Last APG visit: 03/03/2011
Background: Genuine two-room, multi-layered old-skool pub, tucked away just over Tref bridge, past the pet shop. Tales persist that this was once a hive of activity, populated by gays, rockers and ale drinkers. Sadly for the last few years it’s been too quiet, which is a shame – it’s got a lot going for it. The old landlord (Josh) has left and the pub has been taken over and updated a little.
Student factor: One or two, normally friends of the person behind the bar or a couple in Aber Town colours after a match. Role-players sometimes turn up on a Saturday if they’ve been casting spells and bashing each other with plastic axes in the woods nearby. Mainly locals otherwise.
Atmosphere: Quite often lacking unfortunately, unless you’ve brought a few in and got the jukebox fired up (the locals will always let you know what they think of your selection). The ex-landlord (Josh) had a lot of banter, if he was in there was a bit more life about the place.
Drinks range: Used to pretty good but seems to be a bit up and down now. Was the only pub in Aber to sell a genuine cask mild – Brains Dark, now departed though still there in keg form apparently; though this has been recently replaced by Felinfoel Stout - the proper stuff too, not that keg rubbish at the Cwps. Pub used to appear in the Campaign for Real Ale’s Good Beer Guide, but not the 2010 edition.
TV/Music: TV's in the right-hand bar. A pretty good jukebox in the left, hosting mainly Rock, Blues and Indie, with a smattering of Now! albums from back in the day.
Other stuff: Pool table and the white UPVC toilet walls that look like they’ve come off the Crystal Maze. There was also a murder here a few years back.
Quinno’s verdict: This is a decent pub that has a lot of unfulfilled potential. Fancy getting a few cheap, quiet jars in before a night out or watching Aber Town over the footbridge at Park Avenue? Try here. It’s been criminally neglected by the last few generations of Aber students.
