Powys Powys

Powys, known for its stunning landscapes, offers traditional Welsh dishes like cawl (a hearty stew) and bara brith (fruit loaf), relishing the serene beauty of its countryside and charming villages.

Old Swan Tea Rooms

Old Swan Tea Rooms

Intersection Of A470/B4518 Corner Of West Street, LD6 5BH, Powys, United Kingdom

Tea • Welsh • Coffee • British


"Passing through town at 2pm, we wanted to buy food to take away and eat later. Thinking we would get something nice, and possibly homemade, we stopped at this cafe because it had a bakery counter. As soon as we entered, the woman at the counter said, in an unfriendly manner, and without any other greeting, “we’re only serving take away drinks and what’s on display in the cabinet”. There were no prices on the products. The woman told me the price of the Welsh Cakes, which I deemed to be rather high. None of the other products looked as though they’d been made with any flair, creativity or pride. I now wish I’d left without buying anything, because my mistake was to then ask for a small chicken and mushroom pie, for which the woman charged £5. That too was expensive for what the pie looked like. However, it was only an hour later that we realised the extent of the awfulness of our pie purchase: the pie was 8cm in diameter, with a thin pastry case and top. Whilst not having the appearance of a yummy homemade pie, from the outside there was nothing to indicate the true horror of what was under the industrially manufactured crust. Biting into the pie revealed a largely hollow interior. It might have been a better pie if the interior had been entirely devoid of any filling. Why? Well this ‘filling’ comprised of no more than two dessert spoons of pale mush. We didn’t detect anything resembling chicken in that mush, nor mushroom. The most pleasant components were flecks of ice, which were a distraction from the insipid gloop that the manufacturer might have called gravy. When handing the pie to my partner, it tilted slightly, upon which water slopped out of the pie we estimate the amount of water to be two or three dessert spoons. There’s no doubt that we’d inadvertently bought a pie that was at the extraordinarily cheap and nasty end of the spectrum of factory manufactured pies. However, this woeful and deplorable tearoom had gone one better, and made the UK’s most unappealing pie even worse. I considered writing this cautionary review three days ago, in case I was poisoned by the pie (and didn’t live to tell the tale)."

The Tuck Box Takeaway And Cafe

The Tuck Box Takeaway And Cafe

Hall Street, SY21 7RY, Powys, United Kingdom

Cafe • Vegan • Breakfast • Vegetarian


"I don't plan on returning to this restaurant. I stopped by earlier this morning and ordered a cup of tea and a prawn salad. However, after the first few prawns, I had doubts about their freshness. I decided to continue eating the salad, but as I had a few more prawns, their chewy texture and bad aftertaste made me realize they were not up to my expectations. (I still have that aftertaste) I finished the rest of the food without causing a fuss. When my plate was cleared, I discreetly mentioned the issue to the lady, but she quickly brushed it off by insisting that they were freshly prepared that morning. I expressed my concern again, but received the same response. I waited for about 10 minutes for a manager to address my issue, but no one came, so I proceeded to pay. I reiterated my concern to the lady at the till, but once again, I was told the prawns were freshly prepared that morning. I explained that just because something was prepared that day, doesn't guarantee freshness, especially with fish. I also mentioned that I eat prawns regularly and wouldn't have left them if they were okay. Still, the manager was not called over. I paid and left, being told to 'have a nice day'. My concern was not raised to a manager as far as I know. I realize I should have insisted on speaking with a manager, but if the staff are not willing to escalate issues themselves, there seems to be a management problem. Constructive feedback is important for businesses to thrive. I don't want to create any problems, and I am not one to speak poorly of a decent business. However, the prawns tasted off, and my comments were not taken seriously when I brought them up."