Latest news with #WeLoveMerthyr
Wales Online
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Spice up your life at this returning Welsh Chilli and Chocolate Festival
The saying goes that opposites attract. While the phrase is generally applied to people, the same can be said for food groups, too. At either end of the taste spectrum, there's sweet and spicy. Whether you love dessert or prefer the heat, sometimes, these two flavour profiles go together like fish 'n' chips. Helping you discover a new favourite combination or simply enjoy a range of local delights, Merthyr Tydfil's hottest event of the year is back as the Chilli and Chocolate Festival makes its triumphant return. Get ready for a sensational day of fiery flavours and sweet delights jam-packed with a sizzling line-up of local creators. This fiery festival brings together some of the best chilli and chocolate producers from across the UK, offering an unmissable selection of goodies - from blazing hot chilli sauces and spicy cooking pastes to decadent chocolate treats, chilli cider, brownies, cheesecake, cookies, ice cream, and even chocolate rum. (Image: We Love Merthyr) Get your BBQ game sorted with Mabs Sauces, experience flavours of the Caribbean with The Patty Man, indulge in something sweet from Gareth's Delicious Delights, find your new favourite tipple at the Tipsy Mule, or upgrade your morning toast with Bee Welsh Honey. If that's not enough, enjoy culinary delights from Chilli of the Valley, Bang on Brewery, Haystacks, Hog Hog Hog, The Artisan Cook, and The Real Ting. Join them and more than 35 other incredible vendors at Penderyn Square from 10am to 6pm on Saturday, May 17, for a day full of flavour, fire, and fun. With over 100 different chilli and chocolate products, there's something for everyone - from die-hard chilli fanatics to dedicated chocoholics. If you dare, the legendary Chilli Eating Contest, hosted by Chilli of the Valley, returns for its third year. Whether you're bold enough to compete or just want to watch the brave souls sweat, this is one spectacle you won't want to miss. The hottest family day out (Image: We Love Merthyr) As well as the fantastic line-up of local vendors and products, the Merthyr Tydfil Chilli and Chocolate Festival is full to the brim with free family entertainment too, including: Face painting Glitter tattoos Balloon modelling The incredible Juggling Jim The Hungry Chefs and The Cake Ladies Giant pigeons on the loose Live music While you indulge in the irresistible treats on offer, take a break at one of the many on-site restaurants and cafés - then come back for more chilli and chocolate madness. Entry to the spice-tastic festival is completely free, and parking is £1 all day in town centre pay and display car parks. With all that and more, the only question is, can you handle the heat? Find out more about Merthyr Tydfil's hottest event of the year by visiting the We Love Merthyr website or following the event on Facebook.
BBC News
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Merthyr Tydfil: Artist restores mural 'used as public toilet'
A street artist in Merthyr Tydfil has brought a bleak alley back to life in the hope that it will dissuade people from using it as a public collaborated with the council to transform Hong Kong Alley in the town previously featured artwork that paid tribute to the area's rich boxing history, with fighters such as the 'Merthyr Matchstick' Johnny Owen the mural was vandalised and then stolen in 2012, leaving the alley in disrepair. Tee has been painting for 16 years but has been a full-time artist since losing his job during the 34-year-old is part of the We Love Merthyr project, which aims to regenerate the Tydfil council wanted the project to "bring a bit of colour" to the area, according to Tee."They also wanted it to involve the people of Merthyr in the creation of the artwork," he managed to round up more than 30 locals to help him finish the mural across a weekend."We had three-year-olds all the way up to grandparents joining in," he said."The majority of it was done by children between the ages of 10 and 18." The previous designs paid tribute to the boxing heroes born in the area such as Johnny Owen and Howard decided to keep the pair, as well as boxer Eddie Thomas, as part of the redesigned designers Laura Ashley and Julien Macdonald are also featured as a nod to the town's impact on the fashion said the project had been a "very big success" but admitted it may not deter people from using the alley as a toilet."The problem is we don't have a lot of public toilets in the UK. When my wife was pregnant we were always struggling to find one," he said that public urination is a "social issue" but hoped the "artwork will encourage the area to be used less as a toilet". Local resident Gareth Lyon and his 9-year-old daughter Seren "couldn't get enough of it" and decided to help out on both days."It makes me proud to see all the people from Merthyr that have done really nice things," said said it was great learning about the "Merthyr legends" and it made both of them feel "really proud" to be pair also learned more about the people depicted and Gareth said it would encourage others to do the same."We didn't know about Laura Ashley so much. So that pushes people to go home and research more about them," he said. Gareth said the area had been neglected since the closure of the nearby Victoria Street bus station in 2021."The whole community has thought of improvements that could be made there," he said."We need to make our town better and make it more attractive to businesses."Gareth said Tee's passion shone through during the process and that it would mean more people took care of the mural."He comes across like a really local artist and hopefully things will be better looked after." Merthyr council commended Tee for creating a "wonderfully bright and colourful space".A council spokesperson said: "Acknowledging the achievements of some of our local heroes through this artwork is a powerful way of paying respect to them and inspiring the next generation."They added that the alley had been transformed by the "incredible artwork" making it a "real focal point that we hope will be better used by shoppers and visitors"."All towns face challenges within the night-time economy with public urination, however we are hopeful the new lighting and CCTV will deter such behaviour."
