GOURMET COUNTRY 

Blaentrothy Cottages Home Page

 

 

 

 

The region surrounding Blaentrothy farm is blessed with some excellent restaurants and pubs, and, helped by the Abergavenny Food Festival, is becoming famous for local produce and great places to eat and drink. Do ask us for directions to any of these or for more information it is a good idea to book a place to eat at the same time as you book into your cottage.  Please ask for directions from the Farm.

 

 

 

For a drink and a bar meal there are two pubs both within a couple of miles of Blaentrothy Farm. The Hunter’s Moon at Llangattock Lingoed or The Angel at Grosmont (01981240646) are The latter is very friendly and welcoming and is the heart of a very thriving village community. The Hunter’s Moon has recently started doing bar meals as addition to the restaurant. 

 

 

There is also an excellent range of  excellent restaurants with a 20 minute drive of Blaentrothy Farm and Pontescob Cottage.   There are many more but we have not tried them out recently!

 

The Walnut Tree Inn, opened by the renowned Franco Taruschio in the 1960s is now run jointly by local hotelier William Griffiths and by the famous chef Shaun Hill (formerly of the Michelin-starred Merchant House in Ludlow), and has blossomed again. We haven’t been yet (keep meaning to!), but have heard excellent reports. It is nice and close – at Llandewi Skirrid, just 10 minutes’ drive away. Tel: 01873 852797. Open Tues – Sat. Lunch: 12 to 2.30; dinner: 7pm to 10pm.  www.thewalnuttreeinn.com

 

 

 

Not far away from Blaentrothy Farm at Pantygelli (pronounced Pantigethli!) (turn onto the A465 in the direction of Abergavenny, then turn right towards Pantygelli just after Llanvihangel Crucorney), is the popular Crown Inn (01873 853314) . Excellent for both lunchtime and evening meals. Friends have told us that Sunday lunch is particularly good.  Closed for food Monday.  Advise booking.

www.thecrownatpantygelli.com

 

 

The Hardwick on the old Raglan road, is a well-thought of newcomer and is our favourite place to eat. The steak sandwiches and triple-deep fried chips are the best in the world. Owned and run by Stephen Terry, it specialises in local produce. 01873 854220.  Stephen appeared in The Great British Menu so we advise booking well in advance.  Closed Sunday evening and all day Monday. Advise booking.

www.thehardwick.co.uk

 

 

The Angel Hotel in Cross Street, Abergavenny (01873 857121) is getting better and better, and is one of the rare places open on a Monday evening. Superb afternoon teas.

www.angelhotelabergavenny.com

 

The Foxhunter Inn at Nantyderry (01873 881101), near Usk, is slightly further away at half an hours drive and is an excellent place to eat – pitched at the more ‘restaurant’ end of gastropub cooking. The chef is Matthew Tebbutt, who trained under Marco Pierre-White and who has since worked in the kitchens of The Oak Room, The Criterion, Chez Bruce, Clarke’s and in both of Alistair Little’s Lancaster Road and Soho restaurants.

www.thefoxhunter.com

 

 

About forty minutes’ drive away, on the A470 between Brecon and Builth Wells in Powys, you will find the Felin Fach Griffin (01874 620111). Opened in 2000 by Huw Evans Bevan and Charles Inkin, the restaurant has quickly gathered a plethora of critical praise. A convivial ‘gastropub’ with delicious food, the atmosphere is relaxed and fun.  Open every evening.  Closed Monday lunch time.  Advise booking. www.eatdrinksleep.ltd.uk

 

 

 

 

 

The Nantyffin Cider Mill between Crickhowell and Brecon for ‘the bistro food of rural France’ (01873 810775) is really good. Their Champagne and wine is well-chosen. Closed Sunday evening and all day Monday. www.cidermill.co.uk

 

 

Take a trip across the border to The Cottage of Content at Carey in Herefordshire (01432 840242). It is just off the A49 between Ross-on-Wye and Hereford, and just beyond Hoarwithy, which has an extraordinary church. Good food, welcoming atmosphere. It about 40 minutes drive  www.cottageofcontent.co.uk

 

 

 

We have been told that there is a good – fairly eccentric – place for Sunday lunch in Usk, The Royal. Hearty roasts and comfort puddings.

 

There is a really nice new café in our local village, Grosmont, called Gentle Jane, which is open from 11am until 5pm (not in winter), so is ideal for coffee in the morning and for lunch.

 

For vegetarians (and others), a daytime eatery really worth visiting during a trip to Hereford, is the excellent café in All Saints Church right in the middle of the city (a short walk from the cathedral).

 

Pizza Express in Hereford is very child-friendly (offering child-sized pizzas and crayons and paper), and, as a compensation for the adults, overlooks the cathedral. There is also a new branch just opened in Monmouth.

 

There is an excellent fish and chip shop at Ewyas Harold, The Old Stables (01981 240237 or 07970 361457). Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

 

 

 

Untested tips from friends:, Peterstone Court, Brecon (01874 665387); The Crown at Whitebrook, Whitebrook.

 

We would recommend booking to avoid disappointment and telephoning to check on opening times, as they tend to change them alarmingly often.