Wickedly Welsh Chocolate is a chocolate factory located in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The business makes its own chocolate at the premises. [1] The company's product is available at 25 stores in the local area [2] including Oakwood Theme Park. [3]
The factory was started by Mark Owen in April 2014, who suffers from type 1 diabetes. Consequently, the company's product range is diabetic-friendly. [4] The business creates a range of chocolates, amongst which is a chocolate high in flavanols. Owen's wife Karen had previously worked on the nearby Pemberton's Chocolate Farm in Llanboidy and knew the appropriate machinery to purchase. The couple tried to take over running of the farm, which was on the market, but failed to do so, setting up their current premises instead. [1] [2]
In the eight months after opening, the factory catered to 20,000 visitors, although due to a huge increase in production the former Visitors Centre and café are now permanently closed [2] The company runs a regular newsletter via email to around 15,000 subscribers with ideas for chocolate-based recipes. [5] Local MP Stephen Crabb has praised the factory and business, calling it "a fantastic addition to Pembrokeshire's tourism offer". [1] The company runs regular promotions for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Halloween. [5] The company have produced a Willy Wonka-themed "Golden Ticket" campaign, with winners receiving tickets for both the factory and Oakwood Theme Park. [3] For Easter 2015, the factory collaborated with Wales Online to provide a VIP tour of the factory as a competition prize. [6]
Cadbury, formerly Cadbury's and Cadbury Schweppes, is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelez International since 2010. It is the second largest confectionery brand in the world after Mars. Cadbury is internationally headquartered in Greater London, and operates in more than 50 countries worldwide. It is known for its Dairy Milk chocolate, the Creme Egg and Roses selection box, and many other confectionery products. One of the best-known British brands, in 2013 The Daily Telegraph named Cadbury among Britain's most successful exports.
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and is otherwise surrounded by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and administrative headquarters of Pembrokeshire County Council.
Little England beyond Wales is a name that has been applied to an area of southern Pembrokeshire and southwestern Carmarthenshire in Wales, which has been English in language and culture for many centuries despite its remoteness from England. Its origins may lie in the Irish, Norse, Norman, Flemish and Saxon settlement that took place in this area more than in other areas of South West Wales. Its northern boundary is known as the Landsker Line.
Newport is a town, parish, community, electoral ward and ancient port of Parrog, on the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales at the mouth of the River Nevern in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Tenby is a seaside town and community in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It lies within Carmarthen Bay.
Crymych is a village of around 800 inhabitants and a community in the northeast of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated approximately 800 feet (240 m) above sea level at the eastern end of the Preseli Mountains, on the old Tenby to Cardigan turnpike road, now the A478.
Stephen Crabb is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Preseli Pembrokeshire since 2005 and Chairman of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee since 2020. A member of the Welsh Conservatives, he served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from March to July 2016 under Prime Minister David Cameron. Crabb had previously been appointed a government whip, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (2012–2014) and Secretary of State for Wales (2014–2016) under Cameron.
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is a not-for-profit company which supplies drinking water and wastewater services to most of Wales and parts of western England that border Wales. In total, it serves around 1.4 million households and businesses and around three million people - and supplies nearly 830 million litres of drinking water per day.
Narberth is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was founded around a Welsh court and later became a Norman stronghold on the Landsker Line. It became the headquarters of the hundred of Narberth. It was once a marcher borough. George Owen described it in 1603 as one of nine Pembrokeshire "boroughs in decay".
Saundersfoot is a large village and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is near Tenby, both being holiday destinations. Saundersfoot lies in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The village population was 3,361 in 2011. while the community had a population of 2,628.
Oakwood Theme Park is a theme park in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Rosebush is a small village in the community of Maenclochog, Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, UK. It lies in the southern slopes of the Preseli Hills, about 1 mile (1.6 km) north west of the village of Maenclochog. Slate was extensively quarried nearby, and was exported by the Narberth Road and Maenclochog Railway, which was later extended towards Fishguard. Today, Rosebush is a centre for exploring the Preseli Hills.
Solva is a village, community and electoral ward in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village comprises principally Lower Solva and Upper Solva. The community also includes Middle Mill and Whitchurch.
Nigel Owens, is a Welsh former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He currently holds the world record for the most test matches refereed and is one of five international referees listed as professional within the Welsh Rugby Union, alongside Craig Evans, Adam Jones, Dan Jones, and Ben Whitehouse.
Simon Anthony Hart is a British politician serving as the Chief Whip of the House of Commons and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury since October 2022. He previously served as Secretary of State for Wales in the Johnson government from 2019 to 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire since 2010.
Cwm Gwaun is a community and valley in north Pembrokeshire, Wales. The community is centred around Pontfaen, a parish and hamlet 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Fishguard, and includes the ancient parish of Llanychaer. In 2011, the population was 313. The valley is known for its unspoilt nature and old-world pub, and there are numerous other listed buildings.
Modern Television is a British production company based in Cardiff and London. It was founded in 2005 by Griff Rhys Jones and Simon Mansfield, who left in 2011. Since 2011 the Managing Director has been Sarah Broughton. Tom Hollander was cast to play Dylan Thomas in the companies first drama production, A Poet in New York with Griff Rhys Jones acting as executive producer on the feature-length drama directed by Aisling Walsh Awards: The company won a Fast Growth 50 Award in 2009 and again in 2010. In 2012 it was listed in Televisual magazine as one of the top 100 production companies in the United Kingdom. A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones won 'Best Presenter' at the BAFTA Cymru Awards 2014. A Poet in New York won 'Best Actor' for Tom Hollander at the RTS Awards 2015 as well as 'Best Feature’ and 'Best Special and Visual Effects’ at the BAFTA Cymru Awards 2015. The drama was also nominated for ‘Best Drama’ at the Broadcast Press Guild Awards, BAFTAs, Broadcast Awards, Celtic Media Awards and Critics’ Choice Television Awards in America in 2015.
Princes Gate Spring Water is a brand of Welsh mineral water distributed across the United Kingdom. The water is sourced from a spring near the hamlet of Princes Gate near Narberth in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales.
Pembrokeshire has been called "the cottage garden of Wales", due to its good soil and the beneficial effects of the Gulf Stream, which provide a mild climate and a longer growing season than other parts of the country. The good climate and soil meant that the south of the peninsula was coveted by the Norsemen and Normans because it had "great plentie" of corn and cattle The county has prime agricultural land, much of which is located at about 70m above sea level, while to the north, the Preseli Hills rise to 500m above sea level and form uplands that are made up of heather and bracken, which are used for grazing sheep. Consequently, Pembrokeshire is classed as one of the most fertile counties in Wales, with its 392,300 agricultural acres having 14% of its land classed as of good quality, 67% being classed as medium quality and 19% being classed as poor quality. However, agricultural production is subject to market forces and in the 1890s, as a result of the Panic of 1893, a deep agricultural depression led to the area under cultivation falling by a third. Many labourers and farmers had no option but to emigrate to the New World and many of the large farming estates were sold. World War I brought prosperity again, but by the 1930s, as a result of the Great Depression, there was another agricultural depression which lasted until World War II. During the Post-war period agriculture has benefited from marketing schemes and marketing boards, which have helped in the regulation, marketing and distribution of the county's agricultural production.
Tori James was the first Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest, at the age of 25, making her the youngest British woman to complete the ascent.