Penmaenau Farm

A working farm in the Powys hills above Builth Wells that doubles as a theatre venue - this is the sort of place that makes you wonder why more rural spots don't do the same. Penmaenau Farm hosts performances in converted farm buildings, turning hay bales and exposed stone into intimate theatre spaces. The setup is decidedly low-key, which is either its charm or its limitation depending on what you're after.

It's a proper working farm, so you're not getting theatre-in-the-round polished West End productions here. What you get instead is community theatre, touring productions, and the kind of performances that actually happen in these spaces - folk music nights, drama, occasionally comedy. The setting itself becomes part of the show when you're sat among the beams and brick watching actors perform metres away.

Families with teenagers might enjoy this more than younger kids, especially if there's a particular show on. History types and folk enthusiasts will find something to chew on. But it's not a casual drop-in attraction - you need to check what's actually on, and frankly, it's the sort of venue where half the appeal is knowing someone involved or being part of that farming community audience.

If you're camping nearby - the farm's own site is right there, and Celtic Woodland Holidays is just 1.5 miles down the road - it becomes a proper destination for a week. Otherwise, treat it as a Builth Wells evening out, not a reason to visit the area on its own.