Clearwell Restaurant Guide

“Tucked away in a secluded Welsh borders valley”, Chris & Kirsty Harrod’s “former pub might seem like an unlikely venue for a high-end restaurant; and the quirkiness doesn’t end there, as chef Chris’s food is highly original with most dishes featuring some sort of foraged leaves or organic whatnot”. One or two reporters feel this leads to ups and downs in a meal (“not a great fan of eating weeds and root vegetables at these prices, although the halibut and venison were sublime to be fair…”; “the vegetables, presumably from their own garden, were not quite up to scratch and contributed to a few dishes that didn’t really work… still some were excellent”). Overall, though, it’s a thumbs up for one of Wales’s more renowned culinary destinations: “I was a little sceptical but I shouldn’t have worried. The food was sensationally good, packed with intriguing flavours, beautifully presented and very different”. There are cheaper options at lunch, but by night it’s nine courses for £130 per person.

“Set in a 17th-century hunting lodge”, this “lovely place to stay and eat” is “beautifully placed in the heart of the Forest of Dean”. There are a range of spaces in which to dine: more formal “dinners are served in the old Verderer’s (Magistrates’) Court Room, with a blazing log fire for atmosphere and warmth”, and some “delicious” offerings on the “limited menu”; the more relaxed Orangery meanwhile turns out “hearty teas with local goodies and good views over the gardens”. They also have cosy Outdoor Dining Dens for small groups which can be booked by the hour. All in all, an “undiscovered gem”.