News
Local hotels receive national acclaim
TWO west Wales hotels have been ranked amongst the best in the UK in the annual Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels list.
Twr y Felin Hotel and Roch Castle, both located on the St Davids peninsula, have for the first time been named in the Romantic and Seaside categories respectively.
Paula Ellis, Group General Manager of Twr y Felin Hotel and Roch Castle, said: “This accolade is a reward for the hard work of the entire team who work in our properties and is a tremendous boost for the development of Pembrokeshire as a tourist destination of world renown.
“We are so excited to have not one but two properties in The Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels list, an achievement which will enhance our profile internationally and importantly will bring benefits for the local economy and community in which we reside.”
Twr y Felin hotel, which opened in March this year, is a former windmill that has been restored and extended and is now home to 21 ensuite bedrooms including two suites, one of which covers three floors and occupies the original windmill tower and boasts 360 degree views over the St Davids peninsula. As described by Susan D’Arcy, Travel Writer for the Sunday Times: “…St Davids has a coastline made for romantic windswept walks”.
The hotel features a gallery of artwork from 20 Welsh, British and international artists including Harry Adams, Mr Jago and the Swansea-born Pure Evil. Over 100 pieces of specially commissioned works of art inspired by Pembrokeshire are on display throughout the hotel and in the dedicated gallery space, Oriel Lounge.
Twr y Felin is also home to Blas, a fine dining restaurant featuring fresh locally sourced produce under head chef Simon Coe. Guests can enjoy Welsh breakfast featuring laverbread and cockles, afternoon tea and contemporary fine dining.
Roch Castle is a 12th century Norman castle set high above the Pembrokeshire landscape and delivers panoramic views of St Brides Bay and the Preseli Hills, which is just one of the reasons the castle features in the Seaside category. Just a few minutes from Newgale beach, The Sunday Times discovered “you can be sinking your toes into sand as soft as clotted cream, which stretches for more than two miles – or taking on the Atlantic rollers.”
Meticulously restored, Roch Castle offers six ensuite bedrooms, a sun room with alfresco viewing platform, private dining and exclusive use stays. Luxurious contemporary design sits amongst the original features of the castle, which also houses specially commissioned artworks from Pembrokeshire and British artists.
Together with Penrhiw Hotel, a former vicarage also located on the St Davids peninsula, Twr y Felin Hotel and Roch Castle complete a trio of luxury hotels and exclusive stay properties created by Welsh-born international architect and patron of contemporary art, Keith Griffiths. Set in 12 acres, Penrhiw also features a collection of contemporary art and is available for exclusive use.
Crime
Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property
A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.
Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.
The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.
The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.
The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”
The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.
Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”
NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.
“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”
The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”
This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.
Community
Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed
RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.
The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.
Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.
With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.
“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”
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