Last Friday we decided to take our 2 boys to visit Dan-yr-Ogof caves. Despite living only 40 minutes away, I had never visited the showcaves and thought our youngsters would enjoy the experience. I remember my brother going on a school trip there and my mother knitting him a new cardi, but somehow I had never made it there.
My husband wanted to try a gastro pub he had read about in a local magazine, the Pen-y-Cae Inn. I wasn’t that keen, thinking kids and gastro pubs wouldn’t really mix. The map we used sent us way off the beaten track and we arrived at the pub late and harassed. We had an excellent welcome, our youngest saw packs of crisps at the bar and wanted a meal with crisps. Amazingly, they let him order bacon and cheese sandwiches with prawn cocktail crisps without question (gastro or what!).
As we waited, the kids went back and forth into the garden to play on the swings, made guns from the lego in the corner of the bar area (and shot each other!) and we watched as other guests were turned away. One of the chefs was ill with mumps, another member of staff was off for other reasons, another’s day off and so on.. We were constantly apologised to and yes we waited a long time, but the food was fantastic. The children were welcomed, the gardens were lovely, plenty of highchairs and huge ice-creams free with the kids menu. We would certainly recommend and return!
Trouble was, we were much later leaving the Pen-y-Cae Inn than planned and we were too late for entry into the caves. Never mind, it gives us a good excuse to go back for another meal.
Walks Nearby: Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons
Nearby Attractions: Craig-Y-Nos, Dan-yr-Ogof
Places to Stay: Craig-Y-Nos, Brecon Cottages
