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ED SHEERAN topped the list of most popular first dances at Welsh weddings in 2018, occupying both the number one and number two spots for brides and grooms taking their first spin on the dancefloor this year with his hits ‘Perfect’ and ‘Thinking Out Loud’. One of the world’s biggest music stars, Ed Sheeran was the first artist to ever play four consecutive nights at Principality Stadium back in June this year, where more than 200,000 fans flocked to the…

Kicking off the 2018 Cardiff International Film Festival at USW’s Atrium, a short film about falling in love with your partner-in-crime, and an epic dance-filled romp through late-adolescence in London. As I sit, nervous and glass of red in hand at the opening of the Cardiff International Film Festival, I consider two things. What am I drinking? It really was quite lovely, and more apprehensively, how long is the night going to be? I spend the first part of my…

Three major Cardiff employers have received Credit Unions of Wales Awards for helping to improve the financial health of their workforce. Cardiff Council, Cardiff Bus and the Cardiff-based offices of Legal & General were honoured for supporting the welfare of their staff by encouraging them to access a range of affordable financial services from their local credit union. All three companies received their awards from BBC broadcaster Jennifer Jones at a ceremony in The Pierhead, Cardiff Bay on International Credit…

Tenovus Cancer Care is celebrating its most successful ever corporate partnership after Brains Brewery and Coffee#1 staff raised more than £150,000 to help support cancer patients. Staff took the company’s fundraising efforts beyond the landmark £150,000 total by tackling the fastest zip line in the world, at the Zip World centre in North Wales. It was the latest in a host of fundraising challenges and events by Brains and Coffee#1 staff, which have included treks to the summit of Kilimanjaro,…

Arts Council of Wales and BBC Wales are calling for talented Welsh artists and bands to apply for the Launchpad fund. Launchpad will offer grants of up to £2,000 to help artists or bands to fulfil their potential and reach the next level. Aimed at emerging musicians that already demonstrate promise, Launchpad is part of the Horizons Gorwelion scheme to develop new and independent contemporary music in Wales. Launchpad was started in 2014 and has supported over 135 artists, from…

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has installed a replica cemetery at Cardiff Castle to mark the centenary of the Armistice. • The headstones represent the more than 30,000 Welsh war casualties from the First World War and highlight the different divisions which contributed to the war effort. • New accompanying exhibition Shaping Remembrance tells the CWGC story, and how Wales played a part in the fighting and commemoration of the First World War. • Exhibits include a letter from…

On 29th October, our reporter Beth Girdler- Maslen had the pleasure of attending the launch of Head of Steam, a new bar and restaurant, specialising in craft beers. Upon entering the venue, I was astounded by how big the inside was, with a large and full bar taking centre stage on the ground floor. Stocked to the brim with over 40 different gins, with countless craft beers and a promise to rotate when more craft beer comes through, Head of…

  In the year that marks the centenary of the end of the First World War, Cardiff’s Field of Remembrance will open to the public at Cardiff Castle with a special service of Remembrance on Wednesday 7th November.   The Field of Remembrance features more than 6,000 tributes from members of the public to Service men and women, each carrying a personal message to someone that has lost their life during or after the First World War.   The National…

A local retired portrait artist, 73 year-old Terry O’Callaghan, has painted a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and generously donated it to be auctioned off by the Royal British Legion. The portrait took over 3 weeks to complete, and has been well received by  the Queen who wrote back to him that she was ‘very pleased with the portrait’ and has graciously thanked him for it. Mr O’Callaghan said:’I did tell Her Majesty that…

One of Wales’ top Michelin star chefs, Chris Harrod of The Whitebrook Restaurant with Rooms was among the four winners of Great British Menu last week. He won the final and was awarded with the honour of taking his show stopping dessert to the Great British Menu banquet at the Great Hall of St Bartholomew’s Hospital which will thank NHS heros from around the country. Chris won the Wales regional heat to go through to represent Wales in the final. Chris’…