NARBETH restaurant Annwn has received the latest in a string of accolades: inclusion on the prestigious worldwide restaurant selection, La Liste.

The illustrious guide, based in Paris, uses reviews, guidebooks and chef’s recommendations to formulate a score out of 100. Annwn scored 90 which places it well up the thousand-strong list.

Annwn’s chef patron Matt Powell says he is delighted with the result.

“I was just looking through the list on Thursday morning when it came out. I wasn’t expecting to be on it at all, and then all of a sudden there we were,” he said. “It was mind blowing really.”

Annwn is an intimate space with only ten covers where each diner gets to experience the theatre of Matt cooking his dishes in an open kitchen, which are then served at the table by Matt himself, assisted by his partner Naomi.

Many of the ingredients used are foraged from Pembrokeshire’s shoreline and countryside. The menu changes throughout the seasons, reflecting the diversity of the local Welsh ecosystem and the quality of local suppliers. Local lamb, lobster, prawns and sewin all make an appearance throughout the year.

Matt is a staunch supporter of Welsh ingredients and a keen student of historic Welsh cuisine.

” My goal has always been to put Annwn on the world stage and to be recognised as a Welsh restaurant that is striving to reinvent Welsh cuisine – to look at our past and food history, to ask questions,” he says. “For me it’s all about studying these old traditions. To learn, recreate and refine.

Annwn was located at Lawrenny from September 2021 until September 2022, during which time it was named as number 14 in the Good Food Guide’s 20 Most Exciting Restaurants.

On May 12 the restaurant opened its doors in a new home in Narberth, where it has since been awarded a place in the Michelin Guide.

Matt says inclusion in La Liste is the icing on the cake.

“To make this start on such a solid base and to be named among the great chefs and restaurants in the world is just amazing,” he says.

CASTELL HENLLYS Iron Age Village has been awarded with a coveted Sandford Award for the fifth time.

The popular visitor attraction, which is run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and aims to bring the world of our ancient ancestors to life, is one of only five sites in Wales to be awarded this accreditation for its education programme.

The Sandford Award scheme was established in 1975 to encourage those responsible for running historic houses to appreciate their important educational role, and to provide support and monitor standards. It is currently managed by the Heritage Education Trust in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University and is an independently judged, quality assured assessment of education programmes at heritage sites, museums, archives and collections across the British Isles.

Owen Edwards, Manager of Castell Henllys, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award again. Over the years, a visit to Castell Henllys has almost become a rite of passage for schoolchildren in South-West Wales. The fact that we are one of only five Welsh sites to secure this accreditation this year bears testament to the hard work that staff put into the experience.

“Special thanks go to our Events and Activities Leader, Liz Moore, and to Liz Rooney, who carries out all the admin for school trips, along with all the staff that take part in the schools programme.”

Castell Henllys offers a range of exciting and immersive learning experiences for visiting schools, offering young people the chance to travel back in time with costumed interpreters and learn all about the Iron Age way of life in a fun, entertaining and memorable way. Sessions are also available on the Stone Age, Romans and Vikings, along with a Literary and Language session based on the Mabinogion.

For further information about the education programme at Castell Henllys, visit www.castellhenllys.com.

BLUESTONE NATIONAL PARK RESORT has launched four adapted lodges as part of its brand new Platinum range.

The luxury holiday resort, named third best in the UK for 2023 by Which? magazine for a second year running, sits in 500 acres of National Park in the scenic countryside of Pembrokeshire.

The Platinum lodges are the most luxurious offering yet, featuring sunrooms, picturesque surroundings, a private entrance, ‘cwtch’ rooms, and 20% more space.

The new lodges have been specially designed to assist those who need additional assistance, including being arranged over a single floor with two bedrooms, a wet-room, and an open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining area, as well as an outdoor patio.

They also have wider doorways, a shower seat and handrails, emergency pull cords and a designated parking space for Blue Badge holders.

The newly launched Platinum lodges boost the resort’s existing accessible offering, with six Caldey lodges having already been adapted for disabled guests.

Guests are able to enjoy a diverse array of activities within the resort, as well as the natural surrounding beauty of Pembrokeshire’s beaches, cliffs and harbours.

Blue Lagoon, a subtropical water park, has designated disabled changing rooms, four aqua chairs and a hoist which can be requested at reception.

While Nature Trails found across the resort have been carefully designed to ensure there are wide pathways, limited steps, and, where needed, disabled access.

The Serendome, a covered outdoor playground, features a state-of-the-art amphitheatre that is wheelchair accessible and also offers a multi-level, aerial adventure course that is suitable for wheelchair users.

The Bluestone team are also able to make arrangements for guests with additional needs – such as those with sensory issues – to have exclusive access to facilities such as Blue Lagoon, Serendome or its indoor play area, The Hive, outside of standard operating hours.

William McNamara, founder and chief executive at Bluestone, said: “Our Free Range Manifesto embodies our commitment to creating a place where children of all ages and abilities can explore nature in beautiful surroundings.

“We’re extremely dedicated to making our resort and holidays accessible to everyone; from tailoring the lighting in our indoor play area to suit those with sensory needs, to opening our facilities outside of standard operating hours for guests who would benefit from quieter sessions.

“We believe that everyone who visits Bluestone deserves an unforgettable experience, which is why we would encourage guests to contact the team in advance to discuss any specific requirements they may have so we can ensure these are meet during their stay.”

With over 100 activities to choose from on the resort, many of which can be adapted for those with additional needs such as bowling or axe throwing, the Bluestone team are able to advise on the most suitable activities ahead of your stay.

Bookings to the adapted Platinum lodges can be made via Bluestone’s website: https://www.bluestonewales.com/resort.