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Submitted on Monday, 26th September 2022
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Detail Pages
Abbey Grange Hotel, Llantysilio, Llangollen
Llantysilio
Llangollen
LL20 8DD
Served areas
Reviews of Abbey Grange Hotel (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Abbey Grange Hotel
Visit 13/4/24:
Back in the Llangollen area, I decided to give this pub another try. It was a Saturday afternoon and this time we found it open. Having struggled to even contact the pub/hotel last time, we even considered staying here this time, but were put off by TripAdvisor reviews rating it as the worst place to stay in town!
Situated near the bottom of the Horseshoe Pass, the pub has lovely views over its large garden and down towards Llangollen below. From the outside, it looks fairly large, but inside is quite compact. There is a tiny bar area, with further space for drinkers off to the right and a fairly compact dining room off to the left as you enter. Incidentally, in relation to the previous review, toilets can now be found indoors, just behind the dining room. Perhaps the portaloos were a Covid thing. In fact, the old plastic screens can still be found covering the bar itself.
At the bar were a couple of Llangollen Brewery cask ales brewed on the premises - IPA & Welsh Black. I was suitably impressed enough to sample them both.
Whilst the Abbey Grange does feel a little like Fawlty Towers, I can now say that I have visited here and in fairness and with admittedly low expectations, I quite enjoyed my visit here and would happily come again if I was lucky enough to find it open.
Initial Review 17/10/22:
I can't add much to the previous review, except that I attempted to visit almost 1 year later and having read this website, elected not to make the 40-minute walk.
I was so glad that I had, as I found the place closed with no clues as to when it might open. I tried calling their telephone number, only to get an engaged tone. I also tried the brewery door, where there was a brewery shop with lights on and a locked door. As I trudged off, I noticed somebody had just switched the lights off.
I sent them a message, which did not get answered, but I did get my call answered the following day by a gentleman who confirmed that they now only open on a Friday and a Saturday.
If visiting Llangollen or the Horseshoe Pass, the message is quite clear - drive on by....
On 30th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2493 recommendations about 2492 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Abbey Grange Hotel
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 .....
On 23rd October 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1661 recommendations about 1561 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Abbey Grange Hotel
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.
On 23rd October 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
View more reviews of Abbey Grange Hotel (4)
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- Official site of the Abbey Grange Hotel - www.abbey-grange-hotel.co.uk
- Facebook - Abbey Grange Hotel
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Abbey Grange Hotel - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 05 July 2014 by Alan Hurdle
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Alan Hurdle
- Car Park : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Alan Hurdle
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 05 July 2014 by Alan Hurdle
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Alan Hurdle
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 27 July 2013 by Alan Hurdle
- Real Cider : No last updated 30 April 2024 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 05 July 2014 by Alan Hurdle
