Copyright dailypost
In summer, Barmouth positively brims with visitors attracted by its beautiful sandy beach and blend of traditional seaside town activities. But even the biggest resort in south Gwynedd wasn’t immune to winter downturns: as the nights drew in, the shutters came down and the lights went off. “It was like a ghost town in winter,” sighed accommodation provider Liz Davies. “The school holidays were always a mad rush but come the end of October, everything began shutting down. For decades, it was eight weeks of chaos and 44 weeks of quiet.” In recent years, things have begun to change. Astute marketing allied to collective will has begun to push Barmouth towards a goal craved by all the world’s holiday destinations. It hasn’t quite reached full year-round tourism, but there’s growing optimism it will. Known for its picturesque location where Cardigan Bay is framed by Eryri’s mountains, Barmouth’s stunning surroundings have drawn holidaymakers since the railway arrived in 1867. In summer, the town’s 2,500 residents are joined by up to 10,000 visitors keen to taste the area's natural beauty for themselves. When they disappeared over winter, an eerie stillness used to settle over the town. The quieter months were usually survivable for local businesses if they’d banked enough during the summer - but after a bad season it was a close call. Walkers have long checked into Barmouth hotels in late autumn as the mountains brown and woodlands ignite nature’s fireworks. For the resort’s get-up-and-go business community, the trick was to offer other reasons to visit beyond the shoulder seasons. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now “We’re now seeing lots of different types of visitors coming later in the year, like food lovers attracted to Barmouth's restaurants and golfers lured by the area’s wonderful courses,” said Liz. “Another big trend is the occasion holiday, where families and large groups get together to celebrate birthdays and other life landmarks.” Which is good news for Liz and husband Rich, who own a 1920s Art Deco house on Marine Parade. It was in need of work when they bought the former hotel in October 2023 after falling in love with Barmouth. "It was the saddest building in the loveliest street," said Liz. Extensive renovations, driven by a desire to provide an upmarket offering, have made a dramatic difference: The Belmont Barmouth is now available as a nine -bedroom luxury holiday home sleeping up to 18. With cinema and games rooms, it’s geared towards large-group reunions, celebrations and multi-generational holidays. Since the hotel reopened, the business has seen a profound change. “In our first year, around 20% of guests were arriving after the peak season,” said Liz, 50, who recently launched a new venture, Found & Visible, to help other holiday let owners build better online visibility. “In the second year, the figure doubled to 40%. “Summer is still busy - we have just eight days left for the 2026 season – but we’re also getting bookings for next November and December already. It’s great news for the resort – restaurants are staying open longer and taxi drivers are getting more work, while cleaners and tradespeople have more consistent income year-round.” Barmouth's independent shops have long led the way and others have followed. Liz estimates 80% of the town’s businesses now stay open year-round. This Spring’s arrival of Dylan’s was another boost, helping the town achieve a critical mass of open-year-round businesses. Dylan’s media manager David Retallick said: “Opening in Barmouth this year, with our restaurant and general store, we had the philosophy that if we stayed open we could provide a stable base for our core team all year round. “It allows us to safeguard the careers of our local team members. In the process, it hopefully contributes to providing an anchor for other businesses to also extend their hours further out of season - and to meet increasing demand throughout the year.” Out-of-season holidays appeal to people’s pockets and, in The Belmont’s case, group bookings help bring down headage costs still further. With winters getting warmer, crossing Mid Wales to reach coastal resorts like Barmouth – which has a large West Midlands fanbase - now appears less formidable. It still rains, of course, but that’s not always a bad thing. “Waterfalls are full and the landscape is at its most dramatic,” said Dominic Vacher of the Verdun House Gallery. “The beaches and paths remain accessible and quiet. “The winter light is excellent for walkers and photographers, and from early November to mid February the sun sets directly down the estuary. The sunsets aren’t guaranteed every day, but often they are far more impressive in winter than in summer thanks to the town’s west facing position.” All of which is helping Barmouth to reach its year-round goal, said Dominic. “A big part of that is the town itself. Many shops stay open all year, particularly the independents that appeal to today’s visitors, like Pieces for Places, Verdun House Gallery, and several high quality clothing, jewellery, furniture and gift shops. “The only businesses that usually close are those aimed purely at the traditional beach market. Our pubs and restaurants, including several new venues and established award-winning ones, stay open throughout the year. “In winter, visitors can enjoy everything Barmouth offers but without the crowds. It’s easier to get a table at restaurants, and there’s more choice and availability in accommodation.” Barmouth isn’t yet fully year-round – January and February are always the hardest nuts to crack, though even here bookings are rising. The town is invariably busy over Christmas as shoppers converge from miles around for the kind of individual gifts that national chains can’t provide. It was a trend thrown into sharp contrast by December closures of Barmouth viaduct for extensive repairs. But even extending the season by three to four months will gild the earnings of local businesses and make each year less hand-to-mouth. At The Belmont, where groups typically pay £3,000-£5,000 per stay, the resort’s out-of-season push means it’s generating an extra £250,000 annually, much of it flowing into the local economy. Improving the quality of Barmouth’s visitor offer has made a big difference, believes David Brown, chair of the resort’s publicity association. A thriving restaurant scene coupled to an influx of upmarket retailers and accommodation providers has helped dispel some of the resort's bucket-and-spade persona. “Barmouth has transformed from a quiet seaside town in winter into a vibrant, year-round destination,” he said. “That change has been driven by two key forces — a new wave of high-quality accommodation like The Belmont and a thriving food scene with restaurants now open all year. “Visitors can enjoy the buzz of summer or the warmth and ‘cwtch’ of winter — and always eat well, whatever the season.” Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday Find out what's happening near you
