TWO of Carmarthenshire’s senior councillors have been on a trip to rural Carmarthenshire to see how a local business is diversifying to take advantage of a surprising market opportunity.
The new executive board member for rural affairs Cllr Jim Jones and the executive board member for regeneration and leisure Cllr Meryl Gravell were shown around a unique wedding venue at the Ceridwen Centre, Pen-y-banc Farm, Drefach Felindre.
The venue allows couples to get married and hold their wedding reception in a specially designed and locally made double tipi. The venue offers an alternative option to your regular wedding venue and can accommodate up to 120 guests. It is envisaged that over 1,100 guests will use this venue per year which will have a positive impact to the business and provide wider economic spin offs to the rural area.
The Ceridwen Centre was established in 2004 and provides facilities for, retreats, courses, workshops, fully and self catered accommodation and now wedding receptions. It has been supported by a number of County Council funding programmes over the years including £5,000 from the Local Investment Fund, a £30,378 Rural Conversion Grant and most recently awards of £20,056 towards an extension to the centre and £23,085 for Welsh Green Weddings towards the tipi under the Rural Development Plan’s Strengthening the Tourism Appeal of Rural Carmarthenshire regeneration programme.
Roger Broome from the Centre said: “We came up with the idea after hosting our own sons wedding on our site a number of years ago. Initially we offered wedding receptions by hiring a marquee for the business but that approach was not that economical. However thanks to the support of the Council we have been able to purchase our own tipi and that has made the business must more profitable. I think it’s fair to say we have a pretty unique offer!”
Cllr Jim Jones said: “I think the grant has been used very wisely. It is a beautiful area and this is something that attracts people to the rural part of the County and brings money into the local economy.”
Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “I have wanted to see the wedding tipi ever since we first supported the project so it’s great to have had the chance to visit. What a venue, and set in such beautiful countryside. As executive board member I have a marvellous opportunity to sign off the really innovative bids throughout the county that will make a difference and create jobs and improve the economic diversity of the rural economy.”
The Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
The South West Wales Flexible Business Finance Scheme (LIF) is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund.
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