Joanne Ridout

Richard Holt, the pastry chef behind Anglesey’s Melin Llynon windmill, Mônuts doughnuts and Mr Holt’s Chocolate, describes how a historical accounting error discovered in 2023 left him facing substantial debts and intense personal stress. The financial pressure worsened when machinery delays postponed his chocolate factory, triggering chest pains that were diagnosed as a panic attack. Viral endorsements from food and travel vlogger Kalani Ghost Hunter, followed by another visit with Chris Baird, brought international visitors and sharply increased sales. The resulting surge in turnover is helping Holt repay several five-figure debts and keep the family-run venture operating.

A neglected former rectory in Pistyll, Gwynedd, largely hidden by overgrown foliage, is being offered at online auction with a guide price of £135,000. Built in the 1930s for the minister of nearby St Bueno’s Church, the five‑bedroom property occupies an elevated coastal position with expansive views toward the Irish Sea and Anglesey but requires full renovation or redevelopment. The sale targets developers and cash buyers due to the building’s condition, with outbuildings, multiple reception rooms and sizable grounds included in the lot.