In what was undeniably one of the most cringeworthy segments of the Gavin and Stacey finale, the creators pulled out all the stops to ensure Sonia’s doomed hen party for her engagement to Smithy was nothing short of glamorous

One of Cardiff city centre’s most opulent hotels, the Parkgate Hotel brought glitz to Sonia’s hen do.

Its Telegraph Suite was transformed with floral displays and balloon garlands for memorable sequences including an uncomfortable ‘Mr and Mrs’ quiz and a surprise visit from an unwelcome stripper.

The hotel itself, boasting 169 rooms with rates beginning at £90 a night, took to Instagram to showcase their participation in last Christmass most viewed television programme.

Posting on their social media account, The Parkgate Hotel excitedly announced: “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.”

Available for gatherings and private dining for up to 50 guests, the Telegraph Suite is a distinctive feature of the hotel.

The suite takes pride in offering patrons a sneak peek into the culinary artistry happening within its walls and complements the hotel’s The Sorting Room restaurant alongside its sophisticated bar setting.

Established in the latter part of 2021, the hotel proudly stated: “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 series, has previously discussed the lengths she went to keep her participation a secret, even withholding the information from her parents.

The actress was lodged separately from the rest of the cast during filming, utilised decoy vehicles for commuting to and from the set, and was barred from attending wrap or screening parties.

The Christmas episode featured her character slated to wed James Corden’s Smithy, five years after Nessa (Ruth Jones) proposed to the curry-loving plumber in the 2019 cliff-hanger.

Viewers were taken aback by Sonia’s appearance, but the episode has been praised as the ‘perfect ending’.

The Parkgate Hotel, formerly the Cardiff Post Office and County Court, bagged the AA Hotel of the Year for Wales award at the AA hospitality awards in September.

The honour, previously held by Tenby’s Penally Alley, places the hotel in the same league as The Dorchester in London.

The splendid five-star Parkgate Hotel on Westgate Street, which offers a thermal spa with stunning city views from its top floor, pays homage to its rich historical past, even retaining the original sign at its entrance.

At the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards, judges were impressed: “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.”