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Cwmbran Centre
The Cwmbran Centre, renamed M Cwmbran from March 2024, is a shopping centre, office and leisure complex in the town of Cwmbran, Torfaen, Wales. It was formerly named Cwmbran Shopping, then renamed Cwmbran Centre on 3 July 2017. As a New Town in 1949 the town centre was planned in a single Master Plan along with the surrounding residential neighbourhoods. It is the second largest shopping centre in Wales. History The Cwmbran Development Corporation prepared the Master Plan for the development of the New Town which resulted in the creation of the original seven neighbourhoods which contained some local services, and housing and were located within easy reach of the Town Centre. The early years of the New Town were dominated by housebuilding with a lack of services for the town. In 1959 construction of the central retail area began, although considerations of its design began in 1951. The Town Centre was developed as a purpose-built central area by the Development Corporation a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cwmbran
Cwmbran ( ; , also in use as an alternative spelling in English) is a town in the county borough of Torfaen in South Wales. Lying within the Historic counties of Wales, historic boundaries of Monmouthshire (historic), Monmouthshire, Cwmbran was designated as a New towns in the United Kingdom, New Town in 1949 to provide new employment opportunities in the south eastern portion of the South Wales Coalfield. Geography Comprising the villages of Old Cwmbran, Pontnewydd, Upper Cwmbran, Henllys, Torfaen, Henllys, Croesyceiliog, Llantarnam and Llanyrafon, its population had grown to 48,535 by 2011. This makes it the List of urban areas in Wales by population, sixth largest urban area in Wales. Sitting as it does at the corner of the South Wales Coalfield, it has a hilly aspect to its western and northern edges, with the surrounding hills climbing to over . The Afon Llwyd forms the major river valley, although the most significant water course is probably the remains of the Monmouthsh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Range (retailer)
CDS (Superstores International) Limited (trading as The Range) is a British variety store and garden centre retailer, originally founded as Chris Dawson Superstores in 1989 as a single store in Plymouth. In the 1990s, it became a chain and was rebranded to 'The Range', establishing a presence across the South West by the end of the decade. In the 2000s, it engaged in rapid nationwide expansion and became one of the UK's fastest growing retailers. In September 2023, it acquired the Wilko brand and website from administration, and returned Wilko stores to the high street in December of that year. In November 2024, it acquired the Homebase brand and up to 70 of its stores from administration, rebranding these stores as The Range. The company also refocused its garden centres and kitchen showrooms as Homebase-branded concessions, as well as acquiring the Bathstore brand and relaunching Homebase.co.uk. History In 1966, Chris Dawson (businessman), Chris Dawson left school with n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
W H Smith
WH Smith plc, trading as WHSmith (also written WH Smith and formerly as W. H. Smith & Son), is a British retailer, with headquarters in Swindon, England, which operates a chain of railway station, airport, port, hospital and motorway service station shops selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, entertainment products and confectionery. The company was formed by Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna in 1792 as a news vendor in London. It remained under the ownership of the Smith family for many years and saw large-scale expansion during the 1970s as the company began to diversify into other markets. Following a rejected private equity takeover in 2004, the company began to focus on its core retail business. It was responsible for the creation of the ISBN book identifier. The company reached an agreement in 2025 to sell its high street store business to Modella Capital. Upon completion of the sale, that business will be renamed TGJones. WHSmith is listed on the London ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Williams (VC)
John Williams (born John Fielding; 24 May 1857 – 25 November 1932) was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Early life John Fielding was the second eldest of ten children. John's parents were Michael and Margaret Godsil, who married in Abergavenny, Wales, in 1855. Both Michael (1831-1914) and Margaret (1835-1921) were from Cork, Ireland as documented on the 1911 census. Michael Fielding died at the age of 82 and is buried in the Cwmbran cemetery. John was born at Merthyr Road, Abergavenny. The entire family were Catholic. Military career John was tall. Born Fielding, he enlisted under the name of Williams in the Monmouthshire Militia in January 1877. More than three months later, he enlisted under regular terms of service in the British Army on 22 May 1877 at Monmouth. Williams was 21 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, 24 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wetherspoon's
J D Wetherspoon (branded variously as Wetherspoon or Wetherspoons, and colloquially known as Spoons) is a British pub company operating in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Ireland. The company was founded in 1979 by Tim Martin and is based in Watford. It operates the sub-brand of Lloyds No.1 bars, and 56 Wetherspoon hotels. Wetherspoon is known for converting unconventional premises, such as former cinemas and banks, into pubs – part of its wider engagement with local history. The company is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. History Foundation and early years Tim Martin opened his first pub in 1979 in Colney Hatch Lane in Muswell Hill, London. Many of the other early Wetherspoon pubs were also in the western part of Haringey. The name of the business originates from JD Hogg, a character in ''The Dukes of Hazzard'', and Wetherspoon, the surname of one of Martin's teachers in New Zealand, who was known to not be able ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Superdrug
Superdrug Stores plc (trading as Superdrug) is a health and beauty retailer in the United Kingdom, and the second largest behind Boots UK. The company is owned by AS Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited which is part of the A.S. Watson Group. It was acquired as part of the buyout of Kruidvat BV in October 2002. The A.S Watson Group is itself part of the Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings. Superdrug trades from nearly nine hundred shops across the United Kingdom and Ireland, and also serves Denmark, Finland and Sweden online. The company employs over 14,000. Besides offering health and beauty products online and in shops, there are pharmacies with consultation rooms in over 220 shops, and a further 19 contain nurse clinics. It maintains links with sister companies also owned by A.S. Watson Group: Savers and The Perfume Shop. History Origins and expansion In 1964, Superdrug was incorporated under the name Leading Supermarkets Limited by the Goldstein brothers in L ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is a cardiovascular research charity in the United Kingdom. It funds medical research related to heart and circulatory diseases and their risk factors, and runs influencing work aimed at shaping public policy and raising awareness. In 2021, a study conducted by YouGov ranked the British Heart Foundation as the top charity or organisation in the UK by per cent of adults who hold a positive opinion of the organisation. Foundation The British Heart Foundation was founded in 1961 by a group of medical professionals who were concerned about the increasing death rate from cardiovascular disease. They wanted to fund extra research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of heart and circulatory diseases. Leadership Dr Charmaine Griffiths has been the BHF's Chief Executive since February 2020, succeeding Simon Gillespie OBE. Professor Bryan Williams OBE became the charity's first Chief Scientific and Medical Officer (CSMO) in Decembe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
River Island
River Island (stylised as RiverIsland and abbreviated as RI) is a London-based, multi-channel fashion brand, founded in 1948 by Bernard Lewis (entrepreneur), Bernard Lewis. The retailer has a presence in over 125 of worldwide markets, in stores and online. Best known for its trend focused womenswear offering, River Island also has menswear, kidswear and pet collections. River Island's collections are entirely designed in-house at the brand's West London head office, and it was one of the first vertical fashion retailers in the UK. In the 1960s, it became an influential name in the womenswear fashion scene, under its previous name: Chelsea Girl. Today, River Island is considered a key player on the UK high street, with 250 stores across the country, including flagship locations in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, plus a significant online presence. In recent years, the business has expanded internationally, and continued to grow its online offer. River Island is a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut, LLC is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain and international franchise founded in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas, by brothers Dan and Frank Carney. The chain, headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates 19,866 restaurants worldwide as of 2023. While studying at Wichita State University, the Carneys opened their first location, which quickly expanded to six outlets within a year. The brand began franchising in 1959, and its distinctive building style was designed by Chicago architect George Lindstrom in 1963. Pizza Hut experienced significant growth, including the acquisition by PepsiCo in 1977, followed by a spin-off into Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc., later renamed Yum! BrandsYum! Brands Form 10-K 2019 () Yum! Brands. Form 10-K. Retrieved May 13, 2020. in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
New Look (store)
New Look is a British global fashion retailer with a chain of high street shops. It was founded in 1969. The chain sells womenswear, menswear, and clothing for teens. New Look was owned by private equity groups Apax Partners and Permira, and founder Tom Singh, until May 2015 when it was acquired by Brait SE (SA) for £780 million. History New Look was founded by Tom Singh in Taunton, Somerset, in 1969. Since then the company has expanded and previously operated across a chain of over 900 shops internationally, having opened in Ireland in 2003, Belgium in 2006, and also having had a presence in France, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, China, Germany, Russia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Poland, and having had a staff of over 18,000. The group had a turnover of £1,147 million in 2008 with profits of £180 million.In 2004, the company withdrew from the stock market and was taken back to being a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
NatWest
National Westminster Bank, trading as NatWest, is a major Retail banking, retail and commercial bank in the United Kingdom based in London, England. It was established in 1968 by the Corporate merger, merger of National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank. In 2000, it became part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, which was re-named NatWest Group in 2020. Following ringfencing of the group's core domestic business, the bank became a direct subsidiary of NatWest Holdings; NatWest Markets comprises the non-ringfenced investment banking arm. NatWest International is a trading name of RBS International, which also sits outside the ringfence. Between 2008 and 2025, the UK government held a stake in NatWest Group following its £45 billion ($61.87 billion) bailout of the lender which led to it owning 84 per cent at one point. The bank returned to full private ownership on 30 May 2025 after 17 years. NatWest is considered one of the Big Four (banking)#United Kingdom, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation, doing business as McDonald's, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational fast food chain store, chain. As of 2024, it is the second largest by number of locations in the world, behind only the Chinese chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea. Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald founded McDonald's in San Bernardino, California, in 1940 as a hamburger stand, and soon Franchising, franchised the company. The logo, the Golden Arches, was introduced in 1953. In 1955, the businessman Ray Kroc joined McDonald's as a franchise agent and bought the company in 1961. In the years since, it has expanded internationally. Today, McDonald's has over 50,000 restaurant locations worldwide, with around a quarter in the US. Other than food sales, McDonald's generates income through its ownership of 70% of restaurant buildings and 45% of the underlying land (which it leases to its franchisees). In 2018, McDonald's was the world's second-largest private employer with 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
