3 Pen Cei, Aberaeron, Wales
Aberaeron Harbour (and 3 Pen Cei)
Aeron Bathroom
Aeron Bedroom
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Given the fact we selected our Easter Wales destination based soley on the apparent quality of the B&B and the fact they had a six-foot bed available, we felt lucky to land on a 60-foot stretch of simple, luxurious sophistication in the lovely fishing village of Aberareon.
On web, 3 Pen Cei Guest House offered everything we required: five stars, wi-fi, flat screen with DVD and, of course, that six-foot bed. That it was on the more reasonable side of what we spend when we go away made us even more confident in our selection for a chilled out weekend.
Good Friday finally upon us, we packed our laptops, books and season one of The Wire, and set off from London.
The drive took a good 4.5 hours, so clearly, we were right to venture the coast of Wales on a four-day weekend. We descended into the Georgian town as the light was fading, and were immediately taken by the colourful houses and waves battering the walls of the quay. This was no depressing Victorian seaside town. This was quaint, lovely and welcoming.
Upon arrival, we were beyond pleased to be shown to our room (called Aeron) which was everything we had hoped and more. A stand-alone bathtub? Check. Toiletries from The White Company? Check. The softest linens and fluffiest down pillows? Check.
How nice to have expectations exceeded.
The proprietor of 3 Pen Cei, Lesley Evans was born in the house, which was later divided into two flats, where she and her husband, John, raised their kids. Last year they completely renovated it and opened it as a guest house. Lesley clearly loves what she's doing, and easily finds the right balance of assistance and privacy.
Breakfast is served between 8:30-10am, and includes a full Welsh (not at all dissimilar to a full English) or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, along with cereal, fruit and yoghurt. Between the setting - stylish and warm and the music - contemporary mainstream, it's clear - this isn't your grandmother's B&B.
Next door to 3 Pen Cei is the well-known Harbourmaster Hotel, where we went once a day - for dinner in the bar on the first night, lunch in the dining room on the second day, and a drink in the bar on the third night. In retrospect, we should have had all of our meals there - skipping the chipper (a sign saying "Probably the best fish & chips you've ever tasted" is bound to disappoint) and the funny but dowdy, locals-only spot we went for Sunday lunch.
Although more than anything, those experiences made us realise how lucky we were in our 60-foot stretch of happiness, where everything good comes in threes - three baths, three episodes of The Wire, three visits to the Harbourmaster and, of course, three nights at 3 Pen Cei.
Good Friday finally upon us, we packed our laptops, books and season one of The Wire, and set off from London.
The drive took a good 4.5 hours, so clearly, we were right to venture the coast of Wales on a four-day weekend. We descended into the Georgian town as the light was fading, and were immediately taken by the colourful houses and waves battering the walls of the quay. This was no depressing Victorian seaside town. This was quaint, lovely and welcoming.
Upon arrival, we were beyond pleased to be shown to our room (called Aeron) which was everything we had hoped and more. A stand-alone bathtub? Check. Toiletries from The White Company? Check. The softest linens and fluffiest down pillows? Check.
How nice to have expectations exceeded.
The proprietor of 3 Pen Cei, Lesley Evans was born in the house, which was later divided into two flats, where she and her husband, John, raised their kids. Last year they completely renovated it and opened it as a guest house. Lesley clearly loves what she's doing, and easily finds the right balance of assistance and privacy.
Breakfast is served between 8:30-10am, and includes a full Welsh (not at all dissimilar to a full English) or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, along with cereal, fruit and yoghurt. Between the setting - stylish and warm and the music - contemporary mainstream, it's clear - this isn't your grandmother's B&B.
Next door to 3 Pen Cei is the well-known Harbourmaster Hotel, where we went once a day - for dinner in the bar on the first night, lunch in the dining room on the second day, and a drink in the bar on the third night. In retrospect, we should have had all of our meals there - skipping the chipper (a sign saying "Probably the best fish & chips you've ever tasted" is bound to disappoint) and the funny but dowdy, locals-only spot we went for Sunday lunch.
Although more than anything, those experiences made us realise how lucky we were in our 60-foot stretch of happiness, where everything good comes in threes - three baths, three episodes of The Wire, three visits to the Harbourmaster and, of course, three nights at 3 Pen Cei.
Here Is The Writer : Sarah Western
Sarah Western Balzer is the managing director of HITC Life and is always on the hunt for reader-writers, so if you're one, make yourself known (sarah.western@hereisthecity.com). Sarah's other job is running a business that helps expats with lifestyle relocation, and is always on the hunt for clients, so - you guessed it: www.arrivalslimited.com. Sarah moved to London five years ago from New York but is originally from Florida, and still suntans like it's 1989. She is so grateful to the banker who introduced her to Here Is The City that she married him, and they live in Wapping with their son.
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