 The owners of an 18th century coaching inn, hotel and eatery in the heart of the historic market town of Machynlleth are investing in staff development as the business bounces back from the Covid-19 pandemic. Charles Dark and his wife, Sheila Simpson, from The Wynnstay, are confident of a busy summer ahead now that lockdown restrictions are being lifted. They hope that the predicted UK staycation boom will see a repeat of record business last August when takings were 40 per cent up on 2019.
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 One Powys business has picked up a major international award from top travel website TripAdvisor despite the challenges of the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Old Vicarage, a Bed and Breakfast in Llangurig, near Llanidloes, has been awarded a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, putting it amongst the top 10% of hotels and B&Bs in the UK.  Bottle nose Dolphins in Cardigan Bay. Image: Steve Hartley, Dolphin Survey Boat Trips. Spring is one of the best times of the year to see rare wildlife and get up close to nature in the beautiful countryside of Mid Wales.
This unspoilt region in the heartland of Wales has an abundance of natural environments and some of the rarest species of birds and animals in the UK, including visiting ospreys, red kites, otters, beavers and even dolphins.  Talyllyn Railway and the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Tywyn were both winners at the Heritage Railway Association’s annual awards, which were held virtually this year.
The world’s first preserved railway, The Talyllyn received the Internal Communications Award for its Talyllyn Control Centre (TCC) public on-line subscription service while the museum won the Heritage Railway Magazine Interpretation Award.  The reopening of Talyllyn Railway in its 70th anniversary year has begun.
King’s Café at Wharf Station is open with heated outdoor seating under the main station canopy, as well as further covered space under a pair of marquees.  Tributes have been paid to a passionate ambassador for the Welsh and British tourism industry who died on Wednesday at the age of 96.
Pam Powell, MBE, from Rhayader, travelled the world with Wales Tourist Board (WTB) and British Tourist Authority (BTA) to provide Welsh teas at tourism trade and public exhibitions.  Tourism leaders in Mid Wales have welcomed today’s Welsh Government’s decision to reopen indoor hospitality and the wider tourism sector on May 17.
First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the plans to lift lockdown restrictions on hospitality and tourism following a call from the Covid-19 Tourism Taskforce, set up by Welsh Government, to bring forward the reopening dates in line with England and Scotland. The taskforce represents the hospitality and tourism industry in Wales.  After months of staying at home to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, millions of people across the UK are longing to escape to the countryside for a holiday or short break.
There’s no better place to relax and immerse oneself in beautiful countryside and spectacular scenery than Mid Wales, the rural heartland of Wales which offers something for everyone.  The managers of a five star caravan holiday home park on the Shropshire/Powys border are expecting a busy year now that Covid-19 travel and tourism restrictions are being lifted.
Russell Midgley and Nikkole Pedder took over as managers of the picturesque Seven Oaks Holiday Home Park at Coedway, between Shrewsbury and Welshpool, on March 1 last year, shortly before the first Covid-19 lockdown. Tourism leaders in Mid Wales have backed a call by a Welsh Government taskforce to bring forward the reopening of indoor hospitality and the wider tourism sector.
Under the existing plans for Wales, outdoor hospitality and tourism are set to reopen on April 26, with indoor hospitality and indoor tourism attractions earmarked for the end of May. |
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