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Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
First-ever tax on visitors to Wales officially set to become law
First-ever tax on visitors to Wales officially set to become law Wales' tourist tax has now fully backed by the Senedd in a final vote Tourists can now be charged extra to stay overnight in Wales as the so-called tourism tax has passed its final hurdle in the Senedd. It means the process for councils to begin charging people up to £1.30 a night to stay in their area can start. There are two levels of charge. Those staying in hostels and campsites would pay 75p per person per night while people staying in all other accommodation would pay the higher rate of £1.30 a night. The charges are subject to VAT while children under 18 will be exempt at hostels and campsites after a change of tack from the Welsh Government during the parliamentary process. It will be up to each of Wales' 22 councils to decide if they will introduce the charge, which will not be in force before 2027. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. The Welsh Government say if all councils introduce the charge it would raise £33m a year but when we asked all Welsh councils few committed to introducing it with some ruling it out. Cardiff council, which will bring it in, says it believes it could raise £4m a year and that it would use that for marketing the city to tourists. Councils would also be able to ask the Welsh Government to change the amount. Key questions answered: What is Wales' tourism tax, how much is it, and where will it apply? Article continues below There are however concerns that the money is not ringfenced and businesses worry it might put visitors off and have concerns about administering the scheme. Tourism businesses in Wales have broadly opposed the plan saying it is the latest obstacle being put in their way and saying they fear it will mean people will book to stay elsewhere. Welsh Government finance minister Mark Drakeford said visitor levies are used around the world to support the local economy and investing in the infrastructure and services. He said the bill comes from a "principle of fairness". Article continues below He says the bill will "ensure its long-term sustainability" but it is only fair for visitors to Wales to "contribute towards local facilities, helping to fund infrastructure and services". The bill passed by 37 votes to 13 against. Senedd members from Labour and Plaid Cymru voted to pass the bill with the Conservatives voting against. The Conservatives have said they will scrap the tax if they get into power at the Senedd election in May 2026.
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
Cardiff's most iconic café reopens with an exciting new look
Located bang in the city centre, surrounded by historical castle walls and also in Bute Park, is there a better location than the West Lodge, which easily combines all of Cardiff's best parts? Now the iconic building has been taken over by a new business, Brodies. Taking over from the former Pettigrew Tea Rooms, Brodies on The Wall means you can still be fuelled up and ready for your park mooching, complete with a delicious drink and sweet treat. Brodies on The Wall opened on Tuesday, July 8, and is run by another set of Cardiff coffee-legends, who already operate in the city. Inside, it is light and airy, with exposed brick walls, wooden tables and chairs, flowers dotted around the room, wooden beams across the ceiling, and downstairs, the original flooring has been revealed. While light and welcoming in the summer, it also feels like this will be a really cosy and snuggly space in the winter. The building itself is part of the Cardiff Castle walls and has that classic fairytale style look. There is also plenty of outdoor seating and a wide-ranging menu. There are breakfast baps available from 9am to 3pm, toasties and sandwiches available all day, and a fantastic range of sweet treats, including brownies and Welsh cakes, that will have you drooling. Brodie's Coffee Co is a family-run business that was founded by husband and wife Ian and Danni Brodie, both aged 39, who hope to bring a new lease of life to the castle walls. They're best known for their coffee hut in Gorsedd Gardens just outside the National Museum Cardiff. The pair set up their first coffee shop inside a campervan back in 2013, and since then opened three permanent locations in Cardiff. They first opened a site in Gorsedd Gardens in 2016 (next to the museum) and most recently in Heath Park in 2024. The Brodies have been together since they were aged 18 and were inspired to build their own coffee company after returning from backpacking abroad in New Zealand and Australia. They noticed the coffee there was "so much better than anything they could find at home". Speaking about taking over West Lodge, Ian said: "It's an iconic building, we are just very excited to bring it a new lease of life. We remember Pettigrews when it first started up; it used to be absolutely amazing... as they've expanded, it's time for a new chapter. "They did such a great job here, we just want to replicate that in the Brodies way. It is such a beautiful space, the more we have been in it, it gets very exciting. "People have been really, really excited for us. We started from scratch here in Cardiff, so to have three park-based locations now, it just feels like a dream. "It feels incredible, it's one of those things where you have the pinch me Cabin is city centre as well, but it's more the university end of town, so to see both sides of the city with our coffees is a very nice feeling." While at Brodies I tried the iced chocolate for £3.70, the bacon bap for £4.80, and a brownie for £4. The iced chocolate, which I was overjoyed to see on the menu, provided that perfectly cold refreshment and had a very good chocolate flavour. It wasn't too strong and it wasn't too weak, making it the perfect summer drink. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . The bacon bap was exactly how I like it, a soft, fluffy roll, the bacon crispy, salty and moreish, and it came with homemade tomato relish which was fresh, light, and again not overpowering. When dipped into the bacon, it accompanied the roll perfectly. The brownie was dense and a very decent size, so much so that I couldn't finish it and took it away in a takeaway box. It was gooey and while feeling light in your mouth, you didn't feel like you were trying to plough through the brownie, it was very filling. You can find Brodies on the Wall at Castle West Lodge, Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1BJ
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Huge update in the fight to keep one of Wales' top restaurant open
Huge update in the fight to keep one of Wales' top restaurant open Paternoster Farm in Pembrokeshire has been facing eviction despite becoming a destination restaurant and being considered as one of Wales' best Paternoster Farm, a critically acclaimed restaurant based in the village of Hundleton, announced on Instagram yesterday that its tenancy has been extended until August 2027 . (Image: Paternoster Farm ) A top Welsh restaurant facing eviction has secured a temporary reprieve following months of public pressure and calls for transparency from Pembrokeshire County Council. Paternoster Farm, a critically acclaimed restaurant based in the village of Hundleton, announced on Instagram yesterday that its tenancy has been extended until August 2027 after what it described as 'productive discussions' with the council's chief executive. The announcement follows a dispute over the council's decision not to renew the restaurant's lease, which sparked a groundswell of public support from locals and patrons. Founded by former lawyer Michelle Evans, Paternoster Farm opened in 2021 and quickly gained national recognition. It earned praise from The Good Food Guide and The Times for its seasonal, locally sourced menu and unique setting in a converted milking parlour. The restaurant employs 12 staff and works closely with regional producers. But in May 2025, Evans revealed that the business was facing closure after learning that Pembrokeshire County Council had offered the tenancy to another party, despite her belief that the lease was eligible for renewal. However, in a significant development, Michelle announced on Instagram yesterday [July 7] that the family's tenancy has been extended until August 2027, following 'productive discussions' with Pembrokeshire County Council's Chief Executive, Will Bramble. Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below 'We are pleased to tell you we have had some productive discussions with Will Bramble, Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire County Council, and our current tenancy has now been extended until August 2027,' she wrote. 'This is a great start but we would, of course, like to stay longer, so still have a long way to go.' Since receiving the initial news about the tenancy back in May, Michelle and her family have been desperately seeking answers from the local authority. They have documented their fight on social media, providing updates on a petition to the council and the overwhelming support from patrons and locals. The founder of an award-winning restaurant in Pembrokeshire has said she is "mentally exhausted" after she received news that it would have to close later this year. (Image: Paternoster Farm ) The mother-of-two has expressed frustration at the council's handling of the situation, claiming they haven't provided her answers on why the business's future was abruptly cut short and offered to another party without consultation. "It's been mentally exhausting," Michelle told Wales Online last month. "When I already had a full life anyway – the farm work, the restaurant, admin, and kids – this happens. "I'm constantly writing something. I'm doing FOI (freedom of information request), then another FOI, and then another FOI. It takes a lot out of you. I'm just exhausted by it all." The family has been at Paternoster Farm since 2016, when Michelle and her husband decided to take over the small holding's tenancy for 10 years. Former lawyer-turned-chef Michelle started her foodie journey with a beach hut that served street food before deciding to start a business in the farm's former milking parlour. She uses fresh produce and focuses on traditional Welsh cooking infused with Mediterranean flavours. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here Times Journalist and restaurant critic Charlotte Ivers visited Paternoster Farm earlier this year and praised its culinary offerings (Image: Paternoster Farm ) In a Wales Online review, our writer notes, "When you work this close to the very produce you put on a plate, there comes a deep and meaningful understanding evident in the way Michelle cooks and her food sings on the plates. It's a real treat to eat food cooked with so much respect." Times Journalist and restaurant critic Charlotte Ivers was equally impressed and visited Paternoster Farm earlier this year and praised its culinary offerings. In her review, Ivers enthuses, "There's a fine balance between countryside authenticity and fashionable cooking. It works extremely well." Ivers describes the crumbling beef brisket as "hearty and rural yet elegant and cosmopolitan: the product of a big-city lawyer transplanted to the rolling fields." In the same week as the Times' review, the restaurant learned that Pembrokeshire Council was not going to renew its tenancy. The family said the council had already offered the tenancy at Paternoster to another party, even though they believed their lease was eligible for renewal. In response, Pembrokeshire County Council said its proposals follow established policy, which aims to give new entrants smaller farms so they can gain experience before moving on to larger holdings and that tenancies are "not for life." The family has been offered a larger farm in Solva, but Michelle claims that such a move would disrupt their business, livelihoods, and children's education. "It's a terrible time for restaurants as it is but the cost of moving a restaurant and establishing somewhere else, as well as the cost of being closed for that time, will be huge." During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Michelle initially opened a farm shop selling home-reared meat and pastries, which then evolved into a restaurant (Image: Paternoster Farm ) Michelle says she has tried to get an answer on the council's decision not to renew their lease and has sent a request for records, including emails, reports, minutes, and transcripts of all meetings regarding the decision not to renew the lease. However, at the time the local authority said it had searched its records and did not hold the information requested. Undeterred, Michelle spearheaded a petition calling for a full review and debate of Pembrokeshire's 'not fit for purpose' county farm policy. The petition has attracted nearly 2,000 signatures, prompting councillors to schedule it for debate at a future meeting, still leaving the farm's future uncertain. While the extension brings temporary relief, Michelle made clear that the family's fight continues, not just for their own business, but for wider reform of the council's farm tenancy system. In her post, she urged supporters to attend a public meeting at County Hall in Haverfordwest on Thursday, July 17, when councillors will formally debate the petition. 'Just to be clear, our petition is not technically about whether our tenancy will be renewed,' she writes. 'Our petition challenges County Farm Policy and seeks that it be reviewed, on the basis it allows no flexibility to support farm businesses such as ours. If successful... it not only helps us in the longer term, but other new entrants, and the community as a whole.' Michelle also thanked the community for its continued encouragement. 'I'd like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you for everyone's ongoing support and kind words, over these last couple of months. It's given our morale such a boost.' Article continues below
