Tenby’s iconic seaside hotel restored to its former glory

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL in Tenby has reopened following a major refurbishment, restoring one of Wales’ best-loved coastal landmarks to its former splendour.

Now under the ownership of Crest Hotels Group, the Grade II-listed building has undergone a comprehensive transformation blending 19th-century heritage with contemporary luxury. With its position overlooking South Beach, the revamped hotel boasts redesigned rooms, a stylish new lounge, and the launch of a modern dining experience, Essence, offering sweeping views across Carmarthen Bay.

Crest Hotels acquired the property in 2024 and have since delivered what they describe as a “sensitive but ambitious” restoration. Every element of the upgrade respects the historic character of the building, while bringing it in line with today’s expectations for comfort and quality.

Tracy Webb, General Manager at the Imperial Hotel, said: “Crest Hotels has given this hotel what it deserves. The refurbishment is beautiful and will have a hugely positive impact on Tenby. With the new spa and gym opening next year, it will bring something a bit different to the town.”

All guest rooms have been redecorated in sea-inspired tones of blue and green, and now feature high-end fittings including Hansgrohe power showers, luxurious Sleepeezee beds, air conditioning, and high-speed internet. Substantial improvements have also been made to the bar, restaurant, and the hotel’s iconic seafront façade.

The new restaurant, Essence, champions Welsh produce and caters for both residents and visitors. The menu includes everything from small plates to three-course meals, with local ales, craft beers, and bespoke cocktails. The hotel is also dog-friendly, providing canine guests with dog biscuits while their owners enjoy complimentary Welsh cakes.

Tracy added: “The aim is for the Imperial to be as busy in winter as it is in summer. Tenby is such a special place — it means holidays, happiness, sunshine. South Beach has always been my favourite since childhood, so to work here with that view every day is amazing.”

Jason Hiley, Managing Director of Crest Hotels, said: “We want to reclaim the Imperial as the place to go in Tenby — a hotel that locals and visitors alike are proud of. It needed some tender loving care, and we’ve brought back the style and elegance it always deserved.”

Tenby remains one of Wales’ most popular holiday destinations, known for its colourful harbours, golden beaches, and rugged coastal walks. The Imperial Hotel offers a prime base for exploring the wider Pembrokeshire coast, including landmarks such as Carew Castle, Caldey Island, St David’s Cathedral, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales.

For more information or to book a stay, visit: www.imperialhoteltenby.co.uk

CONSERVATIONISTS in rural Wales could be set to play a crucial role in saving endangered vultures thousands of miles away in Africa.

The Horstmann Trust in Carmarthenshire has been breeding vultures for more than 40 years, while Falconry Experience Wales at Adfa, near Newtown, Powys welcomed their first two Hooded Vultures two years ago.

Barry Macdonald and Luce Green, owners of Falconry Experience Wales, an award-winning raptor conservation and education attraction, hope to start breeding their two-year-old Hooded Vultures, Togo and Hope, within the next four years.

It’s hoped that their chicks will eventually be part of the wider conservation programme and also released into the wild in Africa, should the situation improve there.

The Welsh conservation work could be crucial to the survival of vulture species. In the last 20 years, vulture populations have crashed by up to 99.9% and nearly 70% of the 23 vulture species are now threatened with extinction.

Of the 16 African and European vulture species, 11 are facing extinction. Globally, of the 23 species, 14 are threatened with extinction, including the largest of all the flighted birds, the condors.

Falconry Experience Wales also owns Vinnie, an African White-Backed Vulture, the population of which has plummeted by 95%, as part of its collection.

The plight of species in South Africa was brought into sharp focus last week when 123 of – 102 White-Backed Vultures, 20 Cape Vultures and one Lappet-Faced Vulture, all listed as endangered or critically endangered – were poisoned in the Kruger National Park.

Poachers increasingly use agricultural toxins to target high-value species – not just vultures, but also lions whose body parts are in growing demand for traditional medicine.

The UK’s only dedicated vulture breed for release conservation charity, The Horstmann Trust is home to some of the world’s largest known captive populations, including Hooded, Egyptian and bearded vultures and Andean condors.

The trust focuses on conservation breeding of vultures and scientific research into their health and incubation. Its work directly supports other vulture conservation organisations around the world.

Vultures are the ultimate agents of balance in the ecosystems and are nature’s waste disposal experts. They clean up animal carcasses quickly and efficiently to limit the spread of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens including rabies, anthrax and cholera.

The direct and indirect actions of people are the largest single contributing factor to the dramatic decline in vulture numbers. Poisoning, poaching, powerlines, use in faith based medicine and loss of habitat are just a few examples.

Poachers often poison vultures because they signal to rangers when an elephant, rhino or lion has been illegally killed.

Barry and Luce are collaborating with the Horstmann Trust, who manage the European Endangered Species Program (EEP) for Hooded vultures, and hope that their pair and future offspring will play an important role within that programme.

“We have been aware of the persecution of vultures for years, but the situation has become much more critical,” explained Barry. “If it deteriorates to a point where these vultures are almost extinct in Africa, then the birds bred in captivity will be the only population to help the breed recover.”

Falconry Experience Wales has raised more than £5,000 to pay for GPS trackers to be attached to four Hooded Vultures in West Africa, so that researchers can monitor their movements for up to five years. They continue to raise funds for up-to-date surveys, ongoing vital research and poison response action kits.

The specially made trackers are attached to a harness on the birds and Barry plans to fly to Africa with a Spanish colleague, hopefully early next year, to fit them on the host Hooded Vultures.

Despite the crisis in Africa, he says there is hope. Asia saw a 99% decline in the vulture population a few years ago, as a result of a drug given to cattle which poisoned the birds when they fed on carcasses.

The loss of vultures is believed to have directly contributed to the deaths of half a million people due to the spread of diseases. However, the Asian vulture population is recovering now that people understand their vital eco-cleansing role.

Replacing vultures in the wild is not a quick fix. Barry explained that vultures don’t begin breeding until aged five to seven years and only raise one chick if successful.

“We have never bred birds before at Falconry Experience Wales, so this will be a new venture for us,” he added. “It’s only because of the threat of extinction that we have become involved.

“Our pair of Hooded vultures were bred in captivity in the UK but their ancestry is Guinea in West Africa.”

In addition to the vultures, Barry and Luce have also recently welcomed a Steller’s Sea Eagle, one of the world’s largest eagles which is classified as vulnerable by The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.

The declining population is believed to be between 3,600 and 4,670 mature individuals, including 1,900 breeding pairs. The Steller’s Sea Eagle breeds in Russia and over-winters in Northern Japan.

Falconry Experience Wales is a member of MWT Cymru, an organisation representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Eryri (Snowdonia).

Picture at top of page:

Luce Green with Hooded Vulture Togo at Falconry Experience Wales

Taha Soomro, 16, died after alleged assault at busy seaside park

POLICE have confirmed that a 16-year-old boy who died at Barry Island Pleasure Park on Friday evening (May 23) was the victim of an assault — and a 15-year-old has now been arrested and remanded in custody.

The teenager has been named as Taha Soomro, from Grangetown in Cardiff. Emergency services were called to the popular tourist spot just before 5:00pm following reports of a serious incident. Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics, Taha was pronounced dead at the scene.

A murder investigation has since been launched by South Wales Police, who say they are working to establish the full circumstances of the incident. Officers are appealing for witnesses who were at the park at the time to come forward.

A police spokesperson said: “We are continuing to investigate the death of a teenage boy at Barry Island Pleasure Park.
He has been named as Taha Soomro, 16, of Grangetown, Cardiff.
Police were called just before 5:00pm to a report of a 16-year-old suffering a medical episode. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Taha died at the scene.
A 15-year-old has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in custody.”

The incident happened during the first evening of the school half-term holiday, with large crowds present in the park. Eyewitnesses described seeing police cars, ambulances, and the Wales Air Ambulance landing nearby shortly after 5:30pm.

The park reopened to the public on Saturday morning, issuing a statement that said:

“All of our team did their best to assist the emergency services but unfortunately the boy couldn’t be saved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. The park remains open as usual.”

Hundreds of tributes have been posted online in memory of Taha. One message read: “Life is so cruel. Thinking of his family at this heartbreaking time.” Another added: “Thank you to the emergency services for trying to help this young lad. Rest in peace, Taha.”

Police are asking anyone with information or footage that could assist the investigation to get in touch, quoting reference 2500163611.