We love this time of year at Home From Home. Gower is basked in the warmth and soft light of an Indian Summer and feels more magical than ever as we transition ever so slowly from summer to autumn.
This may well be the season of change but we’re pleased to say that there’s no let up as to what visitors can see and do when here. Our prize winning peninsular continues to pitch the perfect blend between natural beauty and manmade fun. Half Term and Halloween are on the horizon and there is a glut of ghostly goings on and spooky spectaculars including a School of Witchcraft and even one event set to take place at a real haunted castle!
For less scary pursuits, hot foot it to the National Waterfront Museum, the Brangwyn Hall and the Taliesin, the stalwarts of indoor exhibitions and entertainment all year round. The Taliesin has various live screen performances coming up in Oct and Nov including the English National Opera’s rendition of The Barber of Seville, the RSC’s Henry V and the National Theatre’s Hamlet. Then with a thirst for all things fun, Gower plays host to two Beer Festivals this year both served up in the inimitable style of Germany’s Oktoberfest. And of course Wales’ passion for rugby, our national sport, continues a pace with all games shown free on the big screen at the city centre’s Castle Square.
There’s plenty more planned in November as the area gears up for the Christmas festivities and one place sure to be flat out with bookings is our restaurant of the month, The Mermaid, once a favourite haunt of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
If an escape with the kids on Gower sounds just the ticket then we’ve still a few properties available over Half Term or you may like to look ahead to next year and the 2016 season as our new brochure will be out soon and we’ve started taking bookings.
Please browse our site www.homefromhome.com to see what suits for this year or next or give us a call on 01792 360624 as we’d love to hear from you to talk you through your options.
We look forward to hearing from you #luckytolivehere
Half Term, Halloween Fun & Fireworks
Kids can get up close and personal with some real life creepy crawlies at Plantasia (26-28 Oct) plus walk through cobweb paths en route to Halloween fun and games on its Halloween Spook Nights (30 & 31 Oct). There’ll be fancy dress fun and games at Oystermouth Castle at its Halloween Spooktacular on 31 Oct, home also to the ghostly legend of The White Lady.
Head further into Gower and there’s a unique Halloween themed even not be missed. Carreg Adventure centre will provide a supervised first day of term at its Wizardry academy with classes in Quidditch, Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts and more. For £25 for the day, there’ll be a lunchtime banquet in the Great Dining Hall and a chance for parents to join the School’s graduation ceremony in the evening followed by a Halloween disco. Call 01792 391386 for more information. Back in Swansea and grown-ups can watch Dracula come to life on stage in The Arts Wing of The Grand Theatre on the night of Halloween. On the 5th November the annual Swansea Fireworks display takes place at the St Helen’s Cricket Ground – In addition to a spectacular fireworks display, you can look forward to a whole evening of entertainment, including walkabout children’s entertainers and live music from special guests! This popular, annual event is not to be missed!
Festivals of Beer
For beer swilling, lederhosen fun head to the Brangwyn Hall on 23 & 24 Oct for a two-day Beerfest featuring with real German ales coupled with the sounds of oompah music and traditional drinking songs and dances plus sizzling food. Inland at the Carreg Adventure Centre at Reynoldston there’s a Bavarian style beer festival on 24 Oct also with delicious food and entertainment and £20 per head you get to eat, drink and take some home with you from this beautiful venue within a country estate.
Watch and Learn
Alongside its mainstay exhibitions showcasing Wales’ industrial heritage, the National Waterfront Museum will be adding Wales in Space from 24 Oct, a display that charts the story of what astronomers and scientists from Wales have done to explore the solar system. Plus there’s still time to enjoy Dylan Thomas’ ‘Love the Words’ exhibition at the Dylan Thomas Centre.
Restaurant of the month – The Mermaid
A cafe bar and a restaurant, the Mermaid has a menu to suit all budgets serving modern British cuisine using locally sourced produce. Good value, family and dog friendly, it is open all day every day with a fabulous Sunday carvery at just £9.95 where children under 12 can eat for just £3.95. Beautifully decorated with a lounge area for drinks and nibbles and a separate restaurant zone, there’s a decked terrace where you can sit and enjoy the sea view. The Mermaid’s 2 course lunch menu costs just £9.95. Find it at 686 Mumbles Road, SA3 4EE – Tel: 01792 367744 www.mermaidmumbles.wix.com/mermaidmumbles
