TENBY’S former Poundland and Royal Playhouse cinema could become a retro computer gaming lounge, plans submitted to the national park hope.

Following a takeover by investment firm Gordon Brothers, Poundland shut 57 stores earlier this year, including Tenby.

Prior to being a Poundland, the site was the Royal Playhouse, which had its final curtain in early 2011 after running for nearly a century.

The cinema had been doing poor business after the opening of a multiplex in Carmarthen; in late 2010 the opening night of the-then latest Harry Potter blockbuster only attracted an audience of 12 people.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Matthew Mileson of Newport-based MB Games Ltd, seeks permission for a ‘CONTINUE? Retro Gaming Lounge’ sign on the front of the former Gatehouse (Playhouse) Cinema, White Lion Street, most recently used as a Poundland store.

The signage plans form part of a wider scheme for a retro gaming facility at the former cinema site, which has a Grade-II-listed front facade, a supporting statement through agent Asbri Planning Ltd says.

“The subject site is located within the settlement of Tenby along White Lion St. The site was formerly the Gatehouse Cinema and currently operates as a Poundland discount store, which closed on October 18.”

It adds: “This application forms part of a wider scheme for the change of use to the former Gatehouse Cinema. Advertisement consent is sought for a non-illuminated aluminium composite folded panel that will be bolted onto the front façade of the proposed building, in replacement of the existing signage (Poundland).”

It stresses: “It is considered that the proposed advertisement will not have a detrimental impact on the quality of the environment, along with being within a proportionate scale of the building. It is considered that the proposed signage will reflect site function.

“Furthermore, due to the sympathetic scale and design of the sign itself, it is considered that the proposal will not result in any adverse visual amenity impacts.

“The proposal is reduced in sized compared to the existing Poundland advertisement. The sign will not be illuminated. Given the above it is considered that such proportionate signate in association with the proposed retro gaming lounge is acceptable and does not adversely affect visual amenity.”

An application for a retro gaming lounge by MB Games Ltd was recently given the go-ahead in Swansea.

A CALL to change the use of a Pembrokeshire farm holiday cottage to a crochet workshop has been given the go-ahead by Pembrokeshire planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr and Mrs Evans of Lochmeyler Farm, Llandeloy, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission for a change of use of a self-catered cottage to a crochet workshop.

A supporting statement says the application, one of a number of historic farm diversification schemes on site “seeks to continue to evolve with current market demands,” the cottage proposed for the change of use once a former outbuilding that was originally converted in 1992 into “a well-established holiday let”.

It added: “Made by Margo is a well-regarded local business founded by Margo Evans, a passionate lifelong crafter who began knitting at a young age. Her company specialises in creating handcrafted, contemporary crochet products using high-quality natural materials.

“Accordingly, Margo is a highly sought-after teacher known for her popular crochet classes.  This proposal is motivated by a recognised need for a permanent space for the business, as to date the applicant has needed to use community halls or similar spaces to accommodate clients.

“Thus, the proposed change of use will secure a permanent space for these workshops and will future proof the business against the lack of availability of public spaces.

“Other alternatives have been considered with the cottage being the most viable option, particularly as demand has waned for holiday cottage post Covid-19. The holiday cottage, whilst once popular, is no longer in high demand, with visitors requiring more modern amenities and larger spaces which without significant investment, this holiday cottage is unable to provide.

“Consequently, the cottage’s change of use will diversify the farm’s revenue, while simultaneously providing a permanent base for a small rural business. While the primary customer base is local, the space may also help attract seasonal tourism and broaden the business’s appeal.”

It says the operation would be on a small scale, with a maximum of six people per class and a three day per-week schedule.

An officer report, recommending approval, said: “The provision of a workshop would have both social and environmental benefits for the applicant and local community through the provision of business and income generated from the operation.

“With regard to environmental impacts, positive environmental impacts would be achieved through the re-use of the building. Whilst the proposed location is in the open countryside, which is not a sustainable location, the proposed operation of the business is low scale.  It is considered that the number of trips would be of low frequency when compared to the potential number of trips that are generated from tourism.”

The application was conditionally approved.

Calls grow for urgent resilience plan as routes face repeated cancellations

PAUL DAVIES MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have issued a renewed warning over the fragility of Welsh–Irish connectivity, after a series of cancelled sailings once again highlighted the strategic importance of Pembrokeshire’s Irish Sea ports.

Several crossings on the Rosslare–Pembroke Dock and Rosslare–Fishguard routes were cancelled over the weekend, prompting concerns about the long-term reliability of services that thousands of passengers, hauliers and businesses depend on each year.

The disruption comes at a time when Terminal 5 at Holyhead remains closed, and just twelve months after severe damage to berthing infrastructure there caused major delays across the UK–Ireland network. With Holyhead still unable to operate at full strength, the two Pembrokeshire ports now carry a disproportionate share of Wales’ Irish Sea traffic — a shift that local Members of the Senedd say has not been matched with the investment or planning required.

‘Southern Corridor now carrying the weight’

Both Members stressed that Pembroke Dock and Fishguard have effectively become the backbone of the Southern Corridor, absorbing diverted freight, seasonal passenger surges and commercial pressures that were previously spread more evenly across Welsh ports.

They say that any interruption now has amplified consequences — not only for local hauliers and employers, but for the reliability of the UK supply chain during the busiest trading period of the year.

The crossings, they argue, underpin jobs across Pembrokeshire’s logistics, hospitality and retail sectors, and ensure that essential goods ranging from food to pharmaceuticals continue to move smoothly into the county.

Paul Davies: ‘We need answers — and long-term resilience’

Paul Davies MS said the latest cancellations highlight a need for “clear communication and firm commitment” from operators.

“These crossings play a key role in connecting communities and are strategically vital routes for Wales, Ireland and the wider UK,” he said. “As a result, any disruption can cause challenges for businesses and supply chains, and so it’s vital that operators keep people as informed as possible and work to maintain reliable services.

“Moving forward we must look at how we can build long-term resilience into these routes, and that means strengthening the engagement between operators, government and local stakeholders in order to protect and support these vital routes for the future.”

Mr Davies said the public deserved transparency about the cancelled sailings, adding that operators should explain what steps are being taken to ensure stability going into 2026, particularly as freight volumes continue to rise.

Kurtz: ‘This is a red flag for the Christmas supply chain’

Samuel Kurtz MS said the timing of the disruption could not be worse for local businesses.

“These routes are not simply transport links; they are economic lifelines, and operators must provide assurances that their contingency planning is strong enough to prevent disruption at such a critical trading period,” he said.

“The failure to move key freight ahead of Christmas is especially concerning, given how heavily local supply chains rely on timely deliveries at this point in the year. When sailings are cancelled at short notice, the pressure on our local haulage firms intensifies significantly, forcing them to absorb delays, reroute vehicles, and manage rising costs.”

Mr Kurtz added that the cumulative effect of repeated cancellations risked undermining confidence among businesses choosing between Welsh ports and alternatives elsewhere in the UK and Ireland.

Call for joint Welsh–UK action

Both Members urged the Welsh Government and the UK Department for Transport to work together on a formal Southern Corridor resilience strategy, ensuring that Pembrokeshire’s ports receive the investment, dredging support, and infrastructure planning needed to manage increased traffic.

Industry representatives have privately warned that further cancellations over the festive period could lead to stock shortages and reduced availability for retailers in west Wales.

Davies and Kurtz say the message is simple: Pembrokeshire’s Irish Sea links can no longer be treated as secondary to Holyhead.

“They are now central to the economic health of west Wales,” they said, “and government must act accordingly.”