THE SHOW THAT PUT BARRY ON THE MAP: GAVIN AND STACEY

Until the mid-noughties, the Welsh town of Barry, including the resort area of Barry Island, was one of the more obscure coastal towns on the British coast, with a reputation for being a bit down-at-heel, a reputation confirmed by my husband’s accounts of childhood trips to the area.  However, all this has changed since 2007, when the engaging sitcom Gavin and Stacey hit our screens.  Barry has been used as the main backdrop of this story of a long-distance romance between Gavin from Essex (Matthew Horne) and Stacey from South Wales (Joanna Page), drawing in their friends Smithy (James Corden), Nessa (Ruth Jones) and assorted family members.

Barry Island (19246735281). Photo by Jeremy Segrott, via Wikimedia Commons

Undoubtedly the main draw of Barry Island is its golden beaches, fringing the attractively curved Whitmore Bay, and this is where the beach scenes of the series were filmed.  In series 3, Stacey is seen working in a beachside cafe: this is Marco’s Cafe towards the western end of the beach.  A few steps from the cafe is the Island Leisure Amusement Centre, which is Nessa’s place of work.  The beach wall by Boofy’s Fish and Chips Cafe, was used for a classic shot of the four friends together.  

Barry Island promenade (4674). Photo by Nilfanion, via Wikimedia Commons

In one episode, Nessa has a change of career when she tries her hand at being a human statue.  The scene was shot outside Barry’s Library and Town Hall in King’s Square.  Staying in Barry, a couple of local hotels feature in the filming: the Tadcross Hotel at 271 Holton Road is the scene of a christening party and the Colcot Arms in Colcot Road is where Smithy’s quiz night is held.  However, the hotel where Nessa reveals she is pregnant is not in Barry, but is the Glendale Hotel in Penarth, just outside Cardiff.  Penarth is also the location of Gwen’s birthday barn dance, which takes place in All Saints Church Hall, Victoria Road.  

All Saints Church, Penarth geograph.org.uk - 5053179. Photo by Jaggery, via Wikimedia  Commons

As for the houses occupied by the merry band of friends and relatives, several of the characters live in Trinity Street in Barry.  The real-life residents have had to put up with droves of fans turning up, even coach parties in some cases.  Another house in Dinas Powys near Penarth doubles as Gavin’s house in Billericay and has also been a magnet for fans, apparently to the dismay of the owner.  

Map of Barry