near Brecon, Powys
Wonderful to have a Welsh pub in the top five, and the plaudits are earned. Not pretty outside; food and setting are. Between the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains, with a kitchen garden, armchairs by the fire and bedrooms that encourage a second night. The motto is the simple things in life, done well. They are.
Applecross, Wester Ross91. The Applecross InnOver the Bealach na Bà, the most thrilling road in Britain, to langoustines landed yards away. Worth every hairpin.B
Gullane, East Lothian92. The Bonnie BadgerTom Kitchin’s inn in golf country. Muirfield is down the road; this is where to celebrate, or commiserate, afterwards.C
St John’s Town of Dalry, Dumfries and Galloway93. The Clachan InnA Galloway village inn of the old school, with roaring fires and cooking that celebrates the local game and fish.G
Abergavenny, Monmouthshire94. The GaffA newcomer in Wales’s food capital. Bright, lively and very good value.H
Aberthin, Vale of Glamorgan95. The Hare & HoundsTom Watts-Jones cooks over fire in his home village. The finest pub in South Wales.I
Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire96. The Inn at the SticksA village inn above the Tywi estuary, with simple rooms and cooking that has the critics driving west.