Our stay was perfect in every way. The staff was so friendly, professional and helpful! We…read moreenjoyed the many walks in the country side and the spa is excellent. Our room #11 was large and well appointed. We loved the blend of old world charm and modern understated luxury. The grounds are spectacular. The dining is world class! Besides for the most innovative tasting menu in the world conceived by a genius chef and his staff, we loved the tapas bar and private dining experience. Our sommelier Tim who was visiting from Denmark made the dinner so special as did the young chef Julian who explained the details of iberico ham and each ingredient. This is one of the finest hotel properties in the world and we can't wait to return

Whatley Manor is a 5, decadent, opulent, luxurious and expensive hotel, but if you want quality in…read moreevery single way, then Whatley Manor is the first place to visit. As you approach the hotel down the huge drive, you are met with lots of greenery, trees and spacious countryside. The large gates open on approach, revealing the large courtyard and the hotel itself. Two valets met us as we drove to the entrance, they valeted the car and took our luggage into the hotel. The receptionist was French (as are all the workers as far as we could tell as the owners are French) and greeted us very warmly, and then telephoned the manager of the hotel who came down to greet us personally. The personal touch really was amazing, he knew where we were from, our names and was very genuine and friendly. The porter then took us up to the room where our luggage was already waiting for us. The room was not as large as many other places we have stayed in, but was incredibly sufficient and again, decadent. There was a large bed, large tv with sky channels, and an exceptional bathroom which reflected the spa that is in the hotel as the shower was a high tech spa shower! The view was incredible, over looking the outside eating area and the gardens. We went to the bar area which serves any kind of cocktail you could think of and I had a Strawberry Bellini made by a very competent barman who seemed to be capable of making any kind of drink in the world! Then came the canapes and menus, absolutely chocked full of the best food possible. As usual, we had the beef for mains, and the maitre'd allowed us to 'mix and match' certain things on the set menu with the a la carte menu. The actual dining room was not anything special, fairly spacious but not very intimate. I had the goats cheese starter which was exceptional, followed by beef with veal kidney (which I could not even bear to look at let alone eat!) which again, was absolute top quality. I had black truffle ice cream to finish, and the service had been perfect the whole way through. Breakfast in bed, full English as always, yet again was phenomenal for very little charge. I would highly recommend Whatley Manor for anyone with money as it is incredibly expensive as you would expect for a 5 hotel. There is an inhouse cinema with home made popcorn as well as a large spa.

Called in for a drink on the way through…read more In a nice central spot opposite the covered market. The bar is nice with a reasonable looking menu. The drinks included two 'farmhouse' ciders at £2.20 which is good value.

Having made a dinner reservation based on a recommendation (and an overnight stay in a nearby…read morehotel) we were pleased to be received with such a warm service throughout our visit and what was clearly a devoted attention to detail regarding our menu choices. The terrine was rich without being too far to the salty side. The pan-fried scallops with black pudding and cauliflower puree were delectable in providing just the right amount of crispness while still remaining spongy and fresh. The combination of black pudding and cauliflower puree was rather piquant and provided an interesting compliment to the dish. The lamb shank was prepared with a meticulous attention to its overall delicacy, with thick rustic gravy. The mushroom wellington was full-bodied in its nutty flavour and was rather impressive in size. Regardless, the light pastry lacked a stodgy substructure and the accompanying roast vegetables were anything beside bland. To finish we enjoyed a slice of the chocolate pie and a bowl of lemon sorbet. The pie was well-presented and of a decent quality. The sorbet was splendidly tart. Despite a booking during a peak time the restaurant was enjoyable quiet and we were generally left in peace (although service felt as though it were constantly to hand). Both qualities contributed to the intimate atmosphere. The elaborate furnishings to suit the ornate style of the building were appreciated. Needless to say we were not disappointed at all with the entire experience.

We stopped off here for lunch on the way from London to Swansea. I had fish and chips with mushy…read morepeas and an abbots ale. Gill had a sandwich and some onion rings. Very tasty. A classic English Inn.

This place might be good for a meal (and our breakfast was actually quite tasty) but I wouldn't…read morechoose to stay here, if I were you The room was plenty big enough, but it was expensive for the middle of the off-season. It was nicely furnished and the bed was comfortable. There was plenty of coffee and tea and an iron and hairdryer were provided. The bathroom was a good size and had an over-bath shower which was quite efficient. There was mould in the corner of the wall above the bath and it all looked a little past its best. Now we get to my beefs! The place was generally very tired and clearly lacked investment. Our room had various bits and pieces that were clearly quite dated and there was a very large crack in one of the white ceiling beams which was very unnattractive. Of course, with an old building you would expect squeaky floors and the like so I won't complain about those. The worst thing though, was the traffic noise. Sitting right next to the main road, our room had trucks whizzing past a yard away from the three road-facing windows. It made for quite a morning wake up call, I can tell you, particularly after the party that we had had the night before! Almost as bad as this was the noise from some sort of equipment that seemed to go on sounding for 5-10 seconds at random periods throughout the night. I'm not sure if it was part of the heating or plumbing systems or something entirely different, but it was such a disturbance throughout our time at the hotel. It was some kind of graunching, grinding, pumping, industrial noise. If you are a light or even average sleeper I would stay well clear of this place. It gave me one of the worst night's sleep I have ever had and I have slept in some fairly ropey places over the years! We were pretty much forced to book here since we searched for a place late and the area was already quite booked up. I will not be using The Cross Hands again.

We came here on Tuesday as Gaz was getting married at Clearwell Castle. The hotel is a very old…read morebuilding and the character of the building filters through into everything - it was very old fashioned. The service was really good - the manager was friendly and helpful at all times, in the face of occasionally extreme provocation (like when Andy and Paddy turned up back at the hotel with me at 2am but having left their room keys in their car back at the wedding venue). He also lent Chewy some cuff links without even blinking. My fried breakfast was on the greasy side but I wasn't really ready for eating at that time the next day anyway. Chewy says there is a ghost of an old fashioned lady in room 11 who he spoke to for a few hours on Tuesday night

We were delighted with our stay at the Lambsquay. The owner was positively charming. Eating at the…read morehotel was a pleasure (some of the food is grown in their own garden). Service by the staff was spot-on. The owner even gave us a ride in his car to the train station when we left. There is parking on the premises, and it is a short walk to Puzzlewood. The bad? Wi-Fi service was a bit touch-and-go, and the layout of the building is a bit awkward. Also, I am 188cm (6 feet, 2 inches) tall and had to watch my head at one of the interior doorways. The four of us agree that we'd love to stay here again when in the area. The what3words location of Lambsquay's front door is: crunching.busy.gripes https://map.what3words.com/crunching.busy.gripes

My family planned a circular walk from where we were staying near Garway through Skenfrith about…read moremidday so we could get a pub lunch half way through our walk The pub is in the prettiest location by a river and near the ruins of Skenfrith castle It is a charming building and well decorated inside When we arrived it was very quiet and we were greeted by a waiter who didn't seem to know what he was doing. A few of the local ales were off as well which was a shame but we tried the two they had and they were delicious We just ordered mains. I got fish and chips and hands down this is the best I've had. Batter on the fish was delicious, triple cooked chips were cooked to perfection and well seasoned and their mushy peas were also very good. My bf got their twice baked cheese soufflé which was gorgeous and came with se very creamy mushrooms and broccoli. Parents went for two of the salads which were big portions with a lot of well cooked meat/ fish Overall the food here was very good and prices reasonable for a nice pub however it was a bit pretentious for a small village pub and staff weren't very welcoming Won't be going back because of the location but if you're in the area you've got a guaranteed good meal!

Visit 13/6/2021 I…read morethink I had to go with OK. We sat inside, but was given the option for outside, but it was too bright and hot. Be aware that the drive up to the car park is quite steep, and coming down the underside of the front of my car scraped on the tarmac. The food was fine: 2 x Lager Shandy - £3.55 each 1 x bottle of Pino Grigio - £14.50 Starters - Mushrooms - £5.50 (question value give the portion) Whitebait - £5.95 (EXCELLENT PORTION) Mains - 2 x Roast Pork Sunday Lunches - £11.95 each Lots of vegetables on a separate dish - carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage; perfectly cooked. Also on the plate was roast potatoes, stuffing and a parsnip. The crackling was perfect and so was the pork. Sweet - Sticky toffee pudding with ice cream - £5.00 (Average to good, reasonable price). Total £61.95. Left a tip of £3.00 and reflected the service, as that amount wasn't a compliment. Would I return? No. The service was quite slow, and difficult to get their attention. We could have done with some salt for the vegetables, but it wasn't offered. I mentioned it at the end of the meal, and was told I could have asked, but if I can't get their attention.... There was no table check, which would have helped with the above. My wife sat on an old pew-like bench, which she found uncomfortable. I then noticed in the corner of the bench there were cobwebs. Not something my wife needed pointing out, as she scared of spiders. The table was sticky and I used serviettes to rest my arm on. Difficult to know why, as I noticed the table being cleaned close to me. I can only guess that cleaning agent used, reacts with either wood, or table veneer. Seems to allow dogs in the restaurant, not a problem to me, who doesn't like dogs. Just in case others have any issues.

The review is for the restaurant, not for the hotel. We came and ate dinner here and are staying at…read morea bed-and-breakfast down the road. This place is right off the main (very narrow winding country) Road. The view from outside to the left is a beautiful hill and trees, dotted with happy sheep and to the right is an old castle. (View is exactly what you're looking for if you're visiting the south England countryside, breathtaking if that wasn't clear. The service was charming and friendly and casual although the restaurant could be romantic or family friendly depending on who your with. The ambience goes both ways. It is an old coach house dating about 300 years with a lot of modern amenities. Very charming and cozy. Food is excellent in our opinion. We've been traveling from London through the countryside for a few weeks. We got the steak and ale pie, Beef lasagna and several children's meals. Everyone was very happy with their selection. I want to add we have some picky customers here. One of the party is very conscientious of organic clean food and can discern taste between fake and real, and there are three children- that's self-explanatory! The children drank some squash and sparkling lemonade's and we all stuffed ourselves and agreed it was the best meal we've had since starting our tour of the countryside.

The Olway Inn is lovely hotel situated just outside Usk village, its surrounded by countryside but…read morewithin easy reach of M4,Usk itself is a small market town with a good selection of independent shops,traditional pubs and high quality restaurants. On entering the Olway you find yourselves in a traditional pub with beams,flag stone floors and open fire, you can eat in here but most people use the lovely dining room. The menu has plenty of choice with a lot of emphasis on local produce and organic ingredients,they do a superb homemade beefburger which is divine ,as is their pork sausages with cheddar mash and onion gravy.The deserts were equally good and I can recommend the caramel apple pie.I went with a group of friends who really enjoyed themselves and everyone commented on how nice the meals were

As far as quaint historic hotels go, this one is a charmer. We were there during some…read moreextraordinarily sunny days, rare for Wales, so it was a little warm, but the rooms were spacious and tidy. The staff is friendly and helpful, and you have several dining options on the property. Breakfast is plentiful and relaxed overlooking the greens, and it's a nice getaway location for multiple occasions. You can get here by bus if you want to walk a lot, but it's advisable to have a car. Golfing is the main event here if you're not getting married (or combine for a double-pop). We had a nice stroll around the entire walking route (you can finish it in an hour), and overall we enjoyed our stay. We'll hope to return next time in town.

This particular hotel benefits from an atmosphere of peaceful relaxation. Each room seems to…read moreprovide a view of the surrounding countryside. The view from our room of the 18th hole of one of the site's two golf courses was very much appreciated, in addition to the view of the River Severn and the Severn Bridge. The room was spacious and quiet. In addition to the comfortable double bed we were provided with ample lighting, a large desk, a chest of drawers, side table (unfortunately found to be quite dusty), comfortable armchair placed to take advantage of the view (which I took full advantage of, relaxing with a book and a coffee first thing in the morning after my swim), several large and clean mirrors, and a bedside table each. The wardrobe with sliding doors contained several hangars, instructions on how to obtain dry cleaning services, an iron and board, a large electric fan, and a good-quality hairdryer. Above the chest of drawers and facing the bed was the large flat screen television, upon which a range of options were available (including the opportunity to purchase recently-released films). We were provided with a selection of tea and coffee in our room, along with a small but clean kettle. At one portion of each item per-guest we felt that we could have been spared having to contact reception in order obtain more. The bathroom provided high-quality facilities above the level of essential. So many hotels no longer have bathtubs, so the opportunity to enjoy a soak was very much appreciated. However, I cannot help but mention that a used bottle of complimentary body lotion was found behind the shower curtain. As neither of us are accustomed to feather pillows and prefer the support of a foam pillow. A quick call to reception and we had a couple of decent foam pillows sent up. The soft and spacious double bed, the comfortable temperature of the room, and the tranquillity of the surroundings made for a wholly restful night. The pool, although relatively small, was perfectly adequate for a few laps before breakfast. Both the sauna and steam room were clean and spacious. Although I didn't pay it a visit, the gym appeared to have plenty of modern equipment on offer in a pleasant atmosphere. The changing rooms were clean and provided secure digital lock mechanisms on spacious lockers, hairdryers, ample space in which to change and private facilities, and complementary toiletries. The breakfast buffet was fantastic in terms of the availability and quality of items. There is something to suit a great many tastes here and the staff seem only too happy to accommodate any special requests. I made the mistake of leaving behind a treasured jacket and was very pleased to find the facilities team had located it and dispatched it in the post to my home address.