Latest news with #IndigoJones
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Crowning York's sports personality of the year - who has your vote?
SOME of York's best sporting talent is set to be recognised in this next awards category. Brought to you by The York Roast Co. - the Sports Personality of the Year award at the YO1 Radio Sports Awards will go to someone who has achieved success at a regional, national or international level in the last year. Recognising the commitment, dedication and success achieved by the best of York's sporting talent. Five finalists have made the cut, and here they are: Taekwondo and Karate star Kate Hambleton has shot to the number one ranking in both Taekwondo and Karate, earning a gold medal for both sports at the British Universities and Colleges Sport, as well as a gold medal at the JKS Karate World Championships in 2024. (clockwise from the top) Millie Bell, Kate Hambleton, and Marie Elcock (Image: Supplied) A different style of combat athlete follows Kate, in the form of British Heavyweight Champion wrestler Indigo Jones. Indigo has been representing York in the ring nationally, showing his persona off to a wide array of fans. Taking on feats of endurance is our next finalist: Millie Bell. Millie swam the English Channel solo, in 13 hours and 11 minutes, and has represented Great Britain at the 2025 Ice Swimming World Championships. Adding to her achievements, Millie won two bronze medals in both the 500 metre and 100 metre freestyle events at age-group level. Four-time British Transplant gold medallist Louise Prashad joins the group. Completing ultramarathons and raising funs for organ donation, Louise has kept her personal health journey at the centre of her athletic achievements. Marie Elcock completes the list, as a champion squash player and coach Marie has continued to inspire and support a range of athletes at Stillington Squash Club in the face of adversity.
Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I went to In It Together festival and despite the pouring rain one thing stood out
I went to In It Together festival and despite the pouring rain one thing stood out Despite the rain and the prices, there really was something for everyone at In It Together 2025 Kaiser Chiefs headlined the Friday night of In It Together festival (Image: Indigo Jones ) As soon as I walked into In It Together, I was completely surprised by the scale of the festival. Having gone to their first ever festival in 2022, I couldn't believe how much they developed the event which honestly felt like a mini Coachella just down the road from my hometown. It was quite overwhelming just how large the grounds were and how many people were gathered in a farm in Port Talbot to have a few drinks and see such a varied line up of acts. The line-up included Jax Jones, Gareth Gates, James Morrison, a surprise appearance from Ruth Jones and Example, as well as headline acts Kaiser Chiefs, Becky Hill and Ronan Keating. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . In true Welsh style, the weather was absolutely horrific and I spent most of the festival very cold and damp, but I still managed to have a really good time. The atmosphere was amazing and everyone at the festival seemed to be really happy and enjoyed themselves despite the rain. People were walking around in all sorts of costumes; I saw the Mystery Gang, minions, the Avengers and even Ali G. Rather than the fashion show you normally get at festivals, it felt like everyone was wearing what they felt comfortable in, whether that was dressing up as Shrek or staying warm in a Dryrobe. I think Gru lost some of his Minions (Image: Tom Williams (@mrtomw) ) Article continues below There were all sorts of different stalls and shops including the local brand San Portablo, which you could spot on everyone around the festival. They also had a shop from one of my favourite brands, Lucy & Yak, who had a special 20% off deal at the festival, which meant I bought a lovely new fleece to keep me warm for a fraction of its normal price. It is fair to say my bank has taken a good beating though. Now, many people have complained about the prices of food and drink, which I agree were quite steep, but this is expected at a festival. We know when we go to any type of big event we are going to be spending a lot of money - unfortunately that is the way it is and it does add up. I did however have one of the best burgers I have ever tried from Wholesome Junkies, a plant-based food vendor from Manchester. The burger was a truffle and caramelised onion beefless burger, and I had hoisin tofu loaded fries as a side. These two dishes and a can of 7UP did come to a whopping £26.85, which brought a tear to my eye, but it was absolutely worth it. This cost over £20, but honestly it was worth it (Image: Indigo Jones ) There was a wide variety of vendors across the weekend varying from Greek food to a jacket potato van. It was also great to see some local vendors like The Grand Sultan, an Indian restaurant which is based just down the road in Pyle. I'm a girl in her 20s and I have very little experience of being around children other than having many cousins (I'm Welsh, what do you expect?) but I could tell that this festival is great for families. There were so many options and activities for children; they had a cinema screen, a specific tent which played child-friendly music and even a fun fair. It was great to see all the parents pulling their children around in carts - in fact I was a little jealous and wished they made adult-sized ones! I must be getting older, because the only thing that let me down about the festival was the sheer abundance of teenagers, who were very rowdy, but I think it's because this is the perfect event for them to let loose with their friends. I do know if this festival was around when I was a teenager I would have been in my element. It is a great social hub for youngsters and allows them to meet other people their age from the surrounding area. The point of the whole festival is the music, which is why I've left it until last. Wow, just wow. The variety of genres that In It Together hosted meant that whether you liked some dirty drum and bass or cheesy bangers, there was something for you. Somebody's mam was going wild for Ronan (Image: Tom Williams (@mrtomw) ) Article continues below I think the headliners sum up the diversity. The Friday night was headlined by Kaiser Chiefs who were celebrating 20 years of their album Employment; the second night was headlined by the powerhouse vocals of Becky Hill and the last night was headlined by '90s icon and former Boyzone member Ronan Keating. The line-up managed to cross generations and really summed up the family nature of the festival, so you and your mam can enjoy the acts together. Overall, I would definitely go to In It Together again. D espite being incredibly tired post-festival I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Each headline act appealed to a different part of my music taste, and we definitely finished on a high with Ronan Keating singing Life is a Rollercoaster. If you're looking for a festival which well and truly appeals to all ages, In It Together does just that.
Wales Online
25-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Cafe culture springs up in Welsh town named most affordable place to live
Cafe culture springs up in Welsh town named most affordable place to live These are four of the new names bringing a different kind of life to Llanelli (Image: Indigo Jones ) For years, many of the headlines about retail in Llanelli have focused on the closures. Changes witnessed on high streets across the UK hit the Carmarthenshire town hard with household names like Debenhams, Next, H&M, Outfit and others shutting their doors. Yet the town, which was recently been dubbed the "most affordable" town for families to buy a house, is witnessing the birth of a new wave of local entrepreneurship with independent cafes springing up in what had become a quiet town centre. Appealing to a younger generation, cafes filled with pastries and iced drinks which will impress both millennials and Gen Z, but potentially scare away some boomers have been springing up throughout the town. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . Shire Coffee at Hwyl (Image: Indigo Jones ) Shire Coffee is a family run business located at 20 Market Street, Llanelli. They're dog friendly and make an absolutely gorgeous latte, so what more could you want. Article continues below Brunch maybe? Well, they offer an extensive menu of different brunch options, including banana bread for those of you with a sweet tooth and cockles and laverbread for those who are feeling a little more patriotic. The coffee shop also host monthly kitchen popups, with May's being a ramen night with Chef Ewan Gardiner. They started off in a little VW transporter kitted out as a mobile Espresso Bar, where they served around Llanelli including outside Parc y Scarlets. The van was a hit with the likes of MMA fighter Brett Johns, but now the couple who started the business have moved on to a coffee shop without wheels. Not only that, but they have recently branched out and opened Shire Coffee at The Bookshop, which can be found on Stepney Street in Llanelli. Primavera Wellness Space (Image: Indigo Jones ) Primavera Wellness Space can be found on the West End in Llanelli. It started out when Carla and her partner Jay, wanted to open an inclusive hub in the centre of Llanelli for members of the LGBTQIA community. Jay, who is a trans man, wanted to make a space where people, who much like him were in the process of transitioning, could feel comfortable and safe away from the hate of a very harsh society. He always wanted his own coffee shop, meanwhile Carla who is a trained masseuse wanted her own therapy space. They decided to combine their passions to create Primavera, which has become quite the hub in the centre of Llanelli. They offer a range of coffees, teas and lemonades as well as baked goods from local bakers. Carla, as well as a guest massage therapists offer a range of treatments. They also host special activity nights throughout the year including trans wellness days, Llanelli queer book club and seasonal activities like wreath making workshops at Christmas. Avo (Image: Indigo Jones ) Avo is located at 28 Market Street, just a couple of doors down from Shire Coffee at Hwyl. They have more of a traditional café feel, with what seems like regular clients, and you can see why. The main image of this article was the beautiful stuffed croissant I had from Avo. They offer great coffee, homemade cakes & fresh food made to order and that is exactly what I received. Their stuffed croissants came in different flavours, however I went for the strawberry and fresh cream, which was as it says on the tin, fresh. Despite opening the café over 15 years ago, it has a very current feel as they stay on top of trendy foods and predicting the insane pistachio craze we have seen recently. Another family run business, who definitely have locals at the forefront of their minds. This can be seen when in the past they have provided free Christmas dinners to the elderly and vulnerable. You can definitely feel how close knit of a community Llanelli is, when you visit Avo. Saint Hugo (Image: Indigo Jones ) Finally, a newer addition to Llanelli market, Saint Hugo brings a little bit of France to a quite traditional location. Their pastries are huge, and quite honestly I don't think the picture below does it justice at all. Pastry chef Benjamin Condé, who made it to the quarter finals of Bake Off: The Professionals, returned to his Llanelli roots and has since also opened up a store in Swansea. You can read more about that here. The name pays homage to a street in Nice which Benjamin regularly visited while learning his pastry making craft. Since opening in February, they have brought the flavour of France to Llanelli, and are said to have already served 7,000 customers and sold 2,000 pain au chocolat pastries. It's clear why the store is so successful as their pastries are extremely impressive, flakey and well flavoured. (Image: Indigo Jones ) Article continues below
Wales Online
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I'm still finding sand everywhere after Tunes on the Bay but it's worth it
I'm still finding sand everywhere after Tunes on the Bay but it's worth it I went to Swansea's first ever beach festival and here's what I thought. Watching Scouting for Girls perform made my inner child so happy (Image: Indigo Jones ) When I first heard that there would be a new festival held in my hometown of Swansea I couldn't wait to see how it would work, who would be performing. and more importantly would the weather hold out for three days of outdoor music on the beach. Thankfully the weather was gorgeous as we marked the first ever Tunes on the Bay festival on Swansea beach. It saw headline performances from McFly and Supergrass as well as more than 40 other acts taking the stage from Friday to Sunday. The festival took place on the beach itself, just outside the Secret Bar and Kitchen located in Mumbles Road, and had two stages spread out across the sand. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . As we walked down to the festival I found a big problem with the event being held on the beach – sand. Okay – yes it was obvious there was going to be loads of sand at a beach festival, I'm not stupid, but I thought there would be platforms to walk on to make walking on the sand more accessible. Unfortunately there weren't any and that's when my day of trudging through the sand began. It seemed I wasn't the only one struggling as the people around me complained about the difficulty of walking through the dunes to get from one side of the site to the other. It was especially difficult when all of the toilets were at the entrance and the stage was the opposite end of the site making it quite a hard walk back and forth. Inevitably this led to men peeing on the barriers because they couldn't be bothered to do the long walk to the loos. Article continues below I'm still finding sand everywhere after the event and that is in part due to the fact that there wasn't a whole load of seating available there meaning the only option was to sit on the floor. Unfortunately a couple of days before the event they said we couldn't bring any camping chairs and maybe as this was a last-minute announcement they weren't prepared with seating available on site. Fortunately the weather was nice so sitting on the sand was an option although unfortunately I found sand in places you shouldn't find sand. With the sun beating down it was a shame to see that there wasn't really any shelter, which on a sunny weekend was a struggle although the festival did provide water stations which was an extreme relief. In terms of drinks costs pints were priced at £7.50, a spirit and a mixer cost £8 for a single or £10 for a double, and cans of pop were £3. They also charged £2 for a reusable cup but I do think that these were a great addition to the weekend as it encouraged reuse rather than waste and also allowed people to use the cups in the water station if needed. Mixtons cocktails were expensive but very refreshing (Image: Indigo Jones ) There were numerous drinks vendors and not just the bar itself including Swansea's own Au Vodka and a bar selling cocktails in a hollowed-out pineapple. I tried a dragon mojo cocktail from the cocktail vendors Mixtons and despite setting me back £9 it was exactly what I needed on a warm day. It was incredibly refreshing and quenched my thirst perfectly just before seeing my favourite acts. I was disappointed to see a lack of local food vendors knowing there are great independent local food businesses in the area like Pizza Boys and Vegan Filth to name a few. We settled for a chicken gyro from the Greek Gyros stall and it tasted really nice but it was a whopping £13 for what felt like very little food. My £13 chicken gyro (Image: Indigo Jones ) The festival also featured a vintage shop and merchandise stall, which I thought was actually quite reasonably priced at £25 for a T-shirt. There was also a convenience store, which I thought was so clever. They sold snacks and even toys for the little ones in attendance and I even saw people buy water pistols which were a great idea on such a hot weekend. It seemed like the highlight for many people this weekend was the silent disco. Families and friends gathered together to dance in what seemed like silence but donning massive headphones which were playing iconic bangers. It seemed to be consistently full all day and ended up having queues to go in. The silent disco seemed like an absolute hit (Image: Indigo Jones ) As s omeone who doesn't have kids I can't really comment on the family elements of the festival although it did seem that the families I did see really enjoyed the event. However from the point of a view of someone in their 20s I think it was a really good event for people who live locally who want a day out down the beach with their friends. In true Swansea fashion I saw so many people I knew there and they were so excited to get a couple of drinks in and have a boogie in the sun. I won't lie – before going to the festival I was completely sceptical about how they were going to be able to have two stages so close together. Surely you would hear music from one while watching a performance at the other? Thankfully it actually worked really well. Closer to the entrance there was a smaller marquee (very grateful for some shelter) that hosted up-and-coming performers as well as some tribute acts and on the other side of the event was the main stage. It allowed audiences to bounce back and forth from stage to stage to see who they wanted to perform. My absolute highlight of the weekend had to be the performances by Scouting for Girls and McFly – they were outstanding and full of energy and filled me with such nostalgia. The crowd was on fire and went wild dancing and singing at the top of their lungs to the bands. Honestly it has to be one of the best gigs I have been to and definitely made my inner child extremely happy. You can read my review of McFly here. McFly headlined the first night (Image: Indigo Jones ) Article continues below In terms of this year's line-up Tunes on the Bay have definitely set the standard and I think they'll find it incredibly hard to top an energetic headline act like McFly next year. With this in mind if I were to attend the festival again I think the headliner would have to be someone I really want to watch live and it would have to have one hell of a line-up. However I'd like to emphasise 'watch live' because otherwise I think I'd be inclined to do what about 10% of Swansea's residents did and sit on the beach outside of the venue. You can still hear the live music but this time you can bring your own food and drink which will cost a fraction of the price and also enjoy skipping the long queues and the cost of the tickets.
Wales Online
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I tried the all-you-can eat Japanese restaurant in Swansea and here's what I learned
I tried the all-you-can eat Japanese restaurant in Swansea and here's what I learned You pay £29.99 and get two hours to eat as much as you want The Japanese restaurant with authentic food in the centre of Swansea (Image: Indigo Jones ) In the centre of Swansea is a little part of Japan in the form of the all-you-can-eat restaurant Joyato. The Japanese restaurant popped up this time last year in Salubrious Place and offers a large array of dishes including a range of sushi, curries, noodles, side dishes, and a couple of dessert options. It costs £29.99 per person, or £14.99 for children over three, and allows you to order four dishes each every 10 minutes for two hours. You could order 44 dishes each in that time limit which sounds like a lot – though to me this sounded like a challenge. I love sushi – I even travelled to Japan because of much I love their cuisine. So I was very excited when I heard they were opening an all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant in Swansea of all places. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . The restaurant is located next door to the Vue Cinema making it perfect for a date night (Image: Indigo Jones ) When I asked the staff if in the year they'd been open anyone had ever completed all 44 of their allotted dishes they said: "Not yet" although one waiter claimed he got quite close with 40 plates. 'Game on', I thought. The restaurant itself was incredibly open and inviting, which meant it felt a lot less overwhelming and crowded than most all-you-can-eat restaurants – especially as the staff, who were lovely and accommodating, brought your dishes to you rather than the usual queuing up for a buffet. This also meant that the food was made to order, which you could really tell through how fresh it tasted. Article continues below Ordering is made easy by scanning a QR code on the table which takes you to a menu with all the available dishes and drinks. You can order four dishes each every 10 minutes and you can see what everyone on the table is ordering. It also counts down the 10 minutes for you so you can get your next order ready while enjoying your current round of plates. They also give you a warning when your two hours is about to run out. You order on your phone and you can get four plates each every 10 minutes (Image: Indigo Jones ) Round 1: I decided to start off small with appetisers. I ordered vegetable gyozas, California rolls, inari nigiri, and chicken yakitori. When I tell you I started off strong I mean it – my favourite dish of the night came out first with the California rolls. They were refreshing and full of flavour with combinations of fresh salmon, avocado, and crab sticks accompanied with crispy onions and sauces. The combinations worked so well together and I immediately felt like I was back in Japan, eating fresh sushi, although this time without the hustle and bustle of the country. The chicken yakitori was also full of flavour and the chicken was juicy with a hint of spice to it. The inari nigiri (which you can see in the back of the picture below) was sweetened tofu around rice and are my usual go to when buying sushi. They were extremely tasty and again so fresh – it would be perfect on a summer's day. Lastly the vegetable gyozas were full of veg and was accompanied with a lovely vinegary sauce that contrasted the flavour of the dumpling well. The California rolls were by far my favourite dish out of all 15 (Image: Indigo Jones ) Round 2: I was feeling confident after my first round and now decided to go all in. I ordered chicken yaki soba, tempura prawn rolls, salmon teriyaki, and a king prawn tempura dish in a sweet and sour-type sauce. Out of the four dishes in my second round my favourite was by far the tempura prawn rolls closely followed by the chicken yaki soba. That being said this round was filled with very worthy contenders and all of the dishes were so full of flavour and exceeded my expectations in different ways. Again the sushi was so delicious and the combination of avocado with the fried element of the tempura prawns worked so well together. The chicken yaki soba had an authentic smokiness that felt like they came straight from the wok in a way that I can't possibly replicate at home. The only disappointment with this dish was how small the chicken pieces were – I would have preferred bigger chunks to have a better texture in contrast to the noodles and veg. The salmon teriyaki were small grilled salmon pieces with one hell of a kick, which was a lovely surprise for someone like me who loves a bit of spice. The king prawn tempura dish had a gorgeous sauce, which I can only compare to sweet and sour. It was delicious and had some great flavours to it and actually worked quite well alongside the chicken yaki soba. The chicken yaki soba had a smokiness and was a surprisingly big portion (Image: Indigo Jones ) Round 3: At this point I was flagging but I knew I had to keep going to try as many dishes as I could because this review was at stake. I ordered my final savoury round which included a chicken katsu curry, ebi kushiyaki (king prawn skewers in teriyaki sauce), paripari duck (duck in yakitori sauce), and wakame (seaweed salad). Despite struggling through my food because of the sheer quantity I had eaten at this point I still enjoyed the flavours although this was a rather disappointing round for me in terms of ordering. The chicken katsu curry was very average and tasted like the type of curry you get from a Chinese takeaway. It was nice and the breaded chicken fillet was tasty although I expected better from the Japanese restaurant I had already enjoyed so much. The king prawn skewers had a lovely kick to them and the prawns themselves were very meaty and full of flavour. The duck despite having a lot of flavour was unfortunately a little dry for my liking so personally I wouldn't order it again but fortunately I had the wakame salad to combat the dryness. The third round was definitely the toughest as I struggled through a katsu curry (Image: Indigo Jones ) Round 4: Now here is when I was on the verge of tapping out, but I was determined to get a dessert. As my mother has said all my life: "There's always room for pudding." I ordered the vanilla ice cream and two cookies and cream cheesecakes. The ice cream came in a small tub and frankly tasted like quite average vanilla ice cream – there was nothing bad about it and nothing outstanding but quite frankly it was a really nice palate cleanser after a whole load of flavours. The cheesecakes were small bitesize pieces so I was relieved I'd ordered two. They were very tasty although they were not like normal cheesecakes and instead they had more of a cream-like texture. Overall they were a nice and light option after a rather heavy first three rounds and I'm glad I saved what little room I had left for them. The perfect palate cleanser after an indulgent meal (Image: Indigo Jones ) So how many dishes did I manage? A pitiful 15 plates. I wanted to do as many as I could but I also didn't want to make myself sick from the sheer amount of food that I had eaten. Any less and I would have been embarrassed. Any more and I would have seen my life flash before my eyes. Overall I would definitely go to Joyato again. I think the amount of food you get for your money is exceptional, especially in comparison to chain Japanese restaurants where you can spend the same amount and get far less. If you think of my 15 dishes for £30, for example, that would cost roughly £2 per dish. Having tried traditional Japanese food in Japan I think it's rather authentic and extremely delicious with some dishes better than others. My personal favourite dishes were the California rolls and the tempura prawn rolls and if you like seafood I definitely recommend you try these if you pay them a visit. I think having tried a variety of dishes the sushi dishes were definitely king for me and if I were to go again I'd happily have just sushi. I'd personally stay away from the chicken katsu curry as it just tasted like your average mild curry and that way you can fill up on way more sushi instead which for me is always a plus. The restaurant was open and inviting and felt a lot less overwhelming and crowded than most all-you-can-eat restaurants (Image: Indigo Jones ) Article continues below Now, if you're thinking of taking on the challenge of eating as many rounds as you can here are some tips: Wear loose clothes – no jeans. No fizzy drinks – they fill you up quicker. Big dishes like noodles and curries are a no-go – small dishes are key. Take your time and enjoy your food. It's not a sprint – it's a jog. Always, and I mean always, leave room for dessert. Finally – good luck!
