Welcome to Wrexham star on how Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have changed the city
Wrexham locals aren't shy in crediting two Hollywood stars for their town's recent turnaround from "depressed" to "must see" tourist destination.
Following Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's takeover of Wrexham AFC, the town gained city status, a royal visit, and millions of tourists.
"The town was derelict before them two – Ryan and Rob - came along," Kiddy, 50, tells 9Honey in The Turf pub of the club's reinvention.
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Wrexham locals aren't shy in crediting two Hollywood stars for their town's recent turnaround from "depressed" to "must see" tourist destination. Supplied/Karishma Sarkari
Following Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's takeover of Wrexham AFC, the town gained city status, a royal visit, and millions of tourists. Supplied/Karishma Sarkari
"They chose us, Wrexham, and we all thank them."
Many locals describe Wrexham as "a very depressed city" until recently, a mood which was only made worse by the numerous, dramatic trials and tribulations of the local football team.
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"It's ridiculous, no-one used to come to Wrexham - Chester used to be the jewel in the crown for the local area in terms of tourism, in fact people used to say not to go to Wrexham – that's all changed now," Chris Millward-Hopkins from North Wales Guided Tours tells 9honey.
The Turf, the oldest pub in Wrexham, is located next door to the football stadium, Racecourse Ground – the oldest international football ground in the world still in use.
The pub and it's owner, Wayne Jones (right), have become famous in their own right thanks to the Emmy Award-winning docuseries, Welcome to Wrexham Supplied/Karishma Sarkari
The pub and it's owner, Wayne Jones, have become famous in their own right thanks to the Emmy Award-winning docuseries, Welcome to Wrexham, charting the Hollywood takeover of the beloved team.
Jones, who features in the series and hosts the Hollywood heartthrobs in the pub when they're in town, tells 9Honey the atmosphere has changed in many ways - both in the pub and the city.
"Obviously things have changed because the whole world - I mean, you're here, for example - so the whole world now knows about Wrexham Football Club," Jones says.
"And because the football club's doing well, life has changed. We're becoming accustomed to a little bit of success, and I think people are starting to get a better taste for it."
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Many locals describe Wrexham as "a very depressed city" until recently, a mood which was only made worse by the numerous, dramatic trials and tribulations of the local football team. Supplied/Karishma Sarkari
And Jones says he's thrilled for what the change in local fortunes has brought.
"We're not stupid people, we realise that without tourists - without Americans, Australians, Canadians - we don't generate the money to be able to get the best players, so it's a vicious circle without them and without Rob and Ryan's input getting these people here, get them wanting to come here, we don't succeed on the field.
"And again, I reiterate, we only care about what happens on the field."
But Jones wholeheartedly believes it's worth the trip for those who make the visit.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's signatures on a special mural created inside The Turf pub to symbolise their takeover of the football team Supplied/Karishma Sarkari
"I mean, I lived in Australia for 2.5 years, so I know how beautiful Australia is - I know we can never ever live up to the beach scene and we certainly don't get the weather, however we do have character and fun in abundance," Jones tells 9Honey.
"I'm not saying Australia doesn't, but just come over.
"And by all means, go see north Wales because it's beautiful. We have the highest mountain in the UK, we have stupidly nice scenery - so imagine New Zealand with a really shit rugby team."
