A call to build a traditional Chinese house structure to bring a feel “of Asia to Pembrokeshire” at an award-winning restaurant and hotel has been submitted to planners.

In an application submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council, Lok Cheung of Cheung & Family Ltd, is seeking permission for the erection of an Asian style ‘pergoda’/garden building, and associated works, at the former Woodridge Inn, Wooden, near Saundersfoot.

The former Woodridge Inn is now home to acclaimed restaurant, Lokky’s and the Imperial Dragon Hotel; Lok and Jen Cheung’s family business the long-established Dragon Palace restaurant in nearby Pentlepoir.

Lokky’s itself won Best Restaurant in Wales at the Golden Chopsticks Awards back in 2022.

A supporting statement accompanying the application says: “At the moment the land is being used a just garden/ lawned area, with an old children’s ‘play area’ at one end. The hotel currently has many old unused ‘pub’-style picnic benches positioned around the lawned/grass.

“The area proposed to have this new structure is, at this moment in time, unused/dead land. So, the intention is to utilise this space and bring it back to life. The new structure, that will be positioned within an incredibly neat designed landscaped gardens and is to be built in the theme, that transcends throughout the owners’ other companies.

“There is a heavy Asian theme that runs through the restaurants within the group. We are proposing to build an Asian style ‘pergoda’/garden building, situated right in the middle of beautiful, serene, landscaped gardens – with lighting within and around the outside, so guests/customers can go and have drinks and food out there.”

It says the proposed timber building “will have the appearance of a traditional Chinese house,” and will be “vaulted to give the impression of space/volume – as per the style of Chinese construction”.

“The building will be set 400mm above the surrounding landscaping – this gives the impression of a strong construction in Chinese culture and the whole reason for this project is bring an element of Asia to Pembrokeshire – all as per the hotel and on-site pan-Asian restaurant ‘Lokky’s’.

A scheme for a ‘pergoda’ outdoor Chinese-style house at Lokky’s and the Imperial Dragon Hotel, Wooden has been submitted to county planners. Picture: Lok Cheung
A scheme for a ‘pergoda’ outdoor Chinese-style house at Lokky’s and the Imperial Dragon Hotel, Wooden has been submitted to county planners. (Pic: Lok Cheung)

“This a lawned area of which is only used by hotel guests who have brought their doggie with them, and the odd guest takes their pooch a little walk, to stretch their legs and do their business. The lawns are frequently mowed/ maintained.

“There is currently a circular track that used to have a children’s play area within and around this. I’m led to believe that this was a track for kiddie’s scooter type vehicles, to travel around the track on. The concrete track has a perimeter of half-buried car tyres.

“The old play area is not being used for anything and lies there both dormant and ugly. Just in front of this circular ‘track’ is the perfect location for our proposed building. Therefore, the back section of the ‘circle’ will be the path, that goes all around the new building.”

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The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.