Private, unique and VIP experiences in South East and South West Wales

Abergavenny Baker Cookery School
The bright and beautiful cookery school in the town centre is where groups of 6-10 people can attend relaxed and informal baking classes. They also offer cooking classes combining ordinary home-grown foods with more exotic imported ingredients to create no-fuss bright, fragrant and exciting meals suitable for confirmed carnivores and flexitarians alike. Themes include Great British, French, Italian, Middle Eastern, and breads, but the day can be tailored to the tastes of individual groups. They can also include a second breakfast, lunch, wine, and refreshments. All ingredients and equipment are included. Bespoke classes can be arranged from Thursday to Sunday. Contact Rachael Watson for more information.

Chocolate House, Rhondda Heritage Park
Chocolate making workshops are offered at the Chocolate House, which is located at A Welsh Mining Experience. Workshops are held throughout the year and private workshops can be arranged on a date suitable for your group (between 8-14 clients). Workshops includes an informative introduction to the chocolate manufacturing process, a tasting session and hands-on chocolate making. Your clients will make and decorate 12 truffles to take away with them. The workshops are not suitable for individuals with nut allergies. There is a 10% discount for groups of 10 or more. They also own on-site Caffe Bracchi, where clients can enjoy food, drinks, homemade desserts and afternoon tea. Contact info@chocolate-house.co.uk for more information.

Dark Wales Tours
Private ghost tours for up to 22 guests can be arranged at St Fagans National Museum of History and Insole Court, Llandaff. They will need a list of dates that you are interested in to check venue availability. Your clients will tour the venues in the dark with torches, which are turned off during storytelling for atmospherics. They stop at various points for a history talk and will recount the paranormal experiences reported over the years. No 'communication' is attempted, and no one 'jumps out' to scare the group. For more information contact darkwales@hotmail.com.

Great Western Railway South East and South West Wales
The Pullman Dining services runs on the 17:48 London Paddington to Swansea service and the 12:23 Swansea to London Paddington service. The experience can be booked online with a First Class ticket, or upgraded on the day of travel, subject to availability. For more information, contact GWRGrouptravel@gwr.com

Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs
If your clients are looking for conservation/biodiversity tours, Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs have a fascinating waxcap fungi story, and they can provide a ranger talk and tour of the site, part of which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Some of the fungi is so rare that it is only found in one other country in the world. There are several varieties of fungi, and the fruiting bodies can be seen in Autumn/Winter.

Loving Welsh Food, Cardiff and the surrounding area
Private food tours give clients an opportunity to connect with Wales’ food, history and culture. They include City of Arcades Tasting tour; Welsh Food tour; Cardiff Lunch & Landmarks tour, and On Wheels. Bespoke tours can also be arranged. They are available in English, French, German and Italian. They can also offer a 'Taste of Wales' evening  held at The Welsh House, Cardiff. The evening includes Welsh entertainment, food and drink. For more information, contact Sian Roberts.

The Royal Mint Experience, Llantrisant
The only place in the world to watch the United Kingdom's coins being made, as well as coins from 60 countries. Tailor-made and VIP tours are offered for groups up to 8 pax. The VIP tour includes the original tour with a chance to meet the experts, see a World Famous Collection, discover how the coins are made on the factory floor, and experience the tool room. The tour takes place from 09:00 to 16:00. There is also an option to do a shorter Key To The Mint Package which takes around three hours. This includes a guided tour, guided exhibition tour, strike your own coin, cream tea and meet the curator. For more information contact groups@royalmint.com. 

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Your clients may wish to 'meet the curator' with talks lasting around 30 mins. They are delivered by specialists from the Museum’s Curatorial and Conservation teams and include an introduction to the site, with top tips on what to look out for during a visit. The lecture theatre has level access via lift, and is close to accessible parking and facilities. Cost varies depending on group size (max 120). Discounts are offered in the shop with a minimum spend, and complimentary refreshments are provided for the coach driver (on production of ID). Pre booking at least two weeks prior to visit, and payment is required in advance. For more information contact +44(0) 2057 3500 or via their on-line contact form. 

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
The Wales Millennium Centre offers a backstage tour for up to 20 pax giving your client an exclusive behind the scenes glance into the theatre world. Starting at the iconic Donald Gordon Theatre, and guided through their barely seen backstage areas, the tour ends with a photo opportunity by their famous inscription wall. Tours are offered on a Friday usually at 10:00, 11:30 and 13:00hrs, however they can offer a tour on request for a minimum of 10 people. For more information contact tickets@wmc.org.uk

Wales Perfumery, Monmouth
Bespoke perfume creation workshops at Wales' only Perfume House focusing on Welsh landscapes and heritage. Located 12 mins walk from Monmouth, they cater for up to 15 guests in the laboratory, but can can also travel to a venue of choice and run workshops for groups or private individuals for up to 30.The lab overlooks the secret walled garden. Your clients will blend the raw materials to make their own 30ml bottle of personalised fragrance, completed with their own creation name. Workshops last 1hr 15mins and tea, coffee, and Welshcakes are provided. Workshops also include a scent experience and bespoke candle making. Contact Louise Smith for more information.

The Workers Gallery, Gweithdy and Studio, Ynyshir
Guided tours and talks around their latest exhibitions by exhibiting artists are offered 'by appointment only'. They also offer bespoke, small group hands-on workshops and design experiences, including drawing, woodworking and furniture making. They can also bring many shows to groups as part of their Art In A Box cargo e-bike powered tours. Woodworking is for groups between 2-4 clients, and drawing is for 4-12 clients. Behind the scenes tour by exhibiting artists is for 4-25. For more information, contact Gayle Rogers.

A J Ludlow, Pembroke Dock
Tours include a visit to the colour workshop, a talk on the process of making watercolours and testing the finished paints, with some hands-on participation. It has been designed to shed light on the science, knowledge and mystery of an Artists' Colourman and show the complexity and skill needed to create what most artists take for granted. Tour parties will be limited to a maximum of 10 people (min 2). Clients will be required to climb a flight of 14 stairs, and there is a charge to cover the costs of materials provided. Refreshments are available from the Watercolour Painting Café. The tour is subject to prior arrangement and exclusive to tour operators. For more information contact Meiru Ludlow. 

Gower Heritage Centre
The centre can offer small groups a range of private tours. Your clients can learn how to produce wholemeal flour using French burr grinding stones and see how the water powered mill works in their 3hr flour making experience (min 4, max 16). The breadmaking experience (min 4, max 16) includes afternoon tea. The Red Lady of Paviland experience includes a visit into a cave and includes a Neolithic jewellery making workshop (min 4, max 8). Cider making workshops are available for up to 20 guests depending on seasonality. They can also offer cider tasting afternoons or evenings. Contact Roy Church for these and other available scheduled workshops.

Hidden Routes, Newport, Pembrokeshire
Your clients can spend from a half day to two days on an e-guided tour (12 max) with accommodation where required. They have a hidden immersion experience in the winter. It includes a guided bike ride in the Preseli Hills, a bowl of seaweed ramen on Newport beach, a Wild Water Sauna and a mug of hot chocolate from Wickedly Welsh Chocolate. They also offer unique tours onto Barony private land which includes a trail over Carningli Mountain - or Angel Mountain as its referred to by locals. The land isn't accessible for the general public to cycle over and there are only a selection of footpaths. The area is littered with traces of Iron Age and Bronze Age settlements, with all the myths and legends left behind along with its wild and rugged natural untouched beauty.  For more information contact Sally Veacock.

Dark Sky Wales, Pan Wales
Bespoke stargazing experiences can be offered to your clients which can be found on the Dark Sky Wales website. The star gazing packages range from 2 to 40 guests but they can can also provide experiences to suit your client's needs. Larger parties can be accommodated for with other types of activities. For more information, please contact Allan Trow.