Abbey Grange Hotel, Llantysilio, Llangollen

Not sure where to start with this one. The phrase "couldn't organise a p*ss up in a brewery" springs to mind. I took a 40 minute walk out of Llangollen to visit with the intention of sampling the range. I didn't want to drive and had looked forward to enjoying a few beers. There was only a couple of customers when I walked in and 4 handpulls on the bar seemed a good start. There were no badges so I asked what beers were on. "we haven't got any beers on at all" was the answer! It's not often that I am lost for words but it took me a few seconds to let that sink in. The barman then said we have got plenty of bottles. He ran through a few options and I opted for a bottle of Ambrosia which was actually a decent drink but not really what I had expected of my visit. He simply went into the brewery shop to get it. I must have been in a state of shock and I needed to "pay a visit" . They are outside mate was the answer to my obvious question. He was right - A portacabin on the car park to be precise! All things considered I had to ask myself why I do this? A 40 minute walk on roads with no pavements, dicing with death at every corner, to have a warm bottle for £3.50 that I could have had for £2.50 in the supermarket in town. Then to risk diseases unknown to science in a frankly disgusting portable toilet. Would I do something like this again? Of course I would, in a heartbeat! But not here .....

Situated in superb countryside a mile or so outside Llangollen and on the way to the scenic Horseshoe Pass is The Abbey Grange Hotel, which very much resembles a fairly typical medium sized country house hotel. It’s set in its own grounds with a large car park, verandah and extensive lawned outside seating area with kiddies climbing equipment etc. It’s a Welsh Tourist Board 2 star hotel. As we enter into the hotel bar, we are immediately greeted by a fierce looking caged parrot and, just in case we are tempted, we are told not to put our fingers through the cage. This room features copper topped tables and is comfortably furnished, but has much of that typical hotel bar feel and I would imagine that this is where residents take pre-dinner drinks prior to moving into the large well appointed dining room adjoining. Further round are other rooms including, unusually, a separate hotel room and a larger bar, The Oak Bar. The Oak Bar features fake black ceiling beams and is carpeted and, although it has less of a hotel bar feel to it, a number of tables are laid out with place mats for meals. The hotel still retains some evidence of Banks branding and the walls in The Oak Bar are decorated with a number of photographs of the Banks Brewery dray horses in action, some of which appeared to be shire horses based at The Abbey Grange Farm next door, although I was told that there are none there any more. Pride of place, however, goes to an impressive large moose’s head on the wall opposite the bar counter which, for some reason, immediately reminded me of the Fawlty Towers episode with the Germans although I’m pleased to report that it didn’t fall off the wall during my visit. We learn that this moose was shot in Ontario, Canada, in the early 20th century and was bought by the present hotel owner in 2003 who saw it whilst on holiday in Canada and had it shipped over to him. Just inside the hotel grounds as we drive in, on the right hand side, is a “Farm Shop and Craft Brewery” and here we see, through a large window, a brewing plant where Llangollen Brewery beers originate. 4 beers are brewed – as detailed in a leaflet on the bar counter – 3 of which were available on my visit, namely Wrexham Borders Bitter, Llangollen Bitter and Welsh Black Bitter. I thought the Llangollen Bitter ( ABV 4.2% - £ 3 ) rather bland. Having the car precluded me from sampling the Welsh Black Bitter – described as being a dark bitter / rich porter with chocolate and toffee notes ( ABV – 5.5% ). Notably, no real ales from other breweries were on. Bottled beers are for sale at £ 2.50p each or a presentation pack of 3 can be bought for £ 6. Should we so wish, we can also acquire various souvenirs – branded baseball caps, polo shirts, glasses, beer mats etc. The pub is listed in the CAMRA 2012 Good Beer Guide and the sticker was prominently displayed. I quite enjoyed my visit here, but much more for the superb countryside setting and panoramic views which you can of course experience without visiting the pub. Unless you’ve a specific desire to sample the Llangollen Brewery products ( which I didn’t see in any other pub locally, incidentally ), there’s no particular reason to recommend a visit.

Official site of the Abbey Grange Hotel - www.abbey-grange-hotel.co.uk

Official site of the Abbey Grange Hotel - www.abbey-grange-hotel.co.uk

Residential Hotel with very good value rooms. Large gardens. Excellent home brewed Llangollen ales are served in the Abbey Bar and the Oak Bar where all day bar meals are also served.