There's always a sense of wonderful anticipation as you wind your way down towards Pembrokeshire's Coppet Hall Beach, through the leafy, sun-soaked country roads or across the irresistible sandy beach from Saundersfoot. The tiny, attractive cove has an undeniable pull, as you can park up and almost always just walk straight into the sea, tide-dependent, for a refreshing, invigorating swim or brief dip. The option of a hot coffee and cake has always been there, but if you were after something more substantial the restaurant sitting atop the bay, Coast, was always reserved for a special occasion with a high-end menu.
Not that there's anything wrong with high-end or taster menus, but I always felt Coppet Hall was better suited to a place where you could get a quality lunch or dinner with a broader menu appeal and it seems owners, the Seren Group which also runs nearby Grove of Narberth, thought similar as an overhaul of the menu and a new name, Lan y Môr, has recently launched which they hope will appeal to a "wider cross-section" of diners. And after a dip in the sea recently, I was invited to go along to try out the new menu, newly and carefully pieced together by Seren Chef Director Hywel Griffiths, alongside Head Chef, Gerwyn Jones, and Hywel says of the relaunch: "The location at Coppet Hall Beach is the ideal location for a thriving, fun-filled restaurant renowned for easy dining for all to enjoy. I’m delighted to bring my ethos of locally sourced, fresh local produce,.