The Grapes Hotel

Service was very good, with the friendly Welsh and Romanian waitresses checking often to make sure everything was all right. The Sunday carvery was a really enjoyable meal. Lamb and pork were lovely and tender, the beef was okay, and the roast potatoes and vegetables were good. I especially liked the swede mash, sweet potatoes and carrots, along with the broccoli and parsnip. The cauliflower cheese stood out, with a strong mature cheese flavour, much better than elsewhere. We wondered if there might be Stilton or double Gloucester in the sauce. Good choices of horseradish, mint and apple sauces, and the gravy was good too, we had two boats of it. Can’t fault it. Hope to visit again soon.

We stayed overnight, and the clean room was just right for one night, with a superb ensuite shower. Dinner and breakfast were spectacular, freshly cooked, generous portions and just perfect. The staff were lovely, helpful and always smiling. Andrew, the lady manager and her team were a pleasure to be around. We ended up chatting with them all night, along with some regulars. What a gem. I’d recommend anyone stay and try this brilliant hotel. We’ll be back as soon as we can.

We’d stayed in one of the cottages before, and on this second visit to the hotel we chose a King-size room. It was nicely presented and had the basics for a comfortable stay, but a few details let it down. The bed base seemed made for a King-size mattress, yet the mattress was only a double, and the thin duvet and unsupportive pillows made it less comfortable. One of the three large blinds didn’t work, so we couldn’t properly enjoy the mountain sunrise. The restaurant was excellent again in the evening, though tables need to be booked because it’s so popular. Breakfast wasn’t as good as last time: the bacon and sausages were undercooked, while the other items were fine. The dining room was quiet, but staff rearranging tables during our meal disturbed the atmosphere. The surroundings are stunning and the restaurant is exceptional, but more care with the room and breakfast would make the stay much better.

The sticky toffee pudding was great. The food was tasty enough, though the chips were a little overdone, maybe they hadn’t quite got back into the swing of things after reopening from their winter break. Worth a visit, but I’d book during peak season, especially for Sunday lunch.