‘A congenial atmosphere and a happy buzz’ greeted Guide inspectors arriving at Richard Ireton and Sarah Hudson’s refurbished 17th-century coaching inn, in a ‘postcard-worthy rural setting’ by the stone bridge over the River Monnow. Walkers and their dogs receive a ‘friendly welcome’ (and a dog biscuit or two) in the ‘cosy nook of a bar’. In the ‘smart, rustic restaurant’ (flagstones, ‘hefty tables’, countryside pictures and prints), chef Joseph Colman’s ‘refined pub grub’ is ‘very good and very satisfying’. Typical dishes: ‘light, refreshing’ Cornish crab tian; a ‘generous portion’ of roast rack of pork, ham hock croquette, buttery mash, sautéed cabbage. ‘Handsome contemporary bedrooms’ are upstairs. ‘Ours was under the eaves. Small bedside windows looked into the trees; a larger window offered a brilliant view of the bridge over the quick-running river. Guides and good local information had been provided; a container of shortbread biscuits sat next to a good selection of teas, coffee and hot chocolate mix.’ Breakfast on fruit salad, local yogurt, ‘exemplary croissants’, ‘thick country slices of delicious home-baked bread’; ‘copious servings’ of hot dishes are brought to the table.