As we step inside The Royal George – a charming coaching inn just a stone’s throw from the spectacular ruins of Tintern Abbey – the smiling reception team greet us with a promise: ‘We
really want you to feel at home here.’
True to their word, the warmth of the place immediately envelopes us. Its storybook setting (complete with weeping willow, ducks waddling along the pavement outside and of course, that view of Tintern) makes us feel we’re a million miles from home – not just a hop, skip and jump across the Welsh border.
Dating from 1829, The Royal George is thought to be one of Wales’s oldest inns. Its name references the 18th-century ship that met a devastating fate in one of Britain’s greatest maritime disasters. According to local legend, the inn was built using timbers salvaged from its wreck.
Last summer, a beautiful renovation leaned into this fascinating history, and subtle references weave their way through the interiors in the form of stripes, knot patterns and inky tones. In the Deane Suite – named after the brothers who invented the first air-pumped diving helmet and who also worked on the HMS Royal George salvage operation – vintage diving prints adorn the walls. Meanwhile, a sailor’s warning of ‘jibe ho’ is painted onto the ceiling’s low beam.
To create a warm and layered look that feels atmospheric rather than twee, interior designer Camilla Kelly scoured antiques shops and auction houses. ‘Architectural salvage was also important,’ she says. ‘We wanted materials and objects with weight. Old brass, timber, glazed screens… pieces that felt as though they belonged in a historic inn.’
Her treasure-hunting uncovered some remarkable finds, including a tiny book crafted from the timber recovered from HMS Royal George and an original ship’s bell marked ‘HRH George’ – the latter came from a Second World War vessel of the same name and today marks last orders at the bar.
In the warmer months, the garden comes into its own – pizzas are cooked in the outdoor pizza oven and, when it gets chilly, guests can gather around the fire pit. If you can, stay for Sunday lunch. Choose from sumptuous roasts including Welsh lamb, or fish of the day with delicate yet creamy chive butter sauce. All served by the friendliest staff, who appear to love being here just as much as the guests. theroyalgeorge.com
