Mid Wales Gin Festival

Recently, I interviewed Laura Gallagher of Arvon Ale House all about a new and exciting event happening in the town of Llandrindod Wells very soon.

llandrindodlife: What is the event?

Laura Gallagher: The event we have planned is the first ever Mid Wales Gin Festival!

When and where is the Mid Wales Gin Festival being held? 

It is on Saturday 27th May 2017, at Pavilion Mid Wales in Llandrindod Wells. 
 

Who can attend? Where can the tickets be purchased?
 

Anyone over 18 can attend. The tickets cost £8 and can be purchased from Arvon Ale House, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells or online from Eventbrite (online booking fee applies). If you want to be sure of your place at the event then buy in advance but this is a big venue so we hope that there will be some tickets available at the door. The ticket price also includes a complementary commemorative gin glass and a gin bottle.   

What will be happening at the event?
 

Well firstly there's the gins. We have sourced all the gins available from across Wales and the bordering counties. So a selection of 38 gins from 19 producers. There will be producers there too, to answer any questions you might have about gin.  And believe me they love talking about gin and how they make theirs.  

Then there’s the party!  We have made the theme Swing Time (1930’s, 1940’s).  There will be a 6-piece swing band called Donnie Joe’s American SwingBand, playing at both sessions.  MidWales Jive and Aber Swing are coming along and will be providing a free swing-dance workshop.  So lots of music from the swing era and lots of dancing.  

Snack plates will be available - all the things that people on Facebook told us went well with gin.

There will also be a full bar at the event serving hot drinks and a range of soft and alcoholic drinks.
 

What is the sell out feature of the event? Why will people want to attend?
 

Local and lovely gins!  Swing music and dancing! Beautiful costumes! Beautiful venue!
 

What's so special about gin? Why a gin festival?
 

All of these gins are artisan products, made in small batches and are not readily available.  Some of the gins have been specially made with the festival in mind.  At our festival they will all be available under one roof.  The producers use local botanicals picked from the surrounding area, even from their own farms and gardens!  Each gin is made in a slightly different way and this results in them being different from each other.  Each gin capturing the essence of where it is made and the passion of the people that make it.  We thought that deserved a celebration.

Will there be a particular dress code for the festival?
 

There isn’t a dress code; people can wear what they feel comfortable in.  However lots of people are dressing up to match the swing theme of the event.  So 1930’s/1940’s/swing style and there are prizes for best dressed.  So dress casual or smart, or dress like you’ve just walked out of a black and white movie!  Or somewhere in between - add a hat or just wear a feather in your hair!  It’s up to you.
 

How do you think the Mid Wales Gin Festival will benefit the community of Llandrindod Wells? 

We want to make sure that Llandrindod Wells is recognised for all the wonderful things that happen here.  We hope that bringing the gin revolution out of the cities and into our town will help with that.  Also we want to see the beautiful Pavilion building in full swing!   

Can you describe the event in three words?
 

Gin.  Swing-time. Party.

This sounds like a tremendous new exciting event that the community of Llandrindod Wells should feel very lucky to have a chance to be a part of. So get yourself down to Pavilion Mid Wales on 27th May to see for yourself what the Mid Wales Gin Festival is all about; just another shining example of just one of the brilliant events happening here in #llandrindodlife!

With thanks to Laura Gallagher for her time and the pictures included in this blog post.

Half Term Activities in Llandrindod Wells

Saturday 18th February

21:00 Live Music - Out of Order @ Llanerch Inn

Sunday 19th February

10:00 llandrindodlife social run

 

Monday 20th February

09:00-10:00 Intensive Swimming Lessons @ Llandrindod Sports Centre

13:00-14:30 Soccer Skills @ Llandrindod Sports Centre

Tuesday 21st February

09:00-10:00 Intensive Swimming Lessons @ Llandrindod Sports Centre

10:00-11:00 Snorkeling @ Llandrindod Sports Centre for 8+ year olds

10:00-15:00 Athletics Day @ Llandrindod Sports Centre

Wednesday 22nd February

09:00-10:00 Intensive Swimming Lessons @ Llandrindod Sports Centre

10:30-11:45 Half Term Craft Session @ Llandrindod Wells Library

11:00-12:00 Family Swim @ Llandrindod Sports Centre

14:30-16:30 llandrindodlife children's off road adventure @ Llandrindod Wells Lake

Thursday 23rd February

09:00-10:00 Intensive Swimming Lessons @ Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre

10:30-12:30 Bouncy Castle @ Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre for under 8 year olds

Friday 24th February

09:00-10:00 Intensive Swimming Lessons @ Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre

Saturday 25th February

20:00 Big Night Out 4 @ Royal British Legion

21:00 Commitments Solo Tribute

Sunday 26th February

16:00 Folk Session @ Arvon Ales

19:30 DodTownExtreme and Dodgethebullet presents; Gaz Brookfield @ Rock Park Heritage Centre


Llandrindod Sports Centre also have extra swimming sessions Monday to Friday. Between 11am and 1pm and between 3pm and 4pm is public swimming. Between 2pm and 3pm is fun splash. 

There is also an offer to use the Sports Hall over the half term break with it costing only £10 to hire the full hall between 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday. You can also hire just one court for £3. 

The all weather pitch can be hired Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm with it costing just £10 for half a pitch.  

The National Cycle Museum is also open during half term on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am until 4pm. 

If you are organising an event over the Half Term break which is not included in this post; please do get in contact and it will be added!

Why should YOU love Llandrindod Wells?

NEW TOWN BRANDING

Llandrindod Wells has recently been re-branded as Llandrindod Wellness as part of the Welsh Governments support for the Powys Local Growth Zones initiative with the appointment of Llandrindod Wells' Town Champion, Jude Boutle. 

"Our place brand is Llandrindod Wellness or Llawen-drindod.

Our brand is grounded in our spa town heritage and recognises that natural health and wellness are increasingly important in today's world. After all, our traditional town emblem features Hygieia the Goddess of Health."

TOWN WIFI

 

One of the things that has arisen from the Llandrindod Wellness town branding is the launch of the town's WiFI system, installed at different sites around the town including the train station, Middleton Street, Temple Gardens, Rock Park and the Lake. 

"The system will benefit local people, residents and visitors. Not only will Llandrindod Wells be able to use the system to showcase what the town has to offer, but it could become a great tool for the town's businesses to inform the way they market their business in the future" ~ Avril York, Powys council's cabinet member for regeneration 

LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT SHOPS & BUSINESSES  

Llandrindod Wells is so lucky to have locally owned friendly shops and businesses such as Happy Home Gift Company and Junk n Disorderly amongst many more. Shops and local businesses such as these make Llandrindod such a welcoming town with so many things to look at and buy, proving that the Victorian Spa town is flourishing in the 21st Century. Llandrindod is blessed with a diverse range of shops and businesses selling an assorted and wide range of gifts and items.

Here are just a few of the shops, businesses and services available to the Llandrindod Wells community. 

SHOPS:

gift shops, charity shops, book shop, supermarket, electrical shops, furniture shops, newsagents, butchers, bike shop, pubs and many more...

SERVICES:

doctors, hairdressers, travel agents, hospital, dance centre, leisure centre, railway, bus routes, taxi, gym, opticians, pharmacy and many more...

FIRST MICRO-PUB IN POWYS

 

Llandrindod plays host to Arvon Ales the first Micro-Pub in Powys. This Micro-Pub does not only sell a wide range of locally sourced delicious ales, but also has Folk Sessions every 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Their first Blues and Acoustic Jam Session is due to start May 15th at 4pm. People travel from far and wide to Llandrindod Wells just to visit this friendly, unique Micro-Pub so this is definitely one of the factors that help to enhance life in Llandrindod Wells.

OUTDOOR SPACE

 

It is easy to see why Llandrindod is such a great place to live even when you just take a walk around the town. There is so much green space available to the community. This ranges from Temple Gardens, The Rock Park, The Lake, and lots of footpaths around the town and through the fields in the local area. This green space provides a place for the community and visitors to relax, have family days out, walk the dog, play sport and take in the views......

STUNNING SCENERY

 

If you have never walked, ran, cycled or taken the car up to the top of  Little Hill above Llandrindod Wells Golf Course, you are missing out and I strongly advise you to. On a clear day, you can see for miles, and even when the weather isn't as nice, the view is still breathtaking. 

HISTORY

 

I think it is important to know and recognise the history of where you live. Llandrindod Wells is a Victorian town with many stories to tell of days gone by. We should embrace this. There is no escaping the history as if you walk anywhere in the town you are surrounded by tall grand Victorian buildings which help to convey Llandrindod's grand history. Without this history, Llandrindod would not be the town and place it is today and this makes the town very special.

NATIONAL CYCLE MUSEUM

 

Llandrindod Wells also plays host to the National Cycle Museum located at the Automobile Palace on Temple Street. This museum is stooped in history and personally, I think it's possible to spend hours in the museum pouring over the history and when you leave you will feel as if you know all about the history of cycling and probably want to get out on your bike right that minute. The collection also draws people into Llandrindod Wells from afar and is a popular tourist attraction to visitors. 

 

COMMUNITY

 

Llandrindod is a special place, not least because of the community feeling within the town. Everyone has a kind word for everyone and people look out for each other.

Community links are an important part of Llandrindod life and without this thriving community, Llandrindod would not be such a fabulous place to live. The community can pull together during times of hardship and the community can act as a powerful and strong voice to stand together as one and fight for all the extraordinary factors that encompass all of life in Llandrindod.

LLANDRINDOD WELLS IS WELL AND TRULY BACK ON THE UP

 

The reopening of the Grand Pavilion, the development of Riversimple's hydrogen cell powered green car, the all new Rasa in Llandrindod Wells, Play Radnor's £250,000 lottery grant, the funding for the successful Town Champion for another year, the new birthing centre being developed at the hospital, the launch of Llandrindance aiming to get the whole town dancing, nine new businesses have opened or are opening in recent months...these are just some of the reasons why Llandrindod is continuing to flourish and why I am happy to say I am proud to live in this special town and be part of life in Llandrindod Wells. 

I hope I have shown you why YOU should love YOUR town and YOUR community. I am committed to helping people realise this town is a special place and fully enhance #llandrindodlife

Arvon Ales

Arvon Ales located along Temple Street is Llandrindod's very own Micropub. There are about 200 of these Micropubs in England but Llandrindod Wells has the privilege and honour of being host to the first in Powys. The pub has an emphasis on serving good quality real ales whilst providing a welcoming place for people to chat, relax, meet new people and feel they belong to the strong community of Llandrindod Wells. It is only natural the Micropub does not have televisions, WiFi or music as the emphasis is on the good old fashioned tradition of excellent ale and real people and this is something, the owner Laura Gallagher feels makes the place so special. 
   

Some of the ales on offer at Arvon Ales

 
Laura and John opened up the doors of Arvon Ales to the community of Llandrindod Wells in November 2014. They effectively "stole" the idea and model of developing a Micropub by converting an empty shop into a friendly and cosy bar and brewing ale in a low risk way. After visiting several Micropubs themselves they thought they would give it a go at combining their love of ale into a business idea and this has proved highly successful and a real hit with people of this old Victorian spa town in Mid Wales.

Arvon Ales has a large quality and choice of real ale available and this is paramount with the business being awarded the Campaign for Real Ale Award (CAMRA). Although Arvon Ales are proud of the fact most of the ales are sourced from a 30 mile radius the Micropub actually has it's own small brewery where some of the ales are fermented in a safe way and this is one of the reasons why the Ale House has achieved the CAMRA award as the beer is kept really well. This encourages people to come into Arvon Ales and try out the beer and experience a completely different environment to a normal pub. 

CAMRA award

Laura's favourite ale at the moment is the Sarah Hughes Ruby Mild which she describes to have a full malty rich taste. March is Welsh Beer and Cider month at Arvon Ales with all the draughts beers selling this month being produced in Wales. You can see everything in the cellar here.

March is Welsh month at Arvon Ales

"Last week we had offerings from Tudor in Blaenau Gwent, Big Hand from Wrexham, Heavy Industry from Denbighshire, Cwrw Ial from Mold and Waen Brewery from right here in Powys."

Lots of people that come to drink ale and socialise at Arvon Ales are people who have stopped going out drinking in bigger pubs on nights out but are still looking for real ale and a friendly atmosphere to socalise. People come from all over the place to Llandrindod Wells, even from as far as Aberystwyth just to visit Arvon Ales and this certainly is an asset to the town. 

One of the exciting things which happens at Arvon Ales is the folk sessions every second and fourth Sunday of the month from 4pm.  This attracts numerous musicians from the local area and I can imagine the place becomes extremely lively at these events.

Here's an example of the music produced at the folk session. You can view more of these clips here.
 

A Blues Session is the next potential event Arvon Ales has on its radar in the way of music so if you are interested and want this to happen get in touch. As Laura says "the more the merrier".
 

Folk session fun

The Art Wall within Arvon Ales features an exhibition of art from the National Cycle Museum located in Llandrindod Wells and Laura is hoping it will soon feature art work from the Radnorshire Museum. 

The Art Wall featuring work 
by local artist, Amanda Skipsey

 
Here is what some of the community of Llandrindod Wells and the surrounding area have had to say about Arvon Ales on their Facebook page and tripadvisor.

"We visited this fantastic pub on Saturday and were greeted with the warmest of welcomes from the owner Laura and had a brilliant night talking with many of the friendly locals here. The ale was in first class condition too so I probably had more than I should have done (ahem). If ever you are in the area and enjoy a pint or few of ale or proper cider then I cannot recommend this pub highly enough."~Trevor Harris

"This is just what the town needed superb little ale house with friendly owners to boot! Always an excellent selection of unusual beers not the run of the mill stuff and with the added bonus of carry outs for those cosy nights in! Thanks guys keep up the good work x"~Jenny Phillips

"Beers - Always spoilt for choice. Warm welcoming atmosphere. Laura and John superb hosts. Always making new and re aquainting with old friends . A wonderful bubbly place."~Lucy Sidaway

"The best beer I've sampled in ages and as for the whiskey !!!!"~Pete Anderson

"A proper pub! I got a good vibe as soon as I walked through the door. No TV, games machines, piped music or nonsense! Friendly landlord & landlady. 5 real ales on tap (although we kept coming back to the moreish Cwrw Ial Pothole Porter). Excellent selection of other drinks: a real cider, excellent collection of whisky (particularly Irish whiskey. I wish this was my local!"~Eleanor C

"I call in here about two times a week and they always have five real ales on and 2 or 3 ciders. It's a lovely clean bar with good seating and art work by local artists on show. The bar has a very everyone is welcome feeling and has a good mix of ages."~Llandrinod furniture

Laura describes Llandrindod Wells as "full of life" and I think this statement is true of Arvon Ales too. 

"There are lots of things going on and lots to do in Llandrindod Wells and it's a shame that some of the community don't realise this. We need to break through that negative energy and help people to understand Llandrindod is a place full of life."

If you want to experience the old tradition that is coming quickly back into fashion with the high stresses of life in the 21st century, I advise you to visit Arvon Ales where I am sure you will be able to find peace and time to relax whilst enjoying a truly satisfying pint (or two!) of real ale.