Business

Restaurant boss says minimum wage rise ‘disaster waiting to happen’ for hospitality

Published

2 months ago

November 25, 2025

“If people – politicians, decision makers, landlords, councillors – don’t start understanding just how fragile this sector is becoming, the places they love simply won’t be here in a year or two.”

A LEADING Milford Haven publican has warned that next year’s minimum wage increase could push many Pembrokeshire pubs and restaurants “off a cliff”, saying the hospitality sector can no longer absorb rising costs.

Dan Mills, owner of Martha’s Vineyard on the Milford waterfront, said the decision to raise the National Living Wage to £12.71 an hour from April will hit small independent businesses hardest at a time when margins are already under intense pressure.

The rise is part of the UK Government’s plan to boost the earnings of lower-paid workers. But Mr Mills said the cumulative effect of wage rises, tax changes and energy prices was becoming unsustainable.

‘We can’t just absorb the cost’
Reacting to the announcement, Mr Mills said the assumption that hospitality businesses can simply absorb rising costs “couldn’t be further from the truth”.

“We’re already running on margins that get smaller by the month, and this government seems determined to squeeze every last drop out of us,” he said.

“Energy costs are going up, ingredients are going up, rents are going up, business rates are going up and VAT is absolutely crippling the industry. Meanwhile our customers, real people, families, are already struggling under the weight of this government in their everyday lives. We can only pass on so much before they simply stop coming out.”

Concerns for local suppliers
Mr Mills stressed that the impact would not fall solely on pubs and restaurants but also on their wider supply chain – including Pembrokeshire’s farmers, fishermen and local producers.

“Hospitality isn’t some faceless industry,” he said. “It’s my team, it’s our local suppliers, it’s the farmers who raise the beef and grow the potatoes, the fishermen who land the lobsters, the families who choose to spend their hard-earned money with us. It’s our town, county and community.”

He said pubs and restaurants could adapt and innovate, “as we always do here”, but warned that rising fixed costs were pushing the sector towards breaking point.

***More costs for businesses is ‘economic suicide’, Dan Mills warned on Tuesday***

‘Driven off a cliff’
“This is bordering on economic suicide for small businesses like mine, and thousands of others who are the backbone of our communities,” he said.

“If people – politicians, decision makers, landlords, councillors – don’t start understanding just how fragile this sector is becoming, the places they love simply won’t be here in a year or two.”

He added that for him the issue was not political but personal: “It’s livelihoods and it’s our community. And right now, it feels like we’re being driven off a cliff.”

Pembrokeshire context
Hospitality is one of the biggest employers in Pembrokeshire, with tourism-related businesses making up a major part of the local economy. Industry groups have warned previously that continued above-inflation wage rises, coupled with VAT pressures and energy costs, risk causing closures over the next two years.

Responding to the Chancellor’s announcement, The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates Chief Executive Andy Slee said cost of living pressures were real, but the burden of implementing wage rises fell hardest on small employers.

“Cost of living pressures are very real for people and we all want to see living standards rise. However, the responsibility of delivering wage increases is most felt by small businesses, including small independent breweries who are already facing significant pressures,” he said.

“We have lost more than 100 breweries in the past year and more tell us they are on the edge. If they close, there won’t be any jobs at all.”

Mr Slee added that the removal of age-based pay bands failed to reflect the additional training and development required for younger workers entering the sector.

“Brewing is a skilled job and we want to encourage more young people to enter the sector, but continuing to close the aged-based pay gap does not take account of the additional training and development that young people need,” he said.

He urged the Chancellor to use tomorrow’s Budget to support the industry by expanding Draught Relief.

“Tomorrow’s Budget is the opportunity for the Chancellor to offset these challenges for breweries by expanding the Draught Relief to 20% or more. This would mean that beer mostly sold in pubs has a lower rate of beer duty, bringing benefits to beer drinkers and small breweries around the country.”

The Treasury said the new rates aim to balance “the needs of workers, the affordability for businesses and the opportunities for employment”.

The minimum wage rise will come into effect in April 2026.

Business

Councillor condemns closure of Haverfordwest Santander branch

Published

21 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE councillor has spoken out after learning that the Santander branch in Haverfordwest is set to close later this year, warning the decision will have a serious impact on local residents, families and businesses.

The bank’s Bridge Street branch is due to close on Monday (May 5) as part of a wider UK restructuring programme.

Councillor Thomas Baden Tudor said he was “lost for words” and urged the bank to reconsider, describing the closure as devastating for customers who rely on face-to-face services.

Santander says the decision is driven by declining footfall, with more customers banking online, and that services will remain available via digital platforms and Post Office counters.

However, the announcement follows a steady erosion of high-street banking in Pembrokeshire. The Herald recently reported that Haverfordwest’s former Halifax branch is set to reopen as a nail salon.

In what appears to be a serious failure of planning, there is now not a single bank branch left anywhere in south Pembrokeshire. Towns including Tenby, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock are all without face-to-face banking facilities.

North Pembrokeshire has also been affected, with Fishguard and St Davids now lacking bank branches.

Pembrokeshire is understood to be left with just four bank branches in total — Nationwide in Milford Haven, and HSBC, NatWest and Lloyds Bank in Haverfordwest.

Business

Bluestone celebrates King’s Award for Enterprise at official ceremony

Published

18 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Pembrokeshire resort recognised as UK leader in sustainable tourism

BLUESTONE NATIONAL PARK RESORT has formally received The King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, marking a major milestone for the Pembrokeshire-based resort.

The prestigious honour — the UK’s highest business award — was presented during an official ceremony at Bluestone’s Serendome by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards. It recognises Bluestone as the first holiday resort in the country to receive the award for sustainable development.

During the visit, the Lord-Lieutenant met founder and chief executive William McNamara, director of sustainability Marten Lewis, staff members and invited guests, while also learning more about the resort’s long-term environmental strategy and its relationship with the local community.

The award follows an extensive assessment of Bluestone’s environmental, social and economic performance. Judges highlighted major progress in reducing carbon emissions, the resort’s move to a fossil-fuel-free operation for all purchased energy — a first for a UK holiday park — and its adoption of circular economy principles. Bluestone was also praised for its support for the local economy, its work to protect and enhance wildlife, and an internal culture where sustainability is shared across the organisation. Around thirty per cent of the business is staff-owned.

Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Edwards said: “It was a great pleasure to present Bluestone with The King’s Award for Enterprise and to see first-hand the work they are doing. The team’s passion for sustainability and their commitment to protecting the local area in Pembrokeshire shone through during my visit. Bluestone’s work is having a positive and lasting impact, and they should be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”

The recognition comes at a time when the tourism sector is under increasing pressure to balance growth with environmental protection, as travellers place greater emphasis on sustainable destinations.

Marten Lewis, who has led Bluestone’s sustainability strategy, has been central to developing what the resort describes as its “operational blueprint” — combining environmental protection, community partnerships and local economic support. He has also represented Bluestone nationally and was recently congratulated in person by King Charles III at a reception for King’s Award recipients.

Reflecting on the achievement, Mr Lewis said sustainability was fundamental to the way the resort operates. He added that the award recognised years of collective effort across the business and would act as a powerful incentive to continue pushing standards higher.

Chief executive William McNamara said the award reflected a long-standing commitment to responsible tourism. He said that as travel continues to evolve, businesses have a growing duty to protect the places people come to enjoy, adding that national recognition of Bluestone’s approach was a moment of pride for the entire team.

Formerly known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the programme was renamed following the accession of King Charles III. Since its launch in 1965, more than 8,000 UK businesses have been recognised for outstanding achievement.

Business

Final wind turbine deliveries completed after months of disruption

Published

18 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Last major component reaches site as Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thank communities for patience

DRAGON LNG and Dragon Energy have confirmed that the final large component for a new wind turbine project has now been successfully delivered, bringing months of complex abnormal load movements on Pembrokeshire roads to an end.

The companies said the final turbine blade was delivered to the site on Wednesday (Jan 28, 2026), marking the completion of all major component deliveries associated with the project.

In a statement, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thanked the local community for its patience and cooperation throughout the delivery programme, acknowledging that the operation caused disruption on local roads.

Residents across parts of the county have previously experienced temporary road closures, traffic delays and police escorts as oversized turbine components were transported from the Port of Milford Haven to the site under tightly controlled conditions.

The abnormal load movements required months of detailed planning and coordination, involving route surveys, traffic management, police support and liaison with local authorities to ensure deliveries were carried out safely and with minimal disruption wherever possible.

The companies also apologised for the inconvenience caused during the delivery phase, saying the support and understanding shown by residents had been “invaluable” in allowing the project to reach this milestone.

A number of organisations were involved in supporting the operation, including Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, haulage specialists Collett & Sons Ltd and Green Light Traffic Management.

Local media outlets, including The Pembrokeshire Herald, provided advance notice and updates during the delivery process to help keep residents informed.

With the final major deliveries now complete, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy said the project would continue to progress to the next phase of construction on site.