Business
‘Upper class’ wedding venue to open in 19th century country house

AN APPLICATION for a bespoke ‘upper-class’ wedding building at a 19th century west Wales country house has been given the go-ahead by county planners.
Meirion Appleton, through agent Morgan & Flynn Architectural Services, sought permission to develop an existing wedding venue at Gwynfryn, Llanarth, Ceredigion, siting the bespoke building on a former tennis court.
An application allowing the property to obtain a wedding license was granted back in 2017, with weddings of up to 120 guests held throughout the year, currently on-site in marquees.
It is expected a maximum of 15 weddings will be held annually.
A supporting statement said: “The proposal to provide a permanent wedding venue will provide social and economic benefits to the local area and the county of Ceredigion in the form of employment and the use of local people and supplies to furnish and run the weddings.
“Any couple wishing to hold their wedding breakfast at Gwynfryn will hire the building and will then organise their own caterers, florist, bar tenders etc. The applicants only provide the venue.”
It said the existing marquees are “bought onto the site on lorries a few days before the wedding and are then dismantled a few days after,” adding: “The setting up of a marquee for a wedding brings with it the requirement for outside caterers along with kitchen trailers, a mobile bar with a lorry for the pumps and storage of drinks, requirement to set up tables, chairs, carpets, lighting, electrics, mobile toilets etc; the traffic generated in the setting up and taking down of a marquee every week is significant in itself.”
It finished: “Having an existing licence Gwynfryn has become an upper-class wedding venue. It has not negatively impacted the highway network in any way, it has demonstrated over the years that vehicular movements generated by its use as a wedding venue is acceptable and network provisions are adequate and safe.”
Local community council Llanarth raised concerns about potential noise generated from the development, and access, and sought clarification on parking.
The application was conditionally approved by county planners; an officer report, recommending approval, saying: “…it is considered reasonable to take the view that the proposed development would not necessarily result in the change / intensification of the use of the site compared to its existing use, where the information states that it has been used as a wedding for up to 120 guests since at least 2016 and likely earlier, with [previous] planning permission allowing the use of the site for residential and wedding purposes.”
Business
Tenby Stores wins £5,000 award for community support

TENBY STORES has been recognised as a Local Retail Champion, earning a £5,000 prize from Allwyn’s National Lottery Social Value Fund for its outstanding community support.
The shop has been praised for its commitment to helping the local area, providing free fruit to schools, assisting with the community fridge, and ensuring elderly residents receive their groceries with care.
Henry Tufnell MP expressed his delight at the recognition, stating: “Small businesses like Tenby Stores are the backbone of our communities, and I couldn’t be prouder to see them celebrated.”
The award highlights the important role independent retailers play in supporting local people.
Business
Imperial Hotel in Tenby to host recruitment day with 20 job opportunities

TENBY’S IMPERIAL HOTEL is holding a recruitment open day tomorrow (Mar 19) as it looks to fill 20 roles ahead of a major refurbishment.
The event will take place at the hotel on The Paragon from 11:00am to 4:00pm, with positions available across various departments, including hospitality, kitchen, and housekeeping.
The hotel, now under the ownership of The Crest Hotel Group, is undergoing a transformation into a luxurious, family-friendly destination while maintaining its historic charm. The refurbishment will include a state-of-the-art kitchen, dog-friendly facilities, and panoramic views of South Beach and the Pembrokeshire coastline.
Liz Heneghan, Group Director of People & Culture at Crest Hotels Group, said: “We’re not just offering jobs; we’re investing in our community. These 20 positions represent our commitment to providing meaningful employment opportunities right here in Tenby. We want to build a team of passionate individuals who are ready to contribute to the Imperial’s exciting future and deliver exceptional guest experiences.”
Job roles available
The hotel is seeking to recruit:
- Culinary roles: Head Chef, Sous Chef, and Chef de Partie
- Hospitality staff: Guest Service Assistants (Front of House and Food & Beverage)
- Management: Food & Beverage Manager
- Housekeeping: Housekeeping Assistants
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work in a newly refurbished setting with high-quality ingredients and a dynamic team, contributing to the revitalisation of one of Tenby’s landmark hotels.
How to apply
Those interested can attend the recruitment open day tomorrow or apply via Indeed and Caterer. Applications can also be submitted by emailing [email protected].

Business
New fish and chip shop opens in St Davids to meet local demand

A NEW fish and chip shop has opened in St Davids, offering residents and visitors an additional takeaway option in the popular tourist destination.
St Davids Fish and Chips, located on St Davids High Street, opened its doors on February 11. The business is run by Jay Babahan, who has lived in Pembrokeshire for 25 years and wanted to provide more choice for the local community.

“There was a clear demand for another takeaway in St Davids, as we only had one other option,” said Mr Babahan. “Since opening, the response has been fantastic. We’re in a busy area, and we expect trade to pick up even more during the summer months.”
The shop prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients, including fresh fish and Pembrokeshire-grown potatoes. Mr Babahan, who has supported local sports teams through his previous businesses, hopes to continue giving back to the community.
“We’ve always wanted to contribute to the local area,” he said. “We’re happy to be here and are committed to serving top-quality fish and chips. Our goal is to establish ourselves as the best in the area.”
Shortly after opening, the shop was inspected for food hygiene, and Mr Babahan is confident of securing the highest possible rating of five.
“We have a great team and loyal customers already,” he added. “We offer a variety of meals, including kebabs, and are looking forward to a busy season ahead.”
Despite being open for only a month, St Davids Fish and Chips has already achieved a 90% recommendation rating on Facebook, with customers praising the food, service, and cleanliness.

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