Our nominations are:

• Abergavenny Food Festival (Best Event)
• The Old Station Tintern (Best Place to Eat – Cafe)
• The Bell at Skenfrith (Best Place to Eat – Pub)
• Llansantffraed Court (Best Place to Eat – Restaurant)
• The Walnut Tree (Best Place to Eat – Restaurant)
• Hidden Valley Yurts (Best Place to Stay – Bunkhouses, hostels & alternative)

The eating category winners can actually be voted for by you, so pop along to to the website and get voting. You can even win a free cookery course! Let’s see Monmouthshire’s great Food & Drink offer recognised further across Wales. The winners will be announced in November.

Voting Page: www.ntawales.com/english/vote/

Great to see more success for a Monmouthshire vineyard, as Ancre Hill Estates of Monmouth has again scooped a hatful of medals in this year’s leading International Wine competitions, winning 4 Silver medals and 2 Bronze.  The results were announced at the London International Wine Fair on 21 May 2013 and were:

Decanter World Wine Awards

• Sparkling Rosé 2009              SILVER
• Sparkling White 2009            SILVER
• Pinot Noir 2011                      BRONZE

International Wine & Spirit Competition

• Sparkling Rosé 2009              SILVER
• Sparkling White 2009            BRONZE
• Pinot Noir 2011                      SILVER

Richard Morris of Ancre Hill commented:

“This was an improvement on 2012 with two additional Silvers over last year. What is pleasing is the great consistency shown year on year.  We are particularly pleased with the performance of our Pinot Noir, with these results making it the best performing red wine from England & Wales in 2013.  This was our first accredited biodynamic wine.  This is another plus for the developing Welsh Wine Industry.”

 

A great job by them. Check out www.ancrehillestates.co.uk to buy some of their delicious wine and book yourself into a wine tasting visit.

To make the list the accommodation is rigorously tested for high standards, so you can guarantee a fantastic stay.

See the list below for some details and well done to all the accommodation that made the grade.

Wye Valley

• Marriott, St Pierre Hotel and Country Club – Chepstow
• Crown at Whitebrook (As part of the Michelin Starred Restaurant) – Wye Valley, Near Monmouth
• Fairfield Bungalow – Wye Valley, near Monmouth
• Gentle Jane Tearoom – Grosmont, Near Monmouth
• Lavender Barn – Near Chepstow
• The Bell at Skenfrith (As part of the Award winning country pub) – Skenfrith, Near Monmouth
• The Courtyard - Near Chepstow

Vale of Usk

• Celtic Manor – Host of the 2010 Ryder Cup
• Llansabbath Country House -Abergavenny
• The Hardwick (Alongside the award winning restaurant) – Abergavenny
• The Old Rectory – Newport

JANUARY OFFER

Throughout January, weekends are even better value at The Angel. Double rooms start from £111 per night, including full breakfast. http://www.angelabergavenny.com/rooms

Click here to find out more!

Then continue the celebrations at one of Usk’s best hotels.

The Three Salmons

• Enjoy a fantastic meal at the Three Salmons
• Or stay around for New Year’s Eve!

The Glen-Yr-Afon

Whether you are celebrating with family, friends or colleagues, we pride ourselves on excellent service, food and entertainment. For the festive season of 2012 we shall again be offering our traditional menus and more!  .

We will also be offering our popular Family Lunches (Sundays 16th and 23rd December) which will be packed full of entertainment for all. Not forgetting our Dinner Dances with a live band or disco and of course our New Years Eve Gala Ball which shall be full of festive cheer to welcome in 2013.

Should you require any assistance in selecting your dining experience, please contact our Christmas Coordinator Gemma on 01291 672302 or visit website www.glen-yr-afon.co.uk/christmas

Celebrate Christmas & New Year at the Glen-Yr-Afon

1. Put spring in your step at the beautiful Vanilla Cottage on the River Usk. Relax in front of the cosy woodburner, and enjoy a break from just £239 per party. Click here for full details.
2. Enjoy a blissful hot tub close to the picturesque Wye Valley town of Tintern. 2 night breaks per party (up to 4) from £269! Click here for full details.
3. Relish having the magnificent Tintern Abbey on your doorstep at the 5 star Tintern Abbey Cottage. See the details for this refreshing countryside weekend or midweek recharge here.

Relax in Tintern Abbey Cottage’s Hot Tub

Underground Magic

At Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean, children will enjoy a magical Christmas journey following the adventures of ‘The Very Hungry Polar Bear.’ A young boy discovers a baby polar bear and decides to keep it as a pet; the bear soon becomes a bigger problem than he imagined – but don’t worry there is a happy ending.

From 1^st December until Christmas Eve, children will see Santa, children between 2-14 years old, choose a present, then follow the delightful displays throughout the nine impressive caverns. The displays are the creation of children’s book illustrator Heather Holland who has worked with Clearwell Caves staff to create spectacular festive displays.

100ft underground in the main cavern there will be an underground Christmas market selling seasonal gifts and decorations. There will be an underground Café, operating for groups during weekdays and all day throughout the weekends.

Saturday 1^st and Sunday 2^nd December there will be performances by the Forest of Dean Brass Band playing their seasonal music between 2pm to 4pm.

The Christmas Fantasy event is running everyday from 10am to 5pm, with a late night opening every Friday until 8pm. After Christmas 27^th December to 6^th January the displays re-open (without Santa or presents of course) at a reduced entrance fee. See website for details.

Free coach and car parking.

www.clearwellcaves.com/events.html