Two of Tenby’s most well-loved restaurant owners are celebrating a special anniversary.

Mel Fairman and Debs Neale are toasting their 10th year at the town’s renowned Blue Ball in Upper Frog Street.

Best friends since their college days, the duo have worked together sharing their passion for cooking for over 30 years.

Opening the Blue Ball a decade ago was their dream come true. It’s been 10 years packed full of fun and laughter, making great friends with their customers who continue to return to the restaurant time and time again.

With their friendly staff, the duo enjoy a great partnership. Their shared goal is of producing excellent, high quality food in a relaxed atmosphere, with laid back, but impeccable service.

Mel and Debs are the stars behind the scene, working hard in the kitchen with their small team to source the best ingredients and turn them into works of art! The dedicated front of house team make sure that your whole dining experience runs smoothly and effortlessly, ensuring that the food you eat, and the service that you receive are not only enjoyable, but memorable.

“We are a small, local restaurant, and as such, our only concern is that the people who eat with us, leave us happy and satisfied,” say Mel and Debs.

“We are committed to providing the best service we can, we are committed to producing the finest tasting dishes we can, and we are want to put our souls into something that we hope will make people pleased that we were the business they chose to spend their money with on this occasion. After all, without our customers, without the people that return to try our new dishes or different wines, there is no Blue Ball.”

Currently open Tuesday-Saturday evenings and for traditional Sunday lunch, the Blue Ball is indeed a ‘must visit’ destination for anyone who likes good, homecooked food using impeccably sourced local ingredients from award-winning businesses.

Among its famous diners have been Iain Glen, of Game of Thrones fame, comedian Jack Whitehall, who recently starred in a big screen version of Bad Education, interior designer and TV presenter Anna Ryder Richardson, who now owns Anna’s Welsh Zoo in St. Florence, Tenby’s own TV actor Charles Dale, plus only last week, the greatest of them all, award-winning British actor Bill Nighy, who was made a return visit to the restaurant.

“We see visitors returning time after time, whilst also maintaining an excellent local following throughout Pembrokeshire from our customers who come to try something different each time from our regularly changing menus,” continue Mel and Debs.

“There is something on offer for everyone at the Blue Ball! Naturally, we are very family orientated, as you would expect in such a popular seaside town - indeed, children can choose from their own menu!

“Seafood and fish feature prominently on the menu - taken wherever possible from along the inspiring Pembrokeshire coastline. Whether it is line caught sea bass from Tenby or locally sourced crab from Pembroke, with so much on the Blue Ball doorstep it seems crazy to get it from anywhere else!

“We’re not all about seafood though! The lush green hills and pastures just inland and towards the Preseli mountains just to the north of Tenby offer some of the best grazing in the whole UK! This is where our succulent Welsh lamb and beautifully flavoursome pedigree Welsh Black Beef originates - all from local farms and Pembrokeshire herds.”

Parties and functions for all occasions are catered for and Mel and Debs are happy to discuss your requirements. They are more than happy to write custom-designed dinners to any budgets, whether you require one, two or more courses. Whatever and whenever your party is, give the Blue Ball a ring as they are sure that they can come up with the perfect evening for you!

Christmas and New Year’s Eve menus are now available too, with bookings filling up fast.

Good times are also associated with charity nights, the next one being on Friday, November 20, in aid of Headway, a brain injury charity, which is close to Debbie’s heart.

“We have so many happy memories of our 10 years,” add Mel and Debs. “Our staff, friends, family and our customers have all played their part and have made us so proud to run the Blue Ball.”

Mel, Debs, Zoe and the rest of the friendly staff look forward to welcoming you to the Blue Ball when you can see for yourself why it’s been described in the Lonely Planet as ‘a cosy, rustic atmosphere in what is probably Tenby’s best restaurant.’

For more information or reservations, call (01834) 843038.