Latest news with #WilliamMcNamara
Pembrokeshire Herald
17-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Repair works at historic Narberth mill and restaurant
AN APPLICATION to rebuild a weather-damaged riverside wall at a historic Pembrokeshire mill and museum, now a restaurant, has been approved by national park planners. In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners, Bluestone Resorts Ltd sought permission for the replacement of a collapsed riverside retaining wall at the listed Blackpool Mill, Blackpool Bridge, near Narberth. A supporting statement through agent Graham Frecknall Architects said: 'The property of Black Pool Mill is a Grade-II*-protected heritage asset located on the south bank of the Cleddau River at Blackpool Bridge. 'The property was granted formal planning and listed building consent in 2020 to convert the former museum use to a restaurant with ancillary on site facilities and was opened to the public in July 2023. 'In October 2023 after a spell of considerable rainfall and high tides, a large portion of the existing stone faced, riverside retaining wall located immediately adjacent to the main mill building and to the rear gable of the store building collapsed into the Cleddau River. In November 2023 following liaison with conservation and NRW officers, temporary works were installed to limit further collapse and/or erosion of the retaining wall whilst a permanent solution was sought. 'The proposals for the new retaining wall look to re-create the coursed stone façade of the pre-collapsed riverside wall in modern, structural materials, formed and coloured to match the basement stone façade of the main mill building adjacent.' The restaurant opened in 2023 after William McNamara, CEO of Bluestone National Park Resort, received permission to restore the mill in 2020. A total of £3 million was spent on preserving, restoring, and transforming the Georgian building and its grounds. The 210-year-old mill had been renovated and rebuilt by skilled craftspeople and engineers who have taken care to preserve its historical character. They installed 53 traditional sash windows that match the classic Georgian architecture, as well as custom-made staircases. The original milling equipment, including the connecting rods and braces, was also restored to reflect the mill's industrial history. The restaurant created 35 new jobs both front and back of house. An officer report for the latest application, recommending approval, said: 'The wall is to be built of pre-cast 'Redi-roc' to a traditional batter, the outer facing giving the appearance of coursed rock-faced masonry, the colour to match the masonry of the mill. The wall will be underpinned by a reinforced concrete foundation on bed rock.' Detailing the mill itself, the report said: 'Blackpool Mill, listed Grade II* is a rare and complete survival of a Late Georgian former corn mill, a tall and imposing symmetrical winged group, on the upper tidal reaches of the Eastern Cleddau,' adding: 'The site is of archaeological importance, being the site of an iron forge, established in 1760, ceasing production in 1806.' The latest application, and a related listed building application, was conditionally approved by national park planners.
Western Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Repair works at historic Narberth mill and restaurant
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners, Bluestone Resorts Ltd sought permission for the replacement of a collapsed riverside retaining wall at the listed Blackpool Mill, Blackpool Bridge, near Narberth. A supporting statement through agent Graham Frecknall Architects said: 'The property of Black Pool Mill is a Grade-II*-protected heritage asset located on the south bank of the Cleddau River at Blackpool Bridge. 'The property was granted formal planning and listed building consent in 2020 to convert the former museum use to a restaurant with ancillary on site facilities and was opened to the public in July 2023. 'In October 2023 after a spell of considerable rainfall and high tides, a large portion of the existing stone faced, riverside retaining wall located immediately adjacent to the main mill building and to the rear gable of the store building collapsed into the Cleddau River. In November 2023 following liaison with conservation and NRW officers, temporary works were installed to limit further collapse and/or erosion of the retaining wall whilst a permanent solution was sought. 'The proposals for the new retaining wall look to re-create the coursed stone façade of the pre-collapsed riverside wall in modern, structural materials, formed and coloured to match the basement stone façade of the main mill building adjacent.' The restaurant opened in 2023 after William McNamara, CEO of Bluestone National Park Resort, received permission to restore the mill in 2020. A total of £3 million was spent on preserving, restoring, and transforming the Georgian building and its grounds. The 210-year-old mill had been renovated and rebuilt by skilled craftspeople and engineers who have taken care to preserve its historical character. They installed 53 traditional sash windows that match the classic Georgian architecture, as well as custom-made staircases. The original milling equipment, including the connecting rods and braces, was also restored to reflect the mill's industrial history. The restaurant created 35 new jobs both front and back of house. An officer report for the latest application, recommending approval, said: 'The wall is to be built of pre-cast 'Redi-roc' to a traditional batter, the outer facing giving the appearance of coursed rock-faced masonry, the colour to match the masonry of the mill. The wall will be underpinned by a reinforced concrete foundation on bed rock.' Detailing the mill itself, the report said: 'Blackpool Mill, listed Grade II* is a rare and complete survival of a Late Georgian former corn mill, a tall and imposing symmetrical winged group, on the upper tidal reaches of the Eastern Cleddau,' adding: 'The site is of archaeological importance, being the site of an iron forge, established in 1760, ceasing production in 1806.' The latest application, and a related listed building application, was conditionally approved by national park planners.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rollercoaster ups and downs of closed theme park adored by generations
They say life can be like a rollercoaster, but for Richard Drummond and his family, it is a ride that has lasted for three generations. Richard, his dad and his two sons have all worked at Oakwood Theme Park, in Pembrokeshire, over the last 30 years. But on Tuesday, Wales' largest theme park announced it was shutting down with immediate effect due to a drop in visitor numbers. It has left Richard, and thrill-seekers around the world, wondering what comes next for the once-great attraction. More Welsh attractions 'at risk' as Oakwood shuts Wales' largest theme park shuts down after 40 years Watch: A ride on Oakwood's main attraction Richard, 48, from Pembroke Dock, joined Oakwood in 1995 at a time when they employed about 400 seasonal staff each year. "I was 18 or 19 and met lots of people from all over. You met all these people that you had never met before," he said. The park, which opened in 1987, was originally owned by William McNamara - a Pembrokeshire farmer diversifying into the leisure industry. "You would see the directors walking around the park. Their kids worked there as well. The owners were willing to get their hands dirty," Richard added. Richard witnessed the birth of the world-renowned rollercoaster Megafobia in 1996. "I could see this structure slowly going in and I was thinking, I know that's going to be pretty impressive when it's finished," he said. "A lot of us that worked there were the first people to go on it." Mr McNamara went on to create the neighbouring Bluestone holiday resort and sold Oakwood to Spanish leisure giant Aspro in 2008. Richard believes they "underestimated" the task at hand. "It costs a lot of money to replace parts, especially because most of them come from Europe," he said. In 2009 Astro decided to halve the number of full-time employees and Richard was let go after 14 years at Oakwood. Richard's dad, who has worked at the site over the last couple of years, said he believed the park was in decline. "He would tell me we only had so many people in today, or they had to close this ride because they didn't have enough staff," Richard said. Due to a drop in visitor numbers, Oakwood Theme Park owners Aspro Park said "future investment" was "unsustainable" for the attraction. The company added "all possible avenues" had been explored to avoid the closure, and that "unrelenting economic challenges" from electricity costs, ride parts and food and drink inflation, as well as changes to National Insurance thresholds affected the decision. The park's closure has left Richard feeling "emotional", but he plans to have a staff reunion this summer to share the good times they had at the attraction. Justin Garvanovic, founder of the European Coaster Club, remembers the first whispers about a wooden coaster coming to Wales. "I bumped into William McNamara in Blackpool looking at the big dip of a wooden coaster there. I put two and two together immediately," he said. "We would go down every two weeks to see William, and his brother Paddy, to see the ride being built." Justin and his fellow club members loved it so much they decided to host an annual trip at Oakwood - known as the Mega Welsh Weekender. The European Coaster Club celebrated their 25th trip to Oakwood last year as part of their annual get together. A new venue will have be found for the annual pilgrimage, but Justin admitted it will be hard to replace the "special and unique" Oakwood setting. Justin said he "sadly" saw the closure coming after what he described as the park's decline in recent years. "It's a fantastic park, but if you talk to people in England, they don't know it exists," he said. The world has lost "one of the world's best wooden coasters" in Megafobia, according to Justin. He said Pembrokeshire is a "wonderful part of the world", but added Oakwood has been asking the same question for decades. "How do you get all these people to know that this treasure is there?" Korey Kieptfer, from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a rollercoaster designer and engineer who was involved in the refurbishment of Megafobia three years ago. The 50-year-old adores theme parks and even commemorated his wedding day with a rollercoaster ride. "Megafobia is special," he said. "We really felt like we improved it and brought it back to life." It has been a "whirlwind of emotions" for Korey hearing about the park's closure. "Oakwood is magical. It's got a lot of nice trees and it's just out in the open. All of that just adds to the experience," he said. Korey said the park's closure is a result of a "perfect storm" as costs increase both for the park and its visitors. "If you want to go to Oakwood from the big cities, you have to decide that you're going to take that four-hour drive or the train," he said. He added he would "love it" if a new theme park was able to take on some of the rides at Oakwood, including Megafobia. "If I had a million dollars, I would love to just take it and have it as my very own," he said. Nick Hutson is a British composer known for his work in the theme park industry. The 40-year-old has provided music for firework shows, Halloween events and even parties at Oakwood in the past. "It gave some most beautiful views with the sun setting behind Megafobia," he said. "It was a joy to do music for them, and I will miss working for them a lot." Nick's role allowed him to combine his passions as a "self-confessed theme park fan" as well as a musician. He recalls hosting an after-dark event that had a "festival vibe" at the park. "I put together a techno party track," he said. "They had live singers, a paint party and fireworks. It was my favourite time to be at the park." There are concerns among smaller theme park owners in the UK that the industry is struggling. Businesses face extra pressure because of rises to National Insurance payments and wages which could lead to job cuts. Meanwhile energy prices remain high for amusement parks that consume a substantial amount of electricity. The owners of one of the UK's oldest theme parks, Wicksteed Park, in Northamptonshire, has previously said it would struggle to survive without extra funding. Meanwhile Miles Kenchington, mayor of Helston, in Cornwall, said it was "a worrying time" for tourism after the closure last year of a Cornish theme park which opened 48 years ago. Attention now turns to the impact on the local economy and the people employed by Oakwood. They will hope this is not the first domino to fall in a part of the country that relies on a strong tourism sector. A Welsh government spokesperson said it wanted to "work closely" with the Welsh tourism sector to help address the challenges businesses face. "Tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life," it added. Cornish theme park closes after 48 years Peninsula theme park company ordered to close down Seafront amusement park closes after 20 years
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pembrokeshire holiday park celebrates surge in winter staycations
A popular Pembrokeshire holiday park has reported its best-ever January bookings. Bluestone National Park Resort has seen a 15 per cent year-on-year increase in bookings for 2025 since Christmas Day. The park said this is a sign of a staycation boom in 2025. The majority of bookings are from guests choosing to stay longer and coming from further afield. Demand within Wales has seen a significant rise, with nights booked increasing by 35 per cent. The park said this shows Pembrokeshire's rising popularity as a natural alternative to crowded tourist hotspots across the UK. This trend is reflected in recent Mintel data (2024), which shows that 86 per cent of UK staycationers in 2025 are seeking quieter, more peaceful destinations. Significant growth compared to 2024 has come from guests outside Wales, alongside a rise in additional nights booked by visitors from England, with bookings from Bristol and Bath alone growing by 10 per cent. Ireland is also contributing to the resort's growth, with bookings up 10 per cent year-on-year, particularly from Wexford, Dublin, and Cork. Nestled in the Pembrokeshire countryside, Bluestone offers a blend of outdoor adventures, luxury lodges, and proximity to award-winning towns and beaches. William McNamara, CEO of Bluestone, said: "These strong bookings show that more families than ever are choosing Bluestone and west Wales for their UK holiday, and it's fantastic to see such strong demand at what is traditionally a quieter time of year. "Pembrokeshire is becoming a real alternative to busier UK holiday hotspots like Devon and Cornwall, offering some of the country's best beaches, fantastic food and drink, and a wealth of activities for all ages. "It's great to see more visitors travelling from further afield and staying longer to enjoy everything the region has to offer. "At the same time, we're proud that so many of our Welsh guests continue to return year after year, with demand in Wales rising significantly, including a 35 per cent increase in nights booked." In 2024, Bluestone's repeat guest booking rate held strongly at 39 per cent. With demand at an all-time high, guests are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment. Bluestone also offers Mini Adventurer Breaks for families with young children who are able to visit midweek. These include a number of complementary activities, making them the perfect choice for those who can take advantage of off-peak bookings.
