Maes Manor Hotel

The food was outstanding and very reasonably priced for such a lovely Manor. We were celebrating a surprise birthday, and the staff made the whole evening feel special. We started with drinks in the lounge/bar while the party arrived, then moved to a private room where the table for 19 was beautifully decorated. The team seemed to go out of their way to give us a fabulous meal. We’ll absolutely be back.

The shepherd’s pie was incredible, easily one of the top three hotel versions I’ve tried around the country, and the waiting staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms, though, are basic and very dated. If they were a bit nicer, I’d have given the full five stars.

The venue looked beautiful for our works Christmas do last night, and the Meatloaf act was fantastic. Staff, food, and service were all brilliant. I’d definitely recommend it. Keep up the good work!

The Coach House room was quiet at night, with a comfortable bed, a good-sized double room, and a bathroom that was adequate, though the shower was over the bath and wasn’t electric. The heating came on at night and in the morning, so it was warm. I liked the new thick carpet and decor, but cleanliness let the room down: cobwebs in the corners, one with a dead spider, another behind a table, and dust on the plastic strip at the bottom of the wall. Some wallpaper had come away where it had become damp. The bathroom itself was clean, but its extractor fan didn’t work. The location is lovely, with views over fields and the Chartist Bridge in Blackwood. The restaurant is spacious, but service was poor while the waitresses were busy with a wedding reception in the function room. There wasn’t much choice on the menu, and after hearing another diner say the lasagne had little meat, I chose something else. My burger and chunky chips were tasty and £16, which wasn’t a bad hotel price. I asked what a bottle of Rose cost, then chose two glasses instead. At checkout I was charged for both the bottle and the glasses. I corrected it, and the receptionist reluctantly removed the bottle charge. It felt like they’d deliberately charged me for wine I hadn’t had. It was my first stay. The room was fine for a night or two, but I didn’t feel it was worth what I paid, and the service fell short of what I expected. I left with a disappointing first impression and won’t be rushing back. I’ll pay a bit more and stay somewhere else next time.