A well-known 16th-century pub and restaurant in the Swansea Valley, The George IV Country Inn in Cwmtwrch, has launched a unique dining challenge for customers with hearty appetites. The establishment, renowned for its carvery, grill, and pub food, has introduced a special ‘challenge’ section to its menu, reminiscent of popular food challenges featured on shows like Man vs. Food. Among the offerings is the mega burger challenge, which includes two 24 oz bacon burgers, chips, garlic bread, onion rings, and salad. Priced at £40, successful challengers who finish the meal within an hour will receive it for free and also pocket £40 in cash.
Another tempting challenge on offer is the mixed grill challenge, featuring a rump steak, gammon, chicken breast, sausages, eggs, garlic bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppercorn sauce, and a burger. Completing this feast within an hour not only grants diners the meal for free but also rewards them with £50 in cash. The most substantial challenge available is the 62 oz steak challenge, comprising steak, mushrooms, chips, salad, garlic bread, tomatoes, and onion rings. Priced at £70, finishing this colossal meal within an hour entitles participants to the food at no cost along with £50 in cash.
Shaun Griffiths, the proprietor of The George IV Inn, shared that the inspiration for these challenges came from watching popular food challenge channels on YouTube. Griffiths mentioned that the challenges have brought significant exposure to the establishment, even though they do not aim to profit from them. Out of approximately 35 attempts, only two individuals have successfully conquered the challenge, with one of them being an Ospreys rugby player, Morgan Morse. The challenges, each weighing about 3kg, are prepared with meticulous precision to ensure fairness for all participants.
Griffiths explained that while most people can consume around 2 to 2.2 kilos of food relatively quickly, it’s the last few grams that pose the real challenge. Despite the generous one-hour time limit, many participants struggle not with the time constraint but with the sheer quantity of food. The fastest completion time for a challenge stands at an impressive 38 minutes. The atmosphere during the challenges is described as supportive and encouraging, with onlookers cheering on participants as they attempt to finish their meals in time.
To partake in any of the challenges offered at The George IV Inn, diners must book their attempt at least 24 hours in advance and pay for the challenge upfront. Whether visitors are looking to take on the unique dining challenges or simply enjoy a regular meal at The George, bookings can be made online. Only two individuals have successfully completed the challenges to date, with one patron falling just short by a few spoonfuls. The George IV Country Inn’s daring food challenges offer patrons an opportunity to test their mettle against mammoth meals while enjoying the supportive atmosphere and delicious offerings of the historic establishment.