Telephone 01291 606 900 December 2017 Community Chepstow^ Matters Hand delivered FREE to c10,000 homes across Chepstow & the surrounding villages Christmas is coming ... and there are many ways to join in the local celebrations listed inside this month’s issue. Christmas shopping? Plenty of local businesses with great gift ideas ... see inside for more details! THE PERFECT DESTINATIONFOR 01291635555 YOUR BUSINESS... basepoint.co.uk FLEXIBLE MEETING GREAT Formoreinformation WORKSPACE ROOMS FACILITIES FROM 1PERSON FROM ONLY ON SITE PARKING contactustoday UP TO 250 PEOPLE 15 PERHOUR &24/7ACCESS [email protected] @basepoint_chep INSIDE: • Local People • Local Businesses • Local Community Groups & Events Dear Readers... Christmas is almost upon us and, as I go to print on this edition, we are a week away from switching on Contact Us : the Town’s Christmas lights - our front cover depicts scenes from last year’s event. This is Santa’s first 01291 606 900 opportunity of the year to visit Chepstow, and his other scheduled visits are listed on page 7 - keep a [email protected] look out for his sleigh and give him a wave when he [email protected] visits your area! www.mattersmagazines.co.uk This festive edition of your community magazine is Chepstow Matters jam packed with details of all the local Christmas Editor: Jaci Crocombe fairs, concerts, carol and church services that we c/o Batwell Farm, Shirenewton NP16 6RX had received details of at time of going to print. It Reg Office: Matters Magazines Ltd, also contains plenty of Christmas present ideas to 130 Aztec West, Almondsbury BS32 4UB fulfil your shopping needs - Keep it Local and support Co Regn No: 8490434 our local businesses. In this theme, we also welcome Follow us on Twitter on board the Chepstow Chamber of Commerce for @ChepstowMatters this issue - see pages 33-36. Congratulations to Stone Rock Pizza who has, as I /ChepstowMatters write this, just won the Gold Award for the Best Independent Pizzeria in Great Britain - if you have Chepstow Matters is independently published every month and delivered FREE to approximately 10,000 homes across NP16 5, not tried out their lovely pizzas I can certainly 6 and 7 on a rotational basis so that every home receives one recommend! through their door once per quarter. Thank you to all our advertisers who continue to The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor (unless it is a personal review of a service that we have support the production of this community magazine, participated in). We cannot vouch for every advertiser personally allowing us to share all the good things that go on (although we endeavour to use as many of our advertisers’ in our local community - we simply could not do it services ourselves as we can). Any feedback or experience is without you! If you would like to appear in our next welcomed. (January) issue, the deadline will be 8th December. We would like to thank all the advertisers who support this publication and therefore make it possible. Please return Wishing all our readers a Happy and their support by utilising their services when and where you x can. It is the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure conformity Peaceful Christmas. Jaci with the Trade Descriptions Act 1975, Business Advertisements Disclosure Order 1977, Sex Discriminations Act 1975 and the Don’t forget you can keep up with each monthly Consumer Credit Act 1974. We cannot be held responsible for misrepresentations in the adverts included. All artwork created edition of your favourite local community by us must not be published in any other media without our magazine via permission. © Matters Magazines Ltd 2017 www.mattersmagazines.co.uk/chepstow Easy Car Care R WHITE Chepstow Business Park Perfect Dog Grooming Bulwark Road • Chepstow PLUMBING & HEATING Perfect Doggy Daycare & Grooming Centre Gwent • NP16 5JG Perfect pet services for pets and their owners …. Tel. 01291 624323 • Central Heating • Kitchens Email: [email protected] 216282 01633 400993 Website: www.mot-testing-chepstow.co.uk • Bathrooms 01291 420587 Collection & Return service available. Easy Car Care 07792 094552 Installer Ref: 6389 www.perfectpetservices.com [email protected] A48 Penhow, rear of Rock & Fountain Inn 216 To advertise Your Business email [email protected] or call 01291 606 900 Let people know you saw them in Chepstow Matters! 3 Chepstow Matters June 17 articles.indd 16 19/05/2017 18:35 Chepstow and District Debt Charity Says: “We Wish You A Priceless Christmas” A LOCAL debt charity has released its own top tips for staying in the black over the Tell ME Wine ... by two French Guys festive season. Churches Together in Chepstow & District, who New in Chepstow run a debt counselling service in conjunction with national charity Christians Against Poverty Your local Wine shop offering Wines, Beers, Spirits, (CAP), has launched a list of tried-and-tested ways to avoid festive financial meltdown. Olive Oil, Local Produce, Vinegar, Dried Herbs etc Isobel Mead, Chepstow & District Debt Centre Wine Tastings & Refillable Service! Manager, said: “All the adverts sell us the line that the best kind of Christmas is one that can be bought, which just isn’t true; the Looking for Gift Ideas? Gift Cards and Gift Hampers best Christmases are about making priceless memories, which is why we created the list.” time cooking a Christmas feast, available and hampers can also be made to order; you are already giving a lot. She added that for the last few years the ideal for birthdays or any special occasion, but 5. Aim to only buy the food you will actually eat Chepstow & District CAP Debt Centre has seen a and decide what you will do with left-overs remember ... Christmas is coming! spike in the numbers of people coming to them in eg potato cakes from cooked potatoes, the months after Christmas. make stock from Turkey carcass, soup from 01291 629670 Isobel Mead said: “The reason for this is either uneaten vegetables, freeze un-used gravy Rifleman’s Way, Chepstow NP16 5EJ because some people realise they have spent for another time. tellmewine.co.uk more than they can afford, or they have reached 6. Home-made goodies always go down well – a crisis point in their finances. Various things can cupcakes, chocolate truffles, shortbread, jam trigger this, but most commonly it’s job loss, an – all are cheap to make and, wrapped with unexpected illness or relationship breakdown. cellophane and ribbon, make great presents. Ian Watts & Son Ltd “Now is the right time for families to talk to each 7. Your time and thoughtfulness are every Firewood for Sale Independent Family other about creating a sensible game-plan to bit as valuable as your money. Instead of ensure that Christmas is happy for everyone” presents, offer vouchers for gardening, Funeral Directors Est 1968 washing the car, a few hours cleaning, The top tips have come from both the experience Barn Stored Seasoned ironing or making someone’s favourite cake “Respect & Dignity are at the of those within the charity, as well as CAP’s own or snack. heart of everything we do” clients who know what it is like to stick to a tight Logs for Sale • 24 Hour Personalised budget as they clear their debts. 8. So many people live alone – a cheery visit Service from you is worth more than any present. 1. Agree on a game plan to stop all of you • Private Chapels of Rest 9. Spend time focusing on what you can overspending: do a ‘secret Santa’? Agree on enjoy at no cost and make Christmas really • Monumental Services a set amount each? A ‘just for the kids’ rule? special: watching your kids in the school Contact : • Pre-Payment Funeral A ‘from charity shops only’ rule? Plans nativity; watching the lights get switched 2. If children have their heart set on something • Helping Families in all on; enjoying Christmas carols in church; Daniel or Matthew Haines areas out of your price range, club together with dressing the tree; playing family games. relatives. • Free Assistance with 10. Never take out credit or be tempted by Tel: 01633 400548 Funeral Grants 3. Short of a new Christmas outfit? Get a Christmas loan – you don’t know what • Male & Female Funeral together with mates for a swapping party the New Year will bring. Your income may Directors and you’ll all go home with something new, change and it could affect your whole 07930 893680 / without the cost. family’s security. No Christmas is worth that. 01291 420972 • 07947 847277 4. If you’re doing the meal, ask guests to each If you have problem debts, give yourself the 07977 092935 contribute something: drinks? pudding? 07930 893678 gift of peace of mind: visit www.capdebthelp. cheese? cake? a turkey?! If you’re spending www.ianwattsandson.com org or call 0800 328 0006 4 To advertise Your Business email [email protected] or call 01291 606 900 Let people know you saw them in Chepstow Matters! 5 SLS Christmas 2017 Appeal for the Homeless You’d Better Watch Out ... It’s that time of the year ... Our 4th appeal in fact, when we all work together and send some love Santa Claus is coming to Town! in a box this Christmas time to those homeless or vulnerably housed across South Wales & Bristol. Chepstow & District Round Table IWhether you are an individual, family, group, Santa Sleigh Runs 2017 school, club, church, hospital, organisation, business we would love your support by collecting donations of either a filled wrapped shoebox, an It is that time of year again when Father unwrapped new toy or a chocolate selection box.