Abercrave Inn

Environment Location: Some users mentioned good location and lovely country pub environment

The Abercave Inn I randomly picked this cute looking pub to stay in for a night while I was in the area. Pity, I should have gone with my first find which was another pub literally 2 minutes north which we will call the AB. When i arrived the lady behind the bar didn’t seem to know that I was due to check in which was a big odd and she disappeared twice to make sure the room was ready. The room itself was quite nicely done with a queen sized bed and en-suite bathroom. Firstly the room – the TV which is the size of a small computer monitor didn’t work. There was a strange looking stain of some sort on the bottom sheet – I tell myself it wasn’t blood – and in the bathroom there was only a tiny shelf over the basin. Water pressure at the basin was great but the shower was not hugely better than a dribble so I ended op not even trying. Also the macerator in the bathroom was very noisy and came on during the night by itself! The worst thing though was the pub itself, and when I got there, there was only one person in the bar. It really does need some. TLC and I spotted a cobweb on the fake flowers! I wasn’t going to eat there but the menu looked nice and I was tempted by the garlic mushrooms and the lamb shank which I love. By this time I was the only person in the whole pub and when I talked to the lady she said that was normal for a Monday night. The mushrooms came and it looked suspiciously like canned whole button mushrooms in a sauce (soup?) topped with stringy cheese. Taste was not bad but the garlic bread accompanying was the texture of croutons. Sadly the lamb was a disgrace to Wales. It was served on a bed of mash and gravy and was supposed to come with peas. The mash and gravy were ok but the gravy didn’t taste home made but rather out of a box. The pease turned out to be peas shoots which was a bit of a surprise. The lamb shank was totally inedible as it was so dry and overcooked it was impossible to actually cut off the bone and was the consistency of jerky. I did try to eat a pice and nearly broke a tooth. When I mention it the lady seemed surprised and offered to give me a free desert which at that stage o wasn’t interested in having. The ‘chef’ came out and was also surprised at it. Did he not feel that it was way overcooked before he served it?! What a waste of what could have been a delicious lamb shank. When I went to pay the lady then asked if she could take off the cost of the £7.95 starter mushrooms but I suggested it would be more appropriate to take off the £19.95 lamb, which she then did. At that stage I just wanted to leave and went back to the AB up the road which had a good number of people in the bar and their restaurant was at least half to two thirds full so the locals obviously know. My advice if you are in the area is to avoid this pub and go 2 minutes up the road for what looked to be a better experience and undoubtedly better food. I do feel bad for this place but there is undoubtedly a reason it was empty and had cl

Lovely welcome at the Abercrave Inn today, we arrived without a booking and were assisted immediately with help with our guest who is in a wheelchair. We had four different meals of generous portions and all four of us thoroughly enjoyed. Can’t wait to visit again!