A friend had told me that The Castle's food offering has had a huge revamp and that the Restaurant at The Castle has been transformed.  So on returning from a meeting in Brecon, I couldn't resist the opportunity to call in for dinner.

It's only twelve months ago that business partners Carol Lincoln and Nick Evans purchased the hotel, following many years experience in the tourism and hospitality industry. Under their guidance The Castle has returned to the values of good old fashioned, but unstuffy hospitality, along with locally produced, flavoursome food. 

There's a great lunch-time bar menu available and we just had time for a quiet drink there enjoying the open fire and the lovely old beams. Then into the delightful Carriages Restaurant which is open for non residents Chef Mathew Voyle, who trained in Cardiff, certainly knows his trade, producing a menu that was honest and imaginative with fresh food that simply had taste - what else do you need? There's no pretension here and we both started with tasty tempura prawns with a sweet chilli sauce. That whetted our appetite for our two mains of locally farm reared Welsh Rib Eye Black Beef and a slowly braised lamb shank with a Cumberland glaze, rosemary vegetables and colcannon, both were superbly succulent and very tasty. My partner is still raving over her raspberry crème brulée, which is praise indeed as she feels she's an expert on this dessert! My selection of star anise panacotta on a plum compote with a Florentine biscuit was simply so good it has to be described as ‘moreish'. This simple table d'hote menu was excellent value at £15.95 for three courses. When the weather's fine there's even al fresco dining in the old courtyard.  

I couldn't fault our delicious dinner and can only say our friend was a good judge. I shall certainly return to The Castle again to sample their traditional Carvery Sunday lunch at £12.95, which a local resident said was a real treat. Actually I was thinking of making that into a weekend break as I love this part of Wales, so when I was allowed to have a peak into one of the beautiful bedrooms, that was it, decision made and I made my booking before I left!

What a great pleasure it was to sample The Castle Hotel showing Welsh tradition at its best.

Factfile

Owners: Carol Lincoln & Nick Evans

Address: The Castle Hotel, King's Road, Llandovery

Tel: 01550 720343

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.llandoverycastle.co.uk