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PEMBROKE CASTLE TRUST

Registered charity 257729 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The charitable trust owns and maintains a substantially restored medieval castle. This facility which is open to the public all year round includes a gift shop, heraldry centre and a cafe. Various daytime and evening events take place, particularly during the summer months. Regular guided tours are offered during the summer as well as pre-booked tours which are popular with school groups

Causes: Education/training · Arts/culture/heritage/science · Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£1.5m
Latest spending
£1.3m
Registered
1969
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity generated a net income of £202,259 for the year ended 31 January 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £1,072,788. The trustees report that free reserves amount to £822,788, which they consider sufficient to continue as a going concern for at least the next twelve months.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: set aside £250,000 in a "contingency fund" for possible emergency repair work (held: £823k)
“The Trustees have carefully reviewed the Trusts reserve policy and following the advice of an independent financial adviser have set aside £250,000 in a "contingency fund" for possible emergency repair work.” — page 4
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee K Nicholas owns K&K Insurance, which provided insurance services to the charity.
“During the year the Castle purchased insurances totalling £3,125 (£2,952 2024) via K&K Insurance, a business owned by Mr K Nicholas (trustee). All transactions were carried out at fair market rate and at arms length.” — page 24
“Pembroke Castle Shop Limited owes Pembroke Castle Trust of 3rd February 1959 a balance of £210,484 in relation to money loaned or expenses paid by the Trust on behalf of the Shop.” — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The charity loaned money to its trading subsidiary, Pembroke Castle Shop Limited.
“During the year the Castle purchased insurances totalling £3,125 (£2,952 2024) via K&K Insurance, a business owned by Mr K Nicholas (trustee). All transactions were carried out at fair market rate and at arms length.” — page 24
“Pembroke Castle Shop Limited owes Pembroke Castle Trust of 3rd February 1959 a balance of £210,484 in relation to money loaned or expenses paid by the Trust on behalf of the Shop.” — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Pembroke Castle Shop Limited
“Pembroke Castle Shop Limited (registered in England and Wales company number 04911799) is a company limited by shares.” — page 25
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Bevan Buckland LLP. Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/01/2025)

Total income
£1.5m
Total spending
£1.3m
Cost of raising funds
£21k
Reserves (reported)
£990k
Employees
39

Reported reserves equal ~9.2 months of spending — above the median for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (50% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 1.4% of total income — below the median for charities its size (5.2%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Pembrokeshire

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/01/2025£1.5m£1.3m
31/01/2024£1.5m£1.3m
31/01/2023£1.3m£1.4m
31/10/2021£615k£414k
31/10/2020£397k£489k

Common questions

Is PEMBROKE CASTLE TRUST financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity generated a net income of £202,259 for the year ended 31 January 2025, resulting in total unrestricted reserves of £1,072,788. The trustees report that free reserves amount to £822,788, which they consider sufficient to continue as a going concern for at least the next twelve months. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Bevan Buckland LLP.

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

FunderSimilar charities fundedAmount to them
LEMPRIERE PRINGLE 20151£7.5m
NATIONAL ART COLLECTIONS FUND1£325k
THE ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION1£300k
THE KIRBY LAING FOUNDATION1£135k
THE CATHERINE COOKSON CHARITABLE TRUST1£100k
ROCKCLIFFE CHARITABLE TRUST1£21k
THE FINNIS SCOTT FOUNDATION1£6k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with ARUNDEL CASTLE TRUSTEES LIMITED.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
PEMBROKE CASTLE TRUST£1.5m—0above—no doubt
ARUNDEL CASTLE TRUSTEES LIMITED FY2024£5.7m——unclear—no doubt
CASTLE PARK TRUST FY2025£164k—0above—no doubt
THE CAISTER CASTLE TRUST FY2024£909k—0unclear—no doubt
SNODHILL CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST FY2025£110k—0above—no doubt
The Auckland Project FY2025£14.5m£160,001 - £170,000—unclear—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.