Business

Welsh restaurants set for Christmas boost

Published

11 years ago

December 11, 2014

CONSUMERS in Wales are returning to the dining table and increasing the number of meals they enjoy out, as their financial situation improves, according to the first Barclaycard ‘Where’s Britain Spending?’ report into consumer spending trends. This is matched by findings that almost a fifth (19%) of UK consumers are planning to spend even more on dining out in the next few months, suggesting restaurants in Wales will see a bumper Christmas. Year-on-year growth in Welsh restaurant spending of 19% in the third quarter of the year is the highest in the UK, and above the national average of 15.8%, however Wales offers some of the best value for money dining in Great Britain, with savvy consumers spending £19.02 per meal.

In comparison, East and North East of England spending is up 18%; and in the South West it has grown 17%. Diners in Northern Ireland are spending 12 per cent more on eating out. This may be attributed to the culinary boom taking place across the UK. In The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2015, 14 restaurants across the country were promoted to one-star status, eight of which were outside London – including two in Wales, two in the Scottish isles and one in the South West. Meanwhile, the increasing popularity of local food events is creating new culinary critics keen to try out their local restaurant. Interestingly, despite Londoners being spoilt for choice, they’re avoiding the notoriously expensive eateries and are spending the least on their meals of anyone in the country at just £17.81 per sitting.

The Barclaycard data also shows that restaurant visits climbed 23% in the third quarter of the year, and the amount spent each time has declined 6.2%, averaging £20 per sitting, suggesting that families are able to make more frequent visits by cutting the cost of their meals down when they dine out. When asked about their financial situation, almost two-thirds (64%) of UK consumers said they are confident in their ability to live within their means each month, and over half (57%) say they feel confident about their household finances.

The combined result suggests that consumers are planning on loosening their purse strings and splashing out over the festive season. Chris Wood, Managing Director, Barclaycard said:“The UK’s restaurant industry is enjoying a mini-boom with spending in the last twelve months jumping by a fifth. With the office party season just around the corner, this is likely to give restaurants in Wales a very merry Christmas. Dining out is one of the first things to be cut when we tighten our purse strings, so the fact that we’re spending more is a sign that consumers are feeling more confident in their financial position.”

Business

Call for all-weather horse-riding arena in Lamphey refused

Published

2 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for an all-weather horse-riding arena and self-catering ‘pods’ near Pembrokeshire’s historic Lamphey Bishop’s Palace & Lamphey Court has been refused.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, James White sought permission for a 20 by 40 metre all-weather turnout and horse-riding arena along with two accommodation pods at Lower Lamphey Park, The Ridgeway, Lamphey, near Pembroke.

The proposed site forms part of a walled garden and agricultural land to the south of Lower Lamphey Park under 500m from Scheduled Monument, Lamphey Bishop’s Palace, Lamphey and inside the boundaries of Registered Park and Garden, Lamphey Bishop’s Palace & Lamphey Court.

The walled garden is located approximately 75m to the south of Grade-II-Listed Buildings, Barn at Upper Lamphey Barn and Grade-II*-Listed Building, Four Mediaeval House at Upper Lamphey Park Farm.

The application was supported by local community council Lamphey, but Natural Resources Wales (NRW) raised concerns regarding the location of the proposal within a Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) catchment.

The council’s landscape officer – objected, saying there was an “under-representation of site features for the walled garden, lack of cultural appreciation of building and landscape qualities of the garden and lack of design input to the horse area”.

An officer report recommending refusal said an initial description in the application of the ‘pods’ being temporary had, by email from the applicant, being confirmed as not, being secured to the ground with waste connections, their intended use being self-catered units.

The application was refused on the grounds the pods would “result in an unjustified and harmful impact on the character and appearance of the open countryside,” and, due to the lack of a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) it is not possible to conclude that there would not be an adverse effect on the historic environment.

It was also refused for reasons including insufficient information provided to conclude that increases in nutrient inputs in the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC can be ruled out, and in the absence of an appropriate habitat and protected species survey “the proposal fails to demonstrate that the development would not adversely affect protected species, thereby reducing biodiversity”.

Business

Crwst bakery praised after award recognition

Published

1 day ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Cardigan café-bakery honoured in Artisan Bakery of the Year category at Welsh awards

CRWST in Cardigan has been recognised for excellence in the Artisan Bakery of the Year category at the Welsh Café and Bakery Awards 2026.

The popular bakery shared the news with customers this week, saying the recognition was a proud moment for the business and its team.

Crwst paid tribute to its bakers, praising their hard work and consistency in producing bread and baked goods each day while also developing new products, including its croissants.

The business also thanked its loyal customers for their continued support, from those queuing up and sitting in to those taking food away and returning again and again.

In a message posted online, the team said the support of customers had played a major part in the bakery’s success.

Crwst added its thanks in Welsh, saying: “Diolch.”

The announcement was accompanied by what the bakery described as an “oldie but goldie” group photograph of the team.

Business

Pembroke Dock Pennar housing scheme refused due to nitrates

Published

1 day ago

April 11, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for a housing development on the edge of Pembroke Dock have been turned down in part due to the ongoing issue of nitrates guidance which has “essentially placed a moratorium on certain types of development” in the county.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, R Keeble through agent CFW Architects Ltd sought permission for a development of five new homes on land off Nelson Street, Pennar, Pembroke Dock.

The application was supported by Pembroke Dock Town Council’s planning committee.

In their report planning officers said the applicant has failed to provide a completed unilateral undertaking to secure the necessary contributions towards local needs affordable housing.

Welsh Water Dwr Cymru suggested a delay if approval was given: “The proposed development would drain to Pembroke Dock Waste water Treatment Works which is currently failing to comply with the 95 per cent quartile for its flow passed forward (FPF) performance.

“However, a scheme is planned for completion by December 31, 2026,” suggesting: “No buildings on the application site shall be brought into beneficial use earlier than December 31, 2026, unless the scheme at the Waste Water Treatment Works, into which the development shall drain, has been completed and written confirmation of this has been issued by the local planning authority.”

A preliminary risk assessment in respect of potential contamination has been submitted with this application, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has recommended a condition for further investigative work in the event contamination is found.

The officer report adds: “The proposed development would result in an increase in nitrogen discharges draining into the Milford Haven Inner waterbody of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) where features are known to be in unfavourable condition due to current evidence of both chemical and biological failure.

“The application fails to secure appropriate mitigation and contains insufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed development would achieve nutrient neutrality for nitrogen. Accordingly, it cannot be demonstrated that the proposed development would not lead to further deterioration of water quality.

“A conclusion of no adverse effect on the integrity of the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC cannot therefore be drawn.”

The application was refused on the grounds of the local needs affordable housing contribution and the potential impact on the Milford Haven Inner waterbody of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation.

Late last year Pembrokeshire County Council, in a letter to Welsh Government, raised the authority’s “great concern over Natural Resources Wales’ recent river nitrates guidance in relation to development, and the serious effects this is having”.

It said: “As you are aware, it has essentially placed a moratorium on certain types of development in Pembrokeshire, a situation with no quick or obvious way out.”