The Grapes Hotel in the picturesque village of Maentwrog, in the Vale of Ffestiniog, is celebrating a four-star success story.
The 17th century Grade II listed inn – a major destination for food lovers from Mid and North Wales and further afield – has had its four-star rating by Visit Wales confirmed once again.
And it has three other landmark achievements –
- It has been given a place in the Good Beer Guide for 2010.
- It has been awarded an entry in the Good Pub Guide 2010.
- And, earlier this month, The Grapes was featured on the popular Radio Cymru food and drink show, Blas (Taste).
“It’s been a brilliant start to the year,” general manager Andrew Roberts Evans said.
“The Good Beer Guide and the Good Pub Guide are very prestigious guides and we are delighted to be featured in the publications.
“We were also delighted to have Nia Mair from the Blas programme here. They were most interested in what we call our signature dish, our spare ribs. I think it’s fair to say we are famous for our spare ribs and people travel from far and wide to taste them.
“We are also very keen here at The Grapes to promote and to use local produce and the Blas team thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon here.”
Mr Evans said he regarded the four-star rating by Visit Wales as the feather in the cap of The Grapes.
He added: “We were actually awarded the four-star rating two years ago. Then, the year after, we had a scheduled visit from the Visit Wales team which showed that we had maintained our very high standards.
“The latest confirmation of four stars comes after an anonymous visit by the Visit Wales team, so it reflects great credit on the team here at The Grapes that standards are being maintained so consistently.
“The Visit Wales team have an eye for quality, professional service and very high standards so we are delighted to be able to continue to fly the four-star flag here at The Grapes.”
Mr Evans went on: “Of course, we are also proud of the fact that we have the finest beers in Wales on tap here. The Evan Evans Brewery in Llandeilo is known as the torch-bearer for the very best cask ales in Wales. The Evan Evans Cwrw beer is, of course, very popular and also in the news as the winner of the gold true Taste of Wales award.”
Note: The Good Pub Guide and the Good Beer Guide entries are as follows –
Good Pub Guide
Lively inn with good mix of customers, pleasant garden views; accommodation
This rambling old inn is often frequented by welsh-speaking locals here for the lively pubby bar (you may even be addressed in Welsh when they greet you). Four beers on handpump are all from Evan Evans – Best, Cwrw, Warrior and a changing monthly ale. All three bars are partly filled with stripped pitch-pine pews, settles, pillars and carvings, mostly salvaged from chapels; elsewhere are soft furnishings. Two woodburning stoves are on the go in winter – there’s one in the great hearth of the restaurant; piped music, darts; disabled lavatories. From the good-sized conservatory you can see trains on the Ffestiniog Railway puffing through the wood, beyond the pleasant back terrace and walled garden.
Good beer guide
Evan Evans Cwrw, best, Warrior, seasonal beers.
A former coaching inn, this hotel dates back to the 17th century. Situated in a picturesque village, it overlooks the Vale of Ffestiniog. The interior comprises a lounge, public bar, verandah and large dining room. All the beers come from the Evan Evans Brewery in Llandeilo, including the full seasonal range. Good value food is a feature, especially the ribs. The railway station nearby is on the Ffestiniog line.
For more informtion visit http://www.grapes-hotel.co.uk/
