Tenby, Tinsel Town

Just want to tell you how lovely Tenby is looking at the moment.  Christmas trees and lights, real fires roaring in the bars and cafes, menus consisting of Turkey, cranberry, puddings and pies, all very festive.  I love living in Tenby and Pembrokeshire, friendly locals and friendly visitors.  What’s not to love.   Looking forward to a busy weekend here in Tenby, as well as the Wales/ Australia Rugby International there is also a Christmas Market in Pembroke Castle. Why not come to Tenby, Pembrokeshire for the weekend do a bit of Christmas Shopping and then settle down Saturday teatime to support Wales, or Australia if you’re an Aussie.  You could top your day off with a cosy meal in one of Tenby’s fine restaurants and after a long comfy sleep be ready for a scrummy Sunday roast the next day.  If all of the above takes your fancy have a look on FBM Holidays website and book a short break (or longer if you wish) in one of our self catering properties.   What ever time of year it is you will love staying in Tenby.

First Tenby Beer Festival and Return of the Jack

I’m back.  After a very very busy Summer I’ve caught up with all my work and have enough time to write my blog.  The weather this year has been glorious and Tenby and Pembrokeshire have welcomed many thousands of holiday makers and day visitors.  It always amazes me how well this small town copes with so many people. FBM Holidays has enjoyed a frantic Summer with people booking short notice, self catering holidays because of the sunshine.

Tenby is sunny again today, not a cloud in the sky but there is a definite nip in the air. The streets are much quieter now but there are still plenty of people buzzing around enjoying the stunning views of the South Beach and Caldey Island or Carmarthen Bay and Tenby Harbour.  This weekend we have the first Annual Charity Beer Festival in Tenby.  Looking forward to having a few beers and ciders while listening to the live bands.

Tenby - Back in the Limelight

Guess what Tenby 24/7 is back on BBC at the moment.  Watched it last time it was on and it is a brilliant programme showing off the hustle and bustle of Tenby and its gorgeous beaches and gardens.  It was filmed during the busy school Summer holidays and features many of our Tenby ‘characters’ and the Tenby Spectacular events in the harbour.  Definitely worth half an hour of your time.

The past two weeks, up until last Wednesday, the weather in Tenby has been glorious (typically, apart from the bank holiday Monday), and it has been very busy. Sitting in the FBM office looking out we could see visitors strolling around in T-shirts and shorts, Sun’s Out, Guns Out.  I’m not complaining.

My colleague ‘Ironman Billy’(see above) is in the midst of serious training at the moment for the Long Course Weekend in Tenby on the 12^th, 13^th and 14^th of July. Swimming 2.4 miles on the Friday from Tenby's North Beach, Cycling 112 miles on the Saturday and running a full marathon on the Sunday, just for fun. This is part of his training for Ironman Wales, which combines the above all in one day.  He is competing in Ironman Wales for charity and is looking for sponsors.  If you’re interested give him a call at FBM Holidays on 01834 844565.

Lush Tenby

It’s been a fantastic week here in Tenby; the weather has been sunny and quite warm. On walking into work this morning at FBM Holidays I realised how lucky I am to live and work in Tenby. At the end of the road this is what greets me

BOOM!!!

Just a short stroll around the corner and you see this

BOOM!!!

Just thought I’d make you all jealous. See what you’re missing if you don’t come to Tenby for a holiday or short break. We’d love to organise a stay for you at one of our self-catering properties in Tenby or elsewhere in Pembrokeshire. Take a look at FBM Holidays.

See you soon.

Back in Super Tenby

Just returned home from a two-week holiday in Egypt, had a brilliant time but it is good to be back in stunning Tenby. The sea views from the hotels in Sharm El Sheikh are gorgeous but nothing compares to the view of Caldey Island from the Esplanade or Carmarthen Bay from the top of the cliff on High Street. If we had the same weather as Sharm I wouldn’t leave home at all. In fact Tenby Town is far far prettier with lots more character and I can see why many many visitors return time and time again. We receive lots of lovely comments from customers at FBM Holidays about the charm of the town and the fabulous Tenby beaches. The restaurants and cafes are very popular too with people commenting on the variety of good eateries in a small area, many in the town itself, but if you prefer to be close to the sea you can visit Dennis’ Café on the Castle Beach or the South Beach Bar and Grill on the South Beach and enjoy your food and drink with the sea lapping a few yards away.


If you want to sample Tenby’s wares or stand and take in the views visit FBM Holidays website and book a self catering property in Tenby, Pembrokeshire. You won’t be disappointed.

Happy, Sunny Tenby

Wow, what a lovely lovely day here in Tenby. Walked to work past the South Beach and Paragon Beach in warm sunshine and a light breeze. Lush. Perfect weather for a holiday in Pembrokeshire. Everyone I met had a smile on their face and returned my cheery “good morning”. It’s looking good for the weekend too so Tenby will be busy busy, full of holiday makers and day trippers enjoying our cafes, bars and stunning beaches. We also have a new horse and carriage ride starting at St Mary’s church, Tudor Square, which will take you through the narrow streets to see the beaches and back. The Caldey Island boats and fishing trip charter boats have been waiting for this weather for weeks, sunshine and no wind to speak of. A good weekend ahead for everyone.


Pembrokeshire will be busy next weekend as well for the Tour of Pembrokeshire cycle ride on the 27th April. It starts in St Davids and covers most of North Pembrokeshire. With all this action and glorious weather why not come to Tenby, Pembrokeshire for a holiday or short break. You can see all that Tenby and Pembrokeshire has to offer and full details of our self-catering apartments and cottages at www.fbmholidays.co.uk. See you soon. xx

Tenby, Sun, Sea, Sand and Seagulls

The town is bathed in glorious sunshine, the beaches look stunning and the sea is a shimmering blue. Tenby is looking good just in time for Easter. Looking out from FBM Holidays offices you’d think it was summer, but outside there is still a nip in the air. The streets are bustling with visitors and locals, some eating ice cream cones all glad to be out in the sunshine, Tenby has that continental feel about it again, helped along by the old man, perched on a stool, playing French tunes on his accordion.
Another sign that summer isn’t far away is the appearance of a large crane (not a bird) in Tenby Harbour, which is placing all the boats back into the water to be taken to their summer moorings. It’s quite a feat with not much room to manoeuvre but all seems to be going well. The famous Tenby seagulls are out in force today as well, just a few minutes ago, with a miniature Cadbury’s Crème egg in my hand, I stepped outside the office door to give a customer some directions when the egg slipped from my hand and rolled across the road, within about 5 seconds, yes 5 seconds a seagull had spotted it, swooped down and swallowed it whole. What a cheek!!
If you fancy a break over the Easter Holidays Tenby and Pembrokeshire is your perfect destination, a taste of the continent without a flight or ferry ride. If you visit our website at FBM Holidays you can read and see all you need to know about the area, view our self catering properties and then book your break. Simples.
See you soon.

The Final Weekend

Well it’s here the culmination of the Six Nations Rugby Tournament and what a finish, Wales versus the old enemy, England, who will be fighting to win their first grand slam for 10 years and wouldn’t we love to spoil the party. Tenby is all geared up for the Welsh invasion, the Welsh Gifts shop is full of green and red feather boas, hats, scarves and T Shirts, sparkly green and red cowboy hats, and, with the weather looking to warm up, a good weekend should be had by all, except the English supporters that is LOL. Whatever the outcome I’m sure the best team will win and I know everyone watching the game in Tenby will have a brilliant day/night depending on their stamina. Come and join us for a three night break or longer if you wish, FBM Holidays has self catering properties available (some with special offers applicable) and one is sure to suit you. This is your last chance to sample the rugby Tenby style, this year, so come on give us a call in the office (01834 844565) or book on line if you prefer. BRING IT ON!


Just a quick mention of my colleague Ironman Billy who has, at last, started training for this years Ironman to be held in Tenby on the 8th September. He wants to beat his time last year so he’d better pull his finger out. If you are entering the competition or supporting the athletes and haven’t booked your accommodation yet give FBM Holidays a call, we do have some availability left but it’s going fast.

Tenby to Swansea and Home Again

Most people from Swansea pay Tenby and Pembrokeshire a visit from time to time but last night I bucked the trend and attended the South Wales Evening Post Pride Awards at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea. An event to celebrate the unsung heroes in the community. A beautiful venue, fantastic meal and an amazing evening. Everyone was bedecked in their finery, ladies dressed in ball gowns and gentlemen in black ties. Brendan Rogers, the former Swansea City manager and Welsh International footballer John Hartson were among the judges. Do you remember the first winner of Britain’s Got Talent, Paul Potts (operatic singer), he also attended the ceremony.
The reason for my attendance was to support my 91year old mum, affectionately known as Aunty Raie to all her pupils some of who are now grandmothers, who was nominated for an award. She has been teaching dancing for over 60 years in Swansea and was nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award and unsurprisingly she won.
I left the Brangwyn Hall with the celebrations in full swing for my drive home, and as I approached the South Beach, Tenby via South Parade, it was probably about 12.30am and the beauty of the dark sea with and the twinkling lights on Caldey Island took my breath away. I was imagining how lovely it must be staying in one of FBM Holidays self catering properties on the Esplanade having that wonderful view 24/7. Can’t beat it. If you are interested take a look at our website FBM Holidays and see this gorgeous view for yourself.
Good luck to Swansea City and the Wales Rugby team for the weekend. Here we go again. Love it.

Spring Into Tenby

Put a spring in your step and have a break in Tenby before or during the Easter Holidays.  The weather in Tenby at the moment is lovely, the sun is shining although there is still a nip in the air, but great for walks along the beaches or longer walks through the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside or along the Coastal Path where the daffodils are blooming and the other spring flowers are starting to show themselves, a very pretty sight.  If you’re like me, a quick stroll on the beach or along the Esplanade will suffice and then pay a visit to one of Tenby’s cafes/bars for a warming snack and drink. 

 I’d just like to say a thank you to my colleague at FBM Holidays, Ironman Billy Connor for my Swansea City Centenary/ League Cup Final 2013 flag, which is hanging proudly in my lounge. He was lucky enough to get a ticket to the game against Bradford City at Wembley last Sunday.  He said the atmosphere was amazing with Bradford and Swansea fans all mingling together.  The way a football game should be.  Swansea were brilliant and won 5….0.  So proud to be a Swansea Jack.

 If you are fancying a holiday in Pembrokeshire give us a call or take a look at our website www.fbmholidays.co.uk to view all our properties details.  We can organise your stay at short notice so why not come to Tenby to celebrate St David’s Day or over the next couple of weekends to experience Tenby during the Six Nations Rugby Tournament.  The next game for Wales is Scotland and then ‘The Old Enemy' at the Millenium Stadium.  WALES   WALES   WALES!!

Celebrate Dewi Sant in Tenby

St David’s Day, the 1st of March is always a special day in Tenby and Pembrokeshire, with businesses and residents celebrating being Welsh and everything about Wales. Young girls will have their welsh costumes on, some wearing tall witch like hats and others with cockle hats. The latter were mainly worn in the Swansea area and I can confirm this because I used to wear one with my costume many years ago. The traditional attire for men was very similar to the English costume, consisting of a brightly coloured waistcoat, a jacket often of blue or grey wool, a neckerchief, a pair of breeches, woollen stockings and a black felt hat, either like a bowler or one with a low, drum-shaped crown with a broad floppy brim. These days the young boys wear Welsh Guards uniforms or a Welsh Rugby kit but always with a large leek pinned to their chests. I can remember when I was in school one young lad was violently sick after munching on his leek whilst watching the school Eisteddfod. Silly boy.


The parish church on Caldey Island is called St Davids and one of the stained glass windows depicts our patron saint, St. David. It was designed by one of the monks, Dom Theodore Bailey who lived on the island in the early 1920s. You can visit Caldey Island easily during the milder summer and spring months when there are numerous boats back and forth from Tenby. During the winter months the boats have to rely on the weather and aren’t guaranteed.

YOU can experience St David’s day in Tenby and stay for the weekend or longer. The town is looking good with tubs and tubs of daffodils placed outside the shops and restaurants, vases full of daffodils in windows, Welsh flags flying proudly. Have a look at FBM Holidays website and find yourself a nice cosy, self catering cottage or apartment, book it and enjoy.

The Welsh Invasion of Paris 2013

The Welsh Rugby team have flown to Paris, no not for an early Valentine break but to prepare for battle with the French on Saturday at the Stade De France in the Six Nations Rugby Tournament.  This is the favourite fixture of many rugby widows. Probably the only rugby trip they will want to go on with their husbands.  They cleverly avoid watching the match and instead, clutching credit and debit cards head for the centre of Paris with it’s fabulous department stores, chique boutiques and coffee shops with their scrummy pastries.  It won’t be just the Welsh rugby jerseys that are red this weekend. Of course before the match, and after the Welsh will take over the café bars and restaurants around the Stade De France.  Dragons, Daffodils and Leeks mingling in with the Cockerels.  If you don’t wish to travel so far afield come on down to Tenby to watch the game.  You can stay for a few nights in one of FBM Holidays self-catering cottages or apartments and take advantage of Tenby and Pembrokeshires’ wonderful hospitality. Last weekend, the Wales versus Ireland game) was brilliant, Tenby was buzzing and even though Wales lost to Ireland a good time was had by all, especially the Irish.  Baileys and Guiness all round. Thinking about it, another date to put in your diary is the 23^rd February, Wales play Italy in the Stadio Olympico in Rome.  Another one for the ladies.  Rome sounds good but then again so does Tenby.  Tenby has my vote.

Tenby Weekender

It’s Friday again and what a weekend ahead. Wales take on Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Come on Wales. Tenby will be buzzing. Dragons, Daffodils and Leeks invading the town. Love it. Although I live in Tenby now, I am originally from Swansea (yes I’m a Swansea Jack) and have supported the ‘Swans’ from a very young age. Standing in the North Bank of the Vetch Field I have watched them climb from the fourth division of the football league to the first division and then go back down, almost relegated from the football league all together. Now we’re back in the Premiership and playing at the stunning Liberty Stadium. Good luck against West Ham tomorrow. I will be torn between watching Wales on the TV and listening to the Swansea game on the radio, probably be running back and forth from kitchen to living room trying to keep up with both. I am a fanatic supporter of the Ospreys, who play at the Liberty Stadium as well. They play Harlequins on Sunday in the LV Cup. Cross your fingers that they win. They are missing quite a few players who will be playing for Wales tomorrow. Many past Welsh International rugby players have been grown and nurtured in Ospreylia Land.
The bars and restaurants in Tenby have all their Welsh finery in place and that’s where they will stay for the next 5 or 6 weeks. If your Welsh, Irish, Scottish English, Italian or French, whatever nationality go onto FBM Holidays website and book a self-catering holiday in Tenby and Pembrokeshire and enjoy the international rugby in a great town with a great atmosphere. .Come on be patriotic.
Come on Wales. Come on the Swans.  Come on the Ospreys. 

Six Nations Tenby

Eight days to go before Wales play Ireland in the first game of the Six Nations Rugby Competition 2013.  Can’t wait, love it.  The population of Tenby rises sharply over the international weekends, everyone enjoying the atmosphere and camaraderie, the town is painted red.  Whilst the game is on, for 80 minutes the streets of Tenby are eerily quiet. The bars and restaurants are packed to the rafters with people enjoying Cawl with warm crusty rolls thickly spread with delicious Welsh butter.  Men dressed as leeks ladies dressed as daffodils as well as a few dragons crowd around the TV screens.  The words “Get a pair of glasses ref” and other unprintable expressions emanate through the streets.

Wales are Grand Slam defending champions and we need to start with a win over Ireland. So all you proud Welsh rugby supporters come to Tenby and support your country.  FBM Holidays have self catering properties in and around Tenby, large and small available to book for the weekend so as well as watching the rugby on Saturday afternoon surrounded by leeks, daffodils and dragons you can enjoy all that Pembrokeshire has to offer.  Dining out in the evenings in one of our many superb restaurants.  Walking along stunning beaches or through magnificent countryside.   Have a look at our website fbmholidays.co.uk and come to Tenby for a break.

YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!

January Blues? Not in Tenby

January can be a quiet time in Tenby but at the moment especially at weekends we seem to have lots of visitors. The restaurants and bars in Tudor Square seem very busy. Tenby is popular with people from other parts of Pembrokeshire for day trips and evenings out, as well as visitors from further afield, staying for short breaks or longer. FBM Holidays have self-catering properties that are cosy and homely well suited for the crisp, cold days of January, February or March. Have a look at our website www.fbmholidays.co.uk . All you need to do then is decide on a suitable date and property for your stay and either book on line or call the office in Tenby, 01834 844565.

The beaches in Tenby and the stunning countryside of Pembrokeshire can be enjoyed during the winter months as well as the summer months, you just need to wrap up warmer to face the cold sea breeze on the North Beach and South Beach at Tenby. Over the past few days I have seen some hardy surfers venturing into the waves on the South Beach, which are particularly good at this time of year.

The development of the old Court buildings overlooking the North Beach in Tenby is more or less complete now. The properties there are looking good. We have two apartments in Glendower House on the Croft, Number 4 and The Penthouse, which are gorgeous with stunning views of the North Beach and across Carmarthen Bay. On a good day you can just make out Worms Head on the edge of the Gower Peninsula. Both properties are very popular and whenever I am handing out keys for either one I am well jell! Take a look at them on our website and you will see what I mean.  Glendower House 4    or    The Penthouse

If you like surfing (I mean on the web and not in the sea) and use Facebook, check out our Facebook page, FBM Holidays and ‘like’. It will keep you informed of any new properties we take on as well as events that are happening in and around Tenby and Pembrokeshire.

Just heard the weather forecast and ‘The Beast from the East’ is on its way but looking at the weather maps it’s not going to reach West Wales and Pembrokeshire, so if you want to avoid the ‘Beast’ book a short break with FBM Holidays and avoid the cold snap.

Last Days of 2012

Had a lovely traditional Christmas day.  Got up about 8.30am Christmas morning (this is quite late for me) Hubby stayed cwtched up until twelve (he was working nights on Christmas Eve poor thing).  Breakfasted on a couple of coffees, and chocolate cake and listened to the Christmas morning carol service on the BBC, all very traditional and festive and gave me a lovely warm feeling.  My next tradition on Christmas morning is to wrap up warm and head for the South Beach, Tenby for a brisk walk to work up an appetite for my Christmas dinner.  From the South Beach I could see Caldey Island which had a serene aura about it on this special religious day. By the time I got to St Catherine’s Island and the Harbour beach I was already thinking about turkey, stuffing and pigs in blankets, goal achieved. There were lots of other walkers on the beaches with dogs and children all running around excitedly.  Everyone was happy and jolly wishing friends, neighbours and strangers a very merry Christmas. Tenby always seems to bring out the best in people.  Had Christmas dinner with my family cooked by my sister-in-law (my boss at FBM holidays).  It was delicious, well done Carol.

Just witnessed hundreds of people dressed in skimpy bathing suits, some in fancy dress, running into the sea and quickly exiting on the North Beach in Tenby.  Yes it’s the Boxing Day Swim in Tenby, sponsored by FBM Holidays.  It was a brilliant day enjoyed by everyone and the town seemed as busy as in August.

New Years Eve is also pretty special in Tenby.  It is always very busy over the New Year with lots of families arriving to bring in the New Year together.  Most revellers will congregate in Tudor Square, just in front of St Mary’s Church, a few minutes before midnight and then rush to the harbour to see the fireworks, amazing.  Everyone should see the New Year in, in Tenby.  You don’t know what you’re missing.  You can book a three day break (or longer) with FBM Holidays  in a self catering holiday home and stay in Tenby, close to the celebrations or elsewhere in Pembrokeshire if you prefer.  Do it!