![\"Tenby,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2229732735.jpg\")
\n\t\tMillions of people visit the seaside town each year (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tMillions of people visit the seaside town each year (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Roughly two million people flock to Tenby in Wales<\/a> each year.<\/p>\n The seaside town is beloved by tourists<\/a> and locals alike, with visitors hailing it as \u2018unbelievable\u2019, an \u2018absolute gem\u2019, and \u2018beautiful\u2019 in reviews on Tripadvisor.<\/p>\n This is due to the picture-perfect harbour, flanked by pastel-coloured houses, medieval walls, sandy beaches<\/a>, a Norman castle, and some great independent food and drink spots.<\/p>\n But it seems the UK tourist hotspot has one frustrating flaw \u2013 it\u2019s a \u2018dead zone\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tBest of Metro Deals\t\t\t<\/p>\n Get exclusive\u00a0discounts\u00a0with\u00a0Metro Deals<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 save on getaways and spa days.\u00a0Powered by Wowcher<\/p>\n Bannatyne Spa: Spa day for two with treatments, lunch & prosecco \u2014\u00a0save up to 57%\u00a0off.<\/p>\n Get deal now<\/a><\/p>\n Mystery Escape: Hotel stay with return flights from as low as \u00a392pp \u2014\u00a0save on worldwide holiday packages.<\/p>\n Get deal now<\/a><\/p>\n Beach Retreat (Lanzarote): 4* Lanzarote beach holiday with flights \u2014\u00a0save up to 58%.<\/p>\n Get deal now<\/a><\/p>\n The town was recently revealed to be a dead zone for mobile phone<\/a> signal in the UK.<\/p>\n The consumer experts at Which found that the postcode SA70 in Tenby is the worst postcode in the UK for mobile network quality, with those in this area only experiencing a \u2018good\u2019 connection 54.3% of the time.<\/p>\n This figure drops to 38% for those using Three as their network.<\/p>\n Three is partly owned by Vodafone<\/a>, and the issues might have something to do with the fact that Vodafone removed its mast near Tenby several months ago.<\/p>\n A replacement BT\/EE mast has been given the green light, but work hasn\u2019t yet started on it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Henry Tufnell, the MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, recently claimed that residents and local businesses are being \u2018failed\u2019 by the network quality.<\/p>\n He\u2019s even written to EE and BT directly to complain about the problem, sharing: \u2018Tenby deserves better phone signal.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018The lack of coverage is failing our residents, local businesses and tourists.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018With summer<\/a> fast approaching, we need urgent answers and a clear timetable for improvements.\u2019<\/p>\n And Vodafone and Three issued apologies to Tenby residents at the end of April. <\/p>\n A spokesperson for the brand told The Western Telegraph<\/a>: \u2018We\u2019re sorry to Vodafone and Three UK customers in the Tenby area who are experiencing issues with their service. This follows the decommissioning of a mast in the area.<\/p>\n \u2018We are working with our infrastructure partner on a longer-term solution and are exploring temporary options to help restore coverage as quickly as possible.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t For holidaymakers, not having their phone as a distraction for a few days might be a blessed relief. But for those who live and work in Tenby all year round, it\u2019s not such a novelty. <\/p>\n In fact, it\u2019s proving pretty challenging.<\/p>\n Chris Brookfield, the founder of Around Tenby and an elected member of the Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism, tells Metro that the lack of signal is having a \u2018genuine impact\u2019 on day-to-day life in the town.<\/p>\n \u2018This is not just people moaning because they can\u2019t scroll on Facebook on the beach \u2013 people are missing calls and having trouble contacting family members, and there are problems using parking apps and accessing maps,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve even had concerns raised around safety, if someone needs help and can\u2019t get a signal.\u2019<\/p>\n Chris continues: \u2018For businesses, it\u2019s affecting card payments, customer communication, taxi arrangements, table bookings, and the general confidence of visitors.<\/p>\n \u2018Tenby is a tourism<\/a> town, and when visitors [struggle in this way] it becomes an economic issue.\u2019<\/p>\n Numerous residents have also taken to social media to share how fed up they are with living in a dead zone, with Facebook users branding the situation \u2018dire\u2019, \u2018appalling\u2019, \u2018hopeless\u2019, and \u2018so frustrating\u2019.<\/p>\n Many agree with Chris that one of the \u2018worst\u2019 problems is parking, as a lot of the car parks now use pay-by-phone apps.<\/p>\n \u2018The app requires a signal to access. So the facility to pay for parking exists. But without signal, it\u2019s pointless,\u2019 says Reddit<\/a> user u\/bioticspacewizard.<\/p>\n \u2018Last time my husband went for a business meeting, I had to pay for his parking from my end. I also had to look up directions for him to get to the location, as he couldn\u2019t get Google Maps to work. I was trying to direct him via a phone signal that kept cutting out.\u2019<\/p>\n While Bev Black visited the area for a holiday at the end of last year and found it \u2018almost completely impossible\u2019 to pay for parking using an app. \u2018So frustrating,\u2019 they added.<\/p>\n Ray James, a former taxi driver in Tenby, revealed on Facebook that he\u2019d experienced a similar challenge when trying to take payments for trips, which had always been a \u2018lottery\u2019 due to the \u2018terrible signal\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018Bad in the winter and no point bothering in the summer when the tourists put an additional strain on an already poor infrastructure,\u2019 he wrote.<\/p>\n And u\/No-Charity-2167 admitted: \u2018It sucks for business. My family and I own a business in Tenby, and the lack of signal has a big impact. Thinking about moving to Starlink as a result.\u2019<\/p>\n Still a fantastic place to be<\/p>\n Despite the signal problems, Chris is adamant that Tenby is still a \u2018fantastic place\u2019, citing that it\u2019s \u2018beautiful, independent, full of character, and has a real sense of community\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018Yes, the mobile signal issue is real, and it does need sorting, but Tenby is still one of the best places in the UK to live, visit and spend time,\u2019 he adds. <\/p>\n \u2018The beaches are obviously a huge draw, but there\u2019s much more to it than that. The harbour, the old town walls, the independent shops, caf\u00e9s, the pubs, the coastal walks, boat trips, and the wider Pembrokeshire coastline all make it special.\u2019<\/p>\n If you\u2019re thinking of visiting soon, he recommends taking a walk around the harbour and along the coastal path. <\/p>\n Taking a boat trip is also a great idea if the weather<\/a> allows.<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Tenby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2243398084.jpg\")
\n\t\tTenby has some stunning sandy beaches (Picture: Getty Images)
\nWhat makes Tenby a dead zone?<\/p>\n![\"Frustrated](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2273300036.jpg\")
\n\t\tGetting a signal in town is \u2018almost impossible\u2019, according to locals (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Tenby,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GettyImages-2229732541.jpg\")
\n\t\tLocals are fed up, but say Tenby is still \u2018fantastic\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images)
\nWhat do locals have to say?\u00a0<\/p>\n
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