Ty Gwyn Inn

The Ratcliffe family has owned and run this former coaching for the past 28 years, and now Martin (the chef for all that time) and his wife Nicola are in charge. Located on the old London to Holyhead road, it was welcoming travellers long before Thomas Telford built his impressive cast iron Waterloo Bridge over the River Conwy opposite in 1815. Much of the original 17th-century character is evident inside. Real ales come from as near as Conwy's Great Orme brewery, as well as from much further afield. Martin's cooking relies heavily on quality local produce including home grown veg. Typical starters range from slow braised lamb's heart with rosemary and Burgundy gravy with horse radish mash to confit of crispy aromatic duck with spicy Thai salad, sweet chilli, soya and sesame. Main courses have more of a European feel, with typical choices including lobster thermidor and pot-roasted chicken with beaujolais, mushroom and fresh rosemary jus. Some of Nicola's own-designed en suite rooms have four-posters.