A RESUBMITTED scheme for a gin distillery as part of a B&B in the centre of Britain’s smallest city has been turned down by Pembrokeshire national park planners, with hopes the applicant may try a third time as a distillery only.

Last October, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners refused an application by Neil Walsh for a change of use of the exiting guest house at St Davids Distillery, Restaurant & Rooms, 11-13 Nun Street, St Davids to include the bar/restaurant and distillery.

The plans for the Grade II-listed property had drawn 23 responses of concern, including intensification of use from the bar, impacts on local amenity, and Health and Safety concerns about the installation of a still and the use of ethanol, with fears of a fire and explosion risk.

The scheme – supported by St David’s City Council – was partly retrospective as the gin still had been installed, but was not currently in use, in the distillery sited below existing bedrooms at the guesthouse.

The latest application, a mixed use of 11-13 Nun Street as a bed and breakfast and housing part of the gin distillery plant, was again recommended for refusal. At the October 16 meeting of the park’s development management committee.

It was proposed that the ethanol and botanicals would be stored off-site and brought onto the premises only when distilling is taking place; 30 days a year, with no guests on site.

There were 15 letters of objection to the scheme, raising concerns including it “could result in death, injuries and large-scale damage to property”.

An officer report said mitigation measures suggested in order to minimise the risk associated with ethanol for gin production “would not, in the opinion of the authority, be reasonable, practical or enforceable”.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Walsh said the scheme would help safeguard 11 jobs by diversifying the existing business, with hopes of creating further jobs in the future.

Mr Walsh, who owns a nearby restaurant, had said tourism had declined as there had been “confidence back for the UK market to travel abroad,” and gin production would help market St Davids as a global brand.

Addressing safety concerns, he said the still, sited retrospectively in order to comply with distillery licensing, had been installed by a “world-class master distiller,” who had previously installed a still some two-and-a-half times larger on a P&O ferry.

He told members the ‘spirit tourism’ business was worth hundreds of millions of pounds in the UK, with Welsh Government funding for a Penderyn distillery visitor centre, adding: “if this was dangerous and irregular why have government given money?”

A sticking point for members was the sharing of the distillery with the B&B, pondering whether Mr Walsh – who was broadly positive – could resubmit an application for a distillery only, after hearing that could not be suggested as an amendment to the existing scheme.

Moving the application be refused, Cllr Di Clements said: “It’s a real shame because it’s such a good idea, nobody is against what Mr Walsh wants to do; it’s the combination which is the issue, I hope Mr Walsh can come back with another application if this fails.”

Dr Rosetta Plummer, who seconded refusal, praised the applicant’s “passion and clarity,” adding: “Unfortunately, we are bound to make a judgement on what is before us today.”

The scheme was refused by 12 votes to two.

A SIGNIFICANT milestone has been reached at the Port of Milford Haven today with the keel laying ceremony for its new state-of-the-art 22-metre pilot transfer vessel. The vessel, currently under construction by Next Generation Shipyards, is the first step in a multi-million-pound investment programme aimed at enhancing the Port’s pilotage services.

The keel laying ceremony, traditionally marking the official start of a ship’s construction, highlights the Port’s continued commitment to improving safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. This new vessel will play a vital role in maintaining the high standards of pilotage at the UK’s leading energy port.

Harbourmaster at the Port of Milford Haven, Mike Ryan, spoke of the significance of the event: “Today’s keel laying ceremony is a momentous occasion for everyone involved in the project. This new vessel represents our commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence. As the UK’s leading energy port, we understand the importance of having world-class infrastructure to support our customers and maintain our competitive advantage.”

Wayne Busby, Watch Manager at the Port, expressed his anticipation for the vessel’s arrival next year, noting: “The Marine team is eagerly awaiting the delivery of our Next Generation pilot transfer vessel. We face some of the most challenging weather conditions in the world, and this substantial investment will ensure we can continue providing excellent service long into the future.”

Next Generation Shipyards, known for its innovative designs and craftsmanship, is building the 22-metre vessel to meet the unique demands of pilot transfer operations. With advanced safety features, improved sea-keeping abilities, and cutting-edge technology, the vessel is designed to optimise performance in harsh conditions.

Technical Director at Next Generation Shipyards, Dirk Keizer, commented: “With this keel laying, the construction has begun for an extraordinary vessel. The technical and comfort capabilities combined with self-righting technology make this vessel stand out. We are pleased to contribute to the Port’s future and are involved in maintenance and training programmes to ensure smooth operations.”

Steven Lee, Chief Naval Architect at BMT, added: “This milestone reflects the dedicated efforts of the project team over the past ten months. This new pilot boat will meet regulatory and operational standards, setting a new benchmark for heavy weather operations. We look forward to supporting the vessel through its construction and trials.”

Ed Soothill, Technical Director at Camarc Design, also highlighted the significance of the project: “We have worked closely with the Port of Milford Haven and NG Shipyards to develop a pilot boat that can handle very demanding operational conditions. We are delighted to see the project reach this stage and look forward to its completion in 2025.”

The new pilot transfer vessel is expected to enter service in 2025, reinforcing the Port of Milford Haven’s commitment to providing safe and efficient marine services. This vessel will be a cornerstone of the Port’s long-term investment strategy, ensuring its continued ability to serve a wide range of vessels.

NEW CareersCraft landmark launched on 15 October 2024 at Bluestone resort with local school pupils

• The resource enables pupils to be immersed in a 3D Minecraft version of the Bluestone resort to develop careers knowledge and awareness of the hospitality and tourism sector in Wales

Careers Wales, in partnership with Visit Wales Welsh Government and Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire, have launched a new landmark feature based on Bluestone’s 500-acre resort, within the award-winning CareersCraft resource.

CareersCraft is a Minecraft world featuring Welsh landmarks, designed to inspire and motivate school children aged 8 – 13, whilst developing their careers skills and knowledge. Each landmark is linked to an Area of Learning within the Curriculum for Wales, or a particular sector.

Through exploring the landmarks virtually through the platform and taking part in challenges, young people are encouraged to consider their own skills, attributes and interests, and how these can support their career journeys. 

Bluestone, which is located near Narberth, is a new addition to the seven landmarks already within the CareersCraft world, all detailed below with the Area of Learning or sector they relate to:

• Bluestone – hospitality and tourism
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – engineering
• The Senedd – language, literacy and communications
• Tenby – health and wellbeing
• Cardiff Coal Exchange – maths and numeracy
• Wales Millenium Centre – expressive arts
• Big Pit – science and technology
• Caernarfon Castle – humanities

To celebrate the release of the new landmark, Careers Wales hosted a launch event on Tuesday 15 October at the Bluestone resort with pupils from Templeton Community Primary School.

After an introduction to the new landmark, pupils were invited to complete the Bluestone challenges, including testing the safety of the Sky Walk at the Serendome, sorting the resources in the Well Spa and finding missing swimming floats at the Blue Lagoon.

This was followed by a tailored careers session, providing an opportunity for pupils to gain an insight into the world of hospitality directly from Bluestone staff. The exciting event ended with a personalised tour of Bluestone, letting the pupils explore the resort in-person, and learn more about careers within the industry.

Oliver Furneaux, a teacher at Templeton Primary School, said: “The children have thoroughly enjoyed today, as have I, and I think CareersCraft is an excellent resource. The children liked that the session was so interactive and that they’ve been using Minecraft, which they love anyway. Having potential jobs they can do in the future built into a Minecraft world creates a really interesting and engaging way for the children to learn.

“It’s definitely something I can take back to the school and share with the other teachers and classes, and schools within our local area as well. With Bluestone built into the resource, it is a fantastic way for the children to see how they might stay and work in the area in the future.”

A pupil from Templeton Primary School said: “I’ve loved that you get to go places and it looks the same as in real life. We’ve learnt about jobs that are actually real and it’s really cool how to get to experience them.”

A second pupil said: “I really enjoyed the Skywalk challenge, even though it’s hard, I found it really fun, especially when you get your high score. I’ve learnt not to give up on the challenges. I am definitely going to play it at home.”

Nikki Lawrence, Chief Executive at Careers Wales, said: “It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with our colleagues at Bluestone and Visit Wales and launch the exciting new Bluestone landmark within CareersCraft.

“Bluestone is an iconic holiday resort, and this new landmark enables players to explore the vibrant hospitality industry and discover the opportunities within this sector in Wales.

“It’s fantastic to see local school pupils exploring the new features of CareersCraft, developing their careers knowledge and expanding their horizons, all whilst in the beautiful setting of Bluestone itself.” 

“We’re thrilled to be part of CareersCraft, opening the doors of Bluestone to young minds throughout Wales and beyond,” said Helen John, Bluestone Academy Manager.

“This virtual experience showcases the exciting world of hospitality and tourism, inspiring the next generation of employees and industry leaders. It’s a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the diverse career paths available right here in the heart of Pembrokeshire and throughout Wales.”

The Minister for Skills, Jack Sargeant, said: “I want our children and young people to be offered as many opportunities as possible to be inspired and motivated about their future careers. Opportunities like the fantastic one Templeton Primary school pupils have had today – meeting employees at our award-winning Bluestone National Park Resort.

“Thanks to Careers Wales and Bluestone, this new virtual world in the CareersCraft resource will also give pupils across Wales an opportunity to find out about the breadth of valuable career options available in tourism and hospitality.” 

CareersCraft is available to all pupils in schools across the country through Minecraft Education Edition, and is accompanied by lesson plans for teachers.

The resource is also available for anyone with a games console, tablet or laptop to download and has had over seven million downloads through Minecraft Marketplace.

In 2021, CareersCraft was nominated in the ‘Use of Technology in Career Development’ category at the CDI’s UK Career Development Awards.

You can find out more about CareersCraft on the Careers Wales website.