Award-winning Ceredigion distillery, In the Welsh Wind, is releasing its first whisky at a celebration day later this month.
Only 680 bottles are available of this limited edition and the company is extending an open invitation to join in the launch celebration at the distillery, near Cardigan, on April 26.
Whisky enthusiasts and those curious to know what all the fuss is about are invited to join the In the Welsh Wind team for a day of discovery.
Crafted with care and dedication, the company’s inaugural single malt whisky release is a tribute to Welsh craftsmanship and heritage with an ‘In the Welsh Wind’ twist.
Distilled in a state-of-the-art iStill, each bottle promises a distinctive flavour profile that captures the spirit of Welsh whisky.
“We are incredibly excited to share our first whisky with the world,” said Ellen Wakelam, founder and director of In the Welsh Wind Distillery. “This release marks a significant milestone for us as we make our mark on the Welsh whisky industry.
“We invite whisky enthusiasts and curious minds alike to join us on April 26 for a day of celebration and camaraderie. Come and experience the beauty of West Wales, taste the essence of Welsh craftsmanship and raise a glass to the future of Welsh whisky-making.”
The release event, held at the flagship distillery, offers attendees a unique opportunity to be part of Welsh whisky history.
Guests will have the chance to take a free tour of the distillery, meet the passionate individuals behind In the Welsh Wind and learn about the business’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Visitors can also taste and purchase this first edition whisky, while stocks last.
The distillery will be open from 8am until 6pm on April 26. To book a tour, please visit the website: https://inthewelshwind.co.uk/products/whisky-launch-day-tours.
For those who prefer not to indulge in whisky, coffee and cake will be available from local coffee truck Tarten. For those unable to visit the distillery, some bottles may be available online after the launch event.
Bluestone National Park Resort has launched four adapted lodges as part of its brand new Platinum range.
The luxury holiday resort, namedthird best in the UK for 2023 by Which? magazine for a second year running, sits in 500 acres of National Park in the scenic countryside of Pembrokeshire.
The Platinum lodges are the most luxurious offering yet, featuring sunrooms, picturesque surroundings, a private entrance, ‘cwtch’ rooms, and 20% more space.
The new lodges have been specially designed to assist those who need additional assistance, including being arranged over a single floor with two bedrooms, a wet-room, and an open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining area, as well as an outdoor patio.
They also have wider doorways, a shower seat and handrails, emergency pull cords and a designated parking space for Blue Badge holders.
The newly launched Platinum lodges boost the resort’s existing accessible offering, with six Caldey lodges having already been adapted for disabled guests.
Guests are able to enjoy a diverse array of activities within the resort, as well as the natural surrounding beauty of Pembrokeshire’s beaches, cliffs and harbours.
Blue Lagoon, a subtropical water park, has designated disabled changing rooms, four aqua chairs and a hoist which can be requested at reception.
While Nature Trails found across the resort have been carefully designed to ensure there are wide pathways, limited steps, and, where needed, disabled access.
The Serendome, a covered outdoor playground, features a state-of-the-art amphitheatre that is wheelchair accessible and also offers a multi-level, aerial adventure course that is suitable for wheelchair users.
The Bluestone team are also able to make arrangements for guests with additional needs – such as those with sensory issues – to have exclusive access to facilities such as Blue Lagoon, Serendome or its indoor play area, The Hive, outside of standard operating hours.
William McNamara, founder and chief executive at Bluestone, said: “Our Free Range Manifesto embodies our commitment to creating a place where children of all ages and abilities can explore nature in beautiful surroundings.
“We’re extremely dedicated to making our resort and holidays accessible to everyone; from tailoring the lighting in our indoor play area to suit those with sensory needs, to opening our facilities outside of standard operating hours for guests who would benefit from quieter sessions.
“We believe that everyone who visits Bluestone deserves an unforgettable experience, which is why we would encourage guests to contact the team in advance to discuss any specific requirements they may have so we can ensure these are meet during their stay.”
With over 100 activities to choose from on the resort, many of which can be adapted for those with additional needs such as bowling or axe throwing, the Bluestone team are able to advise on the most suitable activities ahead of your stay.
Bluestone National Park Resort has announced details for its highly-anticipated Christmasland break, which will be running from 6th November 2023 to 4th January 2024, and offers families a festive break starting from less than £18pp per night and with 35% savings.
The luxury holiday resort is situated within 500 acres of National Coastal Park in the scenic Pembrokeshire countryside and for the second year running has been named in the top 3 of best holiday parks in the UK by Which? Magazine.
It’s made up of luxury and platinum lodges, cottages and studio apartments which accommodate between one and 14 guests, making it the perfect festive break for couples, friends and large families.
‘Christmasland’ is an experience like no other with a full-festive takeover of the resort. On arrival at Bluestone, guests are transported into a world of winter wonderment and magic, greeted by twinkling trees and elves who will hand out a ‘Christmasland Passport’ – a jam-packed itinerary of the festive fun to make the most of during the stay, including a Polar Postal envelope, ready for the all-important letter to Santa.
All guests will save on three or four-night stays with free entry into a host of exciting and magical activities including Claus Christmas Show, an interactive theatre experience, and Santa’s Sleigh ride, a VR experience that offers little ones the chance to become Santa’s helper.
Guests staying for this duration will also enjoy free entry to Santa’s Workshop, where you’ll be taken on an enchanting journey to discover the secrets behind Santa’s magical workplace including creating delicious shortbreads at the Jolly Ginger Bakery! before meeting Santa Claus himself.
The whole resort has had a festive makeover, with the indoor water park becoming “Elf Lagoon” and its indoor adventure play dome undergoing a full transformation to become “The Snow Globe”.
For those looking for a more relaxing Christmas spirit, the award-winning Well Spa Retreat offers a hydrotherapy pool, thermal suite including experience showers, an ice pod, a sea salt cave, and a meditation room, as well as soothing treatments.
As we head towards a new season, Bluestone National Park Resort has revealed the novel ways it will transform into ‘Christmasland’ by using none other than “rubbish” to sprinkle its festive magic across the resort.
Festive displays will adorn the resort from 6 November – but unbeknown to guests, these are built from damaged or unwanted materials like drainage pipe offcuts, lampshades, drum kits, pool noodles and broken slides.
For the past six months, the dedicated Bluestone team has been refurbishing and painting old Christmas decorations to give them a new lease of life. Waste items from guests have been repurposed to form structures for wreaths and garlands, while second-hand baubles have been re- used as part of the resort’s commitment to a circular economy model to reduce landfill waste.
Taking the lead on the transformation is Bluestone’s production manager on duty Alison Harris (pictured above). Since May, she has been on a quest to unearth hidden gems to begin the festive transition. She said: “The Christmasland transformation is our favourite time of the year. Witnessing the joy on our guests’ faces as they walk into the resort is truly priceless.
“Every year, we embrace the spirit of recycling and reusing by repurposing our festive displays – and you’d be amazed at what can be achieved with an old drum kit, pre-loved baubles, a fresh lick of paint and a sprinkle of creativity.
“We start by reimagining the decorations that we already have by sprucing them up with paint or reworking them into new displays in our warehouse. This year, we’ve transformed a broken slide from The HIVE into something totally different. There’s always another purpose for things and it’s fulfilling to turn what some might consider ‘rubbish’ into something magical for guests to enjoy.
“We’re particularly excited to decorate Black Pool Mill, our new heritage dining experience, this year. It marks the inaugural Christmas transformation for the building, and we’ve created elegant decorations that perfectly complement its Georgian charm.”
On Sunday 5 November, Bluestone will undergo an overnight transformation for the festive season. The all-weather, undercover adventure area, Serendome, will transform into the ‘Snow Globe’, and the Blue Lagoon indoor water park will become the ‘Elf Lagoon Swimming Pool’. In addition, the resort will be decorated to create an enchanting and immersive holiday experience for all.
Every year during the festive period in the UK, there is approximately three million tonnes of extra plastic waste. But while Wales retains its title as the best nation for recycling in Britain and the third best in the world, Bluestone is hoping to inspire more people to preserve the magic of the season by upcycling their unwanted items.
Director of Sustainability for Bluestone, Marten Lewis, said: “Ensuring the most responsible outcome for waste at every opportunity is an aim for us at Bluestone. From turning used nappies into pathways, to using pool noodles to form our Christmas wreaths, we continuously seek innovative ways to adopt sustainable practices across all aspects of our operations by embracing the principles of a circular economy.
“The resort’s recycled Christmas decorations offer a visual reminder that sustainability is both achievable and charming. This season, we aim to help create lasting memories for our guests through these spectacular displays, all while leaving a positive imprint on the environment. And who knows, perhaps we’ll inspire some of our guests to breathe new life into their ‘rubbish’ as well.”
Bluestone National Park Resort is a luxury holiday resort near Narberth, Pembrokeshire, situated within 500 acres near to Pembrokeshire’s beautiful coastal national park. They have been committed to improving sustainability and maintaining the local environment since its doors opened in 2008.
The resort has over 400 accommodation units and offers a diverse array of activities as well as the opportunity to explore the Pembrokeshire coastal national park. There is something for the whole family to enjoy. www.bluestonewales.com.
Bluestone has been voted the no.3 holiday park and resort in the UK in the 2023 Which? Survey, trumping Center Parcs, Warner Leisure Villages, Parkdean and Forest Holidays.
A SWANSEA-BASED consumer energy efficiency company is marking a major milestone as it fits its 30,000th solar panel since it began installations just two years ago.
Consumer Energy Solutions (CES) supports customers in energy-proofing their homes to reduce their carbon footprint and ultimately, their energy bills. The company, which has permanent bases in South Wales, North Wales, West Wales and Exeter, began installing solar PV as a single measure through the Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LADs) in autumn 2021, before introducing them as double measures with loft insulation and as part of a multiple measure whole house approach through the government’s Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) in 2022.
CES currently employs over 500 staff who undertake the installations, from solar PV installers, to roofers, heating engineers and electricians, alongside the management team based at its Swansea headquarters.
Working with a selection of products and manufacturers, including Swanson McKay, Greentech, CEF and UKPS, CES can tailor its offering to suit homeowners and has successfully implemented cost-effective energy-saving measures to over 8,000 homes across the UK. Of these customers, 2,800 had solar PV roof installations, which were paid for entirely with government backed grants sourced by CES.
To ensure the company’s workforce remains foremost in its field and to meet consumer demand, CES recently invested £0.5 million on a dedicated training facility in Cardiff for all solar and renewable heating training, as well as offering full electrical and health and safety qualifications to all installers.
Sam Wilson, Head of Solar at Consumer Energy Solutions, said: “As a business we only started installing solar panels in late 2021 and in that time, we have installed 30,000 units via just over 2,800 projects. We are proud to reach this milestone and thank our entire team of energy efficiency professionals who work together to identify opportunities and carry out the energy-saving modifications needed for each property.
“Coming into winter, we appreciate home-owners will be more mindful of turning the lights or heating on and we are committed to supporting anyone concerned about their energy usage.”
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A large section of CES installations come from the government backed ECO 4 scheme. This is predominantly helping those off the gas grid using oil, LPG, electric or solid fuels for their heating qualify for energy saving measures. To see if you can qualify, please visit www.consumerenergysolutions.co.uk or contact 01792 721162.
Pembrokeshire’s Bluestone National Park Resort has been named one of the top three best value holiday resorts in the UK for the second year running by Which?, the independent consumer organisation.
Bluestone, near Narberth, employs over 800 people and has been placed third out of 18 UK resorts. It has also been recognised as one of the only three Which? Recommended Providers on the list. The resort had secured the fourth position on the list last year.
It was ranked above destinations including Center Parcs, Butlins, Pontins, and other major holiday destinations.
Bluestone ranked a full five stars for the quality of accommodation and customer service. It was also ranked highly for cleanliness, facilities, entertainment, food and drink and value for money.
The survey was based on responses from 1,000 Which? Members. They rated it on cleanliness, accommodation, facilities, customer service, entertainment, food and drink, and value for money.
Yvonne Buckingham, Director of Commercial at Bluestone, praised the team at Bluestone who helped ensure guests received the best possible service.
“This isn’t just an accolade for Bluestone, it’s one for our whole team of employees who go that extra mile to help guests, as well as working behind the scenes,” said Yvonne.
“It also demonstrates how Pembrokeshire, the national park, and our whole community is a great place for visitors to come and enjoy the wide range of attractions and venues that they visit while staying at Bluestone.”
Yvonne highlighted how the business contributes more than £1.5 million a year to the local economy, in addition to its employment and more than £1 million in visitor spend.
The business is investing £30 million to expand its facilities. This includes 80 new Platinum lodges, the recently opened Black Pool Mill heritage dining experience which has created more than 30 jobs, and a planned 11-hectare solar farm.
Claire Lewis, Head of Guest Experience at Bluestone, said: “We’re very proud to be a local business in Pembrokeshire providing important employment, using local suppliers where possible and supporting the local economy. The latest Which? Survey highlights how our team from the area provide a five star service for our guests.”
WELSH fabricator Dudley’s Aluminium has secured a new project in Llanelli which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people across the region.
Dudley’s is working with Bouygues UK on the Pentre Awel development for Carmarthenshire County Council, the largest ever regeneration project of its size in south west Wales.
As well as supporting the region’s health and wellbeing, Pentre Awel will create over 1,800 jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities and is expected to boost the local economy by £467m over 15 years.
Pentre Awel will be developed in four zones and the fabricator is supporting the construction of zone one which includes research and development spaces for businesses, a clinical delivery and research centre, education and training facilities and a state-of-the-art leisure centre featuring gyms, studios, swimming and hydrotherapy pools.
Dudley’s will install Kawneer capped curtain walling, windows and doors in addition to an automatic curved sliding door, automatic sliding doors and mechanical louvres to the build.
Future zones of the project are set to include social and affordable housing, a range of assisted living accommodation, a hotel and business expansion space.
Colin Shorney, Managing Director at Dudley’s Aluminium, said: “We are excited to be working with Bouygues on zone one of Pentre Awel. From providing access to modern leisure facilities to having dedicated spaces for medical research and training, this project will transform and benefit the health and wellbeing of local people.”
Since 1993, Dudley’s Aluminium has offered clients full in-house design and production facilities, completing many successful and prestigious projects within the education, health, commercial, retail, residential and defence sectors throughout the UK and Channel Islands.
Dudley’s reputation for quality has been recognised with several industry-related accreditations. The company is CHAS accredited, Constructionline registered and BM Trada certified to manufacture enhanced security products to align with PAS24:2016 and BS 4873.
Visitors and locals alike are nestling down to enjoy a cuppa and a chat at Aberystwyth hotspots, thanks to a young entrepreneur selling mugs of home-made masala chai from a bike.
24-year-old Sally Pierse launched The Chai Bike in April 2023 with the help of Big Ideas Wales, after discovering that the comforting and community yielding powers of tea aren’t limited to a traditional builder’s brew.
Sally first discovered chai while on a trip to India as part of a BA Philosophy degree at the University of York. Alongside attending academic lectures on women’s rights and Ghandi, Sally was invited to the home of a local woman who taught her traditional Indian recipes, including masala chai.
Taken by the sense of comfort and welcome she felt in the home of a stranger halfway across the world, Sally was inspired to start a similar initiative back home. By choosing to operate completely bilingually through her signage and social media, Sally hopes to grow more confident in her Welsh while encouraging her customers to use it more on their day-to-day sightseeing ventures.
Sally’s healthy, home-made chai is stored on an e-cargo bike and Sally encourages visitors to stick around and make themselves at home by serving the spicy tea, made with locally sourced ingredients like Welsh honey, assam tea, dry roasted spices and fresh ginger, in ceramic mugs.
Discussing The Chai Bike, Sally said: “At first people are quite taken aback as you only usually drink from ceramic mugs at home or in a café – places we feel at ease. But that’s exactly why I offer them. I want my customers to get comfy, embrace the beauty of Aberystwyth and treat these scenic spots like our home – because they are.”
“It’s also really satisfying to see people taking sustainability that one step further without realising it. All of my takeaway cups are 100% compostable and, while I still encourage customers to use recyclable and compostable products wherever possible, I just think ‘why stop there in my mission to be greener?’ The more single-use cups we can save, the better. There’s always more you can do to live a greener life.”
When she’s not cycling around Aberystwyth hotspots on her e-cargo bike provided by Ceredigion County Council, Sally trades at Aberystwyth Eco Hub initiatives, including Aberystwyth eco-clothes swap and the repair café.
Sally said: “I love partnering with such conscious initiatives. It’s a great opportunity to share our plans on how to make Aber a green hub with a thriving community. I truly believe that by working together, we can accomplish this goal.”
In setting up The Chai Bike, Sally contacted Big Ideas Wales, a Welsh Government funded service that, as part of Business Wales, aims to support anyone between the age of 5 and 25 to develop a business idea, including students and graduates, as part of its commitment to the Young Person’s Guarantee.
Sally was partnered with Business Advisor Llinos Price, who she began meeting with for one-on-one weekly, virtual meetings. Llinos guided Sally through the essentials of launching a business, from applying for business insurance, employer liability and permits, to navigating allergy training and how to best liaise with the local council.
As a Big Ideas Wales entrepreneur, Sally was also invited to attend entrepreneurial workshops, network with other young business owners and hear top tips from successful entrepreneurs in a range of industries as part of Big Ideas Wales On Tour. Llinos also signposted Sally to ‘Trading Spaces’, a local event inviting young entrepreneurs to take part in a day of trading alongside fellow businesspeople.
Discussing the support of Big Ideas Wales, Sally said: “Trading Spaces and On the Move really opened my eyes to what life could be like as an entrepreneur. Each event was filled with so much inspiration and encouragement, I didn’t have a chance to simmer in my doubts as they were eased instantly.”
Llinos Price, Business Adviser at Big Ideas Wales said: “It takes a very special businesswoman, with a very contagious energy, to inspire people to stop rushing through life, grab a ceramic mug of chai and put their feet up in Aberystwyth’s most scenic spots.
“Sally is a perfect example of how, by accepting the support that is on offer, you can turn your small dream into a big success. If you take anything from Sally’s story, let it be that we should all appreciate our hometowns and the community within them more than ever, and do what we can to help them thrive. Better yet, why not do it in neon pink!”
In an effort to build local morale and help customers give back to their community, Sally has launched ‘Be a Brownie’. Inspired by her past as a brownie leader, the ‘pass-it-on’ initiative encourages customers to buy a cup of masala chai for a stranger in need and promotes the important brownie pact, “a brownie guide thinks of others before themselves and does a good turn every day.”
Has this inspired you to kick start your business idea? Visit www.bigideas.wales to get started
80 new lodges set to open from 26th May at Bluestone National Park Resort as part of a £24 million development of the resort.
Platinum lodges are the most luxurious offering yet, featuring sunrooms, picturesque surroundings, a private entrance and ‘cwtch’ rooms and 20% more space.
Bluestone is set in the beautiful natural surroundings of Pembrokeshire, with beaches and cliff-walks easily reached.
With high ceilings, simple yet stylish décor, and peaceful surroundings, the platinum lodges elevate domestic holidays into new levels of comfort and luxury living.
The luxury holiday resort sits in 500 acres of National Park in the scenic countryside of Pembrokeshire.
The resort already has over 300 lodges and a diverse array of activities within the resort, as well as the natural surrounding beauty of Pembrokeshire’s beaches, cliffs and harbours.
From kayaking across Bluestone’s lake, cycling through its stunning trails on mountain bikes, and then recharging in the resort’s very own spa, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.
The three types of platinum lodges have been created to suit all needs, and each one is supplied with complimentary electric buggies, so guests can travel swiftly around the resort in style and with ease.
Additional features include sunrooms, designated outdoor areas, picturesque surroundings, and ‘cwtch’ rooms for encouraging quality time together.
Around 250 jobs have been sustained during the construction phase of the platinum lodges and a further 100 operational jobs will be created now they are open to guests. These figures add to the 800 people that Bluestone currently employs.
Bluestone’s Director of Sustainability, Marten Lewis, said: “Our ‘Free Range Future’ movement is at the heart of everything we do to ensure all our investments and initiatives benefit the local community and environment.
“It was key for us to channel this ethos through our latest investments, which have demonstrated our commitment to furthering our green credentials and making sure our environmental footsteps are as light as possible.
“Sustainable building practices have formed a huge part of construction of these projects, such as the platinum lodges which have been built upon the principles of biophilic design to bring elements of the natural world into the modern designs.
“Guests are now set to benefit from these major milestones that have come to life, with the platinum lodges and highly anticipated Black Pool Mill restaurant now open for people to enjoy.”
The first platinum lodges opened to the public today, 26th May 2023, and bookings can be made via Bluestone’s website: https://www.bluestonewales.com/resort.
Breast cancer is more common than many realise – and with around 55,000 women and 370 men diagnosed each year, it’s almost certainly something that UK employers need to know about, because the way in which you support your team can make a massive difference to whether they attend the routine screenings that detect the disease early. A new initiative by Breast Cancer Survivor and multi-award winning HR Consultant Julie Grabham, founder and owner of JG HR, seeks to help employers deliver the workplace support needed to reduce breast cancer deaths – and asks them to sign the JG HR Pledge.
The importance of supporting employees to attend screening appointments
In November 2022, Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer. The diagnosis was discovered by a routine mammogram as part of the breast screening programme and Julie’s invasive tumour was removed in February 2023. Julie had no signs, symptoms, or reason to think she may have breast cancer and undoubtedly without attending this routine screening, Julie’s future would be very different.
Julie is not alone; breast cancer is picked up through routine breast screening for a number of women and it shows how vital this free screening service is.
Sadly, many women do not attend routine screening appointments – and one of the reasons for this is that employees will not ask or can’t afford to take time off from work to attend the screenings. Even if an employer says they will support an employee to attend routine breast screening, that message is not being heard in workplaces.
We need to change the message!
The JG HR Pledge
Through her business, JG HR Solutions Limited, Julie is hoping to get employers to sign up for free to The JG HR Pledge, with employers getting on board to help reduce the number of appointments missed for work reasons.
The JG HR Pledge will get employers to actively support employees to attend breast screening by:
Giving paid time off to attend routine breast screening appointments.
Talk about cancer in the workplace with the support of professionals, e.g. Macmillan, Breast Cancer Now, Maggies.
How to sign up
Any business in the UK can sign up to the JG HR Pledge – it is completely free and simple to sign up – just send Julie a message with the company logo. Employers will then receive a certificate to show they are part of the JG HR Pledge.
Julie advises employers to update their workplace polices to reflect the paid support for routine breast screening – and if you need help to do this, Julie will provide an update / new policy for any business that signs up to The JG HR Pledge, in exchange for a donation to any cancer charity.
Watch #HRFrommyshed for more details – and if you want to have a chat, support the campaign or sign up to the JG HR Pledge, please contact Julie via julie@jghrsolutions.co.uk
Let’s make a difference.
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