The Wye Valley and Forest of Dean offers many restaurants, cafés and pubs for eating out, and tempting local produce to take home
Places to eat in Brockweir and Tintern
For a small village there are several options for eating within a very short walking distance. Lynne and Richard at the Brockweir Country Inn (Tel: 01291 689548) will give you a warm welcome and friendly chat. Just a stone's throw away from the front door, you can enjoy the local real ales and hearty fair in the old pub or in the beer garden in warmer weather.
Essential to your stay is the superb Brockweir & Hewelsfield Village Shop & Café, selling fresh local produce and goods with a tea room and internet access (Wi-Fi for free, and use of PCs for a small charge) half a mile up the hill from the main village. They say it best themselves:
"An ecologically friendly community shop made of local green oak and staffed by volunteers. With more than twenty local suppliers providing everything from ice cream to apple juice, cider to honey, it's a great place to come and pick up a gourmet picnic or enjoy a fair-trade coffee with loacl cake with stunning rural views situated only 200 metres from the Offas Dyke Path."
The HAPPA horse rescue centre, close to the cottage, now has a small café and serves breakfasts, snacks, paninis and teas and coffees. They often advertise lunch deals locally.
A short walk (10 minutes) on the other side of the river brings you to the restored Tintern Old Station (Tel: 01291 689566) with a tea room and pleasant sitting out area - lovely in warmer weather.
Abbey Mill Coffee Shop and Tea Room in the middle of Tintern (a 30 minute walk from the cottage) offers generously portioned light meals and lunches with outdoor seating for nice weather.
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Nearby dining in Whitebrook, Newland & St Briavels
There are several great dining options, within 15 minutes' drive of the cottage.
Tucked away in the small village of Whitebrook is the The Crown, one of only two Michelin starred restaurants in Wales. Under Head Chef James Sommerin, the Crown offers 'the total dining experience' described as 'fine modern dining with classical french disciplines', sourcing much of the produce used locally. It has also been voted by Johanson as having one of the top three wine lists in Britain (2006). Lunch or Dinner is 'definitely to be lingered over'.
The Ostrich is towards Monmouth, just in the Forest of Dean, set in the centre of the picturesque village of Newland opposite the church. The pub is renowned for its delicious home made dishes, catering to a wide variety of tastes which also includes a vegetarian menu. Ingredients are sourced locally and every thing is prepared freshly on the premises. It also prides itself on its range of Real ales with up to eight on tap at any one time. A warm welcome from the Landlady is always extended whether eating on the patios or in the beautiful walled gardens or snuggling up in the bar and restaurant next to the real fire with fine food or a pint of ale. It has won an array of accolades and is a lively and convivial place for both locals and visitors alike.
The George Inn (Tel: 01594 530228) at St Briavels also offers a wide of delicious country fair in traditional surrounding. Head up the hill from Brockweir and turn left towards Coleford - the pub is signposted as you drive through St Briavels village.
The Butchers Arms (Tel: 01594 834313) at Clearwell, just outside Coleford, is a 13th Century pub with original features and an eclectic and reputable menu.
In Coleford itself try the Bluebell Restaurant at The Forest House Hotel. It has an extensive a la carte menu and can cater for all tastes and budgets. It is very popular locally and you are advised to book in advance.
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Eating out in Chepstow
For a change of pace, a short drive (15 minutes) to Chepstow is where you will find the stylish Mythos Greek Bar and Restaurant. Upstairs is the restaurant serving delicious greek foods, encouraging a shared dining experience, and downstairs is a lively bar serving wines, cocktails and champagne until the early hours. There are other late night bars along the same street.
Mamma Mia is a reasonably priced busy italian offering delicious meals with attentive service catering to your needs.
Additionally, there are more bars and restaurants close to the river.
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Eating out in Monmouth
For an award-winning curry visit the Misbah Tandoori in Monmouth 20 minutes away. This family run restaurant is a regular in the Good Curry Guide Top 100 Indian Restaurants and offers the finest Bangladeshi cuisine cooked in the traditional way. Only the finest ingredients are sourced and everything is cooked fresh to order. Further down the High Street their is another good Indian restaurant/takeaway, Indian Summer at The Oldway Centre, Monnow Street (Tel: 01600 719519).
Pizza Express on the main street in Monmouth is a great place for a wide variety of delicious pizzas and a glass of wine.
Prego Italian Restaurant and Bistro in Church Street has 'mouth-watering foods' with a menu that changes with the seasons and availability of local produce. Head Chef Steve Robbins has worked for Franco Taruschio, founder of the Walnut Tree near Abergavenny, who is also a consultant on the eclectic menu.
First Thyme (Tel: 01600 775570) – an intimate little restaurant with a delicious menu of freshly cooked meals at the end of Church Street (right next to the Church). Ideal for a quiet lunch or dinner.
The Malsters, down a side street by St Mary's Church, offers cafetières of Coffee, paninis, sandwiches and homemade soups. It's a great little place - we recommend the Banoffee Pie! The café is attached to, and indeed is a side-line of, the main business of the day - bread making and other baked fair: Wigmores or 'Wiggies' has been Monmouth's favourite local bakery for the past 100 years and still uses the same traditional fermentation cycle keeping the art of bread making very much alive.
Monmouth boasts a number of other cafes and eateries ideal for lunch such as The Whole Earth in White Swan Court, just off Church Street, which has a healthy and organic inspired menu. The Thyme Out Coffee Shop (above Salt and Pepper Cook Shop in the main street) offers wonderful coffee, breakfast, lunch, or try the yummy cakes at afternoon tea. Sit out on the sun terrace when weather permits and see your food being freshly prepared! Try to resist the shopping, including the great Cook Shop (Salt and Pepper), the Courtyard Clothes Shop (two floors of on trend designer ladies fashions for all ages and occasions) and the Gift Shop next door - this treasure chest of a shop has a gift for everyone.
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Further afield - Abergavenny, Ross-on-Wye & Hay-on-Wye
You are in easy reach of the annual Abergavenny Food Festival, held each September, which draws many visitors to this increasingly popular event to sample fresh local produce and watch cooking demonstrations by top chefs.
Just outside Abergavenny you'll find The Walnut Tree, which has had something of a rebirth of late - restoring it's previous reputation as a very well renowned UK restaurant. Also, just outside the town lies The Hardwick, run by chef Stephen Terry and his wife Joanna. Our friend Caroline, food writer and owner of Blaentrothy Cottages (near Abergavenny), says it is her favourite local place to eat: "The steak sandwiches and triple-deep fried chips are the best in the world, but there is a good choice of more sophisticated dishes on the menu".
We really like it too - it offers great atmosphere, food and service. The Mill Race at Walford, just outside Ross-on-Wye pitches itself as a gastro pub with 'great food, local ales and ciders, an extensive wine list in a relaxed informal atmosphere. Real log fires in the winter and a large sun terrace in the summer - all in a village pub'.
Hay-on-Wye sports several nice places, but visit Oscars for lunch - we always pay a visit when we are in town for the festival - it's busy but sitting out eating one of their specials on the narrow kerb is great in the warm weather.
There are lots of other lovely pubs and restaurants in the area and a little farther afield so keep checking our pages for updates. Back to top
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