New home and garden retailer takes over former Homebase site

A MAJOR new retail store is set to open in Haverfordwest this week, bringing a fresh option for shoppers and garden enthusiasts alike.

The Range, a popular UK home, leisure, and garden chain, will officially open its new store at Springfield Retail Park on Fishguard Road on Friday (Apr 25). The store has taken over the former Homebase unit, which closed its doors in March last year after a clearance sale emptied its shelves.

The Pembrokeshire store is one of more than 50 former Homebase locations being transformed by The Range’s parent company, CDS (Superstores International), as part of a national expansion. CDS acquired around 70 sites across the UK and Ireland, aiming to safeguard approximately 1,600 jobs following Homebase’s financial collapse.

Customers in Haverfordwest can expect a wide selection of products across homeware, DIY, and seasonal gardening, with the store also boasting a new Homebase-branded garden centre.

The Range has confirmed that the new Haverfordwest branch will be a dog-friendly store, with special offers on opening day including free goody bags for the first 50 customers through the door – and even treats for the first five dogs to visit.

“We’re excited to welcome shoppers to our newest store,” said a spokesperson for The Range. “Come and explore a wide range of products, exclusive offers, and the brand-new Homebase Garden Centre.”

Although social media posts suggest an official opening time of 9:00am on Friday, the store is expected to open its doors slightly earlier at 8:30am. Opening hours for the weekend are listed as 8:30am to 8:00pm on both Friday and Saturday, and 1:30pm to 4:30pm on Sunday (Apr 27).

Regular hours have yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be similar to The Range’s Carmarthen store, which opens from 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Saturday, and 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sundays.

Concert, quiz and information day to encourage open conversations around death

THE PAUL SARTORI FOUNDATION, Pembrokeshire’s hospice at home charity, will host a series of community events during Dying Matters Week 2025 to encourage open conversations around death, dying and bereavement.

The week begins with a community concert at St Mary’s Church, Haverfordwest, on Monday (May 5) at 1:00pm. The event will feature performances by the Paul Sartori Community Choir and aims to highlight the importance of discussing end-of-life matters through the power of music.

On Thursday (May 8), an Information and Activities Day will take place at The Third Place, Milford Haven, from 10:00am to 2:30pm. Organised in partnership with PAVS and Pembrokeshire County Council, the day will offer access to resources, expert advice and informal discussions on end-of-life planning. The event also includes a guided walk and craft activities to promote creative expression around themes of loss and preparation.

The week concludes on Friday (May 9) with The Dead Good Quiz at Yr Hen Ysgol in Dinas Cross. A light-hearted but thought-provoking event, the quiz offers a fun night out with friends while gently encouraging conversations about what many find difficult to discuss.

The events are organised by the Paul Sartori Foundation’s Future Care Planning department. Mandy Jones, a community worker with the project, said: “Having a future care plan in place means that you can take charge of what happens to you should you become seriously unwell and are unable to express your wishes. It also gives guidance to families and helps ease stress at a very difficult time. These community events aim to inform and empower people to have autonomy over their future health and wellbeing.”

The Paul Sartori Foundation was established in memory of Father Paul Sartori and continues to provide hospice care services across Pembrokeshire. The charity’s mission is to promote sustainable, high-quality end-of-life care, enabling people to remain in the comfort of their own homes.

For more details on the events and the work of the Paul Sartori Foundation, visit www.paulsartori.org/events.

FREE breakfasts have been available in Welsh primary schools since 2004 — and now more than 700 primary schools in England are following suit, thanks to a bold new initiative from the UK Labour Government.

The scheme is expected to reach an initial 180,000 pupils, with over a third of participating schools located in areas of high deprivation. It represents a significant step forward in tackling child hunger and educational inequality.

The policy mirrors the successful approach pioneered in Wales, where an estimated 100 million free breakfasts have been served in the last decade alone. Take-up continues to grow, and the Welsh Labour Government is working with councils to increase participation even further.

“This is a fantastic example of the UK Labour Government learning from Welsh Labour successes. It’s Wales leading the way,” a spokesperson said.

The new initiative honours a key pledge made in Labour’s election manifesto and reaffirmed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her first party conference speech. The aim is simple: to ensure that no child starts the school day on an empty stomach.

A healthy meal in the morning not only improves concentration and wellbeing but also helps pupils achieve their full potential in the classroom.

England’s rollout builds on more than two decades of experience in Wales — experience that offers valuable insight into managing costs, designing nutritious menus, and monitoring outcomes.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Government will also benefit by gaining access to data from England’s larger school population, allowing it to further strengthen its own programme.

This move comes alongside the successful rollout of universal free school meals for primary pupils in Wales, first announced in 2021. Over 30 million additional meals have been served under that scheme so far.

“This is what two Labour Governments can achieve together — in Wales and Westminster — sharing ideas, expertise and a common goal: to invest in public services and give every child the best possible start to the day.”

From breakfast clubs to steel transition boards, freeports, investment zones, and growth deals, the message is clear — when Labour governments work together, Wales benefits.