Latest news with #welsh
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
North Wales café bar perfect for 'leisurely lunch' with posh Welsh rarebit
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Casual dining at its best, the recently opened Social café bar is a lively addition to Rhos on Sea's culinary scene - a "go-to" spot for every occasion. In just a few months this chic new venue in the centre of the charming little North Wales resort has established itself as a versatile destination, offering a selection of mostly classic British fare, with some surprises from other countries, that can be eaten in house or taken away. Customers can indulge in everything from hearty breakfasts, brunch, salads, sandwiches, cakes and pastries to special Friday and Saturday night wood fired pizzas that sell like the proverbial hot cakes! There are veggie, vegan and gluten free options and dietary needs are catered for. Portions are generous, the atmosphere is laid back and prices are affordable. Delicious freshly prepared food in a spacious and inviting setting – Social really delivers - as my former hotelier friend Nerys and I found when we popped in for a leisurely lunch. I had taken the precaution of booking a table- a wise move, for when we arrived just after midday, the place was already busy with couples, groups and ladies who lunched, tucking into attractive looking platters of food and obviously enjoying themselves. (Image: Social) A mouth watering aroma of cooking and coffee filled the air.... all very promising, Nerys and I thought. The brainchild of husband and wife team Jon and Tessa Turner, who come from a well known local catering family, Social opened last March in what had been a branch of Nat West Bank and most recently Johnny Dough's pizza bar. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, remaining open until 8pm for the popular weekend pizza evenings. King of the kitchen is classically trained chef Tom Durkan, who has worked at Watsons Bistro in Conwy and on Disney cruise ships. Nerys and I liked the smart new decor that was an attractive mix of modern style and practicality. Comfortably seating more than 32 people at well spaced wooden topped tables, the ground floor café was spotlessly clean, bright and airy with cream painted walls, distinctive lighting and greenery on the window sills. Mega sized photographs of underwater scenes taken by Tessa's cousin in Australia highlighted the exposed brick wall at the far end of the room. With my friend's car safely parked in the street nearby, we got down to the serious business of deciding what to eat and drink from the extensive a la carte menu. Available until noon, the breakfast menu offered toasted crumpets, freshly baked croissants, poached or scrambled eggs on toast and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on crumpets with chopped cornichons. Served until 3pm, brunch/lunch dishes included full Welsh breakfast, avocado on sourdough, homemade welsh rarebit, a fruity breakfast bowl and even sriracha benny ie poached eggs with a spicy sauce that originated in Thailand . From noon onwards customers can also order cakes and pastries, sandwiches, including the famous New York deli and salads such as classic Caesar, honey glazed goats cheese, tofu and smoked salmon. Affrogato, burnt Basque cheese cake and luxury Welsh ice cream provided a sweet finish. Star attractions on Friday and Saturday evenings are the homemade wood fired pizzas. Vegan cheese is available at no extra cost. Eight different choices priced between £11.50 and £15.95 include classics such as margherita, pepperoni and Hawaiian as well as more unusual spicy beef, truffled mushroom and nduja calabrese piccante, topped with a fiery Italian salami. Licensed for alcohol, the drinks list features beers including artisan Nokota IPA from the Llandudno based Wild Horse Brewery, as well as lagers and cider. Also available are gins, alcoholic and mock cocktails, alternative milks, soft drinks and a carefully chosen selection of international red, white and rose wines sold by the glass from £5.50 for 250ml or bottle from £25. The most expensive vintage – an exceptional Australian red shiraz- was priced at £39. (Image: Social) As Nerys was driving, she selected a bottle of alcohol free Peroni lager and I opted for a latte coffee that went down well with my choice of a house favourite - Welsh rarebit. Priced at £10.95 this, however, was an upmarket version that came on two slices of toasted sourdough bread, topped with pieces of roast ham and finished with chilli jam. Piping hot, rich and creamy, the savoury sauce was given a real kick with a generous slug of Wild Horse Nokota beer. I could have added a poached egg for an extra £1.75 but the dish was fine as it was and went down a treat. Full marks to chef Tom! Nerys went for classic Caesar salad with lots of crisp green leaves and homemade parmesan and sourdough croutons tossed in a tangy dressing. Adding warm pieces of chicken breast for an extra £3.50 transformed the salad into a substantial main course. (Image: Social) 'Absolutely delicious, but far too much for me, I just can't manage it all," Nerys commented sadly. However, customers often take their leftovers away with them and our very helpful server provided my friend with a takeaway box so she could finish the dish at home. Social has a real "feel good" vibe that makes eating and drinking there a pleasure. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at this delightful new café bar and plan a return visit in the near future to sample the pizzas. One for the notebook? Most definitely!
Leader Live
01-08-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Former Dragons Rest Cafe off A55 facing demolition
The Dragon's Rest Cafe off junction 31 of the A55 in Lloc, near Holywell, closed down in 2023 and has been empty ever since. Now a screening request – a pre-application check to see if developers need to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment for their planning application – has been submitted to Flintshire County Council. It details plans to knock down the Dragon's Rest and build a brand new petrol station on the site. Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox. A traditional welsh stone-built structure with a slate roof featuring a bright red Welsh Dragon and the word cafe whitewashed on it, the family-run Dragon's Rest was for many years a popular stop for tourists on their way to Snowdonia or Anglesey and a meeting place for motorbike and car enthusiasts, offering an initial glimpse of the Clwydian Range. Famed for its homemade cakes and hearty breakfasts made with local produce, it was also a great place to grab a memento of your time in North Wales thanks to its gift shop. It even partnered with neighbouring businesses to offer customers a car valet to send them on their way sparkling. 'Love this place,' wrote one regular Sharon Pugh on the Dragon's Rest's Google reviews. 'Their breakfasts are amazing. We always stop here on way to Llandudno and have a breakfast.' Read more Another regular visitor Neil Roberts wrote: 'I always stop here on the way to Colwyn Bay. Excellent steak and Guinness pie when it's on the specials.' But after closing its doors for the final time two years ago the site has been deserted. Now Rhyl-based Longacres Filling Station Ltd has detailed plans to level the building and replace it with a modern petrol filling station and shop with small cafe area and 39 parking spaces, including 10 electric vehicle charging points. Officers are expected to issue a screening opinion on the proposals by September 17.
Wales Online
03-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Welsh universities facing desperate funding crisis slammed as 'poorly run'
Welsh universities facing desperate funding crisis slammed as 'poorly run' Dan Beard, who chairs Unison Cymru's higher education forum, warned of the 'real danger' of a university in Wales collapsing next year, as Unison called for 'urgent' action (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Wales Online readers have been discussing a stark warning made by a union leader that there is a "real danger a university in Wales could collapse next year". Dan Beard, chair of Unison Cymru's higher education forum, cautioned the Senedd's education committee: "Without change, we will see universities collapsing or contracting significantly." His ominous forecast was made on the same day as Welsh university vice chancellors expressed to MPs their "optimism" about their institutions' survival. During an inquiry into higher education, prompted by cuts across Welsh institutions, Unison urged immediate ministerial intervention. "Nearly all universities are making cuts to some degree or another," Mr Beard informed the inquiry. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Unison criticised the Welsh Government's February announcement of £18.5m for universities as "nowhere near enough", highlighting Cardiff's £30m deficit alone. "Without a strategy and funding, Welsh universities will continue to contract, shedding staff and closing unprofitable courses," the union stated in its written evidence. University chiefs also informed MPs that the additional £18m they received from the Welsh Government this year had been offset by increased national insurance costs. They asked for a rise in domestic tuition fees to match inflation. Article continues below Commenting on the story, Theseldomseenkid asks: 'I thought these places were businesses? Why should they receive any funding from the government?' Tjh52 agrees: 'If private schools must manage their finances; then so should universities!' Harpinon adds: 'With the fees youngsters pay for these degrees, why are taxpayers paying also? These are businesses that have been poorly run and should be treated as that.' Daio99 thinks: 'Close them and encourage teenagers to learn a trade.' But Barrian retorts: 'Where do you think doctors, pharmacists, paramedics etc come from?' Oldcastle says: 'I work at one of these universities, specifically, I develop cures and treatments for devastating diseases. Inventions that were born at welsh universities are used around the world to improve and save millions of lives. "We invented the technology that most medical DNA tests use to this day. We invented the tech in breathalysers. But the money made from these inventions doesn't go to the universities, it doesn't stay in research, it goes to the companies who buy rights and then sell the inventions and their shareholders. 'Companies focus on profit and won't invest in risky, long-term research. Public funding fills that gap, allowing universities to innovate and create technologies that benefit everyone. Without it, breakthroughs like DNA testing tech wouldn't exist. Supporting universities is an investment in society, not 'scrounging'.' Airmarshall thinks: 'It is about time the Universities merge as every one has a management structure with Vice Chancellors on significant salaries, all the back office staff and bureaucracy that comes with it. Lots of Universities (former polytechnics) have ballooned taking on too many courses, run at too many sites.' JoseJones writes: 'It feels like universities are a bit of an industry all of their own, a swirl of institutions/jobs in the name of higher education. Graduates are sold the line that they will have much better prospects if they have a degree, but is that really the case? Higher Education is needed, definitely, but it feels like too many school leavers are pointed towards like it's the be all and end all but it's not.' Hufeniapoeth agrees: 'Universities should be streamlined and more efficient. We need to cut down on degree courses, some of which have been created and are of little relevance. "It's time to reduce the number of vice-chancellors and administrative staff. Not everyone has to attend a university, or even those former polytechnics that have morphed into universities. Apprenticeships are just as important, if not more so, and should be promoted.' Article continues below Boredtaxidriver62 states: 'And there it is, a 3 year party at the taxpayer's expense.' Are you concerned about the state of Welsh universities? What do you think the solution is? Have your say in our comments section.
Leader Live
29-04-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Developer plans 130 affordable homes for Croes Atti
The Ffordd Dewi development was originally proposed as a 140 home project, but the full planning application submitted by Anwyl Homes has reduced that number. On land formerly part of Coed Onn Farm, the proposed development borders the new Croes Atti welsh language school the site. Outside of Flintshire Council's Local Development Plan - it will be made up of 100% affordable housing, with 90% (117 homes) social rent and 10% (13 homes) low cost privately owned. The plans include a mix of 16 one-bedroom apartments, eight one-bedroom bungalows, four two-bedroom bungalows, 53 two-bedroom houses, 39 three-bedroom houses and 10 four-bedroom houses plus a play area. All properties will have electric car charging points. Read more: Plans for 140 affordable homes near new Croes Atti school A pre-application consultation on the development in November drew opposition from 25 local residents, with concerns raised over water drainage, increased traffic, a single proposed entrance to the estate running past the new Ysgol Croes Atti, ecological damage to Pandy Pool and pressure on local services like GPs and dentists which are already struggling. Reports included in the application state that there is no significant archaeological value to the site - which is near two known Roman settlements - and there was risk to any protected species. There is however the remains of an effluent pipe that was part of the infrastructure around the production of mustard gas at Rhydymwyn during World War II. The plans include making sure this pipework is made safe or removed during construction. To aid with drainage there will be a number of swales - scooped grass verges that collect and slowly drain surface water away, plus two balancing ponds to collect excess water. Documents submitted by Anwyl to support their application stated: "The development will provide 130 new affordable homes with a range of house types to create a balanced community. "There is a genuine and acute need for the proposed affordable homes "The development will create a high quality, inclusive and sustainable residential neighbourhood which maintains and enhances the key existing landscape features, integrating the site into the wider area."
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cardiff City beat Wrexham to win women's Welsh Cup
Cardiff City secured the Bute Energy Welsh Cup for a fourth successive season with a 3-1 victory over Wrexham in the repeat of last season's welsh women's final, goals from Lilly Billingham, Shannon Evans and Fiona Barry were enough to complete the league and cup double for the unmarked in midfield, rifled in a 30 yard screamer to open the scoring at Rodney added a second, heading in from a looping Ffion Price the restart Wrexham won a penalty as Abbie Iddenden, the Dragons' biggest threat, was tripped by Ceryn Chamberlain. Iddenden slotted in the spot kick to halve the deficit with her 17th of the the interval Iddenden had a second penalty attempt, but this time her poor effort was easily saved by Chamberlain and Lili Mai Jones saw her thunderbolt come back off the put the result beyond doubt when Barry slid in her team's third with 15 minutes remaining, leaving Wrexham to wait for a first Welsh Cup triumph continues.
