Latest news with #Rhyl
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
British high street giant with 500 shops launches closing down sale at ‘vital' store in another blow to seaside resort
A HIGH street giant with 500 stores nationwide has launched a closing down sale at a "vital" branch. Locals in a North Wales seaside resort were shocked to hear the popular sports brand will be shuttering soon. 2 The Sports Direct, in Rhyl's White Rose Shopping Centre, will be yet another high street site to bite the dust. The new store, owned by Frasers retail group, was said to be part of an initiative to regenerate the company in 2020. But shoppers have been told the shop is pulling the shutters down permanently in October, as reported by NorthWalesLive. One devastated resident, Amy Jones, has set up a petition in a desperate bid to keep the site going. On her she penned: "Sports Direct in Rhyl is more than just a retail store; it's a vital part of our community. "Over the years, it has provided not just a shopping venue but also employment opportunities and support for local sports enthusiasts. "The closure of Sports Direct in Rhyl would have detrimental effects on our local economy and community well-being." The closure is the latest blow to Rhyl's high street, with a handful of stores and attractions shutting down in the past four years. However, a cash influx of £20million is set to be pumped into the town from the Government. Major card chain with 163 shops launches closing down sales ahead of shutting its doors for good This comes after a Sports Direct branch in Cambridge shut down recently, after launching a huge closing down sale. A frustrated local said: "Another nail in the coffin for concrete Cambridge." Meanwhile, another added: "Losing all our stores! Earlier this year, Sports Direct pulled the plug on its Central Six Retail Park store in Coventry at the end of January. Last year, its branches in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and on Octagon Parade in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, also shut permanently. And, just this week a retail chain owned by Sports Direct billionaire Mike Ashley "vanished". The business tycoon has stakes in several household name brands, including Boohoo, Hugo Boss and House of Fraser. And nestled in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh is Evans Cycles. The specialist bike store reportedly stocked "over 40,000 specialist products, from some of the world's most renowned cycling brands". Evans Cycles was acquired by the Frasers Group - which is helmed by Mr Ashley - as part of a rescue deal in 2018. However the shutters have been pulled down for a final time, after the retailer was "served notice by the landlord". The recent closure leaves five remaining Evans Cycles in Scotland - two in Glasgow, two in Aberdeen and one in Dundee. A Frasers Group spokesperson told Edinburgh Evening News: 'It is with regret that we have been served notice by the landlord to close Evans Cycles Edinburgh. "We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their hard work and dedication. "Where possible, we are committed to finding new roles within the Group for staff.' Loyal customers rushed online to express their disappointment. One said: "Shocked to see Evan's go." Another added: "Cycling has increased dramatically in Edinburgh over the years, so I'm at a loss as to why it has closed." A third wrote: "Such a shame, this was a one stop shop for all your cycling needs." RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." 2
BBC News
18-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'My seven-year-old daughter was saved from drowning in the sea'
A mother has thanked two men who saved her seven-year-old daughter from drowning while on a weekend 33, was with her family in Rhyl when her daughter Shylah and her aunt, who were playing in the sea, got into difficulty and were being swept men Peter Szczepanski from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, and Ben Malone from The Wirral immediately leapt to the rescue. The mother-of-three, from Manchester, said: "From the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank them both for their bravery and not thinking of themselves and just jumping in and saving my daughter's life. "Shylah would not still be alive without them."Talking to BBC Radio Stoke, Moira said her daughter was now well and enjoying the media attention she had received in the added that she had become emotional during an end-of-term dance recital, realising her daughter might not have been there had events gone differently on 13 explained that her family had been enjoying a day on the beach and Shylah was playing in the shallows with her aunt. 'Felt like forever' There was a scream and she noticed that her daughter had been swept into deeper water and was floating out of reaching distance from her she was running to help her daughter, Moira saw two men also running to help."It felt like it went on forever, but it must've been a few minutes," she said."My heart sank because she's literally a few metres in front of me, but I'd seen her flip off her floatie."At this point I thought she was going to drown in front of my eyes. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get to her before she gave up – because she was doggy paddling."She said it all happened so suddenly, with Mr Malone and Mr Szczepanski reaching her daughter while she was still swimming out to reach them. 'Instinct' Mr Szczepanski said he had been at the beach with his five-year-old daughter when he saw what was happening."You just had to do it and save the young girl," he said. "We just did something that a dad would do."Mr Malone added: "I'm lucky I had that instinct to just make that decision quite quickly to go."He said he was at the beach with his girlfriend and two children and that nothing had seemed out of the ordinary at Malone said he felt relieved at getting to the little girl, but this turned to worry about possibly feeling too exhausted to get said he then felt relief again at seeing Mr Szczepanski, and the pair passed the little girl between themselves as they swam back to later posted onto a Facebook group to thank them for their help, in the hope that they might see the message."I thanked them when it happened; obviously, then we were trying to look after Shyla, and we were so caught up in the moment that we didn't give them the praise that they deserve," she added that Shyla had been quite upset shortly after the incident but was fine now. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Normal-looking terraced house is sold for reasonable £170k… but hides VERY bizarre secret inside
A SEEMINGLY normal looking terraced house sold last year hides a bizarre hidden secret that makes it one of the most unique ever seen. The home in Rhyl, North Wales, which was bought for £170,000, is adorned with countless designs to bring out your inner child but appears completely standard from the outside. 9 9 9 Upon entering the three-bed semi-detached home, guests are immediately met with Disney-inspired designs on the walls and amongst the furnishings. The property features a number of murals dedicated to Disney films, including beloved movies Aladdin, Snow White, and The Lion King. Characters including Aladdin and the Genie are found on the walls of the open-plan living room and kitchen/diner area, alongside Princess Jasmine, Abu, Rajah, Iago, and the Sultan. As expected, the former owner was a "massive" Disney fan, telling her estate agent she had visited Disneyland more than 20 times in her life. Moving to the bedrooms, one features a theme from The Lion King while another blends a combination of Snow White with the Ministry of Magic from Harry Potter. Echoing the 1937 classic film, a Magic Mirror mural appears above a fireplace, which is a replica of one used from the Harry Potter films. Images of other characters adorn the rest of the room, including those of Maleficent, Ursula, the Evil Queen from Snow White, and Jafar. Adding to the Harry Potter theme, one door even has the iconic sign Platform 9 ¾ on it. The wall along the staircase features another classic film - Mary Poppins - with a silhouette of the traditional London skyline taking up centre stage. Quotes from a number of Disney films also find themselves on each step. Nostalgic childhood store to RETURN in days - just four years after all but two shops closed Heading into the kitchen, cupboards have been decorated with the names of iconic Disney songs, including fan favourites Hakuna Matata from The Lion King and Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid. Joining the smaller bedrooms inspired by The Lion King and Snow White, the main sleeping space is dedicated to a combination of Lilo & Stitch and Wreck-It Ralph. The room features bedding adorned with beloved character Stitch while the walls are painted reminiscent of Sugar Rush - the fictional video game inhabited by one of the main characters in the 2012 animated film. A third bedroom is 1980s themed and packed full of collectables and memorabilia. 9 9 9 Heading out into the garden, an '80s-themed mural dominates the side wall, featuring an assortment of retro pop culture characters including He-Man, She-Ra, Optimus Prime, ET, and an Ewok from Star Wars. When it was sold last year, its listing read: "We've just waved our magic wand and Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo we've found your happily ever after. "A charming three bedroom home where dreams come true. "Step into the spacious living/dining/kitchen area where the magic begins. "With plenty of natural light and an open plan design, you'll feel like you're in the happiest place on Earth with ample room for all the family, and can easily accommodate a large dining table and chairs, with double doors opening onto the newly laid Indian sandstone patio." It sold for £170,000 in November of last year - £10,000 lower than the advertised price. 9 9 9
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Attempted murder arrest after two women injured in Rhyl
A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a wounding incident involving two women. Police were called to an address on Meredith Crescent in Rhyl, Denbighshire, shortly after 09:00 BST on Thursday. One woman was airlifted to hospital, while the other was taken by land ambulance for further treatment. North Wales Police said the man was detained at the scene, there was no ongoing threat to the public, and a scene preservation remained in place as forensic enquiries continued.
Rhyl Journal
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl's Queens Market to open with four nights of live music
Queens Market will open to the public on Thursday, July 10, and will host a programme of performances in its newly developed space which can hold 250 seated guests or 800 standing attendees. The venue is equipped with industry-standard sound and lighting, as well as a 6x4 metre video screen. Mike Andrew, described as the world's number one Robbie Williams tribute act (Image: Supplied) Mike Andrew, described as the world's number one Robbie Williams tribute act and endorsed by Robbie Williams himself, will headline the opening night. Mr Andrew has been quoted as saying: "I don't know where he starts and I end." He will be supported by Sarah Price and Marney Bailey, North Wales singers both well-known on the pub and club circuit in the area. Friday will see a mix of artists take the stage, including Chris Fletcher, a singer and guitarist from Cheshire. READ MORE: Rhyller Thriller founder on what to expect from the 2025 film festival He will be joined by Joe Leo, an acoustic performer originally from Abergele but now based on Anglesey, and Jess Pallett, a Prestatyn-based RnB singer. Saturday's headline act is a Whitney Houston tribute, supported by Colin T Jones, a Rhyl singer and guitarist. Live performances will begin at 7pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sunday's entertainment kicks off earlier, running from 2pm to 8pm, and will feature Paul Maffia, a North Wales DJ, playing retro dance classics.
