Vale Life Summer 2016

VALE L IFE SUMMER 2016

P R O U D

T he Vale

of

T O

B E

PRICELESS

I N D E P E N D E N T

G lamorgan ’s P remier L ifestyle M agazine

Fair Play

A PACKED FUN FILLED SUMMER EDITION FOOD, HAIR & BEAUTY, INTERIORS, WELLBEING & MORE

Restaurant Reviews What’s On, Business, Shopping

There’s more online www.valelife.co.uk

Art, Music, Style Health, Homes and much more plus

CALL 029 2066 7787

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.ALEXANDERBULLOCK.CO.UK

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Cardiff showroom

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Gripoly Mills Retail Park, Sloper Road, Cardiff. CF11 8AA

North Road, Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bridgend. CF31 3TP

Telephone: 02920 508774

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THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

VALE L IFE Editor Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts jennifer@goodlifepublishing.co.uk Creative Director Mark Roberts mark@goodlifepublishing.co.uk Editorial Thomas Goodyear editorial@goodlifepublishing.co.uk Features Lucy Atkinson lucy@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

www.valelife.co.uk 0845 180 2345 Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, Cardiff CF63 2AW Passionate about the Vale of Glamorgan We are a small independent publisher. We are not a large publishing group pretending to be home grown. Vale Life magazine is written, designed and printed in the Vale of Glamorgan for the people of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Our philosophy We are committed to quality. This quote by William Foster pretty much sums up our thinking: “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

Caveat emptor Advertisers supply their own copy or artwork, and therefore Vale Life cannot accept any responsibility for disputes between advertisers and their customers. Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware.

Important you read this We have made every effort to ensure that all information contained in Vale Life or on www.valelife.co.uk (or our social media streams) is correct and accurate. However, we accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions and can offer no compensation should we get it wrong. Please note that the opinions, thoughts, views or ideas expressed in articles contained in Vale Life are strictly those of the authors.

Intellectual property © Copyright Vale Life 2016. All rights reserved. Nothing in this magazine (including adverts) may be reproduced in any shape or form (in whole or part) without the express written permission of the publishers. We take breach of copyright and theft of intellectual property extremely seriously and will sue at the drop of a croissant. You have been warned (nicely); ignorance is no excuse.

Subscriptions To guarantee your copy, please send a cheque for £20 (four issues) made payable to Vale Life. Visit www.valelife.co.uk for special subscriber discounts and special offers.

Missed the last issue?

We hold a small number of each issue in stock so if you do need a pristine copy, please telephone us or email jennifer@valelife.co.uk. Hopefully we’ll have the issue you want (but we cannot guarantee it). Each back issue costs £5 including postage and packing.

WELCOME

So, a lot’s happened since our last issue.

We’re out of the EU, out of the Euro 2016 Championship (didn’t our boys do us proud in getting to the semi finals though!), and we have a new Prime Minister, wow!

There’s much to be positive about though. This gorgeous county of ours continues to surprise us. With its fabulous scenery, stunning coastline and lovely people, it never fails to take our breath away.

This was brought home to me recently when visiting the beautiful Porthkerry Park in Barry. We bumped into three beautiful, sassy, Afro Caribbean ladies from East London who had driven down for the day.

They were raving about the area, and Barry Island, and couldn’t contain their delight at being here. We chatted with them for quite a while and it made me think how much we take this beautiful county for granted, and how far people will travel to enjoy it.

Each issue we try to discover new, hidden gems for readers so if you have a favourite restaurant, café, boutique or business you love, we’d love you to share it with us.

people to join our team. If you think you could sell advertising space in this beautiful part of the country, please send your cv to Jennifer@goodlifepublishing.co.uk.

Have a gorgeous, fun-filled summer.

We’re expanding…

We’re a friendly, happy bunch here at Vale Life and we’re always looking for like-minded

Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts Editor 07766 106 701 jennifer@goodlifepublishing.co.uk uk.linkedin.com/in/jenniferhobbsroberts

Want to advertise?

Alan Lloyd Client Liaison Manager 07860 930 399 alan@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

Our cover stars We all enjoyed a day of fun at Coney Beach Fun Fair, with some of the Evans family. See pages 10 and 11 to find out more...

Yes it’s free. Priceless actually!

Vale Life is distributed free through a wide variety of outlets across Vale of Glamorgan and beyond and is given away free of charge on the understanding that we are happy for it to be lent, passed on, given to friends and generally read until it falls apart. At which point, you can recycle it and we’d be delighted if you did.

Green is good The pulp used in the production of the paper Vale Life is printed on is sourced from sustainably managed Scandinavian tree farms and utilises an elementary chlorine-free bleaching process.

We’re very sociable!

We’re on the web! www.valelife.co.uk Like on Facebook! www.facebook.com/valelife Follow on Twitter! @ValeLife #ValeLife

VALE LIFE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED US OVER RECENT MONTHS. OUR CONTRIBUTORS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS (INCLUDING ALL THE NEW ONES WE HAVE MADE) AND OUR ADVERTISERS - WITHOUT THEM VALE LIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE. WE HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT WE’VE PRODUCED AND WE’LL TRY TO MAKE EACH ISSUE EVEN BETTER THAN THE LAST AND IF YOU HAVE A STORY THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. VALE LIFE IS REGISTERED AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY AS A MAGAZINE ISSN 1757-1723. FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.VALELIFE.CO.UK

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Set to be the highlight of the social calendar, join The Premier Club’s rugby themed event of the year at the prestigious Vale Hotel, Hensol, for an exclusive social, dining and fund raising evening, plus a Q&A with a number of high profile rugby players. You’ll be able to relax and enjoy a wonderful culinary experience, hosted by Scrum V’s Sean Holley, with great entertainment from award-winning comedian Rod Woodward.

It all kicks off on Thursday 6th October 2016.

THE ODD For more information visit www.oddshapedball.co.uk

SHAPED BALL THE O D D ES T EVEN T O F THE Y EA R!

Thurs 6th October 2016 Enjoy a great evening out and help raise much needed funds for some deserving local charities.

WELCOME DRINKS Arrive at 6.30pm and you’ll be greeted with a welcome drink and the chance to soak up the atmosphere.

OUR MC

OUR COMMEDIAN

Sean Holley

Rod Woodward

Sean Holley is a TV Rugby Analyst for BBC Wales Scrum V in studio and outside broadcasts. Sean provides commentary and match analysis In-game and pre/post match. Sean Holley is also host of the ‘Rugby Nation’ weekly show for Town and Country Broadcasting. He also writes technical coaching articles for several publications. Sean was Head Coach for Ospreys Rugby for nine Seasons - over 250 Games.

Award-winning comedian Rod Woodward’s dream started when he took a year out from university to pursue his childhood ambition of becoming a professional comedian; following a job offer as a studio audience warm up man at HTV Wales.

Rod Woodward is in big demand on the corporate circuit and his exceptional delivery and material have attracted the praise of some of the business’ most respected names and critics.

DELICIOUS THREE COURSE MEAL You will be treated to a fabulous seasonal menu, with two bottles of complimentary wine (one white, one red, like the logo!).

E N J O YA B L E Q & A S E S S I O N We will bring together well-known faces and some prominent rugby players to answer questions from the floor.

G R E AT E N T E R TA I N M E N T Laugh the night away with awardwinning comedian, Rod Woodward.

How to book Tickets £100 per head £1,000 per table for businesses (to include a full page advert in InBusiness Magazine).

Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Places are limited and will sell quickly, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Tickets can be purchased by calling

029 2010 0698 7

The Vale of Glamorgan has so many great little gems and we’ve tried to share as many as we can with you in this issue. We only like to feature businesses, places, activities or events that we’ve either experienced ourselves or have been recommended to us. We’d love to hear from you too. Where do you shop? Where do you eat? What do you love about our gorgeous county? Please send your comments to jennifer@goodlifepublishing.co.uk

AROUND THE VALE

RHOOSE

Posh Pawz celebrates 4th Anniversary Posh Pawz Salon & Spa are all ready to pamper your pets this summer.

Owners Kathryn Phillips and Jo Greenough are all fully trained groomers and offer a full range of grooming services including warm baths, blow drys, clipping and styling. At every groom they will check and clip nails, pluck and clean ears and empty anal glands if needed.

Pop in and see their full range of toys, treats, coats and a variety of pet products. They’ll get a bandana after their treatment too!

Posh Pawz Salon & Spa 11 Fontygary Road, Rhoose CF62 3DR 01446 710044 poshpawzsalonandspa@gmail.com www.poshpawzsalonandspa.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

The salon is fully air conditioned and heated with an open and relaxed feel, all breeds are welcome and every client is given the time they deserve and treated like a VIP (Very Important Pooch).

VA L E W I D E

New room to say ‘I do’ at the Vale Resort The Vale Resort in Hensol, south Wales, has invested £75,000 in refurbishing one its most popular rooms for weddings as it gears up for a bumper year of nuptials.

The new-look conservatory has been upgraded with the installation of a solid ceiling, complete with sky lights, and floor-to-ceiling renaissance style mirrors, creating an open space filled with natural light. Situated at the rear of the four-star resort, the new orangery-style room overlooks one of the resort’s 18-hole golf courses with views on to a lake and woodland that sit within 650-acres of countryside.

The conservatory can be used for both wedding ceremonies and breakfasts, accommodating 120 guests for a ceremony and 70 for a reception.

The refurbishment of the conservatory is part of a £400,000 investment programme at the resort this year, 8

which will see upgrades to its conference and event suites, a facelift to the Vale Bar and the extension of the a la carte restaurant. www.vale-hotel.com

CURTAINS & BLINDS MADE TO MEASURE

J Taylor Soft Furnishings After twenty years in the Soft Furnishings Industry, Janice Page offers bespoke soft furnishings for your home made locally from her workroom in Ogmore by Sea. From interlined handsewn curtains and Roman Blinds to cushions and throws, Janice is happy to offer a free consultation for customers to view fabrics and discuss any ideas they may have.

As well as providing tracks/poles and offering a full fitting service, interior accessories and unique reupholstered furniture are also available from Janice at ‘Houses In Trees’ in Happy Days Vintage Homestore, Cowbridge.

SOUTH WALES

Inspirational interiors with an abundance of experience A South Wales based Interior Designer creating inspirational interiors for over 10 years. With areas of design split between residential and office design, a broad spectrum of creativity and knowledge has been collected along the way.

Always enjoying different styles of design from contemporary to art deco, to eclectic to retro, the smallest piece of inspiration can be taken to create your dream interior. Whatever the brief, project size or budget, the same approach and commitment is maintained throughout the design process.

01656 880350 or 07790 010866 jan@janicetaylor.co.uk www.janicetaylor.co.uk Like on Facebook

We feel that the key to a successful and enjoyable interior design experience is the close and friendly relationship made with the client. With this in place from the beginning an inspired interior is created.

RA Design Interiors offer a range of design services at affordable prices to suit today’s lifestyle. A free no obligation consultation is provided to give you peace of mind and a choice of direction to go forward.

07712556285 www.radesigninteriors.com Like on facebook

“Design services at affordable prices.”

F A M I LY R U N R E C Y C L I N G YA R D

Established in 1992 by the Theodore family, the reclamation yard on the outskirts of Bridgend has hundreds of items and ideas for your home, business, garden and DIY project.

We pride ourselves on offering excellent customer service and advice in our area.

The reclamation yard is run by Denis and Pat along with their sons Chad, Chay and Spike the dog! It has an extensive range of items such as floorboards, flagstones, UPVC windows and doors, internal doors, bricks,

fireplaces, beams and hearths, chimney pots, railway sleepers, roof slates/tiles and a very extensive range of garden items, ornaments and planters to name but a few! Whatever you’re after, we probably stock it! If you’re looking to buy or sell give Theodore Reclamation a call.

Theodore Sons & Daughers Reclamation Princes Way Off North Road Bridgend Industrial Estate Bridgend CF31 3AQ 01656 648936 9

theodorereclamaton@gmail.com www.theodorereclamation.co.uk Opening hours Mon - Fri 8.30am - 4.00pm Sat, Sun & Bank Holidays 8.30am - 12pm

Our cover features the celebrated Coney Beach Pleasure Park in Porthcawl. The park’s roots date back to the start of the 1900s when a few travelling showmen families decided to settle in Porthcawl. In 1918 two members of the Evans family, who were travelling at the time, decided to visit for a few weeks. The family have been here ever since- and aren’t we thankful for that!

A LL THE FUN OF

Pat, we know you’re a family run business - who works here with you?

Alongside myself (Managing Director) and my sister Eleanor (Director) we have three generations working here. All members of our family, and extended family, run their own rides and equipment here. We’re proud to be a family business, run for families to enjoy. We offer something a little more personal and very special. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 98 years, and we’re looking forward to celebrating our first century in two years’ time.

We know you work very closely with charities, and we’ve just heard you’re setting up your own. Can you tell us a about that?

Yes, we’re in the process of setting up the Coney Beach Charitable Fund to support good causes and local charities in the local area. We’re just waiting for our registration number and we’re recruiting volunteers to assist us so if any of your readers can spare some time to help us, please get in touch. Also we invite larger charities to use our facilities here at the funfair, and on the beach, for their own, much needed, fundraising events.

“We’re proud to be a family business, run for families to enjoy. We offer something a little more personal and very special. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 98 years.”

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And what events have you got coming up in the near future?

We’re currently running our Wednesday and Friday nights £1 value deal. This takes place from 5pm on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the summer season, when most of our thirty plus rides are just £1 each. And our supersaver tickets are available throughout the summer giving a saving of 25% (these aren’t available on our Wednesday and Friday £1 value deal nights.)

We have several character weekends planned this season - these are very popular with the kids who love to have their photos taken with the various characters. Then, coming up, we have our truck show which will be held on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September where all monies raised will go to the ‘Coney Beach charitable fund’.

THE FAIR

“We’re currently running our Wednesday and Friday nights £1 value deal. ”

Are you looking forward to the Elvis Festival?

Definitely. It’s become a world famous event. The ever popular Elvis Festival will be held on the last weekend in September. Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, when we’ll be celebrating the life and music of ‘The King’. And then we’ll hold our end of season special weekends on 30th September, 1st and 2nd of October, and 7th, 8th & 9th of October - all rides will be £1 on these dates.

You can keep up to date with all the fun of the fair on our Facebook page. Coney Beach Porthcawl; officially Wales’ biggest, longest running and most thumbs-upped amusement park!

Coney Beach Mackworth Road Porthcawl CF36 5BY 01656 788911

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Statistics show that 29% of men and women in the UK aged between 16 and 44 have a tattoo, and this figure is rising. While tattoos were once considered permanent it’s now possible to remove regretted body art with lasers. Jon Richardson, of independent clinic Rethink The Ink, recently appeared on the Channel 5 documentary Tattoo Disasters. We chat with Jon about his passion for the removal of regretted body ink…

R ETHINK THE INK

Congratulations on your appearance on Tattoo Disasters.

Thank you. That was a great opportunity for me - I was filmed removing an unwanted tattoo from a beauty queen which was very successful.

Do you provide any other services besides tattoo removal?

Yes, we also remove birthmarks, freckles, and any other pigmentation of the skin using the latest state of the art laser technology.

What motivated you to open Rethink The Ink? I had laser treatment myself six years ago and, at the time, there wasn’t much choice available - the procedures were expensive and I felt the quality of work was poor. I set up Rethink The Ink two years ago and haven’t looked back. We’re fully qualified and registered with the HIW (Healthcare Inspectorate Wales) so our clients can be confident they’re in safe hands.

How does the removal process work?

Lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colours of the tattoo with a high-intensity light beam.

Black tattoo pigment absorbs all laser wavelengths, making it the easiest to treat. Other colours can only be treated by selected lasers based upon the pigment colour.

“We stand by our price guarantee to beat any other clinics.”

What are the stages of the removal process?

Initially clients can email or message me a photo of the tattoo/birthmark/skin pigmentation to be removed, and we’ll provide them with a fixed cost for the work to be done.

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The number of treatments will vary depending on the size and colour of your tattoo; some are removed in two to four sessions, although some may take as many as ten sessions. We leave four to six weeks between each treatment to allow the ink to break down and the skin to heal. All of this will be discussed in a free consultation during which treatment plans are arranged and you will be advised of the process.

Treatment with the laser varies from patient to patient depending on the age, size, and type of tattoo. The colour of the patient’s skin, as well as the depth to which the tattoo pigment extends, will also affect the removal technique.

“ I use the very best state-of-the-art technology available.”

For Vale Life readers who want to have a new tattoo over an old one after it’s been lasered - is this possible?

Yes, we would fade the tattoo over two to three sessions, which will provide a good base to start a new tattoo.

What‘s the main reason your clients come to you, and what sets you apart from your competition?

In one word - passion.

We’re delighted to say that it’s our quality of work - a lot of our clients are recommended through word of mouth.

Also we stand by our price guarantee to beat any other clinics licenced by the HIW. The laser equipment I use the very best state-of-the-art technology available; and convenience is another factor, we work flexible hours. In fact, I often arrange to see clients in the evenings.

We’re in a perfect location, we’re friendly, and our after care service is second to none. We constantly strive to maintain our high standards of workmanship and focus on our clients client satisfaction is key.

Can you tell us a little known fact about yourself?

I recently won a modelling contract with a major international clothing company to model at their fashion shows. Move over David Gandy!

“ Lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colours of the tattoo with a high-intensity light beam.”

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Rethink The Ink The Precinct, Station Hill New Road, Porthcawl CF36 5DL 07816 495 799 www.rethinktheinkwales.co.uk

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LLANTWIT MAJOR

Nursery and garden centre with great service and friendly advice Established in 1993, Meadowvale Nursery and Garden Centre at Llantwit Major has developed over the years to become a provider of quality plants offering exceptional value. Much of the stock is grown onsite, so they can offer a wider variety of plants, many of which can’t be readily found elsewhere.

Catering to retail and trade, since 2008 they have operated as a garden centre and have established themselves as a supplier of quality garden plants and are regularly recommended by customers to friends and family.

“One of the Vale of Glamorgan’s real hidden gems.

Really knowledgeable team and you simply have to visit Brambles, a truly excellent tea room.”

Meadowvale Nursery and Garden Centre Cowbridge Road, Llantwit Major CF61 2YS Sat-nav coordinates 51°25’12.3 N 3°29’18.2 W 51.420073, -3.488387 Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

VA L E W I D E

Beautiful Belgian chrome retro fire for sale Don’t miss this opportunity to own a gorgeous, original, retro Belgian fire.

If you’re looking for a statement fire, this is certainly it. Extremely rare.

This fire is a multi-fuel so will burn coal and wood and also has three hot plates under the chrome lid which allows you to cook while your fire burns. It really pumps out the heat! Buyer collects - it’s pretty heavy!

Offers in the region of £1,500.

Contact 07766 106701

S H O T W I T H PA S S I O N

Tunde Katona Photography With a passion for photography that has blossomed since childhood, Tunde Katona took the leap of faith and focused her career on what she loves most.

By drawing her inspiration from the greats and from the beautiful surrounding scenery, Tunde Katona creates beautiful, stylised images that are perfect mementos for any special occasion. Tunde specialises in weddings and child photography.

07896 857287 www.tundekatonaphotography.com Find on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 14

We’ve all done it, dropped our smart phones, cracked a screen...

Don’t panic. Bridgend based iDropped It can have your sorry looking mobile or tablet looking like new and, even better, they’ll come to you.

IDROPPED IT Since first featuring in the Spring Edition of Vale Life Magazine iDropped it has now doubled in size!

The last few months has seen the welcome addition of a brand new van - used to bring iDropped It’s services such as mobile phone, tablet, iPad, and laptop repair to you - as well as the new team member Paul Charles. So when the unthinkable happens to your device let iDropped It pick up the pieces and restore your phone, tablet, or laptop to full working order.

Need more convincing?

Have a look at what some happy customers have to say.

“Thank you so much Jonathan Bridge very professional, awesome customer service & very decent priced! To be fair I was in doubt that you would be able to fix it at all! Totally recommend guys, he even gave me my old screen back so if it ever needed to go back to Apple he will put the screen back on so its still in

warranty! he even comes to your door & sits outside in his van to do the job!

He was done within 20 mins!”

Rhian G

“Fast and Friendly Customer Service, Had an iPad 2 with cracked screen and faulty home button, all repaired and good as new, wouldn’t hesitate to use their services again, Thanks!”

David T “Jonathan is such a friendly and helpful guy! The collect and deliver service is brilliant, he even came the same day, and nothing is too much to ask. Great value for the service. Will be using again!”

Sarah M “Really impressed with this company!

Jonathan comes to collect the phone/ iPad and either fixes it on the spot or will return once done.”

Melanie H

iDropped It Unit 15, South Cornelly Industrial Estate Bridgend CF33 4RE 0800 043 2744

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Housed in a gorgeous 17th Century, Grade II listed barn in the heart of The Vale of Glamorgan, Cobbles Kitchen & Deli has received rave reviews since opening at the end of last year. So, of course, we couldn’t resist stopping by for lunch - and to congratulate owner Chloe Francis.

COBBLES K ITCHEN & DELI

Chloe, what’s the background to Cobbles Kitchen?

It’s been a childhood dream of mine to open a tearoom. My Grandmother ran a little cafe at her farm in Monknash and I loved helping out when I was younger.

The opportunity to open Cobbles came about in May of last year at Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival. The manager of the Stone House in Ogmore (the home of Cobbles now), was talking about the idea of putting a cafe in one of the barns on site but had nobody to run it. I immediately jumped at the idea and without hesitation put my name down. I knew this was it.

Within a few weeks I was at the Council offices and noticed a banner advertising the Inspiring The Vale bursary scheme ‘Are you aged between 18-30 and looking to start a business in the Vale?’ I think it was fate. I went through the application process which included a Dragons Den style panel presentation and I was accepted and awarded a £3,000 grant to help set up the business.

We finally opened on December 5th 2015 after a lengthy planning and listed building application which allowed us to change the use of the 15th Century barn that is now Cobbles Kitchen.

What type of food do you serve here, and are you licensed?

The kitchen is fully licensed and we have an array of local craft beers, ales and ciders from artisan producers in the Vale, Pontypridd, Swansea and Monmouth, as well as wines, lagers and my favourite - gin.

The majority of our food is homemade, including our delicious cakes. We source our vegetarian options from the Parsnipship who are based in Ogmore Vale. We’ve become quite famous for our full Welsh breakfasts with local sausages from Newport, eggs from Heol y Cyw and our homemade leek hash browns. The coffee too is fair trade and roasted in Wales by the Welsh Coffee Company. We’re extremely proud to be able to support local and provide locally sourced food to our customers.

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We’ve heard of your Kitchen Invasion evenings, can you tell us about those?

To mix things up a bit, one evening a month we hold an event we call ‘The Kitchen Invasion’. We invite different chefs to Cobbles to cook up different cuisines. They’ve been an amazing hit so far with all events selling out in a few days. We’re always on the lookout for different chefs to take over the night and offer our customers a new dining experience to what’s available locally.

This is such a beautiful building - we can see how it works well for private functions.

Thank you, we’ve transformed our hayloft into a beautiful room for private functions. It’s perfect for any celebration including baby showers, small christenings, birthday and hen parties, and celebrations of life too.

We provide all the catering so you can enjoy your celebration with no hassle.

It’s also available to community groups to rent as well.

And do you hold your own events here?

Yes, we had a storytelling evening ‘Stories and Supper’ at the end of May which sold out so, hopefully, this can become a regular event. We also had a small family fun day to coincide with the opening of our deli on Sat 18th June, with local producers and suppliers of the deli.

What led to your decision to open a deli onsite?

When I initially opened Cobbles I planned on incorporating the deli there but it proved difficult due to the size. In January the Stone House ceased trading so I took on the rest of the barns, the smaller barn directly opposite Cobbles was a natural home for a Deli. We started work in March and opened on 18th June.

The Deli sells rustic, artisan and organic foods, fresh seasonal produce and deliciously indulgent sweet and savoury treats. You can stop by and grab a delicious snack for lunch and we’ll have a

meal deal on everyday so you can pick up something on your way home from work to take the hassle out of making dinner.

We will also be offering beach picnics and selling locally made ice cream.

“ We’ve transformed our hayloft into a beautiful room for private functions.”

We know you have your hands full with your new deli Chloe, but do you have any plans for the future?

Yes, we’re in the process of submitting a planning application to enable us to use the rest of the barns so that we can accommodate more customers indoors and so that we can share these beautiful, historic buildings with everyone.

We wish Chloe all the best and we’ll be popping back soon for some more delicious treats - we’re already looking forward to picking up her meal deal suppers, and enjoying some evenings off cooking as a result.

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Cobbles Kitchen and Deli Tymaen Farm Buildings Ogmore by Sea CF32 0QP 01656 661954 info@cobbleskitchen.co.uk www.cobbleskitchen.co.uk

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Almost two years have passed since Julian Trott opened The Florist, Penarth in the summer of 2014 and the business is going from strength to strength. The key to his success? Simple.

Hard work, determination, and making sure that every item he provides is more outstanding than the last.

FLOWER POWER

With the summer well and truly upon us it seems that everyone is taking advantage of the sun, and with these next few months being heralded as the ‘wedding season’, that means a busy time for businesses like The Florist.

With the sun in the sky for longer each day, Julian is travelling all over Wales even as far as the Cotswolds - to present his incredible flowers to lucky couples on their big day.

Of course, it is not only weddings that The Florist provide for, but also funerals, events, or just simple every day celebrations.

Whether it’s a happy or sad occasion, Julian will be there to offer his professional help and advice.

The Florist, Penarth has become more like a department store for flowers rather than a traditional florist you would normally find, with repeat customers choosing their own blooms to enhance their homes or selecting from the range of indoor and outdoor plants that go perfectly with The Florist’s selection of high quality vases and pots.

So if you are looking for inspiration, whether it be fresh flowers or plants to create the perfect garden, then drop by and enjoy a browse. We’re sure you’ll receive the very warmest of welcomes.

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The Florist 12 Royal Buildings, Stanwell Road Penarth CF6 43ED 029 2070 1275 0781 225 1208 www.thefloristpenarth.com Like on Facebook, follow on Instagram

THE BARBERS COWBRIDGE The Barbers Cowbridge is now celebrating its first year on the High Street here in Cowbridge. The team would like to thank all our Customers for their support during this time and welcome all new clients to the Barbers.

The Barbers offer a range of treatments from haircuts to full hot towel shaves all carried out by experienced barbers using traditional techniques. They stock a full range of Dear Barber products for all your hair and shaving requirements.

Discounted packages are available and they offer a wedding service to get you looking your best in preparation for the big day.

Call now to book your appointment.

The Barbers Cowbridge 16 High Street, Cowbridge CF71 7AG 01446 775 300 www.thebarberscowbridge.co.uk

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SCISSORS PONTYCLUN The team at Scissors Pontyclun have a wealth of knowledge and experience. We offer a wide range of Service’s and free consultations to discuss all your hair requirements.

Scissors are both a Morrocan Oil and L’Oréal Concept Salon carrying the full range of products and colour ranges - keeping your hair in great condition both in the salon and at home.

Olaplex treatments are also available as part of your colour service or as a standalone treatment putting your hair back into its natural state.

Scissors would also like to welcome their in-house beautician Keryn of The Beauty Rooms. Keryn offers a wide range of services from threading to OPI Nails and Dermalogica facials.

Book with Keryn in August and receive 10% off treatments (please quote Vale Life).

Scissors Pontyclun 53 Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EB 01443 238835 www.scissorspontyclun.co.uk

Call now to book your appointment.

M Scissors Pontyclun 19

029 2035 0118.

A

R

ODGERS My first book, The God Conclusion, N N E is available to buy at £10 including EALER postage and packing. It tells my story and has many testimonialsBased in the beautiful seaside town of Penarth in the Vale Glamorgan, I mostly work with local people in the Vale, from people I have worked with.Of Cardiff and across South Wales. My clients come from all

HEALER

H

Anne Rodgers Based in the beautiful seaside town of Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan, I mostly work with local people in the Vale, Cardiff and across South Wales.

walks of life. I work with men, women and children

I never work with children without a parent being If you would like a copy, please although present. For more information, please visit send a cheque for £10 made outwww.annerodgershealer.co.uk If you’d like to book a consultation, please call me on to GLPP Ltd. to: 029 2035 0118.

Good Life Publishing My first book, The God Conclusion, Cardiff House is available to buy at £10 including postage and packing. It tells my Cardiff Road, Barry story and has many testimonials Vale Of Glamorgan CF63 2AW from people I have worked with.

My clients come from all walks of life.

I work with men, women and children although I never work with children without a parent being present. For more information, please visit www.annerodgershealer.co.uk If you’d like to book a consultation, please call me on 029 2035 0118.

My first book, The God Conclusion, is available to buy at £12 including postage and packing. It tells my story and has many testimonials from people I have worked with.

If you would like a copy, please If you wouldfor like copy,out please send a cheque send a cheque £10a made to Ltd. to: payable to Anne Rodgers to: forGLPP £12 made Good Life Publishing Good Life Publishing Cardiff House Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, Barry Cardiff Road, Barry Vale Of Of Glamorgan CF63 2AW Vale Glamorgan CF63 2AW

AFTERNOON TEAS

The Fountain Inn Afternoon tea, usually enjoyed after Elevenses and Luncheon but before Dinner, is a centuries old tradition that is still popular to this day.

FREE

FREE FAMILY FU N FAMILY FU on the Quayside check N website for details on the Quaysid e check website for de tails

e, e msahkaereti m ti m

e, e msahkaereti m ti m

At The Fountain Inn you can indulge in this elegant tradition to your hearts content with their light and satisfying platter of finger sandwiches, a selection of cakes and choice of Welsh classics - including bara brith and scones - that are bound to make your mouth water.

this su mmertime

The Fountain Inn Mermaid Quay,the very heart of the Park Road, Aberkenfig CF32 0EW waterfront.

01656 856173 Right on the water’s edge. Eating, drinking, shopping, pampering andwww.thefountaininnaberkenfig.co.uk relaxing – all overlooking Cardiff Bay. www.just-hoglicious.com Like on Facebook There’s something for everyone.

And who could forget the most vital ingredient, tea of course. So select The Fountain Inn’s Welsh Afternoon Tea and add a touch of class to your day.

this su mmertime www.mermaidquay.co.uk

I N D E P E N D E N T V I LMermaid L A G E S T O R EQuay, S the

very heart of the

waterfront.

Pipelle, new to Rhoose!

This brand new, family owned Right on the water’s greengrocer and village stores shopping, already has a growing following.pampering

edge. Eating, drinking, and relaxing – all overlooking Cardiff Bay.

Selling an excellent range of fresh fruit for everyone. and vegetables, PipelleThere’s also offerssomething a range of chilled foods and everyday staples, so you’ll neverwww.mermaidquay.co.uk need to worry about running out.

Adding to the ‘old school charm’ are the numerous glass jars of classic sweets and candies, making this great shop a firm favourite with all ages - especially those of you with a sweet tooth.

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Conveniently, the Rhoose Post Office is also within Pipelle so while you’re posting, have a browse - Pipelle certainly has our stamp of approval!

55a Fontygary Road, Rhoose CF62 3DT 01446 719243 Like on Facebook Pipelle Old Village Stores and Post Office 20

50

Cowbridge Music Festival takes another step forward in bringing the best of live classical music and jazz to a wider audience with the launch of some exciting new ventures this September.

COWBRIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Leonard Elschenbroich, photo by Felix Broede

Ellen Williams

Among the concerts, which as usual feature international as well as local stars, are a concert especially for the family, colourful street performances and appearances by two big names of the jazz scene.

The Family Concert promises to be a fun packed afternoon for children of all ages. They will be taken on a whirlwind musical world tour by two top percussionists, Patrick King and Owen Gunnell, both well known for their highly entertaining and inspirational work with children. Expect to hear effervescent rhythms and much laughter.

The middle weekend sees Cowbridge High Street come alive with musicians of every kind, from classical to one of the UK’s most exciting jazz guitarists, Remi Harris. And with his amazing virtuosity and unique blend of gypsy swing, blues, rock ‘n’ roll and hip hop, he is bound to be a sell-out when he appears on Sunday evening with his trio at the Duke of Wellington.

Claire Martin, photo by Kenny McCracken

The festival is also thrilled to be hosting another star of the jazz scene, the incomparable Claire Martin. In the company of top London jazz musicians, she will bring back the golden age of Hollywood with elegant, swinging songs inspired by the legendary recordings of Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day and Sarah Vaughan.“Our finest jazz singer,” says The Times.

of the UK’s finest string quartets, the Doric Quartet. The festival runs from 17 September to 1 October.

In a more classical vein, the festival proudly presents Cowbridge’s very own soprano, Ellen Williams. Since releasing her debut EP ‘Skylark’ in 2014, Ellen has shot to fame with appearances alongside Rhydian and with the BBC NOW on the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular UK tour. She shares this year’s Young Artists’ Recital with another musican making a name for herself, Swansea harpist Gwenllian Llŷr.

Remi Harris, photo by DMA Photography

Also appearing are Stile Antico, the world-famous vocal group, the Nidum Ensemble, Trio Anima, cellist Leonard Elschenbroich (playing all the Beethoven cello sonatas) and one 21

Cowbridge Music Festival More information on www.cowbridgemusicfestival.co.uk

Family run Shed Centre Wales leads the way in sheds and summerhouses – and with their wide ranges of products to enhance your garden, and home, coupled with their friendly, personal service it’s easy to see why. We caught up with Amy Morris to find out what’s new at the thriving business…

SHEDUCATED!

Amy, what’s new since we saw you last summer?

We’re thrilled to welcome Griffiths Flooring to our site - they supply and fit everything from carpets, vinyls and laminate wood to artificial grass - with a wide range of products to select from.

Their team offers an ‘in home service’ where they will come to you with samples, measure up, and supply a free no obligation quote. And their friendly sales team will happily help with any queries you may have - from the initial enquiry right up to following completion; their after sales care is all important. To sum up; they go that extra mile for their customers, as we do with ours.

“We have a fabulous team here who work seven days a week delivering and fitting our products.”

Obviously with them being artificial grass specialists this is a great fit for us, and we’ve had a lot of interest from people looking to re-vamp their gardens. We offer a complete garden makeover service as you know, and an artificial lawn is a great way to transform a boggy lawn, or to turn an unused garden into an area that’s fully useable for 365 days of the year.

Also, Hot Tub Party Hire Wales joined us in March, these are another great way to enjoy your garden - they supply portable hot tubs which are ideal for summer parties and get-togethers with family and friends.

Our own professional in-house fitting team are super busy too - this year we’ve seen an increase in customers having their sheds, summer houses, log cabins etc. built by our team on delivery.

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We have a fabulous team here who work seven days a week delivering and fitting our products; with life becoming busier our customers say how lovely it is to pick their product from the huge range we have here, and then to enjoy it a short time later after it’s been delivered and made up for them. Just add Pimms and relax!

That’s a great point about life becoming more hectic.

Yes, so many of our customers are hardworking and finding life hectic, and that they appreciate being able to come up here and support so many local businesses on one site.

They can pick up everything from local produce at our farm shop, to gifts and treats, and of course everything for your garden including a total re-design if required. We provide a diverse package on one site.

Summer house from Sheds Centre Wales and artificial grass by Griffiths Flooring.

We’re very fortunate to have such a great team up here; many have been with us for years. Our customers love that they see the same faces when they’re shopping here, and we’d also like to thank our customers for all the recommendations we receive.

Word of mouth and repeat business is crucial to independent businesses.

Is there anything else new you’d like to let readers know about?

Yes, we now stock quality fencing panels all year round so you can increase your privacy, and help protect your home, twelve months of the year. We’re extremely competitive on pricing and we’ve found that we’re the cheapest on some panels by £6 each - which is a great saving whether you need to replace one panel or you’re re-fencing your whole garden. We also stock concrete posts and gravel boards to support your new fencing and help it keep going for years oh and we supply to the trade now too.

“Our own professional in-house fitting team are super busy too.”

We have even more solid treated garden buildings in stock ranging from sheds starting from just £260, potting sheds, summer houses, and even double glazed log cabins.

We love that everything’s on show up here, it’s fantastic to see all their products on site - and not having to cross your fingers that your shed/ summerhouse looks something like a photo you’ve seen! So if you’re looking for a relaxed, personal shopping experience with great service we can recommend a trip to Shed Centre Wales - and now they’ve extended their opening hours to include Sundays you can enjoy all they have to offer seven days a week.

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Opening Hours Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm Saturday: 9am - 4pm, Sunday: 10am - 2pm Shed Centre Wales Mount Pleasant Farm Farm Road, Cefn Cribwr Bridgend CF32 0HA 01656 720206 www.shedcentrewales.co.uk Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

WALESWIDE

Heart screening programme for young people in Wales A leading heart charity in Wales has secured the future of heart screening for young people through-out Wales thanks to a new partnership with a cardiac diagnostic team based at Swansea University.

Welsh Hearts Cymru, the charity which provides the public access defibrillators and CPR training across Wales, has partnered with Cardiac Health Diagnostics to launch the new programme which is open to young people aged between 12 -35.

The Screening Young Welsh Hearts Service aims to raise awareness of undiagnosed heart conditions in children and young people by providing easily accessible screening services to communities in Wales.

suddenly from a previously undetected heart problem. The new initiative will screen around 150 young people per session at college or school locations through-out Wales using non-invasive ECG or echocardiogram tests.

Ian Gough, former Wales and Ospreys international rugby star and Patron of Welsh Hearts Cymru, is also putting his weight behind the initiative to help raise awareness amongst young people.

According to the charity each week in the UK around 12 young people die

The screening programme is directed

by Professor Michael Lewis, Professor of Cardiovascular Diagnostic Technology at Swansea University and Director at Cardiac Health Diagnostics. For more Hearts Screening dates and locations visit: www.welshhearts.org/screenings

In partnership with

www.chd.clinic

Registered charity number 1154109

HEART SCREENING WALES Hundreds die each year from an undiagnosed heart condition. Don’t take the chance!

Book a heart screening today for ages 12-35 at welshhearts.org/screenings

se Plea to e t dona more fund ning e scre

Go to welshhearts.org/screenings Email screenings@welshhearts.org WelshHearts 029 2064 7735 24

PREMIERCLUB CARDIFF

Welcome to Premier Club, a unique social, business and dining experience at some of the finest venues in Wales.

Our lifestyle team would like to introduce you to beautiful hotels and restaurants, exclusive product launches, unique business introductions and social events.

Premier Club creates the perfect environment in which to socialise and meet like-minded people.

PREMIERCLUB SOCIAL

l

BUSINESS

l

DINING

For membership opportunities please contact Julian Rees on 029 2010 0698 Celtic House Caxton Place Cardiff CF23 8HA www.premierclub.biz hello@premierclub.biz

In the world of business, change is happening at such a pace that business owners may be tempted to look for guidance from the stars! However, if you really want to see what’s in the future, instead of star gazing, just look a little closer to home - to the Cloud. Janet Ballard of Lewis Ballard Accountants is a big fan.

A HEAD IN THE CLOUD Cloud accounting has been gaining fans for several years, which isn’t surprising as it really fits seamlessly into our growing need for instant and accessible information. We now remotely access our emails, social media and bank accounts throughout the day, so doesn’t it make sense to also access up to date information on our business performance as and when we need it too?

So what is Cloud Accounting and why all the fuss?

The Cloud is a secure platform that makes data and software accessible online anytime, anywhere, from any device. Your hard drive is no longer the central hub and, unlike traditional accounting software, you are not tied to a single office or desk. For a simple example of Cloud technology, just think about when you use internet banking.

Every time you access this data, you’re using the Cloud.

As with everything new it’s natural to be cautious, but it’s one of the most secure ways to store information as no data exists locally - it’s all online, protected by powerful encryption. You don’t risk a lost laptop or memory stick messing up your plans or putting your confidential information in jeopardy, instead it’s safe, secure and available as and when you need it.

At Lewis Ballard Accountants, we passionately believe Cloud Accounting is the future for any business aiming to grow and prosper. So, as well as training our team on most Cloud Accounting systems, we have teamed up with market leader XERO to become Gold members, giving our clients access to not only what we consider the best software available, but also the best advice and support.

How does this help businesses?

Well if you want your business to work smarter and faster, Cloud Accounting is the way to go. It will give you a better overview of your finances and, more importantly, the information you need to make those timely decisions that keep you ahead of your competitors.

You no longer need to rush back to the office for important information, instead you access it by laptop, tablet or smartphone anywhere. And why stop there? You’ll soon find yourself raising invoices and chasing payment whilst grabbing a coffee!

No need to spend hours typing in bank transactions, instead they automatically upload through a secure bank feed and why not upload your receipts as you shop too?

“The Cloud is a secure platform that makes data and software accessible online anytime.”

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“At Lewis Ballard Accountants, we passionately believe Cloud Accounting is the future for any business aiming to grow and prosper.”

“The future isn’t in the stars… it’s in the Cloud!”

You won’t have to visit your accountant’s office when considering borrowing money or an expensive purchase, only to wait anxiously for weeks while they work through your papers to give you answers. Instead you can both log in simultaneously and talk through your figures in real-time. Even from opposite sides of the world!

Once you use it you will soon see having your head in The Cloud is for serious business and not just day dreamers.

You accountant can regularly review your figures to eliminate bookkeeping problems and identify trends, so you can react swiftly to any downturns or pounce as opportunities arise. Or even to give you a simple pat on the back for doing so well.

Lewis Ballard Celtic House, Caxton Place, Pentwyn Cardiff CF23 8HA 029 2073 5502 info@lewisballard.co.uk www.lewisballard.co.uk

One final consideration…

With the looming HMRC digital regime in 2018, you will have to submit digital accounts and tax information quarterly and pay any tax each time.

Your accountant can log in, make expert adjustments and ensure you avoid costly errors, saving you unnecessary tax.

Follow on Twitter and Google+ 27

Hopkins Law specialise in child law, understanding the sensitivity and expertise required when dealing with the interests of children. Their experience of acting for parents and children in difficult disputes allows them an intimate understanding of how to work towards the best interests of the child.

Kerry Mordey, Director and Head of the Family Department tells us more.

PUTTING THE CHILDREN FIRST We will provide you with expert legal advice to help you establish financial, lifestyle and contact arrangements. Acting with sensitivity and discretion, our solicitors can often bring matters to a successful conclusion without the need to go before a court.

Initially there is often difficulty between the parents, with disagreements on where the child should live. However, we try to encourage parents to focus on the practical aspects. Gradually parents come to accept that they, as well as the children, benefit from having a routine and framework to adhere to. If a child’s parents cannot agree on the specific terms of residence, or how often the parents should see the child, then an application can be made to the court for a Child Arrangements Order.

We can help explain this and work with you to protect your rights.

Many different factors are taken into consideration by the court when making decisions. The principle consideration is the welfare of the child. The court will look to what effect any change in circumstances may have, together with the child’s wishes, depending on his or her age, understanding, educational and physical needs.

Child Abduction When a relationship breaks down it can be very difficult to decide where children should live after the separation - this becomes more problematic when the two parents live in different countries.

However, any parent who simply takes a child to a different country without consent is committing a criminal offence.We know how traumatic such an event can be and we will act immediately to return your child to you through the appropriate legal channels.

If you are thinking about divorce and are concerned about the interests of your children, then please telephone our offices today to make an appointment with people who know the law inside out and who care about results for you and your children.

Kerry Mordey Heading the Family Law side of the business is Kerry Mordey who has built up an enviable reputation in complex divorce cases and all aspects of children’s law.

She’s a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel with particular expertise in representing children as well as parents in care proceedings and international child abduction matters.

“We are friendly and approachable.”

Kerry also sits as a member of the Cardiff and District Law Society Family Law committee.

Kerry’s partner and fellow Director Liane Farthing, is responsible for the Property, Conveyancing and Private Client part of the Firm.

Whilst maintaining a professional outlook, we are friendly and approachable, with very much a “hands on” approach. We will help you make informed decisions, based on your personal circumstances and offer the best possible advice and solutions, whatever the issue may be.

We specialise in Family Law, Property work both Commercial and Residential, Equity Release, and Private Client which includes Wills, Probate and Powers of Attorney.

Working with Kerry are...

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Sally Fitzherbert

Sally is a Fellow of the

Chartered Institute of

Legal Executives and

has experience of all

areas of family law having worked in and around the Cardiff area for over 20 years. She trained in one of the largest firms in Wales and deals with urgent children’s matters, injunctions and financial cases for both male and female clients often in very difficult situations or who have been subjected to domestic violence.

Kate Hawkins

Kate qualified in 2005

and is a full member

of The Law Society’s

Children Panel. She

specialises in all aspects of children law including social services involvement, private disputes, adoption, Special Guardianship and cases with an international element. She has extensive knowledge of acting for children, as well as working with parents and grandparents. Kate is a fluent French speaker.

Sion Gwilym

Since qualifying in 2002,

Siôn has worked

exclusively in the field

of family law. Over

the years however his practice has developed and he now deals exclusively with cases involving children. These vary from private disputes between parents, international relocation, cases involving social services, adoption and surrogacy. He has been a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 2007. He is a fluent Welsh speaker and is more than happy to accept instructions through the medium of Welsh.

Tom Allen

Tom Allen joined the

firm in January 2010 as

an Associate. Tom

qualified in 2001 and

deals with all aspects of family work with a particular emphasis on divorce and financial matters.

“We will provide you with expert legal advice.”

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Lesley O’Donnell Lesley joined the firm in April 2016 as a consultant solicitor specialising in public law children matters, acting for children through their guardians across South Wales. She has been a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 1998 and has rights of audience in civil matters in the Higher Courts of England and Wales.

Hopkins Law 50-50A High Street Cowbridge CF71 7AH 01446 774 151 cowbridge@hopkinslawltd.com www.hopkinslawltd.com

Life can be stressful. We are all searching for the elusive work-life balance.

One of the best remedies for achieving your goal is a relaxing weekend break. Preferably somewhere there are no phones, no lap tops, no outside interferences. Court Colman Manor in Bridgend has recently had a major refurbishment so a little rest and relaxation was in order to see the results.

COURT COLMAN M ANOR Location, location, location Court Colman Manor is a Georgian, Grade II listed building and is situated just outside of Bridgend, south Wales and nestled at the foot of the Garw Valley. It’s only a few minutes’ drive from the M4, and is easily reached by road or rail. It’s close proximity to the capital cities of Cardiff and Swansea make it the ideal location for a city shopping break or tranquil getaway.

Steeped in history…

Court Colman Manor, originally belonged to Margam Abbey until the dissolution, before becoming a private residence, passing through several hands until, in 1981, when it became a hotel. In 1999, the late Vijay Bhagotra bought his dream hotel. Having worked his whole life in the hospitality trade, he felt the time was right to bring this then neglected building back to its former glory, in his own inimitable style. Today his wife and son, Sanjeev, and their team carry his dream forwards.

What does the Manor offer?

We can see why the Manor is best known for being a wedding venue. With its Versailles ballroom, oak panelled Llewellyn room, six aces of landscaped gardens with terraced lawns, a Victorian rose walk, ornamental fishpond and even its own waterfall!

What about the bedrooms?

Court Colman Manor has a mere 30 bedrooms, six of which have themes inspired by faraway lands and each offering designer bathrooms and Jacuzzi baths for ultimate relaxation.

The Honeymoon Suite has recently undergone a major transformation.

It has been opulently decorated with one-off, custom-made furniture and a gloriously comfortable bed. The adjoining en-suite shower room has double showers and his and hers sinks.

“The food is authentic and flavoursome!”

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Our stay in the honeymoon suite certainly lived up to our expectations.

Gorgeously decorated, with a seriously comfortable, huge bed that you instantly fall asleep in. The sunken bath with its soothing massage jets was big enough for two (or three!) and the shower was also big enough for two.

The views across the open countryside went on for miles - hard to believe Bridgend is just minutes away.

What about the food?

Owner Sanjeev’s great love is his multi award-winning Bokhara Brasserie. The Bokhara is a three time winner of the best Indian restaurant in Wales at the British Curry Awards as well as being awarded an AA Rosette for the last four years. We arrived quite late (again work commitments!) but after settling in, we headed for the Bokhara for our evening meal. The staff were genuinely welcoming, the food authentic and flavoursome. It certainly lived up to its many awards.

Non-residents are welcomed at the Bokhara so definitely worth booking ahead. The breakfasts were just what you hoped a good breakfast would be - hot, plentiful and tasty with good quality bacon and sausages.

What made our stay at Court Colman Manor special?

Big hotels are great if you want to get lost in a crowd but the rewards you get when you stay in a reasonably sized (and reasonably priced), independent hotel is usually down to its staff. The staff at Court Colman Manor made us comfortable and relaxed as soon as we walked through the door. From the reception (Sanjeev was actually there to greet us and show us around), to the excellent staff at the Bokhara restaurant. Nothing was too much trouble. It was obvious that they loved working there and their love for the hotel, its owner and their offering shone through and made our stay extremely enjoyable.

Court Colman Manor Pen-y-Fai, Bridgend CF31 4NG 01656 720212 experience@court-colman-manor.com www.court-colman-manor.com Like us Facebook, follow on Twitter, YouTube, TripAdvisor, Google+ Images courtesy of Lloyd Williams Photography and Mark Colbourne 31

If you are thinking about separating or a divorce, you will need a solicitor.

One that is qualified to advise you about your legal situation, together with advice about your finances and children. Melanie Lazarus Solicitors answers a few of your questions on how to find the right solicitor for you.

MELANIE L AZARUS THE FAMILY L AW SPECIALISTS How do I know I am choosing the right solicitor? n Personal recommendation is always the best n Preferably a firm specialising purely in family law n Look for a solicitor who has many years of experience. For example, myself and Madeline have over 20 years each n As a minimum, your solicitor should be a member of the Law Society Family Law Panel and a member of Resolution. Members follow a Code of Practice that promotes a non-confrontational approach to family problems. Members encourage solutions that consider the needs of the whole family - and in particular the best interests of children.

How do I fund the first appointment?

Be cautious of free consultations as little advice can be given in a twenty to thirty minute free session. We offer a fixed fee appointment for up to one hour during which we take down all your details, provide comprehensive advice and discuss an action plan on the way forward.

What do I need to do in readiness for the first appointment?

We advise to collate as much financial documentation as possible to include evidence of your income, outgoings, assets and liabilities to include the transfer values of all pension provisions.

It will assist your solicitor in advising you during that first session.

Once the nature of your relationship has changed with your ex-partner, you are not allowed to access his/her personal information which is classed as confidential and will not be able to hand over such documents to your solicitor.

Photo taken at Cae Court, Bridgend

I’ve heard about mediation, what does this entail?

Mediation is a constructive and costeffective way of resolving disputes.

For example, in relation to children and finances.

We carefully choose and refer clients to a highly experienced mediator who will also be a solicitor who will assist the parties in reaching an agreement.

However, a mediator cannot give advice, and a client will need advice alongside the mediation process from his or her solicitor. Attending mediation is now a requirement before a client can make an application to the Court in relation to children or financial matters.

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What sort of level of costs can I expect to incur?

Public funding is only now available in very limited cases. Generally speaking, clients are charged at an hourly rate and following a first appointment are sent a lengthy client care letter providing cost estimates in relation to the case to allow a client to budget monthly in relation to ongoing legal costs.

Melanie Lazarus & Co 38 - 40 Nolton Street Bridgend CF31 3BN 01656 750888 www.mlsolicitors.com

Barry based Crystal IT is growing fast. Why? Cyber crime is growing fast too and companies like Crystal IT are at the cutting edge of protection, helping Welsh companies stay ahead of the criminals. Vale Life asks some searching questions…

CLEAR A S CRYSTAL Please tell us about Crystal IT… We are Crystal IT Services a company based in Barry, South wales. Set up by Chris Benson an ex-military data and network security specialist in 2003 along with his now retired father-inlaw. The company have grown from two members of staff to eight and are in continual growth as the IT and cyber security market grows.

Our typical work includes: n Managed IT support n Consultancy n Network design n Cyber security What type of clients do you look after?

We work with a wide range of businesses and provide varying levels of support, from managed full IT support to as and when! Ranging from ten computers up to fifty plus, there is very little our combined sixty years of IT experience hasn’t seen.

Our background in military data security, along with the Cyber Essentials accreditation, means we are accredited specialists in rapidly growing and important industry within the UK and Worldwide. Our engineers have vast knowledge of business IT and managed support, allowing us to provide vast knowledge to businesses looking for IT support.

We are accredited through Cyber Essentials, which is a government schemed aimed at helping UK businesses to be more cyber secure and protect their customer data.

It follows a five step method, which research shows, if followed can be extremely effective in securing your business from breaches.

It is a government requirement for anyone within their supply chain, and anyone dealing with Tendering across the UK.

“We work with a wide range of businesses and provide varying levels of support.”

FULL IT SUPPORT

What Crystal IT offers...

What can you offer potential new customers?

We offer a free initial no obligation consultation to new customers, this allows us to get to know them and there systems, and we can show our worth by putting across out expertise and provide you with our honest opinion, good or bad, no hidden agendas, even if our service is or is not required!

Consultancy and audits can be provided by us as a second opinion for business with existing IT suppliers.

Managed support is a continuous support throughout the year, you have an issue, we are there to solve it, we are your IT insurance policy!

Day to day…

Day to day work in Crystal typically involves logging on to customer servers to make sure all is running smoothly, addressing any issues we notice, looking at change logs an d mainly monitor servers and network usage Any tickets or trouble shooting issues raised are addressed amongst our engineers depending on the severity of the issue.

Communicating with customers gaining feedback on systems and how we can improve their service or network.

Manage any existing IT requests, but most importantly provide a second to none standard of managed service, which is efficient and professional at all times.

Want to add a new user?

We add them.

Need to remove a user?

We remove them.

Got a virus in your network?

We clear it up and protect you further.

Want to secure customer data?

We can ensure, back-ups are in and up to date, secure and provide restricted access to that data, provide encryption services and importantly secure your network.

Need a network designed?

Get in touch!

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Crystal IT Services The Business Centre Cardiff House, Cardiff Road Barry CF63 2AW 01446 731 231 dominic@crystal-it.co.uk www.crystal-it.co.uk IT SO L U TIO NS

IT SERV ICES

CYBER SECU RITY

CRYSTAL IT SERVICES

IT PROTECTIO N

IT SERV ICES

DATA SU RITY

CRYSTAL IT SERVICES

CY BE R S E CU RI T Y

M @CrystalIT1 CY BE R S E CU RI T Y

With its enviable position and commanding views overlooking the Bristol Channel, Holm House, on Penarth’s Marine Parade, continues to be the hotel at which to be seen. With its stunningly designed restaurant, which opens out onto an equally beautiful terrace, this gorgeous boutique bolthole epitomises summer dining.

HOLM HOUSE

We chat to General Manager Gianni D’Aniello about why Holm House is so special at any time of year but especially summer.

What will be on the Holm House summer menu?

We will be focussing on the wealth of great ingredients available in our locality.

Fish and shellfish will form a major part of our offering as well as locally sourced meats. Our menu is tweaked regularly to ensure we are using the best ingredients available each day.

What seasonal produce is chef using?

Seasonal produce will obviously depend upon the season. However, one of the most exciting things is that our kitchen garden is now starting to come into fruition and we have a number of dishes that are starting to use seasonal items grown right here at Holm House.

What is chef ’s favourite dish of the season?

Local Lamb Rump, Braised Belly, Hummus, Yoghurt and CF64 Mint is chef ’s current favourite.

Why do you think customers love Holm House during the summer months?

Holm House is a great venue to visit at any time of the year, but especially so during summer. Sitting in the beautifully appointed garden sipping Champagne and feeling the gentle sea breeze blow away all your worries while watching the chefs lovingly tend the vegetable garden, harvesting ingredients for the days service. With an impressive selection of wines, cocktails, snacks and beautifully created fine dining dishes, why would you want to be anywhere else!

Is Holm House open to non-residents for a drink and enjoy the garden?

Yes, non-residents can enjoy the restaurant, garden, bar and lounge for lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, bar snacks and drinks at any time of the day or evening.

Describe your cocktails. Does Holm House have a signature cocktail?

Holm House has an impressive cocktail menu. We have a standard base of twelve gorgeous cocktails and our team of mixologists create seasonal cocktails to make use of the freshest and most delicious ingredients available. If you can’t find anything you like on our selection, we have a bank of cocktails up our sleeve to entertain and delight your palate! Our most popular cocktail?

Definitely the Espresso Martini!

“ Holm House is great venue to visit at any time of the year.”

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Your afternoon teas are extremely popular? Why do you think this is?

Our afternoon tea is going from strength to strength. Our new kitchen team are creating stunning patisserie that has added a real wow factor to the offering. Enjoy this whilst taking in the stunning views from the restaurant or sit in the garden and appreciate that life really is quite good!

Seasonal afternoon teas will soon become available as an added extra option; strawberry afternoon tea, chocolate afternoon tea‌ need we say more!

What is next?

We are working hard to achieve accolades for our superb food offering and hotel, and working tirelessly to attend to the small details of the hotel and restaurant to ensure that our customers get the very best experience when visiting Holm House.

Holm House Hotel Marine Parade, Penarth CF64 3BG

How are your new kitchen brigade settling in?

Nathan and his team are all settling in well and are very excited about Cardiff discovering their unique style of cooking. Menus are being updated regularly as Nathan finds the best the locality has to offer and incorporates these ingredients into his dishes.

HOTEL 02920 706 029 reception@holmhousehotel.co.uk www.holmhousehotel.com SPA 02920 713 502 spa@holmhousehotel.co.uk 35

Russell Scott-Lawson, Owner, Hawkes

STYLE

Whatever your feelings on the EU election, one thing we can all agree on, great style is always in.

Hawkes’ customers read like a who’s who of Welsh business and sport.

Owner Russell Scott-Lawson has built an enviable reputation for great service and nothing is too much trouble for his discerning customers.

“We look after people,” says Russell.

“I have people who’ve been shopping here for twenty years and we have new customers discovering us all the time.

I love what I do. We have a good team here and the only thing that matters is quality of service.”

Russell has a keen eye for style and it’s this talent for dressing gentlemen well that keeps customers coming back. Nothing is too much trouble and whether you’re buying a tie or a suit, you’ll be treated the same. I’m always amazed when he tells me what size waist I am even without measuring me.

Whatever the future holds for Wales and the UK outside Europe, we’ll need to look good if we’re to make our mark in the world and, one thing’s for certain, great style will be at the heart of it.

Hawkes 37-39 Morgan Arcade Cardiff CF10 1BS 029 2037 3780 www.hawkesessentials.com Like on Facebook 36

PERSONIFIED

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The Football Association of Wales has signed a new two year deal with local family-owned, Cardiff based gentleman’s shoe store, The Brogue Trader, which will keep international football stars in step with fashion on occasions which require them to wear formal attire.

Chris Macnamara and Chis Coleman

BEST FOOT FORWARD © 2016 David Rawcliffe/Propaganda. All Rights Reserved.

The Brogue Trader are supplying the very best quality shoes to the Welsh national football squad to ensure the players look their very best on formal occasions for the next two years.

In European cup year, when the players will be required to attend many functions at different tournament venues and often travel in their ‘number ones’, it is particularly important that they look and feel the part. The Brogue Trader have offered a personal fitting service and have supplied hand-made British leather Loake shoes to every member of the squad and will continue to do so until 2018.

“We are a small family run business based locally here in Morgan Arcade, Ashley Williams and Chris Macnamara

Cardiff and have been supplying formal shoes to the Welsh national rugby squad since 2014, but have nationwide ambitions and this new deal with the FAW is a perfect launch pad for us to raise our profile even further and to a different audience,” enthused The Brogue Trader’s Managing Director, Chris Macnamara.

Chris thinks part of the success of the Welsh national squad is down to his aptly nicknamed ‘lucky Loakes’ (Loake Bros shoes) that the guys are wearing and bringing them luck on the field.

“Once Loake Shoe-Makers showed an appetite to support us with the FAW partnership, the rest was easy and we are now proud to be able to call ourselves official suppliers to Welsh football,” said Chris.

“ The Brogue Trader offers a personal fitting service to cater for all sizes.”

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The Brogue Trader are based in the beautiful Morgan Arcade in Cardiff City Centre and online, thebroguetrader.com where customers can book personal visits to take advantage of the company’s fitting service.

Chris Macnamara and Joe Allen

The Brogue Trader 27A Morgan Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1AF 0843 658 1812 www.thebroguetrader.com

C TheBrogueTrader M @broguetrader_

DAVI D E DWA R D S JEWELLERS

One of a kind. “ I ’ m d e l i g hted to offer for sale this be a utif ul A r t D e c o Style D iam ond R ing. Colour G, VVS2 2 . 4 5 c t surrounded by approxima te ly 1c t of b r i l l i a n t cut diamonds. O ne car e f ul owne r.”

NEW, THIS G ORGEOUS RI NG W OULD BE £ 3 5 , 0 0 0

P RE-OWNED PRI CE, AVAI LABLE FROM US AT JU S T £ 2 5 , 0 0 0 Jack Cohen - Managing Director

Simply Perfect 2 3 - 2 5 R O YA L A R C A D E , C A R D I F F C F 1 0 1 A E

029 2064 1939

W W W. D AV I D E D WA R D S J E W E L L E R S . C O . U K

Fashion plays an important role in most girls lives whether it’s clothes or accessories. Luckily for us, mother and daughter team, Christine James of Hat’s The One and Joanna Hurn of The Closet, have it covered…

THE CLOSET

“Loved my dress…Reasonable prices and the service is outstanding.”

Since our last visit, Porthcawl’s gorgeous fashion boutique The Closet has had a mini re-launch with Joanna Hurn now the sole owner of the business. Since then Joanna has introduced some new suppliers into her beautiful ranges of unique clothes and accessories, and we can see a fresher, younger vibe in the price conscious shop.

This summer’s ‘on trend’ looks of blush and rose gold tones, playsuits and dresses are all to be spotted here alongside covetable bags.

The event season is now in full swing and this is evident with some special one off pieces alongside fabulous hats/ fascinators from Hat’s The One (see next page) on display.

While we were visiting some clients came in to organise outfits for a hen party and weekend away which they were thrilled with. The store has been assisting with local fashion shows too, in aid of various charities. Watch this space as we hear Joanna’s in the process of organising her own Autumn/ Winter fashion show. No further details yet but keep checking The Closet’s social media pages and website for information about this and, hopefully, we’ll see you there.

PS To keep up to date with The Closet’s latest stock arrivals and offers you can follow them on social media as well as sign up to their newsletter via www. thecloset.boutique - and we hear their new ‘click and collect’ service via the website is very popular too.

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The Closet 3 Well Street, Porthcawl CF36 3BE 01656 789381 shop@thecloset.boutique www.thecloset.boutique Like on Facebook, follow on Instagram

Fashion is said to be a language without words - and a great hat speaks for itself. Christine James of Hat’s The One (we love that name) has loved hats for as long as she can remember.

H AT’S THE ONE When Christine spotted a hat shop for sale in Suffolk she asked her beloved twin sister Caren to join her and the pair drove down, bought all the stock, and the rest as they say is history.

At the time Christine was operating her own successful beauty business, Waxworks, above her husband’s long established hairdressing business, Robshop, and was thrilled to incorporate the gorgeous hats into her thriving salon. Now stock arrives frequently to add to her striking collection.

You’ll find some of Christine’s beautiful hats and fascinators in her daughter Joanna’s shop. The Closet (see previous page). which is just a stone’s throw away. In fact if you’re looking for a whole outfit for your wedding, christening, Ascot, you can achieve your whole top-to-toe look between the two addresses (including hair and beauty treatments).

“Fabulous hats from a fabulous lady!”

We love that Christine can also make corsages and fascinators to order, in colours/shades to match your chosen outfit. Christine’s passion shines through, and we have no doubt that her businesses will go from strength to strength. Next invite to a ‘posh do’ we’ll be back!

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Hat’s The One 67 Suffolk Place Porthcawl CF36 3EB 07502 312748 Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

L O O K Y O U R B E S T , A LW AY S

Felicity’s Jewellers Summer is about feeling good and one way to accent a summer outfit, and feel good, is with a beautiful piece of jewellery.

Felicity’s in Bridgend sell desirable and recognisable brands such as Citizen Watches and Clogau Gold alongside a stunning selection of yellow or white gold rings, birthstone collections, and much more. Pop into this highly respected shop, or browse to your hearts content online, to see everything Felicity’s has to offer - you’re sure to find something perfect for summer.

34 Nolton Street, Bridgend CF31 3BN 01656 658080 www.felicitybridgend.co.uk Like on Facebook

Before repair

Remodlled

After repair

Remodlled from engagement ring

Remodelled from wedding ring

P O R T H CAW L

All the fun of the fair Now that the sun is showing its face, there’s never a better time to visit Coney Beach and its world famous funfair.

The funfair has come a long way since its inception back in 1918 and work never stops to keep the rides going and the funfair exciting. We wouldn’t want to miss out the members of the family who couldn’t make it to the photoshoot for our feature on page 10 and, luckily, owner Patrick Evans was able to give us a few snapshots of them to include in this issue.

Coney Beach Mackworth Road, Porthcawl CF36 5BY 01656 788911

Eileen (Top left) Amanda (bottom left) Pat Evans Snr (Dad, passed away 2007).

Annette, Eileen (Mum) Pat Jnr. Eleanor

Eileen (Mum)

Amanda (Sister) and Eileen (Mum)

Roger, Sophie and Zophia Tuby

Pat Snr. and Eileen on their wedding day 1944 in Newport

Eileen (Sister) - Passed away in 2006

RAIL E L A S HES T O L C FOR MMER & SU INSIDE! K STOC

It’s Springtime

BACK TO SCHOOL AS ON SEE TV N

A warm welcome awaits you n Sizes from birth to UK 10 (adults 10) n Width fittings D to H n Expert fitting service

n Huge and stunning selection in many colours & styles and super comfortable! n Available Navy, Black & Red T: 01656in788628

Shoe22, 22b Station Hill, E: Liz@shoe22.co.uk 22b New Road, Porthcawl CF36 5DN New road, Porthcawl CF36 5DN www.shoe22.co.uk

01656 788628 www.shoe22.co.uk

OPEN: MON - SAT 10AM to 5PM Follow us on Facebook

HAPPY 70TH ANNIVERSARY

O’Sheas Fish & Chips First established in 1946 when, thanks to rationing, it was cheaper to buy cod and chips than a cup of tea, O’Sheas Fish and Chips Cafe on Barry Island is celebrating its 70th birthday this year.

This iconic, award-winning fullylicensed fish and chip cafe has been a firm favourite with visitors to Barry Island ever since it first opened shortly after the Second World War and, quite remarkably, is still run by its founding family - now in their third generation of ownership.

Situated right on the promenade just yards from the beach, O’Sheas always offers stunning views of Whitmore Bay. To celebrate its landmark 70th birthday, O’Sheas is offering what they like to call a ‘Posh Lunch’ to all customers, with its award winning freshly cooked fish and chips available alongside a glass of chilled champagne.

With both indoor and outdoor seating as well as the option to takeaway, O’Sheas is definitely a box to tick when visiting Barry Island.

Western Shelter, Paget Rd, Barry, CF62 5TQ 07557 952596 Like on Facebook Follow on Twitter @osheascafe

“ Situated right on the promenade just yards from the beach.”

COFFEE WITH A VIEW

Coffee Cove Summer sun, first class coffee, flavourful food, and brilliant beach views that are bound to take your breath away, welcome to Coffee Cove.

Serving only the finest Piazza D’oro coffee, Coffee Cove is also home to a delicious selection of home-made pizzas and plays host to a number of events including the extremely popular open mic nights.

“ Next time you’re on Barry island, head for Coffee Cove.”

Unit 1, Esplanade Building Friars Road, Barry CF62 5TJ 01446 677071 Like on Facebook 44

The summer holidays are a wonderful time of year and, when the sun is shining, there’s only one place we want to be - the beach! There’s nothing better on a sizzling hot summers day than feeling warm sand between your toes or the cool water lapping around your ankles. But once you’ve done that what else do you have to fill your day? Well, if you’re on Barry Island, there is one fun place that you could visit.

A MUSEMENT WORLD

The combined name for Caesars Palace and Carousel Amusements has been entertaining the families that visit Barry Island since the 1950s, no matter season it is. With a separate section for the serious adult gamers to test out their skill, these family run arcades are some of the best that the Island has to offer.

Run by Jamie and Lewis Crole, this father and son dynamic duo have brought a new look to the arcades ready for the Summer season of 2016.

With brand new signage and carpets in Carousel, and similar upgrades appearing in Caesars, the Crole’s have gone all out with their arcades makeover.

Not content with just a facelift, some brand new machines are also making their debut appearances, including the highly popular Minions pusher machine that is bound to drive the kids wild!

With classic style ticket payout machines that offer some of the very best prizes available on the Island - the more tickets you have, the better the prize will be Amusement World also offers an over 18s section that houses the latest gaming machines with a jackpot of up to £500.

For those who visit this section you will also be treated to sandwiches, snacks, and hot and cold drinks, all free of charge to those who play.

The Crole family want to help return Barry Island to its fun-filled glory days; as the jewel in the crown of holiday and day-trip destinations, and to keep improving and investing in both Carousel and Caesars Palace so that they are revered as the best amusement arcades around.

“ The Crole family want to help return Barry Island to its fun-filled glory days.”

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Amusement World Ltd. 3 - 4 Paget Road Barry Island CF62 5TQ 07973 541941

Brothers Marco and Tino Zeraschi are the owners of legendary Barrybados café, Marco’s. Originally from Bardi in the Parma province of Italy their grandparents moved to the Welsh Valleys in 1897, with father, Francesco, selling ice cream from a barrow and helping out in the Penrhiwceibr café owned by his parents. Marco tells us more…

ISLAND LIFE

The family moved to Barry in 1967 and has grown substantially to include Marco and his wife (and rock) Ruth; his three sons Gianni, Mauro and Nino; and their daughter Mariana - plus eight grandchildren and one more on the way. There are now three generations of the Zeraschi family working in their businesses across Barry Island.

Marco, can you tell us about your businesses on the Island?

Yes, our first business on the Island was the Piccolo Bar way back in 1958 serving the best burgers in town, and ice cream of course. In 1977 we opened the Rock Shop selling candy, candyfloss and confectionery - including sticks of Barry Island rock - Then we opened Bar Enzo; and our latest venture, Sofia Souvenirs.

“There are definite signs of a bright future for the Island.”

But, of course, the business we are most well-known for is the famous Gavin and Stacey centrepiece, Marco’s Cafe. That TV programme was by far the best thing to have happened to Barry Island - the Gavin and Stacey tours still call here and visitors come to take photos of Marco’s Café regularly.

We’ve also had some other high profile celebrities here including the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the First Minister who visited the café and enjoyed our ice creams and coffees.

What changes have you seen over the years?

Well it’s been a roller coaster journey over the years but there are definite signs of a bright future for the Island.

Most of the traders have been here for many years and we’re like one big happy family. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say how great it is to have the fun fair back open, with a very heavy investment from the Danter family.

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We know you’re a big supporter of charity events, can you tell us about some of these?

My favourite event of the year is the visit to the Island by the Variety Club each September. All the local traders pull together to give these less fortunate children the best day of their lives; they enjoy the funfair rides, amusements, toys, food and drinks, all donated by our local traders - it’s certainly a special day for us all.

“I love spending time with my family.”

Then there’s the Barry Festival of Transport in June with the Red Arrows display team and fireworks, the European food market, the annual Boxing Day and New Year’s Day swim - with bacon rolls and a hot cuppa for everyone. We’re always willing to help out in any way we can with charity and fundraising events on the Island.

Right now we’re all looking forward to a white collar charity boxing event which will be held in November - it’s organised by the South Wales Police and my son Nino is currently in training for this.

Do you have any plans for the future?

Yes; to keep Barry Island a fun, family destination - for families, run by families, and to help create a new Barry Island with traders and the council working closely together and pulling in the same direction to make the Island a major tourist attraction once again. I honestly believe that we have what it takes to make Barry Island the No.1 tourist attraction in Wales.

You sound incredibly busy - how do you manage a work/life balance?

I love spending time with my family simple things like picnics and enjoying the outdoors with them. I enjoy working hard with my family; I feel I am a very lucky man.

“I honestly believe that we have what it takes to make Barry Island the No.1 tourist attraction in Wales.”

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Marcos Café The Promenade, Barry Island CF62 5TQ 07866 572288

C Marco’s Cafe - Barry Island M @Marcos_Cafe_

SPECIALIST INTERIOR DESIGN

A & C Interiors A & C is an interior design company well known throughout Porthcawl and the surrounding areas for its flair for colour and style.

Hand-made curtains, pelmets, valances, tie backs and cushions are just some of the window treatments and soft furnishings that A & C Interiors design, create, and fit. This is alongside their numerous types of blinds including roman, roller, vertical, venetian, panel, and pleated to name just a few.

30 New Road, Porthcawl CF36 5DN 01656 772353 www.a-interiors.uk alisonbowen@hotmail.co.uk

“ Call today for a free measure, design and quote.”

ELEGANT FISH & CHIPS

Southcott’s Opened in March of this year by husband and wife Huw and Lisa, Southcott’s is more elegant than your average Fish & Chip shop.

This is thanks to Huw’s previous job as a pastry chef on the QEII cruise ship.

In addition to bringing world class culinary skills to dry land, Southcott’s guarantees service with a smile and a warm welcome. Serving delicious value-for-money food including fish and chips, snacks, and ice cream sundaes made from Joe’s ice cream. As well as their dine in service, customers can make use of the take away too.

55 New Road, Porthcawl CF36 5DH 01656 786254 Like on Facebook W E L L E S TA B L I S H E D

Porthcawl Furnishings Porthcawl Furnishings has been a staple of the Porthcawl shopping district, serving the people of the local area for more than 30 years.

This family run furnishing and upholstery company offers a vast range of services for when you fancy making some home improvements.

“Services include flooring, beds and blinds, a wide choice of carpets and upholstery in addition to a full re-upholstery and repair service.”

These services include flooring, beds and blinds, a wide choice of carpets and upholstery in addition to a full re-upholstery and repair service.

51 New Road, Porthcawl CF36 5DH 01656 771608 www.porthcawlfurnishings.co.uk Like on Facebook 48

CONEY’S FINEST FISH & CHIPS

Mansel’s Chippy The winter blues have lifted, the rainclouds have disappeared, and the sun has got its hat on once again.

It’s official, summer’s here! Summer is sun! Summer is ice cream! Summer is FISH & CHIPS! So if it’s your day off or a free weekend, head on down to Coney Beach and one of Porthcawl’s favourites, Mansel’s Chippy.

Mansel’s Chippy used to be brilliant and now it’s even better! Why? Because it’s open longer! By being open every day from 10:30am until 10:30pm Mansel’s is one of the best places to visit on Coney Beach this Summer.

Whether it’s an an early lunch or a late fish supper, Mansel’s hits the spot.

Serving all of your traditional chip shop favourites - fish and chips, faggots and peas, and a delicious selection of curries, Mansel’s Chippy has something for all the family. Mansel’s also have outdoor seating where you can relax in the summer sun while you munch your time away people watching. Scrummy!

“Serving all of your traditional chip shop favourites - fish and chips, faggots and peas, and a delicious selection of curries, Mansel’s Chippy has some thing for all the family.”

2 Eastern Promenade, Porthcawl CF36 5TS 01656 718019 F R O M T H E G L O R Y D AY S

Past and Present Step back in time and discover a unique range of distinctive items, both old and new, all thanks to the passionate people at Past and Present.

This independently run, family business is a must visit when searching for wonderfully creative curios from times gone by; items of character that will fill your home with stories.

With shelves bursting with everything you could possibly think of, including electrical items, jewellery, glassware, crystal, furniture, figurines and so much more, past and present is a gold mine if you love browsing.

With new stock arriving every week there truly is something for everyone and, if you’re looking for something in particular, or if they don’t have a specific item in stock, then simply ask one of the friendly and knowledgeable team and they will do their best to assist you in finding what you’re looking for.

60 New Road, Porthcawl CF36 5DG 07762 740465 Facebook @ Past & Present of Porthcawl 49

If you ask most parents why they chose to send their child to a private school, the answer is because they believe their child will a) receive a better standard of education, b) have better opportunities for future careers, c) be more disciplined, and d) benefit from smaller pupil-teacher ratios.

ST CLARE’S SCHOOL

All are good reasons. Vale Life chats to the Head of St Clare’s School, Simon Antwis, to find out more, particularly about the Nursery.

Who does the school cater for?

We are a non-selective school for both boys and girls aged 2½ up to 18.

We have many pupils leave our Sixth Form at the end of Year 13 who have been with us since their Nursery days!

What is so special about St Clare’s Nursery?

Small class sizes, experienced staff, individual learning journeys and a high degree of interaction with parents, combine to ensure that each child receives individual attention in a safe, enjoyable, caring and creative environment.

Not all nurseries have nursery staff who are qualified teachers, and our pupils are very privileged to receive the care that they do. We always knew the provision to be excellent and were delighted that Estyn agreed in 2014 and graded the Nursery as “Excellent”; that’s the highest grade that can be given.

Why do you call the early years the crucial years?

From a child’s very first day at our school we lay the foundation for a love of learning that will remain with them throughout the course of their school life.

The early years of a child’s education are ones of excitement, exploration and discovery. It is a time when they are introduced to a world beyond the secure and familiar confines of home life, when they begin to make friends, experience new play opportunities and interact with adults beyond those of their immediate family.

“ Teaching is Excellent.”

Estyn 2014 50

We believe that our youngest pupils thrive on the quality learning experiences that are planned and implemented by our team of highly dedicated staff. From Nursery onwards we introduce structured learning and challenge our pupils in English and Mathematics through theme related activities, with a strong focus on developing early literacy and numeracy skills.

Is the Nursery part of the Prep School?

The Nursery is a self-contained, purposebuilt unit, and offers outstanding levels of care and individual attention through a theme-based Learning Programme which includes a variety of academic, music, dance and art activities.

Our large, secure outdoor play area provides an environment to help children develop physical skills, whilst we extend and enhance their cognitive and social skills.

Our wide curriculum encompasses not only early literacy and numeracy skills but specialist subjects such as music, art, PE, ballet and the Welsh language.

Children have access to mini iPads.

“Teachers and staff share high expectations of themselves and of the children.” Estyn 2014 Nursery Teachers also go beyond the Foundation Phase and introduce more structured and formal teaching to prepare the children for the more traditional methods of teaching and learning throughout the school. The children also benefit from the facilities available across the school such as the dining hall, large open grass spaces and main halls.

“ The Nursery provides parents with very good information about their child’s progress through the year.” Estyn 2014

Isn’t a private school Nursery more expensive?

The Nursery at St Clare’s offers wraparound care between 8am and 6pm at a surprisingly affordable and competitive price. Early Years Education funding is available and Childcare Vouchers are also accepted.

If you would like me to show you what makes our Nursery the best in the area, please arrange a tour of the school by contacting Holly Fowlkes, in Admissions on (01656) 789966.

“The teachers at the nursery are fantastic and always take the time to discuss our daughter’s development with us. We would recom mend the school to absolutely everyone.” Parent

St Clare’s School Newton, Porthcawl CF36 5NR 01656 789966 www.stclares-school.co.uk

C stclares.school 51

“Every visit will reveal something new.”

H AV E A M O O C H !

Moochers Junk Shop Moochers is certainly an interesting place to visit. Despite being affectionately called a junk shop the items within are anything but - more an eclectic mix of cool collectables.

Moochers Junk Shop in Pencoed is a little second-hand store that sells an assortment of beautiful things; from vintage tea sets, suitcases, and step ladders that are all perfect for vintage weddings and tea parties, to vinyl records, bicycles, and furniture.

Collectable items are constantly being bought and sold meaning that every visit will reveal something new. Most of their stock is purchased from locals; selling a single item, or who just needed a full house clearance.

If you have something to sell, there’s money waiting - Moochers always pay in cash, directly to you! This means as much money is kept in the community as possible. Like and follow on facebook or better still, call in for a mooch.

3 Penybont Road, Pencoed CF35 5PY 07925 042731 Like on Facebook

“Moochers Junk Shop in Pencoed is a little second hand store that sells an assortment of beautiful things.”

K E E P I T I N T H E F A M I LY

R.W. Roberts & Son It just goes to show the high quality of an establishment if it has managed to survive for 30 years.

And what an achievement. R.W. Roberts & Son celebrate their 30th Birthday in 2017.

This traditional family butchers, run by Rich with his loyal assistant of 19 years Jamie, is a perfect example of why we should steer clear from supermarket meat counters and use our local independent.

With exceptional service, quality cuts, and that unique feel one only really gets when stepping into a local butchers, turning 30 is going to be a landmark birthday for R.W. Roberts & Son. 6 Hendre Road, Pencoed CF35 5NW 01656 864515 Like on Facebook C H R I S T I A N R YA N P R E S E N T S . . .

The Stained Glass Workshop Christian offers both contemporary and period stained glass that have been created using almost identical techniques to the masterpieces of the last few centuries.

This incredible art is created through a labour intensive process. Christian’s pieces are worked upon tirelessly to create the stunning finalised products.

You can buy or commission a unique piece. Fancy a go? Book a taster session and make your own to take home.

Pottery Hill, Ewenny, Bridgend, CF35 5AP 01656 856155 www.christianryan.com Like on Facebook, Follow on Twitter VA L E W I D E

Carpets And Flooring At Their Best When choosing the right flooring for your home, how do you know which company to choose? We’ve made your life easier by introducing you to a carpet and flooring company which has been covering the floors of many a Vale home since 1979.

Offering a comprehensive service of all aspects of flooring in the commercial and home owner sector, Leeway Carpets and Flooring offer carpets, luxury vinyl tiles, commercial vinyl flooring and wood floors. They also specialise in bespoke products which are unusual in colour and design; to make a special floor for someone looking for something unique and individual.

Call today for a free consultation and quotation.

Leeway Carpets and Flooring Co Ltd. 550-555 Llantrisant Road Penycoedcae, Pontypridd CF37 1PL 53

“Covering the floors of many a Vale home since 1979.”

01443 400680 www.leewayflooring.co.uk Like on Facebook

A new partnership has come together to provide the people of South Wales with a healthy alternative to the fast food outlets currently found in our town and city centres.

PASTA M ADE PERFECT!

Lilo’s has recently opened a new shop which provides fast, fresh and healthy meals to the people of Pencoed and the surrounding areas.

Their service consists of huge portions and excellently priced meals, with a variety of choice that you will never be bored of. Our signature dish is pasta, but we offer breakfast, wraps, snacks, ice cream plus fresh cakes and a range of coffees and fresh fruit smoothies.

The selection process allows you to choose from different types of pasta, meats & fish along with a variety of freshly prepared salad. The meals vary from an adventurous ‘Spicy meat feast’ to a milder ‘meatball melt’ along with options for vegetarians, vegans and gluten free.

If you’re in need of event catering, Lilo’s also offer private hire thanks to their VW camper style Dub-box.

Lilo’s uniquely designed trailer is able to serve their delicious food to hungry customers at any event from only £4 per head.

Lilo’s catering staff are a professional team that can take care of all your catering needs with their three different catering packages which are available on their website. Simply call their friendly team, or visit their website to book your party, event, workplace function or festival. Don’t leave it too late, as they book up quickly!

Visit the wonderful people at Lilo’s and receive the best pasta meal you will ever taste, which is indeed made perfectly.

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Lilo’s 2-4 The Square, Pencoed CF35 5NP 01565 865308 www.lilospasta.com

C Lilo’s

M @LilosPasta

The Chef’s Table Gourmet Menu

The Chef’s Tasting Menu is created using only the finest ingredients to create a mouth watering experience.

Enjoy a six course menu with four glasses of handpicked wines to complement each dish perfectly.

£59 per person (Friday - Saturday) £49 per person (Sunday - Thursday) (To be served to all guests sharing a table, minimum booking of 4 people and must be pre-booked with a minimum of 24 hours notice)

The Chef’s Table Gourmet Menu Head Chef: Justin Llewellyn 6 Course Menu with 4 Glasses of Wine Aromatic Roast Duck Salad Watermelon, curry roasted cashew nuts, spring onions, Coriander, hoisin sauce (Del Fin Del Mundo Extra Brut)

Seared King Scallops Butternut squash puree, apples, black pudding, pancetta (Heritages Cote du Rhone white, France)

Kir Royal Sorbet Open Fillet of Beef Wellington Confit shallots, wild mushrooms, fondant potatoes, Rioja jus (Postales Malbec, Del fin del Mundo, Argentina)

LKB Eton Mess Light Italian meringue, baked English meringue, Madagascan vanilla ice cream, strawberry & champagne fruit compote (Moscato Passitto, Italy)

Handmade Petit Fours

Park Plaza Hotel • Greyfriars Road • Cardiff • CF10 3AL Restaurant Tel : 02920 111 103 • Hotel Tel : 02920 111 111 www.lagunakitchenandbar.com

For those of you lucky enough to be clients of Ustu, Porthcawl, you will no doubt have chosen the salon for the team’s exceptional cutting, colouring and styling. This summer co-owner Paul Barry wanted to showcase his talents and makeup artistry of in-house beauty therapist Jodie Donovan.

THE T WISTED ELEGANCE OF SUMMER How do you define summer in a fantasy hair design?

Everybody’s idea of this is different, influenced by where we are and how we see what surrounds us.

In this issue Paul presents us with a creation from his “Twisted Elegance” collection, which fits in fabulously within our “Fantasy” collection for Vale life.

Co-owner of Ustu, Wayne says “Here in Porthcawl, we have an abundance of inspiration provided by our beautiful coastline and all that Mother Nature has to offer in the gifts that she lays on our shores. Rocks that have always been, trees brought ashore from a far off place and time.

Driftwood and ropes that may have already visited distant shores as ships of an ancient era, once guided by mariners of old who shared tales of mystic creatures of beauty, now brought to us on dawn’s high tide. They may be gone tomorrow, as Mother Nature may reach out with the next tide and take them back.”

It is clear to see that Paul and Jodie, USTU’s in-house beauty and nail artist, have met the brief with a bold confidence. Together with the boundless enthusiasm of the heavily pregnant Sian Owen, whose photography really understands USTU’s vision and how to present it, they have truly captured and created ‘Summer’s Twisted Elegance’.

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Ustu 94 John Street, Porthcawl CF36 3DT 01656 773770

BRIDGEND

Tynycoed Surgery Cosmetic Service Tynycoed surgery has been established for over 20 years. It serves a population of just over 10,000 NHS patients. The private cosmetic service was set up in March 2015, after two of the GP partners, Dr Simpson and Dr Richards, were professionally trained, completing a course accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners. Dr Simpson tells us more.

What services do you offer? n Anti-wrinkle treatments using botulinum toxin and facial fillers. n Treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) using botulinum toxin n Lip volumising and contouring using facial fillers Prices start from £140. Gift vouchers are available on request.

Where do your customers come from, geographically?

At the launch of the service, most of the clients were within the surgery catchment area, but just through word of mouth the clientele has spread across

South Wales and a few clients even travel from London to access the clinic.

Which services are most popular?

Anti-wrinkle injections to the forehead and frown (glabella) lines.

What makes Tynycoed Surgery Special?

As practising doctors, we apply the same safe, medical ethical approach to our private cosmetic clients as we do to our NHS patients. We adhere to the latest GMC standards on cosmetic procedures that came into force in June 2016. We always assess patients on an individual basis, with a thorough consent process and provide advice on which areas to treat. We also pride ourselves in offering a free follow up service.

Tynycoed Surgery 20 Merfield Close, Bryncethin Bridgend CF32 9SW 01656 726959 www.tynycoedsurgery.com

Dr. Simpson and Dr. Richards

“ Tynycoed Surgery has been established for over 20 years.

Cosmetic treatments start from £140.”

A S A L O N W I T H T H E WOW FAC T O R !

Sarah’s Hair Salon Built on thirty two years’ experience, Sarah has run her own salon in High Street, Barry for the last twenty eight years and has built up a great reputation for precision cutting, styling and colourng, only using colours by L’Oreal. This friendly upbeat salon welcomes both men, women and children.

Sarah is very excited to be offering OLAPLEX hair perfector. This allows hair to e coloured or highlighted without comprising its integrity. Olaplex makes the hair stronger, healthier looking and the colour last longer. This product is a firm favourite of celebrities – Kim Kardashian raves about it!

Also new to Sarah’s is a range of products by WOW. You will no doubt have seen the advert on TV for the root cover up powder. This range also includes the one minute transformation styling cream, which is a huge hit.

The Moroccan oil range has always been a favourite of Sarah’s to work with and now, while stocks last, is offering a FREE beach bag with every 125ml of Moroccan oil purchased.

Sarah’s Hair Salon 14 York Place, Barry 01446 733299

Come Come and and discover discover what what we we can can do do for for you... you...

Skincare Skincare Treatment for Lines/ wrinkles / moles / warts / Treatment for Lines/ wrinkles / moles / warts / pigmentation / veins / unwanted hair pigmentation / veins / unwanted hair skin tag. skin tag.

Body Body Muscle aches pains / trauma / long term Muscle aches pains / trauma / long term pain /depression / lymphedema / fertility pain /depression / lymphedema / fertility problems /anxiety / addictions / sleep issues problems /anxiety / addictions / sleep issues hormonal issues / digestive issues. hormonal issues / digestive issues.

Specialities Specialities on on offer offer Podiatry / chiropody / foot care / osteopath Podiatry / chiropody / foot care / osteopath specialist nurse / clinical reflexologists specialist nurse / clinical reflexologists hypnotherapist / clinical aromatherapists hypnotherapist / clinical aromatherapists holistic massage therapists. holistic massage therapists.

Partnered with: Partnered with:

01443 223352 | info@cyfoeshealthcare.com | www.cyfoeshealthcare.com 01443 223352 | info@cyfoeshealthcare.com | www.cyfoeshealthcare.com

SCOTT WROE HEARING CENTRE

Independent advice on all leading makes and and models l Family practice established in Penarth for over 15 years l The highest levels of service and aftercare l Microsuction ear wax removal service l Widex Centre of Excellence l 5 Star Centre for Phonak l Gold Centre for Oticon l Home visit service available l

SCOTTWROE

Hearing Centre

Call: 029 2070 7760 www.scottwroe-hearingcentre.co.uk

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N I S A LW AY S SCOTTWROE THE BEST ADVERT!

Hearing Centre

Vale Laser Clinic

With so many beauty salons offering similar treatments, it’s difficult to know which one to trust. Sarah from Cardiff recommends the Vale Laser Clinic, St Athan. Here’s Sarah’s testimonial.

I am a Senior Support worker with The Priory and I’m 43. I found out about The Vale Laser Clinic through a friend’s recommendation.

I had the laser rejuvenation with specific vascular treatment. The treatment took approximately an hour.

Once these four treatments are finished, I intend to keep the treatments up annually.

The treatments cost £70, which I thought that was incredible value as the results were immediate. The difference it has made is that I no longer need to wear concealer and I feel more confident about my complexion. What makes the Vale Laser Clinic special is the friendly and welcoming environment. I have recommended friends and wish all at the clinic the very best for their exciting future.

Vale Laser Clinic 1A The Square, St Athan Village Vale of Glamorgan CF62 4PF 01446 750 880 emma@valelaserclinic.co.uk www.valelaserclinic.co.uk 59

10 Royal Buildings Penarth CF64 3ED

Gold Collagen Hydrogel Masks RRP £19.99 Available online at www.gold-collagen.com

Jo Malone London Cologne Intense Body Crèmes RRP £60.00 Available nationwide

Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Class Act Treatment Gel £20.00 Available from www.joancollinsbeauty.com

Favourite T HINGS...

MY

UCR Triple Rescue RRP £17.95 Available from www.paul-mitchell.co.uk

RapidShield™ Daily Eyelash Conditioner £28 Available from Boots, LookFantastic.com and Rapidlash.co.uk

Ferrari Fragrance EDTs RRP £65.00 Available from: Harrods and Harrods.com

Summer Kiss with Suzy Starr £34.00 Available from www.joancollinsbeauty.com The Lash Inc. No.11 Lashes RRP £6.99 Available online at www.thelashinc.com

Jo Malone London Peony & Moss Charity Candle £44.00 With 75% of the RRP less VAT going to all Jo Malone garden projects, available from www.jomalone.co.uk RapidLash® Eyelash Enhancing Serum RRP £39.99 Available from Boots, LookFantastic.com and Rapidlash.co.uk

Clarins BB Skin Detox Fluid SPF 25 £30.00 Available from www.clarins.com

Christophe Robin Regenerating Balm with Prickly Pear Oil RRP £29.00 Available from: Fortnum & Mason, Fenwick Bond St, Harrods, Net-A-Porter & lookfantastic.co.uk

AWG Sea Spray RRP £20.50 Available from www.paul-mitchell.co.uk

Neal’s Yard Remedies & Deliciously Ella Rose, Lime & Cucumber Facial Wash and Moisturiser RRP £16.00/£25.00 Available from Neal’s Yard, 23-25 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, and www.nealsyardremedies.com

PRO:VOKE Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo/Conditioner 200ml RRP £3.99 Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets nationwide

If you’re suffering from a chronic medical condition and you feel that conventional medicine isn’t working for you, then you might wish to consider a different approach.

TRIED & TESTED Anne Rodgers from Penarth describes herself simply as a healer and she appears to be having amazing results.

Vale Life speaks to one of her clients who tell us how Anne helped him overcome a life threatening illness.

How did you hear about Anne?

My wife Pat saw Anne for healing back in May 2007 when she diagnosed a blockage in the lymphatic system which was causing the destruction of all of her organs. The hospital had diagnosed nonHodgins Lymphoma and wanted her to have a course of chemotherapy. My wife chose to go down the alternative route and Anne treated her twice a week until the issues resolved.

What made you go to Anne?

Pat and I run three dance clubs. On one evening, I noticed one of the fluorescent tubes not working, so I got the steps out to change the 6ft tube. I got the tube in the socket at one end but I strained to get the other end in and, as it went in, I could feel my energy drain down my legs, and I felt physically drained, and we were only half way through the dance!

We started the second half, I announced the dance, but I couldn’t remember the steps. Pat was telling me what I should be doing but it did not register. I went to bed that night but couldn’t sleep.

When I got out of bed in the morning I was no better. My legs were weak and trembling. I had no appetite. I’m usually in excellent health. I always got up early and would exercise before breakfast and now I felt a wreck and was starting to have panic attacks. We had to stop dancing.

After two weeks and no signs of improvement, Pat called the doctor.

I was examined and blood tests were ordered. The tests revealed a very high PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) reading of 3000 - high readings normally are cancerous. Also my sodium was dangerously low at 120 (133 is considered normal).

My urination was slow - not good.

Once I told her of these issues and my tests from the hospital, Anne concentrated on the problem.

Describe the experience you felt while Anne worked on you.

I wish I did see the colours that Pat tells me she experienced, or the heat and movement of limbs that she felt but I don’t. Maybe I’m not made that way - I don’t know. All I know is that I’m getting better and that’s all t hat matters.

How are you now?

My very high PSA levels have dramatically improved - much to the astonishment of the doctors. They have gone from 3,000 to 1,000 and 6.4 to 4.7. My sodium level is also significantly improving (Anne advised a packet of sea salt crisps a day). I feel so much better in myself and we even plan on dancing again in September. It will be a birthday celebration!

How do the Doctors feel about you seeing an alternative practitioner?

They are aware that I do not want a third Prostap injection (oestrogen) because of the unpleasant side effects.

We have also told them about how Anne cured Pat’s cancer over yen years ago.

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They are happy for me to have the healing as long as I submit myself for blood samples, so that they can monitor my PSA levels.

COULD ANNE HELP YOU? Anne Rodgers has asked us to stress that she treats each case individually and that if she feels she cannot help someone, she will tell them at the outset.

Anne has written a book about her journey, which includes testimonials of the people she’s helped. If you would like a copy of the book, please send a cheque for £12 payable to Anne Rodgers, C/o Good Life Publishing, The Business Centre, Cardiff House, Cardiff Road, Vale of Glamorgan CF63 2AW. For more information on Anne, the book and her work, please visit www. annerodgershealer.co.uk Vale Life cannot endorse any medical treatment. Readers should always consult a medical professional before embarking on any treatment and take responsibility for decisions that affect their own health or wellbeing. If you’re suffering from a medical condition and you feel that conventional medicine isn’t working for you, then you might wish to consider a different approach.

Anne Rodgers For an appointment, please phone 029 2035 0118 www.annerodgershealer.co.uk

The success of any great business is only as good as its team and Blu Hair Design, Penarth is lucky to have one of the best. Owners, Alexis Williams and Hayley Williams, have built a team of passionate, talented and enthusiastic stylists, and Leanne Elliston, who has been with the salon for nearly seven years, plays a key role in the salon. Here, she talks about her passion for wedding hair.

BLU WEDDING Wedding hair is definitely my favourite part of the job. A lot of brides who are getting married have been clients of mine for years, and some of them are new to me - from recommendations, social media and word of mouth.

From the moment I meet the bride, going from the consultation to discussing the hair, to booking their wedding trial, and to actually creating their perfect style on their special day, I feel a strong relationship is formed consisting of trust and friendship. I always feel so honoured to be chosen to be the person to style the hair for the wedding day - the hair I create is going to be in their pictures forever.

At Blu we have been refining our wedding hair offering - I can either come to your home or the wedding venue on the morning of the special day. As it has been so popular we will be continuing to offer this service. I find it a lovely, calming atmosphere, and feel so involved with the whole experience.

It is also less stressful for the bride. I also offer my services on Sundays and Bank holidays.

I’m there with the bride from as early in the morning as possible, to right up to just before they leave. I do my absolute best to build their self-confidence, and ensure they look good and feel 100% happy with their bridal hairstyle.

Blu offers packages for bridal parties including the bride, bridesmaids, mother of the bride and whoever else would care to join in. I can also offer a hair extension service for the brides who would like a fuller, or longer hairstyle for their perfect day.

I am so enthusiastic about bridal hair and I feel so passionate about making the bride look as perfect as possible and making sure they shine on the most important day of their lives.

Blu Hair Design would also like to add a congratulations and best wishes to Leanne on her recent engagement to Ryan! Now she is a bride-to-be!

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Blu Hair Design Unit 1/1a Washington Buildings Penarth CF64 2AF 029 2070 4040 info@bluhairdesign.com www.bluhairdesign.com

Davies & Jones Optometrists are an independent company and have been providing quality evidence-based eye care to residents of the Vale and beyond for around fifty years. We chat to Cath Coles, their new Manager in Talbot Green to find out what’s new at the branch.

DAVIES & JONES OPTOMETRISTS

Congratulations on becoming Manager of the Talbot Green branch.

Thank you. I’m very excited at the opportunity of helping to provide continuity of care and service to our patients.

How long have you been working at Davies & Jones?

I’ve been working for the company for eight years, having started on the front desk as an Optical Assistant. I then qualified as a Dispensing Optician and have worked in several of the branches.

For those not familiar with Davies & Jones, we currently have six branches (Talbot Green, Dinas Powys, Ferndale, Treherbert, Porth and Treorchy).

What’s new for Davies & Jones this summer?

We are delighted to have the new Daytona Optomap ultra-widefield scanning laser technology with higher resolution and wider field of vision.

This will allow us to continue providing our patients with enhanced services.

We have also been looking at the development of a new line of eyewear, which will be exclusive to Davies & Jones, Dragon Eyewear for men and Cariad Eyewear for women.

(colour matching or styling for the big day) or alternatively two months free contact lenses (professional fees apply).

These vouchers are available from Sentiments.

What excited you about these brands?

We do offer high end brand names but we have been looking at the elements of designer eyewear brands without the high end designer price tag and these two brands encapsulated these.

We hear that there has been a collaboration with another local business. Please tell us more.

Yes, we are very excited to be working with Sentiments Bridal who are just a few doors down from us. As we have been having regular enquiries regarding wedding spectacles, teaming up with Sentiments made sense. We are pleased to be offering vouchers, exclusively available in Sentiments offering 20% off spectacles for brides, bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride 64

Davies & Jones Optometrists 58 Talbot Road Llantrisant, Pontyclun CF72 8AF 01443 223124 www.daviesandjonesoptometrists.co.uk

C Davies and Jones Optometrists

“We have also been looking at the development of a new line of eyewear, which will be exclusive to Davies & Jones.�

Friends, tapas and cocktails - who could ask for anything more! We popped in to congratulate Alice Anthony on the first anniversary of 19 Mary Street - well we already know the address…

NUMBER 19

Congratulations on your first anniversary Alice, can you tell us about your concept for Number 19?

Thank you. I’ve always loved good quality food and drink, especially from the Mediterranean, and I aimed to create somewhere in my hometown, Porthcawl, that I would enjoy going to.

Somewhere where people can relax with their friends and loved ones and share fresh delicious food and more-ish cocktails.

Well it looks as though you’ve succeeded. How has your first year been?

It’s been a huge learning curve and has flown by very quickly. Luckily we’re very busy; it’s fantastic to have so many regulars already, and it’s also great to meet new friends when they try us for the first time.

Your cocktails look amazing!

We’re very passionate about our cocktails; we’ve recently launched a new cocktail menu and often have cocktail specials.

Customers’ favourites include our frozen Strawberry Daiquiri, and our new Amontillado Cobbler with strawberry and balsamic shrub, orgeat syrup, oranges, and sherry is proving a big hit - it’s a very refreshing drink for summer.

On Thursdays we host Thirsty Thursday where selected cocktails are buy one, get one half price; great for pre-weekend catch ups with friends over some nibbles.

“On Thursdays we host Thirsty Thursday where selected cocktails are buy one, get one half price.”

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What type of food can we enjoy here?

Our current menu has dishes such as belly pork with black pudding and Dijon mustard sauce, chilli calamari, a spicy harissa chicken and chorizo dish, and balsamic peaches with goats’ cheese. We change our menus regularly and we add weekly specials too.

Where do you source your ingredients, and how important is this to you?

We currently import many ingredients directly from Spain, such as our Spanish cheeses and raw ingredients. We also try to source locally wherever possible and as much as we adore Spanish food do not want to limit our sharing plates to this. We are looking to incorporate more Welsh produce into our tapas plates very soon.

Located less than 100 yards from the beach and Grand Pavilion, you’re in the perfect location for a few nights stay in Porthcawl...

I’ve kept a continuing theme with our restaurant by going for a quirky modern look; all our bedrooms are en-suite and we’ve used high quality bedding and furnishings for a great night’s sleep. We have single, twin, double and a family room with mini balcony; each with full English breakfast included.

We know you’re busy launching your accommodation but do you have any plans for the future?

Yes, we’ve listened to our customers and we’ll be offering Sunday lunches from 12pm to 4pm starting in August.

We’ll also have a ‘main meal’ section with a few classic dishes such as steak for customers.

We’re also looking to hold wine tasting evenings, comedy nights, private hire cocktail master classes and special dining events very soon so do look out for all of those. Our social media pages are a great way to keep informed of what we’re up to.

19 Mary Street serve their delicious food from 6pm to 9.30pm and they’re open until late for drinks Tuesday to Saturday (as of August this will change to Wednesdays to Sundays, with the addition of Sunday lunches you’ll be delighted to hear). On the weekend, after food service, they dim the lights and have popular music for an upbeat but relaxed atmosphere for cocktails; non-diners are equally welcome to enjoy the vibe. Their friendly team looks forward to seeing you soon.

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19 Mary Street Porthcawl CF36 3YL 01656 771991 www.19marystreet.com Like on Facebook, follow on Twitter

C 19 Mary Street

M @19marystreet

19marystreet

THEMED EVENTS

The Fountain Inn Fancy having something different to your usual pub grub but want to visit a place that aims to guarantee your satisfaction?

The Fountain Inn are proud to announce their themed evenings, here to help add some international colour to your summer evenings.

Having already hosted the hugely popular ‘Italian Night’ and ‘New Zealand and Maori Night’ The Fountain Inn has more delicious events planned in addition to their mid-week carvery and bank holiday bonanzas! Interested? Make sure you book your place.

The Fountain Inn Park Road, Aberkenfig CF32 0EW 01656 856173

www.thefountaininnaberkenfig.co.uk www.just-hoglicious.com Like on Facebook

79 - 81 Talbot Road, Talbot Green CF72 8AE 01443 239600

www.la-lunarestaurant.com Like on Facebook

A A AWA R D - W I N N I N G

La Luna Brasserie and Lounge Bar La Luna claims to be the only brasserie in Rhondda Cynon Taff to be awarded with an AA Rosette for culinary excellence.

It’s easy to see why this great brasserie would receive recognition. Under the watchful eye of award-winning head chef Craig Brookes, La Luna exceeds its reputation as a location for superb food and excellent service.

Relax in the Luna Lounge or, if you want to enjoy the summer sun, dine al fresco in their contemporary Secret Garden - a comfortably sheltered area sits amongst an exquisite garden.

In more of a party mood, then head up to the first floor where you will find La Luna’s Cocktail and Tapas Bar. With classic and signature drinks available, and all tapas freshly prepared, the upstairs bar area can be hired for private dining or corporate meetings and can accommodate up to fifty guests.

So the next time you’re in Talbot Green, visit La Luna and see just why they have such a great reputation.

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The Afan Tavern in Cwmafan won the South Wales Evening Post’s Restaurant Of The Year Award and is attracting customers from far and wide all eager to try their delicious home-cooked food.

Alan Lloyd popped in to find out more...

A FAN TAVERN

This popular country pub has developed an excellent reputation for the high quality affordable cuisine and first class service.

The Afan Tavern has won the prestigious title of South Wales Evening Post Restaurant of the Year under the Pub Food category (and also best steak in South Wales), has also received a highly commended award from Swansea Bay Tourism.

The emphasis is on home-cooked produce using fresh, local ingredients wherever possible. There is an appetising choice of starters and an impressive selection of main courses such as Singapore Pulled Pork, Noodle Sizzler or Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni to name just a couple.

Pub favourites include Fish and Chips with homemade batter as well as succulent Celtic Pride steaks and burgers from the grill. Delicious desserts include Jam Roly Poly and Chocolate Fudge Cake served with ice cream and the new Nutella Gnocchi is well worth trying.

Curries come with a mini naan, poppadum, mango chutney and basmati rice and/or chips for just £6.95 and include the famous Afan Chicken Tarka. There is also a choice of Real Ales that would quench any thirst.

“ The emphasis is on home-cooked produce using fresh, local ingredients.”

The Sunday carvery is very popular and to cater for demand there are three sittings. Customers enjoy beef, pork, turkey and even lamb, with all of the trimmings. One course is £7.95, two courses are £9.95 and three courses are £11.95. The restaurant is now open on Sunday evenings from 6pm until 9pm.

The Afan Tavern can cater for all dietary requirements and vegetarians are well catered for. Children have their own menu and kids under the age of twelve can eat free with every full paying adult from Monday to Saturday between 3pm and 5pm, and 4pm on Sunday. The Afan Tavern also has free WiFi - handy for tablets and smart phones.

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Afan Tavern Jersey Terrace, Cwmafan Neath Port Talbot SA12 9AS 01639 898 283

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T R A D I T I O N A L F A M I LY B U T C H E R

Magness Butchers Grab your friends and family, play some summery tunes and set up the garden furniture, it’s BBQ time!

Magness Butchers are the traditional family butcher of Porthcawl. They offer meat and poultry, locally-sourced, from the finest providers; perfect for summer. Carwyn and his experienced team at Magness Butchers can create the ideal BBQ pack of burgers, sausages, kebabs, skewers, and Gower marsh lamb all available. With free local deliveries let Magness Butchers help make your BBQ a sizzler. It’s also the perfect time to start saving for Xmas.

96 John Street, Porthcawl CF36 3DT 01656 783828 Like on Facebook JUST HOGLICIOUS

The Fountain Inn If you want to bring a little food theatre to your next public event, or wedding, why not try a beautiful Hog Roast from Just Hoglicious?

The outside catering company brought to you by the wonderful people behind The Fountain Inn, Just Hoglicious provides beautifully prepared hog roasts for any occasion.

With produce supplied by trusted local sources, Just Hoglicious provide a selection of menus around this incredible delicacy, all fully prepared and cooked on site at the venue to ensure the highest standard of quality.

The Fountain Inn Park Road, Aberkenfig CF32 0EW 01656 856173 www.thefountaininnaberkenfig.co.uk www.just-hoglicious.com Like on Facebook

PERFECT SUMMER DINING

Hilary and Iain’s Kitchen By The Sea What better place to enjoy the wonderful summer days than in a quaint cafe bistro with utterly incredible views.

Overlooking where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic Ocean, Hilary and Iain’s is a great bistro that’s recently introduced a brand new menu for 2016.

With Iain’s legendary hand cut steaks, astounding selection of fish, famous lasagne plus vegetarian and children’s options, the Kitchen by the Sea really is one of the Vale’s hidden food gems.

87 Main Road, Ogmore by Sea CF32 0PW 01656 880661 Like on Facebook 70

In the Autumn 2015 edition we broke the news that a brand new tapas restaurant was opening in the heart of Bridgend in the former court house which is a grade 2 listed building. Its been 8 months since they opened their doors and we caught up with owner Dan Apsee to see how things are going.

L A COCINA

Hi Dan, last time we spoke you were rushing around getting everything ready for the launch. How did it all go?

The launch was a huge success we had a great response from local businesses and was a fantastic opportunity to showcase what we have to offer. Many of the people who attended the launch have been frequent diners of ours.

Has the response to the restaurant been what you expected?

I think the response has probably been a little more than we had expected. I knew when setting the project up that we had a great product and vision for the business. But the popularity of the restaurant has been overwhelming.

Weekends are always bustling and midweek has definitely picked up with our midweek offer of 3 dishes for £11.95 proving extremely popular.

What dishes are you selling a lot of?

I wouldn’t say there is anything on our menu which isn’t selling! We have an extensive range of tapas broke down into ‘meat’, ‘fish’ & ‘Vegetables’. Our homemade lamb and mint meatballs are always a hit, along with our local belly pork with caramelized apples.

The monkfish with lemon & ginger and the pan fried goats cheese with fresh fig and blossom honey all seem to be selling well. We feel we have something for everyone.

How has this sort of restaurant fitted into Bridgend and the offering it has?

When I looked to set up this project there was a gap in the market for a restaurant of its kind. I think bridgend has a lot of great restaurants, but we wanted to provide something a little different. We wanted a product which wasn’t just the fantastic food but the overall experience, through crafted cocktails, authentic Spanish cuisine and an atmospheric venue. We try and look at every detail, even down to the choice of wine and background music.

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What can we expect to see from La Cocina in the future?

We’ve recently launched our ‘alfresco dining’ area in time for the summer so that will be popular. Also our menu will be changing in the autumn so we are currently planning a few dishes for that using some new authentic Spanish ingredients.

We are also launching a new Spanish gin section to our drinks menu with a variety of new gins served in different ways. Like our Sikkum strawberry gin served with fresh strawberries and mint.

We are constantly looking at new things and ways to bring a different experience for the customer.

La Cocina 2 Derwen Road, Bridgend CF31 1LH 01656 769899 www.lacocinatapas.co.uk

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One of the joys of working on Vale Life is meeting new and interesting people with a story to tell.

Mr and Mrs Les Jones welcomed us into their beautiful home in Rhyd-Y-Pandy Road, Swansea.

HOUSE OF FUN

Mr and Mrs Jones are lucky enough to live in a beautiful, secluded setting. The property sits within immaculate grounds, with its own lake (and resident geese!). In their heyday, the couple hosted regular parties with friends and family.

The pool was a big part of the fun as was (and still is) the well-stocked bar!

So when it came to changing their existing timber doors and windows to aluminium bifolds, the Jones’s had no hesitation in turning to Alexander James Bifolds.

“ The downtime and mess were minimal. We feel that the workmanship was first class. The men were pleasant, helpful and extremely clean and tidy.”

How did you hear about Alexander James Bifolds?

We had worked with the company a number of years ago when they changed the timber windows in our lounge to aluminium. We were so pleased with their work, that we were happy to work with them again when we wanted aluminium windows to replace our wooden ones which open out to our indoor pool and those in our bar area.

How did the project go?

It only took a few days to complete.

It was a fairly straight-forward job and the downtime and mess were minimal.

We feel that the workmanship was first class. The men were pleasant, helpful and extremely clean and tidy.

Were you pleased with the overall effect?

We are absolutely delighted with the completed work. The old windows had become worn and tired and we wanted to change them to go with the windows in the rest of the house.

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Alexander James were also able to match the same colour green as the windows in the rest of the house.

What difference have the doors made to the way you live and use the pool room and bar area?

It has made both rooms a lot lighter, more secure, with no draughts and in keeping with the rest of the house.

We are more than pleased with them.

We don’t hold parties like we used to, but we do enjoy having our extended family here for Christmas and holidays.

Would you be happy to recommend them to friends and colleagues?

We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Alexander James to others.

Alexander James Unit 3A, Ashmount Business Park Upper Forest Way, Swansea SA6 8QR 01792 794549 sales@alexanderjamesbifold.co.uk www.alexanderjamesbifold.co.uk

ALEXANDER JAMES

Beautiful Bespoke Bi-Fold and Sliding Doors

01792 794 549

www.alexanderjamesbifold.co.uk Unit 3A Ashmount Business Park, Upper Forest Way, Swansea, Wales SA6 8QR

Part of the AAI Group

Creating a distinctive home is all about choice. Selecting the right fabrics and wallpapers enables us all to stamp our own personality on our surroundings.

Meryl and Jodie from Room Designs in Barry reveals some design inspiration.

ROOM DESIGNS

Dramatic room sets and cameo close-ups both capture moods and illustrate trends. But they also demonstrate a fresh approach to accessible interior design - inspiring everyone and anyone to unleash their inner stylist.

At Room Designs we offer a free design service, where we will visit you in the comfort of your own home and help you create your dream home with our professional interior design service combined with our unbeatable prices.

For this issue of Vale Life, we have put together some trends of what’s popular this season and designs that we feel are on trend.

Also, as a special incentive to Vale Life readers, we are offering 10% off soft furnishings in store when you quote Vale Life.

Wonder walls!

Transform a room with these statement wallpapers to create a feature wall. Ethereal references to weather-worn walls and sophisticated damasks combine with optical effects, pinstripes and marbled swirls in our Elements book of vinyl wallcoverings.

Colourways continue the dramatic tension by embracing moody blues, oxidised reds, rich purples and lustrous metallic. Take a look at our new, stunning, high quality wallpaper instore and online now - many designs at affordable prices.

“ Metallic highlights are right on-trend and ensure the Asteria collection catches the eye from every angle.”

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Fabulous fabrics!

Our latest collections of printed fabrics are as original and as exciting as ever.

This season sees new approaches to classic florals, cool graphics and understated abstracts, enabling an infinite variety of moods and styles to be expressed through a whole world of curtains, blinds, cushions and accessories.

Imbued with the inherent grace of natural linen, the Nomad design is a series of subtle prints enhanced by paste white detailing. Themes range from dreamy painted flowers and folkart references to a flowing ogee damask and batik-like motifs.

Go neutral with curtains and blinds brightening your room with colourful cushions and accessories.

An elegant, striking console table in a beautiful gold finish with geometric mirror shapes.

This family of floral prints captures the essence of a tranquil meadow, with rambling roses, leafy sprigs and hedgerow fruits flourishing amidst scattered posies of wild flowers.

Ambleside is completed by a delicate trellis and a rustic check, all on 100% cotton.

Metallic highlights are right on-trend and ensure the Asteria collection catches the eye from every angle.

Sumptuous burnished velvets, embellished faux silks and glossy geometrics are supported by gleaming textured plains in a suite of radiant colourways.

Inspired by ancient Aztec motifs, the Arizona story blends ombre chenille stripes with leafy trails, smart chevrons, a modern damask and waves embroidered over lustrous satin. All are in a series of subtle palettes created for contemporary lifestyles.

Fantastic furniture!

For sizzling summer we’ve picked out a selection of furniture go with our trends this season. We can complete your whole house here are Room Designs from furniture, soft furnishings to accessories and lighting.

Special Vale Life offer Take a look at our new and improved website now and use code WELCOME20 for 20% off first orders. www.roomdesignsuk.co.uk

Beautifully rectangular mirror in a painted gold finish, perfectly matched to the Verbier Console.

Room Designs (UK) Ltd 42 Park Crescent, Barry CF62 6HE 07540 663 915 or 07801 231 630 info@roomdesignsuk.uk www.roomdesignsuk.co.uk Classic Chesterfield with an alluring crushed velvet finish.

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New Zealander, Nathan Angell, is a talented and creative ironworker based in Dinas Powys.

After a twenty year career in metal fabrication, Nathan decided it was time for a change - still in metal fabrication but, perhaps, a little more creative. Vale Life stepped through his beautiful front gate to find out more…

A NGELL IRONWORK

BESPOKE H ANDMADE IRONWORK

TESTIMONIAL

What customers say…

Nathan helped us design the railings we had in mind, drew up various design options and made sure we were happy before they were made. We were kept up to date with timescales and via pictures and saw them being made.

We wanted a quirky design, as well as a classic railing and he managed to combine the two!

We are very happy with the final railings and gate - all carefully fitted by Nathan, and we are already planning another gate and other jobs! Hannah Evans

“I have over twenty years’ experience in steel fabrication,” What’s your background?

I’m from New Zealand and I’ve been living in Wales for fifteen years. I came to the UK travelling with friends and met a lovely Welsh girl from Pembrokeshire. Allison and I got married five years ago. We live with our dog Rocky in Dinas Powys between Penarth and Barry.

Describe your service and skills…

I have over twenty years’ experience in steel fabrication, and have a wide range of skills in steel and ironwork including design and build, structural steel fabrication and erection, and designing and creating ornamental ironwork such as gates, railings, weather vanes etc.

How long have you been trading/ doing ironwork?

Angell Ironwork was established at the beginning of 2016. It all started when a neighbour asked me to design and make a handrail for his garden steps.

From there I made a themed gate for our house with the silver fern and daffodils theme that we had for our wedding, symbolising the New Zealand/ Welsh connection.

Then one day we had a note through our door from a woman who lives just down the road from us, asking who had made our gate. I called her and she wanted a gate and railings designed and made for her new house in Penarth.

This was my first commission and as they say, the rest is history.

What’s your dream job or commission?

I’ve just recently been trying my hand at blacksmith work and am starting to develop my skill set. I’ve made a few pieces already but, in the future, I would love to expand this and combine my artistic flare into making sculptures.

What do you love about what you do?

I love designing something that is unique to the customer and creating a piece that means something to them. Each piece that I make is designed and made with the customer’s thoughts and ideas in mind. It gives me immense satisfaction to make something with my own hands for a customer, whether it’s a traditional design or something more quirky.

Is any job too small or too large?

No, I like the range of work that I do from fixing up someone’s boat hull to a bespoke electric driveway gates. No job is too big or too small.

“ I love designing some- thing that is unique.”

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Angell Ironwork Call Nathan Angell on 07976 233762 info@angellironwork.com

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“Windows, Doors & Orangeries the way they’re meant to be.”

APPROVED INSTALLER

Future Ideal Homes are proud to announce our new range of windows, doors and orangery systems designed to authentically replicate 19th century timber designs.

Our Residence 9 range is a clever blend of old and new.

It fuses classic aesthetics with a twist of modern material.

If you are looking for kerbside appeal, look no further, the flush sash exterior is timeless and all the glass sightlines are perfectly equal providing symmetry and style not available in other window systems.

Your R9 windows can be truly personalised with dual colours.

For example, you could have Clotted Cream on the outside and English Oak on the inside to match your kitchen decor.

You can experiment by room; if your windows are Cotswold Green, but that doesn’t match your bedroom or bathroom furnishings, then go for a fresh Grained White finish inside.

Dual Colours can also be used to create a Tudor style, try black frames with sashes or vice versa.

For further information or to request a brochure please contact one of our friendly team FREE on 0800 032 0921 or visit our showroom to see this beautiful product.

There’s more online at www.futureidealhomesltd.com

F REEPHONE 0800 032 0921 or 01446 733 455 Website www.futureidealhomesltd.com Email futureidealhomesltd:gmail.com Unit 4, Priority Workshops, Ty Verlon Industrial Estate, Barry CF63 2BE

Choosing bespoke furniture is the best way to ensure that each piece reflects your lifestyle and blends in effortlessly with its surroundings. Once previously seen as an expensive option this has never been less true as we found out by chatting with two customers of family run Designers Sofas Direct.

DESIGNER SOFAS DIRECT Amy Morris

Amy what made you choose Designer Sofas Direct?

Being a part of a local family business I know the importance of shopping and supporting local businesses. Plus they’ve been trading for over thirty years which gave me great confidence in them.

What furniture did you choose, and how did you find the whole process?

I had a custom-made, crushed velvet, corner piece for my living room. I will be honest; I wasn’t an easy customer as my measurements were very big and I knew, in my head, exactly how I wanted it to look. However, from start to finish the whole service I received was outstanding. Lynne kept me informed during the whole build and I was able to view it half way through production.

What do you love most about your new furniture?

I love everything about it, every little detail was finished to perfection I couldn’t be happier, everyone loves my sofa.

Would you recommend Designer Sofas Direct?

Yes, I would definitely recommend them to anyone - in fact after posting a photo of my new sofa on a social media account I’ve had so many texts from family members and friends asking where it was from. People really should try this great, skilled, local company who can make fantastic quality pieces.

I will admit at first I was worried it would cost way more than previous pieces because it was being custommade but it wasn’t! It actually came in cheaper than others I had previously seen. I will be back as I already have plans for another single piece to match my corner sofa.

Derek Campbell Derek, how did you hear about Designer Sofas Direct?

I drove past their showroom; our new house is just behind the Designer Sofas Direct factory.

Amy Morris

What furniture have you chosen?

Sofas; a matching pair of a two seater and a three seater sofa, and we also commissioned a large corner unit for our planned extension. We also had two existing chairs that Designer Sofas Direct have re-upholstered for us, so we have a contrasting suite in another room.

And what made you decide to commission bespoke furniture?

We looked at other furniture stores but they didn’t have the choice of both shape and fabric that my wife and I were looking for. We found that with professional guidance from Lynne and her team, having our furniture made for us gave us much greater choice and enabled us to create spaces that are uniquely ours. Having said that, the two storey showroom at Designer Sofas Direct does have a great range of ready-made furniture to choose from, including over 200 sofas.

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How was the process from start to finish, and would you recommend Designer Sofas Direct?

Absolutely; I couldn’t fault the service - from our first contact to final delivery Lynne helped us a great deal; explaining what they could do for us and how we could basically mix and match whatever we wanted. Communication was great throughout the extended period as we ordered everything together but of course delivery of our final corner unit had to wait for our extension to be completed.

Designer Sofas Direct Unit 21, Millers Avenue Brynmenyn Industrial Estate Brynmenyn, Bridgend CF32 9TD 01656 725525 www.designer-sofas.co.uk

Designer Sofas Direct Unit 21, Millers Avenue Brynmenyn Industrial Estate Brynmenyn, Bridgend CF32 9TD 01656 725525 www.designer-sofas.co.uk

excel INTERIORS THAT

AT LEEKES

“The team at Leekes have exceeded our expectations providing helpful advice and working with us to create our dream kitchen.”

When Mr & Mrs O’Sullivan embarked on some extensive home improvements, a statement kitchen at the heart of their home was a top priority - but this was just the beginning of an even greater challenge for the team at Leekes.

“From the moment we decided on a kitchen style which worked for us, the team at Leekes have exceeded our expectations, providing helpful advice and working with us to create our dream kitchen.”

The home experts were tasked with creating a coherent design scheme and transforming the beautiful countryside residence with inspiring ideas, quality fixtures and a flawless finish.

With the kitchen exceeding expectations, the team at Leekes then took on the bathroom challenge posed by Mr & Mrs O’Sullivan.

The choice of kitchen inspired the interior scheme; with it’s anthracite cabinetry and white worktops providing the starting point for the rest of the living space and continuing the theme into the living area, bathroom and master bedroom.

“We wanted our bathroom to replicate a spa-like sanctuary, ensuring a clutter free space and incorporating suitably stylish yet practical storage solutions.”

In the remainder of the house, with the subtle addition of a variety of fabrics and wallpaper from leading designers including Harlequin and Osborne & Little, the team at Leekes created a sophisticated but cosy living space by layering fabrics to give a chic hotel finish with deep colours giving a really sumptuous feel to the room and adding a quality finishing touch.

“Our experience with the Leekes interior design team was exceptional, they not only interpreted our brief perfectly but also managed and scheduled the whole process for us - we are truly delighted with the end result.”

“We worked closely with the interior design team at Leekes who interpreted our brief completely and have brought it to life. We had specific ideas about the design - but we needed help in pulling it all together to create the right look and feel. We wanted our home to be both relaxing and stylish and the Leekes interior design team provided us with the perfect look.”

Leekes Llantrisant, Cowbridge Road, RCT. CF72 8XU

The Utopia bathroom furniture selected by the couple offers a sleek, stylish and suitably functional addition, complemented by the mosaic tiles and striking Harlequin Momentum wallpaper.

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Tel: 0333 222 4120

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Online: leekes.co.uk

When Dr Maggie Heginbothom of Sully wanted blinds and shutters for her home, she turned to Abode in Penarth. Here she explains why.

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Ian, Owner of Abode Shutters and Blinds

How did you hear about Abode?

Abode was recommended to me by a friend who had recently had shutters fitted in her home. She advised me that Abode had done a really good job, and that their costs were very reasonable compared with competitors.

What work did Abode carry out for you at your home?

I had roof blinds fitted to a sloping window in my lounge, and shutters fitted to the three windows in my lounge, including a large picture window which a competing firm advised me was too difficult to fit shutters to.

How did you find the process?

Within the week following my initial email to Abode, Ian visited my home, he arrived at exactly the time he said he would, and he was very friendly and courteous. He listened to all of my requirements. He assured me that shutters could be fitted to the picture window, and advised me on the weight and manoeuvrability of the shutters taking my mobility issues into account.

He took initial measurements of the windows, left me with a number of brochures, and invited me to visit his shop in Penarth where I could view the blinds on show rather than look at small samples.

It was really helpful seeing the range of blinds and shutters on a larger scale, and made it much easier to decide on the size for the louvers, the type of closing mechanism and the materials to be used in the shutter. I chose 76mm louvers without tilt rods made of phoenix wood - a very lightweight product which is much easier to manoeuvre than MDF. A week later Ian returned to my home, took the final measurements for the blinds and shutters and brought colour charts and samples for me to base my final decisions on. There was an amazing array of fabrics, finishes and colours, and I was able to match my wall colour perfectly.

I paid my deposit, and Ian advised that the blinds would take around two weeks to come back from the manufacturers, whilst the shutters would be 8-10 weeks. Both items arrived exactly on time, and I arranged for Ian to fit them while I was at work.

I had to move some furniture around to provide access to the windows and, when I returned home, not only were my shutters fitted, but my furniture was back in place, and everywhere was clean and tidy!

How long did the process take?

From my initial email the whole process from start to finish took under four months; Abode kept me informed of when the products would arrive and be fitted throughout the process - I couldn’t have asked for better service.

What difference has the work done to the way in which you now enjoy your property?

I am absolutely delighted with my blinds and shutters, when the roof blinds were first fitted I thought that I had left a heater on in my lounge as the room felt so much warmer. The old vertical blinds I had in my lounge reminded me to much of my office at work, and now I have these wonderful shutters.

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The larger picture window has six shutters fitted, with a top split; all twelve sections can be opened independently of each other.

The shutters are so easy to open, the middle shutters bi-fold back and the end shutters open to allow access to my windows.

The light in the room is so much easier to control, and I think the shutters themselves just look fabulous I love walking in the room and seeing them.

Would you recommend Abode to family, friends and colleagues?

I have already recommended Abode to friends and colleagues, and Ian has been out to measure up for shutters at a friend’s house - I am sure she will be as thrilled with the product as I am.

Abode Shutters and Blinds 109 Glebe Street Penarth CF64 1ED 029 2132 1160 sales@abode-blinds.co.uk www.abode-blinds.co.uk

Happy Days is a regular Aladdin’s Cave full of vintage treasures, restored furniture and hand crafted gifts.

Situated just off the High Street behind The Duke of Wellington pub, Happy Days is one of the town’s biggest stores and is home to 30 local stall holders, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

Family Lavisse We are a family owned enterprise specialising in a mix of eclectic,hand-made & up-cycled furniture All materials are locally sourced using recycled products that are designed to breath life into your home and make it unmistakably yours.

Instore is home to an eclectic vintage collection of l unique rustic pine & quality upcycled furniture l antiquities l china & glassware l jewellery l garden reclamation l preloved clothes & accessories l classic LP’s &cameras ShakerChic springs from a passion for creating beautiful living spaces with a love of all things country.

Our range features hanging hearts; coat hooks & shelves; candle holders; bunting and gorgeous handcrafted signs in Welsh and English with special commissions taken for something unique.

The Artisan Market offers locally crafted l art work l cards l cwtch cushions l driftwood wall art l jewellery l wall signs & coat hooks l unique home charms l hand knitted teapots & baby clothes Shaker Chic Deb's Tearoom Upholstery Service Terry bringing back to life faded and tired wingback armchairs and Edwardian occasional chairs, with his meticulous upholstery skills. In addition he offers a competitive, premium upholstery service.

Potters Chalk Collection Paint Stockists Transform your ordinary furniture and accessories into extraordinary beautiful pieces without the need to prime or sand. Whatever finish you want from elegant, contemporary, to Shabby Chic it is possible with Potters Paints. Available in 30 great colours in handy 500ml pots & 100ml tester pots.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Happy Days Vintage Homestore Church Street, Cowbridge CF71 7BB Tel 01446 771191 Email happydaysvintagehomestore.co.uk

Emma Cull, lives in North Cornelly near the beautiful Kenfig Hill Nature Reserve and, in our opinion, has a real talent for interior design, so when she wanted some new furniture, only bespoke would do, and that meant a call to Jack & Rose.

INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED A ND LOVINGLY CREATED

How did you hear about Jack and Rose?

I was introduced to Dave from Jack & Rose through Julie Hughes of Interiors, Bridgend who has supplied our handmade curtains.

Jack and Rose made me exactly what I required, and to the size I required, to fit into my home. The wide choice of fabrics was also a massive positive; the only hard bit was to actually choose as there is so much choice.

What made you want to work with them?

What I loved about the service Jack and Rose provided was to have the bespoke touch of the furniture, which I just couldn’t get in any of the other furniture shops. Dave from Jack and Rose gave us such a high standard of service. If I was unsure of something, Dave would bring the piece of furniture to our home allowing us to see how it would look before he went to the next stage of upholstering, which always gave us great reassurance.

What work did Jack and Rose carry out for you?

My first purchase from Jack & Rose was a two seater settee to fit in our kitchen living area. From seeing the high quality of that piece of furniture, we ordered two Chesterfield style settees as part of a scheme that I was working on with Julie from interiors, who works closely with Dave. Then I bought a French bed for my little girl’s bedroom which needed some work so Jack and rose stripped, painted and re upholstered it it’s beautiful.

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They also supplied the wallpaper to match the bed for our little girl’s bedroom. We then extended our kitchen so needed a bigger settee, so asked Dave to come and advise us on what we could have. From there we purchased two armchairs and another settee, which is very comfortable, with great child proof fabric and also looks good. We have also purchased a super king size bed, dining chairs, and had more furniture re-upholstered.

Did you have your own ideas or did you work with an interior designer?

Yes, I did have my own ideas of what I wanted and how I wanted the furniture to look like, but I did also get some ideas from the internet and Jack and Rose’s show room was a big help.

“Dave from Jack and Rose gave us such a high standard of service.”

Owner, David Waters talks a little about the history of Jack and Rose...

How long has Jack and Rose been established?

Jack and Rose was started by the Rowe company in 1995, supplying House of Fraser, the Rowe company had been manufacturing carpets since 1934. Jack and Rose was set up to complement this side of the business.

Who are the owners of the business?

We have been making the Jack and Rose furniture for the Rowe Company since 2011 and, in 2014, I acquired the brand and specialised in bespoke furniture, supplying interior designers and private clients. I am third generation in the upholstery business.

Are you happy with the end product?

Definitely! We’ve been very happy with every purchase from Jack & Rose; the furniture standards are set very high and have been everything I imagined and more.

after seeing and sitting on the furniture they have made for us. Dave is friendly, professional and very helpful - Jack and Rose have met all our expectations.

How long did the process take?

I do take a long time to make my mind up, but as soon as I decided on what I wanted, the furniture making was around six to eight weeks.

What services do you offer?

We offer a fully tailored service for both individual private clients and interior designers; any size, any shape, any material; if it involves upholstery, we can create it. For sofas, chairs and beds, we can take a drawing or a photo and create almost anything.

Who would you like to work for?

We would love to expand our commercial profile. We enjoy collaborating with designers when they are creating a hotel scheme or working with individual boutique hotels in creating a one-off statement piece to set a style.

Jack & Rose Banthorpe House, Crosby Yard Bridgend CF31 1JZ 01656 768844 info@jackandrose.co.uk www.jackandrose.co.uk

Would you be happy to recommend Jack and Rose to friends and colleagues?

Yes we’d highly recommend Jack and Rose to friends, and anyone else looking for that something special.

My sister and brother have since purchased furniture from Jack and Rose

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Summertime is the perfect time to grow the perfect addition to your seasonal meals - herbs.

For some reason we tend to think there is a mystery involved in growing herbs that we can use in every day cooking. What’s hot in the herb world this summer? We ask our resident gardening expert, Rob Hodge.

THYME TO GROW

Most herbs are easy to grow and the easiest way of growing the majority of them is to buy small pots of young plants from the garden centre or even your local supermarket veg section.

They can be potted on into larger pots to grow indoors, on a patio, or outdoors in the garden. Many herbs are very ornamental and, when added to your flower beds and borders, look fabulous and add a splash of classic gardening know-how to show off with.

Some herbs such as basil and coriander can be grown simply by sowing seed in a pot, letting them grow big enough to cut and use, then wait for them to do it all again.

OUR HERB TOP TEN

Easy to grow herbs Here are ten easy-to-grow herbs that will impress your friends and improve your everyday menu: Mint - as long as you grow it in a pot to contain its roots, it will grow indefinitely. It’s vital for flavouring meat dishes such as lamb and adding a kick to cocktails.

Marjoram/Oregano - both related by name and an herbaceous perennial that dies back in the winter. It’s a must in every single Italian recipe.

Basil - an annual you can grow from seed on your windowsill and is the standard green leaf partner for tomatoes.

Chives - a small bulb and a member of the onion family, best grown outside in a pot or in a garden border, the more you cut it the more it comes back. Use it in omelettes, soups and salads.

Coriander - another easy to grow annual and another to grow on the windowsill. It’s used in Asian and Chinese curries and you’ll find that you can’t live without it!

Parsley - whether it’s the curly or the flat leaved variety, it’s a herb for everyday use in your food. Buying it as a small plant and potting it on is the easiest way to go with this one.

Sage - a hardy shrub that can be grown in a pot or in the border and that vital ingredient of stuffing mixes.

Bay - the noble laurel, used to flavour curries and other spicy dishes. In the garden it can be grown as a large shrub or clipped into classical shapes, either way it provides thousands of leaves to use in your cooking.

Thyme - another hardy shrub from the Mediterranean, great to use in soups and stews and easy to grow in the garden providing it has a bit of winter protection.

Rosemary - a medium height shrub that deserves to be grown close to the kitchen, or even right next to the barbeque! A must with a roast lamb dinner.

“Some herbs such as basil and coriander can be grown simply by sowing seed in a pot.”

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There’s no set procedure to growing herbs. They can be grown individually or mixed together, in pots or borders.

It’s all about discovery, food and fun.

Give it a go, you’ll be surprised!

Rob Hodge Horticulture 01633 744075 www.RobHodgeHorticulture.co.uk

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GENUINE

Summer Sale

UP TO

NOW ON

50% OFF

HALF PRICE

HALF PRICE

TWO POTS WATER FEATURE WITH PUMP WAS £179 NOW £75

6PC CASSARA GARDEN SET WAS £499 NOW £249 BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE BOLLARD SOLAR LIGHTS £2.99 EACH

ARTIFICIAL HANGING BASKETS

12FT FAST SET SWIMMING POOL WITH PUMP WAS £79.99 NOW £40

BUY ONE GET NEXT CHEAPEST FREE

FROST FREE GLAZED POTS

TOPIARY BALLS ALL SIZES

Tel: 01656 723399 Open 6 days a week, Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm

www.seasonsoutlet.co.uk Like us on Facebook and sign up to our newsletter

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

ZANGA RUSTIC FIRE PIT WAS £99.99 NOW £50 Seasons Unit 9/10, Parc-y-bont, Brynmenyn Industrial Estate, Bridgend CF32 9SZ

Sally Evans, owner of Boutique Box says that the her customers come from the Vale, Cardiff and the Welsh valleys, which is surprising given that her boutique is based in Talbot Green. We asked Sally why she thought this was.

BOUTIQUE BOX

Where do the majority of your customers come from?

As we’re based in Pontyclun we do get a lot of cusomers from all over the Vale but word has spread and we see many from Cardiff and the Valleys. When we ask them, they said it’s because you can’t buy our brands on the high street and they are exclusive to us at Boutique Box, which means that they are unlikely to see someone else in the same outfit at an event and that they are more likely to stand out from the crowd. Doesn’t every woman want to do that?

What brands do you stock?

We love our brands and we are always on the lookout for new, exciting ones.

Currently we have Daisy May, Carla Ruiz, Mascara, Dynasty and Nataliya. We also offer a lovely range of accessories and jewellery.

What sets Boutique Box apart?

I believe what makes this boutique stand out is that we are constantly looking for more European styles and we strive to be different. Boutique Box’s newest find is Eastern European with a very couture look and feel - but still at a reasonable price.

Do you cater for all sizes?

Boutique Box attracts customers of all ages, from teenagers to the more mature lady. Also, all sizes are catered for from 8 to 24.

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What do customers love about Boutique Box? Our mantra is to help keep customers look and feel both youthful and beautiful - and these two recent comments agree!

“Not only are the outfits beautiful but Sally takes the time to get to know each and every one of her clients, their wardrobe needs and style preferences.”

Natalie Bell Boutique Box 22 Stuart Terrace, Talbot Green Pontyclun CF72 8AA

C boutiqueboxtalbotgreen

Low Cost Quality Carpets

Also , Did you know that we ?

W

e now supply the wonderful Crucial Trading floorcoverings with their

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Can take away your old carpet.

Move & replace your furniture.

Guarantee all our fitting.

Can make bespoke Rugs & Runners.

Have been supplying & fitting carpets for over 20 years across S.Wales

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Will bring samples to your home for you.

contemporary sisal , jute , coir and wool ranges.

The stripe is their fabulous Audrey range made from 100% UK wool. All Crucial Trading ranges

... and that we also supply Vinyls,

can be made into bound stair runners unique to

Laminate floors & Natural flooring

your house.

quality carpets direct 47 Windsor Rd, Penarth, CF64 1JE 02920 702262 27 Wellfield Rd, Roath Park, Cardiff, CF24 3NZ 02920 191465 www.qualitycarpetsdirect.com

@quality_carpets Quality Carpets Direct

Open: Mon - Sat 10.00-17.00 Penarth View

EDENBROOK I BADGER’S BROOK RISE I YSTRADOWEN I CF71 7TW This exclusive collection of detached 4 bedroom homes in the picturesque village of Ystradowen, is less than a 10 minute drive from the charming market town of Cowbridge and just 13 miles from central Cardiff.

We’re looking for something special

Prices from £389,995

Look no further than Edenbrook.

Click: www.bellway.co.uk Call: 01446 775 435 Visit: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am - 5pm and Thursday 10am - 7pm.

Prices correct at time of print. Pictures for illustration purposes only. Specification on site may differ. Travel times are approximate only and taken from Google Maps.

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Lifestyle

Quality Carpets Direct

NOW OPEN

SPECIAL OFFERS

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QUALITY ASSURED

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CONTACT US TODAY

Relax...it’s a great time to buy!

Exceptional locations throughout South Wales

From our family to yours

Llancarfan

Penmark

LLANHARRY | COITY | TONYREFAIL | TONDU | LLANHARAN | NEWPORT With historically low mortgage rates there has never been a better time to buy.

Logo Versions For just 5% deposit, and the Help to Buy Wales Scheme, you could purchase a brand new home from this award-winning, privately owned house builder.

Help to Buy – Wales – Brand Guidelines

The logo has been created with a limited range of options to allow for consistency of use, whilst allowing for flexibility where clear reproduction may be limited.

Colour

For development details & current availability visit our sales centres or

The colour of the logo should not be altered and should either be in the red and green (with Black text below) colour scheme or presented in black and white as below.

www.llanmoor-homes.co.uk

Please do not change the logo to incorporate company / corporate colours

Sales Centres open Thursday-Monday 11am-5pm Cymorth i Brynu - Cymru Help to Buy - Wales

Cefnogir gan Lywodraeth Cymru

Head Office 01443Cymorth 228413 i

Cymorth i Brynu - Cymru Help to Buy - Wales

Brynu - Cymru Help to Buy - Wales

Quality family homes | Follow us on Cefnogir gan Lywodraeth Cymru

Cefnogir gan Lywodraeth Cymru

The time is now!

Having been in business since 1857 we are often asked for advice, whether it be regarding property sales, changes in the rental market and current legislation, or about agricultural matters.

With this in mind, two of the key questions most frequently asked are: ‘What is the market like at the moment?’ and ‘How should I prepare my home for the market?’. We’ve asked Rhys Gould, Head of Residential Sales at our Cowbridge office, and Hannah Tudor, one of our valuers, to give you their thoughts on the subject.

Rhys Gould If you’ve been thinking of selling your property, the time to move is now.

Whether you’re thinking of upsizing, downsizing or relocating, this is the perfect time of year to plan your move. It’s pleasing to report that market conditions continue to go from strength to strength across South Wales. Since January 2016 Watts & Morgan have been achieving sale prices within 96% of the asking price with an average of 10 viewings taking place before the property is sold (Subject to Contract). It is typically taking us just eight weeks to progress from offer to exchange.

At Watts & Morgan we believe in playing an ongoing supporting role throughout the sales process.

Whether it be Hannah, Rhys, Sam, Kirsty or Matthew who agree the sale of your property, they will always be on hand to manage and support the transaction through from the acceptance of the offer to completion, giving our vendors and the buyers consistency and guidance along the way.

Traditionally Spring and Summer are the prime months to plan your move and we often find increased buying activity during this time of year. However during 2015, we found that this buoyant activity continued into the winter months which has resulted in a positive start to the year, and we remain optimistic that this will continue as we head towards the second part of 2016.

At Watts & Morgan we offer a bespoke, tailored and personal service to our clients which helps to take away the stresses and strains of selling your home. If you are thinking of moving, we would be delighted to provide you with a free valuation and discuss how our bespoke and friendly service can help you.

@WattsandMorgan

Hannah Tudor Presenting your home

Eliminate smells

First impressions really do count and the perfect presentation is so important when selling your property.

Bad smells are the single biggest turn off for prospective buyers. Don’t just cover them up, fix the source of the smell. Clear drains, wash bins, open windows, air the kitchen from old cooking smells, get rid of furniture that is embedded with cigarette smoke and wash bed sheets. Walking into a fresh and clean home sets the best first impression.

Buyer’s really need to connect with your home, visualise how they could live there and make your space their own. From our perspective as agents, it’s important for any home to be presented in the best light especially for when the photographs are taken.

The first thing that potential buyers look at when searching the internet are the property images and so it’s vital to get this right from the start; and for the property to match expectations in the flesh.

Finish Odd Jobs It’s well worth spending a little time & effort to get those small problems fixed. Dripping taps, ill-fitting doors, missing light bulbs, cracked tiles. All these issues send the wrong message to potential buyers, especially those that are naïve & inexperienced.

“Traditionally Spring and Summer are the prime months to plan your move and we often find increased buying activity during this time of year”

wattsandmorgan

Lighting Make sure you have adequate lighting in every room, use subtle lighting to create the right impression in each room and check that all the bulbs work. Buying a few new extra lamps is well worthwhile to lighten darker areas of your home.

Welcome your audience and ensure that the outside space looks as good as the inside. Viewers may form an opinion of your home without even crossing the threshold. If they don’t like what they see, they may not even want to come in.

De-clutter Neutralise and de-clutter as much as you can as it can make a house seem smaller and may distract potential buyers. Box up items you don’t need and store them away in the loft/garage, re-arrange the furniture to create the best feeling of space and remove any pieces that aren’t essential.

People need to be able to envisage what the property would look like if they were living there but still leave some personality. People often find this difficult, so make it easy for them to see all the fantastic living space that you offering them.

wattsandmorgan

BRIDGEND T 01656 644 288 E bridgend@wattsandmorgan.wales

COWBRIDGE T 01446 773 500 E cowbridge@wattsandmorgan.wales

LONDON T 020 7467 5330 E london@wattsandmorgan.co.uk

PENARTH T 029 2071 2266 E penarth@wattsandmorgan.wales

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CARDIFF ROAD, COWBRIDGE £320,000

MARSH WILLOW HOUSE, BRYNNA £499,950

A stylish and immaculate family home to the edge of Cowbridge, conveniently located for its shops and services. Complete with a south facing garden, patio and lawn area, all in the heart of a vibrant market town.

A show stopping Scandinavian-inspired, eco-friendly home.

Contemporary open-plan living space with separate study and cloakroom. The master bedroom spoils you with a dressing room and en suite bathroom. Glorious landscaped gardens with off road parking and a garage.

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OAKMEAD ROAD, MEIROS VALLEY £575,000

PEAR TREE HOUSE, LLYSWORNEY £599,950

An exemplary timber-built home. Lounge, open-plan livingdining-kitchen space. Master bedroom complete with separate dressing room and en suite. Decking to front with superb views. Beautiful gardens to the rear and side.

A sizeable executive family home in the heart of Llysworney which must be viewed for the full scope and size of the accommodation to be appreciated. Set back from the main road, the property has gardens to three sides, off-road parking and garage.

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THE OLD MILL, LLANTRITHYD £1,395,000

THE VINES, SOUTHERNDOWN £475,000

Situated in the most idyllic setting, the Old Mill is one of the Vale’s truly unique properties. Sitting in grounds of approx.

3.65 acres the stylish contemporary accommodation means viewing comes highly advised.

A beautiful, period family home sympathetically modernised to a high standard. Outside you have a private enclosed stone walled garden with off street parking, all situated in the wonderful coastal village of Southerdown.

www.wattsandmorgan.wales

NEWBARN HOLDINGS, FLEMINGSTON, CF62 4QL

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NEWBARN HOLDINGS, FLEMINGSTON, CF62 4QL

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 • Vale of Glamorgan countryside setting • Vale of Glamorgan countryside setting • Four bedroom semi detached house • Three bedroom home with one bedroom annex  • Living room with stone fireplace & Log Burner • Annex currently used as Salon - potential     monthly income welcome to • Open room •  Self sufficient electricity generation via solar panels  plan kitchen/dining      The Mill • Four bedrooms • OPEN TO OFFERS     boasting 6/7 bedrooms, detached home, with approx 5 acres of gard An 19th Century former mill,  Theimposing Mill

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PLYMOUTH ROAD, PENARTH, CF64 3DA  

mouth Road 

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THE MILL, PETERSTON-SUPER-ELY, CF5 6LH   

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welcome to 

 of the   ated on one of Penarth most desirable residential roads is this truly stunning traditional Semi-detached property offering a unique blend     The Mill   and New through complete renovation. The Modern interior of the property is punctuated by traditional features and stunning craftsmanship.   An 19th Century former mill, boasting 6/7 Theimposing Mill    more

 nal Semi-detached property offering a unique blend of the  tuated by traditional features and stunning craftsmanship. 

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Century former mill, boasting 6/7 bedrooms, detached home, with approx 5 acres of garden/land and outbuildings and much

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 

welcome to The Mill

An imposing 19th Century former mill, boasting 6/7 bedrooms, detached home, with approx 5 acres of garden/land and outbuildings and much The Mill more The Mill, Peterston-Super-Ely, CF5 6LH

Plymouth Road, Penarth, CF64 3DA

dharris.co.uk

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Outstanding period residence Superb 40 foot kitchen /diner & living room Two further reception rooms Five double bedrooms, En suite to master Enclosed court yard & garden with detached studio

£1,200,000

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19th century former mill Six/seven bedrooms Two en-suites - potential for more Dining room, study Triple garage, stone stable block and workshop

£1,650,000

check out more properties at allenandharris.co.uk

21 High Street, Barry, Wales, CF62 7EA CALL 01446 747878 EMAIL barry@allenandharris.co.uk  allenandharris.co.uk



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Looking to buy your first home?

2 bedroom homes for sale at £125,000 (70%) in Wenvoe Wales & West Housing, in partnership with Vale of Glamorgan Council, has 16 new 2 bedroom homes for sale at 70% of market value.

These homes are available to first time buyers who are working and can get a mortgage, but cannot afford a suitable property on the open market.

Eligibility criteria apply, including a local connections policy.

The scheme is on a shared equity basis, so though you own the property you only have to raise a mortgage for 70% of the full purchase price. Wales & West Housing will retain the remaining 30% charge on the property.

For more information, contact our Housing Options Team

0800 052 2526

Welcome to Vale Life Magazine’s Social Life section, a veritable who’s who in and around the Vale.

SOCIAL L IFE CARDIFF

Women in Wales charity donates £20,000 to fund Save the Children projects in Wales The 24th annual Women in Wales Luncheon took place on 22 April in the SSE SWALEC stadium, Cardiff paying tribute to the Queen’s 90th Birthday with a Royal Celebration theme.

Bluestone National Park Resort and Coast & Country Holidays were headline sponsors.

Guest speaker, Lt. Col Sir Malcolm Ross, GCVO OBE and the wonderful Vernon Sisters entertained guests as well as a fashion show from eight leading Welsh boutiques.

The fabulous Auction items ranged from Wimbledon Centre court tickets and Royal Ascot Ladies day tickets to a Mediterranean cruise and other money can’t buy items and experiences.

We look forward to celebrating the 25th Anniversary of this very special Lunch in April 2017. www.womeninwales.org.uk

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COST OF CANCER BALL

Monies raised for very worthy cause Cost of Cancer held their 2nd annual charity ball on the 14th May 2016 in Blancos Hotel in Port Talbot.

They raised a huge £4800 on the night with help from Andrew Thomas the auctioneer from HRT Estate Agents. There was a fantastic atmosphere with music from Omega Blend. Nicky Moss the Founder and Emma Thomas one of the trustees would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came. Cost of Cancer helps cancer patients and their families with the financial implications that not many people think about when they’re diagnosed with the disease. We help with gas, electricity, parking costs, the petrol to and from hospital and several other expenses.

Nicky Moss Founder with her husband Andy Moss

Nicky Moss Founder and Emma Thomas Trustee

If you or anyone in your family are struggling financially please feel free to get in touch, you can go onto the website www.costofcancer.org.uk or email info@costofcancer.org.uk

Emma Thomas Trustee with her husband Christopher Thomas and their children Dale and Shannon Thomas

Jenny Tippett, Natalie Calo, Isabel Sanchez Roberts, Sarah Lewis and Helen Taylor

Donna Sharland, Steph Webber, Charlotte Curtis, Tisha Barnes, Helen Jarman and Emma Harvey

Harry Owens, Gareth Loye, Andy Moss, Luke Otley and Ian Taylor

Guests enjoying themselves watching the auction

The auctioneer Andrew Thomas from HRT Estate Agents in action

Guests enjoying the evening

Emma Thomas with Andrew Thomas showing off one of the auction lots

The brilliant live band Omega Blend

Some guests enjoying the band

Some more guests enjoying the music

Emma & Dale Thomas enjoying the evening

Paul Barry and team from USTU Hair and Beauty Salon

97

MISKIN MANOR HOTEL

Ascot Ladies Day Child bereavement charity 2 Wish Upon A Star has held an Ascot Ladies Day at Miskin Manor Hotel. The event offered everything you’d expect from a day at the races without the 240 mile round trip!

Guests were transported to the verve of Ascot whilst enjoying the Grade II Listed hotel and its lush gardens.

With a beautiful three course lunch and the races being shown throughout the day, guests were able to embrace the Ascot atmosphere. Book makers were also on hand to give an authentic feeling of being at the famous ladies day and all the excitement that comes with it.

Founder Rhian surrounded by friends and colleagues

It was a fantastic opportunity for those in attendance to get out their best hats and dresses all while raising money for a fantastic and deserving charity. The event ended with raffle draws and prizes for best hat and best dressed. For more information about 2 Wish Upon A Star please visit: www.2wishuponastar.org or call 01443 853 125

Prosecco being poured

Rhian, founder of 2Wish and friends

Sun shone through making it a beautiful day on all counts!

Ladies of 2Wish

Guests were able to get a taste of Ascot all the way from Cardiff

Guests of 2Wish enjoying the day

Embracing the Ascot Style of glamour and big hats

Founder Rhian and Nicola Abraham

A raffle was held for the best hat and best dressed gentleman

The event took place at the beautiful Miskin Manor

98

Premier Club in association with Glewstone Court Hotel & Restaurant are proud to be hosting a Wedding Showcase. This will be a superb opportunity for couples to view the very finest wedding suppliers in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.

WEDDING SHOWCASE The perfect location Glewstone Court makes for a breathtaking wedding venue at any time of the year. Offering exclusive use of the hotel so you and your guests can make the most of the beautiful Grade II listed Georgian Manor House and its grounds. The splendour of the country house and its surrounding beauty, with stunning views of the Herefordshire countryside, is an amazing backdrop for all weddings, with a special and relaxed ambience. With friendly and dedicated staff available throughout your entire stay for all your needs, nothing is ever too much trouble.

Whether you’re planning an intimate wedding ceremony, a large wedding reception, or wish to arrange for a marquee on the lawns, Amy, the events manager, will be on hand throughout the entire process to help create and plan the perfect country house wedding.

Testimonial “The perfect wedding venue. We couldn’t have wished for a better venue for our wedding in August this year.

Amy helped us plan our wedding just the way we wanted it - relaxed, friendly and informal. We specifically didn’t want a ‘template’ wedding and with the help of Amy, her parents Karen and Gary, and their manager Sam, our day was so special. We really felt that the wedding was ours as they were very accommodating to our requests.

The setting is perfect for photographs, both inside and also in the grounds.

Having exclusive use of Glewstone Court for the day ensured a relaxed atmosphere for us and our guests.

Everyone was so attentive yet we felt that the day was truly ours.”

Best Wishes, Jan Hartley (Bride)

What to expect at the Showcase See some of the leading wedding suppliers to give you some added inspiration and, of course, our expert sales team will be on hand to give you a guided tour of our stunning grounds and beautiful venue.

Please feel free to bring family and friends to share in the experience.

If you would like to join us on the day then please visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/glewstonecourt.

Showcase your wedding business!

If you would like to showcase your business at the event, then please contact Chris Howell on 07837 940639 or PM your details to Chris at chris@goodlifepublishing.co.uk 99

Wedding Showcase Saturday 8th October 2016 11am - 4pm Glewstone Court Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 6AW 01989 770367 info@glewstonecourt.com www.glewstonecourt.com

C glewstonecourt Selected images courtesy of Caz Holbrook Photography

SUMM ER ‘SPA’ TIM E AT TH E VAL E R E SORT

The Vale Resort offer a ‘5 Bubble Spa’ experience that will not disappoint

SPA DAYS:

FACILITIES INCLUDE:

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Euro Widows Spa Day £55*pp

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19 treatment rooms

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Coconut Facial Spa Day from £59†pp

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Three double suites

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Sunday Lunch and Spa £69*pp

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Six relaxation zones

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Sunshine Spa and Dine £55*pp

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20m pool, sauna and steam room

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Summer Spa Breaks from £75

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FREE parking

* pp

For our full range of spa days and breaks visit www.vale-hotel.com/special-offers

01443 665888 | www.vale-hotel.com Hensol Park, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, CF72 8JY *Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability. †Sat & Sun supplement £10pp.

Wales’ Leading Spa Resort

THANK YOU Thanks for taking the time to read this edition of Vale Life magazine.

Vale Life is the Vale Of Glamorgan’s premier lifestyle magazine.

We print 10,000 copies of each edition and cut no corners on design, production and the quality of our print.

Talking about printing, we source pretty much everything locally, and over 95% of Vale Life’s turnover is reinvested back into the community of South Wales.

If you have a business and are interested in promoting your goods or services to an aspirational audience in the Vale then Vale Life is almost certainly right for you.

Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts Editor jennifer@valelife.co.uk

“Follow your heart, not your head.”

Kevin Green, Wealth Coach www.kevingreen.com

P ROMOTING YOUR BUSINESS We value our advertisers. We appreciate the trust they place in us by promoting their businesses in our magazines.

With our local partners, we currently publish a range of high quality quarterly titles across Wales.

You can advertise your business from as little as £35 per season in this magazine.

Pick-up-ability!

Our magazines aren’t like other magazines. They have real pick-up appeal - in fact, they really do go like hot cakes.

Quality comes first... along with the environment.

We’re passionate about quality. The magazines are beautifully written and designed, and printed locally in South Wales on high quality paper (and no nasty varnishes or lamination we’re as green as green can be).

Quality distribution to an affluent, aspirational audience...

We distribute our magazines to over 1,000 carefully selected outlets across South Wales.

We’d love to have your business on board.

If you’d like to promote your business or service in our magazines, please get in touch, we’d love the opportunity to work with you.

OUR TITLES We proudly publish four Life-style magazines and one business to business title.

Vale Life (our first magazine).

This covers the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan - the most southerly county in Wales and deemed to be the most affluent. Vale Life was the first magazine we published.

City Life The premier lifestyle magazine for Cardiff, Wales’ capital city.

The magazine is delivered to all areas of Cardiff.

Valleys Life At the heart of the South Wales Valleys. From the Neath Valley in the West to Blaenau Gwent and Pontypool in the East.

West Life Covering Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and coastal Ceredigion, West Life is in touch with the relaxed lifestyle of this very special part of Wales.

In Business Wales’ premier magazine for people in business. This is the kind of publication people in business want to read; interesting, inspirational and aspirational.

WHAT A DVERTISERS SAY We proudly publish four Life-style magazines and one business to business title.

“The best advertising we’ve ever done!”

Andy Bradshaw, Partner, Hamptons, Penarth.

“Honestly, the best response I’ve ever had.”

Matt Mullooly, Owner, Northern Star, Penarth.

“At last, advertising that really delivers.”

Ann Bryl, Owner, Bryl’s Boutique, Barry.

“A truly astonishing response.”

Russell Scott-Lawson, Owner, Hawkes, Cardiff.

“The experience I have had with this magazine has restored my faith in advertising. Gauci Organic Candles is a small business with an equally small advertising budget. We have to make every pound count and that’s what we get with Vale Life, City Life and Valleys Life. It’s refreshing to find a magazine that really understands my business. They are never short of ideas. I recommend them whenever I can.”

Spiro Gauci, Owner, Gauci Organic Candles, Cardiff www.gaucicandles.co.uk “These are beautiful publications. We love working with people who are passionate about what they do.”

Spiro Borg, Spiros Caterers, www.spiros.co.uk We’d love the opportunity to show you what a truly effective campaign in our publications can achieve.

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St P Peters eters H Hall, all, St Peters Peters Street, Street, Cardiff Cardifff CF24 3BA T el: 029 2049 4425 • www.spiros.co.uk www w..spiros.co.uk • info@spiros.co.uk inffo o@sp os.co.uk o@spir Tel: Find us o on nF Facebook acebook @SPIROSCATERERS @SP IROSCA AT TE TERERS