Britain would be nothing without glorious Wales, from the beaches of Gower to the slate-grey peaks of Mount Snowdon. A shift happens as soon as you cross the border. The air gets a little mistier, the night sky a bit clearer, road signs switch to Cymraeg, and stiff upper lips relax into welcoming smiles.
Change here is slow but steady. The grand vistas that inspired Dylan Thomas and Gillian Clarke are now the backdrops of Hollywood sets (HBO’s Industry films in Cardiff). Deer that roam ancient farmland now wind up on the plates of local Michelin-starred restaurants like The Gorse. The newest city in Wales, once a coal-mining stronghold, is today home to Britain’s most unlikely international football franchise, Wrexham AFC.
Coat by Barbour x Paul Smith. Shorts by Speltham. Quilt by Antique Textiles Company.
T-shirt by Phipps. Shirt by Portuguese Flannel. Jeans by Our Legacy. Belt by Longchamp. Rope by Go Outdoors.
“It’s been amazing watching Wales build its soft power over the years,” says writer Angela Hui, whose memoir, Takeaway: Stories From a Childhood Behind the Counter, recounts growing up in a Chinese takeaway in a rural part of the country. Hui namechecks the new wave of Welsh talent – from photographers like Megan Winstone and Llyr Evans to chefs such as Tomos Parry and Chris Roberts – who are putting the culture on the map. “Wales has found a rhythm that’s fiercely Welsh,” she says, “and resistant to being London-ified.”
Jacket by Farlows. Vest by Napapijri by Martine Rose. T-shirt by CP Company. Kilt by Margaret Howell. Socks by Pantherella. Boots by Grenson. Belt by Saint Laurent. Watch by Tudor.
Jacket by Stefan Cooke. Jumpers (layered) by Jaeger. Trousers by Phipps. Gloves by Hestra.
“Mainstream portrayals of working-class life in Wales love to dwell on how rough it is,” says Hui. “And yes, it is rough. That’s the point. The beauty here is hard-won. You see it in the pebbledash terraces, the grey, rain-slicked streets and the ugly colliery scars etched into endless green valleys, but there’s something in that mountain air that breeds resilience.”
Top, shorts and boxers by Phipps. Vest and boots by Brunello Cucinelli. Socks by Pantherella. Watch by Tudor. Gloves by Wooyoungmi.
“I believe Pembrokeshire has some of the best produce in the UK. The quality of shellfish, in particular, is incredible,” says Tomos Parry, the Anglesey-raised chef behind cult London restaurants Brat and Mountain. He’s known for his talents with an open flame, and this autumn, he’s bringing his restaurants back home to Wales for a pop-up at the glamping retreat Fforest. “When I was coming up with the concept for Mountain, the produce of Pembrokeshire gave me the confidence to create some of our signature dishes,” he says. “Many people are pulling in the same direction to improve and progress the produce and cuisine of the area – places such as Câr-y-Môr, who have created a unique seaweed farm in the mineral-rich seas, through to Caws Teifi, who make our cultured butter using raw, unpasteurised milk from their very local cows.”
Jacket and pants by Moschino. Vest by Phipps.
Vest and shorts by Adam Jones. Boots by Loro Piana for Le Chameau. Hat by Margaret Howell. Fishing rod, stylist’s own.
Welsh Ghanaian textile artist Anya Paintsil, whose works are currently on show at Tŷ Pawb gallery, does her stitching in a 200-year-old converted barn. “From my perspective, northeast Wales is a great place to be an early-career artist,” she says. “Comparing it with my experiences in London, I feel like there’s a genuine grassroots scene and network of support that’s less about networking, and more about real interest and excitement about what other people are doing, what they’re making. There’s an irreverence that exists alongside serious commitment to the arts, tradition and the scene that I really appreciate.”
Jacket by Magliano. Top by Our Legacy. Trousers by CP Company. Shoes by Ugg. Scarf by Cos. Hat by New Era. Gloves by Burberry. Rucksack by OEX from Go Outdoors.
Jacket by Canada Goose. Hat by Palace.
Pembrokeshire’s glorious coastline is made up of nearly 200 miles of sandy dunes, red-hued rocks and high-drama bluffs. There are beaches for sunbathing and dolphin-spotting, yes, but it’s more than just surf towns. Explore Iron Age and prehistoric standing stones, hill forts and roundhouse remains dotted along the water. Quiet villages where you can pop in for a lobster roll (our favourite is Cafe Môr in Angle) make Mediterranean port cities look like theme parks. The locals are known to grumble about an influx of English holidaymakers but usually open to sharing recommendations (and epic bara brith).
Vest by Dsquared2. Shirt by Phipps. Shorts by Arc’teryx. Socks by Sox. Shoes by Keen. Hat by New Era.
Boiler suit by Craig Green. Boots by Grenson. Sunglasses by Oakley. Water bottle by Amazon. Rope, harness and carabiners by Go Outdoors.
Published as part of GQ’s ‘What’s so Great about Britain?’ special issue — read more here.
Styling by Angelo Mitakos
Models, Finley Prentice At Storm And Jude Furnivall At Wilhelmina
Hair by Tariq Howes using Babyliss Pro
Casting Direction by Mc Barnes
With thanks to Land Rover Discovery