CREATIVE Caernarfon

Cei Llechi in Caernarfon is a hub of creative activity, and the best part is that you can take a little bit of that creative flair home with you…

Nestled in the historic harbour, Cei Llechi is the beating heart of Caernarfon’s creative quarter thanks to a recent redevelopment aimed at encouraging local artisans.

Historically, Cei Llechi (Slate Quay) was an important industrial and shipping hub for Caernarfon and the surrounding area. But, following decades of decline and neglect, the buildings had deteriorated and lain empty for many years. Today, what were shells of buildings have been transformed into 19 workspaces for local artisans and craft manufacturers.

The units/workshops are suitable to makers of all kinds – the only essential factor is that everything sold in the units are made on the site – from raw material to the finished product. We met some of Cei Llechi’s residents, and discovered what it is that makes them tick…

Beth Horrocks

From her studio in Caernarfon, North Wales graphic artist Beth Horrocks uses her skill in drawing and graphic arts to realise the majesty of the North Wales coastline. Her unique style is fresh and contemporary and beautifully captures some of the places we love most in the world.

Beth’s journey into running her own studio and gallery is a slightly unusual one. An established graphic designer, she was until a few years ago happily forging her career by designing logos and other marketing materials for a range of different businesses. But a chance opportunity –¬ taking part in a workshop with her young children at Galeri in Caernarfon

¬– helped Beth to reconnect with her creativity, and reminded her how much she loved the freedom of her own imagination.

It was around this time that Beth spotted a poster calling for submissions to an open art exhibition. Enthused by how much she had enjoyed the workshop with her children, Beth entered and was delighted to find out her work had been accepted.

But that was just the beginning. Beth went on to win first prize at the exhibition, and soon afterwards her career took a completely new direction. In 2022, Beth opened Oriel Beth Horrocks Gallery at Cei Lechi in the heart of Caernarfon’s creative quarter. The location alone makes it well worth a visit – the gallery is open plan with scenic views of the nearby harbour and the mighty Caernarfon Castle. If you make time for a visit (and we really recommend you do), you might even get a masterclass in how Beth goes about creating her work.

Having previously worked exclusively from the privacy of her home studio, the artist – who grew up on Ynys Môn (Anglesey), now works from the gallery in Cei Lechi full-time, where she is able to create, showcase and frame her works all in one picturesque location.

A.G. Shoots Photography

A.G Shoots Photography is a professional photography studio which was established in 2015 and has been based in Unit 13 at Cei Llechi since October 2022. Agata specialises in capturing beautiful moments for families and babies. With a focus on creativity her studio provides a unique experience for clients looking to document important milestones in their lives. Agata’s beautiful studio is filled with the highest quality equipment and props that allow her to provide the highest possible standard of the service. She provides comfortable and welcoming environment for families, babies and individuals allowing them to relax and be themselves during the photography session. Agata’s attention to detail and ability to capture the essence of her clients’ personalities is what makes her stand out. As a professional photographer she understands the importance of capturing precious moments that will last a lifetime. Agata takes the time to get to know her clients and understands their vision for the photoshoot. This allows her to tailor the approach to their specific needs and create images that truly capture their personality and style.

Siop Pen Gwyn

Walk into Siop Pen Gwyn at Cei Llechi and you will instantly be transported back to your childhood! Shelves stocked high with traditional sweetie jars, the deliciously sweet smell of sugar bubbling away in the fudge kitchen, the checker board floor and candy coloured shop complete with nostalgic chopper bicycle, it’s a real feast for the eyes let alone the taste buds! This sweet haven is the creation of Nicola Lloyd and her small team, an idea borne back in 2021 after a chance visit to the new Cei Llechi development. On seeing the renovated

The Forge

After many years working for a heritage steam railway

Chris decided to take a different path that would allow him to further explore his passion for heritage skills and crafts. He completed his degree in Artist Blacksmithing at Hereford College of Arts in 2021 where his main influence was the slate landscape of North Wales. In May 2022 he and his wife, Bethan, grabbed the opportunity to open the old forge at Cei Llechi which had once been home to Brunswick Ironworks and breathe new life into the old fires. The forge is open to the public giving people a rare opportunity to glimpse into the daily activities of a contemporary blacksmith. Chris is always willing to share the history of the forge and answer any questions about what he’s making and takes great delight in people sharing their own stories of relatives who once worked here many years ago. Likewise seeing the forge reopened and still inhabited by a blacksmith brings joy to those who can still remember the sounds of busy forge.

Brunswick Iron Reception Building looking for a new tenant, the long-held desire to open a traditional sweet shop and fudgery was ignited! Nicola’s favourite part of the job is gathering new ideas and flavour combinations to produce a huge variety of delicious flavoured fudges, with at least 12 yummy flavours being available on the shop counter on any given day. “It never fails to make my day when I hear someone trying the fudge at the counter saying wow, that really tastes like Bakewell Tart, Bara Brith or whatever special flavour I have been working on,” says Nicola. “That’s when I know I’ve got it right!”

Cwt Celf

Cwt Celf sits on the banks of the river Seiont estuary and enjoys outstanding views from every angle, the Highland Steam Railway to the left, the Castle to the right, and the Cwt tucked in the middle waiting to see you. However you word it, Cei Llechi is arguably the most beautiful spot in Caernarfon, absorbing the striking heritage from every side. Once housing an old engineering workshop, the Cwt is now a bright, airy and inspiring space, offering an eclectic range of art, craft and homewares.

It is the special location which brought Cwt Celf to Caernarfon. If you have visited Beddgelert you may have met the Cwt’s big sister shop Beddgelert Woodcraft, which has been successfully trading in the small Snowdonian village for over 40 years. Jane and Nicola, the mother and daughter team who run these shops, have travelled far and wide to bring fairly traded artisan works from around the world and share them with the locals and visitors to the area.

Being an artist herself, Jane has always kept a keen hand in the design stage and travelled the world to oversee production, and she is now excited to have a space to showcase her own work. Within the Cwt you will find unique, individual pieces, including mixed media collages and abstract paintings hanging on the walls and the in house ranges of textiles, greetings cards and jewellery being made at the work station.

Red Boat

With four Red Boat Ice Cream Parlours throughout Anglesey and North Wales, owners Tony and Lyn know a thing or two about the finest ice creams and sorbets. Initially only one in the beautiful resort town of Beaumaris on Anglesey, the popularity and demand led to the opening of many more sites.

Voted one of the 17 coolest places to get an ice cream in the whole of the UK, Red Boat Ice Cream Parlours can also be found in Menai Bridge, Plas Newydd (National Trust, Anglesey), Prestatyn, Caernarfon and Llangefni. The parlours have a range of both beautifully modern and heritage interiors and are a great place to meet and enjoy a delicious ice cream, a sandwich, soup or coffee.

Red Boat know the art of ice cream making and, if you would like to get involved you’ll be pleased to hear that they are currently hiring! Tony and Lyn need a fun, reliable person with a passion for good quality ice cream. If that’s you and you would like to be a part of the Cei Llechi Red Boat team get in touch!

Siop Eifion

Siop Eifion has been run by Dilys Griffiths in Caernarfon town centre for over ten years, and 18 months ago Dilys decided to relocate her small, vibrant business to the picturesque new Cei Llechi waterfront development and become part of the exciting mix of new creative businesses there.

Dilys’ real passion is to transform pre-loved furniture and give it a new lease of life for others to appreciate and enjoy. Customers can see her perform this transformation on the premises using hand tools, chalk paints and her natural creativity on a daily basis, with each completed project eventually being snapped up by a lucky customer in the shop. Other items sold in Siop Eifion are sourced locally, including handmade jewellery, artwork and Welsh greetings cards. The homeware and gift section contains lots of unusual and unique items to make your home really stand out from the rest.

If you want to see Dilys or talk to her about her latest project then call in to Siop Eifion at unit 2 Cei Llechi, directly opposite the La Marina Cei restaurant.

Oriel y Castell, Andy Teasdale

Andy is a passionate landscape photographer based in Cei Llechi. As an expert mountain guide and talented photographer, Andy spends a lot of time in and around the mountains of Eryri and North Wales. Walking and climbing are very complimentary activities to photography and Andy blends them to create pleasing photographic opportunities or ideas for a future outing. Nature and landscapes are his greatest photography passions and go hand in hand with his business.

Capturing stunning imagery from in and around Eryri in his own unique style, Andy reaches places and views only the experienced mountain explorer would find! Throughout the year in all weather, snow or shine, Andy brilliantly photographs North Wales’ majestic mountain range at its best.

Back in the Summer of 2021, Andy opened his modest

Seat Of Your Pants

Over 20 years ago Frances Lewis opened a market shop in Caernarfon, and using her seamstress skills to fix and alter clothes, make curtains and various other soft furnishings for the home, she built the foundations for Seat of Your Pants.

Many years later, a chance encounter with a customer who told her about chair made from denim she had seen in a London shop, inspired Frances to get creative and cover an unloved sofa sitting in the corner of her shop using old denim jeans.

The end was result was so successful that Seat of Your Pants was born. Frances went on to make bags, cushions, guitar cases, artist brush holders, draught excluders, lamp shades and pretty much anything else that can be made out of material.

Becws Melys Café

The people behind the popular Melys Cheesecakes have opened a new café in Cei Llechi called Becws Melys (Sweet Bakery).

Becws Melys will be serving their famous hearty portions of cheesecake and other sweet bakes, as well as hot savoury food such as Philly cheese steak bagels, and Katsu chicken salads to eat in or take away.

Becws Melys is run by Bethan and Peris from Caernarfon. Business boomed for the couple during lockdown, where gallery at Cei Llechi overlooking the harbour, where (if he’s not in the mountains looking for inspiration) you’ll find him selling his photographs in both colour and classic black and white. they created themed afternoon teas and treat boxes.

Photography is only part of the process for Andy. With a keen eye for detail, a stickler for quality control, Andy does all his own printing, mounting and framing to the highest of standards. He’s a real perfectionist, in fact, if he wouldn’t hang it on his own wall at home, you won’t see it in his gallery!

Over the last year Andy has now begun sourcing all his own real air and kiln dried wood that he uses to make his frames from. Using a selection of locally felled Ash, Oak or Sycamore, Andy skilfully makes the frames at home before taking them to the gallery at Cei Llechi. This is all in keeping with Andy’s love of nature and desire to keep a low carbon footprint and produce an authentic and unique product.

Frances was thrilled when her application for a unit in Cei Llechi was accepted as it would give her the space she needed to really push the business forwards. Fast forward a few months and her products are in such demand that she struggles to get enough material to keep production going, so much so that she now has to buy second hand jeans from charity shops as donations from friends, family and the general public just can’t keep up with the speed of her sales.

Every now and again Frances can still be found altering and making curtains, but that’s usually just because she’s run out of denim! So if you have any old jeans that would be perfect for recycling then please call by Seat of Your Pants and donate them to Frances. Come back again a few weeks later and you may even find they have been turned into another of Frances’ fantastic creations for you to buy back!

“Peris has always wanted to open his own café or restaurant having worked as a chef for over ten years,” explains Bethan. “When the units at Cei Llechi became available, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to open up a café in a new exciting part of town. We have many plans for the café including lots of new bakes, new afternoon teas, Sunday lunch and exciting pop-up evenings! Things have been going really well, so we have decided to expand the business into the neighbouring unit which more than doubles the size of our cafe.”

All of the above artisans can be found at Cei Llechi in Caernarfon, LL55 2PB. For more information please visit www.ceillechi.cymru