The Orangery

Haven't been in for a while, so can't comment on personnel changes, but must say that the welcome was pleasant and the food quality good to very good (Xmas lunch menu). It's a comfortable venue (new chairs look good too) and was reasonably busy for Sunday lunch in a recession, so they must be doing something right.

After mistakes made by the previous owners of the Orangery regarding service you think the new owners would have listened and learned from them!
The Orangery reopened in February 09 with a new kitchen and new staff and what a success it was. With the brilliant Harry Hughes as chef, his wife Lee front of house along with a fantastic northern lass called Clare who knew how to make you feel like you were the best customer in the world!!
WHAT WENT WRONG!! The regular customers of the Orangery are now led to believe Harry and Lee have left along with Clare. What is the owner thinking of, the owner of the Shilam and the Orangery that is. We went back in expecting to see Clare's warm smile and welcome, instead we were not greeted, made our own way to the table and waited continuously to be served, for our meal and were not made to feel wanted. The Orangery has lost its best features and is going to go the same way it did before. Why would such fantastic people leave, one asks the question.
Clare, Lee & Harry made that place and now if anyone knows where they have gone please update this site we miss them dearly and would like to visit them on their next venture.
The Orangery I will now be giving a miss, sorry but its lost all its atmosphere and customer focus.
Mr Jones (Aberystwyth)

We're regular visitors to the Orangery, but are dismayed to learn that two of your greatest assets have left!! Lee was professional and charming. Claire was also very professional, warm, and welcoming, and always with a big smile that made you feel "special".

What a loss.

We have visited The Orangery many times, usually on a Friday lunchtime. Since the new people took over the place has improved no end. The staff are very friendly and we are always made to feel "at home". We feel we must single out Clare the waitress who deserves more than just a mention, after seeing the way she pacified an unruly child, we reckon she should receive a sainthood.
Lesley and Tony Halliday from Llanfair Caereinion.

The family and I went to visit and found it very relaxing and enjoyable. It is a nice place to go where rough people don't visit, a very nice place and good luck to the new owners. I think Aberystwyth needs a place like this that is just a little bit classy

Enjoyed a meal there recently. Staff were friendly and the room was laid out very nicely. My only concern was that we had a very small dish of veg which consisted of a few carrotts and peas to share between 6 of us. Also only two small roast potatoes on the plate. Otherwise the meal was nicely presented. A bit expensive though for what we got considering that coffee was not included in the price.

I have been there with my boyfriend hoping to enjoy a nice evening out for a meal.Really bad choice,the menu is limited,the food quality is very poor,very small portions,not enough vegetables and the potatoes were definatly microwaved.I never mind the price as long as he food is good but i dont understand why the prices are so high with that terrible food.The service was very slow and unfriendly,not even a smile or a thank you,nobody even asked us if the food was allright and we had to wait ages for the bill wich we struggled to understand as the handwriting was bad too(You would expect them to buy a printer at least).Next time i will make sure we will go somewhere else!

The Orangery bar and restaurant has recently reopened. There are several separate rooms within the restaurant each possessing a different ambience, ranging from a comfortable bar-room with leather sofas to a small but attractive function room.
I visited it after the opening week and was pleasantly surprised both by the quality of food and the warm atmosphere. It was fairly busy but my friends and I were served in good time and enjoyed a delicious three-course meal. Among other dishes we sampled the suck and the roast pork, which were both very well cooked and presented. Not only was the food prepared to a high standard but the chef was happy to substitute different (and in fact better) potatoes to suit our preference.
Although I have been asked not to spread the name around I can state that cooking at the Orangery is a talented and experienced professional chef to rival any other in the town. After the recent restyling of Harry's into an Irish pub the Orangery may well be the best traditional restaurant in Aberystwyth, and is certainly among the top three.

Good service, but we found the food disappointing and definitely not good value for money. My daughter had a vegetarian dish - dry under-cooked butternut squash, and the pastry was tough, probably frozen. My husband and I both had the sea-bass which, was very tasty, but 3 small new potatoes that tasted as though they had been re-heated and a handful of roasted peppers were served with it on the same platte. There were no extra fresh vegetables served with any of the meals.

Improved service and selection in its new reincarnation. Definitely worth a look.

This bar/restaurant has re-opened (think it happend w/e 13th Feb 09. Very busy on that night, not sure who's managing it now, but fantastic service, great atmosphere and good selection of cocktails/champagne as ever. Didn't try the food but they were busy serving it... good luck once again, Aber needs you!