The Bear

Decor 10 food 11 service on par .. parking is a challenge but worth the effort .
Fab old world place. Worth traveling to Wales for. Very original feeling, great wine choices as well.

This pace happens to be Robbie Williams favourite retreat if visiting sunny Wales, he stayed here the night before he played the millennium stadium and i'm told its where he comes if he's in Gods country.
set in the perfect little village of Crickhowell, The Bear was where 'posh' people go. Well, that was the myth anyway.
Its not your average valley pub but you find one of those in Crickhowell anyway. Its too nice a place.
The Bear's hotel rooms are perfect and the bar is one of my all time favourite places to go...for a quiet one that is.
The food is absolutely delicious but slightly on the pricey but as i've said time and time again, you get what you pay for.
I love the ear so much i'm considering taking boyf down for the night and hoping he'll propose! If he doesn't i think i'll ask him! Watch this space.

The pub lunch was fab! The chef had prepared carrot and orange soup and I commented to the owner that it sounded sweet. After checking with the chef she acknowledged that it was and said he had offered to fix me some tomato-basil instead. It was delicious and the fresh bread was to die for.

Well . . . can't believe I've driven past this place for so many years - DOLT!!!! I have known about this place all my life. I have driven past it for nearly 40 years, finally I decided to venture in. What a fool to have taken so long.

My Mother (a fierce critic of restaurants) and my brother (knows nothing about food but everything about hotels) both love this place, and now I do too.

Set in the very, very, pretty village/town of Crickhowell. The Bear is a 15th century coaching inn - N0 - it really is, beams, carriage tunnel, converted stables and all. The inside is all oak and history, it's clean and jumbled up as any historic building should be. You'll need a map to find the toilets - but they are there (plenty of them actually) they are impeccably clean and I used them at 3pm on a busy Friday! It is busy - and no wonder.

I didn't use the rooms so I have no direct knowledge of the hotel aspect (my brother raves) but I WILL stay here this year and I will review it for us all. BUT if the rest is anything to go by it will be impeccable and worth every penny.

The beer - not a huge range of bitter but in fabulous condition, real ale and delicious. Lager (who cares) yes there was some, cider was very good and we didn't try the Guinness (or the wines). We ate in the bar (us and loads of others) not in the restaurant.

But the FOOD !!! Oh the Food!! The "bad bit" first. It is not cheap - though with care you can eat cheaply. But neither is it expensive. You get more than you pay for - no it isn't cheap but the food is utterly fantastic - UTTERLY.

I had quite the finest Cawl (pronounced "cowl" as in engine cowl) I have ever tasted. A traditional Welsh soup based on lamb and vegetables served with a big chunk of cheese (traditionally local welsh) excellent cheddar here and a heel of crusty bread. Loads of veg' loads of big chunks of lean meat, obviously homemade and boiling hot - as it should be. My second course was Faggots and gravy - Oh what faggots . . . Oh what gravy . . .. Homemade and perfection. They serve food like this in Valhalla.

As close to sex (good sex) as food gets.

My friend (vegetarian) said his food was among the nicest he has ever had in a bar. There were specialist veggie dishes (his did look very good) and the chef clearly gave a dam - not the sad veggie afterthought you so often see. He would recommend it - I can't - didn't eat it but it looked every bit as good as mine and I'm raving about how good this place is. The fresh bream I saw going past smelt fantastic and the portions were heroic.

Food, the bitter, and the service are beyond criticism.

This place serves fresh local salmon and trout (in season) and game (in season). If it says "homemade" - it is!

The restaurant looks romantic, the rooms look impeccable and the food is above and beyond reproach. All dogs (who are staying) are greeted with a bowl of freshly roasted chicken compliments of The Bear . . . They don't like dogs here - they welcome them !!

Pretty? Romantic? This is a place you take a friend and she'll become a girlfriend, take a girlfriend and she'll become a lover, take a lover and make her your fiancee. . . . . Take your wife and make her your lover again - I'm going to that's for sure.

Go again ??? Be damned - if I had the money I'd buy it !!!

A solid SIX STARS, rave, rave, rave.

This pub set in the picturesque town of Crickhowell in the heart of Brecon Beacons is an ideal place to visit for a pub lunch with friends before going out walking in the Beacons.

The Bear serves food in both the restaurant and bar. We chose the bar menu and were not disappointed with the range of choice available. I had salmon fishcakes with chips and a salad, whilst my friends opted for the fish pie and the "Welsh champion" sausages. The food was simply delicious.

As one would expect from a bar that is recommended by the campaign for real ale, The Bear stocks a wide variety of beers, with local ones sold whenever possible.

Having seen the restaurant menu, I am determined to return here soon!

The Bear is the biggest hotel with about 30 rooms in the little village of Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Rooms start from about £70 and go up to £150.


We stayed in the top end room and it was a really big wooden beamed room with a gigantic bed, tv and a lovely bathroom including a jacuzzi as well as a shower. The bed was very comfortable and it had a proper old world feel while still being very well looked after.


We also ate in the restaurant downstairs which had a big menu including fish, steaks, and the like. It was pretty expensive (fillet steak £18.95) but all the food was lovely and we ate it at a happily leisurely pace.


Staff are polite and would stay there again.

When I'm in the area. I always eat here. This is my first 5 star which I am posting. Never disappointed and quite a few visits now.

Popular but spacious pub - even a weekday lunchtime can be v. busy! Many people visit for the good quality reasonably priced food. Large menu with regular specials. Rev. James is probably pick of the beers on tap. Of the puddings, Chocoholics Anonymous is hard to beat although the Strawberry Pavlova (if available) is also recommended.
Parking available at back of pub but this can fill quite quickly.

Lovely traditional old pub with great beer and a roaring fire! Chocolate box rooms and comfy furniture - can't really ask for more!

Great place to stay. Good food, friendly staff. I highly recommend this hotel.
At the moment the village of Crickhowell is dressed for Christmas, so you can enjoy a walk and see the lights.