The Parkgate Hotel was transformed into a very opulent setting for Sonia’s hen do in the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special, which was watched by over 15 million people
One of the most cringeworthy moments of the Gavin and Stacey finale was perhaps Sonia’s hen party, yet it was all glitz and glam thanks to one of Cardiff’s most exclusive hotels.
Sonia’s less-than-perfect hen do unfolded in style within The Parkgate Hotel’s Telegraph Suite. Amidst floral decor and balloon arches, her character and the hens engaged in an uneasy game of Mr and Mrs, complete with an unexpected appearance by a stripper.
With rooms starting at £90 a night, the hotel recently expressed pride on Instagram for being featured in last Christmas’s top TV programme.
Their Instagram post read: “It was only the most watched TV show on Christmas Day 2024, but did you spot us in the Gavin and Stacey finale? In ‘true’ Sonia style, the event was, of course, held in Wales’ Hotel of the Year. Our very own Telegraph Suite.”
The Telegraph Suite, a premier venue within the hotel, is available for hire for events ranging from private dinners to more intimate nuptials, accommodating up to 50 guests, reports Wales Online.
The suite boasts a view allowing diners to watch chefs in action, providing an opulent backdrop for various exclusive gatherings.
The Parkgate Hotel, open since autumn 2021, boasts: “This gorgeous room makes a fabulous setting for private lunches and dinners, board meetings, events and more intimate weddings.”
Laura Aikman, known for her role as Sonia in the show, has previously discussed the lengths she went to keep her involvement a secret, even going as far as not telling her own parents.
The actress was lodged separately from the rest of the cast during filming, used decoy vehicles for commuting to and from the set, and was barred from attending wrap or screening parties.
The Christmas episode saw her character set to marry Smithy, played by James Corden, five years after Nessa, portrayed by Ruth Jones, proposed to him in the 2019 cliff-hanger.
Viewers were taken aback when Sonia made her appearance, but the episode has been praised as the ‘perfect ending’.
The Parkgate Hotel, where some scenes were filmed, was formerly the Cardiff Post Office and County Court. In September, it clinched the AA Hotel of the Year for Wales award at the AA hospitality awards, an honour previously held by Tenby’s Penally Alley.
This accolade puts the hotel in the same league as prestigious establishments like The Dorchester in London.
The five-star Parkgate Hotel on Westgate Street, which features a thermal spa with stunning city views from its top floor, is steeped in historical charm, as evidenced by the original sign still adorning its entrance.
The AA Hospitality Awards judges were full of praise, stating: “The Parkgate Hotel is a luxury hotel that echoes all the elegance and glamour of its historic setting, being the combination of the grand former post office and the city’s old county court.
“Bedrooms are a chic blend of classic-meets-contemporary luxury, from sumptuous superior rooms to the extra-special Parkgate suites. There’s also a spa and the sorting room restaurant, a chic spot in the heart of the city.”
