What the Sunday Times Said

The shot the Sunday Times chose to illustrate Rhuthun was unexpected

It's out. The Sunday Times 'Best Places to Live' guide. So, what does it say about the Welsh winner, Rhuthun/Ruthin? And, how accurate is it?

We liked the Old Courthouse manager's quote that,

'If the rest of the world stopped, everyone could live their life in Rhuthun and want for nothing'

Slightly exaggerated, of course, and we would still need the daily Amazon deliveries but we very much take her point.

Aldi might not be pleased with 'B & M, Co-op and Tesco are all on hand for the big family shop'. Visitors alongside locals will nevertheless appreciate the 

'Embarrassment of riches behind the façades of the high street'

Ysgol Brynhyfryd probably won't appreciate the 'significant improvement' epithet. It implies minced beef when the school is actually prime ribeye. 

That Small Plates is the pick of the restaurant is in no doubt... because there is currently no other competition (in town). 

Unsurprisingly, Bryn Goodman is the 'best address' but in reality it's glory is now fading, just like its road surface, though that does act as a traffic calming feature and lends itself to a farm track. But there's been too much over-development for this road which is less of 'the feel of a remote country lane' and is now more Glasdir Posh. 

The Sunday Times' concluding remarks were,

'Best place to live if... you want to be in a small town with big ambition and an even bigger heart'

We wouldn't disagree with the 'big ambition' epithet. That is largely because of the work of one town councillor. And we like the thought of our having a 'bigger heart' but we assume the Sunday Times hasn't judged the town on the sometimes spiteful, sometimes very public backbiting and sometimes moaning by some on Facebook.