From gateway to destination: why Milford Haven deserves a place on your Pembrokeshire itinerary

In recent years, significant investment and regeneration have helped transform Milford Waterfront into a destination in its own right, bringing together places to stay, independent shops, restaurants, activities and an increasingly busy calendar of events.

A major part of that evolution has been the arrival of the Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront. Part of The Celtic Collection, the award-winning four-star hotel opened in 2022, adding 100 bedrooms alongside a destination restaurant, bar, and private dining area.

Already attracting tens of thousands of visitors a year, Tŷ Milford Waterfront is the beating heart of the Port of Milford Haven's big ambition: turning this stretch of waterfront into a buzzing destination where people don't just visit, but want to live, work, and linger.

To learn more, we spoke to Ade Andrews, General Manager for The Celtic Collection’s Pembrokeshire Cluster, about Milford Haven’s transformation, the role Tŷ Milford Waterfront has played, and why visitors should make time for the town on their next Pembrokeshire trip.

Visit Pembrokeshire: Milford Haven has traditionally been seen as a gateway for exploring Pembrokeshire. Has that perception started to change?

Ade Andrews: Absolutely. Milford Haven will always be brilliantly placed for exploring Pembrokeshire, and that remains one of its strengths, but increasingly we’re seeing people choose to come here because of what Milford Haven itself has to offer.

Milford Waterfront has been a huge part of that evolution, and there’s now a real mix of reasons to visit – from independent shops and places to eat and drink, to activities, events and accommodation – and it’s all centred around the marina and the waterway.

With excellent events from the annual carnival to the weekend beer festivals or the amazing fireworks display Milford Haven Marina genuinely has something for everyone.

You can spend the morning exploring, stop for lunch overlooking the marina, browse the shops, enjoy an activity or event and then stay for dinner and an overnight break. That creates a very different visitor experience. Milford Haven isn’t just somewhere you base yourself before heading elsewhere anymore, it’s an important and memorable part of the holiday itself.

At the same time, you still have all of Pembrokeshire on your doorstep, so visitors really do get the best of both worlds.

Visit Pembrokeshire: Investment and regeneration have clearly been important. What difference have they made?

Ade: It’s definitely been a long-term journey rather than one single development. The Port of Milford Haven has been working to diversify and develop Milford Waterfront as a mixed-use destination for many years. They want it to be somewhere people plan to visit, but also somewhere that supports the local community and economy.

You can really see that investment in the different phases that have already been delivered. For example, the Floatels (our floating hotel bedrooms on the marina) welcomed their first guests in 2019, The Shores self-catering apartment followed in 2020, and Tŷ Milford Waterfront opened in 2022. There’s also been investment in the wider food, drink, retail and leisure offering.

Future plans for Milford Waterfront include improved parking, event spaces and installations celebrating Milford Haven’s unique sense of place, which will really help to further solidify its position as a coastal destination.

Visit Pembrokeshire: What role has Tŷ Milford Waterfront played in that change?

Ade: The opening of Tŷ Milford Waterfront was an important milestone because quality accommodation is fundamental if you want to encourage people to stay and

immerse themselves in a destination, rather than simply visit for a few hours. A hotel can do so much more than just providing a place to sleep; it creates a home-from-home experience where guests can switch off and unwind – and hopefully look forward to visiting again.

The hotel brought 100 four-star bedrooms right into the heart of the waterfront, alongside our restaurant, bar, private dining and activity spaces. It’s a great addition to the area, as it means guests can wake up overlooking the marina, explore Milford Haven or head further afield during the day, and then come back to enjoy the waterfront in the evening.

It’s these overnight visitors who create footfall for the surrounding area. They’re the ones eating in local restaurants and cafés, visiting independent shops and attractions, and experiencing more of what Milford Haven has to offer. That’s an important part of sustainable tourism for us, and we really want to encourage people to stay longer, explore more, and contribute to the wider visitor economy.

We’re also able to host meetings, private dining, celebrations and other events, which brings another audience into the area and creates more opportunities for people to experience Milford Waterfront.

Visit Pembrokeshire: For someone who hasn’t stayed before, what can guests expect from the hotel?

Ade: The setting is very special. You’re right on Milford Waterfront with the marina and the working harbour and the waterway beyond, so from the moment you arrive there’s a strong connection to the location.

The hotel has fantastic views and has been designed as a comfortable base whether you’re here for business, for a weekend getaway, a family break, or a longer Pembrokeshire holiday.

Then there are the Floatels, which offer something completely different. They are floating accommodation in amongst the boats in Milford Marina, so you can literally spend the night on the water. If you’re looking for a memorable and slightly unusual way to experience the area, they’re a brilliant option.

Food and drink are a big part of the experience too. Our restaurant, dulse, takes inspiration from the Pembrokeshire coast and countryside, so it feels very connected to where we are. Our Executive Chef, Simon Crockford, wants guests to be able to experience a sense of Pembrokeshire without even leaving the hotel, so that’s a theme you see throughout every detail at Tŷ Milford Waterfront.

Visit Pembrokeshire: Events have also become an important part of the waterfront. How do they contribute to its appeal?

Ade: There’s an increasingly varied events programme at Milford Waterfront - from food and drink events, live music, family activities, festivals and the weekly parkrun, we try to make sure there’s something for everyone.

This summer, for example, Milford Waterfront has hosted the new Harbour Fest, celebrating the town’s maritime character with food, music and family activities, while the wider programme includes summer activities for kids and the Milford Waterfront Weekender. It means that someone who visited Milford Haven several years ago could come back today and have a very different experience!

What I particularly like is that the events aren’t just aimed at visitors; they’re great for bringing local residents and tourists together. It feels really authentic, because it means that the local community genuinely wants to spend time in the area too.

Our own live music nights and outdoor DJ sets in the summer have proved really popular and we have been delighted by how many local people just pop in for a drink at the bar all year round. Our Hello Neighbour discount card on food and drink has been a real success and helps reward the loyalty of our local clientele.

Visit Pembrokeshire: Why does Milford Haven work so well as a base for exploring the rest of the county?

Ade: You get the best of both worlds. There’s plenty to do on your doorstep, but you’re also very well placed for exploring Pembrokeshire.

You can spend one day enjoying the waterfront and another discovering the coast, beaches, walking routes and villages that we’re famous for as a county. Milford Waterfront has good road and rail links, so it’s an accessible starting point for anyone exploring further afield. With a train station just five minutes walk from the hotel you can leave your car behind and explore the county by rail if you wanted to.

For visitors especially, that flexibility is really valuable. You don’t necessarily want to pack up and move accommodation every day. You can base yourself here, explore a different part of Pembrokeshire each day and still have somewhere lively to return to in the evening.

Visit Pembrokeshire: Finally, what would you say to somebody who has visited Pembrokeshire many times but has never really explored Milford Haven?

Ade: Come and give yourself time to discover it.

There will always be a temptation in Pembrokeshire to head straight for the places you already know and love, and understandably so – it’s an extraordinary county. But Milford Haven has a different character and a fascinating story of its own.

So many people come for the views across the waterway, the heritage and the atmosphere of the marina, but stay for the food, independent businesses, activities and events. And then use it as the starting point for everything else Pembrokeshire has to offer!

Milford Haven is still a gateway to the county, but today, it’s much more than that. It’s becoming a destination worth making the journey for in its own right.