Rhydspence Inn in Herefordshire, County of

Stayed here with my girlfriend so we could get out of London and visit all the lovely bookshops off-season. Wonderful historical pub dating way back - with probably the best food I've ever tasted and not the usual 'lasagne and chips' with a drab salad. I had all three courses and it felt like I'd gone to an upmarket central London restaurant. My girlfriend has some dietary requirements all of which were met. The room was wonderful and comfortable, the bar is cosy with a roaring fire and a wonderfully friendly pub dog. There's a great selection of beers and ciders and the staff seem genuinely happy to be there with plenty of chat and banter with regular patrons and visitors alike. This is the 'English Inn' done properly, exactly the way you imagine it should be - and is a strong recommend for anyone wanting to experience Hay on Wye.

Brilliant staff love this place..

We stayed here 3 nights . The owners and hosts could not do enough for us. They were friendly and welcoming. Food was delicious. We would stay again.

New management (five months ago) in at the Rhydspence so went over to see how things were looking, food-wise. Enthusiastic and committed new owners offering good food at reasonable prices. Will be interesting to see how the venerable and historic establishment develops over the years - will definitely come again!

Have been going to this lovely 16th century pub/ restaurant since the 1970’s, when it was bustling and the place to go. After a long spell up till the present owners, it had definitely lost its touch. But went in for a Sunday pint a few weeks ago and the new owners have already injected the atmosphere from all those years ago. Good friendly service, great menu that is just varied enough and great bustling feeling, 10/10 to the new owners, keep up the good work.

What a special place. Craig and Freddy will make you feel so welcome from the moment you arrive. An incredible selection of drinks and the most wonderful food. You can enjoy it all whilst sitting by the roaring fire and taking in the spectacular views. There is such a cosy atmosphere and the history of the building is fascinating. An Inn with the biggest heart - not to be missed. We can’t wait to go back again!

A hidden gem and excellent service and attention to detail. The hotel is amazing and the restaurant and bar are superb it really is a local home from home.

Superb Sunday lunch - great beef, lovely gravy and - amongst many other sides - spot on cheesy leeks. 🙂

covid safe. the steak and ale pie was very very good,as was the chicken breast stuffed with black pudding with leek and stilton sauce.we will be back.

Lucky find on a Tuesday evening when plenty restaurants are closed. They found a table for us without a booking. The food was delicious too.

Had a really nice meal sat outside - it was actually very quiet for a Thursday evening. Appreciate it is really difficult for staff at this time. Fortunately I took my own blankets - would have been a bit cold without them to sit on - as no cushions on the table we were at. Food was very good and freshly cooked, drinks were fine and reasonably priced. Service was very good, but it was quiet. Looking forward to visiting again when restrictions lifted as it seems a lovely place inside.

Saturday night supper was safe but far from exciting. Beef lasagne was fine, generous portion, home made. Risotto was mushy and tasteless. No Italian would be proud of this dish. Shan’t be coming back, although the place was busy with lots of happy customers. They were clearly regulars tucking into favourites like pate and steaks with enthusiasm. Maybe we just picked the wrong dish?

I have every sympathy with the staff in these Covid ridden times, but the level of impersonality wears a bit thin. I know we can't see a smile, but we can sense a level of disengagement behind the mask - it's all a bit regulation not really encouraging one to revisit. Food was fine as were the drinks, I think under 'normal' circumstances this Inn would be perfectly good - so this criticism - if it can be called such - is well intended.

Staying in the area this was so good we went twice. First time we both had Sunday lunch, lamb and beef , great choice of vegetables , the meat was tender and the gravy was so tasty I could have eaten a bowl of that on its own. As for puddings I had a sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce probably the tastiest I have ever had . Second time we went hubby had tournedos Rossini and I had fish pie and we "shared" a chocolate torte pudding. Very nice and efficient waiting staff both times. Very covid safe with hand sanitiser on entry and socially distanced tables

The excuse of current Covid issues is wearing thin but allowances still need to be made. Thin on patrons due to social distancing, it is a Thur, end of summer holidays or...? Pleasant welcome but all felt rather rushed. A minute after being seated the drinks order was taken. The drinks arrived within three minutes and our food order was requested. We asked for more time, three or four times. We gave in eventually and order the food. This to arrived promptly and the dessert course was then being taken, again we asked for more time. Food was fine as was the service but the feeling of being rushed was evident.

We met up with some old friends on Sunday, at another friend’s recommendation. Beautiful building in stunning setting. We were seated in a smallish room at the top bar. There was one other table of two, and the four of us and we eagerly chose our roasts. The staff were friendly, and everything was going well. The food was well cooked, and the service was good, but after our starters were cleared away and mains brought in, things changed. A big table of eight were shown and seated uncomfortably near us. It started feeling unsafe and the room became stuffy. We opened a window to allow ventilation but I was getting quite nervous as social distancing was not being observed. The waitresses who brought our mains and desserts were leaning over us and not observing safety measures. I am genuinely sorry to have to write this review as I know how hard pubs and restaurants are working to survive in these hard times, but with the resurgence of Covid and the imminent danger, I cannot understand why this big table were not seated in any of the other rooms in which more seating was available on the day.

Great atmosphere.this pub has bags of character. Interesting history. Lovely staff. Great food. I could have chosen every meal and enjoyed it

This was our first visit to the area and we stayed in Clyro. We found the Rhydspence Inn by chance. We booked a table on the second night of our holiday and it was so excellent, we booked a table the following night as well. The atmosphere was cozy and the staff were friendly and welcoming. The food was on another level. We will definitely book again when we next visit the area.

We booked Sunday Lunch for two online and received conformation immediately. The website explained the new COVID Safe arrangements and we arrived exactly at 12.30 and were invited to hand sanitiser and greeted by the owner. We were shown to our table inside after deciding maybe outside dining was not quite our cup of tea for Sunday Lunch. The table was bare but I expected that. We were seated and the owner brought us our drinks. My hubby’s first pint of Butty Bach for 17 weeks- nectar! The lunch menu was as you would expect for Sunday, 4 roasts, fish and a vegetarian option but with twists. The cutlery and napkins were all rolled up and brought with the starter. We chose a seafood kebab starter which we shared and then lamb and pork for Lunch. It was absolutely delicious, the meat was very tasty and lean and the veggies were cooked to perfection. For desert we had lemon tart(and it was) with black currant sorbet and fruit pavlova, both homemade and delicious. Everything was very hygienic and we felt very safe. The tables were spaced well apart and as it was table service the bar area was free for the waiting staff only. Payment was by card and the wifi only seemed to work in one area of the restaurant which was fun finding that. All in all congratulations to the owners and staff for working hard and getting it right. Thank you. No horrible yellow and black tape to be seen! I hate that stuff, it spoils a nice room. My opinion only!

My other half and I ate here on a mid week evening and were seriously impressed. The pub was quiet apart from a few locals. Staff were very friendly and the dog was allowed in too! Dinner was served quickly and it was delicious. I had reservations about ordering steak from somewhere I’d not eaten before as I didn’t want to be disappointed. I shouldn’t have worried, cooked to perfection and I didn’t need a steak knife to cut it. My other half had gammon and said he was impressed too. Desserts were just as good. We will visit again if in the area.

A birthday treat for my husband was everything we had hoped for. Lemon and chilli bread with olives, chutney and dip; prawn and monkfish kebab; crab and ginger tart all started us off on an eating extravaganza. A heap of duck breast in port and cherry sauce served with great chips and a variety of vegetables was delicious; Sticky toffee pudding and raspberry pavlova chosen from an array of desserts to finish. All washed down with an excellent Côtes du Rhône. Delightful service. Cosy table for two next to the fire. What more could you ask for?!

Great place for a group as lots of space. Fab Sunday lunch and good for a weekday evening meal. Staff very friendly used by lots of locals use it for food or a pint.Lots of history to this pub would be a cool place to stay.

We had a very pleasant meal, in a cosy, relaxed atmosphere, with family and friends at the Rhydspence Inn on Saturday evening for my 60th birthday. Everybody agreed the menu was varied and the food excellent. The waitresses were friendly and attentive and were very accommodating when 2 unexpected guests arrived for dessert. We look forward to eating at the Rhydspence again soon.

We stayed here in November 2019 and had a good visit. The pub is just off the main road on the way to Hay-on-Wye.The setting for dinner was top-notch. We had the steak and the sausage and mash. I'd recommend both to visitors.10/10 would come here again.

A group of 10 of us booked in for a Saturday evening meal. The pub & restaurant were both full to bursting and credit to the staff, who were obviously rushed off their feet for their friendly prompt service and the food, across the board was excellent. Would highly recommend.

A lovely quiet retreat, friendly staff and good food, comfortable, and open fires ! Close to Hay on Wye and Brecon beacons.

Early June this year, staying nearby on holiday - it rained heavily for a week! Not to worry, the Rhydspence Inn provided good food, enjoyable company and locally brewed beer all served up by fantastic welcoming hosts who were only too pleased to accommodate us and our two dogs, all soaking wet for much of the time. We will return when we can predict better weather!

The pub catered well for the party of 16 walkers for dinner. Friendly welcome on arrival. Fish and chips was excellent with a lovely light batter. Robinsons on draught too. It did take a little while for the desserts to arrive but my husband enjoyed his plum dessert. Beautiful black and white building.

Wide range of choices on the menu and quality modern and traditional dishes served.Hosts and members of staff very pleasant and helpful. Much enjoyed.

We found this on search for sites, an app we use when travelling in our MH. And what a find it was. Great food. Lovely staff. Will definitely be back next time we are in the area! Thank you for a warm welcome, delicious meal and good night's sleep

This place has become my place of choice to eat in the last couple of years when looking for a great meal local to hay. I'm admittedly a bit fussy and like things to be done right in the environment suitable for the surroundings and ambience. These guys have it nailed in the comfortable easy going, warm welcome country inn with brilliant food to suit category . This place is well worth the 10 minute car journey from hay if only for the amazing 15th century inn and a great pint

Had a fantastic one-night stay and thoroughly enjoyed. Great 14th century property with plenty of character. The food was amazing, and the service from all staff was first class - thank you for making our stay a great one!

Went early evening for a meal , all I can say is that the food and service was not up to standard , waitress very rude .

We had a very warm welcome from the moment we arrived.

We had heard that the Rhydspence was a good place to eat, so came for a bar meal. How we were disappointed. Three of us had the pork and cider pie. There was no hint of cider and the large chewy lumps of meat might have been anything. The two steaks eaten were described as ‘adequate’, damned with faint praise. The puddings were also adequate rather than delicious. The service was fine, but we eat out so rarely that it was very disappointing.

What a great place this is, we visited from Shropshire for the BH weekend and were made most welcome, a real family pub full of locals, who were also so friendly chatting away to us like we were locals, we were made to feel very much at home. The food was superb too, lovely sauces and a great choice on the menu. Would definitely recommend

We visited the Rhydspence Inn recently whilst staying in the area. We enjoyed it so much that we ate there three night running! The Inn is a lovely, old building with lots of character and the owners are very welcoming. The food was of a very high standard - we will definitely return next time we are in the area. Dogs are welcome here - in fact I think the staff liked our dog more than they liked us!

Stayed two nights, room really romantic with a 4 poster king size bed. Big room in the oldest part, big bathroom, plenty of storage. But the food was very average, had two breakfast, small portions and one dinner a average curry, tiny nan breads and greasy poppadum’s disappointing

Lovely little find. The couple who own it are very welcoming and helpful. We had room 7 definitely recommend lovely views all round. Comfortable bed and lots of room. The breakfast was great. We had 2 evening meals and they were really tasty, filling and at a very good price. Highly recommend a visit.

We called in on a walk from Hay and were really impressed. Really helpful staff, good food, steak pie excellent with real chips and the building amazing. We didn’t want to leave. The only negative was the limited amount of veg.one dish for 4 wasn’t enough. Recommended

Myself and four friends went their today for Sunday Lunch, to anyone who has not been their , it's an old quirky pub.it was superb, food, was excellent, great choice, staff were very accommodating, thank you we will be back.

Herefordshire is an incredibly foodie county and this Inn certainly flies the flag! We had a wonderful meal here. Our pretty smiley waitress had set up a table by the fire, which was lovely. I had chicken liver pate, my husband soup - both lovely. We both chose the belly pork stuffed with black pudding on a bed of mash, and it was beautifully cooked, so tasty, melt in the mouth.

We stopped overnight at this friendly Inn. A great and warm bar. Our room was large and clean with a good bathroom. We had a good breakfast which prepared us well for the day ahead. A great little place to stop over on the English and Wales border.

Four of us had a really excellent lunch at this lovely family run hotel. The food was really good (one of our party was keen to steal the chef!). The service was brilliant - we were made to feel very welcome and will definitely choose to eat here again.

Beautiful building straddling Welsh/Herefordshire border dating o 1300's. Friendly owners and great to see variety of local Wye valley beers. Food was very good and reasonably priced. Can't fault this cracking pub.

I was hill walking locally and found details of the hotel on line. As an old coaching inn it has great history and has been carefully altered but many of the original features are still there. Lovely views from the front rooms of the hotel. I give 10 out of 10 for the chef the food was brilliant.

Fortunately came across this pub whilst out for a bike ride as the dark clouds were coming over! We parked our bikes up outside and thankfully had large brolly’s on the tables. We had a really lovely lunch with a great view of the gardens. Even though we only had panini’s they were gorgeous and came with a lovely fresh salad but .........served with proper home made chips!!! Had a pudding too which was equally scrumpy. So glad we found this place and will definitely be returning on our next visit to Hay.

After almost three weeks in England and Wales we have seen ups and downs. Dinner at Rhydspence for sure is one of the best. Welcoming personel always ready to support. After three days we have tested local specialities and always got the best.

Really welcoming old Inn , good choice of food freshly cooked with local ingredients . Nice ales on tap and a comfortable bar/lounge with tables outside . Food was tasty and great value

We were here for a special occasion at the end of June. Beautiful restaurant with lovey views form window. The staff were lovey and the meal and service just as good.

A charming old timbered building in a lovely part of the country.. We ate there several times. The food was excellent , the menu was comprehensive and the staff were pleasant and helpful.

Lovely meal, if your hungry then this is the place for you, lovely polite staff and beautiful gardens to sit and relax in.

A fabulous old black and white pub - we popped in on a Saturday lunchtime to find this surprisingly quiet, but at least it is still open! We only stayed for a bar snack but it was decent - the steak baguette was fine (good quality steak) and ploughman’s was tasty. Nothing wrong at all - and wish them luck in keeping going.

We popped in on the way back from the races , about 20 of us in total . I had lasagne and chips and a lemon tart for dessert. The chips were amazing. The prices were reasonable and the staff were friendly. Definitely going to return with the family.

We met friends for Easter Sunday lunch and had a fabulous time. The food was perfect and the service was excellent. We enjoyed a beautiful meal in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Found this wonderful hotel by accident. The menu was extensive and the service was excellent. Food arrived, very fresh and hot. Excellent five stars.

What an absolute brilliant find, Mark and Lowery looked after us 5 couples brilliantly, nothing was too much trouble, a...

My wife and I booked an evening here to attend a funeral the next morning, and after a 4 hour drive from Suffolk, we didn’t really knowing what to expect.

Met two friends for a bite and a pint at lunchtime and chose the Rhydspence Inn on the reviews previously written.

Booked for a group of 21 on New Year’s Day, we were looking for pub food and rang twice to confirm they would serve the bar menu...

Just left the Rhydspence Inn after a lunch for seven - tucked away around the corner from the bar. What a delightful ambiance and seating arrangement. Wonderful décor with warm carpets, copper and antique pots and pans and real wood fires all around us.

We accidentally stumbled on this historic inn due to a road closure in the area and we certainly were not disappointed. It was quite late for lunch but mine host produced an excellent pub lunch for both of us in very quick time. The place had a friendly warm atmosphere with a lovely log fire. We shall certainly stop there again if we happen to be in the area.

beautiful old inn lovely sunday lunch for me and my family will defo be back again . just had a job to find somewhere to park

Had the sea bass in seafood sauce, and everything was just OK. Broccoli well overcooked, but rest of veg just a bit overcooked.

Stopped for a drink initially on our way home having recently moved nearby and were pleasantly surprised to see the...

Took some friends here for a meal and really enjoyed it. We have been for lunch but this was our first evening meal.

Great choice on the menus and a great service too.

We visited as a party of 11 for a birthday lunch. We had pre-booked the table and were shown promptly to it upon arrival. Service was efficient and the food we received was good - everyone enjoyed their choice and the food was well presented, well-cooked and served lovely and hot. Just what we wanted for a family celebration lunch.

Very good restaurant, we had dinner here two evenings and tried two different dishes each day. All very tasty. Nice selection of drinks.

Years ago my husband and I stumbled across this inn and its sumptuous menu. Today we made an unplanned return visit whilst travelling in the area. We had thought to have a lunchtime snack in the bar but ended up having a two-course meal with coffee to follow. What a treat was in store! The steak and ale pie with home-made chips and a medley of vegetables was totally scrumptious. Washed down with a perfectly chambréd Merlot this was then followed by a Bailey's cheesecake for me ( large portion, beautifully and totally yummy) and a salted caramel chocolate cup for my husband which provided a sensual delight.We were so pleased to have found the Rhydspence, in idyllic surroundings on the England/Wales border, lived up to its reputation.The service was delightful, discreet and friendly.We will be back!

Firstly to state the pub has been under new ownership which is 100 percent better than the old owner from many years ago.The pub and gardens are very nice and the beer Butty Bach as good as usual.Went out for a meal with friends and the service was good and the food also but one major problem.When my meal and the side dishes were served up I was speechless, which is a rarity for me. Having ordered pork loin on a bed of mashed potatoes I was presented with one medium scoop of potatoes and about 5 half slices of pork loin. I know it's fashionable to present small portions but this was to an extreme.Basically on that portion size you could buy a small bag of potatoes and one pork loin (£7 max) and feed 6-8 people at £14 per person . To make matters worse there was a side plate of chips , new potatoes and a v small plate of veg put on one side of the table . I suspected that the veg was meant to accompany my dish but as there were six people dining I would have felt embarrassed piling them all on my plate. Perhaps I drew the short straw as some of the other portions looked bigger but at dessert time two friends ordered a chocolate pot and a large bowl appeared with the smallest deposit of chocolate at the bottomMy neighbour's labrador often visits my house when I get home and immediately decamps to the utility room and knocks the lid off the dog food and buries her head inside , this time I beat her to it ! I think if you feel hungry two hours after a main course and dessert there's a problem. Such a shame because most elements were there but because of the lack of generous portion size, I really would be put off on going back there.

The Rhydspence, originating in the 14th century, is well tuned to 21st century tastes. Countryside dishes with a flair. I ate a lot of lamb on our tour of Britain, and here the lamb stood out, a tender shank infused with rosemary. Good ale and Scotch, too. And friendly staff one could imagine as welcoming in any century.

No hot water for shower on 2 out of 3 mornings. Same problem a year ago so I thought it would have been fixed. Party with owners in bar until 1.30am which very noisy so a poor night's sleep. Food generally good but crab cakes starter included two of the smallest crab cakes I have ever seen.

My brother (his wife) and myself (plus husband) took our Step mum (plus friend) here for her 80th birthday celebration from us.Never been before. A pub of such character inside and out and the added room for dining in was very attractively decorated.Had a three course meal and more. All was delicious and beautifully presented. We did have to request extra veg as between six we were given a very tiny dish which would normally serve two. Suspect this was a mistake.Had a super evening and meal. Staff and owners very friendly and attentive.My reason for not giving this a five star rating is that the waitresses didn't seem interested in clearing the table of empty glasses or finished courses and we did end up rather crowded at times! I did keep asking but never got a really good clear! My need for a clearer table amused my big brother - so not all negative!Definitely coming here again

Wow what a lovely old pub. Very interesting items that are dotted the pub. The menu was ok. We ordered sirloin steak but they didn't have any so we got fillet for the price of sirloin. They had no lamb shank either. The food was of good quality and nice. Is definitely worth a visit even if you are not eating.

Warm, welcoming and very hospitable. Stunning B&B full of character and great beer. Breakfast fantastic, truly excellent poached egg and fresh fruit salad with delicious bacon and local sausages. If you are near stop in if you are not travel and stop there. Lowri and Mark and the Rhydspence Inn will make it worthwhile. We are returning!!

We had a fantastic two nights during May Day Bank Holiday. The room was clean and tidy with all we required. We stayed in the really old part above the bar, we heard little noise and slept very well.The food was very good, steak Rossini was excellent, breakfasts were also nice.Staff and owners very welcoming and friendly. We will be back.One last thing, I wish Robinson's Flagon cider was available near us, a fantastic drink!

Food was cooked very well and served at a relaxed but not slow pace.. Fillet steak was cooked to perfection.

Extensive and balanced menu. Fine food. Good service. Comfortable and relaxed surroundings. Reasonably priced.

we ate late due to late arrival but no drama the food was wholesome and tasty and not too dear we will return

Have been twice for Sunday lunch and absolutely love the food. All home cooked, plenty of choice and plenty of food. Booking recommended as it gets very busy

We called in for a meal and everything was excellent. The staff were amazing and the food was excellent. My only slight dissapointment was main veggie meal was goats cheese which I can't stand. Iam not really sure why pubs and restaurants assume all veggies like goats cheese but that I suppose is my problem. Luckily it was no problem and they sorted me out with a delicious alternative. A truly exceptional time was had by all. And the puddings were amazing as well. Nothing was any trouble at all perfect.

Took my nan and uncle for lunch and must say we were not disappointed, our fillet steaks were delicious and cooked to perfection. My nans fish and chips smelt lovely and she enjoyed her meal. Would highly recommend.

We were convinced we should eat here by the aroma from the kitchen. We were not disappointed. Comfortable atmosphere, very enjoyable evening.

We went to the Rhydspence last Sunday for a traditional lunch with some friends and what an excellent experience it was all round. There were four of us so we each chose a different roast meat - pork, beef and lamb and my husband had Sea Bass. The meat was perfectly cooked as were the vegetables and yorkshires, crackling etc etc - we were even treated to a perfect cauliflower cheese as an extra side dish too. My husbands Sea bass was a real treat beautifully crisped skin and perfectly cooked samphire which came as a great surprise. WE have to make an apology though for not being able to leave a tip as when we paid by card the total had already been entered into the machine with no ability to add extra - none of us had any cash on us - next time we'll remember to bring cash and give you double - promise - because we will be back.

Having read some of the other reviews on poor meals and poor service I have to say my experience was completely the opposite. When we arrived for our two night stay we were greeted in a friendly manner and told that the restaurant was full that night, but if we wanted a meal they would make a private section of the bar available and provide the full restaurant menu. I had the chicken stuffed with black pudding, wrapped in bacon with a blue cheese sauce. My Wife had slices of pork in an apple and cider sauce. Both meals were excellent and the service was good and friendly throughout, in fact although we later found out the restaurant room was very nice eating in the old part of the building made it a bit special.Breakfast was our first opportunity to see the restaurant, which is in the 'new' extension. A large room very nicely decorated with smashing views of the Welsh and Herefordshire countryside. The breakfast menu was also good, everything was what you would expect to find with nothing unusual or weird, and we both enjoyed the cooked breakfast.

We've eaten here twice since the new owners have had and each time the food has been delicious, the staff are friendly and approachable. Great atmosphere, Such an improvement from the last owners. Really worth a visit!

Staff were very helpful and welcoming. Breakfast on both days was excellent but the service on the first day was more attentive. On the second day had to ask for more toast, more coffee or tea were not offered. Yoghurts were not avaialble on the second day.Bedroom furnishings were very tired. Wallpaper peeling off the walls and badly faded, carpet had bad stains on it in the bathroom. The Service to the room on the first day quilt cover was just thrown over bed job done. Very large bad cobwebs above the bed and around the walls, bad cobweb hanging from ceiling with dead fly inside above the taps in the bathroom. Small bin not emptied after the first night. Telly screen the size of a computer. Kettle half full of water on arrival. Dead fly on windowsill in bedroom which had been flattened. Bad build up of Cobwebs around curtain pelmets. The cost of the drinks were very expensive. For the cost of £180 for two nights would have expected the standard of the room to have been higher. We will not be staying agian.

We stopped at this pub on our way, cross-country to the Midlands. The cosy little bar and eating areas are very inviting and the menu is as you would expect in a decent pub. The staff were very friendly and showed us to a table with our menus and we ordered our drinks. The service and food were very enjoyable, my Lasagne in particular was very good. I see now from previous reviews and looking on the internet that is only re-opened in February this year. Keep up the good work, you are doing very well!

We have known this inn for years. It went down hill but is so good to see Mark and his family have brought it back to life. We called for dinner recently and the atmosphere, welcome and food were top class. We had steaks that were perfect and a fish dish that was really good. The homemade sweets were the perfect end to the meal. Excellent wines and good local ale were reasonably priced. We live in Hay-on-Wye where most places are not very good or very expensive apart from the Tapas bar so the short drive or taxi to The Rhydspence is we'll worthwhile.

Taken here for dinner by my cousin. A lovely old building. Great views. Warm welcome. The Rhydspence I was told has recently been bought by new people who are slowly doing it up. All decor was clean and to a very high spec.Service was quick attentive and informative.The food was perfectly cooked and presented for all four of us.

Wij komen hier al twintig jaar en de nieuwe eigenaar heeft er weer nieuw leven in geblazen.Het is gezellig druk de kaart is uitgebreid en de prijzen zeker niet te hoog.Wij hebben in de die weken vakantie bijna alles op de kaart wel een keer besteld.Alle gerechten zijn van een hoog niveau. De gerechten zijn met zorg bereid goed van smaak en kruiden. De samenstelling van de verschillende gerechten is goed gevarieerd.De voor- en nagerechten bieden een ruime keus en zijn net als de hoofdgerechten uitstekend.De nieuwe eigenaar en zijn vrouw zijn erg vriendelijk net als het personeel. Het is een genot hier te eten en te drinken.De prijs kwaliteit is uitstekend in het weekend is het aan te raden om te reserveren.Ik kan u aanbevelen om zeker eens een keer te gaan eten.

Four of us went for a meal. We ordered and had a very long wait of over an hour. When the food arrived all of us were satisfied with the meal although there were not many vegetables. The sausages and mash was a small portion and needed extra veg which was not given after finishing the meal we waited with our empty plates and glasses for over 45 minutes before having to ask a waitress for service. I voiced my concern about the long wait and we were offered complimentary drinks. The dessert arrived and was delicious but again small portions on extremely large plates with no way to lap up the cream. Surroundings pleasant and staff lovely. Food tasty but not enough. Would not go again due to long wait and size of meal

We called for a meal, as we pass at least once a week, it was excellent, from the welcome,by Rhys,for the food and service.we had salmon and a gammon,and shared a cheese cake , it was all first class.excellent value for money.we will see you again soon.

We stopped on the way hone as the children were hungry. We heard the place changed owners but sadly had to conclude it was not for the better. Borh had tournedos Rossini which turned out to be a defrosted overcooked puece of neat with a sauce failing to have the main ingredient Madeira. The pkace and gardens are nice and would have coome back if the food was half way decent. Completely overpriced and at 21£ could not even serve some vegetables. Avoid

Called here for lunch on Saturday. I had scampi and chips £11 and my partner had beef burger and chips £9. Both meals were lovely, although I believe over priced for a bar meal. That's the only reason I've not given full marks. The building is incredible and worth a look at, they have this fantastic cider mill outside. The staff were friendly and very accommodating. Would we go back? Yes definitely! My parents also stayed for two nights and they thoroughly enjoyed. The breakfast they tell me was great.

Very prompt service and a nice wide selection of food. I had a veggie dish - tasty roasted cauliflower and sweet potato mash with lovely new potatoes and my wife had an excellent lamb dish. Great cheese and chocolate pud to follow.

I included the Rhyddspence on my list of possible places for lunch when I did my homework for a trip last year. I only wish I'd read more recent reviews or acted on first impressions when we walked in. It's a very big pub but was practically empty when we arrived with only one waitress to deal with the bar and and serve meals. ... I'm sure she was doing her best, but after a long wait we had to ask in the kitchen to check that they were still serving. But worse was to come. To say that my lamb shank had been overcooked would be a vast understatement; it was rock solid and almost impossible to cut with a knife. Quite unlike the succulent treat that we're all used to. My wife's gammon wasn't that much better. I wish I'd complained at the time but I didn't want to take the edge off what was otherwise another brilliant trip to our favourite part of the Welsh Borders. The only positive aspect of our visit was a couple of friendly local farmers who were enjoying a break from a busy day's shearing with a pint of cider.

I dropped in for dinner on a Saturday night during the Hay festival, whilst they were catering for a large booking. And they found room for me. So wonderfully accommodating . The restaurant had been recommended by the owners of the glamping site I was at and it really did live up to the high praise it had been given by them.The food is excellent, the service friendly and informal but still very efficient and the ambience was such that I'm going to stay there next time I'm in the area.I understand that Rhydspence was taken over by a local family last year and is becoming more and more popular. I can see why. The area doesn't have a Gourmet pub as such but this comes close.

Visited the Rhydspence on a bank holiday Monday after booking a table for three of us earlier on in the day. Greeted with drinks at the bar from the lovely and well mannered bar man, then shown to our table by a friendly and helpful waitress. We ordered our food which came quickly, hot and beautifully presented. I could not fault the chicken, and my stepdad said the pork was also fantastic! Stayed for desserts, which were also beautiful and came in ample supply! What more can I say! Friendly staff, good food, quick service and very reasonably priced! Can not fault this place! Thank you! We will be back!!