Well . . . can't believe I've driven past this place for so many years - DOLT!!!! I have known about this place all my life. I have driven past it for nearly 40 years, finally I decided to venture in. What a fool to have taken so long.
My Mother (a fierce critic of restaurants) and my brother (knows nothing about food but everything about hotels) both love this place, and now I do too.
Set in the very, very, pretty village/town of Crickhowell. The Bear is a 15th century coaching inn - N0 - it really is, beams, carriage tunnel, converted stables and all. The inside is all oak and history, it's clean and jumbled up as any historic building should be. You'll need a map to find the toilets - but they are there (plenty of them actually) they are impeccably clean and I used them at 3pm on a busy Friday! It is busy - and no wonder.
I didn't use the rooms so I have no direct knowledge of the hotel aspect (my brother raves) but I WILL stay here this year and I will review it for us all. BUT if the rest is anything to go by it will be impeccable and worth every penny.
The beer - not a huge range of bitter but in fabulous condition, real ale and delicious. Lager (who cares) yes there was some, cider was very good and we didn't try the Guinness (or the wines). We ate in the bar (us and loads of others) not in the restaurant.
But the FOOD !!! Oh the Food!! The "bad bit" first. It is not cheap - though with care you can eat cheaply. But neither is it expensive. You get more than you pay for - no it isn't cheap but the food is utterly fantastic - UTTERLY.
I had quite the finest Cawl (pronounced "cowl" as in engine cowl) I have ever tasted. A traditional Welsh soup based on lamb and vegetables served with a big chunk of cheese (traditionally local welsh) excellent cheddar here and a heel of crusty bread. Loads of veg' loads of big chunks of lean meat, obviously homemade and boiling hot - as it should be. My second course was Faggots and gravy - Oh what faggots . . . Oh what gravy . . .. Homemade and perfection. They serve food like this in Valhalla.
As close to sex (good sex) as food gets.
My friend (vegetarian) said his food was among the nicest he has ever had in a bar. There were specialist veggie dishes (his did look very good) and the chef clearly gave a dam - not the sad veggie afterthought you so often see. He would recommend it - I can't - didn't eat it but it looked every bit as good as mine and I'm raving about how good this place is. The fresh bream I saw going past smelt fantastic and the portions were heroic.
Food, the bitter, and the service are beyond criticism.
This place serves fresh local salmon and trout (in season) and game (in season). If it says "homemade" - it is!
The restaurant looks romantic, the rooms look impeccable and the food is above and beyond reproach. All dogs (who are staying) are greeted with a bowl of freshly roasted chicken compliments of The Bear . . . They don't like dogs here - they welcome them !!
Pretty? Romantic? This is a place you take a friend and she'll become a girlfriend, take a girlfriend and she'll become a lover, take a lover and make her your fiancee. . . . . Take your wife and make her your lover again - I'm going to that's for sure.
Go again ??? Be damned - if I had the money I'd buy it !!!
A solid SIX STARS, rave, rave, rave. read more