Highlights
- 18th-century Welsh stone cottage, with contemporary style
- Tucked away in 'Dylan Thomas country' Laugharne
- Sun-trap garden overlooked by Laugharne Castle
- Just a short drive from the Pembrokeshire coastline
- Rustic-deco decor, with lashings of luxurious toiletries, candles, brassware and tiling
Smith tip
Head to the old market town of Narberth, a 20-minute drive away, for a meander around the shoe shops, galleries and Longshore House’s interiors store: Taylor’s Etc. While you’re there, try new restaurant The Carreg ('The Stone'), 32 High Street (+44 (0)1834 862 990 – it's causing a bit of a stir. You can have your sirloin steak, shark or scallop of wild mushroom brought to your table and cooked in front of you – on sizzling hot volcanic rocks.
More photos
Longshore House
- Style
- Bubble of luxury within a Welsh stone house
- Setting
- Dylan Thomas’s Laugharne
A typical stone house in the traditional, cobbled Welsh township of Laugharne – made famous by its favourite resident: Dylan Thomas. Step inside this 18th-century shell and a houseful of high-tech high-design reels you in and hits you between the eyes. The three double bedrooms and three reception rooms blend ancient grace with up-to-the-second style; black painted floorboards lead you through old cottage doors, a heavy glass coffee table crouches before a needs-its-own-postcode inglenook, whilst Philippe Starck acrylic chairs nestle under battered old ship timber ceiling beams. Sociable, yet secluded, the result is a combination of party house and total shut-the-world-out shelter – perfect for those looking for a self-catering boutique style house within a quaint, picture-postcard setting.
Need to know
RatesOne week: £895–£2,200. Three-night weekend breaks: £495–£1,250. Four-night midweek breaks: £495–£1,250. All midweek and weekend breaks are based on four sharing. All additional guests are charged at £95 a person per break.
Sleeps6, plus 2 in the attic room
Ideal forStylish house parties, couples’ getaway breaks, family gatherings and Dylan Thomas fanatics
Minimum hireThree nights. Rental starts on Saturdays at 5pm – flexible if no guests are staying beforehand
Booking processSmith deposit taken when you book. A 50 per cent deposit is required on bookings made more than three weeks before rental, with full payment 14 days prior to arrival. Any bookings taken after the three week deadline are to be paid in full.
Property style18th-century Welsh stone house
GroundsAt the end of a lane in the heart of the township, the house has a south-facing garden overlooked by Laugharne’s Norman castle
AlsoBedrooms are non-smoking. Pets are welcome – there’s plenty of open countryside surrounding the property. Midweek, you can occasionally hear take-offs from the military airbase a few miles away.
In the know
Eating and drinkingLongshore House features a well equipped kitchen for self-catering. A menu, from which food and drinks can be pre-ordered, is available before arrival. A range of buffet-style menus can be provided for special occasions. The dining room seats six, whilst outside there is a large gas barbecue and table and chairs for six. Although no chef is affiliated to Longshore House, buffet meals can be arranged and you can pre-order food ready for your arrival. The extensive wine list in the kitchen refers to a stash in the pantry, available to buy. There is a gas barbecue with a large plate – perfect for parties – and two picnic rucksacks in the pantry, packed with everything you need (including several rugs).
HousekeepingNo mid-week housekeeping, but a daily change of towels can be arranged at an additional cost. Daily cleaning and towel change £25 a day.
EntertainmentThe living room has a WiFi music system preloaded with a wide range of music plus Dylan Thomas’s play Under Milk Wood, starring Richard Burton – perfect for a night in front of a roaring log fire.
ProvidedFree WiFi, Sky+ HD, DVD, WiFi music systems, DVD library, barbecue and welcome hamper. In rooms: flatscreen TV, bathrobes, Branche d’Olive, Designers Guild and Abahna toiletries, towels, fresh flowers and local chocolates
Packing tipsLeave the mobile phone charger at home; there’s virtually no reception at Longshore House. (Smith tip: find a flicker of reception opposite the pond in the garden, if you must.)
Eco policyOrganic produce from local suppliers and farmers can be pre-ordered on request
For a detailed description of all the rooms and grounds, click here
Also worth knowing
- Children
- Welcome. The attic room is great for little ones; there is a 50-inch TV and Nintendo Wii with games. (There is a fairly steep staircase up to this room, unsuitable for very young children). Note: there is an uncovered pond currently in the garden.
Smith card offer
A Welsh produce hamper, including Penderyn Welsh whisky, chocolates and local delicacies
If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).
Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member
