Latest news with #Sykes'
North Wales Live
4 days ago
- North Wales Live
10 Welsh places to stay named among best in UK
10 Welsh cottages, holiday homes and pods have been whittle down to be named the best in the UK. Several Welsh properties have been shortlisted in the upcoming Sykes Gems 2025 Awards. The Welsh properties shortlisted range from a remote bolthole in Eryri National Park, a former sweet shop transformed into a stylish cottage in Conwy and a seafront Old Lifeboat House in Anglesey. The UK and Ireland's best holiday cottages have been shortlisted in a national awards programme that recognises property owners for exceptional service, unique properties, and positive guest experiences. It also has groups of award categories. Some of these are 'best farm stays', 'best for beaches' and 'best for couples and this Welsh property on the Menai Strait made the shortlist for 'best view'. There are also regional categories, including 'best in Mid and South Wales', 'Best in North Wales' and 'Best in South West England.' The expert judging panel includes Sykes' Managing Director, James Shaw, Luke Squires, Customer Experience Director and The Sun's Assistant Travel Editor, Sophie Swietochowski. Here are the 10 Welsh stays making the 2025 shortlist. 1. Balog Farm, Anglesey Balog Farm is a beautifully presented abode that rests in an elevated position in Llaneilian, Isle of Anglesey. Enjoying uninterrupted sea views in one of the most exceptional locations, this three-bedroom cottage is ideal for families or friends who want to explore north Wales. Inside are striking, characterful features of wooden beams and high ceilings that have been tastefully restored to complement the contemporary interiors in greys and blues. 2. Creuddyn, Ceredigion Creuddyn overlooks the rolling Welsh fields in the parish of Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, near Aberystwyth. This quirky holiday pod has glorious countryside views and benefits from an enclosed garden with a hot tub. It also has a beautifully appointed interior with a studio-style layout and a double bedroom. 3. Curtau, Powys Curtau is a detached holiday home with four bedrooms, an Open-plan living space with a kitchen, dining area, and sitting area, and a garden and a bubbly hot tub outside. It's situated in the charming village of Llanfaredd near Builth Wells, Powys. 4. Dol Blodau, Powys Dol Blodau is a delightful lodge in the heart of the Welsh countryside, just a short distance from Newbridge on Wye. Inside, there are two large bedrooms and an open-plan living space with a kitchen, dining area, and sitting area. You can also soak in a private hot tub, spacious enough for all four guests. 5. Glanduad Fawr, Pembrokeshire Glanduad Fawr is a spacious property located at Felindre Farchog, close to the charming village of Nevern and the town of Newport on the Pembrokeshire coast. With room for 12 guests, it's the perfect destination for a big family get-together or a special occasion gathering. Enjoying a beautiful Welsh setting with lawns, woodlands, a pond, and a river helps to create a true rural idyll and gives the property a real sense of tranquillity. 6. Llety Cariad, Powys Llety Cariad is a stunning single-storey studio lodge situated near Llandrindod Wells in mid-Wales. Offering stunning countryside views, a hot tub, a toasty infrared sauna, and a studio-style layout, this pet-friendly retreat is perfect for a romantic getaway in Wales. 7. The Manor House, Conwy The Manor House Skerry Vore - This charming pet-friendly retreat is a spacious escape in North Wales. Inside, you'll find six bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom with a jacuzzi bath, and an open-plan living/dining room, where you can gather around the Smart TV or enjoy a home-cooked meal at the dining table. Outside is a wraparound garden with a hot tub and a BBQ. 8. The Old Lifeboat House, Anglesey You might even be lucky enough to see a dolphin pod while relaxing on the balcony with a morning coffee or evening glass of wine. The open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area is a lovely, bright, and contemporary space. The living area has cane sofas and chairs, a woodburning stove, and a dining table and chairs that comfortably seat 8. 9. The Old Sweet Shop, Conwy The Old Sweet Shop is a semi-detached cottage dating to approximately 1850, situated within walking distance of the ancient castle at Conwy, a world heritage site. Having been fully restored to its original charm and offering dog-friendly accommodation, The Old Sweet Shop is ideal for a family or two couples looking to explore the coast and countryside of Conwy. On the ground floor, discover the open-plan living space equipped with a stone-built fire surround, a woodburning gas stove, an audio entertainment system, and contemporary furniture. 10. Weirglodd, Denbighshire Weirglodd is a quirky holiday pod in the breathtakingly beautiful North Wales countryside, close to the Denbighshire village of Cyffylliog. Surrounded by gorgeous countryside, fields, and forests, with a working farm next door, the setting is simply sublime and perfect if you love the great outdoors. Step outside to the fantastic outdoor space, where you will find a fire pit, loads of seating, a covered area with a hot tub, a kitchen area, a woodburning stove, and even a TV. Other Welsh finalists at Sykes Gems 2025 Awards The Granary, Vale of Glamorgan - Best Farm Stay The Hayloft, Powys - Best Farm Stay The Kite's Nest, Ceredigion - Best For Couples Ty Kinnik, Denbighshire - Best For Families Meadway House, Conwy - Best For Families Dragonfly shepherd's Hut, Ceredigion - Best For Glamping Cae Bach, Denbighshire - Best For Glamping Ty Ni, Ceredigion - Best For Large Groups Arosfa, Flintshire - Sustainability Fronwig, Ceredigion - Best Views The Nest, Denbighshire - Best For Walks Brynhafod, Powys - Best For Hottub Chapel House - Best For Luxury Cartref - Best National Park property The Grove, Pems - Best Newcomer Swyn Llyr - Best Newcomer Circus Circus - Best Quirky Evenjobb Farmhouse - Best Reno The Old School - Best Reno The Pottery - Best Reno Winners of the Sykes Gems 2025 Awards will be announced in September. Sykes are just one of the many holiday accomodation booking platforms, other options include airbnb, and
CBS News
14-04-2025
- CBS News
Baltimore County man pleads guilty to bribing state employee to secure cleaning contracts
A Randallstown man has pleaded guilty to bribing a state employee to secure nearly $175,000 in COVID-related cleaning contracts, according to the Maryland Attorney General's Office. Mark Anthony Sykes, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery of a public employee in Baltimore County Circuit Court. Prosecutors said Sykes paid approximately $20,000 in bribes to the former Director of General Services for the Maryland Department of Labor in exchange for steering state contracts to his company, Building Enterprises LLC. Between July 2020 and March 2021, Sykes' company received $174,903.25 from the State of Maryland for COVID-related facilities cleaning services through what investigators described as a fraudulent procurement scheme. Sykes' sentencing is set for April 29. On March 10, a 73-year-old Maryland man was charged with lying about his citizenship, misusing social security and committing passport fraud, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office. Days later, Nichelle Henson, a former Baltimore City Council Candidate was found guilty of COVID-19 relief fraud, after federal prosecutors proved she submitted fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program loans for several non-operational businesses. Earlier this month, Baltimore City officials were alerted to the theft of $1.5 million by a fraudulent vendor. A bank alerted the city after an account received two payments, once for $803,000 and another for $721,000. While the money was approved for a vendor, it was directed to an unrelated bank account.
CBS News
22-03-2025
- CBS News
Crime novelist charged in 2 Metro Detroit bank robberies
A 41-year-old author who has written at least nine crime novels is facing federal charges in connection with two bank robberies in Metro Detroit. According to a criminal complaint filed at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan earlier this month, Dorian Trevor Sykes is charged with bank robbery and incidental crimes. Charges say the first robbery happened the morning of March 6 at Credit Union One in Sterling Heights, Michigan. A man entered the bank around 11:50 a.m. and allegedly handed a note to a teller. "After the teller was not able to read the note, the subject stated, 'This is a robbery,' and demanded that the teller give him 'big bills,'" the criminal complaint said. The teller allegedly gave the man around $10,169, and the man then left the bank. Police recovered fingerprints at the Sterling Heights bank they think are the man's, and a witness told them an individual matching the man's description possibly drove a Mercedes sedan, charges say. Sykes received a traffic citation in a Mercedes Sedan in October 2024. On March 12 around 4:40 p.m., a man approached a teller at Chase Bank in Lathrup Village, Michigan, and handed the teller a withdraw slip. According to the criminal complaint, the slip said, "Give me all the money… I have a gun… I will kill everyone in here." The man allegedly implied he had a gun by pointing to his right side. Charges say the teller handed around $3,400 to the man, who took the money and left Chase Bank. Surveillance footage from a home near the Lathrup Village Bank allegedly showed an individual matching the man's description running by a condominium complex and getting into a white Rolls-Royce. According to the federal court document, Skyes has been on supervised release since February 2024 for a conviction in a 2020 bank robbery. Sykes' probation officer said he had been staying at the MGM Grand Detroit. Police watching the hotel around three hours after the robbery at Chase Bank found Sykes driving a Rolls-Royce. Charges say the vehicle fled after an officer attempted a traffic stop. Online court records show Sykes was taken into custody on March 18. A phone belonging to Sykes, according to charges, was near both banks around the time of each robbery. Sykes' written works include "King of Detroit," "The Good Life," and "Going All Out."
The Guardian
11-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Championship roundup: Bristol City leave it late to deny Sheffield United
Mark Sykes struck a last-minute equaliser to snatch Bristol City a 1-1 draw at Championship promotion-chasers Sheffield United. The point was enough to lift the Blades back to the top of the table, but they were denied a seventh win in eight matches by Sykes' last-gasp effort after Tyrese Campbell had given them a second-half lead. Burnley missed the chance to move above Leeds in the promotion race, held to a 1-1 draw by play-off chasing West Brom. John Swift's fine free-kick 20 minutes in saw the Clarets' run of seven consecutive home clean sheets come to an end, although Zian Flemming quickly punished a bad mistake from West Brom goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith. Burnley defender CJ Egan-Riley and manager Scott Parker were sent off after the final whistle following a clash late on, after an incident in which Egan-Riley appeared to kick William Lankshear. Romaine Mundle's brilliant equaliser snatched a point for promotion hopefuls Sunderland in a 1-1 draw with Preston at the Stadium of Light, cancelling out Emil Riis' 65th-minute opener. Matt Clarke and Marcus Harness struck in each half to help Derby boost their survival hopes with a 2-0 victory over in-form Coventry on Frank Lampard's return to Pride Park. Tommy Conway and Anfernee Dijksteel struck either side of half-time as Middlesbrough beat QPR 2-1 to edge themselves to within three points of the play-off places. Sheffield Wednesday produced a superb second-half comeback to beat Norwich 3-2 at Carrow Road and keep their own hopes alive. Luton claimed a precious 2-1 victory over Cardiff in their Championship relegation battle as the contest was overshadowed by an injury to Aaron Ramsey that threatens to rule the Wales captain out of World Cup action. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Ramsey – set to be named in the Wales squad on Thursday for opening World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and North Macedonia – appeared distraught after back-heeling the ball in the 49th minute and pulling up.
