News

Brains’ £100 million sell-off plan includes local pubs in Pembrokeshire

Published

4 years ago

January 17, 2022

SA BRAINs is close to completing a £100m deal which will see the sale of 100 Wales pubs, including Pembrokeshire locals, it has been reported.

It is reported that Wales most prominent brewers will sell the freeholds to 100 of it’s pubs to a consortium.

Brains currently has a portfolio of 200 pubs across Wales and the South West.

Sources within the pub industry said that the transaction could be signed in the next few days.

The deal is to be made with Song Capital and Cerberus Capital Management, the former owner of Admiral Taverns.

The deal, which is thought to be around the £100m mark, is expected to be used by the Brains’ family shareholders to pay down debt.

The hospitality sector has been hit severely by the Coronavirus pandemic, being forced to close for long periods at a time and then reopening with strict restrictions.

In 2020, Brains struck a deal with Marston’s to operate 141 of its pubs, under the Welsh brewers brand, following financial pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Six Pembrokeshire pubs are earmarked to be included in the transaction; The Ferry Inn, St Dogmaels, Crown Inn, Tenby, Grove Hotel, Narberth, Waterman’s Arms, Pembroke, Harbour Inn, Solva and The Galleon, Broad Haven.

The sale will see the Brains pub estate as a family-owned brewer with a small residual pub portfolio.

Business

Crwst bakery praised after award recognition

Published

24 minutes ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Cardigan café-bakery honoured in Artisan Bakery of the Year category at Welsh awards

CRWST in Cardigan has been recognised for excellence in the Artisan Bakery of the Year category at the Welsh Café and Bakery Awards 2026.

The popular bakery shared the news with customers this week, saying the recognition was a proud moment for the business and its team.

Crwst paid tribute to its bakers, praising their hard work and consistency in producing bread and baked goods each day while also developing new products, including its croissants.

The business also thanked its loyal customers for their continued support, from those queuing up and sitting in to those taking food away and returning again and again.

In a message posted online, the team said the support of customers had played a major part in the bakery’s success.

Crwst added its thanks in Welsh, saying: “Diolch.”

The announcement was accompanied by what the bakery described as an “oldie but goldie” group photograph of the team.

Entertainment

Welcome to Wrexham renewed for three more seasons

Published

37 minutes ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hit documentary charting Wrexham AFC’s remarkable rise under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will continue as the club closes in on the Premier League

THE HIT football documentary Welcome to Wrexham has been renewed for a further three seasons, extending the story of the Welsh club’s extraordinary revival under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The series, which first aired in 2022, has followed Wrexham AFC’s transformation since the two actors bought the club for £2 million in February 2021. Since then, the team has secured three successive promotions, climbing from the National League to the Championship.

From the beginning, Reynolds and McElhenney made no secret of their ambition to take Wrexham all the way to the Premier League. With the club now just one division below the top flight, that goal is looking more realistic than ever.

Reynolds announced the latest renewal news to his huge Instagram following, telling fans that season five will premiere on May 14 and confirming that the programme has been commissioned for three more runs.

The documentary, produced by FX and available in the UK on Disney+, has proved a major success with audiences and critics alike. It has won 10 Emmy Awards as well as two Critics’ Choice Television Awards.

Wrexham’s rise has become one of the most talked-about stories in British football, with the documentary helping to bring global attention to the club and the city itself.

Last year, manager Phil Parkinson said the presence of Reynolds and McElhenney at the club had helped lift the whole atmosphere around the place, underlining the impact they have had both on and off the pitch.

Entertainment

Medieval warriors return to Pembroke Castle this weekend

Published

1 hour ago

April 11, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Historia Normannis Wales brings combat displays, Norman justice and living history to the famous fortress

PEMBROKE Castle is stepping back into the 12th century this weekend as Historia Normannis Wales returns for two days of living history.

The event, taking place on Saturday (Apr 11) and Sunday (Apr 12), promises visitors an immersive glimpse into medieval Britain, with reenactors recreating the sights, smells and sounds of the Norman age within the castle grounds.

Among the attractions planned are a medieval fashion show, a Shire Court, combat displays and an arming of the knight demonstration, giving families and history enthusiasts the chance to see how people lived, fought and were judged in Norman times.

The weekend forms part of Pembroke Castle’s wider Easter programme and is included with normal admission.

Pembroke Castle said it was delighted to welcome Historia Normannis Wales back for another weekend of “real life medieval experiences”.

One of the best-known historic attractions in west Wales, Pembroke Castle was founded in 1093 and is famous as the birthplace of Henry VII.

The castle remains a major draw for visitors to Pembrokeshire, and this weekend’s event is expected to be popular with families looking for something different during the Easter break.

The event is included with normal castle admission, with standard ticket prices from £13 for adults and £9 for children, while online bookings receive a 10 per cent discount.