A Cosmic Escape in the Heart of Wales
Tucked away in the serene Pembrokeshire countryside, Melin Mabes offers a unique glamping experience that feels like it’s been plucked from another galaxy. This four-acre retreat is home to three standout accommodations, each designed to spark the imagination and transport guests far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The most eye-catching of these stays is the Spodnic UFO, a spacecraft-themed pod that seems to have landed straight from outer space. Owned and operated by Martin Johnson and his wife, CarolAnne, this glamping site has become a favorite among sci-fi enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
Martin describes the UFO as “just landed from outer space and aliens could come out.” The structure’s design is so convincing that many parents choose not to tell their children where they’re staying, only for the kids to be amazed upon arrival. The UFO’s unique features include three tripod legs, a drop-down door, NASA-designed interiors, and color-changing lights that add to its otherworldly charm.
To make the entrance more lifelike, Martin modified the door using a wheelchair lift, adding springs for extra power. This creative touch gives the illusion that the UFO has just touched down, making the experience even more immersive. When the door opens, a smoke machine activates, creating a dramatic effect that enhances the sense of mystery.
Inside the UFO, the four-bedroom holiday let is filled with futuristic decor. The walls are lined with multiple layers of NASA-designed insulation foil, which reflects heat back into the space. Decor includes blow-up alien dolls, alien-themed cushions, spacesuits, astronaut helmets, black and yellow hazard tape, and cages of ‘exposed’ wiring. Every detail has been carefully considered to create an atmosphere that feels truly extraterrestrial.
A steel staircase leads up to a sky-view dome equipped with a telescope, perfect for stargazing on clear nights. Outside, there’s a kitchenette area with a hob, oven, fridge, sink, and dining area, along with a sprawling private garden and a large functioning hot tub decorated with moon posters and twinkling fairy lights.
The bathroom is located in a life-sized TARDIS phone box, inspired by the popular BBC series Doctor Who. Inside, guests will find a shower, a blue-lidded toilet, checkered flooring, a mirror, and a basin with a mini Tardis handwash dispenser. Martin, a lifelong fan of UFOs and Sci-Fi, used futuristic buildings from the 1960s as inspiration for the structure, which he purchased from an auction site.
Originally used to hide electrical generators at the 2012 London Olympics, the UFO was broken down into six sections and transported to the Welsh countryside. Each wall section weighs approximately a tonne, requiring a steel base to ensure stability on the marshy ground. The structure itself is made from fibre-glass and features an acrylic dome for a classic saucer-dome look, along with eight acrylic domes around the circumference to allow for more natural light inside.
Across the site from the UFO are two other quirky stays: a traditional gypsy caravan transformed into a cozy accommodation that sleeps two people, and a real treehouse equipped with a ladder and a slide that carries guests to the ground. The treehouse includes a double bed, two singles, underfloor heating, and a fire to keep its inhabitants warm.
Guests can also enjoy pre-ordered artisanal meat and cheese hampers delivered directly to their accommodation. Dogs are welcome for an additional £10 cleaning fee per stay.
Melin Mabes is one of five rare and remote stays featured in the upcoming episode of World’s Most Secret Hotels. Other properties include Jirira Mountain Lodge, situated at the edge of the world’s largest salt in Bolivia, and the historic Canfranc Station Hotel in Spain.
Narrated by Julie Walters, the six-part series explores some of the most unusual and breathtaking escapes across all six continents. It highlights the teams that keep these unique properties running and the guests who live their wildest dreams.
World’s Most Secret Hotels starts on Channel 4 on 18th April at 8pm.
