Following the success of ‘Seaside Soul’ in 2019, Denbighshire Leisure Ltd are excited to announce the return of another fabulous, summer, soul themed concert at Rhyl Events Arena. 

A free event for the community, organised by DLL in partnership with Rhyl Town Council, will celebrate music of the 70s, motown and northern soul.

Summer Soul, which takes places on Sunday 30th July from 12pm onwards, boasts a fantastic line-up with live entertainment from Northern Soul Live featuring Stefan Taylor and Lorraine Silver; popular 70’s band Heatwave; Edwin Starr band featuring Angelo Starr; Northern Soul DJs and Jackie Marie motown tribute.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL said: “We’re thrilled to be able to host an event for residents, and visitors to Denbighshire, which is free to attend, particularly in the current economic climate.  As a company, it’s important for us to make the best use of the fantastic facilities on our doorstep, and the Events Arena in Rhyl is the perfect outdoor venue for this type of event, with ample parking close by, and the Arena only a stone’s throw away from our flagship 1891 Restaurant and Terrace Bar.”

Rhyl Mayor, Councillor Jacquie McAlpine said “This year’s Summer Soul event will be a fabulous opportunity to look forward to the summer season and is one of the upcoming free events Rhyl Town Council will be proudly supporting Denbighshire Leisure to host this summer.”

“You can be certain this up-tempo music and soulful singers featuring an array of talented performers and DJ’s from this music genre will be an afternoon of rhythmical, uplifting entertainment recreating the sounds of soul that lives on today”.

Headlining acts include Northern Soul Live, featuring the UK’s premier live Northern Soul Band The Signatures with lead vocalist Stefan Taylor, plus original Northern Soul legend Lorraine Silver and her classic Northern Soul track ‘Lost Summer Love’.

Joining the strong line up are popular funk/disco band, Heatwave, who came into international success in the mid-70s and 80s, known for the hits, “Boogie Nights,” “Always and Forever” and “The Groove Line.”

Brother of the late great Edwin Starr from the USA, Angelo Starr, will be presenting a Soul & Motown party.  Angelo has taken over lead vocals with Edwin Starr’s original band, which still performs with sax, keyboard, percussion,  lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and backing vocalists. With such an amazing line-up, this is an event not to be missed!

For more information, please visit: denbighshireleisure.co.uk/summer-soul

The Rhyl Air Show is back this summer with a spectacular line up, with the Strikemaster being announced for both days across the weekend.

The G-SOAF Strikemaster pair belongs to Strikemaster Flying Club (SFC) based at North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd (NWMAS), Hawarden, North Wales.

The award winning air show is fast becoming North Wales’s biggest FREE seafront event and the 2023 show will feature spectacular aerial displays and land-based attractions and entertainment on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August 2023.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, in partnership with Denbighshire County Council and Rhyl Town Council, is thrilled to announce the start of our incredible line up for the now ‘UK renowned’ Rhyl Air Show. It’s going to be an amazing show again this year, with the Rhyl Air show now being considered one of the most spectacular events across the North Wales coast. Rhyl Town Centre and Events Arena are always buzzing with excitement, and to have both the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain memorial flight and now the Strikemaster pair over both days again this year, is just amazing! We can’t wait to welcome visitors and locals to Rhyl and the Denbighshire coast to enjoy this award winning show.”

Graham Boase, Denbighshire’s Chief Executive, said: “This major event provides a significant boost to the economy of Rhyl and wider communities each time it’s staged and the line up for this year is truly amazing. Denbighshire Leisure Ltd has a strong track record of hosting such prestigious events and we are delighted to be working in partnership with them to deliver what will be major crowd-puller in the events calendar. It’s popularity has grown over the years and the Air Show is rightly renowned across the whole of the UK as being one of the leading events of its kind. Visitors to the Air Show will not be disappointed”.

The sequence the Strikemaster pair will fly is very dynamic and will show off the aircraft beautifully, with high energy aerobatics with graceful linking manoeuvres. Because the aircraft has a wide speed range it will be display tight to the crowd so the aircraft is always within easy viewing. Audiences will see this fly over 400mph, with lots of rolls, loops, barrel rolls, clovers and, fast and slow passes. The engine is a RR Viper 535 with 1000 pounds more thrust than the JP5 Viper engine. This extra thrust allowed the aircraft to carry the following armament: 2 x machine guns, up to 4 x 500 pound bombs or 32 Sura rockets or a mix.

The Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has also  been confirmed for aerial displays across both days of the show in August.

Rhyl Town Council Town Clerk said: “Rhyl Town Council has a long standing partnership supporting the town’s spectacular air show. This free first-class renowned event and the superb aerial line up and attractions announced that will be on display this year will be sure to thrill the large crowds of residents and visitors it attracts.  Rhyl will also gain from drawing in a vast number of tourists who can experience the regeneration attractions the town has to offer and provide important growth in our tourism economy. Be sure to make a note of this not to be missed brilliant weekend of entertainment.”

The Air Show will take place over the Bank Holiday in August, with more details to follow about the event in due course. More information can be found on Denbighshire Leisure Ltd Facebook page.

In support of Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs Monday 15th to Sunday 21 May 2023, DLL has been encouraging both customers and staff to take a little time to focus on their mental wellbeing. 

Many studies have shown that physical activity can help with mental health, and as well as their usual workouts in the gym or swimming pool, customers have been encouraged to try Tai Chi, yoga, and pilates classes. 

DLL are also encouraging customers to support “Wear It Green Day” on Thursday 18th May and have lit up Rhyl Sky Tower, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, 1891 Restaurant and Bar, Promenade shelters and the Events Arena waterfall in green in support of Mental Health Awareness Week.

DLL have also taken the opportunity to remind staff of the right places to go for help in a crisis.  The company has a range of support systems in place for staff, including an Employee Assistance Programme which is available 24 hours per day, 365 days a year and is completely confidential. 

Jamie Groves, Managing Director said ‘At DLL, several of our staff are trained Mental Health First Aiders and are available to support other members of our team in a wellbeing crisis.  We encourage staff to seek advice on mental health, as they would any other illness.  We all know that some days can be harder than others, and we want the best for our team, which means offering support whenever they need it.’

DLL have been ‘highly commended’ at the prestigious Welsh Finance Awards this week.

At a glittering ceremony in Cardiff, DLL’s Finance Team were ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Small Finance Team of the Year’ category at the 2023 Finance Awards Wales.

The national Awards, held in City Hall, Cardiff on May 12^th were attended by leading figures from the finance industry, and celebrated the work of finance professionals and their contribution to the businesses they represent. 

The event showcased excellence in Finance from across Wales, and DLL were the only team from North Wales to be recognised within their category. 

The 2023 Awards received a record number of entries, and the Small Finance Team of the Year category was particularly competitive. 

Jamie Groves, Managing Director said: “Since DLL launched in 2020, the finance team have faced a number of challenges, which they have tackled head on.  They have stayed motivated and enthusiastic throughout, continually doing their very best for the company.   The team are now driving so many elements of our growth, that they are now completely integral to our success.  Until Friday night they have been the unsung heroes of DLL, and to see them gaining external recognition for all their amazing work makes me very proud.  We couldn’t ask for a better or more motivated team.”

Colleagues at DLL were excited to hear that Rhyl Leisure swimming instructor Monika Kurlandt has reached her goal to visit Nepal, and hike to Everest base camp.

Monika who is a passionate hiker and climber, had always dreamt of seeing the Himalayas one day, and now her dream has finally come true.  Over the last 10 years, Monika has hiked extensively throughout the UK, especially in Snowdonia and the Lake District, and felt that she was ready to take on one of the most exciting climbing challenges. 

As a qualified fitness instructor, Monika made sure she was well prepared for the climb, working hard in the gym, strengthening her legs, core and upper body.  In readiness for her trip, she also hiked for up to 6-8 hours at a time over the weekends.

Monika is the second DLL employee to visit the Himalayas.  Fitness instructor, Kieran Davenport, also climbed to base camp in November 2022, in support of a local charity, and he described the trip as a ‘once in a lifetime experience’.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director said “We have a special team here at DLL, and I am always very proud when I hear of their amazing successes.  In their professional roles, our staff are committed to helping others reach their personal fitness goals, so it’s great to see them achieving goals of their own.   We all congratulate Monika on her climb, and look forward to hearing all about it on her return!”

DLL is looking to commission a local professional or emerging artist to create twelve awards which will be presented to the category winners in November.

The DLL Active Communities’ awards ceremony celebrates the sporting and cultural excellence of Denbighshire and is taking place on Wednesday evening, 22^nd November 2023 at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre. The inaugural celebration is expected to welcome over 400 guests, including residents, partners and local businesses alongside all nominees and their families.  

DLL are inviting emerging and professional local artists who are living and/or working in Denbighshire, or artists who are originally from Denbighshire and who are living elsewhere to send in their award design proposal before Monday 19^th June, as shortlisting will be taking place on Tuesday 20^th June.

A fee will be paid for this commission and this fee will cover all design, materials, production, packaging and transportation costs.

The criteria for the award design can be found here: https://denbighshireleisure.co.uk/ac-sports-awards-call-for-artists/

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL said “With there being so much creative and diverse artistic talent in Denbighshire, we thought that this prestigious event would be the perfect opportunity for a local emerging or professional artists to showcase their work. It’s a fantastic celebration, and with over 400 local guests attending, this opportunity can provide a great level of exposure for the winning applicant. We’re looking forward to receiving all of the award design proposals and to be able to showcase local talent!”

If you have any further queries regarding the creative brief, please telephone Siân Fitzgerald, Community Arts Manager on 01824 708216 / 07717540857 or email sian.fitzgerald@denbighshireleisure.co.uk

DLL are proud to light up attractions this weekend, to mark the Coronation of His Majesty Charles III.

The Rhyl Sky Tower, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, 1891 restaurant and bar, the Events Arena waterfall and coastal shelters will be lit up in red, white and blue, to celebrate this historic occasion, from Saturday 6th, to Monday 8th May.

The Coronation ceremony, which has been largely unchanged for 900 years will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May, when the King and Queen Consort will be joined by over 2,000 guests from around the world.  

Jamie Groves, Managing Director said “DLL is delighted to join the rest of the country in sending His Majesty Charles III and Her Majesty the Queen Consort our congratulations and very best wishes on the occasion of their Coronation, and wishing them every success in their reign. We hope everyone has a great weekend!”

The DLL Active Communities’ Awards are celebrating our community of Denbighshire and the people who live here. The focus will be on those that have made a difference or achieved something in sport or activity, arts and culture.

DLL have previously and successfully organised the Denbighshire Community Sports Awards. These annual awards were held at Llangollen Pavilion and celebrated the achievements and dedication of the sporting community in Denbighshire. For our new DLL Active Communities’ Awards, we are moving to the coastal town of Rhyl and Rhyl Pavilion.

The event will be honouring individuals, groups, teams, schools and clubs that have made a difference or achieved something in sport or activity, arts and culture.

The ceremony will take place on the 22nd November 2023 at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre and it is expected that there will be over 400 guests, including residents, partners and local businesses attending this major event at the Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl alongside all nominees and their families.

Nominations for the awards will open on the 5th May, with DLL encouraging all members of the public to get involved and nominate someone in their community via the website.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “The DLL Active Communities’ awards is a fantastic event that helps recognise and celebrate the success of individuals, teams, clubs and schools within Denbighshire. We’re thrilled to be bringing this event to Rhyl Pavilion theatre, and it’s fantastic to be hosting this prestigious event at 1891 restaurant and bar this year. It’s a fantastic venue in one of our flagship facilities that we cannot wait to share with the community. We are looking forward to receiving all the nominations, of which I’m sure will give the judges a hard job to choose from!”

Judging for the awards takes place in August and the winners will be announced live on stage at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre in November.

For more information and to nominate please visit: https://denbighshireleisure.co.uk/ac-sports-awards-23/ 

The host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired and co-host of Cooking With The Stars, Like Minded Friends and regular panellist on Bake Off: An Extra Slice and There’s Something About Movies, Tom Allen, has announced a new tour date at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre for spring 2024. 

Tom Allen, who is no stranger to performing on stage with his signature acerbic wit and riotous storytelling, will be making his debut at Rhyl Pavilion Theatre on 24th May, 2024.

The household name, has finally moved out of his parents’ house, which has been great news for him, better news for department stores and even better news for his latest stand-up tour as he’s eager to share his life updates, gather opinions on his vegetable patch and delve into the protocol of inviting friends with children for dinner.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL said “We’re delighted to have such big names come to our theatre. It’s rewarding to see that the investment in the theatre and the popularity of 1891 restaurant and bar is making the theatre the destination of choice for promoters and pulling in household names from all over the country, putting Rhyl on the entertainment map. We have a whole host of acts coming this year to the Pavilion Theatre and we can’t wait to see you soon”

Tom’s last tour sold over fifty-thousand tickets including his sell out show at The London Palladium where he recorded his special. 

Tickets are now on sale via the Box Office on 01745 330000 and on Rhyl Pavilion Theatre website: https://rhylpavilion.co.uk/events_list/tom-allen-completely/