Lion Royal, Rhayader

Following the death of the owner, the Lion Royal is not often open, but may be so on Saturday evening from 6pm if there are guests, normally from April and over the summer months. The great attraction is a wonderfully untouched bar of 1921 at the rear - a real classic.

This unashamedly old-fashioned coaching inn retains a small bar at the rear, unchanged since 1921. It has 'Bar' in an etched and frosted panel on the door, wood-block floor, a wonderful bar counter with Jacobean detailing in the frontage, and two sets of bar-back shelves at right angles to each other One one of these has a display of 'Gin’, ‘Brandy’ and ‘Rum' ceramic spirit vessels, a row of pewter mugs etc. on the shelves: even the ancient 'National' cash register is still in use. The bar fittings appear all of a piece and along with the glazed brick and marble/polished stone fireplace and two sections of bench seating almost certainly date from 1920s. An extension to the rear of the bar has a parquet-floored small room no longer in use. Note the bell-pushes labelled 'Chambermaids' and 'Boots' - the latter referring to having your boots cleaned overnight and then placed outside your door. This service ceased in the 1950s but the bell-pushes are still in working order!

The lounge in the front left has a large stone fireplace, settle, and a light oak bar counter by a local craftsman. installed in 1969. This was the year of Prince Charles' investiture as Prince of Wales - hence the crown and Prince of Wales' feathers as well as the lion head symbols. The bar is only usually open at weekends or for groups of people staying at the hotel – Welsh real ale can be ordered by your party. If you are planning to visit you are recommended to ring ahead.

Amazingly, stabling for six horses and a 3/4 acre paddock are still in use as this is a base for horse-riding holidays (British Horse Society approved) from May to early October and you can bring your own horse or use one owned by the hotel. The hotel has been used as a courtroom, the seat of the Customs and Excise, and in 1904 the inaugural meeting of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. Until 1904 it was known as the Red Lion and is at least 200 years old.