Llanbadarn - Black Lion

The Black Lion

Address: Llanbadarn Fawr, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, SY23 3RA. Tel: 01970 623448 [gmap]
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page 

Last APG visit: 19/05/2012

After a few years of instability it looks like the Black Lion has found a sure-footed landlady to revive its fortunes (apparently Kara, previously of the Nags Head). Not much has changed internally but the main difference is the selection and quality of the ale - three on during our visit (Banks, Adnams and Hop Back Summer Lightning) and pints of the latter two went down a treat. The pub has been restored to the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide and I can see why.

Service behind the bar was excellent - friendly, efficient and she even flicked the lights on over the pool table without prompting as we shoved our 50p in the slot. 

Pool table and darts feature (though annoyingly you can't play darts if the pool table is occupied) as well as a beer garden (which has seen much improvement, below). 

There are two bars, though the second one up the steps gets used very rarely. 

Here's a pic below of a painting in Aberystwyth museum of Llanbadarn and the Black Lion when it was a thatched cottage:

Currently this is well-worth the walk out of town. Well done.