Discovering Wales: Where to eat and drink in Monmouthshire

In partnership with Food & Drink Wales

It’s no secret that food tourism is on the rise and more and more people are interested in good and sustainable destinations. Earlier this month I spend a weekend in Wales exploring food & drink scene of South East Wales. With only 1,5 hour journey from Paddington it’s a great escape with beautiful hikes, delicious discoveries and great local wine. Follow along.

After arriving to Newport we took a taxi to Blaenavon to visit owned and run by Susan Fiander-Woodhouse and her husband Gerry Woodhouse, Blaenafon Cheddar Company. After working for many years as a cheese developer in a big company thirteen years ago Susan decided to make a move and open her own experimental cheese factory. All their cheeses are handmade at their shop and using only local ingredients such as ‘Black Mountain’ liqueur produced in Anglesey, Celtic spirit ‘Danzy Jones’ or wine from Sugar Loaf Vineyard in Abergavenny. Blaenavon cheddar cheese company based in the World Heritage site of Blaenavon, beautiful town worth visiting.

Address: The Blaenafon Cheddar Company, 80 Broad Street, Blaenavon, Torfaen, NP4 9NF

Our first stop on the restaurant list was The Hardwick. Owned and run by acclaimed chef and ex-Londoner, Stephen Terry, The Hardwick serves seasonal local produce and offers a really good wine list. We went for a fish themed lunch and it was delicious. However I do recommend to visit it for dinner rather than lunch for a cosier more ‘pub-like’ atmosphere.

Address: Old Raglan Road, Abergavenny, NP7 9AA

After lunch we arrived at our base for the next couple of days - The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny. The hotel offers an elegant accommodation in en-suite rooms or cottages. We went for a cottage and I can’t recommend it more. We really enjoyed all the perks of having a house to ourselves combined with a perfect 24-hour hotel service.

Address: 15 Cross St, Abergavenny NP7 5EN

In the afternoon we visited nearby Silver Circle Gin Distillery. Owned and run by husband and wife team, Nina and Joe Howden, Silver Circle Distillery is the first and only distillery in Monmouthshire. They have created Wye Valley Gin, which is inspired entirely by the woodland walks and spectacular views they’ve experienced since moving to the area a year ago. Distillery is open as a farm bar during warmer months.

Address: Pleasant View Barn, Nine Wells Road, Catbrook, NP16 6UL

For dinner we walked to The Gaff. Located a few minutes from The Angel Hotel The Gaff run by Michelin star chef, Dan Saunders and his partner Danielle Phillips. Opened just eight month ago The Gaff specialises in small dishes of high-quality food and it’s more than a good value dinner menu, £25 per head excluding drinks. Say what?!

Address: Unit 4 The Courtyard, Lion St, Abergavenny NP7 5PE

Next morning we explored a cute town of Abergavenny with its 800 years old castle and cute speciality coffee shops. For lunch we took a short ride to the nearby Crickhowell to The Bear Hotel. A former coaching inn, it was one of four overnight stops from London to West Wales and has been welcoming guests for 500 years. We were sat at the historic bar and had seasonal game. The best dish on the menu was this pheasant medallions with artichoke puree.

Address: The Bear Hotel, Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1BW

One of the most exciting parts of the trip was visiting Welsh wine producer Robb Merchant. Owned and run by Merchant’s family, White Castle Vineyard produces a range of high-quality Welsh wines and I’d say is a must visit when in the area. You can take a tour led by Robb himself, have wine tasting or even adopt a vine that will carry your name and produce a bottle of vintage for you. Having purchased the 12 acre small holding in 1995 Merchants converted the milking parlour into their home a year later, however it was 2008 before the dream of owning a vineyard became a reality, the 5 acre gently sloping, south facing field was planted with 4000 vines. Put this place on your map!

Address: White Castle Vineyard, Llanvetherine, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8RA

Main food stop of the trip was of course famous The Walnut Tree Inn. Shaun Hill is one of Britain's most enduringly successful chefs. He began his career in 1966, working for Robert Carrier in his Islington restaurant. He won a Michelin star for Gidleigh Park in Devon where he was a key player in the Modern British food movement of the late 80's that fused local, seasonal produce with global influences. He currently holds a Michelin star at The Walnut Tree where he was a regular customer when it was run by Franco Taruschio. Along the way, he's forged a unique style with a string of timeless dishes including scallops with lentil and coriander sauce.

A la carte menu changes every day.

Address: Llanddewi Skirrid, Abergavenny NP7 8AW

On our final day we had two places on our itinerary. An independent Black Mountains Smokery is a family run business developing a sustainable range of traditional smoked salmon, fish, meats, duck, poultry and cheese. In the last few years they got hugely known worldwide for their artisan Christmas hampers, so next time you’re thinking of a Fortnums basket, check these independent guys first! Great tour of a smokery too if you’re in the area.

Address: Black Mountains Smokery Ltd, Leslie House, Elvicta Park, Crickhowell, Powys, NP8 1DF

Last but not least a visit to Trealy Farm for a tour and tasting. The UK’s leading artisan charcuterie producer combining innovation and technology with traditional methods of curing, smoking and air drying. Their meats come from smaller UK farms with high welfare standards – all is free range.

Address: Unit C6, Park Farm, Plough Rd, Goytre NP4 0AL