“Are you driving? Do you want a drink?” I’m kicking myself for not accepting the kind offer of a beer from Wales’ oldest man.
I spotted the one and only Owen Filer sporting a bright dickie bow as soon as I walked in the Carpenters Arms pub in Coed Y Paen – near Llandegfedd Lake – at around 2.30pm on Sunday 26 October 2025.
My wife had already ordered me a pint of Cwrw Am Byth (4% ABV) from Abertillery’s Tudor Brewery.
Mr Filer was enjoying a Sunday outing with five of his friends (and a cute dog) when I went over to say hello.
As I declined the drink, I said he could get me one next time, and he quipped: “I’ll be here for another ten years.”
Although I turned down his gesture, I had already accepted a generous invitation from the pub’s owners to try out their Sunday lunch as a guest
Two-course lunch
We went for a two-course lunch- kicking off with a prawn cocktail and pate (£6.95 each).
I loved the cosy lighting and different seating areas. Mr Filer was tucked in a cute alcove area with his pals. We had a table in the lower area just off the bar.
My wife fancied a Yorkshire pudding. She “suggested” I had the beef (£13.95), so she could have pork and we could “share your Yorkshire pudding”. Her face was a picture when her pork dinner (£13.95), was served up with a perfect (not too small and not too large) Yorkshire pudding on the side. I was full-on ready to go into Smithy from Gavin & Stacey mode about her pinching half of my yorkie.
Pub chefs take note. All Sunday dinners should come with Yorkies.
“Stunning”. “Stunning”. “Stunning”. “Stunning”. “Stunning”. From her first taste of the pate until the last mouthful of her main meal, my wife said “stunning” five times. This included one or two “stunnings” randomly in mid-conversation. Yes, I counted. It’s what I do when I eat out for a review. I take notes of various things for the colour side of the story. I’m so annoying that I annoy myself.
There was a nice, friendly Sunday afternoon crowd sitting in small groups in the main bar, all chatting and laughing- giving a nice, friendly backdrop to our conversation. As I stood speaking to one of them, I felt my legs getting hot. The pub has a stunning log fire that was crackling away next to me.
My plate was left empty. My wife left two pieces of pork to wrap in a paper napkin as she loves our dog more than me.
Dog-friendly
Sorry Maeve, if you wanted beef, you should have come with us – the pub is dog-friendly.
As we left, I nipped around the corner to say goodbye to Mr Filer- his plate was nearly empty and he was picking over the last bits of his crispy roast potatoes.
That’s a man with over 100 years of experience of eating Sunday dinners. That’s all you need to know about today’s meal.
Thanks to the lovely staff at the Carpenters for their kind hospitality and beautiful food.