Inside the Rhyl community hub formerly a bingo site and cannabis farm

The building, also previously the home of Woolworths and Gala Bingo, was left abandoned after the £1.5million farm was found there in 2021.

But under Rhyl businessman Stephen Wright (Sovereign Trophies), it has been revamped into "High Street Hwb", at 1-4 East Parade.

After getting the keys to the building on September 1, 2022, Stephen, along with fellow Rhyl entrepreneur Craig Cummings (High Street Print Shop), spent months bringing it up to scratch.

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Former Rhyl bingo site-turned-cannabis farm becomes a community hub

Fitness classes, martial arts and Morris dancing at new Rhyl community hub

It opened late last year, and is now used as a base for martial arts, fitness classes, and Morris dancing.

If you're introduced in using High Street Hwb, contact Stephen via www.facebook.com/highstreethwb.

Stephen said: "The whole place needed painting and cleaning; there was lots of debris and rubbish from what had gone on here previously.

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"The main things we’re trying to get at the moment are more crafters for the shared retail space, and daytime and weekend bookings for the hub, because at the moment, we’re pretty quiet then.

"Eventually, when we get funding, we’re hoping to get a lot of folding tables, and set up things like craft markets in here as well.

"We're open 10am-8pm from Monday to Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturday, but if somebody wants to book outside of those times, we can be available."

Inside High Street Hwb (Image: Newsquest)

The hub also offers free printing for CVs, job applications and missing pet posters, and no charge for any good causes who need to use the space.

It also operated as a storage and drop-off point for a toy giveaway it hosted last Christmas.

Inside High Street Hwb (Image: Newsquest)

Its tea and coffee machine, which also makes hot chocolate, works on an “honesty” basis, so people can make a donation, but don’t have to pay for a hot drink if they can’t or don’t want to.

The hub also collected donations of supplies to send to Turkey after the country was devastated by an earthquake last month.

The space used for martial arts classes at High Street Hwb (Image: Newsquest)

Stephen added: "We’re trying to provide people with a source of unique local products, of things that aren’t in every single town, or every single nightclub.

"The council also wants more nocturnal activities which aren’t pubs and clubs, which is where evening classes like martial arts, fitness and Morris dancing comes in.

Inside High Street Hwb (Image: Newsquest)

"So far, it’s been worthwhile. We’re a non-profit organisation, so we’re not making anything out of it, but it’s more about giving back to the community, and about bringing this place back into use.

"If you go on Facebook, anyone who mentions this building labels it an eyesore – we’re trying to change that."

Inside High Street Hwb (Image: Newsquest)

Outside High Street Hwb (Image: Newsquest)