Latest news with #Crickhowell
Business News Wales
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Why I Built a Drinks Brand That Puts Welsh First
When I set out to create DIRWEST, I wasn't just developing a drinks brand – I was creating something rooted in Welsh identity. For me, DIRWEST is a way to put our culture, our language, and our values front and centre in a space that's increasingly crowded but often lacking that sense of place. The idea had been bubbling away for a while. I've worked in the Welsh food and drink industry for more than 15 years, supporting producers and helping to build their presence in the market through the Cywain programme. But it was when I began drinking less myself – opting for more alcohol-free options during the week – that I noticed how few non-alcoholic options spoke to me as a Welsh consumer. There were plenty of alternatives out there, but none that reflected our language or heritage in any meaningful way. That was the gap I saw, and that's what DIRWEST set out to fill. The name itself is the Welsh word for temperance. It's a nod to the generations before us, particularly the chapel-going women of Wales, often depicted in traditional dress and drinking tea. It's a playful reference, but also a serious one. The last 'dry' Sunday in Dwyfor wasn't that long ago, and in many ways it feels like we're still negotiating our relationship with alcohol, choice, and identity. When I received a £5,000 bursary from the Vale of Glamorgan Council, through Shared Prosperity Funding, it gave me the confidence to move from idea to action. That funding allowed me to cover early costs such as trademarking, design work and product development and reduced the personal risk of starting something new. Thanks to my experience in the sector and the support of great collaborators, things moved quickly. I already had strong relationships with buyers and producers, and I knew who I wanted to work with, from distilleries to graphic designers. The drinks themselves are made and bottled in Wales using UK-sourced ingredients, and the visual identity, particularly the design of the gin-style botanical spirit, has drawn consistent praise from customers wherever we go. It's grown steadily from there. We've had a strong response at local markets and food festivals, with Crickhowell recently standing out as one of the busiest and most engaged. People are curious, and once they try the products, they very often go on to buy. But the product is only part of the story. I'm passionate about using the Welsh language not as an afterthought, but as a foundation. Our labelling is in Welsh first. Our website and social media posts are bilingual. The beer – our alcohol-free IPA – is called Yma O Hyd. And I want that to feel completely natural. After all, no one thinks twice about French on a bottle of wine or Spanish on a beer label. Why should it be any different with Welsh, especially when the product is made here? There's evidence to support this approach too. Welsh Government research consistently shows that 'Welshness' adds value in the marketplace. Consumers across the UK, not just in Wales, associate Welsh products with quality and freshness. We should be more confident in celebrating that, at home as well as over the border. That sense of place also informs our environmental choices. Sustainability is a key part of DIRWEST's approach, from our lightweight, recycled-glass bottles and organic ink labels to our use of aluminium cans and recyclable cardboard packaging. It's all made with the lightest footprint we can manage. That's part of our responsibility as producers based in Wales, where our landscape is both a backdrop and a resource. Looking ahead, I want to build a wider range of non-alcoholic drinks and mixers. I'd like to create jobs and contribute to the local economy near Cowbridge, where we're based. But most of all, I want people to see Welsh products – and the Welsh language – as something they're proud to buy into. Something that's modern, relevant, and rooted in who we are. Vale of Glamorgan Council recently launched the Taste of the Vale directory, which aims to connect residents and visitors with local food producers. The directory highlights the county's food and farming heritage, and provides a guide to local producers, vineyards, dairies, bakeries, and more. To view the Taste of the Vale producer directory, visit the webpage here.
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- The Guardian
We wanted to stay at a Bear hotel – just not one 50 miles away
For our 40th wedding anniversary we booked a night at the Bear hotel in Crickhowell, Wales, via [the booking website] The details were duly confirmed in an email, but when I called the hotel to check about dining, it had no trace of the booking. It turned out we had been booked at the Bear hotel in Cowbridge. insists the booking was non-refundable and has refused to return our money. When we sent evidence of its mistake it didn't respond. BF, Presteigne, Powys Cowbridge looks an appealing place but it wasn't where you wanted to be. Bizarrely, your confirmation email specifies the booking for Crickhowell even though a room was booked 50 miles away. didn't have the courtesy to reply to me, either, but my overtures prompted a refund, albeit with no apology or acknowledgment of its bungling. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Criticism over proposals to close sixth forms in county
Councillors have criticised proposals which could see Powys end up with just two sixth forms. A Powys County Council learning and skills scrutiny committee meeting on Friday saw three options revealed as the outcome of a strategic review into post-16 education. The preferred option would see a sixth form college with one management team set up across two sites in Brecon and Newtown, while another college would be set up across a number of Welsh medium schools. Councillor Chloe Masefield, who represents Crickhowell, said she had "significant concerns" about the review. The options will be subject to an "engagement" process which will allow people to give their views on the proposals over the next six months. Council education staff stressed the current model with all schools having their own sixth form was not "financially viable". The need to address post-16 provision has also been highlighted by education watchdog Estyn in a scathing report on the department published in March. One option could see a sixth form college set up with one board of governors and management team across two sites in Brecon and Newtown. Similarly, a sixth form college would be based across Welsh medium all-through schools at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth, Bro Caereinion in Llanfair Caereinion and potentially Builth Wells. The Welsh medium sixth form would be run separately. Councillor will not resign despite critical report Wales-England border school taken off closure list Specialist school needs big improvement - watchdog Crickhowell has the biggest sixth form in Powys with many pupils coming from Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent. "Crickhowell sixth form is operating incredibly successfully, bringing in students and funding from across the border and there's no argument to say that we should be closing it," Masefield said. She warned "every single person in the area of Crickhowell" would object to the proposals. Council Conservative group leader Aled Davies, who represents Llansilin and Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant, said he was concerned at the "lack of vision" of what Powys education could look like in 15 to 20 years' time. Davies said successful sixth forms could be "swept up and lost" and that the work should focus on those sixth forms with small pupil numbers. Sue McNicholas, who represents Ynyscedwyn near Ystradgynlais, said the area would lose pupils "in droves" across the border. Plaid Cymru's Bryn Davies who represents Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn, said for many school pupils in the north of Powys, Newtown is a distant place. He said: "The only central location in the north I can see at the moment for this is in Welshpool, which was the old (Montgomeryshire) county town. "It would be much more suitable for an English medium sixth form." He asked whether this could be put forward as a potential option to be considered. Dr Richard Jones, director of education, told the committee there had been "thorough engagement" ahead of the model being introduced and that "learning from that" had been taken onboard. Dr Jones said: "That's provided us with a framework for three options to go out to engagement". He said he believed going out to engagement without options would take the council "back to that pre Powys Sixth point", which was rolled out in 2022 with a focus on collaboration between schools. Recommendations from the committee will be added to the report which is expected to go before the Liberal Democrat and Labour cabinet for a decision later this month to start the engagement process.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Powys sixth form college proposals criticised by councillors
Councillors have criticised proposals which could see Powys end up with just two sixth forms. A Powys County Council learning and skills scrutiny committee meeting on Friday saw three options revealed as the outcome of a strategic review into post-16 education. The preferred option would see a sixth form college with one management team set up across two sites in Brecon and Newtown, while another college would be set up across a number of Welsh medium Chloe Masefield, who represents Crickhowell, said she had "significant concerns" about the review. The options will be subject to an "engagement" process which will allow people to give their views on the proposals over the next six education staff stressed the current model with all schools having their own sixth form was not "financially viable".The need to address post-16 provision has also been highlighted by education watchdog Estyn in a scathing report on the department published in option could see a sixth form college set up with one board of governors and management team across two sites in Brecon and a sixth form college would be based across Welsh medium all-through schools at Ysgol Bro Hyddgen in Machynlleth, Bro Caereinion in Llanfair Caereinion and potentially Builth Welsh medium sixth form would be run separately. Crickhowell has the biggest sixth form in Powys with many pupils coming from Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent."Crickhowell sixth form is operating incredibly successfully, bringing in students and funding from across the border and there's no argument to say that we should be closing it," Masefield said. She warned "every single person in the area of Crickhowell" would object to the Conservative group leader Aled Davies, who represents Llansilin and Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant, said he was concerned at the "lack of vision" of what Powys education could look like in 15 to 20 years' said successful sixth forms could be "swept up and lost" and that the work should focus on those sixth forms with small pupil McNicholas, who represents Ynyscedwyn near Ystradgynlais, said the area would lose pupils "in droves" across the border. Plaid Cymru's Bryn Davies who represents Banwy, Llanfihangel and Llanwddyn, said for many school pupils in the north of Powys, Newtown is a distant said: "The only central location in the north I can see at the moment for this is in Welshpool, which was the old (Montgomeryshire) county town."It would be much more suitable for an English medium sixth form."He asked whether this could be put forward as a potential option to be considered. Dr Richard Jones, director of education, told the committee there had been "thorough engagement" ahead of the model being introduced and that "learning from that" had been taken Jones said: "That's provided us with a framework for three options to go out to engagement". He said he believed going out to engagement without options would take the council "back to that pre Powys Sixth point", which was rolled out in 2022 with a focus on collaboration between from the committee will be added to the report which is expected to go before the Liberal Democrat and Labour cabinet for a decision later this month to start the engagement process.
