#tenby — Public Fediverse posts

TENBY SPECTACULAR: “Too good at the job” — volunteers end the event for good after council revokes licence

The Tenby Summer Spectacular is over — with the volunteers behind it for almost 40 years saying they are ending the event for good after its premises licence was revoked.

The Tenby Round Table told supporters it was “sorry to announce” that the licence to host the Spectaculars in Tenby Harbour had been revoked for all future events, following a hearing before a Pembrokeshire County Council licensing sub-committee on July 9.

“While we do not agree with the decision, we respect the Sub-Committee’s role and its overriding concern for the safety of those attending the events,” the group said.

But as volunteers who had “already devoted hundreds of hours to fighting for these events this year alone”, the group said it now felt it must “draw a line under the Summer Spectaculars in Tenby Harbour”.

One comment from the hearing, the group said, had stayed with them — a sub-committee member telling the volunteers: “I think you’re just too good at the job.”

“We simply wish we had been given the support to continue doing it,” the Round Table said.

Why the licence was revoked

The sub-committee concluded the licensing objectives were not being adequately met — leaving what it called significant concerns regarding crowd safety, emergency access and the protection of children from harm, the statutory tests every premises licence in Wales and England is judged against.

Cllr Aaron Carey, the council’s cabinet member with responsibility for the licensing service, said neither he nor the council took “any satisfaction whatsoever” from a decision he knew would disappoint the event’s organisers, volunteers and charities.

The committee heard evidence from Dyfed-Powys Police, the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, council officers and the organisers — and Cllr Carey said the police’s concerns were “extremely powerful”.

The ambulance service raised significant concerns about emergency medical access to and within the event, he said, while the fire service detailed concerns about crowd numbers, uncontrolled attendance and emergency access.

“There were significant concerns from agencies that, due to the size and popularity of the event, it had outgrown its current setting,” Cllr Carey said. “Public safety has to be paramount, particularly where an event involves large crowds in a working harbour environment.”

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said the force recognised “the great fundraising work done by the Tenby Round Table”, but had raised concerns around public safety, the protection of children from harm and the prevention of crime and disorder after reviewing the event in its current format.

The volunteers’ case

The Round Table insists public safety “is, and always has been, paramount to us” — and says it was the group itself that first raised the concerns with the council and police after the 2025 events.

Its position throughout has been that safe control of access to the harbour was fundamental — and that this control, combined with road closures and other measures already in place, would have allowed the events to continue safely.

The group said it had repeatedly pointed the council’s public realm department to a legal framework it believes would enable that control — and been repeatedly told it was not possible, “despite the same legislation being used in Tenby for other large events specifically to control crowd movement on public footpaths”.

When the volunteers — who had taken independent legal advice — raised the point again before the sub-committee, the group said the hearing was suspended so the council could review its position on a matter the organisers had been told was already settled.

The Round Table said it had been prepared to accept amendments to its licence, and was happy to review crowd numbers, security, medical provision and road closures: “All we needed in return was the ability to control the number of people accessing the harbour and beach.”

A contested future

The council said after the decision that it and its partner agencies stood ready to support discussions aimed at bringing “this much-valued event back to Tenby” in a way that satisfies safety and licensing requirements.

The Round Table disputed that picture — saying the council’s clear view at the hearing itself was that any future event would not be taking place in Tenby Harbour, and that while the offer to work constructively was welcome, “we wish [it] had been apparent throughout this process”.

The dispute burst into the open in June, when the group accused the council of leaving it waiting months for an answer on crowd control powers — before cancelling this summer’s events with a pledge to return. The licence had been called in for review for the first time in 14 years.

“This has never been about raising more money or shifting liability,” the group said. “It has always been about our ability to host these fundraising events safely for our community and its visitors.”

Thanking supporters for helping raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities and good causes over the decades, the volunteers signed off: “We hope you cherish the memories as much as we have loved creating them.”

The July 9 hearing can be viewed on the council’s webcast portal.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

TENBY SPECTACULAR: Beloved summer event AXED — as furious volunteers turn on the council
How the dispute over crowd safety first burst into the open.

TENBY: Spectacular event axe confirmed as safety-law deadlock with council goes unresolved
The volunteers’ full account of the nine-month stand-off.

TENBY: Police launch summer crackdown as bank holiday crowds head to Pembrokeshire
How the town manages its busy summer visitor season.

Dyson and Lawson triumphant as thousands compete for Ironman Wales
The major Tenby event the Round Table says used a beach road closure.

TGJONES: Rescue plan approved — seven south-west Wales stores now wait on landlord rent deals as up to 150 closures loom

The rescue plan that could close up to 150 TGJones stores has been approved by the High Court — leaving seven south-west Wales branches waiting to learn their fate.

Branches at Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre, Carmarthen’s Guildhall Square, Llanelli, Neath, Bridgend, Tenby and Haverfordwest were all named as potentially at risk when the closures were announced in May.

None of the seven has been confirmed for closure — and each store’s future now hinges largely on its landlord. Under the approved plan, rents will be cut by between 15% and 75% on hundreds of stores, while around 120 landlords will receive no rent at all for up to three years.

Landlords who refuse the new terms can end their leases instead — and that is where most of the closures are expected to fall.

In Swansea, that puts the decision in the hands of Centurion Group — the Quadrant’s owner, which is separately preparing to name new tenants for the former Debenhams in the city.

Mr Justice Hildyard approved the plan on Wednesday (1 July), describing it as complex and far-reaching. He said his biggest concern had been the financial hit to landlords, but he was persuaded the rescue was, objectively, the lesser of two evils.

The approval caps a turbulent few weeks in which landlords revolted over the plan and bailiffs reclaimed a Midlands store. Property giant British Land had branded the proposals fundamentally unfair, before dropping its opposition after winning concessions.

The court heard the retailer was on the brink of insolvency, facing a cash shortfall of nearly £8 million within days if the deal was not approved.

Tom Smith KC, for TGJones, told the hearing the business was “highly distressed” and “running on fumes at the moment”.

He said the chain would have run out of cash in April, had it not been for a £10 million loan from owner Modella Capital and the deferral of liabilities — including the £8.4 million owed to HMRC revealed in creditor documents in May.

The approved plan brings a further £15 million loan from Modella, alongside the rent cuts and redundancies across stores and the company’s support centre.

Up to 150 of the chain’s 451 stores are expected to close, with the plan forecasting the business will be left with around 302 — depending on how many landlords walk away rather than accept lower rents.

The chain employs 4,700 people, and hundreds of jobs are expected to go, though no redundancy figure has been confirmed. WH Smith has already refused to fund enhanced redundancy payments for staff who lose their jobs — leaving those affected facing the statutory minimum.

The stakes reach beyond the shops themselves: the Quadrant, Neath and Carmarthen branches all host Post Office counters, a threat that prompted the Deputy First Minister to write to the chain over the Neath branch in May.

The Post Office and Toys R Us, which runs concessions inside some stores, both supported the restructuring in court.

Modella — which rebranded the stores from WHSmith after buying the high street business last year — admitted last month the retailer was almost completely broken, blaming years of under-investment by the previous owner and the loss of the 234-year-old name, which was a condition of the sale.

Chief executive Alex Willson welcomed the ruling, saying: “This decision allows us to move ahead with our turnaround strategy.”

Wales has 26 of the chain’s stores, and the south-west Wales branches anchor some of the most prominent pitches on their high streets — the entrance to the Quadrant in Swansea and Guildhall Square in Carmarthen among them.

The wait comes with the region’s high streets already under pressure — Llanelli, Neath and Swansea are among the towns watching Shoe Zone review its local stores, and Swansea’s flagship M&S closed in May.

WHSmith itself lives on at airports and railway stations, where the travel stores kept the historic name.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Seven south-west Wales stores at risk as chain announces 150 closures
The full list of at-risk branches across the region, from Swansea’s Quadrant to Haverfordwest.

Bailiff threat and tax debts cast fresh doubt over south-west Wales stores
TGJones owes £8.4m to HMRC as WH Smith refuses to fund enhanced redundancy for at-risk staff.

Deputy First Minister raises alarm over Neath Post Office threat
Sioned Williams MS wrote to TGJones over the Post Office counter hosted in the at-risk Neath branch.

Landlords revolt and bailiffs reclaim a Midlands store
How the restructuring battle turned bitter in the weeks before the court ruling.

SWANSEA: University team works to turn food waste into natural Vitamin C

Swansea University scientists are exploring whether food-processing waste could be turned into a natural source of Vitamin C.

The work is part of a project with BIOVIT, a Tenby-based nutrition start-up, backed by funding from the UK innovation agency Innovate UK.

The team is examining agricultural and food-processing waste to assess how much of its vitamins and minerals can be recovered.

BIOVIT says its early research found that up to 60% of the vitamins and minerals in fruit and vegetable material can be lost during processing — which the partners see as an opportunity for recovery.

Researchers from Swansea University’s Natural Products BioHUB are leading the scientific and extraction work alongside the company.

The aim is to offer a sustainable, natural alternative to the synthetic Vitamin C widely used in supplements and fortified foods.

If it works, the partners say the process could show how food waste can be converted into high-value nutritional ingredients, opening up new opportunities for greener manufacturing in Wales.

The project follows recent recognition for BIOVIT’s “Circular Vitamin C” concept, which won two prizes — including the overall Innovation of the Year award — at the IFE Manufacturing Ingredients Awards in March.

Dr Farooq Shah, director of the Natural Products BioHUB at Swansea University, said the team was taking something usually seen as waste and exploring whether it could become part of the solution.

He said combining the company’s commercial ambition with the university’s expertise in natural products, green chemistry and biotechnology could help turn food-processing waste into high-value ingredients.

“It is a strong example of how university–SME collaboration can support circular manufacturing, strengthen regional supply chains and help position Wales at the forefront of the green economy,” he said.

Ky Wright, founder and chief executive of BIOVIT, said the company wanted to improve people’s health using natural vitamins and minerals.

“Most supplements and fortified foods still rely on artificial vitamins, often produced through synthetic processes. We believe there is a better way,” he said.

He said working with Swansea University gave the firm access to the research expertise needed to develop natural Vitamin C from fruit-processing waste.

Professor Chedly Tizaoui, professor of chemical engineering at Swansea University, said the project paired a real scientific challenge with commercial relevance.

He said the goal was to establish a reliable, scalable route to natural Vitamin C drawn from fruit-processing residues.

The project is supported through Innovate UK’s Launchpad scheme for net zero industry in south-west Wales, and aligns with UK and Welsh Government ambitions on net zero and the circular economy.

It is the latest research tie-up for the university, which recently saw a Swansea firm win a grant to develop an eco-friendly way of tackling slugs.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea firm wins £650k grant to develop eco-friendly slug killer
Another Swansea University-linked green science project.

Wool Insulation Wales venture secures £300k boost
A Welsh sustainable-materials start-up scales up.

Swansea scientists develop new method to detect viruses in a pinprick
Innovate UK-backed research at Swansea University.

TENBY: Spectacular event axe confirmed as safety-law deadlock with council goes unresolved

The volunteers behind Tenby‘s Summer Spectacular have formally confirmed that this year’s events are cancelled, after failing to resolve a dispute with the council over crowd safety.

Tenby Round Table said the two events, due to be held on 16 and 30 August, could not safely go ahead without a clear, lawful way to control pedestrian access to the harbour event area.

In a statement, the volunteers said it was “with huge sadness and heartfelt regret” that they were calling off the 2026 events.

The decision brings to a head a dispute that first spilled into the open last week, when the group said it had been left waiting months for an answer from Pembrokeshire County Council.

At the heart of it is a single question the Round Table says it has been asking since late May: which legal power the council would use to let organisers temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the licensed event area.

The group said this was not red tape but “the foundation of safe crowd management” for an increasingly popular event in Tenby Harbour — something it said both organisers and the emergency services wanted.

It said it had received three written responses from the council, none of which, in its view, answered the question with a clear legal basis.

The Round Table said the first two responses dealt with road traffic powers, while a third, received on 25 June, looked instead at historic harbour documents and concluded the council had no power to restrict access to the beach.

The volunteers stressed they were “not lawyers” but said they had asked the council to point to the specific law preventing it, and had not been given one.

The group said the council had instead suggested two alternatives, neither of which it considered workable.

One would see the volunteers manage public access to the beach themselves within an agreed capacity figure, which the group said it had not been given.

The other would involve redrawing the event boundary, which the Round Table said would require substantial fencing that could block emergency vehicle access and create its own safety risk.

The volunteers also pointed to last year’s Ironman Wales event, when they said the council used a road traffic power to close a pedestrian route to a Tenby beach.

The group said it was not criticising that decision, but had not been told why the same approach could not be considered for the Summer Spectacular.

The Round Table said the previous open-access arrangement had rightly been flagged as unsatisfactory by the emergency services, because of the risk of overcrowding in the harbour — one of the reasons its licence had been called in for review for the first time in 14 years.

The harbour and its beaches draw huge numbers of visitors to the town each summer, with extra measures already brought in this year to manage the seasonal crowds.

When the dispute first emerged, Pembrokeshire County Council said it had never asked for the event to be cancelled, and that it remained willing to work with organisers.

The Round Table said the council had, on being told of the cancellation, offered to help plan a “robust event management plan” for 2027.

The group said it was not walking away, and would keep working through the licensing process — adding that it was also exploring whether the Welsh Government could use its own powers to help.

The volunteers said the events had raised money for local charities and brought the community together for the best part of 40 years.

“We will return,” the statement said.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Beloved summer event axed as volunteers turn on the council
How the Summer Spectacular dispute first burst into the open.

Thousands compete as Ironman Wales returns to Tenby
The major event the Round Table says used a beach road closure.

Police launch summer crackdown as crowds head to Tenby
How the town manages its busy summer visitor season.

IMMIGRATION RAID: Six arrested at Italian restaurant chain’s Carmarthen and Tenby branches

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of illegal working at branches of an Italian restaurant chain in Carmarthen and Tenby.

Immigration Enforcement officers made the arrests at Florentino’s restaurants in the two towns, the Home Office has said.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Carmarthen restaurant in February and arrested four people they said had no right to work in the UK.

Following further intelligence last week, officers visited the chain’s Tenby restaurant and arrested two more.

The Home Office said three of the six had already returned to their home countries, with a fourth in the process of returning.

Of the remaining two, one has been placed on immigration bail subject to strict conditions while enquiries continue, and the other was released with a warning.

The department said work would now begin to establish who was liable for employing the individuals.

It said an employer found in breach of the law can be fined up to £60,000 per worker.

No business or individual has been found liable at this stage.

The four arrested in Carmarthen in February were two Romanian nationals, a Bangladeshi national and a Mongolian national, the Home Office said. The two arrested in Tenby this month were both Romanian nationals.

The arrests were announced as part of what the Home Office describes as a national drive to increase immigration enforcement.

Immigration Enforcement Lead for Wales, Richard Johnson, thanked officers for their professionalism during the operations.

He said teams in Wales were working “round the clock to ensure businesses play by the rules and those with no right to be in the UK are tracked down and returned at the earliest opportunity.”

The Home Office said enforcement activity had risen to its highest level on record, reporting more than 9,000 arrests across the UK in 2025.

In Wales, it said 1,320 illegal working visits were carried out last year, leading to 649 arrests.

The department also pointed to planned changes that would require companies hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers to carry out right-to-work checks, with new rules expected to extend those duties to the delivery sector.

The latest arrests follow a similar operation last year, when a Gower construction site was among hundreds raided in what the Home Office called its largest crackdown on illegal working.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Gower construction site raided in UK’s largest crackdown on illegal working
Immigration Enforcement officers visited hundreds of businesses across the UK.

Home Office to share asylum hotel data with delivery firms
New right-to-work rules target the gig economy and delivery sector.

TENBY SPECTACULAR: Beloved summer event AXED — as furious volunteers turn on the council

One of Tenby’s best-loved summer traditions has been cancelled, with the volunteers who run it blaming a nine-month wait for a council decision on crowd safety.

The Tenby Summer Spectacular, due to take place on 16 and 30 August, has been called off “until further notice,” its organisers announced.

The events, run by Tenby Round Table, have been a fixture of the town’s summer for decades and raise money for local charities, sports teams and community groups.

The organisers said the cancellation was “a decision that has been forced upon us.”

At the heart of the row is a single question about how crowds are safely managed at the harbour event.

To run the events lawfully, the Round Table says it needs Pembrokeshire County Council to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access to the event area once it reaches capacity.

It describes this as a standard tool used by councils across the country for public events of this kind.

The group says it first raised the issue with the council in September 2025, raised it again formally in writing in May, and has chased it repeatedly since.

The volunteers say they have commissioned health and safety consultants, produced event management plans and attended every meeting asked of them.

“We have done everything a responsible event organiser can do,” they said.

The Round Table says the written responses it finally received, only in the past two weeks, contain what it believes to be “factual inaccuracies and misleading statements” about the law governing the power.

It also claims the council has acknowledged that the legal advice it is relying on is “provisional and still under internal review.”

The organisers say they cannot commit to running events for thousands of people based on a legal position they say the council’s own officers have admitted is not settled.

The group warned that the cancellation would be “a devastating blow” to the charities its funds support, saying hundreds of thousands of pounds have gone to good causes since the events began.

The cancellation is provisional, with the Round Table setting the council a deadline of 25 June to provide what it called “a clear, accurate, and legally grounded answer.”

The council, however, firmly rejected any suggestion it had forced the event off.

Deputy leader Cllr Paul Miller said the authority had supported the Spectacular for nearly 15 years and had “not requested or given direction that the event should be cancelled.”

He said the harbour was a working harbour and a key community asset, and that the council had a duty to ensure the event could take place safely.

That included addressing concerns formally raised by the responsible authorities under licensing law, which include the emergency services, he said.

“Once the organisers provide the required information, the licensing sub committee will consider the event application, in exactly the same way they consider the large number of other events which occur across Pembrokeshire each year,” he said.

The committee is currently scheduled to meet in July.

Local member Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said she wanted to see the events go ahead, and was “really encouraged” from meetings with senior officers that everyone was ready to help make them happen.

In response to the council’s statement, the Round Table said it welcomed Cllr Miller’s words but stood by its account of events.

The group said the one outstanding question — how pedestrian access would be lawfully managed — was the single element holding up its event management plan, and that only the council could answer it.

It said its most recent email on the issue, sent on Monday, had not yet been acknowledged, and urged councillors to press officers to respond by the deadline.

A council licensing committee is due to meet in July to decide whether the event’s licence is renewed, amended or withdrawn.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Police launch summer crackdown on antisocial behaviour in Tenby
Operation Lion returns as thousands of visitors head to Pembrokeshire.

WOOL POWER: Textile artists win bursaries to launch their own businesses — and one is halfway to a £7,000 loom

Two young textile artists are set to launch their own businesses after winning bursaries from Wales’ premier wool and natural fibre festival.

Kitty Haggar, 23, from Tenby, and Megan Coombs, 22, from Llanelli, have won £1,500 and £1,000 respectively from Wonderwool Wales.

Both are graduating from Carmarthen School of Art, where they are awaiting the results of their Bachelor of Arts degrees in textiles — and as part of their bursaries, each will have a free stand to showcase their work at next year’s Wonderwool Wales show at the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, which attracts more than 6,000 international visitors.

Kitty’s route into textiles was an unlikely one — she had planned to study sociology at Bath Spa University before picking up her mum’s knitting needles changed everything.

“Knitting just came to me so naturally and I have always enjoyed fashion and design,” she said. “I chose Carmarthen School of Art — it’s a nice, small community here and tutor time is good.

“Through textile design, I was introduced to weaving and I chose that as my specialist pathway. It’s a great way to use different materials.”

The former Greenhill School pupil now plans to buy a £7,000 weaving loom to launch her business, Knits by Kit, from her parents’ home in Tenby — and she is already nearly halfway to the total, having also won the £1,500 Miriam Bridden Bursary from Carmarthen School of Art.

She will be making and selling lampshades and interior decorations.

“It means a lot to win both the bursaries and I am very grateful,” she added. “They have definitely helped me to start looking at different looms and I have also applied for a business start-up grant from Business Wales.”

Megan, a former pupil of Ysgol Bryngwyn in Llanelli who took her A levels at Coleg Sir Gâr, plans to train as a primary school teacher while running a business creating viscose rayon and Creta yarn shawls and garments for weddings, communions and christenings.

Some of her shawls are inspired by stained glass and architecture — and away from the loom she is a pianist and singer with Eclipse Productions and South Wales Amateur Musical Productions.

“Winning the Wonderwool Wales bursary is amazing and it has given me the step forward and push to form a small business alongside studying to become a primary school teacher,” she said.

Wonderwool Wales directors award the annual bursaries to help winning Carmarthen School of Art graduates develop their careers — and neither winner has ever attended the festival they will exhibit at next April.

Chrissie Menzies, Wonderwool Wales director, said: “We were very impressed by the standard of work presented by all the Carmarthen School of Art students, but Kitty and Megan stood out.

“We can’t wait to see them exhibit their work at next year’s show, which will be a fantastic showcasing opportunity for them.”

The 2027 show takes place at the Royal Welsh Showground on 24 and 25 April.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: TV pottery stars Kaz and Angharad to cut the ribbon at new volunteer-run studio opening this Saturday
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CARMARTHEN: £90m college ‘super campus’ approved despite backlash over closures and countryside impact
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‘Rise up and show up’: Carmarthen student’s courage earns top learning award
Another Carmarthen student success story — a top learning award won against the odds.

Sweet success for Swansea startup
Another young business getting off the ground in the region.

MORRISONS DAILY: Supermarket giant announces 100 convenience store closures blaming government costs — we’ve identified the south-west Wales stores that could be affected

Five convenience stores in south-west Wales could be among 100 Morrisons Daily outlets set to close across the UK — with hundreds of jobs at risk nationally and communities in Trimsaran, Pontardawe, Neyland, Pembroke and Tenby potentially facing the loss of their local shop.

Morrisons confirmed the planned closures on Friday, saying the affected stores had been loss-making for years despite attempts to turn them around — and that rising costs driven by government policy had made the situation worse.

Morrisons has not confirmed which specific stores are proposed for closure. However, using Morrisons’ own store finder, Swansea Bay News has identified five wholly-owned Morrisons Daily stores in south-west Wales — meaning they are in the pool of around 1,000 company-owned stores from which the 100 closures will be drawn:

Morrisons Daily, Heol Morlais, Trimsaran

Morrisons Daily, Herbert Street, Pontardawe

Morrisons Daily, High Street, Neyland

Morrisons Daily, Upper Lamphey Road, Pembroke

Morrisons Daily, New Hedges, Tenby

With around 1,000 wholly-owned stores nationally and 100 proposed for closure, the vast majority will remain open. Other Morrisons Daily stores in south-west Wales run by franchisees are not affected by the announcement.

All five of the local wholly-owned stores were originally part of Morrisons’ £190 million rescue purchase of the McColl’s convenience chain from administration in 2022, and subsequently rebranded as Morrisons Daily.

The 100 proposed closures represent around one in ten of Morrisons’ wholly-owned convenience estate — a significant reduction in the company’s directly operated network, even as it pursues aggressive franchise growth.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “The performance of all company owned stores across our Convenience business is subject to continuous review. This process has identified a number of stores, which were part of the McColl’s acquisition, whose performance has been challenged for a number of years and which are loss making, despite remedial action.”

The policy choices Morrisons cited include increases to employer National Insurance contributions and rises to the national living wage — both of which came into force in April and have been blamed by retailers across the UK for pushing up operating costs.

Staff at the affected stores have been told they are at risk of redundancy, with a consultation set to begin shortly. Morrisons said it would try to find alternative roles for impacted workers elsewhere in the business — in supermarket, logistics and manufacturing operations.

The store closures are just the latest in a string of asset disposals and cutbacks. In 2024, Morrisons sold all 337 of its petrol stations to Motor Fuel Group in a £2.5 billion deal — a move specifically designed to reduce the debt pile built up since the chain’s £10 billion takeover by private equity firm Clayton Dubilier and Rice. The same firm owns both Morrisons and MFG.

Despite reducing its net debt by 46% from a 2022 peak to £3.2 billion, the chain still recorded annual losses of £318 million in the year to October.

The news also comes after Morrisons announced the closure of 52 cafés and 17 convenience stores last year, and just weeks after revealing that around 200 jobs were at risk at its Bradford headquarters.

Despite the closures, Morrisons insisted its convenience business remained a growth priority. It currently runs around 1,700 Morrisons Daily stores — including roughly 700 franchise locations — and opened more than 120 new franchise stores last year.

The company said it planned to open hundreds more franchise outlets in the coming years, with the vast majority of future openings set to be franchise-operated rather than company-owned.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

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Nach der nervenaufreibenden Hexenjagd ging es zur Erholung nach #Tenby

In dem pittoresken walisischen Badeort bauen wir Straßenzüge und Promenaden - nahezu jede Karte bringt unter bestimmten Bedingungen Punkte, die optimiert werden wollen.

Die wechselseitigen Karteneffekte sorgen dafür, dass es schnell unübersichtlich wird.

Das Punktezählen am Ende kann durchaus etwas dauern.

Spielerisch erinnert es sehr an #SantaMonica aber es sieht wirklich sehr knuffig aus. Ein Spiel, das ich nicht unbedingt haben muss, aber gern mal wieder mitspiele.

Hier musste ich mich geschlagen geben, aber mit 141:132 war es recht ausgewogen.

(2/2)

@brettspiele

Nach der nervenaufreibenden Hexenjagd ging es zur Erholung nach #Tenby

In dem pittoresken walisischen Badeort bauen wir Straßenzüge und Promenaden - nahezu jede Karte bringt unter bestimmten Bedingungen Punkte, die optimiert werden wollen.

Die wechselseitigen Karteneffekte sorgen dafür, dass es schnell unübersichtlich wird.

Das Punktezählen am Ende kann durchaus etwas dauern.

Spielerisch erinnert es sehr an #SantaMonica aber es sieht wirklich sehr knuffig aus. Ein Spiel, das ich nicht unbedingt haben muss, aber gern mal wieder mitspiele.

Hier musste ich mich geschlagen geben, aber mit 141:132 war es recht ausgewogen.

(2/2)

@brettspiele

Nach der nervenaufreibenden Hexenjagd ging es zur Erholung nach #Tenby

In dem pittoresken walisischen Badeort bauen wir Straßenzüge und Promenaden - nahezu jede Karte bringt unter bestimmten Bedingungen Punkte, die optimiert werden wollen.

Die wechselseitigen Karteneffekte sorgen dafür, dass es schnell unübersichtlich wird.

Das Punktezählen am Ende kann durchaus etwas dauern.

Spielerisch erinnert es sehr an #SantaMonica aber es sieht wirklich sehr knuffig aus. Ein Spiel, das ich nicht unbedingt haben muss, aber gern mal wieder mitspiele.

Hier musste ich mich geschlagen geben, aber mit 141:132 war es recht ausgewogen.

(2/2)

@brettspiele

Nach der nervenaufreibenden Hexenjagd ging es zur Erholung nach #Tenby

In dem pittoresken walisischen Badeort bauen wir Straßenzüge und Promenaden - nahezu jede Karte bringt unter bestimmten Bedingungen Punkte, die optimiert werden wollen.

Die wechselseitigen Karteneffekte sorgen dafür, dass es schnell unübersichtlich wird.

Das Punktezählen am Ende kann durchaus etwas dauern.

Spielerisch erinnert es sehr an #SantaMonica aber es sieht wirklich sehr knuffig aus. Ein Spiel, das ich nicht unbedingt haben muss, aber gern mal wieder mitspiele.

Hier musste ich mich geschlagen geben, aber mit 141:132 war es recht ausgewogen.

(2/2)

@brettspiele

Nach der nervenaufreibenden Hexenjagd ging es zur Erholung nach #Tenby

In dem pittoresken walisischen Badeort bauen wir Straßenzüge und Promenaden - nahezu jede Karte bringt unter bestimmten Bedingungen Punkte, die optimiert werden wollen.

Die wechselseitigen Karteneffekte sorgen dafür, dass es schnell unübersichtlich wird.

Das Punktezählen am Ende kann durchaus etwas dauern.

Spielerisch erinnert es sehr an #SantaMonica aber es sieht wirklich sehr knuffig aus. Ein Spiel, das ich nicht unbedingt haben muss, aber gern mal wieder mitspiele.

Hier musste ich mich geschlagen geben, aber mit 141:132 war es recht ausgewogen.

(2/2)

@brettspiele

TENBY: MP demands Welsh Water answers after boy hospitalised swimming in sea — as iconic North Beach loses Blue Flag for third time

Tenby North Beach has lost its Blue Flag status for the third time after its water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good” — triggering a furious response from the area’s MP and fresh calls for Welsh Water to be held to account.

Henry Tufnell, Conservative MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, has written to Welsh Water chief executive Roch Cheroux demanding an urgent plan to prevent further pollution incidents, after a young boy was hospitalised with sickness and diarrhoea following a swim in the sea at Tenby last week.

The same week, Natural Resources Wales issued a no-swim alert at Lydstep Haven — just a few miles from Tenby — due to concerns over water quality on 6 May, with warning signs still in place as late as 11 May.

Welsh Water subsequently clarified that the Lydstep incident was not linked to their infrastructure. NRW confirmed on 6 May that the no-swim alert at Lydstep was caused by a damaged privately owned sewerage system discharging onto the beach — not a Welsh Water overflow. Welsh Water said they had not spilled in the Tenby area for the preceding two months.

In his letter to Welsh Water, dated 12 May, Tufnell described the situation as “extremely concerning” and said Welsh Water’s poor environmental performance now posed “a serious risk to the health and wellbeing” of his constituents and visitors to the area.

“A situation like this has serious implications for our local economy, which relies heavily on tourism, particularly during the summer months when visitors rightly — and wisely — come to enjoy Pembrokeshire’s beaches,” he wrote. He asked Welsh Water to set out what immediate steps it would take to address the incidents at Lydstep and Tenby, and how it would ensure Pembrokeshire’s bathing waters were safe for everyone.

The loss of Tenby North’s Blue Flag was confirmed in today’s 2026 Wales Coast Awards, announced alongside the retention of Blue Flag status for a string of Swansea and Gower beaches. Pembrokeshire County Council did not apply for the Blue Flag for North Beach this year because the water quality had fallen below the required standard. Blue Flag beaches must meet the highest water quality thresholds — “good” is not sufficient to qualify.

The beach is one of Tenby’s most famous — used for Ironman Wales and the town’s Boxing Day Swim, and central to Tenby’s identity as one of Wales’s most celebrated coastal destinations. It previously held Blue Flag status for more than 25 consecutive years before first losing it in 2022.

This is the third time North Beach has lost the award. It failed to retain Blue Flag status in 2022 and 2023 when water quality dropped from “excellent” to “good”, recovered, and has now slipped again — raising serious questions about whether the underlying causes were ever fully resolved.

Water quality at Tenby North is tested by NRW each summer, with samples assessed for two types of bacteria. Welsh Water said the samples that triggered the downgrade were taken in July and August last year — and crucially, said there were no storm overflow spills in the area in the weeks leading up to those dates.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “These bacteria can originate from a range of environmental sources. Improving water quality is a shared challenge and progress will only come through coordinated action across sectors. Factors such as rural land use, urban runoff, industry, soil erosion, illegal misconnections and private septic systems all play a part.”

The company added it is investing more than £2.3 million a day to improve its services, including £2.5 billion between 2025 and 2030 on environmental improvements across Wales. NRW said it is actively investigating the reason for the drop in water quality, but no cause has yet been determined.

Owen Derbyshire, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said the news was disappointing and described Tenby North as “an important local beauty spot and key tourist attraction.” He said the organisation was committed to working with authorities to help restore the beach’s water quality and regain its Blue Flag standing.

The area’s recent pollution history adds to the concern. In July 2024, Welsh Water reported a burst rising main near Tenby that sent sewage into the River Ritec, prompting NRW to declare an “abnormal situation” at Tenby South Beach, Castle Beach, North Beach and Penally Beach. Public warning signs were erected before being lifted after repairs and testing.

Tufnell said he would be speaking at the Broad Haven Paddle Out Protest on Saturday — part of a national day of action by Surfers Against Sewage across more than 50 locations — and said he would continue doing everything within his power to hold Welsh Water to account.

Tenby Castle Beach and South Beach have both retained their Blue Flag status in the 2026 awards — Castle Beach having held the award for an impressive 25 consecutive years — making the loss of North Beach’s flag all the more stark.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

SWANSEA: Four of Swansea’s beaches once again fly the Blue Flag — as the city’s marina picks up the award too
Caswell, Langland, Port Eynon and Swansea Marina all retain their Blue Flag status in 2026.

GOWER: Protesters to rally at Caswell Bay this Saturday as data reveals Welsh Water’s worst decade for pollution
Surfers Against Sewage mobilise across Wales this weekend as Welsh Water’s pollution record comes under scrutiny.

Welsh Water told to pay £45m for ‘unacceptable’ sewage failures
Ofwat found serious and unacceptable breaches in Welsh Water’s sewage operations.

PORT TALBOT: Aberavon beach wins prestigious Seaside Award
The only beach in Neath Port Talbot to be recognised in the 2026 Wales Coast Awards.

TGJONES: Seven south-west Wales stores at risk as chain announces 150 closures

Seven TGJones stores across south-west Wales are facing the chop.

Up to 150 stores nationwide are set to close under a major restructuring plan announced by the chain’s owner – with hundreds of jobs at risk.

The stores affected by the decision include some of the most familiar names on south-west Wales high streets:

• The Quadrant Shopping Centre, Swansea
• Wind Street, Neath
• Parc Trostre Retail Park, Llanelli
• The Rhiw, Bridgend
• Guildhall Square, Carmarthen
• High Street, Tenby
• Riverside Quay, Haverfordwest

It has not yet been confirmed which individual stores will close.

But the announcement leaves staff at all seven branches facing a nervous wait.

The chain – formerly WHSmith – operates 480 high street stores nationally, with 26 of them in Wales.

Private equity owner Modella Capital said the restructuring was an “essential part” of the company’s turnaround plan.

The firm bought the WHSmith high street business in March 2025 – a £40 million deal that did not include the WHSmith brand itself.

Stores were quickly rebranded under the new TGJones name – a name with no prior public recognition.

Modella Capital is now blaming that “forced” rebrand for damaging consumer awareness.

A spokesperson said the decision to close stores had not been taken lightly.

“While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers,” they said.

The company also blamed rising operating costs “as a direct result of government policy” and recent “geopolitical events.”

“The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come,” the spokesperson added.

Modella Capital said no final decisions had yet been made about the impact on staff, and the company was aiming to preserve “as many jobs as possible.”

“We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles,” the spokesperson said.

The TGJones restructure comes hot on the heels of another high-profile Modella Capital collapse.

The private equity firm shut all 154 UK and Ireland Claire’s stores last month – putting around 1,300 staff out of work.

Modella Capital placed Claire’s into administration after what it called an “alarmingly” low Christmas trading period.

It has now committed more than £35 million for the TGJones restructuring effort.

For Swansea shoppers, the timing is grim.

The Quadrant store sits within a shopping centre already undergoing significant change. The Quadrant’s former Debenhams anchor unit was bought by Swansea Council after the chain’s collapse, stripped out, and recently sold to the centre’s new owners Centurion Group, with three major new tenants expected to be confirmed.

And Swansea’s flagship Marks & Spencer store on Oxford Street is due to close on 30 May – meaning the city centre will lose yet another major retailer in the same month TGJones announces its restructuring.

The Carmarthen store on Guildhall Square is similarly prominent in the town’s main retail area, while the Neath, Llanelli, Bridgend, Tenby and Haverfordwest branches all anchor parts of their respective high streets.

The full list of which TGJones stores will close is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

TENBY: Eleven arrests after station stabbing — as police officially debunk spiking rumours

Eleven people have been arrested over last month’s violent incident at Tenby railway station – as British Transport Police moved to officially debunk claims of an alleged spiking that had been spreading on social media.

The arrests come nearly a month after one of the most serious incidents of youth violence seen in Pembrokeshire in recent years – an evening that shocked the resort town and sparked weeks of community anger, political pressure and an ongoing police investigation.

Officers were called to Tenby station at 9.50pm on 7 April following reports of a large fight involving a group of youths.

Four teenagers were stabbed during the disorder.

All four were taken to hospital for treatment. Thankfully their injuries were not serious and all were later discharged.

The Carmarthen to Pembroke Dock line was closed in the immediate aftermath as police secured the scene.

Two people were arrested at the station that night by Dyfed-Powys Police – a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man. A further nine have since been arrested in connection with the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Davies, of British Transport Police, confirmed all 11 arrested are aged between 13 and 19 – and all are local to the Tenby and Pembroke Dock area.

They have been arrested for offences including Grievous Bodily Harm and Violent Disorder and are currently on police bail pending further enquiries.

On the spiking rumours, DCI Davies was unequivocal. “We know there has been a lot of speculation about the background of the incident online – including discussion about an alleged spiking – and following a number of enquiries we’re now satisfied that there is no truth to any speculation around a spiking incident,” he said.

Officers will be out across the rail network throughout the summer, he added, working alongside Dyfed-Powys Police to reassure the public and prevent disorder. He asked parents and guardians to be mindful of where their children were going and what they were doing.

Councillors had previously described Tenby as having been “let down”, demanding more police on the streets after the stabbing shocked the Pembrokeshire community.

A joint crackdown involving police, the council and rail bosses followed, with five initial arrests made early in the investigation.

Dyfed-Powys Police Superintendent Louise Harries said the force had listened to community concerns and acted. The annual summer enforcement plans were brought forward, and Operation Lion – the targeted approach to tackling antisocial behaviour and violence across Pembrokeshire – was launched this bank holiday weekend as a direct response.

“Pembrokeshire is a wonderful location for residents and visitors to spend their time over the summer months,” she said, “and we are doing all we can to ensure that it is as safe as possible.”

Anyone who sees something concerning at a railway station is asked to text British Transport Police on 61016 or speak to a police officer or a member of railway staff.

Our Tenby coverage

Four teens stabbed at Tenby railway station as two arrested and line closed
Our original report on the night of the incident.

Five arrested as police, council and rail bosses launch joint crackdown
The initial response from authorities following the stabbing.

‘Tenby has been let down’ — councillors demand more police on streets
Community fury and political reaction to the incident.

Police launch summer crackdown as bank holiday crowds head to Pembrokeshire
Operation Lion and the broader summer policing plan.

TENBY: Police launch summer crackdown on antisocial behaviour as bank holiday crowds head to Pembrokeshire

Dyfed-Powys Police has launched its annual summer operation targeting antisocial behaviour and violence in Tenby and Saundersfoot – just as thousands of bank holiday visitors prepare to descend on Pembrokeshire this weekend.

Operation Lion, which sees Dyfed-Powys Police work in partnership with British Transport Police, Transport for Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council, launched ahead of the early May bank holiday and will continue throughout the summer months. Additional police resources from Neighbourhood Policing, Prevention Teams and Response policing will be dedicated to key locations every weekend to deter crime and disorder.

The operation comes just weeks after four teenagers were stabbed at Tenby railway station on 7 April 2026, sending shockwaves through the town and sparking urgent calls for a stronger police presence. Councillors said Tenby had been “let down” and a joint crackdown involving police, the council and rail bosses followed shortly after.

Superintendent Louise Harries, BCU Commander for Pembrokeshire, said the force had listened to community concerns and acted early this year. “We have recognised that the increased demand started earlier this year. We have listened to the concerns from our communities, and have responded by bringing forward our policing and engagement plans,” she said.

She added that the operation aimed to make Tenby safe for everyone. “We want to ensure that everyone – residents and tourists alike – can enjoy the area and the events we host here safely, and Op Lion plays a very important role in this. Over the next few months, members of the public can expect to see a visible police presence in our busiest areas.”

The summer ahead is expected to be particularly busy for Tenby, with the town hosting a string of major events including Carten, the DGR Motorcycle Ride, the TSC sailing regatta and Firefly Championships, Long Course Weekend, Summer Spectacular and IronMan Wales – together attracting thousands of tourists, holidaymakers and athletes.

Pembrokeshire County Council Assistant Chief Executive Richard Brown said the county remained a safe and welcoming destination. “Pembrokeshire and Tenby continue to be safe, friendly and welcoming destinations, where many thousands of people come each year to relax, explore and enjoy everything our stunning county has to offer,” he said. “The overwhelming majority of visitors do so responsibly and respectfully.”

He added that Op Lion provided vital reassurance. “We’re pleased to see the return of Op Lion in Tenby, alongside increased police visibility and patrols across the county. These measures are about reassurance, supporting residents, businesses, and visitors alike.”

British Transport Police T/Superintendent Jonathan Cooze said rail passengers would see officers across the network throughout the summer. “Anyone travelling to and from Tenby over the summer will see officers out across the rail network, working alongside Dyfed-Powys Police and partners to provide a visible presence, reassure the public and help prevent disorder,” he said.

Transport for Wales Security Manager Simon Turton said additional security had been put in place on trains and at stations between Pembroke Dock and Carmarthen. “Tenby is a great place for a holiday or day out and we want everyone visiting the town by train to be able to do so safely,” he said. “All our trains have high quality CCTV and our on board teams will be wearing body worn cameras.”

Harries said Op Lion covered the whole of Pembrokeshire, not just Tenby and Saundersfoot. “While Op Lion is our operation name relating to police and partner work in Tenby and Saundersfoot specifically, residents across Pembrokeshire can be reassured that increased visibility and patrols will be county-wide.”

Anyone wishing to report a concern to Dyfed-Powys Police can call 101, report online at dyfed-powys.police.uk, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always call 999.

Our Tenby coverage

Tenby: Four teens stabbed at railway station as two arrested and line closed
The incident on 7 April 2026 that shocked Pembrokeshire and led to calls for tougher action.

Tenby: Tenby has been let down – councillors demand more police as stabbing sparks fury
Community anger and political pressure in the aftermath of the station stabbing.

Tenby: Five arrested as police, council and rail bosses launch joint crackdown
The crackdown that followed the stabbing in April 2026.

@brettspiele Gestern kam es nun endlich an #Tenby . Aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Eine klare Empfehlung.

#brettspiele

@brettspiele Gestern kam es nun endlich an #Tenby . Aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Eine klare Empfehlung.

#brettspiele

@brettspiele Gestern kam es nun endlich an #Tenby . Aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Eine klare Empfehlung.

#brettspiele

@brettspiele Gestern kam es nun endlich an #Tenby . Aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Eine klare Empfehlung.

#brettspiele

@brettspiele Gestern kam es nun endlich an #Tenby . Aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt. Eine klare Empfehlung.

#brettspiele

What’s on in and around Tenby for the next month.

Make a note of these events and activities happening soon so you don’t miss out. Remember to let me know if you are aware of any events that I don’t have on here. Thanks!

The Tenby Project

The Tenby Project is run by and for adults with learning disabilities. They meet at Augustus Place Community Hall and run a coffee morning every Monday except bank holidays which everyone is welcome to attend.

There are different activities each afternoon, that people are also welcome to come along and join if they would like to.

SaveEasy Credit Union

The SaveEasy Credit is at Tenby Town council office in the front of the De Valence every Monday from 10 to 12 except Bank Holidays.

SaveEasy Credit Union was founded in 1998 with the aim of helping people save and borrow at an affordable rate. They are here to help their members to afford their lives – not to make profit out of them.

You can pay in and take out cash in the Town Council office when they are here on Mondays and organise a loan too! Very handy…

​

Tenby Flea Market

Tenby Flea Market takes place every Tuesday in the foyer of the De Valence – who know what you might find!

Tenby Male Choir

Tenby Male Choir are a friendly, inclusive choir and always welcome new faces. Don’t worry if you’ve not sung in a choir before, or can’t read music or Welsh. If you can sing in tune, their training and rehearsals will enable you to play a useful part in Tenby Male Choir.

So don’t just sing in the shower, Contact their Secretary on [email protected] , and he’ll arrange for you to come along and listen to them in rehearsal.

Lifeskills Class

The free Life Skills Class will be on Wednesdays from 2 to 4pm in Greenhill Community Learning Centre, in the same building as the library. Anyone with additional learning needs is welcome to come along – there is a new topic every half term – the topic until Easter is plants and gardening and after the Easter break, the class starts on Wednesday April 15th looking at Democracy.

Tenby Friendship Club

Tenby Friendship club meets every Wednesday except during school holidays from 2 till 4pm in Augustus Place Community Hall for a speaker or some music or a social meeting, and of course, tea/ coffee and biscuits. It is £3 per week, and new members are welcome. For more information see Ann Elms on 01834 849158.  Activities in April include a trip to the Gwili Railway, Qigong, the story of Stella’s pilgrimage and a social get together.

Tenby Painting Group

Tenby Art Group is on every Thursday from 10.30 to 12.30 at Augustus Place Community Hall. Everyone is welcome, you can draw or paint as you please. It is £10 per month including tea and biscuits.

Tenby Craft Fair

The Craft Fair once again in the foyer of the De Valence every Thursday for the summer.

Friday Social Club

As the cooking demonstrations have ended for the summer, there is a chance to continue to get together for tea or coffee and a chat, and maybe a bit of art and craft, every other Friday between 11.30 and 12.30 in Augustus Place Community Hall. There will also be regular visits from Pembrokeshire Community Learning Borrow a Book service. The first one is on Friday April 17th April.

Tenby Jazz at the Clarence

On the 19th April, you can enjoy jazz from the Messore Thorne Jones Trio with a 2 course lunch for £30 at The Clarence Hotel. Booking ahead required on 01834 844371.

Business Wales Drop In

Jemma from Business Wales will be at Tenby Town Council office in the De Valence in Upper Frog St on Tuesday 21st April between 10am and 1pm for any questions about starting or running a business.

South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network Meeting

The South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network (SEPCHN) is an informal, open forum consisting of local residents, councillors, and health providers dedicated to improving local health services and communication with health bodies. It focuses on campaigning for more services in the Tenby area and meets regularly to discuss local health and social care needs. 

The next meeting is on Wednesday 22nd April at 4pm in New Hedges Village Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Citizens Advice Bureau Drop in.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau holds a drop in session once a month in Tenby Town Council office. The next one is on Thursday 23rd April and 7th May from 10am to 1pm.

Police Drop In

Come to Tenby Town Council Office to chat to your local PCSO on Friday 24th April between 10.30 and 11.30.

Tenby Nearly May Fair

This year , the location for this is changing – we will be in St Mary’s Church House and grounds on Saturday April 25th. At the moment, we are looking for people who would like to have a craft, produce or vintage stall , or a fundraising / information stall in Church House. Please get in touch! Also, we are looking for people who might want to have a go at Maypole Dancing – we have the May Pole and an instruction book!

Kevin and Perry Go Large

Yes you saw that right … To celebrate their 25th year anniversary THE OFFICIAL KEVIN & PERRY Come to Tenby for one night only – Saturday 25th April at the De Valence Pavilion. Tickets from https://www.gigantic.com

Curry and Quiz Night

On Monday 27th April, Tenby Inner Wheel are having a curry and quiz night at the New Overlander, Penally in aid of Paul Sartori. It starts at 7pm and is £12.50 person which includes curry, rice and a quiz.

Films4Tenby present ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’

Films4Tenby present ‘The Ballad of Wallis Island’ at the De Valence Pavilion on Tuesday 28th April at 7pm.

It will be downstairs at the De Valence Pavilion, and entrance is £5 or £4 if you are a member of Films4Tenby. You can also have a 2 course pre-screening meal for £13 at the Fuchsia Cafe – please book this direct with them.

Tenby Edible Garden

Head for Tenby Edible Garden next to Tenby Bowling Club to have a chat to an experienced gardener and maybe see how you could help look after the Edible Garden, your own garden, or a bit of public garden in Tenby Thursday 30th April and 14th May between 10am and 11.30 pm.

Tenby Scooter Rally

Over the first May Bank Holiday, the Welsh National Scooter Rally will be in town!

Saturday Salvage Squad

Have fun on your own or with your kids and help them to enjoy being creative with recycling.

This is on the second Saturday of each month, so on Saturday May 9th from 1pm to 2pm in Augustus Place Community Hall and then on May 9th.

Kids welcome with their grown up!

Tenby Repair Cafe

The Repair Cafe will be on May 9th at Augustus Place Community Hall between 2 and 4pm.

CarTen

The Cardiff to Tenby Bike Ride will take place this year on Saturday May 9th.

Films4Tenby presents ‘The Choral’

The Choral is a 2025 British historical drama film co-produced and directed by Nicholas Hytner and written by Alan Bennett. Set in 1916, during World War I, in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire, the film follows the members of the local choral society which recruits a disparate group of townspeople for a performance of Edward Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, a work chosen because it was not written by a German. It stars Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam, Mark Addy, Alun Armstrong, Robert Emms, and Simon Russell Beale.

It will be on at the De Valence Pavilion on Tuesday 12th May at 7pm.

Tenby Town Council Meeting

The next full meeting of Tenby Town Council will be at 7.30 on Tuesday 12th May in the Mayor’s Parlour in the De Valence Pavilion on Upper Frog St. If you would like to come and watch the meeting, you are welcome to come along. If you would like to talk to the Council about something, please tell the Deputy Clerk in advance.

Tenby Civic Society Annual General Meeting

On Saturday 16th May, Tenby Civic Society will hold their Annual General Meeting. It will be in Augustus Place Community Hall at 2pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you are a member of the Civic Society or interested in becoming a member.

Garden Volunteers Meeting

The next meeting for anyone who does or is interested in helping to look after one of the public gardens around Tenby is on Monday May 18th in Tenby Town Council office in the De Valence Pavilion, Upper Frog St.

People Planet Pint

Come along for a chat about all things sustainable and eco-friendly with like-minded folk! Meet at 5pm in the Tap and Tan on Upper Frog St on Thursday May 21st.

Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tenby-small99s-people-planet-pinttm-sustainability-meetup-tickets-1680342783499?fbclid=IwY2xjawPTVSBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFzc2ZmSklwZUd0b2tqdVVic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkbBjZGDH8992V5hMDYRtJ5a6ja5St9CpFfAEwzZj0Cr8YTJI3xvB3x33AL-_aem_560FH5Qf4CmwcWizNanZ3A

Tenby Community Newsletter

Each month I do a print version with events and other news on it. You can download the March issue here.

Tenby Connects

On this website you can find lots of information about projects in Tenby, volunteering opportunities and more. Find it here: http://tenbyconnects.co.uk/

Tenby Town Council

For more information about Tenby Town Council , see http://www.tenbytowncouncil.co.uk

Contact details – Anne Draper. Community Engagement Officer, Tenby Town Council Office, De Valence Pavilion, Upper Frog St, Tenby, 01834 842730, [email protected]

Auf der Messe war #Tenby ausverkauft und es hieß man könne es aber bestellen. Würde im Dezember geliefert.
Im Dezember kam nix. Auf Anfrage hieß es dann Februar. Kam nix. Auf Anfrage neulich hieß es: sollte doch schon da sein.
Dann hieß es, es gäbe wohl Probleme bei einigen Bestellzetteln lesen. Hatte meine Infos nochmal übermittelt, dann hieß es "geht raus".
Wieder eine Woche später: Wo Sendungsnummer?
Habe ich nun. "Warten auf Paket" sagt FedEx nun seit zwei Tagen...

#mightyboard #brettspiele

Auf der Messe war #Tenby ausverkauft und es hieß man könne es aber bestellen. Würde im Dezember geliefert.
Im Dezember kam nix. Auf Anfrage hieß es dann Februar. Kam nix. Auf Anfrage neulich hieß es: sollte doch schon da sein.
Dann hieß es, es gäbe wohl Probleme bei einigen Bestellzetteln lesen. Hatte meine Infos nochmal übermittelt, dann hieß es "geht raus".
Wieder eine Woche später: Wo Sendungsnummer?
Habe ich nun. "Warten auf Paket" sagt FedEx nun seit zwei Tagen...

#mightyboard #brettspiele

Auf der Messe war #Tenby ausverkauft und es hieß man könne es aber bestellen. Würde im Dezember geliefert.
Im Dezember kam nix. Auf Anfrage hieß es dann Februar. Kam nix. Auf Anfrage neulich hieß es: sollte doch schon da sein.
Dann hieß es, es gäbe wohl Probleme bei einigen Bestellzetteln lesen. Hatte meine Infos nochmal übermittelt, dann hieß es "geht raus".
Wieder eine Woche später: Wo Sendungsnummer?
Habe ich nun. "Warten auf Paket" sagt FedEx nun seit zwei Tagen...

#mightyboard #brettspiele

Auf der Messe war #Tenby ausverkauft und es hieß man könne es aber bestellen. Würde im Dezember geliefert.
Im Dezember kam nix. Auf Anfrage hieß es dann Februar. Kam nix. Auf Anfrage neulich hieß es: sollte doch schon da sein.
Dann hieß es, es gäbe wohl Probleme bei einigen Bestellzetteln lesen. Hatte meine Infos nochmal übermittelt, dann hieß es "geht raus".
Wieder eine Woche später: Wo Sendungsnummer?
Habe ich nun. "Warten auf Paket" sagt FedEx nun seit zwei Tagen...

#mightyboard #brettspiele

TENBY: Five arrested as police, council and rail bosses launch joint crackdown after station stabbing shocked Pembrokeshire

Four teenagers were stabbed at Tenby station on the evening of Tuesday 7 April during a large-scale disturbance involving a group of youths on the platform. A 16-year-old and a 19-year-old man were arrested at the time on suspicion of Section 18 assault — the more serious category of wounding offence. Both have since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

British Transport Police, who have primacy over the investigation, arrested a further three teenagers on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and violent disorder on Thursday 9 April. All three were also released on bail. BTP Superintendent Jonathon Cooze said the investigation was “progressing at pace” and urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or the events leading up to it, to come forward. Witnesses can contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 916 of 7th April.

Dyfed-Powys Police Superintendent Louise Harries, BCU Commander for Pembrokeshire, described the events at Tenby station as “wholly unacceptable” and issued a clear warning to potential offenders ahead of the summer season. “Dyfed-Powys is home to some of the most picturesque and welcoming locations that our country has to offer, which our residents are lucky to have on their doorsteps, as well as attracting thousands of tourists all year round,” she said.

“As such, we do not want our spring and summer months to be in any way defined by anti-social behaviour or violent disorder taking place, which understandably causes fear and concern,” Superintendent Harries added.

Over the coming weeks and months, police say that members of the public can expect to see a visible police presence in hotspot locations around Tenby. Dyfed-Powys Police say officers will work closely with British Transport Police, Pembrokeshire County Council and Transport for Wales to provide reassurance to locals, business owners and tourists. Where necessary, arrests and prosecutions will follow for any criminal behaviour.

Officers will also be equipped with a range of powers under anti-social behaviour legislation. These include requiring individuals to provide their details under Section 50 of the Police Reform Act, as well as Sections 34 and 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act — which allows officers to direct people to leave a specific area for up to 48 hours.

Local councillors have already called for more police on the streets, with anger running high in Tenby over what many describe as a pattern of rising youth disorder in the town. Superintendent Harries acknowledged the support of the local community, saying reports received into the control room and conversations officers had while out on foot had been “extremely helpful” in building a picture of how to respond.

“Anyone with concerns should never feel like they cannot contact us for support, no matter how minor they feel the issue is,” she said. “All reports into the force help with building intelligence and an understanding of where we need to allocate our resources. We want your community to be a pleasant environment to spend time in, so please inform us of any concerns.”

Richard Brown, Assistant Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire County Council, said the incident had been “deeply concerning” and that the council’s thoughts were with everyone affected. He acknowledged that incidents of this nature cause “anxiety for residents, businesses, and visitors” and said the council was working closely with police and partners to support the ongoing investigation and address wider issues linked to anti-social behaviour.

Brown called on parents and carers to be particularly aware of where young people are spending time in the evenings. “This is a shared challenge, and effective prevention relies on early reporting, strong partnership working and timely intervention,” he said.

Transport for Wales has announced additional security teams will be deployed at stations and on board rail services across west Wales this weekend and throughout the summer. The extra presence will focus in particular on late night services and key locations across the network, supported by CCTV at stations and body-worn cameras worn by train crew.

Security Manager Simon Turton said incidents of serious anti-social behaviour were “thankfully uncommon” but that the railway was committed to ensuring customers and colleagues felt safe. “We’ll have additional security at stations and on-board services, with a particular focus on late night services and key locations across our network,” he said.

Tenby is one of Pembrokeshire’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing tens of thousands of visitors during the Easter and summer seasons. The incident — which took place during the Easter holiday period, when the town is at its busiest — prompted widespread shock and anger across the county, with residents and business owners raising serious concerns about its impact on the town’s reputation ahead of the peak summer trade.

The disorder at Tenby station is part of a wider picture of concern about youth anti-social behaviour in Pembrokeshire’s coastal towns as warmer months approach and visitor numbers rise. All four of the teenagers injured in the stabbing sustained non-life-threatening wounds and received medical treatment at the scene and beyond.

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 916 of 7th April. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Four teens stabbed at Tenby railway station as two arrested and line closed
Our original report from the night of the incident.

‘Tenby has been let down’: Councillors demand more police on streets as stabbing sparks fury
The community reaction and the calls for urgent action that followed.

TENBY: “Tenby has been let down” — councillors demand more police on streets as stabbing sparks fury over rising youth disorder

Elected councillors in Tenby have issued an angry call for more visible policing in the town after Tuesday night’s railway station stabbing — with one saying the town has “been let down” and another warning that many residents no longer feel safe in their own community.

Four teenagers aged between 13 and 17, all from the Pembroke area, were stabbed at Tenby railway station on Tuesday evening after serious disorder broke out involving a large group of youths. All four have since been discharged from hospital, with British Transport Police confirming their injuries are not considered life-threatening or life-changing.

A 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and both remain in police custody as the investigation continues.

Superintendent Jon Cooze of British Transport Police said the force had launched a thorough investigation and was keeping an open mind as to the background of what had happened. He thanked Dyfed-Powys Police colleagues for their quick actions at the scene and urged anyone who witnessed the incident or the events leading up to it to come forward.

“We understand the concern an incident of this nature will have caused in the community,” he said, “and while we believe it to be an isolated incident, passengers will notice an increased presence of officers in the area who are there to provide reassurance.”

He also asked the public not to share or speculate on footage circulating online while detectives concentrate on their investigation.

But the stabbing, serious as it is, has proved to be the breaking point in what councillors say has been a worsening pattern of youth disorder in the town — one they say police have repeatedly failed to address.

Reports on social media suggest trouble had been building throughout the day, with large numbers of youths gathering on North Beach. Earlier the same evening, Pembrokeshire County Council was forced to close the public toilets near the multi-storey car park after a gang of youths vandalised them.

One resident described the situation as having become “intolerable for weeks.” They said groups of up to 15 youths had been regularly causing havoc in the multi-storey car park, playing rugby in the road, climbing on bus shelters and screaming — and that police had been called several times without result. “There’s never an officer available in our area,” they said. “It’s not good enough.”

Another resident said hundreds of teenagers had been arriving in Tenby by train from across the county during recent days, vandalising toilets, stealing from local shops and abusing and attacking passers-by. “Transport for Wales and the police should be monitoring it,” they said. “With social media, AI and other systems, this behaviour should have been prevented before it escalated.”

Cllr Williams, county councillor for Tenby’s North ward, said the violence itself was not new — only the use of knives. He told the Tenby Observer he had emailed Dyfed-Powys Police about related concerns approximately three weeks ago and had not received a response. Officers are due to visit him at his home on Thursday, when he said he would be making “a very strong argument for a far more visible police presence in Tenby.”

“Tenby has been let down, despite an ever increasing precept being imposed upon us,” he said. “We have a right to feel safe in our community, and I know many that no longer do so.”

He noted that a CCTV monitoring system once operated from Tenby Police Station but that the station now appears to be closed. He said he would also be discussing the town’s needs with the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, county councillor for Tenby’s South ward, described the stabbings as a shock but said the wider problem of anti-social behaviour was well known. He pointed to Dyfed-Powys Police’s summer Operation Lion initiative — which brings additional officers into the town during the peak tourist season — and said he now believes it needs to be extended to other busy periods such as school holidays.

“We know that an increased police presence is an important part of keeping communities safe,” he said. “I will work with all parties to keep Tenby safe and encourage the police and PCC to do all that they can to ensure that this is a one-off incident.”

Tenby Town Council, speaking through Mayor Cllr Dai Morgan, said the behaviour seen this week does not reflect the town’s values or those of the overwhelming majority of its young people. The council called for more visible policing “particularly during busy periods, to provide reassurance to the community and to act as a deterrent to further incidents,” and said it would continue to work with police, Pembrokeshire County Council and partner agencies on longer-term solutions.

Henry Tufnell, MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, said he was deeply saddened by the events. “My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and families of those involved,” he said. “I know our community will be deeply shocked by these events, but we are all so grateful for the vital services of the emergency first responders on the scene.”

Samuel Kurtz MS, Senedd member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, called for zero tolerance on knife crime. “This kind of violence has no place in our communities and cannot be accepted under any circumstances,” he said. “Those responsible must face the full force of the law. We all deserve to feel safe where we live.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 916 of 07/04/26. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

TENBY: Four teens stabbed at railway station as two arrested and line closed
Our original report on Tuesday night’s stabbing at Tenby railway station.

LLANELLI: Police crack down on North Dock anti-social behaviour hotspot as spring season begins
Officers move to address disorder at a well-known trouble spot as warmer weather arrives.

SWANSEA: Police impose 48-hour dispersal order on city centre after Easter holiday disorder
Officers respond to disorder in Swansea city centre over the Easter break.

TENBY: Four teens stabbed at railway station as two arrested and line closed

Dyfed-Powys Police say they were called to the station at approximately 9.50pm on Tuesday 7 April following reports of a large-scale disturbance.

Officers say that during the incident, an individual was found to be in possession of a knife, resulting in four teens sustaining stab wounds. All four injuries are currently assessed as non-life-threatening, and police say those affected are receiving medical treatment.

A 16-year-old and a 19-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault — the more serious category of wounding offence. Both remain in police custody as an investigation continues.

Social media video filmed at the station and widely circulated overnight showed large numbers of young people involved in disorder on the platform. At least one teen could be heard in the footage saying he had been stabbed.

Officers attended the scene promptly and police say the incident has since been brought under control. The scene is described as secure.

An increased police presence has been put in place in the Tenby area to provide reassurance to residents and visitors.

The railway line between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock has been closed as a result of the incident and is expected to remain shut until approximately 1pm today, Wednesday 8 April. Passengers on that route are being asked to check for service updates before travelling.

The scale of the emergency response was significant, with reports of multiple ambulances and a large number of police vehicles at the scene.

Tenby is a popular tourist destination on the Pembrokeshire coast. The incident — occurring during the Easter holiday period — is likely to cause significant concern among residents and visitors to the area.

In a statement issued shortly after midnight, Dyfed-Powys Police said:

“Dyfed-Powys Police were called to reports of serious disorder involving a group of youths at Tenby train station at approx. 9.50pm this evening.

“During the incident, an individual was in possession of a knife, which resulted in four youths sustaining stab wounds. All injuries are currently assessed as non-life threatening, and those affected are receiving appropriate medical treatment.

“Officers attended the scene promptly, and a 16-year-old youth and a 19-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault. They are in police custody and an investigation is underway.

“The incident has been brought under control and the scene is secure.

“We understand an incident of this nature will cause concern, and there will be an increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact British Transport Police online at orlo.uk/sJk9e, by calling 0800 40 50 40, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

https://www.europesays.com/britain/9185/ Four people stabbed outside Tenby train station #Crime #DyfedPowysPolice #Tenby #UK #UnitedKingdom

https://www.europesays.com/uk/879327/ Boy, 16, arrested after four stabbed near Tenby railway station #Britain #Crime #DyfedPowysPolice #GreatBritain #Tenby #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales

A Peep at Goscar North Sands, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, 1950 - ETW Dennis Postcard

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A Peep at Goscar North Sands, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, 1950 - ETW Dennis Postcard

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A Peep at Goscar North Sands, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, 1950 - ETW Dennis Postcard

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A Peep at Goscar North Sands, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, 1950 - ETW Dennis Postcard

https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/a-peep-at-goscar-north-sands-tenby-pembrokeshire-1950-etw-dennis-postcard-243273524.htm

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A Peep at Goscar North Sands, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, 1950 - ETW Dennis Postcard

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A Queen Victoria Reproduction Penfold Pillar Box in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. View it here: https://postboxmap.co.uk/postbox/69af2e06ff8ccdf8f2308098 #PostboxMap #UKPostboxes #Postbox #QueenVictoria #PillarBox #ReproductionPenfold #StandardRed #Tenby

Bright orange octopus found on busy Welsh beach

An eyewitness who took the images said the creature changed colour before sinking into the sand The octopus…
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Did a #SlowWays walk today: NarTen One (Narberth ➡️ Tenby, Pembrokeshire).
Flooding meant a detour, but the scenery was gorgeous and the walk thoroughly enjoyable.

Slow Ways is a brilliant initiative—helping walkers feel confident that routes are safe, accessible, and worth exploring.

Why not take it slow yourself and try a route?

#Walking #Pembrokeshire #NarTen #Wales #Cymru #Cerdded #Tenby #Narberth #DinbychYPysgod #Arberth.

Did a #SlowWays walk today: NarTen One (Narberth ➡️ Tenby, Pembrokeshire).
Flooding meant a detour, but the scenery was gorgeous and the walk thoroughly enjoyable.

Slow Ways is a brilliant initiative—helping walkers feel confident that routes are safe, accessible, and worth exploring.

Why not take it slow yourself and try a route?

#Walking #Pembrokeshire #NarTen #Wales #Cymru #Cerdded #Tenby #Narberth #DinbychYPysgod #Arberth.

Did a #SlowWays walk today: NarTen One (Narberth ➡️ Tenby, Pembrokeshire).
Flooding meant a detour, but the scenery was gorgeous and the walk thoroughly enjoyable.

Slow Ways is a brilliant initiative—helping walkers feel confident that routes are safe, accessible, and worth exploring.

Why not take it slow yourself and try a route?

#Walking #Pembrokeshire #NarTen #Wales #Cymru #Cerdded #Tenby #Narberth #DinbychYPysgod #Arberth.