Latest news with #TwryFelin
Pembrokeshire Herald
04-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pembrokeshire defies Welsh tourism tax amid anti-English tensions
AS COUNCIL TAX premiums and tourist levies stir tensions, local businesses and residents weigh the cost of protecting Welsh identity against the economic lifeline of English tourism. In St Davids, the recent spring sunshine bathes flint cottages and surfing shops in golden light. But beneath the postcard-perfect surface, a quiet rebellion is taking shape. This year, Pembrokeshire County Council became the first local authority in Wales to push back against the Welsh Government's controversial tourist taxation strategy. After reducing the second home tax premium from 300 per cent to 150 per cent in October, the council announced in April that it will not implement the proposed visitor levy during its current term, which ends in 2027. The move has been praised by some as a lifeline for struggling businesses. Others fear it signals a retreat from urgently needed reforms to address the housing crisis and preserve Welsh-speaking communities. Christopher Taylor, 85, has run the St Davids Bookshop since 1974 and previously served as mayor of the city. He says the area has long relied on English second-home owners and tourists. 'Second homeowners who have been regular customers over decades are selling up,' he told The Telegraph. 'Tourists and second homeowners support jobs here, and we really can't risk seeming unwelcoming.' Chris Taylor, 85, seen here standing at the back on the right, runs a shop which is important for both tourists and locals alike (Image: YPD) St Davids, Britain's smallest city, is one of the jewels of Pembrokeshire's coastline and a magnet for both walkers and surfers. But signs of change are everywhere. Lockboxes for holiday lets now pepper the streets—dubbed 'tosau' or 'pimples' by some Welsh speakers. Grant Pratt, 38, who manages the surf shop Unsunghero, is frank in his assessment: 'It's small-minded,' he says of locals who complain about incomers. 'Incoming English families have reversed the fate of the struggling local primary school. Who wouldn't prefer to live somewhere bustling rather than full of moaning elderly Welsh folk?' Tourism remains central to the local economy. In 2023, it generated £604 million in Pembrokeshire and supported more than 9,200 full-time equivalent jobs. Yet the tone of some public discourse, particularly online, has left business owners wary of being associated with anti-English sentiment. One shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, said she feared a return to the 'dark days' of the 1980s, when arson attacks by the nationalist group Meibion Glyndŵr targeted English-owned holiday homes. Most of Twr y Felin's guest are tourists from England, the hotel said (Image: File) At the luxury art-themed hotel Twr y Felin, General Manager Emma Bowen said that 85 per cent of their clientele are English tourists aged between 50 and 70. Twr y Felin manager Emma Bowen: Wants how funds will be used to be clear While she supports the concept of a tourist tax, she insists it must be clear how the funds will be used. 'Good examples are Germany, France, and Switzerland, where tourist taxes subsidise attractions and public transport for tourists,' she said. In nearby Tenby, the impact of policy is also being felt. Lucas and Melanie Boissevain, who own the award-winning Penally Abbey Hotel, warn that mounting costs could become unsustainable. 'We've had Covid, unfair competition from unregulated Airbnbs, rising staffing, power and food bills – all with little government help,' said Lucas. 'Now come the levies that will add £6,500 a year to our operating costs.' According to Lucas, Wales has lost 50 per cent of its serviced accommodation providers over the past 15 years. 'This has been made up with a growth in Airbnb-style unserviced beds, but who wants to have a lockbox tourist economy, without breakfasts and the human touch?' Despite government aims to channel second home tax revenue into affordable housing, some critics argue that the funds haven't been used effectively. Without clear reinvestment and consultation, opposition to the levies may continue to grow. More broadly, the proposed tourism tax across Wales has drawn both fierce criticism and cautious support. Industry groups and operators argue that it risks deterring visitors, threatening jobs, and weakening local economies—especially in areas like Pembrokeshire that are heavily reliant on tourism. Some families may opt to holiday elsewhere, fearing added costs, while others may cut back on spending in local shops, cafes, and attractions. A Welsh Government consultation found that 74 per cent of people who were likely to holiday in Wales believed the tax could put them off visiting. Opposition politicians, particularly Conservatives, have branded the levy a 'toxic tourism tax' that could damage a fragile sector. But supporters—including figures in Plaid Cymru and Labour—say the proposed fee, at just £1.25 per adult per night, is modest and commonplace across Europe. They argue it would raise much-needed funds for local infrastructure, including toilets, car parks, and footpath maintenance, and help ease the pressures of overtourism. Following public feedback, the Welsh Government confirmed children will be exempt and has promised a full review of the tax's impact within four years. There will also be further consultation with businesses and communities. Across the UK, similar measures are being considered. From April 2024, three quarters of councils in England and Wales will introduce 100 per cent premiums on second homes, and some are extending these to Airbnb properties. Manchester introduced a tourist tax last year. Others, like Bournemouth, paused plans after backlash from the hospitality sector. Pembrokeshire's stance has made it a test case. With visitor numbers still recovering post-pandemic and an economy reliant on tourism, many locals are asking whether pushing away the English is a price they can afford to pay. As one visiting mother from Bath remarked while enjoying tea at Penally Abbey: 'It's lovely here, isn't it? Who really needs to get on a plane?' That sense of quiet appreciation may be Pembrokeshire's greatest asset. But it remains to be seen whether it can coexist with the cultural pressures that have driven the Welsh Government's policies—and the resistance now rising against them. This article was based on a national newspaper report in The Telegraph which can be read here.
The Independent
28-03-2025
- The Independent
Best last-minute UK breaks to book before the Easter holidays
Set your watches – the clocks go forward on Sunday and British Summer Time begins, welcoming lighter days and the start of the holiday season across the UK. With the Easter school break looming and a string of bank holidays on the horizon, now's the time to bask in the final bliss of coastal hotspots from, Cornwall to Brighton, before the bucket and spade crowds descend. Forget gridlocked traffic and queue bedlam, the Cambridge cobbles, Pembrokeshire fishing villages and Norfolk Broads are all that bit more hushed as we see in spring. Boutique boltholes and historic hotels scattered between the Lake District and the Isle of Wight still have space to host travellers during the mild end of March next week – cautiously predicted to see the high teens in temperature. Here's where to go and stay for a last-minute holiday to soak up the final days of off-season travel in the UK. Cornwall Early spring is the time to secure a staycation in Cornwall – the coastal king for Brits seeking sun, sand and piping-hot pasties. From the shores of St Ives to honeypot Port Isaac, the well-trodden tourist trail on the UK's southwest coast can be bedlam during peak season, but bring a jacket, and you'll find all the same rugged walks, historic towns, blissful beaches and harbour-front high streets when the sun comes out next week. Where to stay The Scarlet Hotel, sprawling along a hillside above the north-coast village of Mawgan Porth, is an adults-only retreat with extensive spa facilities, seasonal seafood and a sun-trap dining terrace. Porth Beach Hotel is a small but characterful family-run hotel on the northern fringes of Newquay. Close to the area's impressive sandy beaches, there are 11 vibrant rooms in total and a menu of comfort classics in the charming restaurant. Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire wows with its puffin islands, pretty fishing villages and wave-battered coast, and the wonders of this wild county are one of Wales' worst-kept secrets. Hikes to the Blue Lagoon, toasted Welsh cakes in picturesque villages and coasteering on the look out for wildlife make a holiday to the likes of St Davids, Haverfordwest and Tenby a dream during the more mild temperatures between March and May. Where to stay Try Twr y Felin, a converted windmill now a slickly minimalist hotel, to tuck into St Davids with bays, clifftop walks and fine dining on your doorstep. Penally Abbey promises guests a gothic stay and the chance to gaze across Carmarthen Bay. Think light, elegantly understated rooms, beautifully restored antiques and a chandelier-studded restaurant serving foraged and locally farmed ingredients. Norfolk With the wetlands of the Broads, beaches built for seal sightings and marshlands on the north coast, Norfolk is one of the country's most rural and diverse regions. Often gridlocked in summer, Norfolk is still a joy in spring. County capital Norwich is peppered with buzzing breweries (some you can paddle to by kayak), independent bookshops and some serious seafood, while the stretch of sand at Holkham Bay is a haven once the UK welcomes back temperatures in the high teens. Where to stay To make it a city break, The Assembly House occupies a renovated Georgian building bang in the centre of Norwich – a boutique hotel, restaurant and cookery school that is one of the country's best places for an indulgent short break full of shopping. The Boathouse on the waters of Ormesby Broad features affordable boutique rooms, a handful of well-equipped lodges and a large restaurant complete with cosy corners, a roaring fire and tables overlooking the water. Lake District Twisty lanes, craggy fells and, of course, mirror-calm lakes, make the Lake District a darling destination for hikers, cyclists and literary lovers. Spring can be balmy in areas such as Bowness, Ambleside and Keswick, but layers are a must, with a chance to see snow atop the fells well into April. With Windermere to cruise, William Wordsworth poems to recite and Michelin meals to taste, staycations at the lakes await. Where to stay The Waterhead Inn overlooks the head of Lake Windermere and is well-priced with spacious bedrooms and bric-a-brac decor in the ground floor bar-restaurant lounge just a 15-minute walk from the quaint shops and cafes of Ambleside. Tempted to steam, sauna and relax with some cake by a lake? The Swan in Newby Bridge has an extensive spa garden, bright rooms and a menu of jolly pub classics near the southern end of Lake Windermere. Isle of Wight If it's sun you seek, the Isle of Wight is the UK's brightest clime, basking in an average of over five hours of sunshine per day off England's southern shore. The island marches to a gentler beat than the mainland, with over half of its countryside now recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here you'll find classic beach days, military forts, royal residences and impressive surf swells between glitzy seafood feasts. Where to stay The Royal Hotel, one of the island's oldest, is perched on the cliffside of Victorian resort Ventnor with sprawling sea views, contemporary modern rooms and a choice of tiered afternoon teas and the fish of the day from The Royal's kitchen. Discover the charm of The Seaview Hotel, a retreat nestled in the upmarket coastal village of Seaview. With cosy, naval-themed rooms, this inviting hotel offers inventive dining at swish restaurant The Aquitania, flavoured with local produce. Cambridge To enjoy one of the most coveted seats in Cambridge without the crowds, settle into a punt on the River Cam and cruise past the city's cobbles, gothic chapel and buzzing bike lanes. The historic centre has heavyweight architecture in its university buildings, a collection of museums and parks primed for picnic dates as we settle into the greens of spring. Where to stay The Varsity Hotel & Spa features 48 sleek rooms on the River Cam by Magdalene College. Head to the seventh-floor roof terrace for one impressive view across the city's college spires, or make the most of the two popular restaurants, full-service gym and Elemis spa on site. The oldest hotel in Cambridge, University Arms has sheer class across its 192 rooms, marble-adorned communal areas and cosy library-like lounge. With British brasserie Parker's Tavern serving classics from field and fen, this is the place to tuck in on a Cambridge city break. Brighton Brighton makes for an effortlessly cool break on the coast come rain or shine, luring Londoners to the train to explore the Lanes year round. With its shingle beach, trendy coffee shops, vintage boutiques and calendar of LGBT+ events, Brighton is at its best when the students start to dwindle and the children have yet to descend on the pier for spring's string of bank holidays. Where to stay Rooms are dressed with roll-top baths and floor-to-ceiling windows at Drakes Hotel in Kemp Town. The Georgian hotel is 1930s swish with a basement restaurant serving top-notch modern British cuisine and jewel-toned furnishings framing sea views from rooms at the boutique gem. Funky guest house Snooze offers eight individually styled bedrooms, including two attic suites, with full English and big vegan breakfasts on offer come morning. Picture reclaimed fairground rides, flying ducks and a riot of retro accessories.
