The Port of Milford Haven has today (28th May) announced that it has completed on the purchase of St Brides Spa Hotel, in Saundersfoot – one of Pembrokeshire’s most prestige hotels.

The investment includes a management agreement with The Celtic Collection to manage and operate the hotel on the Port’s behalf. Together with Ty Hotel Milford Waterfront, this adds another quality offering to the Port’s hospitality and tourism portfolio and strengthens the range of profitable investments linked to its diversification strategy.

For over ten years, the Port has been actively pursuing a strategic objective to reduce its dependency on the oil and gas sector and seek out additional revenue streams that provide long term, stable, financial resilience for the business.

Tom Sawyer, Chief Executive at the Port of Milford Haven, said: “We are proud to, once again, be partnering with The Celtic Collection to deliver another high-quality hospitality and tourism offer in Pembrokeshire. This latest investment in St Brides Spa Hotel allows us, through our partnership, to promote the fantastic coastal community of Saundersfoot and support Visit Pembrokeshire's ambition for the county to become a top 5 UK destination choice.”

“Historically, we have been highly dependent on the oil and gas sector, a commodities market that is prone to fluctuation and outside of our control. But over the last decade, though a diversification strategy focused on developing and building our business based upon high levels of expertise and excellent facilities, we have successfully created new opportunities in port services, renewables and engineering at Pembroke Port, and hospitality and tourism at Milford Waterfront.

“The continuing success and growth of St Brides Spa Hotel brings economic, social and cultural benefits to the whole of Pembrokeshire whilst at the same time strengthening the Port’s financial resilience. This is exactly what our Trust Port status is about: investing profits for the benefit of future generations.

“This investment in no way undermines our ability to invest in our core purpose to operate the UK’s largest energy port safely, effectively and responsibly, which will always remain our primary focus.”
The transition to the new ownership and management will be seamless with no detrimental impact on guests and the jobs of all current St Brides team members safeguarded.

The Celtic Collection Chief Executive Ian Edwards said: “We are excited to be taking on the management of St Brides Spa Hotel and expanding our partnership with the Port of Milford Haven to deliver more exceptional hospitality in Pembrokeshire. St Brides is a very successful business that has established itself as a spa destination of real prestige in a wonderful location. We look forward to working with the hotel’s talented and experienced team of staff and welcoming them into the Celtic Collection family as we seek to build on this strong platform and grow the business further.

“We know all about the beauty and the draw of Pembrokeshire to visitors from all over the world from our experience of the last two years operating and growing the Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront. This is a fantastic opportunity to immerse ourselves further in the Pembrokeshire community, working closely with local suppliers and businesses, and delivering positive impacts for the local economy.”

The Port of Milford Haven worked with Hugh James for legal support during the purchase. Gerallt Jones, Partner and Head of the Corporate/Commercial team, Hugh James commented: "We're thrilled to collaborate again with The Port of Milford Haven to support further investment in the hospitality and tourism sector in South Wales. After supporting the Port on its first hotel investment at Milford Waterfront, we have no doubt that the acquisition of St Brides Spa Hotel, with its iconic infinity pool known around the world, will be equally as successful. We're excited to see the diversification of the Port and the additional benefits its partnership with The Celtic Collection will bring to this stunning coastal area."

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

The Port of Milford Haven is the UK’s top energy port and Wales’ busiest port handling around 20% of Britain’s seaborne trade in oil and gas. It is widely recognised in the industry as the energy capital of the UK.

The Port, along with the cluster of energy-related businesses along the Waterway, is a key driver of economic activity in Pembrokeshire, attracting inward investment and supporting over 4,000 jobs.

The Port of Milford Haven also owns and operates Pembroke Port and Milford Waterfront. Activities such as cargo handling, ferry operations, fish landing and cruise calls as well as a first class marina are spread across these two sites.

One of the most prominent on the West Coast, the Port is in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the only Coastal National Park in Great Britain. It is marked as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and has many areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Port of Milford Haven is a trust port – an independent, commercially run organisation that has statutory responsibilities governed by its Acts, to maintain and improve navigation and the provision of Port and Harbour services and facilities. Additionally, the Port provides significant financial and in-kind support to a wide variety of local causes. All profits are retained within the business to fund these objectives.

For further information, visit www.mhpa.co.uk or contact:
Anna Malloy
Port of Milford Haven
01646 696100
anna.malloy@mhpa.co.uk

About The Celtic Collection:
The Celtic Collection is a prestigious family of experience-focused UK business and leisure destinations. Born from the legacy of the world-renowned Celtic Manor Resort, the group’s flagship destination situated in the beautiful Usk Valley at the gateway to South Wales, the Celtic Collection brings together premium accommodation with exemplary service and world-class facilities.

Celtic Manor Resort is one of Europe’s finest destinations for luxury escapes, family breaks, golfing getaways and business events. Host venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup and the 2014 NATO Summit, the resort is set in more than 2,000 acres of panoramic parkland at the gateway to South Wales and has been voted the UK’s Best Hotel at the Meetings & Incentive Travel Awards for eight of the last nine years.

The Celtic Collection includes the 330-room, five-star Resort Hotel, the historic 19th century Manor House with 70 rooms, the 148-room Coldra Court, the Newbridge on Usk country inn with six rooms, Tŷ Hotel Magor with 129 bedrooms and 10 luxurious Hunter Lodges. The 170-bedroom Parkgate Hotel was opened in Cardiff in Autumn 2021 in partnership with the Welsh Rugby Union, and Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront opened in April 2022 in partnership with the Port of Milford Haven. A third Tŷ Hotel Newport will open in June 2024.

In September 2019, The Celtic Collection opened the new International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) in a joint venture partnership with Welsh Government. ICC Wales can hold more than 5,000 delegates at a time and includes a 4,000 sq m pillar-free main hall, a 1,500-seat auditorium and an additional 15 flexible meeting rooms.

In addition, the Collection includes a choice of nine restaurants, three championship golf courses, exceptional spas and health clubs, adventure golf, treetop high ropes course, fishing and tennis courts.

Media Enquiries:
Paul Williams
PR Manager
The Celtic Collection
T: +44 (0)1633 410288
M: +44 (0)7920 058251
E: paulwilliams@celtic-manor.com