Usk is a delightful, historic, small country town in the Usk valley, in Monmouthshire, South Wales…read more Whilst it is home to just a couple of thousand souls, Usk has at least 11 licensed houses, that I know of. The King's Head is the pick of the bunch. It is privately owned, and run by friendly and welcoming young staff. Whilst not the smartest or most chic establishment in town, it is certainly the quirkiest, with an astonishing array of artefacts, accumulated down the years, adorning its walls and shelfs. A labyrinth of little bars, it has comfortable sitting-room type furniture and you can relax on a sofa whilst enjoying your drink. It has en-suite rooms, its own car park, and the Chef, Jose Casas, cooks meals that are a lot more than your average pub grub. Local meat and fish feature on his menus, and you need to be very hungry if you order his 'specials'. A former Gwent Pub of the Year winner, The Kings has a choice of real ales, and a very large range of wines and spirits. An excellent spot to stop and slake your thirst (just 1 mile off the M50-A449 route), or to use as a base if touring the area.

Stayed in one of the Hunters Lodges. Pricey but a great place to throw a party with sauna and hot…read moretub and open plan layout. Friendly drivers take you between lodges and main resort. Our family made good use of the pool, gym, golf and children's activities. Dined at Olive Tree restaurant but Deliveroo will deliver takeaway to the lodges as an alternative.

Now when you first enter there is obviously the wow factor and everything looks nice. But I think…read morethe biggest letdown is the Price, I stayed in one of the lodges,(lodge 6 to be exact) and it was over about £1,300 A NIGHT which is outrageous but I mean it is considered a 5 star resort however in the actual lodge it wasn't the best.:very small garden,dead flies on the bed,shower door was broken and filthy and even the power plug Exploded! However room service did come and help us replace it. But if it was a 5 star resort! Then it shouldn't have been broken in the first place! In the lodge and all around the hotel there are shuttles you can order (free of charge) to take you anywhere and I guess that is nice. Because it cost so much a night it won't really be possible to stay a long time which leads to the next problem. Because of all the other people staying there it is really difficult to get into activities because you have to book them a day in advance and the app is quite faulty and buggy to even get a chance to book it and because you can barely stay there long. I came into here expecting to experience the 5 star experience and that I would try do do every activity but the sheer lack of time that you stay there it is incredibly difficult to do 4 activities out of the tens of ones it has to offer! In the evenings you can go for a fancy meal but some of them are outrageously expensive! I came here on a family reunion and for our evening meal we went to a buffet called The Olive Tree. In the buffet section you have a wide variety of foods and if you want chips I would recommend you don't have them unless you want your mouth to be filled with potato that is basically uncooked! They were flopping about and so delicate they were all squished and broken in the actual tub. So as a conclusion I think I have enjoyed staying here but the other factors have brought it down it wasn't as unexpected for a 5 star resort.

A wonderful, traditional 16th Century Inn. Lovely people, lovely pub, lovely beer and lovely food!…read moreDoes accommodation at 40 pounds a night. I must come and stay here. Can't remember both beers I had, but one of them was Masters Devons Pride. They were both good. I think I might have eaten the Smoked Haddock & Spring Onion Fishcake too but my memory fails me slightly. I enjoyed whatever I had!

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.

Out of all of the hotels I stayed at on my recent UK trip, this was the best place. The hotel is an…read moreold castle, said to at one time housed the Crown Jewels. The front desk hostess was brilliant and remembered my name the entire time I was there. Anything I wanted, she made happen. I would definitely stay there again.

I did not stay at Holiday Inn I was just here for a glorious event!!…read more When you come in they have a nice reception, every thing is immaculate with a couple of couches and a small table. They also have a bar, and a restaurant as well. The lough was lovely with leather chairs with tables. Some leather sofas as well. They also have an amazing fire place. The event was in the Gwent suit, which can hold many functions. I think the maximum people it could hold is 500. If the air conditioner is not on, this place can get very hot. I asked if they could turn it on, and it was refreshingly cool. I did not stay here overnight, but one person said they like it and another was person was so-so about it. If you don't want to eat in the hotel, their are pubs, McDonald's and Tesco's Express etc not far, we walked so it was about a 15-20min walk.

Can't complain. Its just off the M4, but is set well away from the road. Decent bar area, didn't…read moreeat there so can't comment on the food. Not bad.

I'm going to give this 5 stars for being a great Premier Inn, not for the grade of hotel…read more It's brand new, built by the river next to the Worcester County Cricket ground, which on my visit was completely underwater, as you can see in the picture! Rooms were a good size, clean and comfortable with all the usual facilities that you would expect from a Premier Inn - en suite bathroom, large TV, hairdryer, tea & coffee facilities (no biscuits though), choice of pillows for the bed, and 30 minutes free Wi-Fi. Minimal, but all you need for a good night's sleep - in fact, they do say that they will refund your money if you don't sleep properly. I was tempted to put this to the test as I didn't really get back to sleep after being woken up by the room upstairs returning at 1.30am, but that's not the fault of the hotel so it would have been churlish of me to complain. The check-in has two automated desks similar to ATMs or airline check-ins that are very easy to use, although there was a very helpful and friendly staff member on duty as well to help guide you through the process if needed. They also reassured me that the night watchman would keep an eye on the car in the car park and wake me up if the rising flood waters, which were already covering a third of the car park, threatened to engulf it. The bar and restaurant is in the building, and the staff both at the bar and at breakfast could not have been more helpful and friendly. I didn't eat the evening meal in the bar, but the menu looked OK and reasonably priced. Had I not had a prior engagement I would have eaten here quite happily. As usual at Premier, breakfast is extra but it's worth buying one as you can eat all you want from the buffet. There was a good choice of hot food to order, including vegetarian sausages (yay!). This might be because the place is new and they're trying to make a good impression (it worked!), but I hope it lasts, as this is a very convenient location close to the city centre when visiting Worcester.

Good comfortable inn on the edge of a small village in the eastern part of the National Park,…read moreconvenient for both the Black Mountains and the main peaks of the Brecon Beacons. The hotel has 10 ensuite bedrooms. We found the rooms clean, comfortable and reasonably spacious but perhaps in need of a little updating. There is not T.V. lounge or rooms solely for the use of hotel guests. However, this is perhaps compensated by a large and comfortable lounge bar. A large T.V. is at one end but this area is seperated off and thus is unobtrusive to those located in the main area. Rev. James and Hancocks H.B. on draft are the pick of the beers. Choice of lagers, wines etc also available. There is also a garden at the back of the hotel for warm and sunny weather. We booked in at the hotel on a half board basis for a whole week and during that time never had a disappointing meal. Good choice of food ranging from local sausages, salmon, half roast duck, crevettes and various steaks. Portions are generous to the point that you may wish to consider a 2 course meal instead of the normal three courses. The fixed price lunchtime menu is excellent value. If available, try the salmon with saffron sauce and Bacardi and Blueberry cheesecake. The website has sample menus. We found the staff friendly and efficient and would happily recommend this inn/hotel to others seeking a reasonably priced establishment in one of the most attractive parts of Wales.

Had a tremendous lunch at the restaurant at Gliffaes Country House Hotel, about an hour north of…read moreCardiff in Wales. There are beautiful grounds and a beautiful old country house with a great large restaurant. We had pre-lunch drinks in one of the salons. Service was truly great and the food was exceptional. We had a delicious three course meal. It's worth the drive through rolling hills of South Wales even if the day was a bit foggy.

I have just come back from a lovely weekend at this beautiful hotel. I must admit that I didn't…read morefind Gliffaes without help as I booked a cycling retreat via The School of Life - I will be forever grateful to be introduced to this gem and can't wait for an excuse to return! I was impressed even before we arrived as the website is extremely helpful and friendly, including a very good description of how to get here (satnavs can get it wrong without a little human intervention), pictures of all the rooms, as well as loads of ideas of how to spend your time in the Brecon Beacons. The hotel is set in beautiful grounds with stunning views across the valley. You are well looked after from the start and all staff seem exceptionally nice and helpful - you know straight away that you have arrived in someone's family home rather than a corporate establishment. All rooms are decorated individually, and contemporary Welsh art can be found throughout the building. I particularly liked the little touches of handmade soap and heated towels in the bathroom, as well as the pile of Wellington boots in the cloakroom reminding me of the rain more typically associated with these parts. We were incredibly lucky with the weather and enjoyed gloriously sunny days cycling up and down the surrounding hills, taking in castle ruins, ancient churches and picturesque villages along the way. We were served lovely three course dinners, ending on an exotic selection of home made icecreams; you can tell how much fun someone is having with the ice cream maker - Malibu and Coconut anyone? Everything was beautifully presented and delicious and not at all what culinary sceptics might expect in the backwaters of rural South Wales. Thank you!

Such a wonderful experience!…read more Although the food and setting was gorgeous, service felt unpretentious and wonderfully paced. The soundtrack for the afternoon was likewise; I think I expected some form of ambient trance and, this is not a joke, "Down in New Orleans" from Disney's "Princess and the Frog" played during our appetizer course (we thought this was hilarious and awesome). With regard to drinks, the seasonal Sorrel Daiquiri was my friend's favorite and the wine selection was very interesting with lots of English and Welsh options. I ordered off of the vegetarian menu and I didn't miss meat for a heartbeat--and, as a bonus, they grow, harvest, and serve a number of vegetables from their own property. It can feel like a financial investment, and it's certainly out of the way, but well worth it.

Stayed here in October 2015 with my husband as a special treat. He grew up in the area and had…read morewanted to return to try it - glad we did! A very warm welcome awaited us, and we were shown to our room where freshly-baked warm Welshcakes awaited us. I took a leisurely bath and got ready for our tasting menu dinner. The food was phenomenal - having eaten shortly beforehand at Tom Kitchin's in Edinburgh, aspects of this meal were even better. The canapes, the cocktails, the bread, the nice touch of the nettle macaron to send you off to bed - all amazing. The service was really exceptional, really fantastic. They were also happy to accommodate my dietary requirements and substitute dishes, which was great. The only downside to dinner was that the chef patron walked out of the kitchen and straight past us (and then back to kitchen) without greeting any of the diners - seemed a bit odd when he wasn't really that busy and there were only 4 of us. It didn't mar our enjoyment of the meal, but would have been an "icing on the cake" touch. The chap who was in charge of service was really brilliant - his recommendations were spot-on. The dining room is very small, only one other couple were dining at the same time of us - the atmosphere was a little weird as they appeared to have fallen out before dinner! But we had a great time, despite my partner having a terrible cold. We had a great night's sleep in the comfortable bed, and then breakfast next morning was another culinary triumph. I can't wait to go back soon!

Amazing staffs, great service, absolutely beautiful brilliant Michellin Star restaurant with most…read morescenic location and probably the best well kept secret of one of the world class building in the world. The chef is absolutely top class and the ambience is above and beyond unmatched ! The high class dining experience is one of the greatest and rarest experiences that I've ever had. The wine pairing and the amazing foods with all locally sourced healthy ingredients amaze anyone who can discern the finite quality distinction from the rest. Be amazed! My true Mukbang friends and families: Don't You Hesitate!

One of the most beautiful hotels we have ever been to. We came to Castle combe early just to…read moreexplore and spent time exploring the hotel and surroundings. There is so much to see. Next time, we intend to stay here. Staff at Bybrook were exceptional. We felt so welcome and happy. Food was incredible. This is a beautiful hotel to celebrate any special occasion. We will definitely return.