i think the UK's high end restaurants are definitely not on par with the rest of the worlds. But eating out in the lower and mid range cafe"s and pubs is just as good as anywhere. The british got their bad reputation from the GI'''s returning home from the war, which was compounded by the fact the british isles was under food rationing and still was till 1956/57.
Having travelled to over 70 counties and lived and worked in 9, i can honestly say that the British food is no where near as bad as some will make out. The broken record i hear from our state side friends is completely out dated, and i'd like to hear some food reviews from the lucky one's who come back from wale's. Hopefully they get to taste our colonial indian and chinese dishes. I mentions those two because all the chinese and indian food in the USA taste's the same ( even in SF )
Back to the OP, i wish i was going to the ryder cup this time round and the thought of stay with a welsh family( as apposed paying up the ying yang for a poxy room) would be the icing on the "euro's winning the cup ....cake".