With Christmas done and dusted for another year, neighbouring seaside spots Tenby and Saundersfoot will be expecting a busy end to 2023, as New Year revellers head to the coast to welcome in 2024 with a bang!
Both have become popular places to celebrate the end of another year, with people from far and wide descending on Tenby and Saundersfoot over the holiday period.
Tenby’s Tudor Square will no doubt see large crowds gathering once again to enjoy the countdown to 2024, and a spectacular fireworks display, once again hosted by Tenby House Hotel in the centre of the town.
After making his debut at the premises last year, local DJ Steve Briers will be on hand once again at the venue, playing the party tunes to welcome in the New Year - “Simply an amazing atmosphere!” he said.
Despite Saundersfoot’s usual fireworks display for the village on New Year’s Eve being in jeopardy, due to the the Chamber for Tourism disbanding earlier in the year, the Hean Castle Inn have stepped in to save the day, by setting up a fireworks fundraiser, with over £1,700 raised towards the target.
“For the last 24 years, The Chamber of Tourism have done a fantastic job of organising our village events but sadly, as a consequence of them disbanding, nothing was organised, so I have taken the challenge and have managed to secure a professional firework company to do the display,” said Suzannah Palmer landlady of the Hean Castle Inn, who set up a GoFundMe page earlier this month.
“I have asked all the pubs and restaurants to donate but obviously the more I can raise the better. Any funds left over will go towards next year’s display so we aren't in this position again.”
You can head to the following link to donate: https://gofund.me/7937e224
For those venturing out on January 1, Saundersfoot also hosts one of the most popular spectacles on Pembrokeshire’s festive calendar - with the New Year’s Day Swim set to celebrate its 39th charity event.
The event started in 1984 with just 10 swimmers, and turning to 2023, and amazing 2,254 took to the sea to take part, with a crowd of roughly 9,000 watching!
“The swim has developed into an incredible spectacle and is classed by Pembrokeshire County Council as a major event,” said county councillor for the seaside village’s south ward Cllr Chris Williams, whose father Martyn was one of the founders of the event.
Cllr Williams, who has taken on the role of chair of the charity swim, which is also the biggest festive dip in the UK and to date has raised over £750k for charities, went onto say: “As well as providing a spectacle for the community, the main driving force for hosting the swim is to provide people with an opportunity to raise money for worthwhile causes.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of swimmers raising monies from their personal sponsorship as this makes such a big difference annually to the supported causes.”
Entry to the swim can now be made by entering online via: www.saundersfootfestivities.co.uk/nyds or visiting in person the New Year’s Day Swim ‘Registration Hut’ which is located on the slipway heading down towards the beach.
Every paid entrant who registers for the swim will receive a medal, so if you haven’t done so already, please register online or visit the registration hut at the top of the slip.
You can also collect your wristbands from the hut or Salt on The Strand.
All those who register by December 31 will be entered into a prize draw to win a mini break to the Dylan Thomas Coastal Resort, or tickets for the Six Nations!
The swim will take place between 12.30 and 1.30 pm on January 1.
Further details can be found on the NYDS website at: www.saundersfootfestivities.co.uk/nyds; the NYDS Facebook page or via email at: [email protected]
There is another Pembrokeshire town that makes a top 20 list of the best places in the UK to spend New Year's Eve, with Fishguard ranking 18th on the countdown, according to experts at EnjoyTravel.com
The experts said the coastal town was the best place for firework displays, kid-friendly events and a "memorable night out”, adding: "Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, Wales has consistently been ranked among the top UK venues for New Year's Eve parties, with its renowned NYE Street Party.
“Think food stalls, kid zones, live music and bands, games and bars selling every type of drink you can imagine.
“Watch the sky light up with fireworks at midnight and enjoy the sense of community that this street party offers to all its attendees."
Cardiff was the best place in Wales to spend NYE this year according to the list, with Edinburgh taking the top spot as the best place, followed by London and Manchester.