Councillors in Saundersfoot continue to oppose plans to turn the harbour’s coastal schooner into a rum themed bar.

Members of Saundersfoot Community Council recently discussed the plans [Reference: NP/25/0137/FUL) for a change of use from interpretation centre to mixed use interpretation centre with a rum themed bar (class A3), outlining their objections to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, as to why they felt the location was not the right location for another licensed premises for the seaside village.

At their most recent meeting in June, councillors met with applicant Jonathan Thomas who spoke in support of his application and to answer any questions from Councillors.

He stressed that his intention was to create a family-friendly venue and not to create a place that would attract stag/hen parties. He said he was thinking of changing the layout, and also possibly having an additional bar upstairs so there would be supervision of the top deck. He also stated that his preferred option was to not serve alcohol until at least 12noon when food was served.

The Chief Executive of the Harbour, Nicola Gandy then spoke to explain the Schooner had been available for tours since 2023, for approximately 5+ days a week depending on the season, as a pay on entry interpretation centre, but had never been able to attract sufficient footfall to make it viable.

The Harbour had therefore come to the conclusion that a change of use had to be explored. Applications from other potential tenants had been turned down because they had been likely to cause unacceptable disruption in this sensitive village location.

She stressed that she had looked in detail at the applicant’s business plan and that as landlord the lease would enable the Harbour to intervene if the proposal caused disruption.

When it came back to councillors to go over the plans once again in private, there was discussion that the applicant’s presentation had suggested that there might be changes to the proposed layout, which might address some of the Community Council’s concerns regarding Health and Safety, but the Chair, Cllr Alec Cormack reminded Councillors that they could only consider the documents before them. If there were later amendments then the Council could reconsider its position.

Following the presentation by the Harbour, Councillors said they had a better understanding that it was necessary for there to be a different use of the Schooner, but still the description of rum bar seemed at odds with the family venue and heritage elements of the proposal.

The fact that the Harbour would retain some control over the use of the site via the lease was welcomed - but there was concern that this would depend on the wording of the lease.

While the Council now better understood both the Harbour’s need to repurpose the schooner and the applicant’s intention to create a family-friendly attraction, the overall objection to the proposal was maintained.

It was unanimously resolved to maintain the objection to the proposal expressed at the May Council meeting.