The Hollybush

We happened to call in and found a good choice of meals. My partner had gammon with chips, egg and veg, while I had the steak and ale pie with chips and seasonal vegetables. Both were very nice. It was a nice day, so we sat outside, though the inside looked tidy and clean too. The staff were very friendly, and we had a really nice meal.

A lovely, rustic place with lots of room to relax over a nice ale. There’s outdoor seating with lush views, free parking and bike racks, and I noticed dogs are allowed, which I personally love. The menu has a good selection, and the food was lovely, especially pudding. Staff at the bar and waiting tables were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and did everything they could to make us feel welcome. I hope I can make it on a Thursday for the open mic. My partner and I were out walking, driving, cycling and exploring on the motorcycle, and a stop here won’t disappoint. It’s a proper village pub. If I lived in Draethen, they’d be sick of seeing me come through the door!

After being away for 30years, I left pleased with lunch and am genuinely looking forward to another visit. The welcome was warm, the bar had the feel you’d want in a country pub, and my sea bass was one of the nicest I’ve tasted. I’m gluten intolerant and still found enough options. My partner is vegetarian and thought the choice was a little limited, but there was something for her, and her garlic mushrooms, I believe, were stunningly good. The two young women working then did a great job and were enthusiastic about the changes made and planned. The new management are clearly finding their way, though. The menus could do with an overhaul and don’t make the best first impression. Management should be proud of those staff members. The Hollybush Inn is in Draethen, near Machen in the lower Rhymney Valley, and has a long history. I last came more than 30 years ago, when it was highly regarded. I believe it’s had a checkered history lately, but it’s now under new management. I wish the Hollybush staff well.

The chicken was nearly cold by the time the sides arrived, and the vegetables were greasy and meager. For two of us, the dish was about one potato, four slices each of aubergine and courgette, and half a medium carrot, all chopped small. When we asked where the veg was, the staff member said the dish was for sharing. We requested more and after another wait got a smaller helping of aubergine, courgette and carrot, no potato, and lots of peas. We paid just under £14 each for this. I’d seen fish and chips being brought to other tables, which looked like more food for the money, maybe even their ‘light’ bites. The chicken breast in sauce I ordered, and my sister’s similar dish, took a long time to arrive. The staff member just put the plates down and left, so there was no chance to ask if another dish was coming. The crowded bar was full of a very noisy group of men on stools all along the counter. They made it hard for anyone to get to the bar to ask for service, and the available staff were busy with them. I don’t mind people enjoying themselves, but it was too loud for normal conversation and sometimes impossible to ignore. I wasn’t interested in a ‘light bite’ and wanted a full main. The visit was very disappointing, expensive, and not good value for money. It’s a pretty place, but one to avoid if you want a proper meal.