THERE'S nothing like a clash of rugby or soccer giants at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff, to fill the hotels in southeast Wales.

And Sunday's Worthington Cup game was a prime example of the value of the stadium. Brian Ansen, who with his wife Judy, runs the Roman Lodge Hotel, on Ponthir Road, Caerleon, had been answering the 'phone all morning with the words: "Sorry, no room at the inn!"

That's a bit of journalistic licence from myself, but as Brian confirmed: "The truth is the Millennium Stadium has been a godsend.

A big match and every hotel all over south-east Wales is full up." Yet although the Roman Lodge Hotel has had its ups and downs, it is, nevertheless, a popular venue during the week for people on business while at the weekend "the leisure side of life takes over," said Brian.

The 15-en-suite bedroom hotel has, according to Brian, survived the hard times, "and now all our good work is coming to fruition."

It's 21 years since Judy and Brian came to the Rising Sun a tiny one-and-a-half-bar pub on the Ponthir Road.

"We bought it built it up the limits of its trade and then started doing bed and breakfast. That really went big and 13 years ago with everyone demanding an en-suite room we put on 15 bedrooms and renamed it the Roman Lodge Hotel," said Brian.

Steadily, and despite the foot and mouth crisis, the hotel's reputation for its excellent accommodation and first-class restaurant food, has spread far and wide.

They are now steadily booked throughout the year and have had a measure of success in recent South Wales Argus Restaurant of the Year competitions. Their present chef has spent more than 16 years in the business, mostly in five star hotels.

Cwmbran-born Gareth Lee trained in Bridgend and his job has taken him to many places in the UK and an hotel in Gambia.

The six-foot-five-inch tall chef believes in using locally sourced foods and is a fan of salt marsh lamb. "You can't beat it.

It's particularly popular with the ladies, who incidentally also have a passion for sea bass," he said.

As for the men, they love their liberal portions of Welsh Black fillet of beef. But as one would expect the extensive overall menu meets all tastes.

Meanwhile, Brian Ansen is using the Internet to the hotel's best advantage. "I'm putting all our menus on the web for the whole year," he said.

And you can see them at www.romanlodgehotel.com. So, there is no reason for the hotel's regulars and newcomers why their wishes cannot be emailed and indeed book places in the hotel's splendid restaurant.