During my stay I was able to understand why Portmeirion was a favourite haunt of The Beatles, the place where Noël Coward wrote Blithe Spirit and the home of the Sixties hit cult television series, The Prisoner. It is a place that inspires great thinking and if you’re after a refreshing break, and some blue-sky thinking, this is definitely the place to visit.
It became glaringly obvious during my visit why this Welsh tourist village, designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, has achieved such relevance in popular culture. It is a place that offers something for everyone, young and old.
For adults it offers the perfect respite retreat or a romantic get- away, but for families it offers many opportunities including those to explore the village, grounds and woods. It is certain that Portmeirion is an exciting environment for children of all ages, making it a great location for a fantastic family getaway. My six- year-old and nine-year-old were wowed by the colourful shades of the buildings and architectural quirks as much as they were captivated by the idea that fairies were bound to exist in the woodlands, while my toddler simply loved pottering around and the adored the land train.
Portmeirion also offers a good mix of dining options that are suitable for differing needs. Ranging from the beautiful and award-winning art deco Hotel Portmeirion restaurant to the more relaxed options of numerous cafes or lunch in the brasserie in Castell Deudraeth.
Castell Deudraeth offers a warm and friendly environment with excellent service and simple but well-executed dishes. Compared with the fine-dining ambiance of its big sister Hotel Portmeirion, Castell Deudraeth offers a more relaxed, but still culinary sumptuous, menu with all-day dining in a conservatory area, bilingual menus (so you can practice your Welsh language skills) and a good selection of Welsh spirits and beers. One of the things I loved about dining at Deudraeth, apart from the very nice gin and tonic that came garnished with fresh violets and ju- niper berries, was being able to retire to the wood-panelled lounge after dinner for coffee by the roaring fire.
No matter the time of year, Portmeirion is well worth the trip; it’s mismatched architecture sets the colour of the
Mediterranean against the picturesque landscape of North Wales – and the mountains of Meirionnydd offers a dramatic contrast during the winter months and an unusual almost dreamlike vision in the summer.
All of the accommodation is of an excellent standard and every- thing is offered with a quirky edge. The dining options for vege- tarians and meat eaters alike are excellent and for picky eaters and young children, the understanding and obliging nature of the staff is outstanding.
In conclusion, if you are looking to visit somewhere different this year then Portmeirion is a place to make memories and a place that you thought only exited in dreams.
Seren Charrington-Hollins is a professional food historian, broadcaster and food writer. She can be reached at
www.foodhistorian.co.uk
Portmeirion, Gwynedd LL48 6ER, Wales.01766 770000
www.portmeirion.wales 12 FOCUS The Magazine March/April 2019
www.focus-info.org
The Moody Goose
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
