News
Historic hotel ready to welcome new owner
ALTHOUGH reputed to have a history going back as far as 1625, Hotel Mariners in Haverfordwest has been more reliably dated to 1729 – heyday of the Georgian coaching Inn.
Whatever its true age, this comfortable, well-appointed Grade II listed property in the town centre has remained the principal hotel in Haverfordwest and is now on the market with Colliers International with offers invited in the region of £1 million.
Peter Brunt, a director in Colliers International’s Hotels Agency team, said Hotel Mariners had been in the same family for three generations, but younger members of the family are looking to other careers so the hotel is on the market for the first time since 1981.
“This gives potential operators an opportunity to purchase a fully functioning business in this key regional town,” he said.
“Hotel Mariners is a real all-rounder, serving both locals and visitors and is frequently used for weddings and other functions.”
“Haverfordwest is at the hub of a lovely corner of Pembrokeshire and provides a great base for prospective owners. In addition to being a great place to live and work, the accounts for year ending October 2017 show net sales of £707,382 which resulted in a tidy profit.”
The landmark hotel has 27 letting bedrooms and, crucially for this part of Pembrokeshire, a large car park, although it also benefits from being within walking distance of local shops, supermarkets and leisure facilities.
The main hotel was constructed in the 18th century with alterations in the 20th Century – more recently the lounge bar has been fully refurbished and caters for around 45 people. The restaurant is arranged over two floors with 64 covers. In addition, there is a first floor, theatre-style conference room.
Peter Brunt said: “The former meeting room is presently used as a ladies clothing shop – on sale, a six month lease will be granted to allow this use to continue until an alternative venue is found.
“Next door to the hotel is a three-bedroom house with a common boundary, which is available by separate negotiation. This property is not currently used as part of the business but could be used as an owners’ home or for staff accommodation.”
He added: “Haverfordwest is the ancient county town of Pembrokeshire and acts as a hub for people to explore the surrounding region, with good connections to Fishguard, Cardigan, Milford Haven, Narberth, Carmarthen and Tenby.”
News
Closure of Tata Steel’s coke ovens sparks political and union backlash
THE recent announcement by Tata Steel to close the coke ovens at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales has ignited a firestorm of political and industrial action, highlighting the deepening crisis within the British steel industry and the challenges facing the transition to green steel.
Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, expressed her concerns over the impact of the closure on the Welsh steel industry and the workers affected. Stevens emphasized the need for assurances about the workers’ immediate future and pledged that a UK Labour government would invest in the steel industry to support the transition to green steel, harnessing the skills, talent, and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.
The closure, slated for Wednesday due to concerns over the ovens’ “operational stability,” has been criticized by regional Senedd Members for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, and Dr. Altaf Hussain MS. They accused the Labour Welsh Government of neglecting its support for the Tata Steelworks in Port Talbot, highlighting a lack of financial assistance since 2019 and calling for a change in response to the current developments.
Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been vocal in its opposition to Tata’s decision, describing it as a shock and a “result of years of betrayal.” The union criticized Tata for not disclosing the imminent risk of closure during recent consultations and announced a ballot for industrial action among 1,500 Tata workers. Unite insists there should be no job losses at Port Talbot or Llanwern and that a blast furnace should remain operational.
Peter Hughes, Unite’s regional secretary for Wales, called for Tata to halt its closure plans in anticipation of Labour’s promised £3 billion investment to rejuvenate the UK steel industry. He accused Tata of managing the decline of UK steel while accepting government subsidies, describing the company’s actions as “deliberate industrial vandalism.”
The closure has not only raised concerns about the future of steel production in the UK but also spotlighted the political and economic strategies required to ensure the industry’s survival and transition towards more sustainable practices. The unfolding situation underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government, industry stakeholders, and the workforce to navigate the complex challenges ahead.
News
Firefighters tackle blaze at block of garages in Monkton
ONE person was injured as a result of a sunday afternoon garage fire in a block of garages in Monkton.
A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service told The Pembrokeshire Herald said: “At 1.31pm on March 17, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven crews were called to extinguish a fire in an alight central garage and were forced to use two breathing apparatus and two hose reels.
“The firefighters reportedly left the scene at 3.02pm after continuing to dampen the fire and check for fire spread.
“The casualty was treated by ambulance service personnel also in attendance.”
The police confirmed that a garage fire had been dealt with by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service attended.
News
Air ambulance called following incident at Aldi Pembroke Dock
THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE, along with the Welsh Ambulance Service and police were called on Monday morning to an incident at the Aldi supermarket car park in Pembroke Dock.
The Herald understands that the alarm was raised after a car hit a person in the car park after 9am.
We have been told that the incident involved a local taxi.
The emergency services have been asked for a comment.
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