Castlemead garden at Manorbier

Local Restaurants

 

If you’re a foodie, you are sure to love the pubs and restaurants in this corner of Pembrokeshire. The county is famous for its fresh locally grown produce and the quality of its home reared meats and carefully conserved fish stocks.

 

Read more at Visit Pembrokeshire

www.visitpembrokeshire.com/attractions-events/food-drink/foodie-pembrokeshire-gourmands-delight

 

Fish and shell fish landed in Stackpole Quay, Pembroke and Milford Haven are exported to London markets and the capital’s world class restaurants on the day of capture.

 

And in June we have an internationally acclaimed annual festival of food-Pembrokeshire Fish Week www.pembrokeshirefishweek.co.uk/ . Also, the nearby town of Narberth hosts its own festival of food every September. www.narberthfoodfestival.com

 

There’s no better way than to sample those fresh lobsters, sea bass fillets or steaks of locally reared lamb, beef or pork, than by eating in our nearby award winning pubs and restaurants – some of which are only a short walk or drive from the cottage.

 

Get chatting to the friendly and knowledgeable staff and you’ll soon discover that the head chef was probably Pembrokeshire born but won their culinary colours in the kitchens of well known eateries in London and Cardiff.

 

So here’s a round up of great places to eat and drink for all occasions. Enjoy and please let them know we sent you!!!!

 

Stackpole Inn, Stackpole

 

Guests at the cottage are blessed with the proximity of our local pub. With a collection of impressive accolades, no wonder it is a guest favourite year after year; here are the headline awards in recent years:

 

Great British Pub Awards 2011, ‘Best Gastro Pub’ in Wales winner; Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards 2011, ‘Best Food Experience’ winner; Western Telegraph readers choice, ‘Restaurant of the Year 2010’. Morning Advertiser, Best Food Pub in Wales 2005 and 2006.

 

With a dog friendly bar and eating area, outside beer garden, Wi-Fi and just a 12 minute walk from the cottage this fantastic local and prestigious restaurant takes some beating if you’re not on a budget conscious visit. Despite its Gastro badge, it retains its local identity and rustic village charm, and enjoys a healthy community trade at the bar!

 

Owner tips: book and plan your visit in high season, it can be busy and the kitchen is obviously not one to rush out food! Ideal if you want to indulge or celebrate and good for a cosy romantic meal out of the summer high season.

 

 

Castlemead, Manorbier

 

This former Gentleman’s residence is gracefully perched above Manorbier beach and is now a 4 star restaurant with guest bedrooms. It boasts an exceptionally agreeable nationally based menu and we’ve been visiting here for years.

 

The tasteful and relaxing restaurant enjoys views of the sea and a Norman castle and church. It’s our favourite place to dine in the spring and summer months because it’s a short scenic coastal drive from the cottage, affordable, excellent value and offers a homely, no fuss yet divine dining experience. The owners are ‘hands on’ and deliver a rare and treasured example of good and reliable hospitality at its best.

 

They serve a Sunday lunch to die for until 4.00 pm – ideal if you’re walking the coastal path to Manorbier (allow 3 hours) in the summer months and fancy a real stretch of the legs.

 

Owner tips: always book (or check likely table availability) and request a window sea view table. If you ask they will email you the daily menu. Take a light lunch (if any) if you’re planning on an evening meal- they will feed you like royalty! Ideal venue if you’re in the mood for dressing up- you won’t look or feel out of place. Mention where you are staying and you will be treated like family.

 

 

Old Kings Arms Hotel, Main Street, Pembroke

 

The Old Kings Arms Hotel is Pembroke's oldest hostelry and has deeds that date back to the 1520s. Its George Wheeler Restaurant retains this 15th century ambiance and for 50 years it has been regarded as one of the finest restaurants in Wales.

 

Although this reputation may not stand up to current day scrutiny by international food critics, it is certainly very worthy of recommendation. Barely five minutes by road from the cottage and easy for taxis home, it has a unique ambience and is again sensibly priced with excellent choice and table delivery.

 

This is probably the community favourite for that special occasion for those who live in or about Pembroke and certainly our first choice in winter. Wi-Fi available if you ask.

 

Owner tips: another venue where you can enjoy your wardrobe’s best and where its sensible to book a table. Enjoy an early evening or post meal walk around Pembroke Castle Mill Pond.

http://pembroke-castle.co.uk

 

 

St Govan’s Country Inn, Bosherston

 

St Govan's Inn is uniquely positioned close to the Lily Ponds at Bosherston and just a short walk from the cliffs at St Govan's Head and the beaches of Broadhaven and Barafundle. This makes it the perfect place for a pint, or cheap and cheerful meal on the way home from a day on the coast.

 

It offers down to earth pub fayre - ideal if you’ve just left the beach and not in the mood to cook. We can suggest you try the monthly Friday Curry Nights (October to April), and the family friendly fixed price 2 or 3 course Sunday lunches continue to be popular with our guests and locals alike.

 

It has lost its way in recent years which is a real shame. This can happen when owners are too detached from the business as we suspect is the case with the St. Govan’s.

 

Historically featured in the Good Pub Guide, Good Beer Guide and Lonely Planet. The St Govan’s under previous management was a CAMRA Real Ale Award winner but in our veiw is off the real ale pace at the current time. In recent years it has become completely dog friendly and there’s a pool table in the winter months.

 

Owners tips: a convenient venue to feed the children at late afternoon or early evening May through to September. Sunday lunch and Curry Nights are probably worth booking. Plan your day and this is an ideal evening walk back to the cottage through the Lily Ponds following an early evening visit.

 

 

The Boat House Café, Stackpole Quay

 

The Boathouse, on the National Trust's Stackpole Estate at picturesque Stackpole Quay is just a 20 minute walk from the cottage.

 

Quite simply this is a lunchtime delight with ample outdoor seating and fabulous sea veiws of the world-class coastline. It is the staging post for the short walk over the cliffs to Barafundle Bay.

 

Perfectly positioned for a coastal path refreshment on the return leg from Freshwater East or our famous doorstep circular walk of Cheriton Bottom woods, the Lily Ponds and Barafundle Bay.

 

Owners tips: walk from the cottage or use the National Trust car park to join the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

 

 

Freshwater Inn, Freshwater East

 

Built in 1912 as the Grotto Country Club, The Freshwater Inn is set in lovely gardens and enjoys spectacular seacape views from its position just above the coastal path. It is family and dog friendly and very well run by the owners.

 

It offers a good standard and choice of freshly prepared pub food at a reasonable price making it an attractive destination for most occasions or time of day. Real ale lovers will be happy here - at any one time there are 4 of them on tap with Double Dragon as the regular, plus three rotating guest ales, all perfectly served to an excellent CAMARA standard.

 

From the cottage drive to it along the coast road in under 10 minutes or walk the coastal path and work up an appetite in about 90 minutes.

 

Owner tips: book a table at weekends or during school holiday half term weeks and summer high season periods. An ideal, good value and affordable young family destination.

 

 

Research more places to eat and places to buy great local produce.

http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/attractions-search/?food%20and%20drink=1#&&p=15&sc=&n=&t=26&l