringing the region’s artisan chocolatiers out of their shells.
Can’t decide between Easter treats?
It’s that time of year when the shelves are
“We were making
buckling under the weight of mass produced
everything at the deli
Easter eggs. Tons of factory made chocolate
from scratch,” says Mark.
is bundled into bright attractive boxes that
“Cakes, pork pies, jams,
have been designed to encourage shoppers
chutneys, coleslaw and soup
to spend their hard earned cash more on
was all made on a daily basis, so
packaging than pleasure.
it made sense to start making our own
Aballu’s hot cross bun flavoured chocolate offers the best of both worlds
chocolate too.” But for chocolate connoisseurs, these production line eggs simply don’t cut the mustard. Because anyone that knows their chocolate, knows that it needs to be made with love.
And this is where the Baravelli’s story really began. Emma attended a chocolate making course and went on to win a gold award for her white chilli truffle soon after. Numerous other
Jo Edwards, from Aballu Artisan Chocolatier, is currently the fastest truffle roller in the world
“We’re really passionate about using quality
awards followed, and Emma quickly
ingredients, and everything is handmade
became so respected in her field that
here on the premises,” explains Emma
she was invited to become a judge herself.
Baravelli, a master chocolatier and one half of Conwy’s Baravelli’s chocolate shop. “We use a Baravelli’s dragon Easter egg range is proving popular with the kids
special secret recipe in our chocolate. It takes years to understand the coco bean – they are very similar to grapes and coffee beans in that sense.” As a master chocolatier, Emma can tell you the whole process of the ‘bean to bar’ manufacturing technique. Originally a fashion designer, Emma got the chocolate making bug when she took over the Sandbach tea rooms in Llandudno and found some original chocolate moulds in the storage shed. But it wasn’t until a few years later, after she had met her husband Mark and they had opened a deli, that she actually made her first chocolate.
Benjamin Lee Chocolatier & Patissier creates bespoke Easter eggs which are made to order
NWM 2017 Page 47
MAGAZINE
By this time the couple had decided to concentrate solely on
buds rest between tastings. Naturally you get talking to other
their passion for chocolate, and Baravelli’s Chocolate Shop
members of the judging panel during this time, and I was
was born. When the shop opened in Conwy in November
telling the New Product Developer at Harrods a little bit about
2014 people were queuing down the street in order to get
what we do. Low and behold, she got back in touch and asked
their fair share of the secret Baravelli recipe.
us to supply Harrods with an exclusive collection.”
And it goes without saying that Easter is a pretty big deal
So they did. Using Harrods’ own house blend of 41% cocoa
for chocolatier’s – and Baravelli’s is no exception. Two
milk chocolate Emma, in close collaboration with the team at
ranges of Easter eggs can be found in the shop this month,
Harrods, has worked tirelessly to interpret designer Camille
both of which have been created entirely from scratch
Walala’s graphic prints into Easter eggs.
by Emma. “We have had to source bespoke chocolate moulds and Her dragon Easter egg range is proving popular with the
increase the chocolate output of our workshop specially to
kids, while their parents are drawn (if you’ll excuse the
complete the Camille Walala and Harrods Easter collection,”
pun) to the artist collection – a selection of hand painted
adds Mark.
eggs that represents the iconic style of five famous artists. Completely handmade in Baravelli’s, the Harrods collection is a Emma has also created a third range of eggs this year,
great example of how smaller food manufacturers from North
but this one can’t be bought in Conwy. In fact, to get your
Wales are beginning to enter the artisan limelight – thanks to
hands on the Camille Walala collection you’ll have to pop
their quality ingredients and personal manufacturing touch.
down to Knightsbridge.
And what’s truly special about Mark and Emma’s success is that they want to share it.
“I was invited to judge the Academy of Chocolate Awards last year,” explains Emma. “Judging chocolate is very much
“We’re looking to promote natural, good quality ingredients
like judging a fine wine, and so we need to let our taste
that result in ethical, transparent products – that taste good,” continues Mark. “We’d love to see a ‘home brew’ market emerge for chocolate, whereby people start to make their own at home. We feel that it’s important to know what actually goes into the chocolate you’re eating.” But if you don’t fancy making your own at home just yet, but have a great idea for an Easter egg design, then you could always have one made especially for you. Benjamin Lee Chocolatier & Patissier takes orders for bespoke Easter eggs, therefore letting you see your idea come to life.
Donec eu ex at felis
eated a giant Aballu has cr s whopping 10kg
ighing a
Easter egg, we
J Emma Baravelli hand paints each and every one of the Camille Walala and Harrods Easter collection
Page 48 NWM 2017
Walk into Benjamin Lee’s this Easter and you will be spoilt for choice with the amount of eggs on display
“We’re really passionate about using quality ingredients, and everything is handmade here on the premises” Emma Baravelli
Baravelli’s is looking to promote natural, good quality ingredients – a value that Harrods recognised
“If it’s possible to make it then we will,” says Olwen Lee, a
chocolatier is somewhat of a celebrity in the truffle world,
partner in the business. “We stock a variety of beans from
having beaten chef Gino D’Acampo to become the fastest
different countries, including Papua New Guinea and Belgium,
truffle maker in the world.
then we temper the chocolate to make the Easter eggs.” At the Hamper Llangollen food festival last year, Jo took on One of the latest bespoke eggs to come out of Benjamin Lee’s
D’Acampo in a truffle rolling contest, and managed to roll 49
shop in Anglesey was an ‘egg within an egg’ – an idea based
in two minutes – beating the celebrity chef’s total of 47.
upon a Russian doll. They can also fill eggs with truffles, or jelly beans and marshmallows for their younger customers.
Jo is just waiting for her World Record to be officially verified, but it wasn’t about the numbers for her. “It was
Walk into its Menai Bridge shop this Easter and you will be
a fantastic experience – and the number of people in the
spoilt for choice with the amount of eggs on display. Olwen
audience was amazing, they really got behind me,” she says.
makes a wide range (diversely created depending on what mood she’s in!) of Easter eggs to compliment the company’s
And that’s what North Wales is all about – supporting the
usual range of chocolates and celebration cakes.
local community. So when you go out to buy your Easter eggs this month, ensure that they come
Meanwhile, over in Wrexham, size matters at Easter. Jo Edwards from Aballu Artisan Chocolatier has created a giant
from a local chocolatier. You certainly won’t be disappointed. n
Easter egg. Weighing a whopping 10kgs and measuring an impressive 3 x 2.5ft, these large eggs are often made for charity fundraisers and retail for around £250. But if you think that you’d struggle to get through that amount of chocolate, even if it is Easter, then fear not because Aballu also stocks a wide range of standard sized eggs and chocolate bunnies. And, when Easter has come and gone, Aballu will continue to concentrate on its famous
Try them for yourself… Aballu www.aballu.co.uk
chocolate pizzas and the truffles for which Jo is renowned. In fact, the Rossett-based
Baravelli’s artist collection of Easter eggs features the iconic style of five famous artists
Baravelli’s https://baravellis.com Benjamin Lee Chocolatier www.benjaminleecakes.co.uk
NWM 2017 Page 49
MAGAZINE
WHERE’S THE FIRE? Llandudno, that’s where. Finally, North Wales has an artisan pizzeria to be proud of. Kate Hamilton went to meet Morgan Austin – the man behind our local wood fire.
As British high streets go, Llandudno’s main thoroughfare is pretty unusual. A host of dining options are available, but there isn’t a Prezzo, Pizza Express or Zizzi’s in sight. But that’s brilliant I hear you say – we’re proud of our independent, local dining scene. Which is all well and good until, of course, you want to get a decent pizza. Enter Johnny Dough’s – the new pizzeria in town that is taking Llandudno by storm. It seems that good quality, fresh pizza – created from locally sourced produce wherever feasibly possible – is just what the area wanted. Add in an exciting cocktail list and a choice of local beer all offering good value for money and it seems that you have a recipe for success. But how did it all begin? Meet Morgan Austin, the man behind the pizza and who was once, literally, a man with a van. “A friend of mine had a pizza oven on a trailer,” explains Austin, when quizzed on Johnny Dough’s roots. “He needed some help one weekend working at a windsurfing festival, so I offered to give him a hand. He took £4,500 in those three days, and I thought: I can do that.” But, like all things Austin undertakes, he put his own spin on it. “Cooking pizza off the back of a trailer wasn’t ideal,” he says. “I learnt over the course of that weekend alone that when the wind got up toppings
“
Johnny Dough’s ethos is to serve the best pizza at the most affordable price
”
NWM 2017 Page 51
MAGAZINE
would blow everywhere – it was just too exposed. So I
Austin. “While both Jonathan and I were extremely keen, there
bought a van instead, and converted it myself.”
were just too many ventilation issues to overcome for the sake of a short-term pop up.”
But every good wood-fired pizza business needs a name. So where did the Johnny Dough’s mantle come from?
So Austin continued serving his freshly made pizzas from the back of his van, and business continued to boom. And
“I was a business without a name for a little while,” explains
then, by a matter of chance, he happened to notice that some
Austin. “In the beginning I thought about calling the van
permanent premises were about to become vacant at the top
‘Van Dough’, but that didn’t sit quite right – and it certainly
of Mostyn Steet.
wouldn’t have worked if a restaurant ever eventuated. Then, one night, I was sitting in front of the TV when a John
“I went straight back to Jonathan at Great Orme,” he says. “And
Doe came up. Suddenly it [Johnny Dough’s] seemed the
explained that there was a potential restaurant opportunity.
right name for a pizza business without a name.”
It turns out that I was right about the premises, and Jonathan and the Great Orme Brewery were prepared to go 50-50.”
Soon Austin was peddling his wood-fired wares in his newly named van throughout Hampshire, but it turned out
So with a beverage partner in place, all that needed doing was
that the traffic was just too much.
renovating the entire premises – on a tight budget.
“I realised very quickly that I couldn’t cope with the
“Money was an issue,” Austin explains. “We had to get the
congestion,” he says. “Then I tried Lincoln but it was still
entire restaurant running on a very small budget. I reined in
too busy, traffic wise. So I decided to move to Llandudno
a few favours from builder friends who I had done labouring
and work took off quickly. I was working at all of the major
work for when I first moved up here and, as a result, managed
events and doing a lot of weddings, and I soon thought that
to deck out the whole place for a reasonable price.”
the time was right to try something else – ideally a pop up restaurant.”
And it’s thanks to such ingenuity that Johnny Dough’s began to turn a profit after just eight weeks of opening – something
With that in mind Austin approached Jonathan Hughes,
that’s pretty unheard of in the restaurant trade.
MD at the Great Orme Brewery, to see if he could utilise the brewery’s 3rd Space venue for a pop up pizzeria.
And that pretty much brings the Johnny Dough’s story up to date. Llandudno now has a fashionable pizzeria in the heart of
“Unfortunately we just couldn’t get that to work,” explains
Page 52 NWM 2017
town that is filling a hole in the market. Job done, surely?
“We have just got planning permission for an extension out the back, actually,” says Austin. “This means that we can incorporate an extra kitchen so that we can introduce a range of starters and increase our choice of puddings.” Currently Johnny Dough’s only sells ice-cream as a desert option and doesn’t offer any nibbles at all. “We wanted to ensure that we got the main ingredient right first,” explains Austin. “We currently only serve pizza and ice-
domination as per so many of today’s pizza chains?
cream – but we make sure that it is the best pizza, and the best ice-cream, available.”
“Well maybe not world domination,” laughs Austin, “but we are planning to increase our offer in North Wales.”
And the key to such pizza success? “Local produce!” shouts Austin. “Our ham is roasted locally, our chicken too. When
No less than three new branches are in the pipeline in fact
it’s possible to have local produce, we have it. Our coffee is
– Bangor, Prestatyn and Conwy are all possible locations,
roasted locally, and our beer is brewed here. We source local
although the Conwy site would be more of a takeaway
mussels and a range of other ingredients – and then we cook
set-up as opposed to offering the full Johnny Dough’s
as if we were cooking a fine dining meal, and put the results
restaurant experience.
on top of a pizza base.” Exciting times indeed. But what happened to the van? “I With such attention to detail it’s no wonder that Johnny
sold it,” laments Austin. “It was a great business but I just
Dough’s has just had its busiest night to date yet – despite it
couldn’t juggle them both.”
being the traditionally quiet winter season. Which leaves a very promising prospect indeed for North “I always wanted Johnny Dough’s to be a place where locals
Wales’ next John Doe. n
would visit a lot,” adds Austin. “We started off with a small menu in order to ensure that everything on it was good – and
Johnny Dough’s
that people wanted to come back.”
129 Mostyn Steet, Llandudno, LL30 2PE 01492 871813
A good basis. But what about the future? Any plans for world
www.jdoughspizzas.co.uk
NWM 2017 Page 53
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Food for thought Fishmongers. Even the word sounds like something out of Camberwick Green; something we used to have on our high streets but haven’t seen for years, like an apothecary or a video rentals shop. Nonetheless it would be depressingly oxymoronic for a thriving coastal town like Llandudno to admit that fresh fish is hard to come by, excepting the battered version beloved of tourists and attacking seagulls alike. Thank heavens then for Mermaid Seafoods. It might be as hard to find as the centre of a labyrinth but, for fish fans, it’s the equivalent of discovering a buried chest of Saxon gold. An encyclopaedic wall-chart of aquatic species are laid out over ice for your delectation, and all can be prepped to your lik-ing by the trained staff there with their ninja-like knife skills. Seabass and plaice are evergreens in north Wales waters, but with the changing seasons come grey mullet, brill and turbot. When summer comes, the sea-trout (sewin) makes its annual appearance and Conwy mussels mark the arrival of winter. (Mermaid also stocks a wide variety of game during the shooting season.) We’ve been using Mermaid since we first opened in 1988, in which time, like us, it has been passed down from one generation to the next. It sup-plies many of the restaurants and hotels in the area, but it is also open to the public, and is often identifiable by the queue of fans making their weekly fish pilgrimage. As a result, it is also expanding to a larger premises this year. Head down to the Builder Street trading estate, at the train station end of town and you’ll find Mermaid Seafoods tucked behind the Jaguar Garage. Anybody asks, tell ‘em you’ve gone fishin’.
Cai Ross is co-owner and Maitre d’ of the awardwinning Paysanne Bistro in Deganwy, which has been serving French country-style food to the fine people of North Wales since 1988. He also writes for Calibre Magazine, BBC Good Food, HeyUGuys.com and The North Wales Weekly News
NWM 2017 Page 55
MAGAZINE
Recipes ’s fool y d o b Any
w ng no f fish o thrivi y e l ll t a y t e actu ciall d (it’s s espe imple Fine k r roun ) but i s
ea ars redibly le all y ew ye e cod nd inc vailab lone for a f a a s s u i for th o d a ci i li t a Cod f e m d le Mer is a eing nia at . This after b sk So t now A h . g i le r good o peop e fillet). for tw of th recipe h n e tre le wit (the c s n i sprink roast in lo d n a nd son s, sea aper a od loin in baking p c k c i th loosely utes. e two J Tak n juice, wrap N for 20 min of a pan ˚ FA lemo at 160 of mer in n n m e i a v s c o the ained ly and r n i d h a t s dd ulb ute . utes. A il for 5 min nnel b n e i f a m e 0 o of J Slic d water for 1 ontinue to b til half dc ne un n i salte a e w s c i e n t bea he ju f whi butter then t 0ml o hat utter, uce 6 b d eave t f e L o r . , ll g i n 0 d a 5 p d n e r ou hopp hile y nothe . Stir i J In a s evaporated blespoon of c sible heat w a it ha st pos nd a t e lowe mon a h t le n a o f o ay ng aw some bubbli the cod. spoon d n ). a ut f both eans take o mix o utter b e ter b c t i d u n n b nel a mon late (a n p le e f e e in e h h t in th e of t cod lo onto r som aked J Dra e b v e o h r t Pou lace then p sauce . ething on top th som poul or i w g n ic our, alo ke a P J Dev and sharp li crisp cadet. a Mus
er warm ers of g n i b r , rst ha fodils f the fi ith the daf ts, is a g One o le w b makin along lamb, e s e h atile t m s o. It is d r ti o e t n v a h t s s iti he mos drop ost Br (like t of the snow f the m eengrocers hos-on. One o b r e a n b o r rhu how ide g p in R e, ; some rances outs e Farm Sho l recip fruits g a a rb Foo f the e ll a p i b p V u a d h r e o R n asy ning regula aintai ngly e he lengthe en). ntly m nsulti t i k n n gard brillia r a a w s o m i m o s t i h y ntly Sea). T a great wa a rece is ing in h n c i li h c e w yr n with (ideall n a pa on i b r days a b d ed rhu t the li chopp r sugar, pu ly h g e u ins. cast of ro olden t 25 m 400g J Put lespoons of g heat for abou inger 4 tab a low tem g n s o d k e o p drain hop and co nely c refully nd let fi a f C o . s n e spoo ice, a minut 1 table the ju more J Add cook for five ve, reserving a sie and ing in h t y r own. eaks. e ev cool d form p g o n t i s h t t ck star every t’s thi ntil it until i hite u e m w a t g e r g ld e o h uble c ip an you h J Wh p 300ml of do hing where the egg hat t tir in Whi to do t ead, then s t. h g u o oghur h en your ural y t r a e n v f o o chill bowl 100ml r, and s and ginge & b white r uba led rh he coo ur. t n i e of J Fold t least an ho ng som h li k n a i r r fo wit , sp lasses . Enjoy D. illed g ver the top C h c n n n i y o L ve J Ser eserved juice ng and a Vera the r parkli hing s somet
Don’t fancy cooking? 01492 582079 @PaysanneDeganwy www.paysannedeganwy.co.uk
Page 56 NWM 2017
Albion Ale House Founded by four local brewers who believe that there is a place for a drinks-only pub in todays market, The Albion is regarded as one of the finest examples of a 1920's public house in Britain. We don't have a juke box or television, we'd rather just fill 
 the pub with the sound of conversation. And the clinking 
 of glasses. Cheers
Albion Ale House Uppergate St Conwy LL32 8RF 01492 582484
NWM 2017 Page 57
MAGAZINE
Page 58 NWM 2017
Ask the Dietitian Belinda Mortell, North Wales Magazine’s resident dietitian, answers some of the most common diet and nutrition queries. Q: Crikey, I’ve just heard on the news that we now need to eat ten portions of fruit and veg a day – is this true? A: Yes, that is what the results of a huge compilation of studies has shown, but what’s great is that those scientists also found that just eating 2.5 portions a day can reduce our risk of stroke, heart disease, cancers and premature death. A portion is 80g so ½ a grapefruit, 8 cauliflower florets, 2 kiwi fruit, a banana, a tomato or 2 broccoli spears.
Q: My two-year-old child is a fussy eater, he won’t try anything new. What can I do? A: Fussy eating, also known as picky or faddy eating
Q: What should my one-year-old be drinking? How
is a perfectly normal part of childhood development.
much and in what container?
It peaks around 2-6 years old, with most children
A: By the age of one your child should be drinking
overcoming it as they start primary school. It should
from an open cup, ideally feeding bottles should have
only be a concern if the children’s growth is being
been phased out by their first birthday. Healthy
affected, if they have an extremely limited food intake
drinks are milk and water, and children between the
(less than ten foods) or if they are showing signs
ages of one and three years old need a maximum
of sensory sensitivity. Remember to keep offering
of 350ml of milk a day (even less if they are also
different foods, as it can take up to ten exposures for
taking yoghurts and cheese). Follow on formulas are
children to get used to a new food.
not necessary unless recommended by healthcare professionals. Drinking enough fluids also
Q: Shall I stop giving my small toddler seconds, with
helps reduce the risk of constipation. n
all this talk of obesity and fat children? A: Toddlers can tell you when they are full, but probably not verbally. Look out for signs that they’ve had enough, or they may simply say
Belinda Mortell is a
“No!” or “Stop!”. They are capable of regulating
Registered Dietitian with
their food intake and tend to stop eating when
an interest in family
they are full. They can also intuitively compensate
health. She lives in North
at the next meal by eating more or less. Toddlers
Wales with her two small
appear to regulate their food intake over a week
children and running
rather than a day.
obsessed husband.
NWM 2017 Page 59
THE NEW
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ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT
North Wales’ first choice for Turkish, Greek, Italian, Spanish and French cuisine. Recreate that holiday feeling as you step into The New Mediterranean Restaurant and let the authentic smells and ambience transport you to another place.
153 Mostyn Street Llandudno Gwynedd LL30 2PE Tel: 01492 860670 Email: cindy.atay@hotmail.co.uk
Our popular restaurant, in the heart of Llandudno, serves fantastic, freshly cooked and genuine Turkish, Greek, Italian, Spanish and French food with a wide selection of fresh fish to choose from that you would normally need to travel abroad to find.
Look no further for a quality restaurant in Llandudno
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Open 7 days a week 129 Mostyn Street, Llandudno, LL30 2PE 01492 871813 www.jdoughspizzas.co.uk
14:28
www.thenewmediterraneanrestaurant.co.uk
Paysanne has been a Deganwy fixture since 1988. Over three decades, we have been presenting our guests with a permanently fashionable combination of classic, tummy-pleasing French country-style food, personally-sourced wines and warm, generous service. You can build up quite a hunger exploring all that beautiful north Wales has to offer, so let us deal with that for you. Take a look at what we have to offer at our website, Facebook page and all that other terribly modern stuff. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Photos Š Jamie Stevens
Page 60 NWM 2017
01492 582079 www.paysannedeganwy.co.uk @PaysanneDeganwy
Raise your glass After a successful career in television working for some of the most admired television drama’s as a casting director, I have now turned my hand to wine. Can’t see the connection? Let’s think about it for a minute… wines, or grapes, have
At the heart of our business is passion, alongside a
their own personality, their own characteristics ¬– not
dedication to offering wines that people want. The core value
that far off from people when I would place actors and
principles that we employ are those which I inherited at the
the likes into leading television roles. Each person can
BBC – trust, value, diversity, knowledge and passion – and
read a part differently, and bring something different
they now apply for all things wine related.
to the table… Well now I provide leading roles in wine choices for you to match with your food.
It’s often that people are misled in choice when it comes to wine selection, and ‘the world of wine’ often evolves
So, whether you are poaching, roasting, baking, spicing,
with new techniques, new styles and new approaches
braising, stewing, grilling or barbequing, there’ll be a
to enjoying it. But here you can sit back and be advised
wine that The Grape to Glass stocks to ‘perfectly partner’
and, better still, try wines before you buy them so you
your culinary delights.
know what to expect when you get home.
The Grape to Glass Wine Shop and Tasting Room offers
Let The Grape to Glass take the world off your shoulders.
wines from all over the world, with a diverse range
Take a seat, and get ready for a journey getting ‘under
which you help in creating by sampling new wines,
the skin of the grape’. Some people may be connoisseurs,
ideas, and products that we offer. As well as offering
some may be new to the world, but we can assure you,
wine from far reaching lands, we also stock locally
you’ll be happy with your experience. (If you’re not, then
produced, award-winning wines – including those from
the first glass is on me!). n
the Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard in Llangwystenin.
Wine of the Month:
Dates for your diary: April 17th Malbec Day April 24th Sauvignon Blanc Day
Neropasso, Originale Rosso, IGT Veneto, Italy A fine, blended wine from Veneto. Intense ruby red in colour, turning to garnet with barrel ageing. The bouquet is spicy with hints of Morello cherry, black cherry and plum compote. A fine and velvety palate, with soft tannins and a moreish finish.
Tim Watson runs The Grape to Glass Wine Shop and Tasting Room in Rhos-
Food Matching: Pair this with pasta, white and
on-Sea which, as well as offering wine
red meats, fresh and aged cheeses, or alone with
from far reaching lands, also stocks
good company.
locally produced beers, wines and spirits
NWM 2017 Page 61
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HOMES & INTERIORS INSIDE Property of the month Reader’s homes property roundup interiors
NWM 2017 Page 65
MAGAZINE
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PROPERTY of the month Located in Old Colwyn, 16 Ffordd Tirionfa offers the most impressive views from the front of the house – and has a private suntrap for a garden at the back. North Wales Magazine had the grand tour.
Yes the views are great, but actually the most attractive feature of number 16 Ffordd Tirionfa is its unusual upside down layout. Built in the 1970’s, the ‘front’ door to the house is located at the side of the property and, once you’ve entered onto a half landing, you can decide whether to head upstairs or down. We went up, and found a very contemporary open-plan layout. The living space has all been knocked through in order to provide a kitchen diner, with steps down into a sunken lounge. found, including two individual ovens, a microwave, fridge/ Black gloss is the order of the day throughout this entire
freezer and dishwasher.
living area – an open gas fire with black surround in the lounge nicely ties in with the sleek kitchen units.
Patio doors lead off the kitchen area into a lovely private south-facing garden, which has proven to be a real suntrap.
Solid oak worktops perfectly match the oak floor than can
This exterior space has been completely landscaped, and
be found in the kitchen and communal areas, and there is
the raised deck is the perfect spot for a summer barbeque.
no shortage of appliances. As well as the hob and extractor there is a selection of brand-new integrated appliances to be
On the days when the weather isn’t quite as kind however,
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MAGAZINE
the garden can still be seen through the double glazed doors, so there is a real sense of bringing the outside in. The master bedroom, which also looks out onto the garden, can be found on the upper floor too, and this spacious room boasts a private en suite shower room decked out in trendy grey. A second bedroom – or reception, should you prefer – is upstairs too, and this has the same far-reaching views as the lounge. The final addition to this floor is a small cloakroom, perfect for visitors, and access to the loft space. The stairs down are covered in a modern striped carpet which bring out the colours of the contemporary mocha banisters. Once on the lower level you will find a luxury fully tiled four-piece bathroom, third bedroom, utility room, study, understairs storage cupboard and airing cupboard. There is also access into the internal double garage, which is almost begging to be converted into a further room – but we at North Wales Magazine have always been rather too partial to a renovation project or two. With a private gravelled drive for two vehicles, this unusual house certainly ticks as lot of boxes – and it’s safe to say that nobody else would have one like it. The location is tough to beat too, with both the beach and access to the A55 just a few minutes away. n
Number 16 Ffordd Tirionfa is on the market for £270,000, and can be viewed via Beresford Adams Estate agents. Call the Colwyn Bay office on 01492 250157 for further information.
Page 68 NWM 2017
FREE ESTIMATES CARPETS RUGS
rdglass Golf Club situated 30 miles from Belfast on the
KARNDEAN COMMERCIAL FLOORING
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rdglass Golf Club situated 30 miles from Belfast on the
beautiful County Down Coast. It is a truly challenging test
beautiful County Down Coast. It is a truly challenging test
of golf, particularly on a windy day. The course hugs the
of golf, particularly on a windy day. The course hugs the
coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes where the Irish
coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes where the Irish
Sea comes into play, and the majestic Mourne Mountains
Sea comes into play, and the majestic Mourne Mountains
provides the prefect backdrop to your round of Golf. As you
provides the prefect backdrop to your round of Golf. As you
can see from the 2nd hole it is truly breathraking. Ardglass
can see from the 2nd hole it is truly breathraking. Ardglass
is Links Golf as it should be. rdglass Golf Club situated 30
is Links Golf as it should be. rdglass Golf Club situated 30
miles from Belfast on the beautiful County Down Coast. It is
miles from Belfast on the beautiful County Down Coast. It is
a truly challenging test of golf, particularly on a windy day.
a truly challenging test of golf, particularly on a windy day.
The course hugs the coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes
The course hugs the coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes
where the Irish Sea comes into play, and the majestic Mourne
where the Irish Sea comes into play, and the majestic Mourne
Mountains provides the prefect backdrop to your round of
Mountains provides the prefect backdrop to your round of
Golf. As you can see from the 2nd hole it is truly breathraking.
Golf. As you can see from the 2nd hole it is truly breathraking.
Ardglass is Links Golf as it should be.
Ardglass is Links Golf as it should be.
rdglass Golf Club situated 30 miles from Belfast on the
rdglass Golf Club situated 30 miles from Belfast on the
beautiful County Down Coast. It is a truly challenging test
beautiful County Down Coast. It is a truly challenging test
of golf, particularly on a windy day. The course hugs the
of golf, particularly on a windy day. The course hugs the
coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes where the Irish Sea
coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes where the Irish Sea
comes into play, and the majestic Mourne Mountains provides
comes into play, and the majestic Mourne Mountains provides
the prefect backdrop to your round of Golf. As you can see
the prefect backdrop to your round of Golf. As you can see
from the 2nd hole it is truly breathraking. Ardglass is Links
from the 2nd hole it is truly breathraking. Ardglass is Links
Golf as it should be.
Golf as it should be.
rdglass Golf Club situated 30 miles from Belfast on the
rdglass Golf Club situated 30 miles from Belfast on the
beautiful County Down Coast. It is a truly challenging test
beautiful County Down Coast. It is a truly challenging test
of golf, particularly on a windy day. The course hugs the
of golf, particularly on a windy day. The course hugs the
coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes where the Irish Sea
coastline, with no fewer than 8 holes where the Irish Sea
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NWM 07961 577 5772017 Page 69
DEGANWY QUAY ÂŁ925,000 A SENSATIONAL PENTHOUSE APARTMENT ON THE STUNNING DEGANWY QUAY MARINA. Being of individual design and the largest of its kind on the marina, the views from this location are the best there is and capture CONWY CASTLE and the CONWY ESTUARY in all their glory. This highly desirable and unique penthouse has 1900 sq.ft of living space, a magnificent entertaining balcony with frameless glass and a further west facing balcony off the kitchen adding to the superb entertaining facilities for this chic and modern penthouse. The open plan design is bright and spacious with winter sun pouring in throughout the apartment. This spacious interior allows for a mezzanine floor accessed by a spiral staircase providing a seating area or a third bedroom. Italian Kitchen, Mark Wilkinson wardrobes, superb interior decoration add to the glamour along with a double garage making this a very attractive property. EPC:C78
LLANDUDNO ÂŁ745,000 An elegant and desirable five bedroom ARTS & CRAFT property, SOUTHERLIES is in a privileged position a few minutes from Llandudno Town and with stunning uninterrupted views towards Nant y Gamar mountain and surrounding countryside sits in approximately two acres of gardens which includes a SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING PLOT with planning permission for a three bedroom detached house. SOUTHERLIES as its name suggests is ideally positioned in a south west facing location allowing natural light to stream through the house. Tucked away up a private drive, it is rare to find a house of this stature so close to Llandudno Town with fabulous views and in such a large plot. The building plot is divided off with hedging and fencing but could easily be opened to extend the garden. Sheep from a local farmer are given grazing access to the plot from time to time courtesy of the vendor. SOUTHERLIES is NOT listed and is a FREEHOLD property. EPC: E44
01492 580500 sales@coastmarinaproperties.co.uk www.coastmarinaproperties.co.uk
In for a penny… When Jean and Matthew Montgomery finished their house, they decided that they had enjoyed the process so much that it was worth doing it all again. Kate Hamilton went to meet them.
Tucked away in a little corner of Rhos-on-Sea, just under the Bryn Euryn Local Nature Reserve, sits Brompton Park – a quiet cul-de-sac of purpose-built bungalows. It is quite a find for anyone after that all-important peace and quiet – in fact that was one of the deciding factors for Jean and Matthew Montgomery when they first came to view their current home. “We fell in love with Rhos-on-Sea as an area a long time ago,” explains Jean, “and had a holiday home on Ebberston Road for five years. But the time came to spend less time in Rochdale and more in North Wales, so we began to look for somewhere a bit quieter.” Jean was suffering from breast cancer at the time, and so a quiet spot to recuperate was essential. “We fell in love with Brompton Park when we first came to see this bungalow,” says Jean. “Not only was it nice and peaceful but, because all of the properties on the road are bungalows, the whole area seemed so much lighter somehow.” So the Montgomery’s signed on the dotted line and moved their holiday home deeper into Rhos. “Matthew still has to go back to Rochdale for work commitments,” explains Jean who is retired. “But, since we’ve been in this house I’ve virtually moved to Rhos-on-Sea lock, stock and barrel.” And I can see why. The bungalow is light, bright and airy with all mod cons accounted for. Was it like this when they moved in? “Gosh, no!” laughs Matthew. “We removed ten tonnes of
NWM 2017 Page 71
MAGAZINE
concrete from the garden alone!” In fact, the garden was the first project that the couple undertook because – like the bungalow itself – it was rather tired and dated. Jean and Matthew swapped a mountain of concrete for turf and some stylish decking, and cut down numerous conifers in order to bring as much light as possible into their home. “We couldn’t believe the size of the garden once we took the trees down,” says Jean. Although sitting here seven years after the lumberjacks had worked their magic, it seems hard to believe that any trees were cut down, as the garden is still extremely private. And hitting the garden first certainly turned out to be the right order in which to tackle the order of works, as Jean cites the finished external space as a major factor in her recovery. “We have patio doors leading off the master bedroom into the garden, and when I was ill I used to lie in bed with the doors open looking at the sunshine and listening to the birds,” she says. “It was a wonderful place to recuperate.” Next on the renovation hit list was the en suite bathroom and cloakroom, before embarking on a large extension that has virtually doubled the living space within the bungalow. Already featuring a good-sized lounge, the star of this house is now the open-plan kitchen, dining and family room which stretches across the back of the bungalow. Letting in an abundance of natural light, this generous space now has no less than two sets of glazed doors leading into the southfacing garden. While it certainly looks impressive, it must have been a rather daunting project to undertake? “Well we got the professionals in,” says Matthew, “and took the development pretty slowly, taking the time to install a temporary kitchen so that we always had somewhere to cook.” It is such attention to detail that has been the success of this project, causing it to morph from a holiday home into a permanent residence. So it came as quite a surprise to hear that the house was on the market. “We surprised ourselves a bit to be honest,” laughs Jean. “We
Page 72 NWM 2017
love living in Rhos-on-Sea. We love the sense of community spirit, we like being able to walk into the village in order to stock up on necessities – and it’s great having a choice of different walks from your front door when we’re taking the dogs out. “And, obviously, we love this bungalow,” she continues. “But, while it is perfect for when Matthew and I are here on our own, and even adequate when one of our families comes to stay – it is simply just too small if both of our families come to visit at the same time.” So when the opportunity for a larger house with views (the only other box on their dream home list that needed ticking), came up just down the road the Montgomerys decided to jump at the chance. “With Jean having been ill recently, we just started to think that life is too short not to have what we really want, while we still have the opportunity to get it,” explains Matthew, who works in property law. “That’s right,” adds Jean. “We literally thought; stuff it! This is our last chance to own something really special.” So, what will they miss about this house? “Everything,” says Jean. “It’s sad to leave in a way – but our new house is something of a blank canvas, so we will literally be recreating this up there, albeit on a slightly larger scale.” The first job at their new place will be to knock down a wall or two in order to create the open-plan layout that they love so much at Brompton Park. “We did this bungalow up for ourselves, as we genuinely thought that we would be here for years,” concludes Jean. “And while that hasn’t quite worked out, we are excited about moving on and being able to put our own stamp on our next, and hopefully last, house! n
Matthew and Jean’s three-bedroom bungalow on Brompton Park is currently on the market with Fletcher & Poole for £395,000. For more information call the Rhos-on-Sea office on 01492 549178 or visit www.fletcherpoole.com
NWM 2017 Page 73
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The Coach House, Bryn Pydew Surrounded by lovely countryside and numerous footpaths and
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bridleways, this early 19th century coach house enjoys an elevated position in Bryn Pydew. Standing in beautiful gardens, this unique home offers a mix of both traditional and contemporary interiors with stunning countryside and river views. Original features can be found in The Coach House’s impressive dining hall and drawing room, and include beamed ceilings and timber-lined walls. There is also a study, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room and an extremely spacious utility room/workshop downstairs – and three double bedrooms upstairs. All of the bedrooms have lovely countryside views, while the master suite offers an en suite bathroom and spacious dressing room. An additional two-bedroom guest wing ensures that this property really stands out from the crowd. The Coach House is on the market for £550,000
Property
roundup J 6 Mulberry Close, Conwy Marina Whether you are looking for a holiday home or a
J
permanent residence, this apartment in Conwy
The Penthouse, 37 Deganwy Quay Marina
Marina is bound to tick
If you are after modern living combined
all of the boxes. The
with sensational views then look no further
bright and spacious
than this penthouse apartment in Deganwy
three-bedroom firstfloor apartment features
Quay Marina. Featuring a magnificent entertaining balcony with frameless glass
stunning views across the marina towards Deganwy and the
and a further west-facing balcony off the
Great Orme in Llandudno. This fabulous location is within easy
kitchen, there is no need to compromise
walking reach of Conwy Golf club and just minutes from the beach.
on outside space with this apartment.
Accommodation includes double Georgian glazed doors leading off
Inside, and the open-plan design is both
the inner hall in to spacious lounge that, in turn, has patio doors
bright and spacious with spring sunshine
that open out onto the balcony. There are three double bedrooms –
pouring in through the many windows. The
the master overlooks the marina and has a en suite shower room,
penthouse accommodation is accessed by
while the two further bedrooms have views of Conwy mountain
a private lift and features curved walls and
and share the family bathroom. Number 6 Mulberry Close also
a large lounge that overlooks the marina.
has a double garage, a walled private courtyard and a further
A mezzanine floor, which is accessed by
courtyard overlooking the marina, and is available for £335,000.
a spiral staircase, offers the ideal location for a home office or reading room. A double garage and allocated off-street parking complete the package. The penthouse, which is one of only five apartments in the
The above properties are currently on the market with Coast & Marina Estates. For further information call the sales office on 01492 580500 or visit www.coastmarinaproperties.co.uk
block, has an asking price of £935,000.
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Hafan, Gannock Park, Deganwy Hafan is a substantial cottage style residence, with influences of Sir
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Edward Lutyens design in the front elevation with its high apex eaves and general roof line. The detached property is situated in one of the most desirable addresses within the locality, on the looped crescent of Gannock Park – just on the outskirts of the marina village of Deganwy, mid way between the bustling seaside resort of Llandudno and the ancient walled town of Conwy. The spacious and well-maintained accommodation is double glazed and has part gas fired central heating. The flexible layout allows a new owner versatility in how they enjoy and use the home, with three rooms, a kitchen, utility area and bathroom on the ground floor, plus two bedrooms and a bedsitting room suite and shower room upstairs. Externally there is a detached double garage, parking for four cars and spacious landscaped gardens. The property has an asking price of £475,000.
“The flexible layout allows a new owner versatility in how they enjoy and use the home”
J 35 Y Glyn, Llandudno Junction £129,950 This semi-detached onebedroom bungalow is set within a good-sized plot with driveway parking. Benefitting from gas central
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heating and double glazing, the bungalow offers an open
The Old Sun, Glanwydden
plan lounge/dining room, a modern kitchen diner,
This three-bedroom detached period style cottage property is situated in the sought
modern bathroom suite and a double bedroom. To the rear is a
after semi-rural village of Glanwydden,
large decked patio seating area within a private garden. Located
which lies between Llandudno and Colwyn
on the border of Llandudno Junction and Deganwy, this home is
Bay. The accommodation benefits from gas
ideally situated for all local facilities and amenities. It also offers
central heating and part double glazing
great transport links with the nearby A55 and Llandudno Junction
with extensive countryside views and many
railway station which offers a direct line to Chester and London.
original features, including beamed ceilings
Ideal for both first-time buyers and those looking to downsize,
and a feature cast iron Inglenook fireplace.
this bungalow is on the market for £129,950.
A private rear garden offers a lawn and decked area, and the popular Queens Head pub is situated nearby. The Old Sun is currently available for £239,995.
The above properties are currently on the market with Anthony Flint Estate Agents. For more details call its Rhos-on-Sea office on 01492 877418 or visit www.anthonyflint.co.uk
Page 76 NWM 2017
Bryn Glas, Graig Bryn Glas sits on the edge of the lovely hamlet of Graig in the
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Conwy Valley. With superb countryside views, landscaped gardens and immaculately presented accommodation this home presents countryside living within easy reach of Conwy, Llandudno, the Conwy Valley and Snowdonia. There is a lovely flow to the property with access to the kitchen diner from both the entrance hall and the conservatory. The triple aspect breakfast area in particular is a lovely light space overlooking the garden, while the kitchen is beautifully fitted with space for an Aga. The ground floor bedroom boasts excellent countryside views while the downstairs bathroom provides flexible living options. Outside there are beautifully landscaped gardens extending to just under an acre, including well stocked timber framed covered vegetable garden and chicken coop with fenced run. The conservatory opens onto a flagged patio seating area and extends into the garden where the summer house can be found. There are also two log stores, greenhouse, garage and extensive parking. Bryn Glas is available for ÂŁ525,000.
1 Bryn Y Bia Heights, Craigside
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A lovely two-bedroom ground floor garden apartment in the highly sought after area of Craigside, set in a distinctive and beautifully maintained development. Number 1 Bryn Y Bia Heights is only one of two apartments in the development that benefits from its own personal entrance and enjoys a south west facing garden and aspect. The spacious accommodation, which extends to 1,660 square feet, comprises entrance porch, lounge with unique turret style dining room, double doors into the fitted kitchen, utility room, inner hallway/study, master bedroom suite with a walk in dressing room and en suite, second double bedroom, four piece bathroom, private garden to front and side, allocated parking and visitor parking. It is on the market for ÂŁ309,000
13 Wellington Road, Old Colwyn This deceptively spacious two-bedroom mid terrace house has the benefit of an attic room which can be accessed via the main bedroom. The property has been renovated throughout to a high standard and has an open plan kitchen/diner. The immaculately presented property also benefits from two double bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. Externally, the low maintenance front garden is walled while the turfed rear garden is tiered with a shed and patio area. A great starter home or buy-to-let opportunity, 13 Wellington Road is being marketed for ÂŁ125,000.
The above properties are currently on the market with Fletcher & Poole. For further information call the sales office on 01492 549178 or visit www.fletcherpoole.com
NWM 2017 Page 77
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MAGAZINE
N&C offers ranges of porcelain timber plank effect floor tiles that take on all the natural beauty of real wood with the added benefits that it can’t be scratched, dented or bleached by the sun
On the
tiles
Like the look of wooden flooring but prefer the practicality of tiles? Well it’s possible, says Kate Hamilton, to have the best of both worlds…
Thanks to the advancement of modern technology, British homes – and even those in not-always-so-sunny-North Wales – are becoming more and more continental in their design. Tiles, for example, are gradually creeping out from heavy domestic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, and into more
The main
benefit of using [ceramic] tiles is their durability
The staircase of a substantial luxury house in North London featuring PorcelThin Calacatta Book Match marble effect 120x60cm thin porcelain tiles
communal areas. Homeowners are increasingly using tiles in halls, living rooms and even bedrooms thanks to their practical finish – the age-old problem of being chilly underfoot being null and void thanks to state-of-the-art underfloor heating. “With the rise of new technologies, and the fact that underfloor heating is becoming increasingly popular, we have noticed that many people are choosing to install tiles in places such as bedrooms, dining rooms and sitting rooms, where you would traditionally have carpet or wooden floors in the past,” explains Kevin Grant, associate contract sales director at Designworks Tiles. “Because tiles can now replicate so many other materials, and are no longer associated with cold floors, many homeowners regard them as the best, and most practical, choice.”
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MAGAZINE
Porcel-Thin Melbourne beige and brown sandstone effect porcelain tiles. Large modern lounge featuring contrasting Vigen Grey and Rockaway Dark Brown sandstone effect thin porcelain tiles from the PorcelThin Melbourne tile collection
An interesting point – because in today’s modern world, flooring isn’t always what it seems. Innovation in printing and improved manufacturing techniques have led to tiles pushing the boundaries of design. Creative and trend-led, ceramic tiles come in a myriad of colours, finishes, patterns and sizes – and The use of pattern in the home is set to be big for this year, believes British Ceramic Tile
don’t even have to look like tiles as we traditionally know them. “Wood has certainly made its mark in the interiors world, but many builders and designers are rightly skeptical about using real wood in the bathroom, concerned about the effects of moisture and humidity, which can cause the timber to warp and buckle,” says British Ceramic Tile’s marketing manager, David Richards. “Thanks to advancements in inkjet technology, wood-effect ceramic tiles are ideal for the bathroom, offering the same design aesthetics but with the added benefits of being waterproof, durable and easy to install.” Ceramic printing also allows for natural stone, including marble, to be convincingly replicated, bringing the natural look into the home but with a lower price tag and a more practical finish. “The main benefit of using [ceramic] tiles is their durability, and the fact that they are very easy to install,” continues Grant. “With tiles can achieve any look you like – wood-effect, marble-
Page 80 NWM 2017
N&C’s factories all work to ISO18001 and make use of many manufacturing techniques that reduce its impact on the environment
This modern bathroom features a bespoke bath, walls and floor tiles with Porcel-Thin Persian Grey concrete effect 120x60cm thin porcelain tiles from the Cemento tile collection
“Because tiles can now replicate so many other materials, and are no longer associated with cold floors, many homeowners regard them as the best, and most practical, choice”
Many of N&C’s floor tile ranges offer an ‘outside’ version, which is an anti-slip version of the same ‘inside’ tile allowing housebuilders the opportunity to roll the same floor tile used in an internal living area straight outside on a patio
effect or aged-effect. You get the benefits and practicality of
outdoor use; the extra density is a result of a slightly different
porcelain (including easy maintenance) without the cost that
manufacturing process.”
comes with using other materials, such as real wood or stone.” And, just like our European neighbours, many Welsh But, while ceramic tiles are only recommended for interior walls
homeowners are now opting to continue their tiled floor into
and floors, porcelain tiles are a more popular choice for floors
the garden in order to offer a more cohesive look.
that anticipate heavier traffic – such as kitchen floors, hallways and even commercial applications – as they are increasingly
Many of Nicholls & Clarke’s porcelain floor tile ranges
resistant to scratching and chipping.
offer an ‘outside’ version, which is an anti-slip version of the same ‘inside’ tile – giving people the opportunity
“Although they look the same, the main difference between
to roll the same floor tile used in an internal living area
ceramic and porcelain tiles is that a porcelain tile is denser and
straight outside on a patio, giving the effect of extended
less porous than a ceramic tile,” says Neil Kirwan, Cosentino
living
housebuilder sales manager. “This simply means a porcelain
outdoor flow.
tile is much more hardwearing and suitable for both indoor and
But which type of porcelain should you choose? Well, there
space
and
gaining
that
all-important
indoor/
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MAGAZINE
N&C is seeing an increase of tiles being used throughout the living area
are two types of porcelain tiles – through-body porcelain and glazed porcelain. A through-body porcelain tile has no glaze so the colour or design is the same all the way through, meaning that if there are any chips or wear to the tile it would be very difficult to see. Glazed porcelain, meanwhile, is where the tile has been manufactured with a glaze applied to the tile face. In this case the body of the tile is just as hardwearing as a through body porcelain, however the glaze has the same characteristics as the glaze on a ceramic tile. The downsides however are that porcelain tiles can be rather expensive – and heavy. But there is a solution. Starting at just 4.8mm thick, Porcel-Thin tiles are less than half the weight and thickness of conventional porcelain tiles. They are so thin that they can be applied directly over existing tiles, reducing the time and costs of removal and making good. The reduced weight means that extra-large format tiles can be handled by one
The Carvalo wood-effect tile by Designworks Tiles
person, allowing less labour, faster coverage and fewer grout lines. “Generally, porcelain tiles are tougher than ceramic tiles. While both are formed from clay and then fired in a kiln, the clay used to make porcelain tiles is more refined and our porcelain tiles are pressed rather than extruded for maximum strength,” explains Porcel-Thin managing director, Ray Smith. “The porcelain is fired at a higher temperature and pressure, to produce a dense material that is long-lasting and offers more design options. Porcel-Thin tiles (which can be used for floors or walls) are superior to ceramic tiles and standard porcelain tiles in that they are thinner, lighter, more environmentally friendly, stronger and easier to cut. They also offer ultra-low water absorption of below 0.5% (significantly better than the industry standard of 2-3%) and are resistant to frost, fire and heat – meaning that they are far less likely to crack.” Benefits in abundance it seems. In fact, the biggest problem with installing a modern floor tile is deciding whether you want it to look like a traditional tile – or another material altogether. n Parian multiuse porcelain tiles by British Ceramic Tile
Page 82 NWM 2017
Contacts British Ceramic Tile www.britishceramictile.com Cosentino www.cosentino.com Designworks Tiles www.designworkstiles.com Nicholls & Clarke Group www.nichollsandclarke.com Porcel-Thin www.porcel-thin.com
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MAGAZINE
LUXURY OUTDOOR LIVING
Complete your garden with some quality furniture set and/or a Weber Barbecue. Our experts are always on hand to find the perfect combination for each individual customer and there is something for everyone. April is the perfect time to buy, ensuring that every precious heatwave is appreciated to the full. Alongside our Weber range, we stock a variety of garden furniture suites from three fantastic companies: 4Seasons, Hartman and Kettler.
Page 84 NWM 2017 & Garden Centre, Glan Conwy 01492 580703 www.snowdonianurseries.co.uk Snowdonia Nurseries
Inside Out z North Wales Magazine brings you the latest products from the world of interiors
Bed head Conceived, designed, engineered, manufactured, painted and finished entirely in the UK, The Oxford Painted Bedroom Furniture collection is a modern interpretation of classic British design. Exceptionally well made by the best craftsmen using the finest materials, the collection is available in a wide choice of standard pieces with bespoke sizes available on request, and may be finished in a beautiful selection of contemporary colours with either a painted or an oak top. Oxford Bed Frame, as shown here, is available in five sizes with either low or high foot end. Prices start from £489.00 www. paintedfurnitureco. co.uk
Take a seat The Delilah Coral is a statement 1950s-inspired chair with a curved sculptural backrest and dynamic tapered legs. Available from MY Furniture for just under £80, the Delilah Coral has been designed in the UK by MY Furniture’s inhouse team. Perfect for living rooms, bedrooms, conservatories and hallways, the striking geometric fabric updates this shape for a fresh contemporary look – but it can be reupholstered in a wide variety of fabrics to suit your own interior design scheme for an additional cost. www.my-furniture.com
Fabric of the world Freshening up children’s bedrooms while increasing their geographical knowledge can never be a bad thing. Story Time, Big Wide World and Sea are eye-catching fabric designs that beautifully illustrate the imaginary worlds in the minds of children. Available from iLiv, the new fabric ranges cost from £21.00 per metre. www.i-liv.co.uk
NWM 2017 Page 85
MAGAZINE
Waste not, want not Add a splash of colour to your kitchen this season with the latest range of bright and beautiful, freestanding bins from specialist retailer Binopolis.com. Available in five, on-trend colours of Daisy Yellow, Clay Pink, Almond, Moss Green and Platinum, the stunning newIcon Brabantia pedal bins from Binopolis not only look super-stylish, but also boast a generous 30-litre capacity, making them perfect for busy, family homes. Featuring a tall, slim design, newIcon bins come with a tenyear guarantee and cost £60 including both VAT and delivery. www.binopolis.com
On tap GROHE has launched the Concetto professional-style kitchen tap to its Professional range. The tap’s attractive design and ease of use offers a unique level of comfort and convenience that help make kitchen chores more efficient and fun. The new GrohFlexx technology makes the spray particularly mobile for a wide variety of uses. A silicon hose with an integrated metal spring allows users to freely twist and turn the spray through a full 360-degree range. From washing vegetables to rinsing plates to filling tall vases, the optimised operating radius with maximum manoeuvrability means that every chore is completed in no time at all. To celebrate the product launch in style, GROHE is offering a limited edition version of the product with a hose in a choice of the seven colours of the rainbow; yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, green and blue. Prices start from £359. www.grohe.co.uk
Classic curves Leading the trend for curved bathroom products, the curvaceous freestanding basin units in Laura Ashley Bathroom Collection’s classically styled Marlborough furniture range will add an elegant look to any bathroom. Characterised by curved doors and soft rounded edges, the beautifully designed units, which combine timeless styling with expert craftsmanship, come in hand-painted white and cobblestone finishes and two sizes to cater for large as well as more compact bathrooms. Designed to create a real statement, the larger, 1200mm curved basin unit is priced from £1,942. www.lauraashleybathroomcollection.com
What lies beneath Moduleo’s catalogue of luxury vinyl flooring products has something to suit just about any environment, so whether you’re looking to create a contemporary kitchen or a traditional bedroom, it’s likely that it will have the solution. Design within vinyl flooring has been allowed to evolve by the introduction of new technologies. The whole process of making a single tile has changed, allowing for more dynamic designs to be used. Surface customisation is a key feature that customers and designers are increasingly looking for, and the new Moduleo Moods collection is a response to this growing trend. For something truly bespoke, the new Moduleo Moods range offers customers a creative studio in which they can combine 10 brand-new flooring formats. Up to 110 unique wood and stone-effect designs can be created using the wide range of tile shapes available including: hexagons, chevrons, triangles and diamonds, as well as traditional squares and rectangles. www.moduleo.co.uk
Page 86 NWM 2017
Mae croeso cynnes i bawb yn BOCS! If you need storage for your home or business, then look no further than BOCS Self-Storage. We offer a wide range of secure, clean, accessible and affordable storage units.
Key Features • Welsh speaking staff • Use of free van when you move into BOCS • Secure and accessible indoor storage • Undercover loading bay • Short and long term rental • Trolleys & trucks on site Talk to our trained staff who will advise and support you through the storing process making sure you only pay for the space you need.
Galwch heibio a gweld sut y gallwn eich helpu.
NWM 2017 Page 87
MAGAZINE APRIL 2017
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APRIL 2017
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THE REGIONAL COMEDY SCENE IS NO JOKE
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APRIL 20 17 t of
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Interview with Ryan Evans Born, bred and buil ding in North Wal
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Getting back
to Nature
There’s plenty of wildlife across the region in April, says Julian Hughes, if you know where to look.
Three places to visit in April RSPB Conwy, Llandudno Junction. The reedbeds and scrub host more than a dozen species of Summer migrant birds, while the Cowslips are in full bloom. On the saltmarsh, wagtail numbers peak in the third week of April, with large numbers of White Wagtails stopping here on their journey to Iceland. NWWT Coed Trellyniau, Nannerch
African arrivals
The woods are alive with birdsong, including Blackcaps and Willow
April’s is a time of change, longer hours of daylight and warmer temperatures
Warblers, and there’s a good variety of
trigger new life. Birds are on the move, with millions arriving from Africa to breed
flowers, including a carpet of Bluebells
in North Wales or farther north, stopping here for a day or two at a wetland or a
from mid April. Just two miles away,
coastal headland such as the Great Orme or Uwchmynydd. Swallows become more
Coed-y-felin nature reserve near
numerous by the day, and by mid-April will be checking out barns and out-houses
Rhydymwyn is also excellent.
for nesting. By mid-month, wetlands echo to the scratchy songs of Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers, the males marking out their territories with their voices.
Nesting gets underway The prelude to nesting is the dawn chorus, which peaks in late April. An early morning walk in a woodland is a treat: don’t worry about identifying all the birds in the soundscape, just enjoy it. Resident species are joined by Garden Warblers, Blackcaps and
Malltraeth Cob, Anglesey Watch from the road bridge over the Cefni as an incoming tide brings a wide variety of waterbirds into the estuary. Check the nearby pools for late Pintails before they head north, or walk in nearby Newborough Forests for Red Squirrels.
Willow Warblers, the latter singing a cadence of notes that fall down the scale. Robins and Blackbirds have their first chicks in April. Their youngsters are vulnerable for the first days after they leave the nest, so it’s a good time to keep your cat indoors! Some birds, such as Skylarks, Curlews and Grouse nest on the
Bumblebees and Butterflies
ground, so if I’m walking on moorland, grassland or on a rocky beach, I keep my
Just a handful of butterflies are on the
dog on a short lead.
wing in April: the butter-yellow of the Brimstone and the Orange-tip are the
Into the hills
most obvious. Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells should be flying later in
If you’re walking in the hills, look out for Wheatears, which will fly a short
the month.
distance ahead of you, flashing their white rump, where the slate-grey body
After Queen Bees were visible in March,
meets its tail. On scree slopes in Snowdonia, listen for Ring Ouzels, the upland
for many bees there’s a break in flying,
version of a Blackbird, with its broad white collar.
as workers have yet to hatch from the eggs she laid. Tree pollen, on willow and
Look down
blackthorn, is really important for the first bees to emerge. Early Bumblebee,
April is the month to visit a broad-leaved woodland.
one of our smallest, with lemon-and-black
Tree leaves aren’t yet fully open, so the sunlight hits the
bands of hair and an orange tail, is the
woodland floor, encouraging a kaleidoscope of flowers.
one you’re most likely to spot.
Wood Anenomes are a favourite, with their fragile white petals and yellow pollen inviting visits by newly-emerging insects. Garlic Mustard prefers the shadier spots, its cluster of tiny white flowers above nettle-like leaves that smell of garlic when crushed. Red Campion and Dandelions bring pink and yellow to roadside verges and mature gardens. Dandelions are a valuable early source of nectar for bumblebees and other pollinators, so please leave some clear of the lawnmower blade.
Julian Hughes grew up in North Wales, which instilled a lifelong love of nature. He lives near Llandudno, manages the RSPB’s Conwy nature reserve, and writes about the region’s wildlife
NWM 2017 Page 91
MAGAZINE
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Building from the ground up 01492 871711 | 07748 081775 JJ Construction@gmail.com
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Page 92 NWM 2017 Mon – Fri: 10.00 - 5.00 and Sat 10.00 - 4.00 Sunday CLOSED • Customer car park • Wheelchair friendly
For the love of all things
vintage...
The confessions of a modern day Magpie Once you get the vintage bug, you have no idea where your journey will take you. My own story has a very small beginning. As a little girl growing up in North Wales, on Saturday mornings following the weekly Kwik Save shop, my Mum and I loved nothing more than going to coffee mornings, church hall fairs and even jumble sales (whatever happened to them?). Lured in by the toy stall, it wasn’t long before I developed a taste for handbags, quickly graduating on to (often broken) sparkly jewellery. For this reason I was fondly referred to by my family as “the magpie”. Little did I know that these were my early forays into a world which, in years to come, would literally take over my life. My small business Tatty Divine Vintage
outfit always includes at least one piece of vintage,
was conjured up from the love and passion
today for instance, as I write this article, I am wearing
for all things old, mostly vintage items and
a gentlemen’s paisley scarf by Tootal. On a night out, I
occasionally the odd decorative antique. My website
am more likely to be seen carrying a gorgeous vintage
covers anything from a stunning continental piece
leather clutch bag and a statement piece
of 1920s’ jewellery through to a mid-century piece of
of vintage jewellery. I love the fact
furniture and everything in between. It’s a very simple
that buying vintage is owning
formula, I only buy and sell items that I truly love, with
something special that no one
the majority of my finds being sourced locally within a
else will have, and I think
45-mile radius of my picturesque seaside town, Colwyn
about its fascinating history
Bay. The one thing that all my finds have in common is
and the story it could tell if it
that they have stood the test of time.
could talk.
Purchasing vintage, often makes financial sense too.
Every month in North Wales
Although not all items will soar in value, their unique
Magazine I hope to bring to you
appeal means they are likely to be solid
a fascinating insight into the world
investments which are unlikely to
of vintage including home styling,
depreciate or date – and can be passed
furniture, the thrill of auctions,
down to future generations.
vintage decorative fairs and restoration.
I understand that for a lot of people, they think vintage isn’t for them.
Yours always Tatty x
In my opinion vintage can be for everyone and every budget, be it that finishing touch for the home
Alison Hough is a
costing a couple of pounds to the
specialist vintage
dizzy heights of a vintage couture
dealer with a passion
gown costing tens of thousands.
for decorative antiques
For me, vintage gives a sense
and a flair for interiors,
of style, personality and
based in Old Colwyn,
individualism. For example, I like to
North Wales
mix my look up a bit… my everyday
NWM 2017 Page 93
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The Last Word 1
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Across 1 U S space group (1,1,1,1) 3 Court game (10) 10 Consequently (9) 11 Female sovereign (5) 12 Survive (7) 13 Bowling pin (7) 14 Skin eruption (4) 15 Pachyderms (9) 19 Sue (9) 21 German Mrs (4) 24 Passage (7) 27 Surrey commuter village (7) 28 Trembling poplar (5) 29 Mouth organ (9) 30 Science of numbers (10) 31 Undiluted (4) Down 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 16 17 18 20 22 23 25 26
Belonging to a country (8) Enticement (9) Papal (9) Leg joints (5) Mexican liquor (7) Proficient (5) Beam over a door (6) Started (5) Medley (3-6) Frighten, usually by violence (9) Take away (8) Squeeze together (7) Las Vegas setting (6) Racecourse (5) Island in the Bay of Naples (5) Resort lake in both California and 22 down (5)
Down: 1 National, 2 Sweetener, 4 Apostolic, 5 Knees, 6 Tequila, 7 Adept, 8 Lintel, 9 Began, 16 Potpourri, 17 Terrorize, 18 Subtract, 20 Scrunch, 22 Nevada, 23 Ascot, 25 Capri, 26 Tahoe. Across: 1 N A S A, 3 Basketball, 10 Therefore, 11 Queen, 12 Outlast, 13 Skittle, 14 Acne, 15 Elephants, 19 Prosecute, 21 Frau, 24 Excerpt, 27 Oxshott, 28 Aspen, 29 Harmonica, 30 Arithmetic, 31 Neat.
NWM 2017 Page 95
MAGAZINE
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NWM 2017 Page 97
MAGAZINE
NEXT
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Top 10 Experiences for adrenaline junkies Porthmadog Uncovering the history of this maritime town Homes & Interiors The modern kitchens embracing island life What’s on? Your comprehensive guide to local events this May One for the road How many local breweries do you think North Wales has? Plus‌ Interviews | Restaurant profile | Recipes | Property roundup | Readers homes | Columns
Page 98 NWM 2017
More than just an education... Rydal Penrhos School provides a complete primary and secondary school education for children aged 2 ½ to 18 Situated in the picturesque town of Colwyn Bay on the stunning North Wales coast GCSE, A-level and International Baccalaureate
Scholarships available Day, weekly and flexi boarding Find out more on our new website at www.rydalpenrhos.com
To book a tour contact admissions@rydalpenrhos.com or call 01492 530155 NWM 2017 Page 99
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