Tiny Victorian pub where Gavin & Stacey’s final scenes were filmed is magnet for telly fans & you can stay there for £44
THE TADROSS Hotel in Barry Island will be familiar to Gavin and Stacey fans, with several of the shows big events taking place at the Welsh boozer.
The award-winning television series, which was created by James Corden and Ruth Jones, first took to our screens in 2007.
Its three-series run, and follow-up specials, follow the lives of Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne) and Stacey West (Joanna Page) as they navigate their long-distance relationship from Billericay in Essex to Barry Island in South Wales.
The TV series came to a satisfying conclusion when its finale aired on Christmas Day, with Smithy (James Corden) and Nessa (Ruth Jones) finally tying the knot.
While the show is set in both England and Wales, it’s exclusively filmed in south Wales.
Thanks to the show’s success, Gavin and Stacey tours to spot all of the filming locations take place around Barry Island, with some even featuring a ride on Dave’s Coaches.
Fans don’t need to book onto a tour to visit the filming locations, with many simply operating as businesses in real life.
One of those places is the Tadross Hotel, which doubles as the Dolphin in the TV series.
It’s where the Christening of Neil, the baby, takes place in season three, and it’s also where Nessa and Dave (Steffan Rhodri) host their engagement.
More recently, it was also the backdrop of the TV show’s final scenes where Smithy and Nessa’s wedding reception was held – tissues at the ready.
The Victorian boozer is just 10 minutes from Barry Castle, and it’s a mere six minutes from St Helen’s Catholic Church – although it’s a 45 minute walk from the beach.
The three-star hotel has seven rooms, each of which is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen telly, and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Guests can also have a continental breakfast and there’s an on-site pub where punters can grab a pint.
Rooms at the Tadross Hotel start from £44 per night on booking website Kayak.
Pints cost £4, according to reviews left by guests.
And some Gavin and Stacey fans have already stayed at the hotel, with the Tadross Hotel already having a 3.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor.
One person wrote: “We booked here only because we knew some scenes from Gavin and Stacey had been filmed here.
“The hotel is dated but that adds to its charm. A great price, great welcome and very clean.”
Another added: “We had a lovely welcome, the room was so nice, very clean and spacious. Lush little pub too, not expensive.”
There are plenty of other places where Gavin and Stacey was filmed in Barry Island, including Trinity Street.
The steep hill of terrace houses is where the West family live in the show.
It’s easy to spot Stacey and her mum Gwen’s house because the current owners have photos in the window.
Opposite this house, Gavin and Stacey fans will see where Stacey’s uncle Bryn (Rob Brydon) lives.
Meanwhile, there’s also Marco’s Cafe, a bright blue coffee shop that features in the first episode of Gavin and Stacey back in 2007.
And of course, there’s Nessa’s Slots at the Island Leisure Amusement Arcade.
Just like in the show, there are arcade games and there’s even a sign outside that says ‘Nessa’s Slots’.
For another pub, fans of the show can head to the Colcot Arms where Smithy (James Corden) drunkenly hosts a pub quiz in the second episode of the season one.
Barry Island is a 40-minute drive from Cardiff and it can be reached by a direct train in 36 minutes from the Welsh capital.
What is it like to actually visit Barry?
TRAVEL reporter Hope Brotherton lived in Cardiff and spent her weekends visiting Barry Island, here’s what it’s like…
Years ago, I was lucky enough to live in Cardiff, which meant I spent weekends exploring everything the Welsh capital had to offer, including the neighbouring coastal towns.
One place that I always recommend visiting, despite being something of a cliché, is Barry Island.
Arguably made famous by top BBC show Gavin and Stacey, Barry Island has already garnered the love of the Great British public.
Day-trippers should make a beeline for Whitmore Bay — a huge crescent of golden sand that’s backed by a promenade of busy cafés, and fish and chip shops.
Get your pulse racing at the Barry Island Pleasure Park, it has a rollercoaster, log flume, dodgems and a waltzer.
And a trip to Barry Island isn’t complete with a trip to Nessa’s slots where you’ll be sure to have a tidy afternoon spending your pennies.
The Kent town of Margate featured in the new Hollywood blockbuster Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman.
Meanwhile, a magical beach in the UK where Harry Potter was filmed has been called a “surfer’s paradise” by fans of the franchise.