Guaranteed to tempt your taste buds
Pembrokeshire: the new Welsh mecca for foodies
Think of Wales and food and the first thing that probably comes to mind (apart from leeks) is Welsh lamb, and with good reason. Our lamb and beef have coveted PGI status in recognition of their high quality and special characteristics unique to Wales. But for the discerning foodie there is so much more to discover and enjoy, especially when visiting Pembrokeshire.
In fact, Pembrokeshire is enjoying a growing reputation for its fresh produce and coastal cuisine, thanks to an emerging wave of independent producers and dining establishments. And new, exciting and characterful ventures such as Atlantic Edge Oysters from Angle Bay, are joining established favourites every day.
To whet your appetite we highlight a handful here but why not visit Pembrokeshire and discover the delights of our locally grown food and drink for yourself.
It was more than a decade ago that Annwn’s owner and chef Matt Powell set up Fishing and Foraging Wales; working out of a tent, to share his passion for the fresh food freely available on our shores and in our hedgerows.
In October 2021 he opened Annwn, a cosy 12-seat wild food restaurant set in an old potting shed overlooking the Cleddau Estuary. His mission: to push the boundaries of Welsh and British ingredients to new levels, combining foraged treasures with the best of seasonal produce from local growers. It’s been fully booked ever since; and it’s no surprise why.
Matt serves up an ever changing 10 course tasting menu, offering such intriguing delights as Turbot cooked on the bone, with laver seaweed, lobster roe, rock samphire, preserved sea beet, hogweed seeds and velvet crab dressing and Egg in the Hedgerow – slow cooked duck egg yolk, hedgerow plants, and chanterelle sauce with birch syrup.
If you really want to see where your food comes from, Matt still offers the foraging experience, turning whatever you find into a meal to remember.
The Hwb
Opened in December 2021, this community tap and food hall boasts four open kitchens offering a variety of street foods and a glimpse into how they are prepared and cooked. Everyone can choose their favourites and sit down together at the communal tables. There’s no booking system, just turn up and enjoy.
Top Beef serves up the ultimate Pembrokeshire burger, while at Bee’s Thai Kitchen you’ll find fresh & healthy, authentic Thai food, both vegan & vegetarian. Lovers of tacos and other Mexican street food should head for Grub. Last but not least, Loaded, an offshoot of Narberth’s Peppercorn Restaurant & Grill, serves tasty Loaded fries and sides.
If you want to sample Pembrokeshire’s local independent drink scene, there’s also a bar with 18 craft beer taps. Hwb also holds a regular tap takeover, an evening showcasing beverages from local breweries, distilleries and cider producers, including Bluestone, Double Barrelled, Tenby Brewing Co., Snails Bank, and Big Drop, to name but a few. You may just discover your new favourite tipple!
Milford Haven’s vibrant new waterfront destination is buzzing, with all manner of eateries to choose from. Vegans and Vegetarians will love The Green Genie, a bistro offering a selection of vegan wines, beers and ciders as well as fabulous home-made food, made fresh to order. If you’re dining with a carnivore, go next door to sister restaurant Madison’s Bar & Restaurant, which serves up Green Genie dishes as well as more meaty fare.
If it’s coffee and home-made cake you’re after, head to the friendly atmosphere of Talouies. Motto: Great food and strong coffee! Gwen and Fabrizio also serve lunches with an Italian twist, organic teas and other drinks, including alcohol. With great views of the marina, Talouies is the perfect rest stop for a pick-me-up before continuing your exploration of the waterfront.
Who could resist stopping off at The Cheesy Cow for one of Georgina’s takeaway grazeboxes. Choose from a Mexican Box, Picnic Box, Graze’n Box (“think charcuterie – but calorific!”) and their veggie versions…plus ciabattas and baguettes, breakfast bagels, sweet treats and more. You can pre-order via their facebook page.
Fernery at the Grove of Narberth
The Fernery is, literally, a hidden gem that is leading Pembrokeshire’s fine food scene. Approached via a long driveway lined with ancient beech trees, every aspect of the Fernery has been hand-picked, with nothing overlooked in pursuit of a truly crafted and intimate dining experience. Creating a seasonal menu using local suppliers and ingredients from a plentiful kitchen garden is fundamental to Executive Chef, Douglas Baelish’s style. As he puts it ‘’I don’t know any other way of doing it to be honest. Using high-quality produce that’s as local as possible is how I’ve always worked’’.
Gwaelod i fyny!*
If you want a alcoholic souvenir of your stay in Pembrokeshire, presents for friends and family back home or a quick drink while you’re here, you’re in luck. Pembrokeshire is packed with artisan breweries and distilleries, even vineyards. Gin lovers will love the award-winning Pembroke Gin and Top of the Wood’s Wild Gin Glamping Break. And for vermouth we recommend Still Wild, cold distilled with local hand foraged botannicals. Visit Velfrey Vineyard, for cellar door sales, vineyard tours and afternoon teas. If beer’s more your style, try Tenby Brewing Co., a craft beer tap room and brewery above Tenby harbour. (*Bottoms Up!)
We’ve only scratched the surface of all that Pembrokeshire has to offer the dedicated foodie. If you click here, you’ll find lots more articles of interest.