Gavin and Stacey - where in Wales was it filmed?

The cast and crew of Gavin and Stacey are back in Barry Island, as filming gets under way for the much-anticipated Christmas finale.

Written and starred in by Ruth Jones and James Corden, the new episode of the popular sitcom - which first aired in 2007 - will be the last.

Although the show is set across both England and Wales, most of the locations used for filming were actually in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, and surrounding areas.

Gwen’s house, Barry

The outside of a terraced house on Trinity Street in Barry.
Stacey lived here with her mother, Gwen, at the start of Series 1 [BBC]

On a steep hill in Barry, you’ll find Gwen and Stacey’s house.

The mid-terrace home, seen throughout the show, is where Stacey, played by Joanna Page, lived with her mother Gwen, played by Melanie Walters.

Stacey later moves to Essex to be with Gavin, before the couple return to Barry when Gavin gets a new job in Cardiff.

Uncle Bryn, played by Rob Brydon, lives right across the road, while Doris, who was played by Margaret John, was their next door neighbour.

The kitchen is where Gwen cooks up her famous omelettes.

Pam and Mick’s house, Dinas Powys

A unique-looking 70s build in Dinas Powys.
Pam and Mick's house is actually in Dinas Powys [BBC]

Some viewers may be surprised to learn that the Billericay home of Pam and Mick, played by Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb, is actually just down the road from Barry, in the village of Dinas Powys.

It's where Gavin and Stacey both lived for periods of time during the series, and was where much of the 2008 Christmas special was filmed.

Dave’s caravan, Rhoose

A caravan site in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, was home to Dave’s caravan – where Nessa, played by Ruth Jones, lived with Dave and Neil the baby.

Nessa’s Slots, Barry Island

The outside of an amusement arcade in Barry Island.
Nessa's Slots can be found near the seafront at Barry Island [BBC]

Nessa’s booth can be found in the real-life Nessa’s Slots, on the seafront at Barry Island.

It's next to a number of chippies and the wall overlooking the beach where Gavin, a pregnant Stacey, Nessa and Smithy sat during the final scene of the last episode of series three.

Marco’s cafe, Barry Island

A large café on Barry sea front with large windows and a domed roof.
Stacey worked here in Series 3, right on Barry seafront [BBC]

Marco’s cafe in Barry Island can be seen in many shots of the seafront throughout the show.

It features most prominently in series three when Stacey gets a job working there.

During the 2008 Christmas special, Nessa and Dave Coaches set up a Christmas grotto in a dishevelled tent just outside the cafe.

"Oh Gav, I'm not being funny, you've got to sit on the knee - it's the rules," Nessa, dressed as Santa, told Gavin.

The Colcot Arms, Barry

The outside of a pub in Barry
Smithy's local, supposedly in Billericay, is actually in Barry [BBC]

Everyone loves a pub quiz - unless the quiz host is Smithy and the answer to every other question is “Gary Lineker”.

Smithy hosted this pub quiz at his local Billericay boozer, The Coach & Horses - but it was actually filmed in The Colcot Arms in Barry.

Oceana nightclub, Cardiff

The outside of Oceana nightclub on Greyfriar's Road, Cardiff.
Oceana nightclub in Cardiff closed in 2014 [Jaggery / Geograph]

A night out in series two sees Smithy drag Gavin to Ritzy's Club back in Essex.

However, the foam party actually took place at the former Cardiff nightclub Oceana.

Gavin is later seen dashing off to the smoking area to call Stacey.

At the same time, Stacey makes a quick exit from her bingo night, which was filmed at Penarth Pier.

Gavin and Stacey's wedding, Llanmaes

A large church in Llanmaes
St Gattwg's in Llanmaes played an important part in series one [BBC]

It's the church where Gavin and Stacey got married at the end of series one.

St Cattwg’s in Llanmaes, Vale of Glamorgan, is also where the eccentric vicar Father Chris, played by William Thomas, asks everyone what their favourite sandwich is.

After the wedding, a reception is held at a nearby venue - which was actually the Manor Parc Hotel in Thornhill, Cardiff.

Nessa and Dave's almost wedding

A large church in Peterston-super-Ely
Nessa almost married Dave Coaches here in series three [BBC]

It’s where Nessa almost married Dave Coaches... but at the end of the day, it wasn’t meant to be.

St Peter’s Church in Peterston-super-Ely, Vale of Glamorgan, was also used as the location of Neil the baby’s christening.

Gavin's office, Cardiff

The exterior of HTV Wales building in Culverhouse Cross in Cardiff
The former HTV Wales studios at Culverhouse Cross, pictured here in 2007, before it was later demolished [Christopher R Ware / Geograph]

A new job in Cardiff sees Gavin move to Barry in series three.

His office was actually the former headquarters of ITV Wales, formerly known as HTV Wales, in Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff.

The building was later demolished and the site used for housing after ITV Wales moved to a new site in Cardiff Bay in 2014.

Marks and Spencer in Culverhouse Cross also featured as Stacey's place of work in the 2008 Christmas special.

Another scene with Smithy's sister Rudi, played by Sheridan Smith, was filmed at the nearby Burger King.

Gwen's barn dance, Penarth

A church hall with unique architecture in Penarth.
This church hall was the venue for Gwen's barn dance in series two [BBC]

Remember when Uncle Bryn arranged a surprise barn dance for Gwen’s birthday?

The venue used was actually All Saints Church Hall in Penarth, and it's where Uncle Bryn and Nessa sing Islands in the Stream for the very first time.

Tidy.