Local inn among many facing dramatic increases from April 2026

MANORBIER Castle Inn has warned that its business rates are set to soar from £13,500 to £33,750 when the next revaluation takes effect on 1 April 2026, calling the increase “beyond justification” and a direct threat to local jobs and the rural economy.

The jump, published on the Valuation Office Agency website, represents a rise of more than 150%. The Inn says that even with any relief applied, the scale of the bill will be impossible to absorb.

In a statement, the venue said: “This is not just another attack on independent hospitality businesses – it’s an attack on everything they hold up: employees, suppliers, other businesses, tourism, artists, musicians, the entire community. Even with relief, we and many other businesses will not be able to meet this hike.”

The Inn added that the likely consequences will be severe:
“This scale of increase will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices, and in many cases close entirely. The impact on youth employment, already fragile, will be severe.”

Local residents reacted swiftly on social media, calling the increase “utterly unreasonable” and urging elected representatives to step in.

Widespread rises across Pembrokeshire — and government action following local concern

Manorbier Castle Inn is one of many hospitality and tourism businesses in Pembrokeshire facing substantial rateable value increases. Some premises have reported valuations doubling, tripling or worse.

The Herald has reported extensively on the emerging pattern in recent weeks, prompting significant public debate. Following this scrutiny — and concerns raised by businesses, councillors and industry bodies — the Welsh Government moved to introduce a new support package.

On 3 December 2025, ministers announced a £116 million transitional relief scheme designed to soften the impact of next year’s revaluation. Under the plans:

• Any business whose bill rises by more than £300 due to revaluation will have that increase phased in over two years, instead of being applied immediately.
• For the first time since 2010, ministers will reduce the standard business rates multiplier, lowering bills for some smaller premises.

However, the multiplier cut is expected to benefit mainly small retail outlets — not pubs, cafés or restaurants, which are among the hardest hit by soaring valuations.

Cllr Huw Carnhuan Murphy, leader of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council, publicly thanked local media — including The Herald — for helping to raise the alarm. He said the coverage had “pushed the issue up the agenda” and confirmed the group would continue lobbying for support for tourism and agriculture.

Industry bodies have welcomed the relief but warn that it does not counteract the central issue: large increases in rateable values and the loss of previous reliefs that many hospitality venues relied on to survive.

What it means for Manorbier Castle Inn — and the sector

While the Welsh Government’s intervention offers some breathing space, many independent venues say the measures fall far short of what is needed to prevent closures.

Manorbier Castle Inn says the phased-in increase will still undermine the business’s long-term viability, adding that just as trading conditions were beginning to stabilise, “another round of firefighting lands at your feet.”

Across Wales, operators warn that without more comprehensive reform, the sector could see widespread job losses, reduced opening hours and further closures — particularly in rural counties where tourism-dependent businesses sustain local economies.

Outlook

The introduction of transitional relief and a reduced rates multiplier marks a shift in government policy, and follows significant pressure from businesses and media coverage across Pembrokeshire. But for venues facing unprecedented revaluations, including Manorbier Castle Inn, the question remains whether the support will be enough.

With many independent pubs and inns already on the edge, Pembrokeshire’s hospitality sector says the coming months will determine whether cherished local venues can survive into 2026 — or whether the rates rises will finally push them over the brink.

PLANS to bring at-risk historic Pembrokeshire buildings, one of which may once have housed otter hounds for a nearby mansion, back to use as homes have been given the go-ahead.

In an application recommended for approval at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management commit, along with a related listed building consent also recommended for approval, Mr and Mrs JPH and MHH Roberts, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission for the conversion of Grade-II-listed outbuildings into three dwellings at Llwyngwair Home Farm, Newport.

A report for members said: “The proposed scheme is in keeping with the character of the listed buildings, and their setting in terms of design and form and the application can be supported subject to conditions.”

It added: “The site comprises a complex of existing agricultural outbuildings including two Grade-II-Listed Buildings immediately south-east of Llwyngwair Mansion and just south-west of the Llwyngwair Home Farm.

“The buildings originally comprised coach housing and stabling for the mansion (facing the old back drive) with the buildings later used in conjunction with the more modern home farm when the mansion and grounds were redeveloped as hotel and caravan site.

“The buildings are on the authority’s Buildings at Risk Register as many of the original fixtures were removed and some openings altered, and the buildings are in varying states of condition.”

It went on to say: “Supporting information has been provided which demonstrates that the cost of conversion alongside a financial contribution for affordable housing would make the scheme unviable.

“The authority considers that in this instance the value of delivering a conversion scheme which will ensure the preservation and restoration of the listed buildings, is a significant material consideration which in this instance outweighs the need for a financial contribution.”

Members heard some two years had been spent in preparing the application for the buildings, one of which may once have been used as a kennel for housing otter hounds.

The committee heard some 70 trees, many of low value and some suffering ash dieback, would be removed but there would be “three-to-one” replanting, including hedge planting.

Moving approval, Cllr Di Clements said: “It’s absolutely no mean feat to take on this project, it’s important we recognise that, especially to save these gorgeous buildings.”

She was seconded by Cllr Steve Alderman, who said: “What a wonderful project this sems to me; I look forward to seeing it completed.”

Authority member Dr Madeleine Havard said the scheme was “enabling nature to continue to have its space whilst allowing people to be able to live somewhere, and also preserving an historic building”.

The application, and the related listed building consent, was overwhelmingly backed by members.

A SECOND call to keep a ‘funky’ holiday lodge in woods near a Pembrokeshire village, previously turned down partly over a dispute on what constitutes a caravan, has been refused again.

In an application refused by Pembrokeshire County Council planners in June, Greg Baker, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought retrospective permission for the creation of a second tourism unit with a bespoke fixed holiday lodge/hot tub with parking area at Cabin in The Woods, near Woodcocks House, Carmarthen Road, Kilgetty.

Work started on the scheme in April 2023.

A supporting statement through Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said: “The current application presents a scheme to provide a second bespoke holiday unit on land in our client’s ownership. The application for a second holiday let unit is in response to demand for more ‘funky’ holiday accommodation in Pembrokeshire and the popularity of the Kilgetty area, it being central to many visitor attractions in the county.”

It said a previous 1998 application, Woodberry Cottage, has operated as a holiday let for a number of years, adding: “This remains the case and as such, the proposal is still intended to extend and complement the existing holiday letting business on the site.”

The application was refused by county planners on the grounds the scheme “is for self-catering accommodation in the form of a cabin, on the basis of information submitted with the application, this is considered to be a caravan rather than built development, as there is no robust information to demonstrate that it is permanently fixed to the ground”.

It was also refused on the grounds of being in a countryside location outside of any defined settlement boundary.

Since then, a fresh application aimed at addressing the reasons for refusal was submitted, saying works had been carried out making the lodge a fixed structure.

“Our clients have provided further information to support the claim that the holiday lodge is indeed fixed to the ground and not moveable and with the fixed decking it also clearly goes over the maximum size of a caravan,” the statement said.

It also said the development was an extension to an existing holiday business rather than one in the open countryside.

An officer report, recommending refusal, said the authority was “of the opinion that the chassis on which the cabin is built is still only bolted to the timber plates attached to the metal poles and therefore could potentially be unbolted to enable the removal of the cabin.”

It was again refused on the basis it “is considered to be a caravan rather than built development, as there is no robust information to demonstrate that it is permanently fixed to the ground,” and “The application site is located in a countryside location outside of any defined settlement boundary.”