Slebech Park Estate

Slebech Park Estate: accommodation and dining in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Slebech Park Estate is an accommodation and dining establishment located in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales. It occupies a private 700-acre estate with rivers, meadows, and ancient woodlands, combining historic buildings with contemporary amenities. Open year-round.

Accommodation in the historic courtyard

The rooms are located in the original courtyard buildings of the estate. Each has been refurbished and individually decorated, inspired by the landscape and heritage of the surroundings. Bedding is Egyptian cotton; Welsh Brew tea and coffee and Llanllyr Source natural spring water are provided. Heating and hot water are generated by recently installed biomass boilers, adding a sustainable component to the comfort of the stay.

The Peg restaurant

The Peg restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:30. On Sundays, it offers lunch from 12:00 to 14:30. Tea and cake are served daily from 10:00 to 14:30. There is no dinner service on Sundays. The restaurant is also open Wednesday to Sunday with food service from 12:00 to 14:30 and 17:30 to 20:00, and remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations can be made through DishCult.

Natural surroundings and wildlife

The estate includes natural trails and walking and cycling routes through woodlands and riversides. The waterside location allows for spotting ospreys, birds of prey, otters, badgers, and bat species. The establishment presents itself as a place for nature lovers, history enthusiasts, and those seeking tranquility.

Weddings and events

Slebech Park Estate is a venue for weddings, blessings, and civil ceremonies. The estate has 60 acres of gardens overlooking the DauGleddau estuary and 650 acres of meadows and woodlands for photographs and cocktails. It also hosts private events and corporate retreats.

Historical heritage

The origin of the name Slebech is associated with a Viking term meaning 'stony beach'. From the 6th century, it was a meeting point for pilgrims heading to St David's Cathedral. Figures such as William the Conqueror, Henry II, Edward I, and Queen Eleanor passed through the estate. The oldest surviving building is the Norman tower of the 12th-century church, probably part of a watchtower over the river. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, Slebech housed the most powerful monastic foundation in Wales, managed by the Knights of St John, and was a gathering point for knights departing on crusades. During Henry VIII's Reformation, the commandery was dissolved and the lands redistributed. Only the 12th-century church, some tunnels, and remnants of Slebech Hall's walls remain; the rest of the medieval structures disappeared in the English Civil War. The estate later passed to Roger Barlow, a confidant of Henry VIII, and the Barlow family held it until the 18th century, when Catherine Barlow inherited and married Sir William Hamilton. Slebech Hall, one of Wales's most outstanding Georgian manor houses, was built in the 1750s, attributed to architect Anthony Keck, and is listed as Grade II*. The estate then passed to Nathaniel Phillips and later to the De Rutzen family. During World War II, it was used by the US Army in preparation for D-Day.

Accessibility and surroundings

The establishment is accessible by car and is near the town of Haverfordwest. On-site parking is available. Nearby attractions include the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, St David's Cathedral, the coastal towns of Tenby and Saundersfoot, and Castell Henllys, a recreation of an Iron Age village.

Location and contact

Slebech Park Country Estate, Slebech, Haverfordwest, SA62 4AX · Email: enquiries@slebech.co.uk