News
Wetherspoon employee will be ‘dealt with’
WETHERSPOON have confirmed they will deal with a member of staff who, it appears, acted in a manner the pub chain have referred to as ‘below the standards they expect’.
David Campbell, who works as a chef at the Haverfordwest pub, was accused by a customer of having responded poorly to a complaint of a twig being found in a meal. The Facebook page, ‘Spotted Haverfordwest’ carried the complaint by the anonymous customer in the form of a post that read: “The way I got treated in Wetherspoon in Haverfordwest today was disgusting. I am a student from Pembrokeshire College and me and two of my other friends from there went to Weatherspoon to have some lunch on our break. It was fine ordering my food and the food came out really quickly. However, I took a second bite from my wrap and there was something really hard in it, and as I took my mouth away and looked into the wrap there was a tree twig covered in dirt in it. The manager then came over after another 10 minutes of waiting and was very rude and made out that I had put the twig in the wrap, he then finally went to give me the refund but came back with £1.63 which was not the whole refund, so we were charged for the drink.”
The post, and complaint, was seen by the chef who responded to the criticism, placing his own post which read: “Stick that wrap up your ass you c***.”
The Pembrokeshire Herald contacted Mr Campbell, who attempted to explain himself and the post he had published: “Obviously that girl wrote a complaint about Wetherspoon and I commented on it. No one knew who I was until that boy commented on my status and then sent it through to Haverfordwest’s Spotted Mail. I know him, he’s not a friend. I’m going to lose my f*****g job, while people are on Facebook all day causing s**t where I work. Now I probably won’t have a job. What I said was taken out of context, people made it in to something big, my comment was like any other comment till that k**b said I worked there.”
Approached on the subject of an apology, he stated: “The twig was not in the wrap because it was made fresh, so no, I’m not sorry.”
Wetherspoon spokesperson, Eddie Gershon, said of the matter: “We are fully aware of the incident at the pub. Wetherspoon sets high standards and on this occasion the company’s staff fell below the standards expected. We regret that in the first instance the complaint was not dealt with in the manner we expect. Also, the comments made on Facebook by the member of staff were completely inappropriate and the matter is being dealt with internally. Our aim is to speak with the customer directly in order to apologise to her.”
News
Search for missing Pembrokeshire man scaled back by police

FOLLOWING nine days of extensive searches on land and sea, we can confirm that the search for missing man Jai has been scaled back.
Police said in a statement: “We launched a search for Jai, aged 40, in the area around Hobbs Point on the morning of Monday, 20 March, following a sighting of Jai and his car, a silver Honda Civic, in the area.
“In the past week we have carried out extensive searches using the force’s specialist search team and police search adviser (POLSA), marine unit, specialist sonar, drones, dog unit, as well as working with South Wales Police’s dive team, the NPAS helicopter and Coastguard.
“A decision was made yesterday to scale back the search, which has been communicated with Jai’s family.
“However, we will act on new information, and officers continue with missing person enquiries.
“We are appealing for people not to put themselves in danger, particularly near the River Cleddau, if they are attempting to look for Jai.
“If you have information that could help with that investigation, please let us know:”
News
Pembrokeshire chef, Daniel Jones, wins Pub Chef of the Year 2023

TALENTED chef Daniel Jones has scooped first prize in the Pub Chef of the Year category at the International Salon Culinaire awards 2023. The finals of the competition took place at ExCel London on 22 March 2023.
Executive chef Daniel is co-owner of JT at the Abergwaun Hotel, the hotel and restaurant in Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, recently awarded a 4* rating by Visit Wales. His winning dish of Lemon Sole, Spring Vegetables, Bluestone Ale and Pickled Cockle Vinaigrette with ‘Welshman’s caviar’ (handpicked laver seaweed from the Pembrokeshire coast) came first place amongst the seven finalists, and will be introduced to the restaurant’s menu this summer.
International Salon Culinaire is regarded as one of the world’s top competitions for chefs, with over 100 categories, from pastry to knife skills. The competition has been a platform for chefs of all levels, from the talented young chefs training at college, to those who are well established and firmly on their culinary career journey. Gordon Ramsey won Chef of the Year in 1992, and the awards have over the years seen world-class ambassadors including Michel Roux Jr and, this year, Monica Galetti.
The Pub Chef of the Year category launched in 2022 to celebrate the fine food in the pubs and bars of the UK, and to recognise the hard work, expertise and talent in the kitchens of these establishments.
First place winner Daniel said: “I am over the moon to win the Pub Chef of the Year at the International Salon Culinaire. It’s a great honour to have cooked alongside other great culinary talent, and I’m delighted to have been recognised by the esteemed judges on the panel this year. I’ll be taking my accolade back to my hometown of Fishguard, where I hope I’ve made the community proud.”
No stranger to competition, Daniel competed in Masterchef: The Professionals in 2010 and he reached the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year awards in 2018.
His modern European restaurant JT At the Abergwaun Hotel is steeped in Welsh heritage, supporting local suppliers and offering ingredients like Welsh lamb and beef, plus the famous Fishguard Duck and chicken, along with a selection of fine Welsh cheeses. The A La Carte menu changes daily, depending on what can be sourced that day, from locally foraged, farmed or fished ingredients like local lobster and spider crab.
Daniel will be introducing all-day dining on Saturdays for all to enjoy – including non-hotel guests – and this summer, JT At the Abergwaun Hotel will launch a seven-course tasting menu to showcase Daniel’s award-winning cooking (including his winning dish!) and the local Pembrokeshire produce which he’s so proud of.
Business
Tuk Tuk touring business with franchise hopes gets licence plate call turned down

A SOUTH Pembrokeshire three-wheeler ‘tuk tuk’ tour business, which has hopes of creating a country-wide franchise has had a call for discreet signage on a support vehicle turned down.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee, meeting on March 27, considered an application to amend standard terms and conditions of a private hire vehicle.
The application, by Lorraine Niederlag of Begelly-based Tuk Tuk Time, asked for standard external private hire plates to instead be displayed internally for its “usually affluent” clients.
The application for this change of plates asked: “We wish to request the removal of the large private hire licensing plates, in exchange for more discreet internal plates. The intention is to focus on tours that would compliment our tuk tuk tours.”
The applicants said the charming three-wheeler Tuk Tuks were usually kept to south Pembrokeshire tours, and were not really suitable for county-wide day trips; the support car being used for that.
“As our clients are usually affluent, it would be detrimental to arrive in a pre-booked vehicle with such a ‘taxi’ image. In view of all bookings being pre-booked, we cannot see any safety issues for clients by more discreet signage,” the application added.
At the committee meeting, TUK Tuk Time said it hoped to use the support vehicle, bearing the signage “Wales’ premier travel” for some short trips from its campsite to restaurants until the business grew.
Lorraine Niederlag told members it was hoped that Tuk Tuk Tours could eventually become a franchise, with similar three-wheeler Tuk Tuk and support car schemes running in other parts of the country.
She told members that if the small plates call was turned down the support vehicle would be sold.
Cover image: Giving a shout out to the Rainbow Delivery Squad are Lorraine Niederlag, family and staff of Tuk Tuk Time. Picture: Gareth Davies Photography
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