Latest news with #&Stacey
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Time Out
Wales is introducing a tourist tax: date, cost and everything you need to know
Think Wales is all misty hills, choirs and cwtches? Think again. In 2027, the nation getting something decisively less cuddly: a tourist tax. Bad news for visiting Gavin & Stacey fans, perhaps, but better news for locals. The idea is to make tourism more sustainable, ease the strain on local services, and help preserve the Welsh language. It's all part of a long-brewing plan to ensure tourists give a little something back to the areas they Instagram to oblivion. To be clear: this isn't a crackdown on holidaymakers. Wales's incoming scheme is a modest levy, not unlike the ones already existing in Barcelona or Paris. Here's everything you need to know about it. When will Wales introduce a tourist tax? Last week, the Senedd (AKA the Welsh Parliament) passed a law letting local councils bring in a visitor levy. It won't kick in til 2027, though, leaving plenty of time to go to Wales without the surcharge. Plus, it won't be applied everywhere automatically. Each regional council will decide for itself whether to adopt it. How much will the tourist tax cost? From 2027, you can expect to pay a very reasonable £1.30 per person per night if you're staying in a Welsh hotel, B&B, Airbnb or similar. Hostels and campsites are even cheaper, setting you back £0.75 per adult per night, and anyone under 18 is exempt. Yep, kids go free. You also won't pay the fee if you're lodging with family, staying in their main home, or booking a place for more than 31 consecutive nights. What's the money going towards? All sorts. The Welsh government plans to use the tourist tax money (estimated at a whopping £33 million a year) to fund events, improve local infrastructure and, crucially, to protect and promote the Welsh language. This is because only 27.8 percent of people in Wales speak Welsh – the lowest figure in eight years. The hope, then, is that this extra cash can help turn that around, funding things like language classes, cultural events and proper bilingual signage. It's all part of Cymraeg 2050 - the government's big ambitious plan to hit a million speakers by the middle of the century. The Duolingo owl is on standby. Will the tax affect all of Wales? Not necessarily. Each council will decide whether to introduce the tax in its area, so you might be charged in some parts of the country and not others. If you're planning a trip post-2027, it's worth checking in advance. Is anywhere else in the UK doing this? Well, yes. Some already have in fact. Scotland's ahead of the game, as ever, with Edinburgh introducing a 5 percent tourist tax in 2026, with Glasgow following in 2027. In England, it's a bit trickier. Councils don't currently have the legal powers to introduce a tourist tax without new legislation from central government – and Downing Street has a lot on at the mo. But cities like Manchester and Liverpool have found a crafty workaround. Using something called a Business Improvement District (or BID), they've introduced local hotel charges funded by businesses themselves. Blackpool, Great Yarmouth and Bournemouth are looking at similar schemes.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gavin and Stacey home up for sale and it's changed so much
The house in Barry was home to Doris before the character passed away and left the home to Gavin and Stacey in her will Superfans of the beloved BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey have a chance to snap up an iconic piece of the show's history, as Doris' house from the series is now on the market. The terraced property that served as a home for the much-loved character, cheeky pensioner Doris, is now for sale. Located on Trinity Street in Barry, Wales, it sits right next door to where Stacey's family lived on the show and is surrounded by familiar sights featured throughout the series, which concluded with a festive special last Christmas. Following the passing of Margaret John, the actress who portrayed Doris, in 2011, the series paid tribute by having her character also pass away, leaving her home to Gavin and Stacey in the storyline. Doris remained a fond memory in the show, even being mentioned in the finale years later. The property, listed by Chris Davies Estate Agents, boasts two bedrooms and spans 969 square feet. It's conveniently situated within walking distance of Barry train station and the docks. A TikTok video offers a glimpse inside the updated house, showcasing an open-plan living and dining area, alongside a contemporary kitchen. The first floor reveals two cosy bedrooms and a family bathroom. The outdoor space features decking and a synthetic lawn, described by the estate agents as "a seaside gem full of warmth and character." Priced at £220,000, the full listing details are available for viewing here. Gavin & Stacey fans were quick to comment, with one joking: "Smithy did a great job on that bathroom!" Another referenced the series, saying: "I'm so pleased to see Stacey got her new kitchen cabinets in the end." There were even some creative ideas for the future homeowner: "Would make a great Gavin and Stacey museum or air bnb. Would make a killing," suggested one fan.
Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The best pictures as thousands brave the rain at In It Together 2025
Thousands of festival-goers gathered for an incredibly rainy weekend full of good music, good food and good company at Margam's In It Together festival. We saw headline gigs from the Kaiser Chiefs, Becky Hill and Ronan Keating as well as other big names like James Morrison, Pixie Lott and Jax Jones. The festival in Margam had those attending on the edge of their seats as they had several surprise mystery guests appearing across the weekend, including English singer/songwriter Example. The second mystery guest was Gavin & Stacey star Ruth Jones who popped on the main stage to say hello and introduce mystery guest, The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle. We were very lucky to meet a few of you lovely lot and hear all about your time at the festival, so here are a few images of In It Together 2025.
Wales Online
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
'I starred in last episode of Gavin & Stacey – and learnt one thing about cast'
'I starred in last episode of Gavin & Stacey – and learnt one thing about cast' An actor who starred in the last ever episode of Gavin & Stacey has revealed what the cast was really like to work with. Scott McGlynn, 37, was an extra in the unforgettable episode Scott McGlynn had a minor role in the final ever episode (Image: scottmcglynnofficial/Instagram ) While hearts were breaking across the world at Christmas when the final ever episode of Gavin & Stacey aired, one actor's dream came true. This is because he bagged a role in the show. After 17 years of waiting, we finally got to learn the outcome of Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa's (Ruth Jones) love story, and it certainly didn't disappoint. It was all the more special for Scott McGlynn, 37, who was an extra in the unforgettable episode, and he said the experience was like no other. It's clear his time with the cast will always hold a special place in his heart, and he looks back on the time fondly. Who could forget working with Nessa, after all? As the Welsh sitcom is nominated at the TV Baftas on May 11, it seems like the perfect time to take a trip down memory lane. Scott revealed exactly what it was like to work with the cast during the last ever episode. The actor actually grew up in Barry Island (Image: scottmcglynnofficial/Instagram ) Article continues below Scott said: "It was incredible to work with so much talent - the creativity in the room was a buzz and you could feel it. Joanna Page was just a sweetheart going around being so kind and complimenting everyone's outfits. "I was with Russell Tovey, which was insane to even stand next to him. He's an incredible actor, and I've been watching him since I was a teenager. It was great - emotional moments too. "We celebrated Ruth's birthday on set, which was lovely to be a part of. She was feeding me the cake." Earlier this year, fans couldn't get over the fact that the The Finale didn't receive many nominations for the Bafta TV Awards, even though the episode pulled in a record 19.3million viewers. Following much hype, the much-loved BBC comedy saw Ruth Jones, 58, nominated for her performance of "Nessa" in a comedy category. As well as this, the show has also been nominated in the publicly-voted Memorable Moment category. Gavin and Stacey came to an end last year (Image: BBC ) Viewers praised Mick (Larry Lamb) during the moment he stood up to show he thought it was an awful idea for Smithy to marry Sonia (Laura Aikman). The moment had comedy viewers in tears on Christmas Day last year. Even though the sitcom only receieved two nominations at the big bash, Gavin & Stacey fans are keeping their fingers crossed for the cast. As for Scott, he's just delighted he got to be a part of the show - for a very special reason. Describing what it was like to be a part of the final ever episode, Scott added: "Being a part of Gavin and Stacey was incredibly special to me, especially because I grew up in Barry. My dad was a huge fan of the show too - he loved everything about it. Article continues below "Sadly, we lost him suddenly last year - a few months before filming, and getting the chance to be a part of the Christmas special felt like I was doing it for him. He would've been so proud. "It was surreal to step onto a set with iconic characters who I grew up with since the first episode - it was giving me family vibes on set. It was an emotional and unforgettable experience for everyone creating this amazing episode."
