Ruthin's Bevan Foundation

We should be very grateful that we have town centre-based DIY-type shops. We have two, one being King's, where you can buy penny numbers of screws and nails (not in the huge quantity other retailers wish you to have) plus an array of other bits and pieces in a tardis-like shop.

We should equally be grateful for Bevan's (even if they have forgotten what an apostrophe is for). The transformation at the former Ruthin Décor/Bevan's continues. It's both good and bad. Good, in that there now seems to be a far wider range of products. And, they seem to have more staff than previously, even if one or two are new faces. Gone is moustachioed Nicholas the manager (not to be confused with Nick the former owner); former joint owner Maureen is the branch manager. 

But, as predicted, the former Ruthin Décor store has in parts become more and more like a 'B & M Bargains Plus'. Perhaps, in the cost of living world in which we now inhabit, that's no bad thing. But do we need a discounter in this sector?  

Within is almost an entire aisle of plastic crates, the likes of which you’ll usually find at B & M (except that, atypically, there are none in B & M at the moment). There’s a section stocking miniature Siôn Corn and other seasonally red decorations that wouldn't seem out of place at B & M. A proportion of the store is dedicated to gardening, rather than DIY. There's now a significant element of DIY tools from what appear to be unknown brands, where previously the proprietors tended to offer what I would assume to be higher quality products from well known manufacturers. 

On the plus side, there's a good supply of readily available paint and emulsion colours off the shelf. They can mix Dulux and Crown, as well. What seems missing are the larger tins or tubs of emulsion (other than in white). And, the atmosphere and ambience is so much better than your average Mr Bevan's. It's a total contract to Dinbych's dingy and threadbare affair.  

We haven't seen the proclamation 'Fireworks' in the town centre for many a year... not since Uproar, in fact, before they moved to the industrial estate

There's also plentiful upmarket Farrow and Ball paint. None of this is priced. You know what they say: 'If you have to ask, you can't afford it'.