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Wales Trip Day 1: Llandrindod Wells, Radnorshire

Before leaving the UK we intend to do a fair amount of sightseeing. This is an account of a week we recently spent travelling in Wales. Its not a live-blog, but I noted a few observations each day so that the posts read a little as if I had had a computer with me. (And its not as if anyone reading this cares where I actually am sitting when I post this!)

Our hotel was located some 30 miles away in Llandrindod Wells - a pretty little Victorian Spa Town on the edge of the Black Mountains. The journey gave the boy a chance to sleep and we took in some more spectacular scenery.

We were very well served with our choice of hotel. We had chosen the Metropole, a Victorian hotel which turned out to be located right in the centre of town, with a large car park. Everything looked spick and span - the hotel building was evidently fairly freshly painted (in a rich Victorian green) and the decor within was clean and spotless.












We had booked a room in one of the towers, which meant that we got a bed, room to set up the travel cot, and a sitting room area, which meant that there was plenty of room for a toddler to run around and let off steam. The only thing wrong with the room was that the water pressure in the bathroom was a bit low, but nothing to complain about. And it didn't cost us much more than I've had to spend on a pokey room for one in an anodyne Holiday Inn while on business trips (on a tariff here that included Breakfast and Dinner).

The hotel pool was located in a nice conservatory, and was refreshingly cool - you noticed it when you got in but not after a minute or so in the water. There were some floats and toys to keep children busy with and our son (who loves pools) had a great time.

And then it was time for dinner.

I have been to many restaurants in London and Oxford, and other expensive spots around the south east, so I have had my fair share of 'posh' or fussy food. I can honestly say that I have never had better haute cuisine than we ate at this hotel. The portions were just right, for all three it tatscourses, the food prepared to perfection (even the fish fingers on the children's menu, were actual cuts of cod that had been battered) and it tasted wonderful. Furthermore, despite the quality of the food, and the care taken arranging it on the plates, the hotel restaurant was absolutely family friendly - we didn't for a moment feel self conscious about having a toddler at the table with us. The hotel restaurant also evinced a certain pride in its performance that you don't always see - the menu contained brief resumes of the Head Chef, Sous Chef and Restaurant Manager (who had worked her way up from joining as a temporary waitress), and explained that the junior chefs were being trained with a view to obtaining formal qualifications.

Simply fantastic - if you are planning on staying in this part of Wales, consider the Metropole Hotel a must.

To be continued...

posted by j @ 4:37 PM