Emmerdale icon Lisa Riley, best known to millions as the fiery and lovable Mandy Dingle, has taken a well-deserved breather from the soap world—and fans are absolutely loving the glimpse into her personal life.

In a surprise appearance far from the Dales, Lisa was spotted enjoying a family escape in Prestatyn, North Wales. While her on-screen life as Mandy is often filled with heartbreak, chaos, and scandal, real-life Lisa seemed worlds away from drama as she embraced sunshine, laughter, and simple joys with her loved ones.

The actress, who recently celebrated three decades of playing Mandy on Emmerdale, marked the occasion not with a glitzy event, but with a cozy, heartwarming getaway. Her social media followers were treated to a sweet moment captured on Facebook: a candid snapshot of her six-year-old niece, Everlyn, joyfully playing on the sands of Prestatyn Beach. Lisa captioned the moment with trademark humor, joking about Everlyn doing her best JAWS impression and quipping about her own dislike of sand. “At least we found Kirsty the doll!!!!!” she wrote, adding a few hashtags that celebrated family and fun in Wales.

But it wasn’t just a beach walk that made the day special. Lisa and her family also dropped by the popular Torello Lounge on High Street for a relaxed lunch—and it’s safe to say they left a lasting impression. According to Shay Green, assistant manager of the café bar, Lisa and her group were “so polite, nice, and just genuine people.” The café, known for its welcoming atmosphere and creative touches, happened to be celebrating National Friendship Day and had set up craft tables for kids to make friendship bracelets—something Everlyn and her family took part in with enthusiasm.

What made the visit even more memorable was Torello Lounge’s signature hospitality. Using a Polaroid camera they keep on hand for special occasions, staff snapped a cheerful photo of Lisa and her family, tucked it into a custom summer postcard, and sent them on their way with a souvenir of the day. “We just want to make memories with people,” Shay shared. “It was a pleasure to have Lisa and her family here.”

After enjoying their food and drinks, the family continued their day by exploring the town and settling into a cozy cabin nearby for the night—opting for relaxation and quality time over glamour and spotlights.

For longtime fans of Emmerdale, seeing Lisa outside the confines of Mandy’s rollercoaster life is a touching reminder of the real woman behind the character: warm, funny, grounded, and deeply devoted to her family.