Local Places to eat and drink
Abercrave Inn
Location: 2 1/2 miles south of the Castle in AbercraveAddress: 145 Heol Tawe, Abercrave Swansea Valley SA9 1XSTelephone: 01639 731002
Our Review: - Expect to spend £18.00 for a reasonable three course meal and you will not feel hungry afterwards. This is a smart pub with an extensive menu so plenty of choice. It is quite popular so advance bookings is essential most nights, especially on Friday and Saturdays.
Ancient Briton
Location: 1 1/2 miles south of the Castle just beyond the village of PenycaeAddress: Brecon Rd, Penycae, Swansea, West Glamorgan, SA9 1YYTelephone: 01639 730273
Our Review: - For bar snacks, inexpensive meals, and good ale. Very reasonable "pub" for food. Enjoy a good steak, gammon and a nice roast dinner on a Sunday. The Ancient Briton is most noted for its real ale selection. Generally it has 5 real ales on at any one time. It has won a CAMRA award - The landlord, Gerald, tells us he has been recognised as the best CAMRA pub in the Neath and Swansea Valley. This is a major achievement given that in 2001 this pub didn't even serve real ale.
Penycae Inn
Location: 1 mile South of the Castle. (Just 20 minutes brisk walk should you want to have a drink without worrying about driving back)Address: Brecon Road, Penycae SA9 1FATelephone: 01639 730100
Our Review: - A smart and new upmarket little restaurant with top quality food and generous helpings. The 12oz Rib Eye Steaks are well worth experiencing. The menu is simple but quality is consistent. The previously run down local Inn has been smartly refurbished with genuine oak beams, oak bar and quality oak flooring throughout. It has had a lot of money spent on it and the work has been done in good taste with no attempt to skimp on quality or workmanship. Expect to spend £25.00 to £30.00 per head - including pre-dinner drinks at the bar but before taking into account wine at the table. This is a little expensive for the "local" market (though it seems quite busy) but ideal for guests of the Castle seeking somewhere a bit more exclusive to go.
The Felin Fach Griffin Inn
Location: 30 minutes drive north of Brecon. On the Brecon bypass.Address: Felin Fach, Brecon, Powys LD3 OUBTelephone: (01874) 620111
Our Review: - At around £40.00 to £50.00 per head the excellent cuisine at this pub is strictly for those with very fine taste in food and a willingness to indulge (expensively). Take 3 hours over your meal and have some meaningful conversation in "smart" yet informal (unstuffy) surroundings. A wedding anniversary, a surprise birthday gift, an important business client, quiet conversation - this is where to go.
The Griffin is a little way out of Brecon. You wonder if you have possibly missed it but then you see it, easily visible, on your left.On their website we found the following write-up from the owner, "As a trained chef I am passionate about using seasonal and where possible, local ingredients. The Griffin's head chef, Ricardo van Ede, shares my belief and produces simple but unfussy food.