View Full Version : Portmeirion - the psychedelic side of wales
The Black Adder
13-08-2026, 16:44
Love this place.
Just come back after a 4 day stay and it's been belting weather. Portmeirion is one of those places where you can honestly think you're abroad.
It's a jewel in the crown of the UK. If you've never been, it's a must for you.
The food is totally amazing too, the wine is fabulous also.
A few pics,
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/f03e5c5ae05c67529d5d1cd622fe8c87.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/0b51ea8b53b9fc56f73aeedddd730c96.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/d7a906a235e08ebf6884fc6342374508.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/323d819cec0b5ca181a67444cc0ac5a2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/1e375b595b230e23ebb757ae0181bfe0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/1d39f84061181d202a253757b58bf6d6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/0f13a44f5bc62c2658f43f6af84b1e78.jpg
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Nice pics Jo, and glad you guys had a good time. We went a few years back and agree it's a magical place with a top-notch restaurant, too!:)
Marco.
The Black Adder
13-08-2026, 16:51
Nice pics Jo, and glad you guys had a good time. We went a few years back and agree it's a magical place with a top-notch restaurant, too!:)
Marco.Damn right. We've been quite a few times over the years and it never loses it's magic.
Also, big fans of The Prisoner are we. Even our teenages love it. Very cool [emoji41]
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It was a "folly" built by Clough-Ellis. Interestingly the distant buildings are just facades, a bit like early Hollywood film sets. They certainly make a lot of fuss about the 'Prisoner' being filmed there: the gift shop is full of Prisoner souvenirs and memorabilia.
I used to enjoy The Prisoner when it was shown on TV, but the revelation as to "who is number 1?", was so unbelievable that Patrick McGoohan was obliged to leave the country out of embarrassment.
I went there some 15 or more years ago, and whilst we ate there I don't remember too much about the venue.
Well worth a visit, especially if you have children.
Lawrence001
13-08-2026, 20:10
Love this place.
Just come back after a 4 day stay and it's been belting weather. Portmeirion is one of those places where you can honestly think you're abroad.
It's a jewel in the crown of the UK. If you've never been, it's a must for you.
The food is totally amazing too, the wine is fabulous also.
A few pics,
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/f03e5c5ae05c67529d5d1cd622fe8c87.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/0b51ea8b53b9fc56f73aeedddd730c96.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/d7a906a235e08ebf6884fc6342374508.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/323d819cec0b5ca181a67444cc0ac5a2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/1e375b595b230e23ebb757ae0181bfe0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/1d39f84061181d202a253757b58bf6d6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20260813/0f13a44f5bc62c2658f43f6af84b1e78.jpg
Sent from my moto g13 using TapatalkCan you actually stay there or do you stay nearby and go there for the day? If you can stay overnight it must be great waking up there every morning.
Pigmy Pony
13-08-2026, 20:11
I think it was 1977 when I went, I know Roadrunner by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers was in the charts. Hmm, nearly 50 years ago, maybe time to revisit.
I liked The Prisoner, in '77 it was being re-run on TV, so I had no idea whether all the souvenirs on sale were to do with that or just a permanent thing. Barry, I can't remember what the deal was with Number 1, can you enlighten me?
'The Prisoner' was a sort of sequel to Patrick McGoohan's 'Danger Man', in that the secret agents are retired and against their will are located to The Village (set in Portmeirion). There McGoohan is told he is Number Six, to which he asks "who is Number one?". The whole of the series is more or less his attempt to find out who that is. The result is implausible; almost as if the writers didn't know how to end the series.
'The Prisoner' was a sort of sequel to Patrick McGoohan's 'Danger Man', in that the secret agents are retired and against their will are located to The Village (set in Portmeirion). There McGoohan is told he is Number Six, to which he asks "who is Number one?". The whole of the series is more or less his attempt to find out who that is. The result is implausible; almost as if the writers didn't know how to end the series.
It wasn't really the sort of series to have any sort of conventional ending, so it doesn't. A conventional ending wouldn't work because it wasn't about telling a story with beginning, middle and end. It was about exploring concepts, ideas, ideologies, identities and all that stuff.
I think there's at maybe three or four episodes of it that are amongst the best television ever made. Plus some real duffers.
I think it was the New Wave film director Jean Luc Godard who said that "a film should have a beginning, middle and an end - but not necessarily in that order".
The series did have its imaginative and surreal touches: such as the doors of the prisoners' homes automatically opening on approach; the Village is bounded between a mountain range on one side and the sea on the other, and is guarded by giant inflatable spheres which come out of the sea if any Prisoner is trying to escape, and, of course, the overall monitoring of the Prisoners by some central control. So, yes some of the episodes were very well made and eidetic - but if the overall thesis of the series was as you say, then it was lost on me.
I have since found out that the some of the episodes of the televised screening were shown out of order, but that wouldn't matter if as you suggest The Prisoner is not a linear narrative.
It would be a good idea if it was televised again; I might think differently about it - Rotten Tomatoes gives it a rating of 100%!
Other than the first, second and final episode I don't think that the order matters although may be a far more serious Prisoner fan than me who disagrees with that.
When I was at University there was a Prisoner society which I joined. Someone took the A4 map of the campus which was issued to all new undergraduates and modified it to look like the Prisoner village map with the 'Your Village' label and using the font that was developed for the series.
This was back in 1988 so not at all easy to do like it would be now. Multiple copies of it were left in the public areas, I really regret not keeping one.
No-one in the society admitted to being responsible for it and despite extensive enquiries, we never found out who had made them.
It would be a good idea if it was televised again; I might think differently about it - Rotten Tomatoes gives it a rating of 100%!
Yes, and then I could watch it, as I've never seen it. When was it first broadcast?
Marco.
Lawrence001
14-08-2026, 09:41
I haven't seen the end of the Prisoner, I've got it on Blu Ray. I had to skip all the posts after mine, so can someone tell me, can you stay overnight in the village?
Yes, and then I could watch it, as I've never seen it. When was it first broadcast?
Marco.
1967. Channel 4 were the first to repeat it, in the early/mid 1980s - that's when I first saw it. Was repeated again in the early 1990s.
I saw it on its first showing in 1967. I would have been 17 at the time, so perhaps should have appreciated it more, yet the concepts discussed were not at all obvious to me. I did however appreciate the novelty and surreal aspects of the series, if not the philosophy.
Time to screen it again.
Sounds a bit too 'deep and meaningful' for me... I'd give it a go though. Is it creepy, or are there action scenes in it? I need something to keep me entertained!:)
Marco.
Sounds a bit too 'deep and meaningful' for me... I'd give it a go though. Is it creepy, or are there action scenes in it? I need something to keep me entertained!:)
Marco.
There's essentially two types of episode - action/adventure where he tries to escape from the village, and weird/psychological where they attempt to mess with his mind.
Like me you'd probably like the action episodes more but it's worth sticking with the other episodes even though they can be a bit heavy going. Visually it always looks great regardless.
Sounds ok - like I said, I'd give it a go:)
Marco.
I haven't seen the end of the Prisoner, I've got it on Blu Ray. I had to skip all the posts after mine, so can someone tell me, can you stay overnight in the village?
Yes
Yes, there's a really nice hotel there (blue and white building in Jo's pics), which serves excellent food.
Marco.
Lawrence001
14-08-2026, 17:26
Ooh I'll look into it but we have a dog not sure if they will allow them in the village.
Pigmy Pony
14-08-2026, 20:20
1967. Channel 4 were the first to repeat it, in the early/mid 1980s - that's when I first saw it. Was repeated again in the early 1990s.
No, I would say C4 was probably the first network re-screening, but Granada TV showed the whole series late '76/early '77. Maybe other ITV regions did similar.
No, I would say C4 was probably the first network re-screening, but Granada TV showed the whole series late '76/early '77. Maybe other ITV regions did similar.
Agreed - I watched the first screening in '67/68 and it was on ITV. Can't remember if was Granada or not, but I'll believe you. :)
Pigmy Pony
14-08-2026, 22:39
It wouldn't have been Granada for you, it will have been whichever ITV region covered you. Like Anglia TV or LWT. The re-screenings were shown at various times in various regions. Though the first screening ('67/'68) was aired countrywide simultaneously.
It was just one season (17 episodes), I thought there were more than that.
I don't remember it being repeated on Granada in the mid-seventies but it was probably on past my bedtime, I was only 7 in '76.
Yes, there's a really nice hotel there (blue and white building in Jo's pics), which serves excellent food.
Marco.
You can also stay in Castell Deudraeth 8n Portmerion, as well as 8n the self catering cottages.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2026, 07:13
I don't remember it being repeated on Granada in the mid-seventies but it was probably on past my bedtime, I was only 7 in '76.
It was definitely being re-shown then, as one of my mates had been watching it, and wanted to see where it was made. And he was the only one of us with a car.
The Prisoner was first shown on TV in Canada on the 5 September 1967. It was premiered in the UK on ITV (ATV) on the 29 September 1967, and later in the US on CBS on 1 June 1968.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2026, 10:45
Not surprised Canada got it first, they were probably desperate for proper telly. Canadians generally are a bit more 'outdoorsy' than us, and for good reason... All I remember of their TV exports were Police Surgeon and Beachcombers, both dire.
Might be different these days, as telly is generally crap no matter where you live.
I never got The Prisoner or why people liked it. IMDB rates it as 8.4. I think that's way over the top into the hugely overrated category.
The temptation to try it again is approximately zero.
Maybe you need to watch it while tripping...? I kinda doubt that. Higher order thoughts would definitely take priority in that state.
Not surprised Canada got it first, they were probably desperate for proper telly. Canadians generally are a bit more 'outdoorsy' than us, and for good reason... All I remember of their TV exports were Police Surgeon and Beachcombers, both dire.
Might be different these days, as telly is generally crap no matter where you live.
There was 'The Kids In The Hall' and 'Trailer Park Boys'. Not really much after 70 years, just two good shows, even the Australians have done better than that.
Having said that, we haven't made anything good in decades and the Yanks only manage it because they make so many shows that the 'thousand monkeys on a thousand typewriters' factor comes into play.
Just discovered that 'The Littlest Hobo' was Canadian which explains a lot. When that came on of a Saturday morning it was time to go out on your bike.
dave2010
15-08-2026, 11:05
We went to Wales a few weeks ago, and spent a few days around Conwy before wending our way back to the Midlands and our flight back to the frozen wastes.
Some really nice spots. I always wanted go to Portmeirion, but so far haven’t, though we do have a copious supply of dinner plates, dishes and flower pots branded with the name.
I was never quite sure exactly where Portmeirion is, and thought it might be in South Wales, but it’s classed as North, and actually not too far away from some of the places we passed. I would definitely make the effort to go to those parts again, and make sure that we visit this curiosity.
How many episodes of the Prisoner were there? I enjoyed some that I watched, but never fully understood it. It might be good to see some again and also the denouement, such as it apparently is.
OTOH I could cheat and go straight to an online or AI synopsis to save time.
. I always wanted go to Portmeirion, but so far haven’t, though we do have a copious supply of dinner plates, dishes and flower pots branded with the name.
.
The Portmeirion pottery factory is just round the corner from me.
I don't remember it being repeated on Granada in the mid-seventies but it was probably on past my bedtime, I was only 7 in '76.
I was 11, but the bedtime thing would still have applied... Plus, in those days my mum was in charge of the remote control and that's not something she would've watched.
Marco.
Just discovered that 'The Littlest Hobo' was Canadian which explains a lot. When that came on of a Saturday morning it was time to go out on your bike.
Never heard of that. On Saturday morning's back then the main focus for me was Tiswas.
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2026, 13:06
Never heard of that. On Saturday morning's back then the main focus for me was Tiswas.
Marco.
The Littlest Hobo was a dog. It was an itinerant and never stayed in the same place long. Just long enough to save the day, then as soon as the grateful humans' backs were turned, the dog would bugger off. So many problems to fix and just one dog. It was pretty smart, but never learned how to delegate.
The series was bad enough, but the accompanying title music ("Maybe Tomorrow") was truly vomit-inducing. They really don't need to bring that back.
Didn't see much of Tiswas. Back then the main focus for me was sleeping off Friday night, in readiness for Saturday night.
Lol... Were you a bit of a boozer back in the day, Steve?
Marco.
The Littlest Hobo was a dog. It was an itinerant and never stayed in the same place long. Just long enough to save the day, then as soon as the grateful humans' backs were turned, the dog would bugger off. So many problems to fix and just one dog. It was pretty smart, but never learned how to delegate.
.
So just the incredible hulk really but with a dog instead of a hulk.
This is an example of AoS's infamous tread drift at its finest!
Lawrence001
15-08-2026, 16:31
So just the incredible hulk really but with a dog instead of a hulk.Pretty close except the dog didn't go green or have any clothes to rip and fall off.
Did that guy who was an angel also go to different places each episode and solve people's problems? Shame I've never met anyone like that I've got a long list of jobs they could do for me.
Pretty close except the dog didn't go green or have any clothes to rip and fall off.
Did that guy who was an angel also go to different places each episode and solve people's problems? Shame I've never met anyone like that I've got a long list of jobs they could do for me.
That was the bloke off of 'Little House On The Prairie.' That and that angel thing are two of the worst shows ever made and he's in both - beating the record previously set by Jacko off of 'Brush Strokes.'
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2026, 19:10
So just the incredible hulk really but with a dog instead of a hulk.
As I was typing it I was thinking Incredible Hulk too! Great minds and all that.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2026, 19:14
Lol... Were you a bit of a boozer back in the day, Steve?
Marco.
Not really - though I went out 7 nights a week I didn't bother much with lunchtimes (except Friday and Saturday). Really I was more stoner than boozer, but booze was cheaper.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2026, 19:20
That was the bloke off of 'Little House On The Prairie.' That and that angel thing are two of the worst shows ever made and he's in both - beating the record previously set by Jacko off of 'Brush Strokes.'
I remember Brush Strokes - It really was cack. And the theme music (by Dexys I think) was also cack, it accompanied the opening sequence where Jacko was painting a wall, and that's where it stopped being interesting.
Fortunately, I haven't a clue what you are talking about! Must have been the period '68 - '74, which was a 'TV-free period' for me.
Fortunately, I haven't a clue what you are talking about! Must have been the period '68 - '74, which was a 'TV-free period' for me.
'Little House on the Prairie' was '70s although, and it stretches credibility I know, it was recently rebooted.
'Brush Strokes' was 1980s.
That angel thing - which for the life of me I can't recall the name of was '90s - I think.
Possibly all the 'going round helping people' shows were linked. Probably the angel would get first dibs and then any work he didn't want he'd pass on to the dog, the hulk and the A Team.
It was called “Highway to Heaven” and yes, was cack too! Michael Landon was also in Bonanza. Looks like he died in 1991 only 54.
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'Little House on the Prairie' was '70s although, and it stretches credibility I know, it was recently rebooted.
'Brush Strokes' was 1980s.
That angel thing - which for the life of me I can't recall the name of was '90s - I think.
Possibly all the 'going round helping people' shows were linked. Probably the angel would get first dibs and then any work he didn't want he'd pass on to the dog, the hulk and the A Team.
The 'A Team' were definitely '80s. Complete rubbish, but I used to watch it then. I believe the episodes are being re-shown on Great TV, or some such channel but I can't be bothered to watch any of them again. The only repeats I sometimes watch are 'Mash'.
The 'A Team' were definitely '80s. Complete rubbish, but I used to watch it then. I believe the episodes are being re-shown on Great TV, or some such channel but I can't be bothered to watch any of them again. The only repeats I sometimes watch are 'Mash'.
The A Team's not that bad especially by today's low standards. I mean even 'Knight Rider' is now a decent watch compared to modern rubbish.
Pigmy Pony
15-08-2026, 21:16
That angel thing - which for the life of me I can't recall the name of was '90s - I think.
It was called Highway to Heaven, and I don't feel good about knowing that.
Edit: I've just seen that Alex also knows about it, that makes me feel better :)
There should really be some sort of war crimes tribunal for people involved in making stuff like that.
The A-Team and Knight Rider were excellent!
Steve, if you don't mind me asking, what age are you? From some of your comments, I'm guessing (Barry aside), you're older than us.
Marco.
The A-Team and Knight Rider were excellent!
Marco.
I used to watch Kight Rider as well: a talking, self-driving and stylish looking car, what more could one ask? :lol:
Pigmy Pony
16-08-2026, 08:51
The A-Team and Knight Rider were excellent!
Steve, if you don't mind me asking, what age are you? From some of your comments, I'm guessing (Barry aside), you're older than us.
Marco.
I don't mind you asking, I'm sixty eight and a half :) So yes, I'll be older than most of you. Most of my adult life I've been the oldest, almost all of my mates, also my youngest brother, have all been 11 years younger than me. The latest being Macca I think. Oh and Anita of course. All 11 years. It's uncanny.
Lol, thanks for that. You're just as old as the woman you feel, eh?;)
Marco.
I used to watch Kight Rider as well: a talking, self-driving and stylish looking car, what more could one ask? :lol:
Yes, KIT. I've still got a boxed Matchbox model of it:)
Marco.
You mean KITT ('Knight Industries Two Thousand'). The car itself was a Pontiac Trans AM.
There was a later series shown around 2000, for which KITT conveniently stood for 'Knight Industries Three Thousand'. I don't know if it was ever shown in UK.
Anyway by then the Hoff was busy with another very good-looking partner: Pamela Anderson.
Beobloke
18-08-2026, 12:04
There was also a Knight Industries Four Thousand in the Knight Rider 2000 film. Sadly, both film and car were a bit pants.
As to Portmerion, it's on my list to go although I've never seen The Prisoner. A friend likes it, though, but thinks that Number Six is a bit of a thicko, particularly after one early episode where he's trying to find out where in the world he is. As my friend pointed out - the record player in his room has a Garrard turntable and the mains sockets on the wall are all 13A 3-pin Type G, therefore there's a pretty good chance he's in the UK!
Pigmy Pony
18-08-2026, 12:22
There was also a Knight Industries Four Thousand in the Knight Rider 2000 film. Sadly, both film and car were a bit pants.
As to Portmerion, it's on my list to go although I've never seen The Prisoner. A friend likes it, though, but thinks that Number Six is a bit of a thicko, particularly after one early episode where he's trying to find out where in the world he is. As my friend pointed out - the record player in his room has a Garrard turntable and the mains sockets on the wall are all 13A 3-pin Type G, therefore there's a pretty good chance he's in the UK!
Yeah, but they'd made the room a copy of his own, and that kind of attention to detail may have mattered. But from what I remember, it never pissed down in the village, that must have thrown him.
If he'd checked whether his bathwater went the plug hole clockwise or anticlockwise, be could then have discounted half of the world, which would be a start :)
Yeah, but they'd made the room a copy of his own, and that kind of attention to detail may have mattered. But from what I remember, it never pissed down in the village, that must have thrown him.
When it was raining he probably just stopped in his house all day, so that wouldn't make much of an episode.
Lawrence001
19-08-2026, 16:40
When it was raining he probably just stopped in his house all day, so that wouldn't make much of an episode.With all this interest in slow TV now it might be quite popular these days. I'd rather watch a bus go through the Yorkshire Dales mind you.
Pigmy Pony
19-08-2026, 18:26
With all this interest in slow TV now it might be quite popular these days. I'd rather watch a bus go through the Yorkshire Dales mind you.
Big fan of Heartbeat then? :)
maybe they could combine 'Heartbeat' with 'On The Buses' - 'Heartbus'
'
Lawrence001
20-08-2026, 16:23
Big fan of Heartbeat then? :)No my mum used to watch it and it drove me nuts. I did like Nick Berry though, do you remember Every Loser Wins?
Pigmy Pony
20-08-2026, 18:38
No my mum used to watch it and it drove me nuts. I did like Nick Berry though, do you remember Every Loser Wins?
I want to say no...
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