Llangollen:
Nice traditional pub- several real ales in good condition, friendly landlord, decent alcohol-free option for the non-drinker with us. One big room, known as a live music venue, but quiet when we visited on an early Friday evening.
Tag Archives: Wales
The Bull Inn
Langollen:
The first pub we entered in Langollen, and it was a bit of a disappointment. It looks positively lovely from the outside, and the traditional alleyway to one side feels nice and traditional. Outside space too, on a sunny August afternoon.
Then it went a bit wrong: the pub was OK but not exceptional, and we were after lunch, but as sometimes happens, stray off the beaten track and kitchens shut, as did this one at 14:30 on the nail.
We drank our drinks and left.
Yr Hen Orsaf
Aberystwyth:
It’s a ‘spoons, so you know the drill. It’s quite a nice spoons, though, and the proximity to the station is really handy, both when we arrived at lunchtime and when we left for late breakfast: you can walk to the platform in less than a minute.
The Nevill
Llandudno:
The first visit didn’t impress; shouty people playing music on mobile phones inside and out, missing hand sanitizer, no cask.
The second visit fared better: no shouty people, sanitizer refilled, a more chilled atmosphere. Nothing to shout about, but pretty OK.
The Valentine Inn
Llanddulas:
A positively lovely, traditional inn at the side of the A547. Multi-roomed, comfortable. Great beer and staff, sensible covid precautions with a one-way system. Very limited parking, though, given the location.
The Mayquay
Kinmel Bay, Rhyl:
Nothing out of the ordinary, a family feedbag and keg beer (and Doom Bar, so lager it was) place on the edge of Rhyl, probably catering for the nearby caravan parks. Good covid precautions, decent outside space, but nothing to write home about.
The Cross Keys
Llandudno:
We dropped in here on our way back to our holiday let. On the face it seemed to have sensible covid precautions: track & trace, sanitizer, distancing, table service but then when we sat down, the slightly-too-close fruit machine became an issue with the bloke playing it shouting over us and bringing his mates over. We moved table, and then observed other customers entering without track & trace, standing at the bar, shouting, while the staff did nothing.
Besides that, nothing special. Keg beer. Noisy TV.
Revisit: The Cob and Pen
Rhyl.
A few days away took us back to Rhyl, and the fact that everywhere in the town centre was packed took us back to The Cob & Pen.
This was the right decision. It’s still a great pub. There’s still great beer, and friendly, helpful, efficient staff, and great food (at lunchtime, for now). Additionally, the covid-19 precautions are both sensible and comprehensive, without ruining the experience.
Rhos Fynach
Rhos-on Sea:
We missed this last time we were round here, because some idiot left his camera in The Picture House, so had to go back to get it. It’s nice; better than The Cayley Flyer– food better, beer definitely better- both choice and quality. Nicely rustic inside, pleasant staff, nice looking function room upstairs. Seems to be independently run.
The Cayley Flyer
Rhos-on-Sea:
Unexceptional, but not unpleasant seafront pub near the centre of Rhos. Staff fairly friendly, wine fine, but I should have sent my ale back. Regrettably I didn’t, and had to leave half of it. Previously The Cayley Arms, it’s been recently refurbished and seems to be popular.