New research from Simply Sea Views has revealed Britain's most independent seaside towns, and Barmouth in North Wales has secured a spot in the top 10. The rankings were built from the proportion of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs that are locally owned in each destination, including customer ratings, and the number of independent businesses per resident. The study drew on over 20,000 individual businesses across the UK and gave each town a score out of 100. Barmouth achieved an overall score of 79.1.
Barmouth's independent pubs
Barmouth is home to several pubs, all of which are independently run. A popular spot in the town is Barmouth Bar & Grill, which has been described by customers as a "lovely place" where staff are "friendly and helpful". Just a few doors down is Myrddin’s Tap, and around the bend is The Last Inn, conveniently the last pub in the town, or the first if coming from the opposite direction. Other options include the traditional Tal Y Don Hotel, which sits closest to the train station. One visitor said in a Google Review: "Great little Welsh pub. Exactly as you’d imagine: great selection of drinks, good food, dog friendly. Nice to sit outside and have a drink, but also inside is nice and cosy."
Independent cafés and shops
Barmouth also offers a selection of cafés within walking distance of the beach. Goodies, rated 4.6 stars on Google, is a popular spot for coffee and cakes. One diner wrote: "Definitely the nicest café in Barmouth. Good coffee, excellent cakes and a really good café food menu. Light, airy decor with comfortable chairs and plenty of space - you never feel crowded. I come here every time I'm in Barmouth, and it never disappoints." Perched on the corner overlooking the sea is Bath House Cafe, which serves drinks including a small selection of beer and cider, as well as food ranging from burgers to mussels and waffles. Along the high street there is also Bradshaw's Coffee, Richmond Coffee Shop, The Lunchbox and Wendy's Café, among other options. In between the food and drink spots are a number of shops selling hand-picked homeware, gifts, stationery, books and clothing.
Barmouth is the only seaside town where 100% of cafés and pubs are independently owned, according to the research. Falmouth took the top spot overall, ahead of St Ives and Whitby, while Barmouth ranked sixth.
