Horse Shoe Inn — Restaurant in Wales

From the moment we arrived we were mesmerised. Now we’re seasoned travellers and we don’t get impressed too easily (not snobby just more laid back).

Visual impression - Authentic, the building and decor was completely updated but kept to the integrity of the buildings history.

We arrived from London (train to Abergavenny, cab to inn) pretty late at night. Owain (who you will hear more about later) welcomed us into the pub and took our drink orders. We were actually so exhausted from the journey he walked us up to our immaculate cosy room and answered the 16483 questions I had about breakfast. I think he was a little taken aback that we wanted to chat to him so long in our room.

The first full day we were there we went on a hike. Long story short, we left the inn at 7am and didn’t come back until midnight after hiking 40km and getting stranded with blisters that wouldn’t allow us to walk anymore. We thought we could get a taxi to pick us up but there is only one company within this specific Brecon region and they weren’t picking up. The taxis from Abergavenny and Brecon just laughed at us. In all desperation we call our inn. Owain literally did everything in his power to try to get us a ride, speaking to all the locals and trying to get someone to borrow a car who wasn’t drinking (it was a Saturday football night after all). We had tears in our eyes when we dropped our call with him thinking we had another 3.5 hours to walk on our poor feet.

I’ve shared enough detail but the next stage is that An unbelievable barlady named Linda a few towns over in Talybont on Usk ended up driving us home….when they say Welsh people are the kindest you’ll come across they’re really not making it up.

PRETTY GREAT SO FAR ISNT IT?

Two more things to mention -

Because of COVID we had continental breakfast. But it was everything you could ask for! Cheese, meats, croissants, yoghurt, toast etc etc etc. And let me tell you…Claire will literally get you anything you ask for.

You know those overbearing people, NOTHING like that. Claire took such good care of us, asking us just the right amount what we needed, how she could help, what our plans were.

That’s not where the story ends with Claire though. After a day and a half of nursing blisters (my partners were actually 3x3 inches on both heels and foot underpads - have I said we could barely walk) we were onwards to walk into crickenhowell to catch the next bus to Abergavenny. It should only be a 15 minute walk but with our feet we gave ourselves an hour. As we approached check out and Claire was chatting away with the lovely chef Ray we only wish we had the opportunity to order from, Claire grabs her keys, closes the bar and tells us she’s driving us to the bus stop. I still cry just thinking about the selflessness and care she had for us.

I don’t think this review needed to be so Long and detailed but we did just write it so that Owain, Claire and the entire team can see how appreciated they are and how truly they touched us when we were at some of our lowest...

firstly im a local born and raised.. I had not been in since the reopening , but I was was blown away by the place, the decor is on point, vintage and rustic meets industrial and agricultural..everywhere you look there are these little touches that really make for a nice experience..the bar area is open plan with comfortable seating and a large tv on the wall , with sky sports by the looks as they were showing the man city game when we came in , the design of the bar area though being modern has kept lot of the original building the beams etc .. prices were reasonable for location and the pub was busy but due to layout it wasn't overcrowded...we just missed the food cut off but some of the dishes being brought past looked incredable ...that being said on the way out I saw some of the staff tucking into the Sunday roast by the door as is customary after a shift and it looked and smelled amazing the barman was very pleasant and seemed happy to see us even though he was busy . I had a quick nose I yo the back room and it was very nicely done out ...the toilet facility's were fantastic the gents cubicle door was actually one of my favourite things about the place ..you'll see if you visit it . I don't know about the bnb side of things as I live within miles but I have heard good things about it..would...

The service was very rude. We were served a burger with the plastic covering still left on the burger. My friend bit down to realise she was eating plastic. It was then found that a piece of wood was in the mash. I took up the burger to the waitress and said how there is plastic in the burger and showed her. She snatched the plate out my hand and stormed into the kitchen. She didn't speak to me or say what was going to happen. I didn't know if a new meal was being made or if we wouldn't be getting a meal. We then showed the piece of wood in the mash. The chef said how this was a 'tooth pick' and that no tooth pick was in the kitchen (placing the blame on us). There was a camera on us and we said to check CCTV because we don't have any tooth picks on us and it didn't look like a tooth pick. The food was nice but very contaminated. The matter was made worse that they served this contaminated food to a head chef so we are very aware of what contaminated food looks like. Awful service and will not...