The Hendrewen Hotel

When environmental services said it was too dangerous to stay in my rented home because the gas and electricity had been condemned, Jim and his wife at the hendrewen took me and my four children in. They made us feel so welcome and couldn't do enough for us. Our rooms were cosy, comfortable, and very clean. I'd definitely recommend them.

I really need to get back there soon. I live in the East Midlands now, and as a retired exile I don't get home often enough. I first found the Hendrewen online on my last visit, last March, and it turned out to be the best kept secret in the Rhondda. Jim and Julie gave me a terrific welcome, and the locals made me feel accepted too. It was England v Wales weekend. Without me knowing, my son, who also lives in the East Midlands, had followed me down with some of his fellow Coalville RFC players to watch the game in a pub back home. Imagine seeing them walk in just 15 minutes before kick-off! It seemed like the whole village knew about the surprise. The Boys lost, but we all had a wonderful time, and the three Anglos got a proper Welsh welcome.

First Sunday lunch today, and definitely not my last. It was lush! Dinner and the fresh fruit cheesecake get 20 out of 10 from me. Fabulous atmosphere and lovely hospitality x

I booked two nights but left after one. The cooked breakfast was great, but at £60 the stay felt worth about £15 to me, and I've had much better hotels, inns, and B&Bs for just £5-7 more. The accommodation is old and tired, and in my view it should be closed. There was dust, damp, mould on the walls, poor heating, cold rooms, inaccessible parking, and poor Wi-Fi. The damp was serious: the beds and sheets were wet and cold, like camping in the rain. The rooms seemed not to have been dusted for years, and there were hairs in the beds and on the floor. Don't drop your pillow there. The pictures speak for themselves.