Built on the bailey of a hilltop castle, this dog-friendly hotel overlooks ‘a lovely town in stunning countryside’. A sister to Pen-y-Dyffryn, Oswestry (see entry), it has gained a full entry after Guide inspectors called. Beyond ‘a little patio with water feature’, the interior is ‘a pleasing mix of traditional country pub and a more contemporary, sleek style’. A master bedroom had ‘comfortable armchairs, a roomy bathroom with bath and shower over’. All rooms are individually styled; some with in-room bath; others with walk-in rain shower. Three bar/dining areas had ‘open fires in cosy spaces’, where dinner was ‘comfort food, ideal for walkers’. Curried peppers, courgettes and hazelnut loaf with raita and ‘a good portion of vegetables’, proved ‘a cut above pub food’, as did chicken stuffed with garlic mushrooms, leek and Shropshire Blue sauce, while vanilla panna cotta with mixed berries was ‘outstanding’. In the morning, tables were attractively set in the panelled dining room for a breakfast of avocado toast, poached egg, smoked salmon; ‘perfectly cooked eggs Benedict’. In summer ‘an upper-level patio with ornamental pond would be truly lovely, with wonderful views’. (David Lowe, Anne Sprason, and others)