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LLANTWIT MAJOR
A warm welcome in the heart of the Vale
The West House Country Hotel is a converted 16th Century Country House located within Llantwit Major, with a rich history and heritage typical of the area. Bought four years ago by its current owners, the hotel aims to provide excellent service in a peaceful, rural location, whilst also being accessible to Cardiff and the wider Vale. The hotel is a very popular location for weddings.
When we arrived at the West House Country Hotel for dinner we were immediately struck by the beautiful frontage of the building with its low front door, fine lawn and paved terrace - just perfect for enjoying an aperitif on a fine summer’s evening.
Suitably impressed by the hotel’s façade, the door opened as if by magic as we entered the hotel and were greeted by the head waiter whose genuinely warm welcome and understated courtesy set a precedent for the impeccable service and friendliness we received from all of the West House staff in the restaurant.
The Heritage Restaurant is a bit of a hidden gem. Although the ambience of the restaurant itself is more business than brasserie, this really should not put you off. Just like some of the best eateries in France, the surroundings have gracefully stepped aside to make way for the quality of the food - and this doesn’t disappoint.
The restaurant boasts the finest cuts of meat, the freshest fruit and vegetables from local suppliers and a meticulous attention to preparation. This was certainly borne out during our visit and we were very pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the menu and the sophistication and surprising twists that had been applied to both local and traditional dishes, especially given the excellent value for money that this restaurant offers. How about Caerphilly, leek and bacon Welsh cakes or rabbit paté with caramel -ised figs as a starter, for example?
We chose the soup of the day and the salmon as starters, both of which were extremely good. Our main courses of local sausages and lamb were excellent, with real attention to detail paid to both the recipes and the imaginative presentation. The quality of the food shone through and seasonal fresh vegetables, beautifully cooked, accompanied each dish.
The wine list was very sound with a varied and reasonably priced range to suit every taste.
Finishing our evening with coffee in the comfortable and homely lounge, we chatted with a couple from Edinburgh who had enjoyed the food and the excellent service as much as we had.
We will certainly be returning and hope to sample the hotel’s Sunday lunch - roast leg of Welsh saltmarsh lamb with sage, shallot and red onion stuffing? Mmm, yes please!
Mark and Tamsin Carey-Lang
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