We’ve had the dreamiest month visiting the very best B&B’s up and down the country in order to crown one the winner of the prestigious ‘Breakfast Like No Other’ category in the gorgeous Dorset Cereal B&B awards. Established in 2015, the Dorset Cereals B&B Awards celebrate all of the unique and wonderful places to stay across the UK so rest assured that those shortlisted have been chosen as they are the very very best.
Read on to hear what we made of our first stay in beautiful Wales….
Dorset Cereal’s ‘Breakfast Like No Other’ Shortlist – Argoed B&B
Staying at Argoed B&B, in deepest darkest Newport, Pembrokeshire is like visiting old school friends that have up’d sticks and are living the country lifestyle dream.
We arrive just before they start putting the kids to bed, which is ideal as Elsie (aged 2) is quite the hostess with the mostess. She introduces us to their two friendly cats, shows us her wellies and scuttles off to help mum Jemma make us a cup of tea. Just the welcome you crave after 5 hours of driving. Dad Daniel shows us our room upstairs, decorated in neutral colours and gives us a very helpful rundown on the very best places for dinner.
Dumping the bags, we made our way back downstairs to our sitting room. Tastefully decorated in House of Hackney esque wallpaper, bright red sofas and a roaring fire, Elsie was back to help mum put a calming vinyl on the record player. A hot pot of tea was complemented by the most scrumptious apple cinnamon flapjacks. Quite how Jemma manages to rustle up anything so delicious while looking after Elsie AND 3 month old Henry (the smiliest baby we’ve ever seen) is beyond us but we were very grateful. With bedtime beckoning (for Elsie at least) we were left to our own devices and encouraged to use the home phone if we needed to book taxi’s into the village (don’t expect mobile phone signal here but the strong wifi makes up for it).
Newport is just a short drive away (or a £10 taxi if you fancy a drink!) but isn’t really walkable as there are no pavements or street lights. Offering everything from high-end a la carte, to pizza at The Canteen and a good old fashioned pub all within walking distance, you’ll have no trouble finding something to take your fancy. We opted for the Golden Lion which serves locally sourced ingredients with a contemporary twist. Monkfish wrapped in bacon was served with brown butter cockles & Welsh black pudding whilst juicy lamb chops came delicately presented with a generous side of garlic potatoes. After a few games of pool and a glass (or two!) of red wine, we couldn’t wait to get back into our cosy room for the evening.
The front door is left unlocked and we couldn’t quite shake the feeling that we were sneaking back into our parents house. Trying not to make a noise we got into the fluffy white robes provided and tip toed down the corridor to the bathroom. Although the bathroom is separate to the bedroom, you’re the only ones that use it so there’s no fear of a queue forming. With no shower, it was quite a novelty running a Neal’s Yard bubble bath and using a jug to wash the suds away. Be sure to pack your own toiletries though as shampoo & conditioner wasn’t provided (but there was a hair dryer).
Feeling cosy and snug in the goose down bedding and Welsh blankets we sipped our Pukka Night Time tea before drifting off into a deep sleep.
Woken up by the faint tinkling of breakfast things, we drew back the curtains to let the sunshine pour through the big windows and took in the wild garden below. Breakfast is waiting for us just outside our bedroom door at a cute table for two.
Although Daniel & Jemma only offer a continental breakfast, we didn’t feel like we were missing a thing. We found fresh orange and apple juice on the table, but Jemma & helpful Elsie popped up to ask if we’d like coffee or tea as well. Starting with a slice of toast (brown and white is offered) we toyed between adding organic creamy butter, homemade strawberry or plum jam, or Fair Trade marmalade.
Reappearing with our rocket fuel coffee, Jemma casually mentions that the apple juice is pressed by a local farm that employs people with learning difficulties and uses apples from their garden.
Thinking back to those incredible flapjacks, when Jemma offers porridge we can’t resist taking her up on the offer. Creamy, decadent with cinnamon and welsh honey – it’s the best porridge we’ve had the pleasure of eating. A selection of fruit is lovingly presented to ensure you hit your five a day. We popped grapes into our mouth and added kiwi slices to our organic Greek yoghurt with muesli, granola and a swirl of homemade sloe syrup. Simple, organic, fresh and delicious. Everything is offered as a gluten or dairy free option and we leave feeling wholesomely full.
This is a family that just exudes happiness (and not in an annoying Brady bunch kind of way, more a content Hygge way). Daniel talks us through the future renovations they have planned but one thing I’m positive will remain is the warm welcome from this lovely young family.
As we leave, Jemma pushes more of those dreamy flapjacks into our hands for the journey (which we don’t resist!) and it’s certainly the highlight of the journey home.
Check back tomorrow for our second stay with Dorset Cereal’s B&B Awards….
