Bargoed in bloom: flower festival launches to attract visitors and boost town spirit

A Bargoed business is aiming to bring more people to the town by starting a flower festival. 

Murray’s Bar and Grill is trying to get local businesses involved with ‘Bargoed in Bloom’’ – an initiative to bring a bit of colour and more visitors to the town. 

Murray’s, which is run by Ryan Banwell and Rian Watkins, launched the competition that will last throughout July.

Rian, 35, told Caerphilly Observer: “Anyone with a business in Bargoed can do a display outside.

“It’ll be exciting for people to come and look at,” adding that this can be things such as hanging baskets, pots or window boxes. 

A big influence on the competition has been the positivity and footfall that was brought into the town by the Bargoed May Fair on May 13. 

Rian said: “It was amazing to see so many people come to Bargoed. Everybody was so positive. 

“I just want to keep that going.”

Hancox’s Pies, Barnardo’s Bargoed, Snippets and the New Continental Café have agreed to take part.

Winners will get a plaque and Rian hopes that this will become an annual event that will bring the “spirit back” to Bargoed shopkeepers – and also to the town itself. 

“It used to be a thriving town,” said Rian, “If people could see how good Bargoed can be it might encourage people to come here.”

More information can be found by contacting Murrays on Facebook or by emailing murraysbargoed@gmail.com.