Waggon and Horses — Restaurant in Wales

A charming family run gastro pub set in the middle of Newtown in Wales. The food is outstandingly good, the friendliness of the owners and staff made us feel very welcome. Most of the customers were local I think, and very friendly. The pub and restaurant spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated. I overheard the landlady tell another customer that the pub and restaurant had been going 29 years under them, I'm not surprised, there's a reason for it's longevity it think, evidenced below...

We visited during our log cabin holiday nearby, for Sunday lunch.

I had the seafood platter to start, 'fish fingers' (fresh pieces of fish battered), fresh scampi and whitebait. All deep fried to perfection, juicy, succulent, fresh tasting, absolutely gorgeous with a sense of the sea throughout! The whitebait in particular was crisp on the outside while remaining fleshy underneath, and tasted yummy. It takes real skill to turn out this type of deep fried seafood with such perfection. Served with a small side of fresh salad leaves in a crisp dressing and a fine tartare sauce. First class!

Next came the wonderful Welsh lamb shank, big, cooked to tender perfection in a delicious gravy, with incredibly tasty roast potatoes (crisp and seasoned on the outside while fluffy inside), creamy mash, and a mix of carrots/peas/root veg, all cooked to fresh tasting perfection. A rustic dish prepared with a real touch of class, using local ingredients... Absolutely outstanding!

My better half had the chocolate brownie and raspberry ice-cream dessert which she says was soft, melty and delicious.

The guest bitter was excellent and just as it should be in the glass.

The portions are generous, you won't leave hungry. 2 people with 2 courses each, 2 beers, 1 coke and 2 coffees = £54... yup that's right, £54 incl drinks and coffee!!! Eat this quality of food etc in, say, London, you would expect to pay at least 2.5 times as much, probably more, I would say.

This place is a real hidden gem, well worth the visit if you are visiting Wales anywhere...

From Cardiff to Culinary Delight: Our Serendipitous Visit to The Waggon and Horses”

Our journey from Cardiff was as random as it gets. Armed with nothing but a dropped pin on the map, we wound our way through picturesque valleys until we arrived in Newtown.

Starving and clueless, we stumbled upon The Waggon and Horses after a quick Google search. A mere 10-minute walk from the town center, across a quaint bridge and into a housing estate, we hadn’t booked or called ahead. We simply committed to the adventure.

As we approached, doubts crept in. Two bars—one on the left, one on the right—greeted us. I wondered if we’d made a mistake. But the lovely lady at the entrance assured us they had seats.

Never judge a place by its exterior! We both ordered Garlic Mushrooms and Braised Lamb. The flavors were exquisite—the meat, the veggies, and that heavenly mashed potato. I’d take a tub of it home any day, along with the lamb jus.

The bill came to around £60 (thank you, Mrs.). Despite our lack of reservation, they accommodated us graciously.

The Waggon and Horses, nestled in Newtown, is a hidden gem. I’m not entirely sure what the town is famous for—perhaps that mountain-climbing dog? But our pin-drop randomness led us to a...

Wonderful dinner experience with party of 10. We had booked for dinner on the same day, i.e. a bit last minute and we did not regret this one. Nice concise menu with good choice for both starters and mains. We can’t fault any of the choices of our group. Mushrooms, Brie platter, French onion soup, pasta all went down very very well. Service is very attentive, friendly and with good sense of humour. For mains the braised beef was to die for, the chicken unbelievably nice, the steak spot on and the lamb was perfect. Plenty of sides and veggies so we can’t really find any point of critique. One at the table is gluten intolerant and that didn’t cause any problem and she was very happy with her choices and especially with the taste of her meal. Nice wines on the list, a short list but perfectly balanced. Also desserts went down well. All in all an absolutely quality place for a nice fine dinner. Would go again any time when...