News
Contemporary art hotel opens
WALES’ first contemporary art hotel celebrated its official launch on Friday (Mar 18) with a special pop-up gallery event which included specially-commissioned art by the internationally renowned ‘Pure Evil’, a graffiti and street artist.
Twr y Felin Hotel in St Davids featured eight different iconic spraypainted portraits which commemorated various different Welsh legends of song and of cinema.
Icons depicted on canvas in Pure Evil’s infamous Nightmare Series style include Tom Jones, Richard Burton, Sian Phillips, Shirley Bassey, Anthony Hopkins, Katherine Jenkins, Catherine Zeta Jones and Cerys Matthews.
Pure Evil, also known as Charles Uzzell Edwards, is originally from Tenby. He spoke about his enjoyment of having taken part in this inaugural Welsh artistic project by creating his iconic portrait collection.
Pure Evil said: “I was born and raised in Wales so was immediately excited to create the iconic Welsh portraits for Twr y Felin Hotel. Capturing an essence of Wales with a slightly sinister twist, the portraits are an excellent addition to the Nightmare Series. I hope visitors will enjoy them as much I have relished making them.”
The grand hotel was originally built in 1806 as a working windmill, but today is being used to house 19 en-suite bedrooms as well as a 360 degree view of the beautiful St Davids peninsula which guests can take advantage of from the windmill’s observatory area.
Keith Griffiths, owner of Twr y Felin Hotel, as well as Roch Castle Hotel and Penrhiw Hotel, said: “After seven years and an investment of £7m, it is wonderful to see this historicallysignificant building finally restored and given a new lease of life as Wales’ first art hotel.
“My combined passions for art, history and the Pembrokeshire coastline have provided a great source of inspiration towards the design of Twr y Felin Hotel and, with the help of a highly skilled and talented team of artists and designers, I’m proud to see my vision turned into a reality.
“We hope that the addition of a third unique luxury hotel with a strong sense of history, art and place will help to further invigorate the economy of St Davids and Pembrokeshire as a whole.”
Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, said: “Our tourism strategy for Wales emphasises the need to look at using our wealth of historic buildings to create high quality, distinctive accommodation.
“The history and character of this building make it very special with a unique story to tell, Twr y Felin has the potential to become a reputationchanging hotel which can create new demand for Pembrokeshire and for Wales.
“St Davids not only holds the title of Britain’s smallest city, but could also be considered to be the art capital of Wales.
“With a wealth of art galleries, heritage attractions, inspiring landscapes, and now, the addition of Wales’ first contemporary art hotel, there is great potential to attract visitors from far and wide to experience the area’s creative and unique offering.”
The hotel’s opening has been assisted by the Welsh Government through its ‘Tourism Investment Support Scheme’.
Pure Evil’s iconic canvases will appear beside more than 100 other pieces of art which are on display at the hotel.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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