News

New chef joins the Cardigan Castle team

Published

7 years ago

January 3, 2018

Tom Sinclair

IT’S a new year and a new chef at Cardigan Castle as the 1176 restaurant rings the changes.

Experienced West Wales caterer Tom Holden joins the castle team as executive head chef with plenty of ideas for 2018.

He follows in the footsteps of former castle chef David Coates who is leaving 1176 to concentrate on other projects.

Tom, who grew up on an organic farm near Lampeter, has been a top wedding caterer for nearly 20 years and is brimming with ideas for 1176.

First on the menu is opening on Saturday evenings from January 13. Tom will be offering a select three course menu concentrating on local food and quality ingredients.

He also has an eye on the castle kitchen garden which he wants to provide the bedrock of ingredients for 1176 menus.

“I’m really excited about this challenge,” he said. “Using produce from the kitchen garden is really exciting – I will be working closely with castle gardener Mark Dellar to make sure we use the best seasonal ingredients the garden has to offer.”

He added that he was also looking forward to opening 1176 in the evenings – although he will still be keeping the traditional day-time café menu and popular Sunday lunch offerings. Tom is also hoping to expand the evening openings in the summer.

Castle director Jac Davies welcomed Tom to the team.

He said: “We’re delighted to attract a chef and caterer of Tom’s calibre to take 1176 and our event catering to new heights. Building on the superb work done by David Coates, Tom will inherit an excellent team who are all enthused about the castle’s prosperous future.

“Tom’s ambition to open in the evenings was a key factor in our decision making to bring him on board, we look forward to being able to offer guests and visitors a broader service. I’d also like to thank David for building a truly exceptional business here at Cardigan Castle and wish him every success in the future,” he said.

1176 will commence evening opening from Saturday, January 13 and will continue every Friday and Saturday evening. Bookings are now being taken with the restaurant. To book, please call 01239 615 131 and select the option for 1176.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

15 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

22 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

23 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.