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Mari Grug to lead Eisteddfod as Pembrokeshire prepares for national celebration

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PEMBROKESHIRE is preparing to play a central role in one of Wales’ biggest cultural events, with this year’s National Eisteddfod y Garreg Las now moving firmly into view.

Broadcaster and presenter Mari Grug has been announced as President of the 2026 Eisteddfod, which will open on Saturday, August 1.

The event is expected to bring thousands of visitors to west Wales, with Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and surrounding communities set to be at the heart of the celebrations.

Mari, who was brought up on a farm in Mynachlog-ddu and educated at Ysgol y Preseli in Crymych, will address the audience from the Pavilion stage during the opening ceremony.

She said: “It’s a great honour. Receiving the invitation was quite a shock, to be honest. I certainly wasn’t expecting it, but those who know me know that the Eisteddfod has always been a huge part of my life.”

Mari is well known to viewers and listeners across Wales through her work on S4C programmes including Heno and Prynhawn Da, as well as Radio Cymru.

She has also presented coverage from major Welsh events including the Urdd Eisteddfod, the Royal Welsh Show and the National Eisteddfod.

The announcement comes as preparations continue for a major event on Friday, June 19, when the Crown and Chair for this year’s Eisteddfod will be presented to the local executive committee.

That evening will also launch celebrations marking 850 years of the National Eisteddfod, with a five-metre-high giant puppet of Lord Rhys, created by Small World Theatre Company, travelling through local towns and villages.

The event will begin at 5:45pm at St Davids Cathedral, before moving to Oriel y Parc for a ceremony marking the start of the celebrations and the unveiling of this year’s Crown and Chair.

The Crown has been designed and made in silver by Elen and Dylan Bowen, the husband-and-wife team behind Bowen Jewellery in Newcastle Emlyn.

The Chair has been designed and crafted by Tomos Lewis and is being donated by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Mari said she hoped to act as an ambassador for the Eisteddfod and encourage more people to visit the Maes.

She added: “I hope I can be some kind of ambassador for the Eisteddfod, and attract more people to come to the Maes to enjoy what I have enjoyed for years.

“The week of Eisteddfod y Garreg Las is certain to be busy. The timetable is already full of events and ceremonies, but hopefully there will also be time to enjoy the week.”

Mari was previously involved when the National Eisteddfod came to St Davids in 2002, when she was the presenter of the flower token.

She said: “It was a wonderful experience to be part of the Eisteddfod the last time it came to the area. That was also a busy week, with Gorsedd ceremonies and competitions — and enjoying ourselves in the evenings.

“I’m looking forward to playing a role again this year, this time as Festival President.”

Mari will also be admitted to Gorsedd Cymru on Friday, August 7, on the Maes at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las.

More information about the Eisteddfod and tickets is available from the official Eisteddfod website.

Caption: Mari Grug has been named President of this year’s Eisteddfod y Garreg Las (Pic: Glyn Rainer).

 

Entertainment

Beans on Toast announces show in Narberth

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CELEBRATED folk troubadour Beans on Toast heads out on his annual UK tour later this year, with one show at The Queens Hall in Narberth on November 22.

Part concert, part gathering, every Beans on Toast show is a unique evening of songs and stories. Expect open-hearted tales of family, friendships and everyday life alongside protest songs, drinking songs, songs about nature and songs that’ll have you laughing one minute and wiping away a tear the next.

With his trademark warmth, wit and unwavering optimism, Beans has spent nearly two decades building one of the most loyal and welcoming audiences in British folk music. Whether you’ve been coming for years or it’s your first time, everyone is welcome.

Come and be part of a celebration of music, chaos, community and hope, and leave feeling like you’ve just caught up with an old friend.

UK TOUR DATES

18/11 BASINGSTOKE – Proteus Creation Space

19/11 BATH – Chapel Arts Centre

20/11 CHELTENHAM – Steam & Whistle

21/11 BRECON – The Foundry

22/11 NARBERTH – The Queens Hall

24/11 WOLVERHAMPTON – Wolverhampton Arts Centre

25/11 PRESTON – The Continental

26/11 HUDDERSFIELD – The Parish

27/11 SHIPLEY – Kirkgate Community Centre

28/11 ABERDEEN – The Tunnels

29/11 COATBRIDGE – The Georgian Hotel

1/12 WHITBY – Whitby Brewery

2/12 YORK – The Crescent

3/12 NORTHAMPTON – The Black Prince

4/12 NORWICH – Norwich Arts Centre

5/12 NOTTINGHAM – Bodega

6/12 NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME – The Rigger

7/12 STROUD – The Prince Albert

9/12 BOURNEMOUTH – Bear Cave

10/12 TOTNES – The Barrel House Ballroom

11/12 TORRINGTON – The Plough Arts Centre

12/12 WORTHING – The Factory Live

13/12 HASTINGS – Studio 27

 

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Imperial Hotel announces four-day Bank Holiday celebration in Tenby

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Live DJs, terrace sessions and a new community event will form the hotel’s biggest August programme to date

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL in Tenby has announced plans for its biggest August Bank Holiday celebration yet, with four days of music, entertainment and community events overlooking South Beach.

The programme will run from Friday, August 28, until Monday, August 31, building on the hotel’s popular Tenby Rocks terrace sessions, which have taken place every Saturday throughout the summer.

Celebrations will begin on Friday evening with a ticketed event featuring DJ Mammoth, also known as Steve Dickson, who will perform a selection of Ibiza classics and house music.

Guests will also be served a specially prepared set menu in the hotel’s Essence restaurant before the evening continues with music and dancing overlooking the coastline.

Tickets for the Friday event cost £25 per person.

On Saturday, Tenby Rocks will return from midday until 7pm, with music and cocktails served on the terrace throughout the afternoon.

Presenters and DJs from Pembrokeshire radio station Pure West will take over from 5pm until 7pm.

A special community-focused event will then be held on Sunday from 5pm until 10pm.

The hotel has not yet released full details, but organisers say the evening will be designed to bring residents and visitors together in a celebration of Tenby and its community.

The weekend will conclude on Monday with live entertainment from midday until 6pm.

Inspired by the Tenby Rocks format, the final afternoon will feature laid-back reggae music aimed at families and groups of friends enjoying the last day of the Bank Holiday.

Amelia Parkes, Group Marketing Executive at Crest Hotels, said: “Our Tenby Rocks afternoons have become a real highlight of the summer, attracting both local residents and visitors who love the relaxed atmosphere, great music, cocktails and unbeatable views from the Imperial Hotel.

“For the August Bank Holiday, we wanted to create something even bigger by extending the celebrations across the entire weekend.

“Whether you are joining us for our ticketed Friday evening, enjoying DJ sets with Pure West on Saturday, discovering our Sunday community event or relaxing with music on Monday, there is something for everyone.

“Tenby is one of the UK’s favourite seaside destinations, and we are looking forward to welcoming guests from across Pembrokeshire for what promises to be an unforgettable Bank Holiday weekend.”

The celebrations are expected to add to the atmosphere in Tenby during what is traditionally one of the town’s busiest weekends of the summer.

Tickets for Friday evening are available through the Imperial Hotel Tenby website, with further details about Sunday’s community event due to be announced in the coming weeks.

 

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VegOut West brings food, music and festival atmosphere to Pembrokeshire

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A CELEBRATION of plant-based living returned to Pembrokeshire as VegOut West welcomed visitors to Scolton Manor for its fourth annual festival.

The small, non-profit vegan festival, powered by solar energy and “good vibes”, brought together live entertainment, independent traders, workshops and a wide variety of plant-based food for a fully inclusive, family and dog-friendly weekend.

Held each year in the picturesque grounds of Scolton Manor, the event gave visitors the chance not only to enjoy the festival itself but also to explore the estate’s woodland walks, walled gardens and popular play areas.

Festival-goers began arriving on Friday evening, with camping available throughout the weekend until Monday midday, while day tickets were offered for Saturday and Sunday. Children aged five and under attended free of charge.

A packed programme of live music, comedy, talks and activities ran across the weekend, creating a relaxed festival atmosphere for visitors of all ages.

Performing on the main stage were Vegan Queen V, Mobius Loop, Dippy Bamba, Tanglemist, Hunter Bradford, Meme Detroit and Stella Paris, with entertainment continuing throughout the weekend.

Away from the stage, visitors enjoyed a varied programme of talks, wellbeing sessions and hands-on activities, including breathwork, grounding sessions, yoga, journalling, children’s story time, tie-dye workshops, bingo, tofu cookery demonstrations and food tastings.

Craft workshops, games and activities ensured there was plenty to keep families entertained, while giant Twister, Connect 4, swingball, table tennis, football and a large inflatable proved popular with younger festival-goers.

Dozens of independent stalls lined the festival site, showcasing local businesses, charities, artisan makers and vegan organisations from across west Wales and beyond.

A delicious variety of plant-based food was available throughout the weekend, with traders serving everything from burgers, macaroni cheese and salads to gelato, churros, cakes and sweet treats.

Pembrokeshire business Sup & Bloom, based in Newport, served drinks from its botanical bar alongside tea and coffee, while Ceredigion-based Nutty Cow Cakes offered an array of cakes and traditional Welsh cakes.

The festival also welcomed community groups and organisations including Little Green Pigeon, Vegan Hikers Club, Vegan Runners, Rock n Roll Vegan and Animal Freedom Network, alongside wellbeing practitioners offering massage treatments and tarot readings. Visitors could also unwind in the popular Chai, Chat & Chill tent.

Warm sunshine, with temperatures reaching around 28°C, helped create an ideal backdrop as visitors relaxed in the grounds of Scolton Manor or explored everything the festival had to offer.

While celebrating vegan living remains at the heart of VegOut West, the event has grown into much more than a food festival, combining live music, comedy, talks, craft workshops, wellbeing activities, games and community spirit in a welcoming environment for all.

As a small, non-profit event, VegOut West continues to champion sustainability, inclusivity and local independent businesses, while offering a unique addition to Pembrokeshire’s growing calendar of summer festivals.

Now firmly established as an annual event, the festival once again demonstrated how a welcoming atmosphere, great entertainment, delicious food and a stunning venue can bring together visitors from across Wales and beyond for a memorable weekend.

 

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