SPAN ARTS is delighted to announce the return of the Narberth A Cappella Festival for March 2025. This spectacular and unique festival returns to the town of Narberth for 2025, bringing wonderful A Cappella offerings to Pembrokeshire. Not only this but new for 2025 a tantalising Earlybird offer has just been launched, with discounted festival tickets, priority workshop booking and more!

The Narberth A Cappella Festival, organized by SPAN Arts, is Wales’s premier a cappella voice celebration, attracting participants from across the UK. With over 25 years of history, Narberth A Cappella Festival 2025 will focus on community voices, featuring the much-loved Singing Feast and vocal workshops led by world-renowned practitioners.

The festival will commence with our welcoming Singing Feast, an evening where you can enjoy delicious food, excellent company and joyful singing on the Friday night. On the Saturday you can join our singing workshops which bring talented vocalists to teach vocal sessions in both the morning and afternoon. In the evening, we close our festival with a concert that showcases community a cappella choirs, with a line-up of UK wide and local choirs for you to enjoy. 

You will be able to book individual events when SPAN Arts launches their event tickets in the new year or book your “Festival Tickets” that will cover entry to every event across the festival.

But why wait till then? Book Earlybird Festival Ticket offer and secure your place now. Already available to purchase via their website this makes the perfect Christmas gift to give that unique experience to any music enthusiast.

With the Earlybird ticket offer, you can grab yourself a discounted festival ticket that covers all the events of the weekend. It also gets you priority booking for the limited places available at the singing workshops ahead of the general sales release in the new year.

All Earlybirds will also get a free tote bag on their arrival at the start of the festival! But hurry, this offer is only available through the Christmas period and finishes on the twelfth day of Christmas (6 January).

Keep an eye on their website and social media for more announcements about artists, performers and more over the next few weeks.

For more information contact [email protected] or call 01843 869323

The event will take place 7 – 8 March 2025 at the following locations:

• Singing Feast: The Scout Hut, Town Moor, Narberth. SA67 7AG
• Singing Workshops: Bethesda Baptist Church, High St, Narberth SA67 7AP
• Final Concert: St Andrews Church, 17 Church St, Narberth SA67 7BH

Earlybird festival ticket £58. More tickets to be released in the New Year. Advanced booking required. Visit the SPAN Arts website to book.  

Please contact [email protected] to discuss your accessibility needs. For ticket holders who need access support to attend, they offer a free ticket for their companion, carer or personal assistant. Contact 01834 869323 to book your carers ticket.

DECEMBER marks 65 years of Ivor the Engine, the much-loved green steam train from the “top left-hand corner of Wales.” First brought to life on television in 1959, Ivor has charmed generations with heartwarming tales set in the fictional village of Llaniog.

To celebrate, Candy Jar Books has re-published the original 1962 picture book. Featuring Oliver Postgate’s captivating storytelling and Peter Firmin’s timeless illustrations, the restored edition is now available in both paperback and hardback.

Created by Postgate and Firmin’s Smallfilms, Ivor the Engine was a pioneer of imaginative children’s television. Its distinctive stop-motion animation, painted watercolour cut-outs, and whimsical bassoon soundtrack helped cement it as a key part of British cultural history.

The series followed Ivor and his driver, Jones the Steam, alongside a memorable cast of characters including Evans the Song and Idris the dragon. Inspired by Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, the show portrayed Welsh life with charm and humour.

In recent years, Ivor’s legacy has been revived. Stars like Eddie Izzard, Cerys Matthews, and Rob Brydon voiced new audiobook stories during lockdown, reconnecting audiences with the steam engine’s magic. Earlier this year, Ivor was also honoured as the only fictional member of the Great Little Trains of Wales.

With remastered episodes now streaming on BritBox and ITVX, and the restored book back on shelves, Ivor the Engine continues to delight both nostalgic fans and new audiences.

Paperback £12.99 / Hardback £20.00. Available from www.candy-jar.co.uk and in all good bookshops.

Pembrokeshire was officially established as a county in 1536. Since then, not only has it become a popular place to live, but it has also established itself a favoured tourist destination for both Welsh residents and those further afield. 

So, how has the well-known county developed in the last 30-or-so years and become the admired seaside county that we know today? Let’s take a more in-depth look at the history of Pembrokeshire, from population and tourism, to house prices and entertainment options. 

Population 

As a place to live, Pembrokeshire has grown in popularity in the last few decades. Since 1981, over 16,000 more people have moved to Pembrokeshire. As of 2024, the population of Pembrokeshire is 123,700. 

Houses

In the last year, house prices in Pembrokeshire were, on average, £238,000. That’s slightly lower than the UK’s national average, which came in at £267,200. In comparison, the average house price in Pembrokeshire almost 30 years ago, in 1995, was just £54,124.

Tourists

Pembrokeshire offers plenty to see and do and has made a name for itself as an ideal holiday destination, particularly in the summer months. With attractions like the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, that attracts around 250,000 people each year, and the highly regarded Pembroke Castle, it’s no wonder visitors keep coming back. 

The tourism scene in Pembrokeshire contributes a significant amount to the local economy and, in 2021, an estimated 6.4 million people visited the seaside county. This is an increase of 2.1 million since 2010, which saw 4.2 million tourists. 

Entertainment

The world of retail has taken a dive in Pembrokeshire in recent years, with a 9.6% decline in 2015. Considering there has been a 16% decline in UK shoppers visiting retailers since the COVID-19 pandemic, this downward trend is unfortunately likely to continue. 

It’s not just shops that have taken a back seat. Despite being a Welsh staple, bingo halls have taken a hit due to the popularity of online bingo games. However, this isn’t a Pembrokeshire-specific issue. It’s estimated there are now only 260 dedicated bingo halls left in the UK. 

What is the future of Pembrokeshire? 

As a popular and well-known Welsh destination with plenty to offer, it’s unlikely Pembrokeshire will ever lose its popularity as a summer holiday destination and tourism will remain one of its highest economic factors. As Wales has proved itself to be on the more affordable side of the UK, it’s anticipated to remain a popular place to live in Wales.