The Red Lion Inn, Penderyn — Restaurant in Wales

I visited December 27th, to meet my two best friends, for drinks and exchange of presents, as is our annual tradition. One friend visits from America and this is their favourite Christmas thing to do. Indeed, it is I've place I try to come and bring friends when they are visiting the area too. I've always found it a lovely pub, good mulled wine, atmosphere and quality food (when I've eaten there on other occasions). This year I braved the bleak weather conditions and a road closure, to come with my 5 month old baby. On arrival, the kind chef held open the door and offered to help me with the baby's carrier. Before I could make it through to the lounge, the lady owner sharply told me I couldn't come in with a baby. She spouted some line about not making any allowances for one person, as others would try and follow suit. She said it had been their policy for years and it was on the website that no children were allowed in the bar area after 6pm. I couldn't even respond. I burst into tears, at the effort it'd taken to get there and the unwelcoming, unaccommodating owner. My friends left, without touching the drinks and bar snacks, they'd spent £20. Ironically, the pub area was very empty, with only two couples in it. It's likely they wouldn't have had any objection, or wish to send a mother and baby back out into a storm. Admittedly, I hadn't checked the website as I am a local, regular visitors. But as for their policy on no children, I visited in December 2021 with a baby, and had no objections. Must have been her night off. I have since checked and their is no legal guidance on babies in pub lounges, this is just at the discretion of the owners. I should add that my previous encounters with the gentleman owner have been warm and courteous, hence giving 2 stars, not 1. Time for a new Christmas tradition, I think. Or an apology and new attitude from the...

This place... WOW.

We were staying in Brecon Beacon and were on our way back to the inn from a drive.. and i quickly searched restaurants near me and this popped up. Just a name and a picture, we wanted a pub, so we decided to give it a go.. lucky lucky lucky.. Turns out this place is bloody amazing! While waiting for food we were given some sample dish.. i have no idea what it was but i quite literally wanted to order 3 full courses of it! Sadly it wasnt on the menu, but a really nice touch.. definitely got our taste buds going.

And so the food arrived. And then shortly after, it was gone. Demolished. Vanished without a trace.. into ma belly!

I ordered the pork belly, and i honestly dont understand how it was so delicious. I thought i have had great pork belly before.. but this was just something else. It just fell apart like heaven, the sauce was sublime. The crackling was done in a weird bubbly way.. how ever it was done.. it was fantastic. Even the carrot and asparagus.. I HATE carrots and asparagus.. and yet they were delicious!! (I to this day, dont know how they cooked the asparagus and carrots to be that amazing.. i mean.. what did they do to them??)

Portion size was spot on, pricing was fair considering the epic quality of the food you get.

Location... its somewhat out in the sticks a bit.. to get to it i had to drive a very tiny lane but i think i took a silly route.. but yes, its wonderful. Nice and tucked away in the country, with loads of parking! (As im sure they need all that parking considering the food.. they must be very popular)

So yeah. If you are around that area, or hell, if youre anywhere near wales.. Go try this place. The food is the best ive ever had.. by a...

More of a pub for food than for a drink now (though the Welsh Pale is still good). Too much space taken up for those eating and just a very small bar area left during busy times for a drink (perhaps necessary to keep it open these days). Shame, as lovely pub in a lovely location. Found food ok but overpriced. Also saw one of the kitchen staff leave the toilets without washing his hands. Combination of these two things has meant I haven't returned for a meal there.

Thank you for your reply. In response, I am not aware of the hygiene requirements of your business but having worked in the pharmaceutical industry I'd be surprised if a member of staff left the toilets without washing their hands as well as adhering to additional hygiene requirements of their job role. I have been up there in the last few months for a drink but it's been during the day and I stayed in the beer garden. My comment re: the food was my opinion and if I was to return that may change, though with a limited budget I tend to find one or two places I enjoy and patronise them as long as they remain good. I can only guess how difficult it must be to run and maintain a pub and you have my sympathies. It was not a criticism that it is more a restaurant, it's just I preferred it as it was. That said, I wish you the best for your business, and will continue to pop in during the summer months as it's a lovely location and you still provide a...