I’m delighted to see that Newport is highly recommended in the Condé Nast Traveller’s Guide to Pembrokeshire. They have this to say about the town:
“It doesn’t look like much as you drive through, but little Newport – not under any circumstances to be mistaken for its city namesake – is the discreet holiday hideaway of well-heeled Welsh speakers, and English money looking for something less obvious than Cornwall or Sandbanks. There are hardly any visual clues; it’s the absence of things that gives the game away – no tat-shops, football tops, or lagery crowds. Instead, there are superb pubs and restaurants, a first-rate butcher and fishmonger and, tucked half-a-mile down from the main drag, a delightful boat-bobbing estuary. A drink at the boat club, as the sun goes down, begets the satisfying glow of knowing you’re in precisely the right place. “
Whilst I think the “well-healed Welsh speakers, and English money looking for something less obvious than Cornwall or Sandbanks” is a bit caricaturish, the rest rings true.
And I can’t disagree with any of their comments about the gastronomical options:
“It can’t be said of many Welsh towns, but it’s actually quite difficult to eat badly in Newport. The Cnapan, Llys Meddyg, Golden Lion and Castle Inn are all well-above-average examples of their kind, while the current pick of the bunch, Blas (it means ‘taste’), is a cheerful bistro doing very good food, charmingly served.”
I am very happy to eat in any of the above venues which between them offer something for every occasion whether you want a quick snack, good pub grub or a special night out. The Tapas & Tunes nights at Blas at Fronlas are always good value with excellent fare accompanied by acoustic music.
The rest of the article can be found here : Condé Nast Guide