The Old Ford Inn

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#1 of 2 Restaurants in LlanhamlachBar, British, $$ - $$$

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

The Old Ford Inn

Review

At a glance

Open until 3:00 PM

, 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Website

+44 1874 665391Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

The Old Ford Inn ,a family run pub in the heart of the Brecon BeaconsMaria and David McCarthy offer a warm welcome to all our guests5 En suite rooms availableLunch and evening menu available 12-2.30pm and 6pm till 9pm (Closed on Mondays )Sunday lunch served all day till 8pm full menu also available from 6pmAll food is homecooked and sourced locally ,a good range of vegetarian and gluten free meals are availableSenior days are on Tuesday and Thursday lunch where a 2 course meal is on offer to over 60'sFull menu is also available on these days

Features

CUISINES

Bar, British, Pub, Welsh

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Outdoor Seating

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

A40, Llanhamlach, Brecon Beacons National Park, Brecon LD3 7YB Wales

Parking Available

Is this restaurant good for breakfast?

Yes

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Open until 3:00 PM

Sunday

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Thursday

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Friday

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Saturday

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

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4.6

419 reviews

Excellent

307

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Elaine C

Gloucestershire104 contributions

Brilliant Sunday roast.

Sept 2023 • friends

I booked this pub a couple of weeks prior to the date I wanted to go and spoke to a very helpful staff member who advised that as long as we could arrive by 3pm and leave by 4.30, we could be accommodated. My friend and I managed to arrive earlier than anticipated and were seated straight away, then had our drinks and food orders taken by a lovely lady. We both ordered garlic mushrooms, followed by roast lamb. Mushrooms - served with garlic bread - delicious. Roast lamb - served with ample gravy, roast potatoes and ( at our request ) a Yorkshire pudding. There was also a large dish of assorted vegetables and another one with new potatoes. We suggested they take the potatoes back straight away as we knew we wouldn’t eat it all! The roast dinner was absolutely delicious in every way, proper home cooking and beautifully served. The lamb was tender and plentiful. With no room for desert, we asked for a portion of apple pie and custard to take away. That was equally delicious. This is a no frills pub, the appearance of which belies the treats it bestows on customers. Being a stranger to the area looking for somewhere to go for Sunday lunch, I selected this place based on the location ( near Brecon canal basin ) and the reviews. We were not disappointed. Staff are pleasant and welcoming and the food excellent value for money. If I visited the area again I would have no hesitation in returning. Thank you.

Written 10 September 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hayley Hammersley

3 contributions

Book Now! Don’t go anywhere else, the food is just as good as the view - 5 stars!!

Aug 2024 • family

Lovely country pub with the most beautiful view of the mountains. We were on a multi generational holiday nearby and booked dinner for one of our nights and everyone really enjoyed their meals. The ladies on the bar and serving us were so lovely and attentive. Highly recommend.

Written 1 August 2024

Beachhutblues

Kent18 contributions

Lovely fresh, home cooked roast dinner.

Jul 2024 • friends

We visited here last Sunday whilst on holiday in the Beacons and had the nicest roast dinner I've ever had in a restaurant. The meat was plentiful, freshly cooked roast potatoes and loads of all different veg. Then there is the gravy. Well I always say good gravy makes a dinner and this certainly did, it was beautiful and plenty of it. The deserts were very nice, proper traditional, apple pie, jam sponge and custard and others all delicious. So good we've booked to back tomorrow.

Written 24 July 2024

Craig J

Cardiff12 contributions

Two stories, one good one bad experience

Mar 2024 • family

This is two reviews really. I went with my mother on a Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed my roast dinner. My wife has gone with her mother, sister and niece for the mothers day Sunday lunch and wouldn't go back. So the difference between the two days. On the Saturday, they served a white meat to start with which must be the most popular. Obviously have a choice but I do think you should always serve a white meat so my niece went without meat. Also, on the Saturday the food came already on the plate. So there was no sharing bowls. The big difference with the Sunday was there was 4 people and they brought one large bowl with all the veg on it and on top of the peas and carrots was cauliflower cheese. Not everyone likes this but obviously because it was on top of the peas and carrots then it ruined other veg. When you have 4 people trying to share from one large bowl it was a mess. These should have been separate bowls that people could pass around. There was a handful of peas for four people and when we asked if we could have more then they answer is yes but you pay extra. I would go back, but would ask numerous questions before I have a roast dinner again, I suppose I was just lucky that I went on Saturday and it was a better setup for the Saturday.

Written 10 March 2024

Hi Craig, I’m really sad to see this review. Mostly because I served you myself on the Saturday and you could not praise the food enough at that point, even asking if we would share our gravy recipe with you. Chicken was available on the Saturday along with beef, which is by far our most popular meat. Your table had one of each. We normally only have one option but as it was coming up to mother's day, the chef opted for two meats. When paying, you even met the chef himself and again, gave really good feedback about your time with us. With regards to your wife’s experience on the Sunday, she asked if we did any chicken options.. regulars of the pub will know we alternate chicken and pork every other week with beef and lamb being consistent on the menu. Unfortunately for your family, this week fell on pork. If your niece had particular dietary requirements, if asked on the phone when booking, we could have arranged for an alternative for her.. however we didn’t get the chance to as nothing was mentioned when the booking was made. We have always served our Sunday lunches with veg dishes in the centre of the table.. this way everyone can help themselves. I know from the Saturday you asked me extensively about what veg you would have on your dinner.. and both your mother and yourself picked which ones you wanted and what you didn’t. If your wife’s table had asked, they also would have been able to pick and choose. If necessary, we would have provided separate veg for each member of the table. We have been at the pub 20 years, I’ll be honest this is the first time I’ve heard the term ‘messy’ with regards to our dinners so this is not something we will be changing. However, I am deeply sorry your wife’s experience was tainted, particularly on Mother’s Day. I only wish she had mentioned this when the table was cleared or when paying so I could have rectified it in person. I do hope to see you all again, for further reference, on Sundays, after 4.30pm.. we also offer our full menu as well as our Sunday menu so there would be more choice for your niece. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you would like to discuss this further. All my contact details are on our website. Sophie

Written 11 March 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Anthony T

Billingshurst119 contributions

Exceptional Roast.

Jul 2024 • couples

We (4 of us) stopped at the inn just after 6pm on Sunday and enquired if they were still serving roasts which I'm very happy to say they were. We all had the roast lamb which really was lovely. There was plenty of meat, roast potatoes and a good selection of veg,(5 if I remember correctly), plus a very nice stuffing. What really set it off, though, was the amount of gravy. In so many establishments it seems you get the minimum possible but here there was plenty plus, without us asking, they brought out more in a gravy boat. Superb. Dessert was also a delight. A word, too about the service which was very welcoming and attentive. Lovely people. We enjoyed our meal so much we returned the following Thursday and had another super meal of fish, steak, curry and pie of the day all delicious. If you're in the Brecon area be sure to visit the Old Ford Inn and experience the lovely welcome and superb food. Also the views aren't bad either.

Written 17 July 2024

Peter B

Cardiff22 contributions

Very enjoyable night with good food and drinks

Nov 2024 • couples

We were staying locally for a wedding and needed some food on the Saturday night , I phoned and booked a table. When we arrived the staff were very friendly and welcoming, they brought our drinks to the table for us. There is a good choice of food on the menu. The food we ordered was excellent, cooked fresh and large portions. The deserts were lovely, again good portions. The table service was also excellent, the girls were always smiling and happy. We really enjoyed our evening at the Old Ford Inn and would 100% recommend it and will be returning on our next trip to the area.

Written 4 December 2024

Joanne D

2 contributions

Good, home cooked, no frills food with a beautiful outlook.

Sept 2023 • friends

Enjoyed a catch up with friends in a pub with the moo beau beautiful outlook. 8 people eating eating 6 different meals which were really well prepared, hot, and tasted delicious. 2 of us opted for the home made lasagne, which I feel deserves a particular special mention as it was spot on. Every meal (6 different choices in total) were beautiful. Hot and in plentiful in portion size. In fact only one of us had enough room for dessert. It took a little while to come out, which I know some people find irksome, however I find this reassuring. The welcome extended by all staff members was fantastic. Really friendly and polite. If I could be pedantic it would only be to mention that the toilets would definitely benefit from an overhaul. However this did not detract from a really good quality, delicious meal in a nice atmosphere with a stupendous outlook. We will be back!!

Written 10 September 2023

Joanne L

Manchester8 contributions

Too many apologies!!!

Jun 2023 • friends

Called just before 2pm for lunch to be told ‘sorry’ chef has gone home (menu shows food available until 5pm). Was served a dodgy pint of some local ale which had loads of floaters in it, when returned to the bar I was told “oh yes ‘sorry’ this new beer hasn’t gone down well at all because of the floaters”. Why serve it then? Went back for dinner to ‘sorry’ the garlic mushrooms starter was off the menu as the milkman hadn’t delivered until 4.30pm so couldn’t make the sauce which takes two hours, this meant that the special chicken dish (named after the village the pub is in) also couldn’t be on the menu as it was covered in this garlic mushroom sauce. Come on chef, instead of going home at 2.00pm get off to the shops, buy some cream and serve the dishes shown on the menu. One of the fish and chips had slightly undercooked fish but as we didn’t tell them immediately there was just yet another ‘sorry’. We had read such good reviews but unfortunately the place seems to be sliding downhill which is a shame cos great location and views.

Written 21 June 2023

Judith L

Ebbw Vale163 contributions

Very Disappointing

Aug 2022 • none

We chose the Old Ford for our 24th wedding anniversary meal. What a disappointment since we last ate there. It was a very hot day and the drinks came warm. My husband had the roast of the day. The beef was awful, chewy and had gristle all around the edge. None of the veggies and roast potatoes tasted fresh. My chicken curry was Ok but not special at all. Considering we paid £32.00 for two drinks and two meals, we expected a lot more from this restaurant. The staff were friendly but we will not be visiting again.

Written 10 August 2022

Paul J

1 contribution

Sunday Roast

Sept 2023 • family

Firstly, go here but book first, it is popular and we were lucky to get a table. In brief, the starter was for us the Double garlic mushrooms in a creamy sauce with very fresh toasted garlic bread. Delicious. Next, Beef and Yorkshire pudding. More than enough meat, delicious home made gravy that added flavour, the beef was cooked beautifully and the Yorkshire pudding was home made, crispy outside and fluffy inside. Amazing new potatoes in butter and perfectly cooked roast potatoes. Lashings of veg, we had cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, suede and garden peas. I can usually fit in a pudding but none of us could. However, viewing puddings presented to others, we missed out and will have to go back. The staff were friendly and the food was served to the table in a very fast time. Look out for some of the signs in the pub, they'll make you smile, not least the one directing you to the right toilet. Enjoy

Written 24 September 2023

SugarloafView

Abergavenny491 contributions

Good Pub Grub

Aug 2022 • none

Been to the Brecon show where the queues for unexciting food were really long so we dropped in here on the way home and just made the last orders at 3pm. Friendly staff and good home cooked ham, eggs, chips and peas. Well woth dropping in if you're passing.

Written 8 August 2022

Kim D

104 contributions

Great Sunday lunch, lovely staff.

Jun 2024 • couples

Rang on Sunday to see if there was availability and there was for a 4.30 pm sitting. Boy was it worth it. Roast lamb piled on the plate, stuffing, a Yorkie, roast potatoes accompanied by delicious thick gravy. Then the veg arrived. Perfectly cooked carrots, swede, cauliflower, cabbage, peas and new potatoes. The landlady and waiting staff were lovely. Really welcoming, attentive and professional. The pub itself is lovely, 2 restaurant areas, bar area and outside garden with beautiful views across the Welsh countryside. Will definitely be back during our stay.

Written 24 June 2024

Bristoliann

7 contributions

Nice view, OK food, poor beer selection

Aug 2023 • couples

Underwhelming. Tasty meat pie but heated with gravy on top so pastry was soggy. Choice of two draft beers, both tasted sour. Landlord said they tasted OK as far as he was concerned but accepted the returned pints. Nice view though.

Written 25 August 2023

Dun123

Fareham399 contributions

Good pub food, friendly staff!

Jul 2020 • none

During a short break in Brecon (five minutes away) we had dinner at The Old Ford as it was one of the few places open, however it proved a very good choice. The pub set in a rural location on the A40, we sat in their outdoor area which has great views across to the Beacons. The food was home cooked, good value, massive portions and well prepared, served by the friendly staff. Covid restrictions or not, I would not hesitate returning there for a traditional pub dinner. Booking recommended which we did via their FB site receiving a quick confirmation.

Written 26 July 2020

Philip C

89 contributions

A Family Supper

Jun 2021 • none

The Old Ford is well known to me having worked there during school holidays albeit many moons ago! We had taken a holiday cottage locally and decided to have a family supper at The Old Ford on one of our available evenings. The location of this pub is such that you get superb views of the Brecon Beacons and it has to be worth a visit just to sit in the gardens with a drink! Meanwhile we elected to have supper. If you are hungry this is the place to go..............the servings were ample in the extreme; not very good for the waistline. Most of us had fish and chips which were fine but I felt they were a bit over generous with the chips ! The puddings were nothing special but OK. In short this was average to good pub grub. If I have a complaint it was the bill; it came on a scruffy piece of paper with a number on it...........why was there not a itemised bill on a till-roll which is generally what one expects in a restaurant.

Written 4 June 2021