News

Pub fined £4,500 for poor hygiene

Published

11 years ago

February 5, 2015

THE LANDLADY of a Pembrokeshire pub has been ordered to pay over £8,000 in fines and costs after admitting food hygiene offences.
Angela Jarvis, who is also the food business operator of the Horse and Jockey in Steynton, Milford Haven, was fined £4,500 by magistrates in Haverfordwest on Tuesday (Jan 20) on seven charges relating to two separate dates in a prosecution brought by Pembrokeshire County Council.
She was also ordered to pay £3,500 costs and £360 victim surcharge.

The court heard how an Environmental Health officer from the Council’s Public Protection Division visited the premises on August 7th, 2013, to carry out a routine food hygiene inspection.

The officer found the premises, fixtures and fittings to be in a dirty condition and greasy to touch; hand washing facilities inaccessible; and, accumulations of food waste which were attracting flies.

Hand contact surfaces in the kitchen, including the handles of equipment and various switches, were visibly dirty, presenting a risk of contamination.
The premises were given a Food Hygiene Rating of zero, and food production was voluntarily placed on hold pending thorough cleaning of the kitchen.
Following that inspection, a number of revisits were carried out to ensure that a significant improvement in standards had been secured.

However officers were disappointed to discover, on a visit to the premises in January last year, further evidence of dirty conditions and a lack of hot water to the premises.

This resulted in a Food Hygiene Rating of 1, with ‘major improvements’ needed, and required the further involvement of officers to secure compliance.
After the hearing, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental and Regulatory Services, Councillor Huw George said he was pleased with the outcome of the hearing.

He said: “It should reinforce the importance of food businesses ensuring satisfactory levels of food hygiene in the interest of safeguarding public health.
“However, I share the disappointment of officers that the business failed to respond effectively to the initial intervention and advice. This may have avoided the need for court action.

“On a more positive note the case does highlight the value of the Food Hygiene Rating information to the public and I would strongly encourage consumers to take note of these scores when exercising their choices over where to eat out.”
During the case, defending solicitor James Hartson read from a letter Jarvis had sent to the Council, saying she was “gutted” by the state in which officers had found her kitchen.

Crime

Three youths arrested after mopeds ‘stolen and ridden dangerously’ in Milford Haven

Published

5 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses and video footage after two mopeds were allegedly taken without their owners’ consent and ridden dangerously around Milford Haven.

Dyfed-Powys Police received several reports on Saturday, July 25, of two mopeds being ridden recklessly in the town.

Officers were subsequently informed that two mopeds had been stolen in the area.

Three youths have been arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

They have since been released on bail while police enquiries continue.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incidents, or who has CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage showing the mopeds being ridden on the morning of Saturday, July 25, to come forward.

Information can be provided online through the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Anyone contacting police should quote reference 26*603956.

Entertainment

Unearthing History: Pembrokeshire’s past to come alive at Carew Castle

Published

20 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Archaeologists, historians and heritage groups will gather for a day of discoveries, demonstrations and hands-on activities

CENTURIES of Pembrokeshire history will be brought to life at Carew Castle next month as the popular Unearthing History event returns.

Unearthing History: Pembrokeshire’s Past will take place on Monday, August 3, bringing together archaeologists, historians and heritage organisations from across the region.

Visitors will be able to examine archaeological finds and historic collections, meet experts and discover more about the work being carried out to research and preserve the county’s past.

Organisations taking part will include Heneb, the Trust for Welsh Archaeology, Pembrokeshire Prospectors, Tenby Museum and Castell Henllys Iron Age Village.

The event will explore the people, places and objects that have helped shape Pembrokeshire through a programme of demonstrations, displays and interactive activities.

Younger visitors will also be able to take part in archaeology-themed games, try traditional skills and experience a taste of medieval life through Knight School and have-a-go archery sessions.

Daisy Hughes, Manager of Carew Castle, said: “Unearthing History gives people a fantastic opportunity to explore local heritage alongside those who study, preserve and bring it to life.

“It is wonderful to bring so many regional experts and organisations together in one place, and we are delighted to be hosting a day that celebrates the depth and variety of our local history.”

Unearthing History: Pembrokeshire’s Past will run from 10:00am until 4:00pm on Monday, August 3.

Normal castle admission charges will apply. Visitors are advised that some parts of the event can only be reached by steps.

Further details about the event and Carew Castle’s summer programme are available from the Carew Castle website.

Picture caption:

Carew Castle will welcome archaeologists, historians and heritage organisations for a day celebrating Pembrokeshire’s past on Monday, August 3.

Business

Three in five Welsh sole traders unprepared for first digital tax deadline

Published

28 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

New research suggests 58% of eligible sole traders in Wales still have work to do ahead of the first Making Tax Digital quarterly reporting deadline on August 7.

THREE in five sole traders in Wales are not fully prepared for a major change to the way they report their income and expenses to HM Revenue and Customs, according to new research.

A survey commissioned by Lloyds found that 58% of Welsh respondents still had work to do before they were ready to comply with Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

The figure was slightly higher than the UK-wide result, where 55% of those surveyed said they were not yet fully prepared.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax became mandatory in April for sole traders and landlords with qualifying annual income of more than £50,000.

Those covered by the rules must keep digital records and use compatible software to provide HMRC with quarterly summaries of their income and expenses.

The deadline for the first quarterly update is Friday, August 7.

Nathan Morgan, Area Director for Wales at Lloyds, said: “Making Tax Digital represents one of the biggest administrative changes many sole traders will have experienced for years.

“Our research suggests that while businesses recognise the benefits of digital record-keeping, many are still working through what they need to do before the first submission deadline.

“With small business owners already balancing multiple demands on their time, simplicity matters.

“That is why we have built HMRC-recognised Making Tax Digital for Income Tax functionality directly into eligible Lloyds Business Accounts at no extra cost, helping customers manage tax administration alongside their everyday banking.”

Despite the concerns over preparedness, some Welsh sole traders said the new system had already brought benefits.

Among those preparing for the first update, 41% said digital tax management had helped them become more organised, while 16% said it had reduced the stress associated with completing tax work at the last minute.

More than three quarters of respondents in Wales, 79%, said they would find it useful to manage tax records, deadlines and administration through their banking app or online banking.

Lloyds has integrated Making Tax Digital software into its business banking service. The tool allows customers to maintain digital records, categorise income and expenses, save receipts and prepare quarterly updates.

The qualifying income threshold will fall to more than £30,000 from April 2027 and more than £20,000 from April 2028.

The Lloyds research was conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 UK sole traders with income of at least £50,000 between June 29 and July 6. Landlords were not included in the survey.