Although the Welsh legend it's named after was temporarily away from his nearby plinth, The Owain Glyndwr Hotel in Corwen was very much all present and correct the day we called there for Sunday lunch recently.
With origins dating back to the 13th century, it's long been a gathering place for travellers and locals - possibly even the great man himself as he had manor at nearby Glyndyfrdwy and he is believed to have launched his 1400 revolt in the area.
One of the few remaining coaching inns along the historic London to Holyhead route, the hotel sits proudly in the heart of Corwen’s historic centre, just steps from the 12th-century church and ancient graveyard - and also that statue of its legendary namesake which on our visit was away being repaired after a close encounter with a lorry.
After a period of decline, the hotel was bought by the local community in September 2024 with support from a UK government grant.
Since then it has been carefully restored to retain its heritage while offering all the comforts of modern hospitality.
And that includes serving up a rather delicious Sunday lunch, which my wife and I sampled and very much enjoyed.
The Sunday menu, including other traditional variants based on chicken and so on, provides the choice of large or small helpings. I hadn't noticed this until it was pointed out to me by the staff member who very efficiently took our order. But I'm glad she did because the small version was plenty large enough for me, thanks.
Based, in both our cases, on a succulent and sizeable slice of prime beef, our promptly-delivered meals were augmented by a pleasing array of trimmings, including some toothsome roast potatoes, a big roasted carrot, some cauliflower cheese, a portion of subtly oniony-cabbage and the fluffiest of Yorkshire puds. Not forgetting individual boats brimming with thick, tangy gravy.
There was an interesting range of desserts on the blackboard which we didn't get into, both of us being too full after that "small" roast job.
The community team who now run the place have done an excellent job of facelifting the dining area adjacent to the bar where we were to be bright and clean while still retaining it's historical feel.
The cost of two excellent meals plus a half of Guinness and blackcurrant and a glass of fruit juice - guess who had which - came to a reasonable £32.25, which is remarkable value in today's recession-crippled times.
There's free parking not far away where the pavilion used to stand and it's dead easy to get to on the train direct from Llangollen.
Had The Owain Glyndwr been serving up Sunday lunches like this back when he was in the vicinity I reckon the man it's named for would have been delighted to eat there.
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