Selection of the most read stories in North Wales in 2023

For the last 12 months we have been bringing you the stories that matter to the region.

As the year comes to an end, we look back at a selection of the most read stories from the Rhyl Journal, North Wales Pioneer, and Denbighshire Free Press websites.

JANUARY

• Cold weather gripped the region at the start of 2023, and the most popular online story in January featured a video of parked cars sliding on a frozen car park in Prestatyn ,

Gemma Williams, who owns The Little Cheesemonger, had parked her car at the Healthy Prestatyn Iach Ty Nant, a medical centre, when all of a sudden the car started moving.

"I parked the car and slammed the door shut, and the car just started moving," Gemma said.

"A man behind me then went to his car, and said he had parked where mine was now, when he left it."

• The owners of a high street business in Llandudno told us they were “fighting to stay open” amid the cost-of-living crisis and fewer people shopping locally .

Happily Ever After, on Mostyn Street, opened in October 2020 and is owned by husband and wife Jake and Amy Bailey, who moved to the area from Staffordshire to set up the store.

However, the story had a happy ending, with the couple telling us how things had turned around during the year.

• Prestatyn's Nant Hall Hotel, owned by Lyons Holiday Parks since 2010, shut its doors for good on January 1 due to “high running costs”.

The company said it has “decided to apply for change of use” at the site, which is a Grade II listed building.

• An employee at the Asda store in Llandudno was praised for his “unbelievable” service after helping a customer who had forgotten her bank card .

Kane Scott-Davies, who works at the Asda on Conway Road, saved the day when a customer realised she'd forgotten her bank card after she'd picked up all her groceries.

The customer wrote to the store to thank 25-year-old Kane for his "unbelievable" customer service.

• Also in January, an adorable pooch called Tecwyn stole the show on the Welsh version of Gogglebox.

Viewers have fell in love with the small, white-haired Bichon Westie dog who sits on the sofa alongside his owners, Glain Jones and Dafydd Jones, during the filming of S4C’s Gogglebocs Cymru at their home in Denbigh.

FEBRUARY

• It was in February that a pensioner from Rhyl become an overnight celebrity in Benidorm after returning to his and his late wife’s favourite holiday destination for the first time since her death.

Derek Flynn, 88, who has flown to Benidorm alone,was bombarded by holidaymakers wanting pictures with him after his friend, Nigel Hobdey, reached out on Facebook to ask tourists to take care of him.

• It was this month that we found out that Iceland supermarket based at a shopping centre in Rhyl was to close.

Based at the White Rose Centre, the store closed its doors for the last time in March.

• A Llandudno hotel was named in the top 10 in two of the UK’s TripAdvisor Awards .

The Elm Tree was named the sixth in the ‘Best Romantic Hotel’ list and eighth in the ‘Best Small Hotel’ award for 2022, announced in February 2023, ranking it the number one hotel in Llandudno according to TripAdvisor.

• We also shared drone photos showing the progress made in transforming a site in Rhyl into one which can be enjoyed by the community, visitors, and businesses.

Planning consent was approved last year for the construction of a new indoor market hall, event space and external landscaped area at the Queen’s Market building, as well as the refurbishment of the Queen’s Chambers building fronting Sussex Street.

• This month, in an effort to save one of Wales' most famous hotels, a £500,000, an appeal was launched to transform it into a community enterprise.

The Owain Glyndwr Hotel – the site of the first National Eisteddfod - stands on Corwen’s London Road, the historic A5 from London to Holyhead, which has carried Roman Legions, horse-drawn mail coaches, Irish MPs and holidaymakers for almost 2,000 years.

• Also in February, snooker star Shaun Murphy was left “fuming” after a seagull swooped in to steal his Terry’s Chocolate Orange at his hotel in Llandudno .

World number 11 Murphy, a former World Champion, is currently in Llandudno competing at the Welsh Open, which is being held in North Wales for the first time.

But with his Last-32 clash with Scot Anthony McGill looming, the star faced a different kind of opponent – an opportunistic seagull.

MARCH

• An episode of the television programme “Help! My House Is Haunted” was filmed at a house in Rhyl this month .

Paranormal researcher Bethan Briggs-Miller, who hosts the podcasts “Eerie Essex” and “Spectre of the Sea”, appeared on the episode as the historian and folklore expert.

• Work began on the Grand Hotel in Llandudno to revamp the building exterior.

Town residents spotted workers adjusting and updating the signage of the iconic building.

• The Skyflyer attraction in Rhyl was deflated after the third postponement of its official launch.

The attraction, which it had been hoped would take thrill-seekers 400ft up in the air, was due to launch the previous July, then August.

Its take-off was delayed indefinitely on March 8 due to an “engineering and design challenge” found during testing.

• A 10-yer-old girl from Ruthin starred in the latest advert from Lloyds bank this month.

Mabli White secured the role as the main character in the new advert.

Ahead of filming, the Ysgol Pen Barras pupil visited a huge farm down South where 98 horses - all trained for films and commercials - resided.

• A Llandudno pub had a new look as well as a new menu thanks to a £100,000 cash injection.

The Carlton is part of the Stonegate Group. The group invested more than £100k in the pub to enable it to "bring the best in hospitality to the Llandudno community and beyond".

• Meanwhile, a cafe which is among the oldest in Colwyn Bay, welcomed customers once again after being taken on by new owners.

Blod’s Coffee Corner, on Abergele Road, re-opened on Wednesday, March 8, having been closed since the previous April.

APRIL

• The most popular story online this month was about an Abergele man who went viral on TikTok after attending a popular X-rated performance in Benidorm .

Owain Laing has been going to Benidorm since he was a child, but this time decided to take his girlfriend Hayley for a different kind of experience – a ‘Sticky Vicky’ show.

• A street food business that launched from home during the pandemic was one of many new small businesses to open in Rhyl in 2023.

Fullaflavourz, has opened at 54 Vale Road. Customers can opt to dine in or take-away.

• A couple who purchased a hotel in Llandudno last year announced they were bringing back the Land Trains .

David Banks and his wife Claire moved into the town in June 2022 after snapping up the Promenâd B&B.

• Also this month, Rhyl-based actor Spencer Wilding defended the town after it was rated the worst seaside resort in the UK by a national newspaper .

The Telegraph ranked Britain’s 20 best and worst seaside towns, with Rhyl propping up the list, scoring five out of a possible 100 in its gentrification index.

During a run on Rhyl Beach, Spen said: “(You) can’t beat a good run along Rhyl Beach.

“Our little town has been knocked about with negative posts lately… OK, the town is a little tired, but what seaside town isn’t?

• Also in April, two promenade shelters were replaced along Llandudno’s North Shore beac h.

Conwy County Borough Council secured funding for this project via Welsh Government’s Brilliant Basics Scheme in late 2022.

The project has seen two of the seven shelters on North Shore’s promenade replaced; opposite the St George’s Hotel, and next to the paddling pool in Craig Y Don.

• The Victorian Extravaganza in Llandudno saw crowds attend in droves.

Held for roughly 35 years, the extravaganza made its annual return, with crowds lining the streets as food vendors, market stalls and businesses thrived.

• In April, one of the youngest care home owners in Wales has won a top award thanks to her work at a home in Llangollen .

Bethan Mascarenhas, 33, was chosen by the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers to receive its City and Guilds Livery Company Prize for 2023 for her outstanding commitment.

MAY

• This month we told you how a couple from Rhyl had to frantically re-arrange their wedding reception the night before they tied the knot after an unauthorised encampment parked at the town’s rugby club .

Lee McCormick, 42, married Kimberley, 37, at St. Margaret's Church, Bodelwyddan, and were due to have their reception at Rhyl Rugby Club.

But following roughly 15 caravans arriving at the club’s Tynewydd Fields last weekend, the club was forced to close temporarily.

Fortunately, though, Lee’s sister began to call alternative venues, which resulted in Meliden Community Centre being booked at 11pm that night for the reception the following day.

• Hundreds of people went along to the new Ormo Lounge in Llandudno, which celebrated its opening in May .

The café and bar, part of the stylish Loungers chain, opened at the Gloddaeth Street site previously home to M&Co.

• Meanwhile, a young footballer from Rhyl celebrated signing for Manchester United .

Cian McCormick, eight, who has represented Connah’s Quay Nomads and Rhyl-based Hearts United at grassroots level, signed for the club he supports in May.

• A Llandudno seafront hotel has been named in TripAdvisor’s top 10 best places to stay in the UK.

The Tynedale, on Llandudno promenade near Gloddaeth Crescent, placed at number 10 on the list of the best hotels in the UK, as part of The Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2023.

• A Conwy pub that was rated one-out-of-five for food hygiene just months before was rated five after another inspection in May.

The Old Ship, located on Tan y Fedw in Trefriw, was given a score of one after assessment on February 9.

But its rating has now soared to a perfect five, having clearly taken on board what the previous inspection said.

• A Ruthin playground that faced closure three years ago is set to reopen next month, after the community funded a refurbishment of the site.

Star Park, a non-council owned play area located at the Memorial Playing Grounds in Cae Seren, was scheduled for closure back in January 2020 after falling into disrepair.

In response, a group of residents from the community decided to get together to prevent this from happening.

JUNE

• This month we shared the shocking video showing 30 small dead sharks found washed up on a beach in Prestatyn .

Residents termed the discovery as "heartbreaking".

The sharks were be Starry Smooth-Hounds, also known as a 'Gummy Sharks'.

• Children’s charity Barnardo’s opened its largest North Wales store in Denbigh, and as temperatures soared, sold four fridges in a single day .

The store, on Denbigh Retail Park, occupies a former Peacocks site and covers 6,000 sq ft, several times the size of a high street charity shop.

• The owners of a pub near Colwyn Bay were “overwhelmed” to be named Gastro Pub of the Year at a national food awards ceremony in June .

The White Lion Inn, in Llanelian, was among the finalists for the ‘Gastro Pub of the Year North’ at the Food Awards Wales.

Despite fierce competition, the pub claimed the title at a ceremony in Cardiff.

Simon and Nina Cole, the owners of The White Lion Inn, said: “We are overwhelmed to have won this award."

• Also this month, a man from Rhyl was given the surprise of his life when he thought he was turning up for work, only to be flown to a Britain’s Got Talent audition in a helicopter with Simon Cowell .

Elias Jones, a 29-year-old mechanic, had, been nominated as a “surprise act” for the talent show by his mum, Olga.

Having known nothing about his audition just hours earlier, Elias went on to perform an acapella version of “You Will Be Found” from the musical “Dear Evan Hansen”.

• Rhyl celebrated its first Pride event on June 17.

• The Waverley set sail from Llandudno Pier in June for the first time in five years.

The world’s last seagoing paddle steamer is making two trips from Llandudno.

Crowds of people headed to the pier to watch the vessel head out on her cruise around the Great Orme and Puffin Island.

JULY

• Thousands of people enjoyed themselves at the centenary Prestatyn Carnival in July.

The carnival, which began in 1921, has survived a world war and a worldwide pandemic, yet has remained a popular feature of the town, thanks to the hard work of the organisers (Prestatyn Carnival Association) and the enthusiasm of patrons.

• We brought you the sad news that the popular The Bistro in Rhyl was to close after serving customers for 20 years .

One of North Wales’ most acclaimed restaurants, combining ingredients from the area with a relaxed and contemporary dining room, it had been a popular destination under the ownership of chef Chris Lloyd.

• New seating has been installed on Rhos-on-Sea promenade, and has proven to be a hit with residents .

Wave seats, deck chairs, higher seating and more varieties have been unveiled along the promenade, as work continues on the coastal defence and infrastructure improvement project.

• Twelve life-size animal sculptures went on display in Rhyl as part of an animal-themed trail for families.

Rhyl BID took delivery of some very special cargo when curious residents spotted the huge animal characters - including a lion, giraffe and gorilla - arriving in the town on a trailer.

• A celebratory event in Prestatyn was held to mark a half-century since a film was shot in and around the town .

“Holiday on the Buses”, the comedy which was the third spin-off film of the “On the Buses” series, starred Reg Varney and Doris Hare, and was filmed at Pontins’ Prestatyn camp in June 1973.

To mark its 50th anniversary, personal appearance agent Richard Coghill organised a weekend of events to remember the film on July 22 and 23.

• A Greek restaurant opened its doors in Rhos-on-Sea in July, welcoming customers to try its authentic cuisine.

Dionyssos Resto, named after the Greek god of wine and ecstasy, opened at 9-11 Everard Road, and is run by managing director Petros Fillippidis.

It is the third in a chain of Greek restaurants in North Wales, joining White Tower in Llandudno and GRK Spot in Bangor.

• An artist said he felt “blessed” to feature on a BBC arts programme depicting his work with an NHS trauma surgeon.

Nick Elphick, a figurative sculptor based in Llandudno, was tasked with creating a portrait of inspirational London trauma surgeon Martin Griffiths, and will appear on BBC One’s Extraordinary Portraits presented by Bill Bailey.

• Ruthin Artisan Markets CIC took on the management of the town’s Grade 2-listed Market Hall.

Operations Manager Bernadette O’Malley made her mark quickly to organise a range of activities.