The Priory in Newport

We ate Sunday Lunch here and it was outstanding The food and service was amazing We has a small mix up with order which was rectified promptly Definitely will return Thank you to all staff for making our afternoon out with baby grandson perfect

We had a one night stay here with a party of 9, staff were very friendly and efficient, the hotel is stunning and grounds beautiful, some of the rooms were a little tired but others really beautifully finished so guessing they are working on this. We were offered the private dining space as the restaurant was full as it was Easter Sunday, it was really lovely and food excellent, overall very enjoyable and all of us agreed we would return.

A complete failure to deliver on even the most basic expectations of dining. It pains me to write this review, but the sheer inadequacy of our meal demands accountability. It is rare to encounter a restaurant that fails so comprehensively in delivering even the most basic expectations of quality and service. While the staff were courteous and attentive - the same cannot be said for anything else about The Priory. The evening began with the revelation that a significant portion of the menu was unavailable, a frustrating start that set the tone for what was to come. When the food finally arrived after a considerable wait, it was nothing short of unacceptable and our disappointment only multiplied. My trout fillet (£24) was served totally cold, submerged in an unpleasantly pungent tomato sauce that overpowered any semblance of freshness or skill in preparation. Worse still, the dish arrived without the sides described on the menu, leaving an incomplete, pitiful presentation. The alternative? Paying extra for accompaniments that should have been included from the start and wait another half an hour at best. My husband had no better luck with his lamb dish (£38) - served lukewarm with an unpleasantly chewy, gristly texture that suggested either poor quality meat or improper preparation. The dessert menu offered only some weird mystifying options like "chocolate soil" a concept so poorly explained that not even the staff could describe it with any confidence. At these prices, one expects competence, if not excellence. Instead, the experience was marked by terrible execution, poor value, and a total lack of regard for the clients dining experience. A restaurant charging these prices has no excuse for such terrible quality and poor culinary execution. A restaurant must do more than simply open its doors; it must deliver on its promises. This one DOES NOT! PS In response to Benito’s @ The Priory comments of 17/04/25 Dear Benito The best approach would have been a sincere apology and a commitment to do better - not a defensive reply as by dismissing feedback as overly dramatic you simply ignore the real issues. FOR THE RECORD: we did raise concerns about the lamb at the time and were met with the same reluctance to address the problem. You don’t need to be a food critic to recognise poor quality food - you just need honesty. Feedback, even when critical, should be met with accountability and respect, not sarcasm. A simple acknowledgment and a promise to improve would have been far more professional. I hope future guests receive better treatment and better meals!

To start- rude host! Service was so slow, had to ask for someone to take our order. No one came over and asked for drinks etc. starter took ages too . Pork belly dish was as dry as bone with a burnt carrot! Side were inedible and like they’d been sat for hours. I will never go back here! Awful service and awful food! A real let down !

Wow! This place has improved so much since we were there five years ago. It was good then, but now it’s probably the best hotel in the region. Lovely rooms and a fantastic restaurant.

Have been here a few times. Recently updated the restaurant. always been good. Excellent choice. Great for groups as they have plenty of space.

Had a fantastic meal here with my wife for our birthday. The staff were absolutely lovely and really made the evening feel extra special for us. The food was delicious. We didn't really fancy any of the starters and shared a soda bread instead but knew we were having a sharing steak anyway and wanted to save our stomach for it. Chateaubriand isn't cheap but it was a treat and we loved every bite, and I absolutely refuse to shut up about how nice the Algarve carrots were. Date pudding was also lovely but we were stuffed after that and it does need a higher ice cream to pudding ratio, in our opinion. We will definitely be going back. Would rather have slightly fewer visits to a quality place like this than regularly going out and being ripped off at some chain for less money but feeling like you're at a cattle market. We didn't take any photos because not everything needs to be an Instagram reel and, as I said to the manager, if we want to remember what it looks like we'll just come back!

The food was not good on the whole. considering the price it's just not acceptable. If it cost half as much I would have still been disappointed. Won't be returning.

Great tasting menu for Valentines. A little light on the portions but the food was excellent and the staff are fantastic. Very good sommelier too.

Great place. Nice atmosphere. Nice pint reasonable price. Haven't stayed here but it seems busy with travellers

We recently had an evening meal at The Priory in Caerleon. We booked in advance and requested a quiet area, but upon arrival, our table was in quite a loud section. However, after asking for a quieter spot, the staff kindly accommodated us. The setting itself is stunning, full of history as a former monastery where monks once lived, adding to the charm and ambiance. As for the food, we had octopus for the starter and pork loin for the main course. While the dishes were enjoyable, they didn’t have the "wow" factor we were hoping for. The portion sizes weren’t particularly filling, so if you have a good appetite, you might want to consider adding a dessert. Service was quite slow, but the gentleman serving us was very polite and did apologise for the delay. Overall, The Priory offers a beautiful setting with decent food, though the experience could be improved with more efficient service and slightly heartier portions. The pricing felt reasonable for what we had, but just be aware that you may need an extra course to leave feeling fully satisfied.

My last review for here was 29/04/24 when I got £100 parking fine that had to be fought! I said never again, it’s just too risky! Saturday 01/02/25 I reluctantly went back, because my wife wanted to try it after its renovation. Firstly there’s a couple of positive things to say - there’s no parking issues it’s free again and second is the chips are as good as ever. On the other hand a £247.50 dinner + £99 bar bill for a couple of drinks before n after dinner (5 of which were zero san Miguel) is a bit of a pTake, I think the place is probably doomed, I’ll certainly refuse to go back! We had our wedding reception here in 1986. We loved this place when Phillip was there. Starters were just not appealing at all. None of us had one. There was a big up sell for olives n breads, we were asked three times. 4 steaks (@ £+30ea), 2 sirloins and two ribeyes (10oz) they were ok 8/10 not brilliant and very short of Miller & Carter etc. They come with single mushroom 😫and the nice chips 👍 no salad no tomato no onion. Sauces also weren’t enticing,none of us had any sauce. Two Rhubarb cheesecakes were diabolical, like eating fat, must have a tonne of gelatine in them, rhubarb sorbet wasn’t rhubarb at all. Sadly when the lovely waitress asked “how’s the dessert, I felt I had to say don’t ask me, ask the chef 😬 (because it was terrible. I was not happy), my wife’s friend did enjoy her date pudding 👍 In summary: Not good, I think they’ve got a lot to learn. For a start I’ll say forget wanting to explain the menu, that’s never a good a sign, just use words on the menu! And who thinks £100 for a 1kg tomahawk steak is a good idea? Are you mad? Who’s eating 1kg of steak with a mushroom? (I know, IT’S FOR SHARING 😫🤣😵‍💫, a Jamie Oliver gimmick!). We used to eat here a lot! Sadly the chalk board has gone, as have the fresh meats, fish n salads. They’ve gone for fridges with meat in to look trendy 😩😩😩. Well I gave it a chance, won’t be getting another, they’ve destroyed the old experience. Just go to Miller & Carter, or even a Beefeater 😵‍💫 I think I was definitely ripped off and that’s not funny. Do they know what they’re doing? I think they do and that’s the sad part. Just cook at home and have your friends over. You’ll feel better for it with an M&S dessert. It’s Caerleon/Newport not London. Expect to budget £90+ per head. 😡

We eat regularly at Les Mondes in Cardiff and fancied a changed. We used the Priory a few years ago and it really went downhill. This time I had the rib-eye steak which was ok but certainly not worth the 36 quid tag. Partner had the snapper which she said was quite tasteless. I found the 4.50 price tag for water a bit naughty but the wine was good. For me the menu is not big enough. Views are subjective but unfortunately The Priory is no where near as good as Les Mondes for food choice and atmosphere. I prefer the choosing process of food but again, this is people’s choice. We were quite honest at the end of the meal to a member of staff and just said it how it was. All views are subjective and I sure other members of the public will disagree with our comments and return. We personally won’t but wish the establishment all the best.,

I actually wanted to say a massive thank you to the restaurant manager who was on shift at 1pm today (26.01.25) when my niece choked, which was horribly scary. He took over & managed to clear her airways. She is fine & we are very grateful!!! Thank you so much! (Also side note, the food, service, drinks are all fab!)

I have been visiting The Priory for many years to eat and socialise but I won't be giving them my custom again. It is now table service only now which is good but you pay through the nose for the privilege. The service was good and the food was fine but it definitely wasn't value for money. In the past, main courses were always accompanied by a side of chips, boiled or jacket potatoes and you had to pay for extras such a vegetables and bread. I was expecting the same when I ate there recently and was very disappointed when the bill arrived. We had to pay have an extra £4.50 each for the chips. Yes, they were as good as always (I love The Priory chips!) but I didn't expect to have to pay for them in addition to the peppercorn sauce (£4) and water for the table (£4.50)!! The sirloin steak was fine but not worth the money spent! I know times are tough for businesses but this was daylight robbery, in my opinion! I won't be back & I know that I'm not the only one!

Went for a coffee sand business meeting. Would like to go for some food in the future.

I say regularly at this gorgeous boutique hotel. Thoughtful decor, newly sensitively renovated. Very comfortable rooms, you can choose luxe with roll top bath or dog friendly cottages and others in between. Food very good but a little pricey. Staff wonderful but not enough of them. Unnamed reception is a real shame & makes the vibe less welcoming

Very nice restaurant with some very creative dishes, we did find it to be very expensive indeed. All of the main plates start at around £25 minimum and you will have to add cabs and veg as that only your protein. They have an exceptional wine selection with bottles starting from £30. Overall a nice night out but we won't be returning as we just can't justify the cost.

I'm a head chef and very fussy about my food. What can I say about the priory the food is of a high standard the managers and staff can't do enough for you they make you more than welcome the food arrives quick if you want an top notched Sunday dinner the look no further the priory has it all

The bar staff have a bit of a bad attitude. But the way the make you leave is one of the most ludicrous things I've ever experienced. I don't mind being asked to leave via a back door...but honestly you end up in the middle of a car park, not a clue how to get back to the front door and it's ridiculously long walk to get around all the buildings. They made my Gran and my Aunts do the walk, then opened the front door for a young couple and said "it doesn't matter, they're not staying here"...it's honestly so farcical I can't believe someone thinks it's acceptable!

A Hidden Gem, very attentive staff . Lovely clean rooms . Amazing food . Will definitely be back . Couldn’t fault anything. There were nice touches . Thank you

Best meal had in 5 years Service / food incredible Saw Dean Saunders as well which was key

Lovely place in the centre of caerleon

Very pleasant gardens good service

Beautiful property. Would visit again. Wonderful service

Neurodivergent Friendly ✅ Fast becoming my absolute favourite restaurant, if I could come here daily I would. The new bar area is brilliant and is ideal to grab a drink before you go into the restaurant. I have the same thing every-time (Sea Bass 😉) to the point that the staff, who are all so friendly and welcoming, now know what I get just from seeing me (ha). The rooms upstairs are homely and convenient and I love the bodega all and it’s quirky little items for sale. The location itself is like a little secret garden and it has a meadow like feel…perfect for summer and the building is beautiful. There’s a couple of restaurants similar to this in Cardiff but this one is the best value for money, keep doing what you’re doing Priory 🫶🏻

Historic building currently having lots of work done but still a lovely place to visit and the food is always good

We had a large group of people for a celebration, the restaurant manager was absolutely amazing! Nothing was too much trouble, her response time was second to none. On the day staff were accommodating, polite and helpful. The food was beautiful, only slight downside was the portion size is on the small side for starters but tasted beautiful. Can't recommend it enough. Spot on service and super clean

Perfect place to stay food is excellent beautiful garden's great service

Possibly one of the best hotels we have ever stayed at! The entire experience was nothing short of incredible. All 3 of our rooms were upgraded free of charge, the receptionist served us with a lovely glass of champagne each on arrival and overall the whole team could not be more helpful! The grounds are stunning, with a lovely outdoor area where you can enjoy food and drinks. The allocated rooms were also lovely, very spacious and comfortable. The staff organised multiple taxi rides for us (party of 5), arranged restaurant bookings and done it all with a genuine smile and the most welcoming attitude. The absolute highlight of our stay was the onsite restaurant, the menu selection is impressive, the food is fresh and delicious! We would definitely recommend it for both relaxed dining as well as celebration dinners. Thank you so much all for your hospitality!

My recent dining experience at The Priory Restaurant was underwhelming and disappointing. We faced several issues that made the evening less enjoyable. Firstly, the staff forgot our drinks order, which set a poor tone for the evening. When the steak arrived, it was exceedingly rare despite having ordered it medium rare. After requesting it to be cooked a little longer, it came back burnt on the outside but still blood red inside – a sign of poor kitchen skills. Also the peppercorn sauce came out late, very small portion and cold. Additionally, they forgot the chips, a basic part of the meal (which incidentaly was charged for separately - who just orders a steak on its own?). While the service was functional, it was slightly nervy and not particularly apologetic about the mistakes. The food itself was okay but definitely not worth the hefty £300 bill for three people. It is also worth noting that the staff were overly keen to clear the table, even when we had not finished some of our food. This was strange as it was mid week and the restaurant clearly did not need the table for other reservations, there were plenty of empty tables. Moreover, I was dismayed to see a discretionary tip already added to the bill, especially considering the subpar experience. It would be more appropriate for the restaurant to pay their staff properly rather than relying on discretionary tips. The Priory Restaurant used to be our go-to, but now it will be our no-go, which is a real shame. Overall, The Priory Restaurant did not live up to expectations, and I would hesitate to recommend it.

I went out for a meal with my partner for a 6th year anniversary and whilst the food was good they rejected a voucher which was bought of the priory website before Christmas but the person who bought it for me was advised it would be usable as they are a sister company with Bodega and has the priory address on the actual voucher. Apparently there was no way of redeeming the voucher (despite it being the sister company, and the person who purchased it being told it would be usable there.) had they known it was not usable in the priory they wouldn’t have bought it as I live local to the restaurant and it’s always been one of my favourites but this has left a sour taste.

Came here for lunch with friends, and the food was superb. It was an hour late as they forgot our order, but staff were incredibly apologetic and offered us free drinks which was very kind. A major downside that I must mention though, was the parking. A few weeks after our visit, we received a £100 parking ticket from NPC (a private company employed by the Priory to enforce fines in their car park). Apparently, an "e-permit" is required to use the Priory car park on the, however during our visit this was not at any point signalled to us by signage or staff. Despite their efforts, the Priory seemed unable to do anything to stop the fine for being enforced as NPC kept pursuing us for the fine, even following an initial appeal. I was then forced into a situation to later return to the car park to gather photographic evidence of the limited/confusing signage in order to submit my appeal to an Adjudicator who thankfully found in my favour due to the evidence I collected. The experience of coming for a lovely lunch was tarnished by the subsequent stressful and time-consuming nature of appealing this ridiculous fine. As I say, The Priory don't appear to hold any authority or sway to revoke such parking tickets on their own land, once issued, and so I implore anyone reading this to please make sure you check with staff how to park without getting a ticket, should you visit.

I booked an overnight stay at The Priory as part of a birthday gift for my wife and from start to finish we couldn’t have had a better experience. The room we stayed in was clean, very comfortable and pretty as a picture…My wife loved it. We had a reservation for dinner which was plentiful and faultless with a great wine selection to match. Breakfast was equally as delicious and well presented with. All the staff were very accommodating and hospitable from start to finish and the little Bodega enable me to add a few extra treats for her birthday. I’d highly recommend a stay here and we are looking forward to our next visit.

Lovely place to stay and explore the local area. Food and se

OK, where do I start. Haven't been to the Priory Restaurant for a while, we visited yesterday for a grandsons birthday, the ambience was as always excellent however the quality of service and more importantly the quality of the food was very poor, I ordered a chicken starter as did several others (we were a party of 7) it was served quite well but was overcooked to the point of being burnt ( all of them were the same), the taste was well below good. Now the mains our party had three ribeye steaks and a Sirloin, one ribeye was excellent one of the other two was OK but my steak was very poor, sinuous and tasteless , the sirloin, well mostly went home for the dog. My wife had salmon and the fish was well presented but the sides were horrid! The remaining mains were just acceptable. Deserts, very small portions again well presented but not really acceptable when you look at the final bill which was just short of £500. Overall not a great experience we are all seasoned diners and never concern ourselves with cost and if the food is to die for THE PRICE IS ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE but when it's not !! To summarise the Priory was always the go to place for an unforgettable meal, and it's still unforgettable but for all the wrong reasons. What a shame!!

We stayed for one night in a cottage and had an excellent dinner. The rooms were very clean and well furnished, the reception staff were very friendly at check in, the breakfast staff were polite and efficient, and the bar staff were very accommodating to requests. Dinner was spectacular, the chateaubriand was excellent and all the sides were wonderful. All in all a great experience and good value for money!!

Myself and my husband had a beautiful stay here at the priory hotel. I lived in Spain for 4 years and I can honestly say it was a little slice of northern Spain. Between the beautiful food and wine. Stopping off at the bodega before heading back to our room… it’s was an excellent experience, and we will definitely be back to visit.

Dining very nice atmosphere , exellent salted seabass!

Nice Hotel always clean and warm, lots of little touches that make it feel better.

First class, staff are very professional, friendly and helpful, very comfortable and well proportioned and positioned rooms, the actual location of the Priory is great, very easy for motorway and easy to get into Newport. Meals are beautifully presented and very good, well done guys. If your looking for a comfortable relaxing break in beautiful surroundings this is the place to be.

Very cramped dinning space, could do with removing one or two tables to increase the available space around people. The food was nice but honestly nothing special when compared to other restaurants that are charging far less for the same.

Best Hotel in Careleon ? Good location , need to book in advance if you want to ensure a timely table for dinner.

I had business in Newport and stayed at the hotel for a night. Wonderful staff/service/bar and kitchen. The room was nice, warm and clean. I had great time

Just booked for lunch today 24th February 2024

Love visiting here with friends. For drinks, a meal or just a coffee. The gardens are beautiful in the summer

The most romantic place in the world! Service excellent, food delicious, surroundings delightful. Love it!

I had a great time in the restaurant on valentines night. I enjoyed absolutely everything ❤️ 🙌 💕

We live in the area and have been coming here for years (including our wedding reception 5 years ago which was fab) but unfortunately our experience on Saturday 10th Feb was not great. We both ordered steaks - my partner ordered medium but what arrived was VERY rare and put him right off. Carrots pretty undercooked. We did tell the waiter at the end and got a sort of 'oh' response. The table next to us sent their steak back as it was also undercooked. Chocolate ganache dessert underwhelming: a bit of a splodge on the plate that looked like ice cream, partner not impressed with the taste either. Sad let down after many years of amazing food, especially during lockdown with the outdoors food truck that they had.

If I could give it 6 stars, I would. Beautiful place, cosy rooms and excellent service. The rib eye is to die for. The cheesecake is a bit weird, tasty, but weird.

Been a family favourite for generations, had our silver wedding anniversary here last year. My nan been coming since 1960s But long delays in answering the phone. Email address given was incorrect, and was told the private function room is business only... but what about Sunday? Didn't reply..

Delicious meal..... friendly service.....a treat!