News

Milford Haven: Extended hours for Circles nightclub approved

Published

9 years ago

July 1, 2016

11111 AN APPLICATION from the owner of Circles nightclub, also known as The Basement, to extend the opening hours to 9:30am has been approved.

The application was heard by the Council’s Licensing Sub Committee, which met on Friday, July 1.

It means that the nightclub, located on Victoria Road, Milford Haven, can now open from 6pm until 2.30am on Monday and Tuesday, until 6.30am on Wednesday and Thursday and until 8.30am on Friday, from 1pm to 8.30am on Saturday, and between 1pm and 6.30am on Sunday.

As well as that the club will also be allowed to open to 9.30am for bank holiday Sundays and New Years Eve.

There had been concerns from residents in the area that problems such as noise disturbance and disorder would worsen if the new hours were approved.

One resident who wrote to the council stated: “When I am going out on Saturday and Sunday mornings the amount of drunk people that are in the road is ridiculous. Not only is it a danger to drivers, I have had to stop the car before now to avoid a drunk woman actually sitting in the middle of the road.

“I have also been flagged down and had a lift home demanded of me as there are no taxis available at this time.”

However, the committee felt that such problems would not arise and decided to grant the application.

It was also highlighted that there had been no responses from the police or from the Council’s pollution control team in respect of the application.

Nightclub owner, Mr Mark Thomas said: “It has been a night club for the last 20 years but times have changed.

“People’s habits have changed and in the business, we’ve got to move with the times. At the moment we are open until 5am but we’re in a position where the trade warrants going over that time and unfortunately we don’t tend to get people in until half past 2.

“We have had another premises open in the town as competition to ourselves and this does change the amount of people we see.

“It’s a well-attended premises on a Saturday evening, Friday evening we see 50-100 people, on Saturday we would see probably 150-200 and we want to be in a position when people do attend we are able to benefit from their attendance for a little longer.

“On many occasions the additional hours may not be used, however, on occasions when we have got sufficient business there then we would like to make the most of it.”

Milford Haven Town Councillor Eric Harries also attended the meeting to give the Town Council’s support to the application.

Cllr John Davies asked if the extended hours would worsen the quality of life experienced by residents in the area, but, Mr Thomas said that there were limiters in the property to control the noise levels and that there are doormen on the front of the premises who make sure patrons leave the premises in a quiet and orderly manner.

Mr Thomas added that there had not been any complaints regarding noise or disorder from the public or police when the night club had been open late in the past due to Temporary Event Notices (TENS).

He concluded that if problems did arise from the new hours he would be happy to enter discussions about resolving the issue and if the problems persist, he would revert the club back to its previous hours.

After half an hour discussing whether to allow the application, the committee returned to deliver its verdict, stating that the application was granted and that doormen should remain present for a minimum of 30 minutes after closure to dispel noise or disorder.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

9 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.