Llanrindod Wells' Chalybeate Tea Room officially opens
A NEW tea room officially opened in Llandrindod Wells with a VE Day-themed event last weekend.
Opened by Jenni and Lee Percy, who also run the multi award-winning Lakeside Boathouse and Llandrindod Community Events, Chalybeate Tea Room officially opened its doors on Friday, May 9, with a celebratory event involving the community taking place on Saturday.
Over 180 people attended the event, who were all treated to a free drink on entry, a fantastic barbeque, and VE-themed performances from Llandrindod Wells Theatre Company, as well as from Angharad Hyde and Phil Hill.
Based in Rock Park, the tea room offers a charming and peaceful space for people to enjoy a range of premium teas and coffees, light bites and provides the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and socialising.
Located in the old Pump House building, the tea room boasts many of the original features – including the water pumps which would historically draw water from the nearby spa, during the iconic period that made Llandrindod famous.
'We are absolutely delighted to bring this piece of Llandrindod's history back to life,' said Jenni. 'It's taken a lot of work from a lot of people, but seeing everyone having such a wonderful time at our opening event made it all worthwhile.
'We've already had lots of visitors, which was fantastic over this lovely spring weekend. It's great to see people enjoying this beautiful space – Rock Park provides beautiful surroundings.'
Feedback from the event was hugely positive, with one local resident saying: 'Fantastic evening, from food drink entertainment and atmosphere. Looking forward to the next event.'
Another described the venue and event as amazing, saying: 'Thank you for an evening of great entertainment, fantastic food, fun and laughter.'
'A wonderful evening getting the community together, thank you so much,' said another attendee.
'Such a lovely evening. A wonderful start to your new adventure, wishing you every success with this brilliant addition to the social and economic fabric of this amazing town.'
The tea room offers light lunches, afternoon tea and cakes. Dog lovers can also bring their four-legged friends along to sit in a designated seating area.
Jenni added: 'We're dedicated to providing a really lovely experience for people – something a bit different, something that feels like a bit of a treat, but still in keeping with our vision for accessible facilities for people in Llandrindod Wells.
'We'll be exploring events like concerts and themed evenings in the future, we're really excited at what this venue can offer.'
Chalybeate is open from 10am-4pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pay them a visit, or call 01597 243013 or email Chalybeatetearoom@gmail.com for more information.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
9 of the best McDonald's Happy Meal toys ever, and how much they could be worth
There have been some classic toys over the years Sign up to our Retro newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Happy Meal has been with us for nearly 50 years They have included some amazing freebies over the years, particularly during the 80s, 90s and noughties How many of these Happy Meal toys do you remember, some of which could be worth £100s? There have been some amazing McDonald's Happy Meal toys over the years | Getty Images/ The McDonald's Happy Meal has been around since 1979, and it has contained some amazing toys over the years - as well as some less impressive ones. The first Happy Meal toys included a McDonald's-themed stencil, a wallet and a spinning top. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But over the years the gifts became more elaborate and were often designed to tie in with the latest movie release or craze. Video games, action figures and toy cars are just some of the goodies children have found inside the boxes down the decades. In recent years, McDonald's has started phasing out plastic toys in favour of more sustainable items. But what is the best Happy Meal toy of the last 46 years, and how much are the most sought-after goodies now worth? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Below are nine of the most popular Happy Meal toys from the 80s, 90s and noughties, some of which are listed for sale for £100s, while others can be snapped up for just a few pounds. TY Teenie Beanie Babies Stretchy the Ostrich was part of the hugely popular range of Teenie Beanie Babies toys which came with Happy Meals during the late 90s | These adorable mini soft toys first landed in Happy Meal boxes in 1997, at the height of the Beanie Babies craze. There were huge queues at some McDonald's restaurants, with the tiny toys appealing to adult collectors as well as children. There were even reports of fights breaking out, such was the demand. The popular characters included Patti the Platypus and Pinchers the Lobster. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A complete set of 12 unopened Teenie Beanies toys from 1998 is listed for sale on eBay for more than £420, but they are listed elsewhere for much less. Changeables The McDonald's Changeables toys, which transformed from food items to robots or dinosaurs, came with Happy Meals in the late 80s and early 90s | These popular Happy Meal toys were released in the late 80s and early 90s, when Transformers was all the rage. They converted from food items like a burger or fries into dinosaurs or robots. They first came out in 1987 and proved a huge hit, with new versions released in 1989 and 1990. Many people claimed these were the best Happy Meal toys ever, with one going so far as to call them 'absolute legends'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If you have one and are hoping to cash in, though, you might be disappointed. The going price for a set of four Changeables on eBay appears to be around £30. Hot Wheels McDonald's first teamed up with Hot Wheels to include model cars in Happy Meal boxes in 1983, and they have produced some classic vehicles over the years. One car from the original collection, a Cadillac Seville, is listed for sale on eBay for just over £50. Inspector Gadget The Inspector Gadget toy produced to tie in with the 1999 movie, starring Matthew Broderick, is another favourite among Happy Meal fans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad You had to collect all eight parts to complete your Inspector Gadget action figure, but those who did said it was worth it. One person recalled: 'Loved it. Was one of my core memories with my grandma. She did a lil skip when we got all the pieces.' One set of all the pieces in their original wrappers is listed on eBay for just under £1,100, but elswehere on eBay what appears to be the same collection is listed for a little over £40. Toy Story 2 figures The Buzz Lightyear figure given away with McDonald's Happy Meals in 2000 to mark the release of Toy Story 2 | The mini action figures given away with Happy Meals in 2000 to tie in with Toy Story 2 are another of the most fondly remembered toys from over the years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They included Woody, Slinky Dog and Buzz Lightyear, which was the one every child wanted to get. A set of six toys from that collection is listed on eBay for £25. Sonic games McDonald's first gave away Sonic the Hedgehog handheld games with its Happy Meals in 2003. They included a racing game and a basic adventure game where you had to collect the rings. They were designed for small hands, and the screen was so tiny that you needed amazing eyesight to play them too, but they are still fondly remembered. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One fan called them 'epic' and another branded them 'awesome'. A set of four of the original 2003 games in their original packaging is listed on eBay for around £35. In 2023, McDonald's gave away click-together cardboard Sonic toys together with a QR code enabling you to play much more sophisticated games than those from 20 years earlier on your smartphone. Lego Motion These basic Lego toys were given away inside Happy Meals in 1989, with models including a helicopter, a race car and a sea plane. You can pick these models up for around £5 each on eBay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 1994, similar toys called Lego System were released. A set of four of these toys is listed on eBay for just over £50. Back to the Future Delorean The Back to the Future Happy Meal toys were released not to tie in with the films but with the cartoon series which came out in 1991. They included Marty McFly on a hoverboard but the most sought-after of the four toys was undoubtedly the time-travelling DeLorean car with Doc Brown at the wheel. You can pick up the Marty McFly and DeLorean toys together on eBay for around £25. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Batmobile The Batman Returns Happy Meal toys given away to tie in with the 1992 movie proved controversial, as some parents felt it was unsuitable to promote a film with such adult themes in meals aimed at young children. The toys themselves were great though, especially the Batmobile, which shot out the front part like a missile when you pressed the button on top. One person recalled: 'Let's face it, if you got a Happy Meal with any of the others besides the Batmobile in it, you were at least a little bit disappointed.' How many of these Happy Meal toys do you remember and what do you think is the best gift the boxes ever contained?
Scotsman
5 hours ago
- Scotsman
9 of the best McDonald's Happy Meal toys ever, and how much they could be worth
There have been some classic toys over the years Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Happy Meal has been with us for nearly 50 years They have included some amazing freebies over the years, particularly during the 80s, 90s and noughties How many of these Happy Meal toys do you remember, some of which could be worth £100s? There have been some amazing McDonald's Happy Meal toys over the years | Getty Images/ The McDonald's Happy Meal has been around since 1979, and it has contained some amazing toys over the years - as well as some less impressive ones. The first Happy Meal toys included a McDonald's-themed stencil, a wallet and a spinning top. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But over the years the gifts became more elaborate and were often designed to tie in with the latest movie release or craze. Video games, action figures and toy cars are just some of the goodies children have found inside the boxes down the decades. In recent years, McDonald's has started phasing out plastic toys in favour of more sustainable items. But what is the best Happy Meal toy of the last 46 years, and how much are the most sought-after goodies now worth? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Below are nine of the most popular Happy Meal toys from the 80s, 90s and noughties, some of which are listed for sale for £100s, while others can be snapped up for just a few pounds. TY Teenie Beanie Babies Stretchy the Ostrich was part of the hugely popular range of Teenie Beanie Babies toys which came with Happy Meals during the late 90s | These adorable mini soft toys first landed in Happy Meal boxes in 1997, at the height of the Beanie Babies craze. There were huge queues at some McDonald's restaurants, with the tiny toys appealing to adult collectors as well as children. There were even reports of fights breaking out, such was the demand. The popular characters included Patti the Platypus and Pinchers the Lobster. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A complete set of 12 unopened Teenie Beanies toys from 1998 is listed for sale on eBay for more than £420, but they are listed elsewhere for much less. Changeables The McDonald's Changeables toys, which transformed from food items to robots or dinosaurs, came with Happy Meals in the late 80s and early 90s | These popular Happy Meal toys were released in the late 80s and early 90s, when Transformers was all the rage. They converted from food items like a burger or fries into dinosaurs or robots. They first came out in 1987 and proved a huge hit, with new versions released in 1989 and 1990. Many people claimed these were the best Happy Meal toys ever, with one going so far as to call them 'absolute legends'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If you have one and are hoping to cash in, though, you might be disappointed. The going price for a set of four Changeables on eBay appears to be around £30. Hot Wheels McDonald's first teamed up with Hot Wheels to include model cars in Happy Meal boxes in 1983, and they have produced some classic vehicles over the years. One car from the original collection, a Cadillac Seville, is listed for sale on eBay for just over £50. Inspector Gadget The Inspector Gadget toy produced to tie in with the 1999 movie, starring Matthew Broderick, is another favourite among Happy Meal fans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad You had to collect all eight parts to complete your Inspector Gadget action figure, but those who did said it was worth it. One person recalled: 'Loved it. Was one of my core memories with my grandma. She did a lil skip when we got all the pieces.' One set of all the pieces in their original wrappers is listed on eBay for just under £1,100, but elswehere on eBay what appears to be the same collection is listed for a little over £40. Toy Story 2 figures The Buzz Lightyear figure given away with McDonald's Happy Meals in 2000 to mark the release of Toy Story 2 | The mini action figures given away with Happy Meals in 2000 to tie in with Toy Story 2 are another of the most fondly remembered toys from over the years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They included Woody, Slinky Dog and Buzz Lightyear, which was the one every child wanted to get. A set of six toys from that collection is listed on eBay for £25. Sonic games McDonald's first gave away Sonic the Hedgehog handheld games with its Happy Meals in 2003. They included a racing game and a basic adventure game where you had to collect the rings. They were designed for small hands, and the screen was so tiny that you needed amazing eyesight to play them too, but they are still fondly remembered. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One fan called them 'epic' and another branded them 'awesome'. A set of four of the original 2003 games in their original packaging is listed on eBay for around £35. In 2023, McDonald's gave away click-together cardboard Sonic toys together with a QR code enabling you to play much more sophisticated games than those from 20 years earlier on your smartphone. Lego Motion These basic Lego toys were given away inside Happy Meals in 1989, with models including a helicopter, a race car and a sea plane. You can pick these models up for around £5 each on eBay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In 1994, similar toys called Lego System were released. A set of four of these toys is listed on eBay for just over £50. Back to the Future Delorean The Back to the Future Happy Meal toys were released not to tie in with the films but with the cartoon series which came out in 1991. They included Marty McFly on a hoverboard but the most sought-after of the four toys was undoubtedly the time-travelling DeLorean car with Doc Brown at the wheel. You can pick up the Marty McFly and DeLorean toys together on eBay for around £25. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Batmobile The Batman Returns Happy Meal toys given away to tie in with the 1992 movie proved controversial, as some parents felt it was unsuitable to promote a film with such adult themes in meals aimed at young children. The toys themselves were great though, especially the Batmobile, which shot out the front part like a missile when you pressed the button on top. One person recalled: 'Let's face it, if you got a Happy Meal with any of the others besides the Batmobile in it, you were at least a little bit disappointed.'
Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Daily Record
Kate Middleton and Prince William's huge decision for Prince George as 'reality hits home'
The Prince and Princess of Wales have an important decision to make during the summer holidays regarding their eldest son Prince George. The summer holidays will offer the Princess of Wales a valuable opportunity to spend precious time with her family before her three children begin a new school year. This summer in particular, will be one Kate is likely to cherish with significant milestones approaching - especially for Prince George. Kate and Prince William's eldest son turns 12 on July 22, and when he returns to school in September, it will mark his final year at Lambrook School, where he currently studies alongside his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. George is set to move on to secondary education the following year. As he approaches his teenage years, George - second in line to the throne - has been making more public appearances, each time under the watchful and supportive eye of his mum, Kate, the Mirror reports. As Prince George turns 12 and with the prospect of starting a new school next year, he is reaching an age where "the reality of his destiny has begun to hit home" according to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond. Speaking to the Mirror, Jennie explained: "He tends to look rather serious when he's 'on parade' these days. Charlotte looks demure, Louis looks impish, but George sometimes looks rather preoccupied to me. And who can blame him? It is an extraordinary prospect to know that one day you will be taking on the huge role that you are now watching your grandfather perform." "But he's not, by any means, always a serious little chap. When he's with his dad at a football match, or fooling around with his siblings and his father, he has a wonderful smile on his face, and seems happy and relaxed." In May, George took part in his most significant royal role to date during the 80th anniversary commemorations of VE Day. He joined Charlotte and Louis to watch a military parade and appeared alongside them on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast. A notable milestone in his royal life came when he joined his parents chatting to Second World War heroes at a Buckingham Palace tea party. He listened to their important stories and asked questions about their experiences. He was gently guided through the event by his mother, Kate, who encouraged him to speak to the former servicemen and women, helping him feel at ease. Veterans who met Prince George at the event praised the young royal for his curiosity and thoughtful questions about their wartime experiences. Just weeks later, George joined his grandfather, King Charles, for the annual Trooping the Colour celebration, riding in a carriage and once again taking his place on the Buckingham Palace balcony for another spectacular RAF flypast. Fortunately, George isn't navigating this journey alone. As he approaches his teenage years, he is being closely supported by his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales. Despite his growing public role, Kate and William remain committed to giving George and his siblings as normal a childhood as possible. This includes focusing on his education, enjoying everyday activities like attending Aston Villa matches with his father, and only making appearances at key royal events. It's a stark contrast to William's own teenage years, which were marked by time divided between his separated parents and life at boarding school. Tragically, William and his brother, Prince Harry, were just 15 and 12 when they lost their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, following a car crash in Paris in 1997. However, nobody knows more about how important a child's early years are in shaping their later lives than Kate — something she has, no doubt, put into practice with her own children. Jennie continues: "I think George's close and loving relationship with his parents will prove invaluable as he continues to grow up. Catherine is now such an expert on how children develop and the emotions they go through: her support and advice for George will continue to be a key factor in his wellbeing." One royal figure who Jennie believes set a powerful example for raising a future king is the mother-in-law Kate never met - Diana. Diana's hands on approach to parenting broke royal tradition as she made it a priority to expose William and Harry to life beyond palace gates, while still ensuring they both had an understanding of their royal responsibilities. She famously took them to McDonald's, had them queue like everyone else at theme parts and visited homeless shelters with them to give her sons a glimpse of life outside the royal bubble. Those childhood experiences clearly left a lasting impression on William, who has publicly expressed his ambition to end homelessness and reaveled he would be open to taking George to meet those who are experiencing homelessness. Jenni believes Diana's parenting style, as well as allowing her children to be normal boys, has undoubtedly influenced William and in turn how Kate has taken to raising George. She stated: "I think William has drawn on the openly loving and tactile relationship he had with his mother to help him bring up his own children." "He will remember how Diana insisted that her boys should know more about the real world than royal princes before them. She made them aware of having play days and work days. On play days they could wear jeans, eat burgers and enjoy go-karting. On work days they had to dress and behave as princes of the realm." "I think William has made sure that his own children have as many play days as possible, but he and Catherine have also gradually introduced them to the formal world of being royal." Speculation over which secondary school Prince George will attend is expected to intensify in the coming weeks. According to Jennie, the decision is likely to be a difficult one for William and Kate, who will also need to weigh what's best for Charlotte and Louis in the long run. She says: "For so many youngsters, teenage years can be hard, but for a prince, everything is a whole lot harder. First and foremost, the school has to be able to offer or accommodate 24/7 protection. Then there is the impact on other pupils because, like it or not, George will always be different." "I suppose Eton remains high on the list — for William the school was a haven at a very, very difficult time in his life following his mother's death — but Marlborough College is definitely another contender." "Catherine enjoyed her years there, especially the sports facilities, and a big plus must be that it is co-educational, so the other two children could join George there." Both schools have an impressive list of former students. Prince Harry also attended Eton, with prime ministers such as David Cameron and Boris Johnston and actors Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. Marlborough College, on the other hand, has educated the likes of Princess Eugenie, comedian Jack Whitehall, and Samantha Cameron, wife of David Cameron. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Personally, I would like to see the siblings at the same school because I think they would be a great comfort to one another during these tricky years,' says Jennie. "I would also like to see them at a day school, or as weekly boarders, so that they could still enjoy the lovely, cosy home environment that William and Catherine have worked so hard to create for them." She stresses. "William was given a good deal of privacy at Eton, especially after Diana's death. And I think he will do everything possible to make sure that George and the others are able to negotiate this important growing up stage of their lives without worrying that cameras are around every corner." But it's clear that when it comes to the big decision, Kate will no doubt put what's best for George first — with Jennie saying he couldn't be more prepared for his future, thanks to his mother and father. Jennie continues: 'I think George is pretty lucky to have these two as his parents. And if Catherine needs advice, then I think the best person she can turn to is her husband — who is living out the very same destiny himself.'
