Aberaeron - Black Lion Hotel

Address: 31 Sgwan Alban, Aberaeron, SA46 0AJ. Tel: 01545 571382 [gmap]

Last APG visit: 19/05/2012

Comprises two long narrow bars with a room at the back housing a pool table and TARDIS (see pic below: no reason for its presence given). Three ales on (two on one bar and a third in the other) most of which have been pretty terrible on my two visits, which is a shame especially as the odd unusual one gets on (Red Leg Golden Valley last visit). I suspect they think it's kept like keg...?

Sports TV often on. There's a few old pictures of the town's football team dotted around and it's the pub of choice for the half a dozen fans on match day. My sister was was able to cadge some goodies from a large bucket of sausages and chips that were doing the rounds in January 2011. Clientèle usually males between 25-45, not exactly a ladies pub.

Aberaeron - Cadwgan Inn

Address: 10 Market Street, Aberaeron, SA46 0AU. Tel: 01545 570149 [gmap]

Last APG visit: 19/05/2012

A basic, cosy local housed in a long narrow room that looks like a converted house, serving a couple of real ales in good condition - we had a good pint of Brecon Brewery on our last visit (I think Hancocks is the other one - screw that). Watch out for the underfoot rumbling of the cellar refrigeration unit by the telly. Sport is usually on, with some nautical-themed memorabilia scattered around as well as some fascinating old pictures of the town on the walls. 

Usually busy with real locals, rather than the second-homers and bussed-in tourists (ahem). Less pretentious than the nearby Harbourmaster, a bundle more characterful than the bland -by-numbers Monachty and serving better beer than the Black Lion, this one is well-worth a stop.

Aberaeron - Castle Hotel

Address: Market Street, Aberaeron, SA46 0AU. Tel: 01545 570205 [gmap]

http://www.castle-hotel-aberaeron.co.uk 
Last APG visit: 19/05/2012

Recently refurbished hotel lounge with a semi-circular bar area at its centre. The interior is quite swanky (dig the uplighters) but in an attempt to cater for all tastes  - or perhaps in acknowledgement of the Harbourmaster - it avoids being too upmarket and markets itself as a sports bar also, which makes for an odd clientèle mix. 

Food is on offer, which looked pretty good to us. More importantly, real ale is served (hooray)...we've sampled it here a few times and jolly good it is too, usually sourced from Welsh micro brewers like Evan Evans; Leffe also available for the poshos. There's a large piano in the but no idea if it works - give it a tinkle and let us know. We also thought the toilets were of a higher standard than one would usually expect. Background music was easy-listening Indie, if you can imagine such a concept. Overall, a pretty good (if slightly confusing) place and joins the Harbourmaster and Cadwgan as 'must-do' Aberaeron pubs - right opposite the square where the buses go from so an ideal place for a final pint before heading back to Aber.

Aberaeron - Feathers Royal Hotel

Address: Sgwan Alban, Aberaeron, SA46 0AQ. Tel: 01545 571740 [gmap]

http://www.feathersroyal.co.uk
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page
 

Last APG visit: 07/11/2009 

Not exactly a pub, but a small hotel bar with comfy armchairs offering a limited range of beverages and food for the oldies. No real ale so I plumped for Guinness. Plenty of old pictures of Aberaeron on the walls to keep you interested for a while. Check out the very nice watercolour of the pub exterior, somewhat ruined by the addition of a small crap red car. The landlady had very definite views on it. Pub is a mobile phone blackspot. Massive function room available. I've also written 'comedy carpet' down here but have no idea why.

Aberaeron - Harbourmaster Hotel

Formerly known as the Red Lion

Address: Quayside, Aberaeron, SA46 0BA. Tel: 01545 570755 [gmap]

http://www.harbour-master.com
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page
 

Last APG visit: 19/05/2012

Very swish and very modern (opened 2007) hotel and gastropub situated in the old Harbourmaster's house on the quayside. The interior bar is very nouveau-posh - slate, aluminium, glass, local art and cushions, along with huge copper lights above bar and a stuffed albatross in a case. Used to have a couple of ales on sale from Welsh micro brewers but they now seemed to have settled on the Purple Moose people and they're served in top condition - Good Beer Guide quality.

Signs are bilingual - nice touch. The massive glass frontage of the entrance to the bar makes for lovely views in the summer and a 'thank god I'm in here and not out there' feel in the winter when it's pissing down and a howling gale is coming in from the Irish Sea. If you can blag a seat outside, it's also a wonderful venue to catch the setting sun on a summer's evening. 

The food menu looks nice (if expensive) though some value can be found in the pizza range. We at APG are also very fond of their cushions:

There's a lot to like here (the glowing write-ups from several national broadsheet 'style' supplements are hung on the corridors):

I'd highly recommend getting the bus down here from Aber to sample it (a lovely scenic journey on a nice day), as it's fast becoming the one of best pubs in the APG area. Expect it to be very busy at peak times.

Aberaeron - The Monachty

Address: 7 Market Street, Aberaeron, SA46 0AS. Tel: 01545 570389 [gmap]

http://www.monachtyaberaeron.co.uk
http://www.sabrain.com/monachty 

Last APG visit: 07/11/2009 

+++UPDATE Feb 2011+++
My sister has lambasted the beer quality again recently "Beer improved SLIGHTLY in Monachty, but was teetering on the verge, still." Oh dear!

A fairly modern Brains pub situated over two levels (a large dining are is on the upper level). A couple of Brains real ales on the go - Reverend James and SA on our visit - the Rev'd was pretty good, the SA less so (iffy quality borne out by latest visit from APG Agent Amelia who had to take a pint back). Features in the Good Beer Guide 2010 but shouldn't get into 2011 on this showing (UPDATE - somehow, it has). Decent quizzer and sports TV, plus a paved garden out the back. Not a bad stop but I'd be more tempted to amble on down the street towards the Harbourmaster if time is short.

Aberaeron - Prince of Wales

Address: 1a Queen Street, Aberaeron, SA46 0BY. Tel: 01545 570663 [gmap]

Last APG visit: 07/11/2009 

+++UPDATE+++

Reported closed Sept 2016

 

 

Original review, November 2009
Likeable backstreet boozer, with two different bars over two different levels, plus a fair-sized back room. The genial landlord (from Leicestershire, given his accent) is a welcoming chap and will engage in conversation. Pub is a Felinfoel tied house so two of their ales are on offer, though I hate their beers so much I had a J2O instead. Quizzer ready to take your money in the back room (which has a nice frieze of the harbour at sunset). Also extra points for the availability of Idris Ginger Beer and cheap kettle chips. Not a bad little place - in a different West Wales town it'd do well but here it's overshadowed by pubs with nicer beer. Still, I'd say it's worth popping in to show your support to a good landlord.

Aberaeron - Royal Oak

Address: 30 North Road, Aberaeron, SA46 0JG. Tel: 01545 570233 [gmap]

Ceredigion CC historical pub info page 
Last APG visit: 07/11/2009 

A pub that looks like it hasn't seen an upgrade since 1977, pine clad walls and a carpet that's older than me. Located over two bars, it sells a manky pint of Felinfoel ale (Bitter and Double Dragon), serves basic food, has an unusable dartboard and appears to provide employment to a wide range of local barmaids. It ticks a lot of perfunctory boxes but isn't worth the effort if you aren't an extra from Gavin and Stacey.

Aberaeron - Victoria

Address: Victoria Street, Aberaeron, SA46 0DA. Tel: 01545 571838 [gmap]

Last APG visit: 07/11/2009
 

+++Now closed??+++

Not even really a pub these days, it's a downtrodden little bar that serves a tagged-on Indian restaurant (and the smells are much in evidence). The small interior is dominated by a pool table - you either sit around it on the banquette seating it or stand at the bar.  Sports TV tuned in, though to watch it you need to crick your neck from the seats by the pool table and overcome the noise from the perennial vacuuming man. No real ale, though they did have Cobra on tap. An uncomfortable place with a bad atmosphere, we couldn't get out quick enough. Frankly, this place is crap.