News
A Fun-Filled Family Festival
The Welsh Dragonboat Championship is almost upon us as the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend nears.
The event, set to take place at Pembrokeshire’s Llys y Fran Country Park & Reservoir, is organised by the Narberth and Whitland Rotary and sponsored by Pembrokeshire’s Princes Gate Spring Water. The organisers have worked hard to ensure that this is a fun-filled family day out, in addition to the important fundraising element that the Dragonboat championship itself contributes: Teams of 17 members, including one drummer at the helm, will vie for the coveted title of Welsh Dragonboat Champions. All funds raised will be donated to a number of beneficiaries including the Noah’s Ark Appeal and Pembrokeshire’s Paul Sartori charity.
Rotary organiser Mary Adams is hopeful that people from all around Pembrokeshire will embrace this event and that it will be the first of many more to come; ‘We have tirelessly and unashamedly promoted this event at every opportunity! The line up of entertainment and family-oriented activities will ensure that this will appeal to all members of the community. Of course there is the serious matter of raising funds for our worthy beneficiaries, but even this is approached in a fun way; the Dragonboat teams are comprised of novices and dragonboat race veterans, which I’m sure will only add to the hwyl of the day!’
In addition to entertainment attractions (including bouncy castles, Sumo Wrestling & Bucking Bronco to mention but a few), there will be a fully licensed beer tent in operation, and guests will enjoy the very best of Pembrokeshire produce from the BBQ’s which will be in operation throughout the day. Entertainment in the afternoon will also be provided in the form of live music performed by bands ‘Audio Soup Kitchen’, ‘Sad Cafe Jammers’ and Jack Castle Sound, before a DJ takes over and entertains the remaining crowds well into the evening. During the day when the boats launched from the shoreline and when they return sea shanties will be performed by a Pembrokeshire group called “The Vagrant Crew”
In a bid to promote the even as a family attraction, for car parking and pedestrians there is a one-off £1.00 entry per Adult and children are free of charge. Llys y Fran management are also generously inviting event spectators to pitch tents overnight – at no extra charge – thereby also promoting responsible drinking. There are still stand spaces available for exhibitors to market their produce at a modest price of £20, and charities are welcome to take a stand space free of charge.
The Welsh Dragonboat Championship takes place on Sunday 25th May at Llys y Fran Country Park & Reservoir. For more general event information or on how to reserve a stand, please contact Ken Morgan 01834 860 873 or 07972 378 301 or by email ken@kenmorgandbm.co.uk
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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