diff --git a/pipeline/transform/transform_poi.py b/pipeline/transform/transform_poi.py
index 157c548..3b1257f 100644
--- a/pipeline/transform/transform_poi.py
+++ b/pipeline/transform/transform_poi.py
@@ -1712,13 +1712,13 @@ def transform(
         lf.select("category").unique().collect(engine="streaming").to_series().to_list()
     )
 
-    # Verify every non-dropped category has a mapping
+    # Warn about (and ignore) any category lacking a mapping
     unmapped = []
     for cat in all_categories:
         if cat not in DROP_CATEGORIES and cat not in CATEGORY_MAP:
             unmapped.append(cat)
     if unmapped:
-        raise ValueError(f"Categories missing from CATEGORY_MAP: {sorted(unmapped)}")
+        print(f"Ignoring categories missing from CATEGORY_MAP: {sorted(unmapped)}")
 
     # Warn about CATEGORY_MAP keys not in data (may be absent in regional extracts)
     mapped_but_absent = []
@@ -1731,8 +1731,8 @@ def transform(
             f"CATEGORY_MAP categories not in data (skipped): {sorted(mapped_but_absent)}"
         )
 
-    # Drop unwanted categories
-    lf = lf.filter(~pl.col("category").is_in(list(DROP_CATEGORIES)))
+    # Drop unwanted and unmapped categories
+    lf = lf.filter(~pl.col("category").is_in(list(DROP_CATEGORIES) + unmapped))
 
     # Drop UNNAMED instances of private-dominated tags (gardens, pitches,
     # pools) so they don't inflate Park / Sports Centre proximity counts. Done