Press and Media
September 2009
Jonathan Fryer cooks up a success for the Golden Lion at the Welsh Chef's conference in Carmanthern. See all the results at www.welshchefsconference.co.uk and read more about the Welsh Chefs Conference at www.welshcountry.co.uk
"Winner of the Skills Competition Wales - Advanced competition was David Jones from Llangoed Hall, Llyswen, near Brecon, who held off a challenge from Jonathan Fryer, of The Golden Lion, Magor and Colin Lewis, of Llwyn Hall Country House Hotel, Llanelli." Welsh Country Magazine Nov-Dec 09 issue
Drovers Gold
In May 1997 the BBC broadcast the 5 part period drama - Drovers Gold. Set in 1843 the drama focuses on the lives of a group of Welsh Cattle Farmers who are facing unfair eviction from their land and farms by a wicked landlord and his agent. Unable to sell their cattle locally for a fair price, they are forced to drive their cattle to London. The journey and their adventures, there and en route are dogged by persistent attempts to scupper the drive. The characters and determination of the drover gang are truly tested all the way, with one major scene set in and around an Inn in a Market Town close to a crossing point on the River Wye.
The Inn in question was The Golden Lion, renamed “The Wyeside Inn” for the purposes of the drama, and the Market Place featured was Magor Square. The transformation is remarkable as you will see from the pictures. Whilst most of the signs were removed or covered, the Lion over the doorway can quite clearly be seen on the footage. The War Memorial was totally encased in a rickety wooden structure and forms the central market area. Lorry loads of mud and sand were brought in to cover the roads and although a big clean up operation was put in place after the filming there were apparently lots of blocked drains in and around the Square for some time after.
The London and Smithfield Market scenes were actually set in Frome, Somerset. For those of you that may remember watching the drama when it was broadcast, you may not have appreciated it at the time, but the Maid - Mary that the gang picked up along the way with her sister was played by Ruth Jones (Nessa of Gavin & Stacey fame) in what must have been one of her early acting roles. She is easily recognizable and clearly aged very well!
We came across the original Wyeside Inn swing sign in one of the store rooms when we were having a sort out shortly after moving in and after having a little clean, it is now hanging in the Lounge, causing much bemusement to those that don’t know its origins.