Newbridge Inn

Located deep in the heart of rural Wales, a short distance from Usk and overlooking the river of that name, The Newbridge is a welcoming sort of place, where they are obviously trying hard, particularly in the dining room which has a steady local following well supplemented by the passing trade. The menu yields a good range of locally sourced materials, which I felt, was more accurately represented than the Mediterranean, and that pleased me no end. Starters could include locally smoked duck with an orange salad or tempura squid on stir fried noodles with a sweet chilli dip, followed by pan-fried fillet of Carmarthenshire beef with roasted parsnips, some of whatever arrived that day from the Cornish quayside where their fish is bought, or a loin of Gloucestershire Old Spot pork, on a bed of red cabbage with grain mustard mashed potatoes. Puddings come with yet another version of sticky toffee pudding, an orange and marscapone cheesecake with Drambuie syrup, or a very fine selection of British cheeses. Wines are well chosen, with house wine at £12.50.