The Towpath Inn
My first website blog of 2024 takes us to the outskirts of Abergavenny, in the village of Gilwern.
The unassuming Gilwern is situated where the A40 trunk road and A465 heads of the valleys roads meet, meanwhile along the banks of the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, lies The Towpath Inn.
The family run village pub holds a traditional sense in both it’s picturesque surroundings and interior homely appearance - a hearth positioned in close proximity to a bar which sucks flames up through the chimney - but their pizza menu and street food vendors breathe a life and eccentricity into the quiet area.
Vendors they have pulled in to serve at their pub include: burgers from Brecon’s HILLS, the Southern Indian cooking of Keralan Karavan often seen in Cardiff, Ringo’s Dirty Diner whose sample menu is pictured below, tacos and birrias from The Mex Co (not forgetting their cauliflower bites), and The Beefy Boys - where queues are known to slalom around the foothills of the Brecon Beacons for a bite of their National award winning burgers.
Away from the organised pop ups, there are exciting things happening in The Towpath’s own small kitchen. Their in-house pizza was bought to my attention by the combination of both a follower and a friend, recommending them to me within the space of a couple of weeks as some of the best they’ve had. I got down here as soon as I could.
Their wood fired classic New York style is available on a Thursday and Sunday evening, perhaps a more traditional type of pizza that South Wales is accustomed to.
Photo by Maria Gania.
With a population of approximately 2,000 in Gilwern, you might find it surprising that this small pub also serves Detroit style pizza exclusively on a Saturday lunch time - one of the only venues in South Wales to my knowledge that can claim to do so.
Detroit style pizza is characterised by it’s unmistakable thick and fluffy rectangular, deep base, with a crisp yet chewy crust formed by the caramelised cheese topping being pushed to the edges of the high-sided pan. This creates a wall that Jon Snow would be proud to defend.
The Canadian special of smoky pancetta, spicy pepperoni, and sweet maple syrup layered with gooey melted cheese gets a resounding thumbs up from me. The kind of food that has you exchanging glances across the table as you chew without breathing between bites, nodding in approval. Shattering through that lacy crust and champing through the porous dough is addictive.
It’s recommended to share a single pizza between 2-4 diners - it wouldn’t be dishonest to say I possess a tremendous appetite, but managing 4 slab sized slices was a task for me. Albeit, our table was still contemplating another slice or even a bite when we were already full enough to explode.
February pop ups at The Towpath:
Friday, February 16th: The Roti Shack
Saturday, February 17th: The Beefy Boys
Sunday, February 18th: Cluckin’ Bull
Friday, February 23rd: Ringo’s Dirty Diner
A full run down of their events is available here.
I’ve always been aware of the street food vendors that make appearances here, but their pizza came as a surprise.
Come for the views of the canal and the mountains. Stay for the pizzas and street food.