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Dragon Palace owners take on The Woodridge Inn Hotel, Saundersfoot

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AFTER five years running the popular Dragon Palace Chinese restaurant at Pentlepoir in Pembrokeshire, owners Jenny and Lok Cheung have taken on an additional business: The Woodridge Inn Hotel, located just down the road near Saundersfoot.

Following a year of lockdowns and refurbishments the inn is now open, offering a welcoming bar, 17 high quality ensuite rooms and an Asian-themed restaurant. Jenny and Lok have also reopened The Dragon Palace restaurant following lockdown.

Located approximately 4km from Saundersfoot and 6km from Tenby, The Woodridge Inn Hotel has good access to the major ports of Fishguard and Pembroke Dock and is ideally situated for trips to Haverfordwest, Narberth and Carmarthen. Surrounded by beautiful National Trust countryside, it has panoramic views to the sea from some of its second-floor rooms and sits on the stunning Landsker Borderlands Trail as well as being close to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

Food at the The Woodridge Inn Hotel, Saundersfoot

Jenny and Lok hope The Woodbridge will become popular with visitors including walkers, cyclists, bird watchers and golfers (there are a number of 18-hole golf courses nearby). They also aim to make it a popular, family-friendly hub for the local community, just as it used to be in years gone by.

“Local people have told us that they have fond memories of coming here over the years, and we want to bring these local people back,” said Lok. “We want this to be a place they love to come to with their kids, just as they used to come here with their parents. Part of the reason we want it to be family friendly is because we have a young family ourselves, and we think this would be a nice legacy for our children.”

He and Jenny are especially excited about their new restaurant, whose kitchen is headed up by locally renowned award-winning chef Cheryl Badham. Cheryl, who was previously sous chef at The Mulberry restaurant in Saundersfoot, has excellent links with local food producers, and sources the very best ingredients for her kitchen.

“I try to source all my ingredients within Pembrokeshire,” says Cheryl. “We live in such a beautiful county and its produce is something that should be cherished.”

Jenny, Lok and Cheryl have worked together to create a menu that reflects Jenny and Lok’s Asian background. It builds on their experience running The Dragon Palace, but has a broader culinary range, offering pan-Asian and fusion cuisine.

“We’re offering a nice mix of pan-Asian cuisines, including Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Filipino dishes,” says Lok. “I don’t think there is anywhere in West Wales that does this kind of food at the moment, and we’re pleased offer something fresh and new.”

They have also added Asian touches to the interior and exterior of the hotel, including an impressive pergola entrance to the restaurant created by a local craftsman. Lok and Jenny have worked to enhance the Woodridge’s large garden, making it a perfect place for a spot of al fresco dining or drinks while the children play.

Now, after over a year of preparation, they are delighted to have opened their doors.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs – obviously Covid didn’t help, but it’s coming together now,” says Lok. “We’ve got a hunger for success and we really want to make something special for the area. I think there’s a lot of untapped potential here.

“Our aim is to offer great quality rooms, a quality restaurant and bar and lovely grounds, and also a high standard of service. We’re very much a family-friendly business and we work to make sure our team and our customers are happy – and that everyone has a smile on their face.”

Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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Ocky White Travel marks 60th anniversary with luxury cruise giveaway

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IN a grand gesture commemorating six decades of unparalleled service in the travel industry, Pembrokeshire’s venerated independent travel agency, Ocky White Travel, has announced an extraordinary giveaway—a luxury cruise for two, in partnership with Pure West Radio.

Established 60 years ago, Ocky White Travel has become a staple in the lives of Pembrokeshire residents, offering dream holidays and contributing significantly to the local economy. Despite the fluctuating fortunes of neighbouring businesses and the often harsh realities of the travel sector, Ocky White Travel has stood firm, a testament to its resilience and commitment to customer satisfaction.

This resilience was further demonstrated when, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic—a period that saw many in the industry falter—Ocky White Travel not only survived but thrived by expanding its operations to include Sam Smith Travel in Cowbridge. This expansion has allowed the agency to extend its exceptional service to a broader audience across South Wales.

Celebrating this milestone, Ocky White Travel has engaged in a comprehensive multi-media campaign, underscored by its official sponsorship of the PWR Daytime Show. A central highlight of this celebration is a tiered competition, offering participants a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a luxury Nordic cruise for two. The competition, which has garnered thousands of entries since its launch on 21st February, underscores the agency’s dedication to rewarding its loyal clientele.

Mark White, Owner and Managing Director of Ocky White Travel, expressed immense pride in reaching this significant milestone. He emphasised the agency’s unique position in the hearts of many families across generations, attributing this success to the personalised service and deep understanding of client needs that have become the hallmark of Ocky White Travel.

Echoing this sentiment, Toby Ellis of Pure West Radio highlighted the positive impact of the partnership on local residents. He praised Ocky White Travel for its hands-on approach and the invaluable advice provided by its seasoned staff. The giveaway, featuring a 7-night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords, stands as the most significant prize offered by the radio station, symbolising a “holiday of a lifetime.”

Entries for this historic giveaway will remain open until 31st March, with the lucky winners to be announced on Pure West Radio’s Daytime Show. This event not only celebrates Ocky White Travel’s 60 years of service but also its enduring commitment to creating unforgettable holiday experiences for its customers.

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