**Proposal for Pirate-Themed Bar in Saundersfoot Faces Likely Rejection**
Plans to transform a prominent visitor centre in Saundersfoot harbour into a pirate and rum-inspired bar appear destined for refusal, following a series of objections from local representatives and residents. The proposal centres around the Coastal Schooner, a building constructed to highlight the village’s rich maritime and coal mining past—a site which has struggled to find a sustainable purpose in recent years.
Jonathan Thomas, the applicant behind the scheme, has sought approval to convert the now-vacant interpretation centre into an establishment featuring a nautical and rum-based theme. If given the green light, the new bar would open its doors from 11am until 11pm, complete with a small-scale rum distillery and stories celebrating local pirate folklore. Yet, despite efforts to fuse commercial viability with the village’s heritage, the project has met considerable resistance.
The initiative is being considered by Pembrokeshire’s planning committee after a councillor exercised their right to call in the application, bypassing the routine officer-led decision process. This unusual step reflects the high level of public interest and the sensitivity surrounding the future of the schooner—a focal point of both the National Events Deck and the wider £10 million Wales Coastal Centre endeavour.
The building itself is architecturally modelled on a traditional schooner, reminiscent of the working vessels that once ferried coal from Saundersfoot’s busy harbour. Since opening in October 2023, it has functioned as both an educational exhibition and an adventure high ropes facility. However, these offerings were discontinued just a year later when financial and practical challenges emerged.
Local representatives voiced significant concerns about the latest proposal. Chris Williams, county councillor for Saundersfoot South, was particularly forthright in his opposition. “Had this kind of enterprise been the original plan for the site, I believe approval would never have been granted,” Williams remarked. He expressed unease that planning rules could be circumvented through a change-of-use application, potentially undermining oversight and setting an unwelcome precedent for the village.
Beyond officialdom, critics argue the transformation would detract from Saundersfoot’s identity as a family-friendly destination and dilute the historical character the schooner was meant to preserve. The community council formally objected, stating the plans do not sit comfortably alongside the centre’s heritage interpretation aims, nor do they chime with the established atmosphere landlords and residents are keen to maintain.
Defending the proposal, supporters suggest the maritime narrative—and the story of rum’s significance to seafaring life—would be firmly woven into the bar’s offerings. A supporting statement accompanying the application compared the concept to ‘The Rum Story’ attraction in Whitehaven Harbour, although on a more modest scale. Advocates insisted the bar would keep the schooner open and accessible, sustaining both its physical upkeep and its original educational purpose.
Despite these assurances, council planning officers assessed the application unfavourably. Their recommendation to refuse cited its location outside the defined retail heart of the village and concerns over the potential impact on local residents’ quality of life. The officer’s report concluded that the introduction of a late-night venue in such a setting could disrupt the amenity of those living nearby and be at odds with regeneration objectives for the area.
Many villagers share a sense of frustration at the complex’s chequered history, with previous initiatives to ensure its commercial sustainability failing to gain momentum. Some blame a lack of meaningful community engagement for the site’s troubles, and hope future projects will put local voices at the forefront of decision making.
The plans, along with their implications for Saundersfoot’s reputation as a welcoming, family-oriented seaside destination, continue to polarise opinion in the village. The forthcoming committee meeting is expected to formalise the refusal, though the debate has ensured that questions about the centre’s future—and the balance between progress and preservation—will linger long after the decision.
As the dust settles, local residents and councillors alike are urging for careful thought before any further changes are made, emphasising the need to respect both the harbour’s working character and the village’s communal spirit. Whether a sustainable solution for the schooner can ever be found remains to be seen.