We’re famous for it. And hand-in-hand with hospitality goes good food and drink. Restaurants and bistros, inns and hotels throughout the Valleys serve locally sourced food cooked for all tastes - from classic dishes like Welsh lamb to inventive cuisine in tune with contemporary tastes.
Local specialities abound. And when we say local we mean Italian - some of the time, anyway. We’re not talking here about Italian restaurants (though you’ll find them easily enough).
The Valleys are famous for their Italian cafés, run in the traditional Italian way with a dash of Welsh inspiration. Art and food make a delicious combination and many of the art galleries and attractions like Llantarnum Grange Art Centre and Cyfarthfa Castle, have cafes or tearooms serving a 'nice' pot of tea with home cooked Welshcakes.
Visit www.foodwales.com for details of food and drink in Wales including recipes, festivals, farmers
markets, farm shops, indoor markets and Welsh produce.
Café Culture – Italian Style
When Italian immigrants settled in the Valleys a hundred or so years ago they did what they do best - open cafés. The same families are still running them today. The accents may have changed a little, but in terms of atmosphere and brio you’re in Rome, not the Rhondda, when you call in for a coffee - made, of course, in one of those gleaming, hissing Italian coffee-making machines. Many cafés double up as ice-cream parlours. One local favourite is Rhondda-based Mr Creamy, an award-winning dairy ice-cream free from artificial colours and flavouring. Scoop some up on your next visit.
There are pleasant tearooms and cafés dotted across the Valleys of South Wales where you are most welcome to step in and enjoy a variety of tasty cakes, refreshing pots of tea and the chance to get to know the area that little bit better. If you fancy sipping your tea in regal surroundings the tea rooms at Cyfarthfa Castle offer the perfect retreat from the bustle of life and the chance to choose from a selection of homemade cakes, soups and snacks.
If you want a home from home, then The Cottage in the shadow of Tredegar town clock may fit the bill. With home cooked meals and cakes, it is a welcome break from the rush of the day.
Or if you are in Caerphilly, visiting the Castle, pop across the road to Glanmor’s Tea Rooms serving a delightful range of home-made cakes and some traditional Welsh favourites such as ‘Cawl’. Many visitor attractions house cafés, at Rhondda Heritage Park you can enjoy a traditional Miner’s Tea.
The Big Cheese
Cheesemaking is big in Southern Wales. But it’s not just the farms located further west in Carmarthenshire that get in on the act. Penderyn Welsh whisky, Double Dragon ale, Welsh white wine and leeks are some of the flavours added to the four types of artisan cheese handmade by the Blaenavon Cheddar Company. The one that’s captured the imagination is Pwll Mawr, a traditional Cheddar matured underground at Big Pit, just across the way from the shop on 80 Broad Street. Pop in. You can see the cheese being made there and then - or you can buy it online. These cheesemakers are a versatile lot - they also offer guided walks and cycle hire.
www.chunkofcheese.co.uk
Caerphilly, of course, is shorthand for mild, crumbly white cheese. It’s also a friendly town with a big castle and The Big Cheese, an annual festival that’s a highlight of the Valleys’ summer
scene. Not strictly a foodie event, it’s a colourful celebration of history and heritage, with street entertainment, military re-enactments, music, comedy, crafts - and a mouthwatering food and cheese market hosted by local producers. Don’t miss it - in 2008 it takes place from 25th to 27th July
Market Forces
Local and farmers’ markets put the pleasure back into food shopping. They’re a refreshing change from that rush to the checkout. So take your time and visit some of these markets, where shopping comes with a human face.
Indoor Markets:
Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd; all Monday–Saturday
Outdoor Markets:
Abertillery (Thursday), Brynmawr (Saturday), Ebbw Vale (Friday), Merthyr Tydfil (Tuesday and Saturday), Mountain Ash (Friday), Pontypridd (Wednesday and Saturday), Treorchy (Thursday)
Farmers’ Markets:
Caerphilly (second Saturday of the month February–November), Church Village (third Thursday of every month at Llantwit Fadre Sports Centre), Ebbw Vale (third Thursday of every month), Llantrisant (first Friday of every month), Merthyr Tydfil (first Friday of every month), Penderyn (last Sunday of every month), Tonypandy (second Friday of every month - please check), Treorchy (last Thursday of every month)
Chocs Away
Take what you make at this unique chocolate experience. Find out how chocolate gets from bean to bar at Chocs Away, Pontypool. Then make your own, which is packaged up for you to take home. Sounds delicious.
www.chocsawayparty.co.uk
Local legend has it that during 1839 a group of thirsty Chartist rioters stopped in the Green House, Llantarnam for a quick drink. Apparently it was a much smaller group that carried on the riots as the rest chose to stay in the pub!
Over the years the Green House has also been used by travelling judges as a courthouse and even as a mortuary. Nowadays it makes a refreshing break from soulless pub chains with its unique atmosphere and original features.
Whet your appetite at this sixteenth century coaching inn with its real ales and range of light and full meals.
There has been a pub on the site of Tafarn Ty Uchaf, Tredegar for around 170 years and with fantastic views over the Brecon Beacons it is easy to see why it has become a firm favourite with so many people in search of good food and a relaxing atmosphere.
If you stop here for lunch then ensure you enjoy the vast assortment of black and white pictures which decorate the walls and tell the story of the local area including Nye Bevan, the Quarry and the Bryn Oer Heritage Trail.
Bustling bistros to à la carte restaurants
For a truly relaxing meal what could possibly be better than enjoying the atmosphere at one of the many hotel bistros, restaurants or bars.
One such hotel is the Nant Ddu Lodge near Merthyr Tydfil where you can work up an appetite with a stimulating swim in the indoor pool and collapse in the spa after your delicious meal. Enjoy the log fires with a good beer or glass of wine whilst you decide whether to eat in the popular bistro or intimate bar. The extensive menu changes regularly to reflect the availability of fresh produce. You can even stay the night in one of their 28 bedrooms and wake up to a full breakfast.
For a location with a difference visit Sergeants Restaurant. Situated in the former police station of the village of Nelson, it is a building rich in history and an experience to be relished as all staff wear ex-policemen’s uniforms, complete with epaulettes. You can also stay the night in one of their new luxury 4-Star en-suite bedrooms.
Message in a Bottle
Scotland needs to look to its laurels. Penderyn, on the northern fringes of the Valleys, is home to the Welsh Whisky Company. It has been busy winning awards for its golden Penderyn Single Malt, launched to huge critical acclaim a few years back. You can make wine in Southern Wales too. At Llanerch Vineyard near Llantrisant they’ve proved that Welsh wine is up there with the best by winning awards in prestigious international competitions. See - and taste - for yourself on a ‘Tour and Tastings’. There’s also a restaurant and food school - and you can even stay for the night.
www.welsh-whisky.co.uk
A selection of food and drink venues. Listed alphabetically by the nearest town.
Please note that this is only a ‘taster’ of the many food and drink venues throughout the Valleys of South Wales.
The Cross Oak, Blackwood T: +44 (0)1495 222264
The Whistle Inn, Blaenavon T: +44 (0)1495 790403
Bar 98, Blaina T: +44 (0)1495 292866
The Barn, Llantrisant T: +44 (0)1443 222333
The Gwesty Bach, Brynmawr T: +44 (0)1495 310245
Y Draenog, (Gastro Pub), Brynsadler T: +44 (0)1443 222287
The Fisherman's Rest, Caerphilly T: +44 (0)29 2086 3424
The Travellers Rest, Caerphilly T: +44 (0)29 2085 9021
Ashbridge Inn, Cwmbran T: +44 (0)1633 876678
Greenhouse, Cwmbran T: +44 (0)1633 482859
The Castle Inn, Ebbw Vale T: +44 (0)1495 302087
Carpenters Arms, Efail Isaf T: +44 (0)1443 202426
Countryman Inn, Llantrisant T: +44 (0)1443 231935
The Gaelic Cross, Merthyr Tydfil T: +44 (0)1685 384443
The Grawen Arms, Merthyr Tydfil T: +44 (0)1685 370822
The Open Hearth Inn, Pontypool T: +44 (0)1495 763752
Wain-y-Claire, Pontypool T: +44 (0)1495 785216
The Forgehammer Inn, Risca T: +44 (0)1633 613943
Maen Llwyd Inn, Rudry T: +44 (0)29 2088 8505
The Carpenters Arms, St Illtyds T: +44 (0)1495 211182
Tom's Tavern, Treforest T: +44 (0)1443 406666
Tafarn Ty Uchaf, Tredegar T: +44 (0)1495 717690
Monnington Lodge, Blackwood T: +44 (0)1495 230240
Butterflies, Blaenavon T: +44 (0)1495 791044
Reeds Bistro, Blaenavon T: +44 (0)1495 790251
Bell Capri Restaurant, Caerphilly T: +44 (0)29 2086 9612
Greenmeadow Golf & Country Club, Cwmbran T: +44 (0)1633 869321
Dynasty Chinese Restaurant Llantwit, Fadre T: +44(0)1443 218218
Indica Restaurant, Pontypridd T: +44(0)1443 404443
Ruffles Bar & Kitchen, Treforest T: +44(0)1443 486339
Tai Pan Chinese Restaurant, Cwmbran T: +44(0)1633 482542
The Hollybush Inn & Restaurant, Draethen (nr Newport) T: +44 (0)1633 441326
The Bridgend Hotel & Huttons Restaurant, Ebbw Vale T: +44 (0)1495 302171
The Park Hotel, Ebbw Vale T: +44 (0)1495 371431
Defoy’s Restaurant, Bryn Meadows Golf and Country Hotel, Hengoed T: +44 (0)1495 225590
O’Sullivans Brasserie, Llantrisant T: +44 (0)1443 237774
Fwrrwm Ishta Restaurant & Bar, Machen T: +44 (0)1633 440227
Brewsters Pentrebach House Merthyr, Tydfil T: +44 (0)1443 693616
The Castle Hotel, Merthyr Tydfil T: +44 (0)1685 386868
Nant Ddu Lodge Hotel, Merthyr Tydfil T: +44 (0)1685 379111
Sergeants Restaurant, Nelson T: +44 (0)1443 450999
Alfred’s Bar & Grill, Pontypridd T: +44 (0)1443 404060
Fagins Bar & Restaurant, Pontypridd T: +44 (0)1443 202419
Harvester Restaurant, Pontypool T: +44 (0)1495 751551
Llechwen Hall Hotel, Pontypridd T: +44 (0)1443 742050
Anchor Hotel and Mongolian Restaurant, Taffs Well T: +44 (0)29 2081 0104
The Coffee Shop, Abertillery T: +44 (0)1495 312044
Glanmor’s Tea Rooms, Caerphilly T: +44 (0)29 2088 8355
Frenchies Baguette Bar, Ebbw Vale T: +44 (0)1495 307777
Butchers Arms Gallery & Coffee Shop, Llantrisant T: +44 (0)1443 229285
Anne's Pantry, Merthyr Tydfil T: +44 (0)1685 383447
Castle Tea Rooms, Merthyr Tydfil T: +44 (0)1685 723112
Princes Café, Pontypridd T: +44 (0)1443 402376
Mr Creamy Ice Cream Parlour, Tonypandy T: +44 (0)1443 432382
The Old Barn, Torpantau T: +44 (0)1685 383358
The Cottage, Tredegar T: +44 (0)1495 713913
