Monthly Archives

September 2023

Hereford opens its Cycling Track

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It’s great to see a major project you have played a part in ultimately secure the funding and developed. So, I was super excited to attend the official opening of the Hereford Cycle Track (ribbon cut by cycling legend and active travel czar Chis Boardman). With a 1km traffic free wheeled sports and cycling circuit of regional and national importance, putting the County on the cycling map as one of the few UK locations to have a dedicated traffic free training, coaching and competition facility. It offers cyclists of all ages and abilities the chance to learn to ride, train at every level, and enjoy their sport without having to negotiate busy roads.

Having an early lead-out train role in the business planning, visioning and masterplan was a great privilege – a true sweet spot project where my passion for cycling and profession collided. The final sprint to the finish line for the £1.7m facility was led by Halo Leisure and British Cycling – chapeau to all ! View the track here Hereford Cycle Track

 

Masterplanning the biggest agricultural showground in Europe

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Owen Davies Consulting is excited to announce we’re leading a ground-breaking masterplanning and visioning study for the Royal Welsh Showground. The Royal Welsh is the biggest agricultural show in Europe and its 150 acre showground boasts over 40 buildings and is a permanent place of work for over 30 staff and several agri institutions and organisations.

The masterplan and visioning study on behalf of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society aims to revitalise and reimagine the Showground, ensuring its continued relevance and success for generations to come. The study has been supported with UK SPF funding and will identify a coordinated range of opportunities, set within the national and rural Wales context, for new investment and development.

New Masterplanning and Visioning Study Unveiled for the Royal Welsh Showground

 

Is the UK’s explosion of craft beer and cider coming to an end?

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After decades of gradually being overshadowed by other drinks, the 21st century has seen an explosion in craft beer and cider that has changed the landscape of what, where and how we drink. Many high streets have benefitted from the additional footfall and novel bars that have subsequently appeared.We are sponsoring Pete Brown’s talk at this month’s Abergavenny Food Festival when he explores the craft beer and cider revolution. Pete has witnessed, drank and chronicled it all in the twenty years since the publication of his first book, Man Walks into a Pub.

The UK has enjoyed a decade-long boom in the craft beer scene. Even though the UK high streets have experienced dramatic change in fortunes, the drinks sector has largely gone from strength to strength. The market has grown consistently for innovative and premium craft beer and cider producers, and consumers have also been happy paying more for experiential drinking with the growth of town and city centre independent breweries and taprooms.

Our interest in the craft drink scene comes from working with industry experts in several towns and cities to assess and develop the evening and night-time economy. We have designed and reshaped the streets and quarters where people meet to eat, drink and socialise – creating experiential destinations that transform places to go beyond purely drinking.

But has the bubble burst for craft beer and cider? The industry reports over 100 microbreweries have closed in the last 18 months, due to a mix of Brexit repercussions, COVID financial hangovers, rising living costs, and impending alterations to beer tax regulations. Whilst this may well lead to a visible decline of craft beer and cider on the High Street, independent brewer are also seeing growing sales direct to consumers and an increased trend in online sales.

We are very excited to hear Pete’s talk on the craft beer and cider revolution. Pete will choose beers and ciders local to Abergavenny that represent key points in this extraordinary journey, and share some of the tall tales from the twelve books that have seen him named Beer Writer of the Year four times.

Tickets are available for Pete’s talk from https://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

Owen

43A Frogmore St, Abergavenny NP7 5AN
Why not call us first for a chat on 07809 594524
If you prefer then send an email to Owen Davies at owen@owendaviesconsulting.co.uk