The De Valence Pavilion has been part of Tenby’s story for over 120 years.

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Right here in the heart of town, our site first opened in July 1904 as the De Valence Gardens, an elegant Edwardian pleasure garden created by George Chiles, a local wine and beer merchant who was Mayor of Tenby at the time.

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Back then, it was a place for people to meet, relax and be entertained. The gardens featured a central lawn, glass roofed walkways, reading rooms, a buffet and space for concerts and performances. It quickly became one of Tenby’s favourite gathering places, with summer plays, live music and visiting bands bringing the town together.

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In the 1920s, the gardens made way for a theatre and dance hall, continuing the site’s role as a home for entertainment in Tenby. Generations of people came here to dance, watch shows, celebrate, perform and make memories.

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The current Pavilion was built in the 1970s as a large, flexible venue for the town. Its open flat floor made it perfect for dances, theatre, live music, community events, private functions, markets and everything in between.

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Today, we are proud to run the De Valence Pavilion as a Community Interest Company. That means we are here for community benefit, not private profit. Every event, every ticket sold and every booking helps support the future of the venue and allows us to keep investing in live entertainment, culture and community life in Tenby.

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Now, more than a century after audiences first gathered here, the De Valence Pavilion is once again a busy, vibrant and welcoming venue. We host live music, comedy, theatre, tribute acts, wrestling, film screenings, markets, fundraisers, private celebrations and community events.

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For us, the De Valence is more than just a building... ​It is a place where people come together.