Portmeirion: A romantic setting for a wedding

The Italianate tourist attraction on the Gwynedd coastline first became famous in the 1960s when the cult television show, The Prisoner, was filmed there.

Now engaged couples are flocking to the mock-historic venue thanks to the ITV drama series, Cold Feet.

The final episode of the show saw the characters visit the resort to scatter the ashes of Rachel Bradley - played by Helen Baxendale - where she and husband Adam - played by James Nesbitt - had enjoyed romantic times together.

The small screen drama has prompted a surge in requests from couples eager to tie the knot there.

The cast of Cold Feet at Portmeirion

The resort attracts 250,000 visitors each year, drawn by the beautiful coastline and the village designed by William Clough-Ellis and opened in 1925.

It usually holds around three weddings a week but, since the tear-jerker episode of Cold Feet, more than 50 would-be newly-weds have been in touch.

But many of the couples will have to wait until well in to 2004 as the tourist destination is fully booked up on Saturdays for this year and much of next year.

One of those queuing up for a civil ceremony is London-based photographer, Lisa Prendergast, 30, who is expecting guests from as far as Scotland and London.

Her boyfriend Tony Dennis, 31, popped the question last Wednesday, at Portmeirion, while they were there on a short break.

It was all very romantic and we loved the place so much we decided to get married there Bride-to-be, Lisa Prendergast

She said: "It was all very romantic and we loved the place so much we decided to get married there.

"It seems to be quite a little romantic idyll, it was such a little haven.

"Everybody who worked there was so pleasant and accommodating.

"In terms of the feeling and the escape, you can't knocked it - I wish I had been there earlier.

"When the tide was out on the estuary, it was as beautiful as when the tide was in," she added.

Lisa, who stayed in the village and in the castle penthouse, booked her wedding date over the phone on Monday morning.

The pair are marrying on 2 October next year - the first available Saturday.

Portmeirion's wedding co-ordinator, Meic Williams, said: "The Cold Feet series has trigged an interest and people have seen it is a pleasant place to come."

"We're now takings booking for 2005," he added.