Out of season - Tenby? or not Tenby?
The traditional holiday season may be drawing to a close, but that’s no reason to discount Tenby for your next break. On the contrary, many prefer to visit this picturesque Pembrokeshire seaside resort when the crowds have retreated and the cobbled streets are quieter.
But just because it’s calmer, doesn’t mean it’s shut up shop. Major family attractions (Blue Lagoon Water Park, Folly Farm) stay open till the end of October (i.e. till after the half-term holiday), and there are various events taking place between now and the end of the year to draw people in.
For example, Tenby Arts Festival (tenbyartsfest.co.uk), which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, takes place from 17 to 24 September and incorporates classical music recitals, literary talks, poetry readings and jazz performances. Then, from 11th to 13th November, The Tenby Blues Festival (tenbyblues.co.uk) takes place, bringing together a wide range of blues styles from both established stars and talented youngsters from the UK and abroad. For the brave and hardy, there’s a Boxing Day Swim (tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk), which was first organised in 1970 and is now a major feature on the local calendar with around 600 swimmers taking part each year.
An added bonus of visiting Tenby out of season is the lower accommodation rates. At North Beach Tenby (northbeachtenby.com), the collective name for two luxurious, contemporary apartments with stunning panoramic views over North Beach and the Pembrokeshire coast, a week’s rental costs from £650 in November and December, a 35% saving on peak season rates (£1,000 per week in August).
Once you have enjoyed the attractions, one of the local events or a bracing walk along the coastal trail, there’s nothing better than returning to North Beach Tenby to a warm and toasty log-burning stove to snuggle down in front of the TV or around a family board game. With its central location in the heart of Tenby, just a few minutes’ walk from all the old town’s attractions – shops, cafes, restaurants, medieval walls, National Trust property and, of course, the town’s beaches – you’re near enough to get home dry if you do need to dash between the rain drops.
Both apartments accommodate four, each having a double room with an ensuite shower, a twin room and a bathroom with shower, and a spacious living space with separate cooking, eating and dining areas. The kitchens are fully fitted with every amenity, including ovens, dishwasher and washing machines, while the living areas come complete with flat-screen TVs and DVD players and log-burning stoves, for snuggling round in cooler evenings when the wind whips off the Celtic Sea. The apartments also come with off-street parking and use of a kayak, subject to availability.
A week’s holiday at North Beach Tenby costs from £650 per apartment in winter, including use of linens, full cleaning service, the provision of logs for the stoves and use of all of the facilities mentioned previously; an extra single bed to accommodate a fifth person can be supplied on request at no extra charge. Shorter stays are possible, but are subject to a minimum two-night stay and availability. Reservations can be made through the website northbeachtenby.com.
