Business

Forage to fork – launch of annwn restaurant at the little retreat

Published

4 years ago

October 20, 2021

Annwn food

ANNWN is a unique, fine dining destination that exploits the rich foraging potential of the local Welsh landscape in the heart of the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Annwn – the name given to the Otherworld in Welsh mythology, has opened its doors on the site of the idyllic Little Retreat at Lawrenny near an ancient woodland and on the banks of the stunning Cleddau estuary.

The restaurant offers diners entry to a world of exquisite, local sustainable and foraged produce – a new Welsh dining experience. It is the creation of local chef Matt Powell who has worked at Michelin Star establishments over many years, and has successfully run his Fishing and Foraging Wales business to show the delights of the Pembrokeshire coastline to audiences from all over the world.

Matt is bringing this knowledge and passion for the finest food at close hand to the Annwn menu, giving it a true sense of place. The single menu shuns food miles in favour of local seasonal and foraged produce that showcases Wales’ wild ecosystems and the incredible quality and diversity of local sustainable producers.

Matt says: “Pembrokeshire is the county I love, live and work in, both on land and sea, and it offers so much for a world class dining experience. I want Annwn to tell a story and offer a glimpse into this part of the world that’s home to some of the best raw ingredients in the world. Here, I really want to push the boundaries of a new style of Welsh cuisine.”

Annwn sits in a walled garden, hosting just 12 people per sitting, and is the latest attraction at Little Retreat, a glamping sanctuary with wellbeing at its heart, where people come from afar to escape, relax, restore and reconnect with nature in a beautiful corner of the world.

It is also the venue for the Big Retreat Festival, the ultimate feel good event which returns June 3-6 2022 with a line-up of excitement, adventure, music and magic in the shape of headliners Toploader, Reef, comedy from the likes of Scummy Mummies, plus wellbeing experts such as Richie Norton and the legendary Mr Motivator.

Little Retreat’s owner is wellbeing expert Amber Lort-Phillips, who said: “Matt is such a talent and has an intrinsic understanding of the foods that live and grow in this very special environment.

Annwn perfectly complements what we have created here at Little Retreat, giving diners the

opportunity to reconnect with nature through the highest quality food creations.”

Little Retreat’s luxury Domes and Stargazers offer the perfect back to nature escape, with the opportunity to explore the local coastline, rivers and inland waterways through wild swimming, or by boat, kayak or stand up paddle boards. Here they run a series of Feel Good Retreats throughout the year, with condensed versions of the annual Big Retreat festival.

Growing up in Wales, Matt was foraging from a young age, he fished his local rivers for brown trout and sewin (sea trout), becoming a full-time bass angling guide for several years.

Leaving culinary college, Matt worked at Raymond Blanc’s renowned Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, before moving on to the kitchens of a variety of high-level restaurants in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

He returned to found Fishing and Foraging Wales in 2012, taking visitors on sustainable and responsible adventures of exploration, educating them on the quality of the produce surrounding them. This experience will continue, with Matt running foraging and dining workshops with a small but extremely knowledgeable team at Annwn.

Annwn will feature dishes such as slow cooked duck egg yolk with hedgerow plants and fungi sauce, as well as lobster and laver seaweed with estuary plants and lobster sauce. The menu will change with the seasons, shunning food miles in favour of local seasonal and foraged produce such as velvet swimming crabs, wild mushrooms, vegetables grown in the Little Retreat walled garden, meat from nearby farms, and Welsh wines.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

8 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port last week, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on Wednesday 26^th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

The Weather conditions were favourable for the arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Business

Cardiff Airport announces special Air France flights for Six Nations

Published

12 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Direct services to Paris-Charles de Gaulle launched to cater for Welsh supporters, French fans and couples planning a Valentine’s getaway

CARDIFF AIRPORT and Air France have unveiled a series of special direct flights between Cardiff (CWL) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) scheduled for February 2026.

Timed to coincide with two major dates — the Wales v France Six Nations clash on Saturday 15 February and Valentine’s weekend — the flights are designed to offer supporters and holidaymakers an easy link between the two capitals.

For travelling French rugby fans, the services provide a straightforward route into Wales ahead of match day at the Principality Stadium, when Cardiff will once again be transformed by the colour, noise and passion that accompanies one of the tournament’s most eagerly awaited fixtures.

For Welsh passengers, the additional flights offer a seamless escape to Paris for Valentine’s Day, as well as opportunities for short breaks and onward travel via Air France’s wider global network.

Cardiff Airport CEO Jon Bridge said: “We’re thrilled to offer direct flights to such a vibrant and exciting city for Valentine’s weekend. Cardiff Airport is expanding its reach and giving customers fantastic travel options. We’ve listened to passenger demand and are delighted to make this opportunity possible. There is more to come from Cardiff.”

Tickets are already on sale via the Air France website and through travel agents.

Special flight schedule

Paris (CDG) → Cardiff (CWL):

13 February 2026: AF4148 departs 17:00 (arrives 17:30)
14 February 2026: AF4148 departs 14:00 (arrives 14:30)
15 February 2026: AF4148 departs 08:00 (arrives 08:30)
15 February 2026: AF4150 departs 19:40 (arrives 20:10)
16 February 2026: AF4148 departs 08:00 (arrives 08:30)
16 February 2026: AF4150 departs 16:30 (arrives 17:00)

Cardiff (CWL) → Paris (CDG):

13 February 2026: AF4149 departs 18:20 (arrives 20:50)
14 February 2026: AF4149 departs 15:20 (arrives 17:50)
15 February 2026: AF4149 departs 09:20 (arrives 11:50)
15 February 2026: AF4151 departs 21:00 (arrives 23:30)
16 February 2026: AF4149 departs 09:20 (arrives 11:50)
16 February 2026: AF4151 departs 17:50 (arrives 20:20)

Business

Cwm Deri Vineyard Martletwy holiday lets plans deferred

Published

19 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

CALLS to convert a former vineyard restaurant in rural Pembrokeshire which had been recommended for refusal has been given a breathing space by planners.

In an application recommended for refusal at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Barry Cadogan sought permission for a farm diversification and expansion of an existing holiday operation through the conversion of the redundant former Cwm Deri vineyard production base and restaurant to three holiday lets at Oaklea, Martletwy.

It was recommended for refusal on the grounds of the open countryside location being contrary to planning policy and there was no evidence submitted that the application would not increase foul flows and that nutrient neutrality in the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC would be achieved within this catchment.

An officer report said that, while the scheme was suggested as a form of farm diversification, no detail had been provided in the form of a business case.

Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, after the committee had enjoyed a seasonal break for mince pies, said of the recommendation for refusal: “I’m a bit grumpy over this one; the client has done everything right, he has talked with the authority and it’s not in retrospect but has had a negative report from your officers.”

He said the former Cwm Deri vineyard had been a very successful business, with a shop and a restaurant catering for ‘100 covers’ before it closed two three years ago when the original owner relocated to Carmarthenshire.

He said Mr Cadogan then bought the site, farming over 36 acres and running a small campsite of 20 spaces, but didn’t wish to run a café or a wine shop; arguing the “beautiful kitchen” and facilities would easily convert to holiday let use.

He said a “common sense approach” showed a septic tank that could cope with a restaurant of “100 covers” could cope with three holiday lets, describing the nitrates issue as “a red herring”.

He suggested a deferral for further information to be provided by the applicant, adding: “This is a big, missed opportunity if we just kick this out today, there’s a building sitting there not creating any jobs.”

On the ‘open countryside’ argument, he said that while many viewed Martletwy as “a little bit in the sticks” there was already permission for the campsite, and the restaurant, and the Bluestone holiday park and the Wild Lakes water park were roughly a mile or so away.

He said converting the former restaurant would “be an asset to bring it over to tourism,” adding: “We don’t all want to stay in Tenby or the Ty Hotel in Milford Haven.”

While Cllr Nick Neuman felt the nutrients issue could be overcome, Cllr Michael Williams warned the application was “clearly outside policy,” recommending it be refused.

A counter-proposal, by Cllr Tony Wilcox, called for a site visit before any decision was made, the application returning to a future committee; members voting seven to three in favour of that.