Places to eat and drink

The ban on smoking in public places has already come into effect in Wales so eating out and having a drink out have become much more pleasurable. Here are a few places we have had good meals at:

Elen's Castle Hotel - just down the hill so you would be supporting the Dolwyddelan economy. Good food, but whether they are cooking on the night you want to go has been completely a matter of chance - its recent history is worthy of a soap opera. The hotel changed hands recently so the cooking arrangements are becoming less haphazard; we had a pleasant meal there after Easter - and a good gossip with the new owners!

Ty Gwyn Hotel, Betws-y-Coed - quite smart, excellent food, good beer including Adnam's, but parking is a challenge.

Maenan Abbey Hotel - smart restaurant serving good food with an emphasis on local produce, cosy bar with very good bar meals. Both are worth the journey.

White Horse Inn, Capel Garmon - cosy, friendly pub serving good pub food in an informal manner.

We have had a pleasant drink and good food at the slightly down-at-heel Tyn-y-Coed Inn in Capel Curig.

The Asha Balti House in Llanrwst is a good Indian take-away. Llanrwst also has two excellent fish and chip shops; Tir-a-Mor gets particularly good reviews. Beware that they can close early by city standards, particularly in the winter - sometimes as early as 9pm.

On the negative side, we give the Plas Hall Hotel, down the valley near Pont-y-Pant station, a very wide berth.