Aberystwyth - Ship and Castle

Formerly known as Flannery’s (was Aber's only brewpub) 

Address: 1 High St, SY23 1JG. Tel 01970 612334 [gmap]

http://shipandcastle.co.uk

Pubs Galore page
Facebook page 

Ceredigion CC historical pub info page

Last APG visit: 17+18+19/05/2012

Background: Real Ale, Real Cider. The pub dates from 1762. Used to be run by a couple called Pete and Dee along with their huge Rottweiler called Tara.* Rumour has it that they left because they forgot to renew their licence, being simply too pissed to remember… entirely untrue of course (well, the being pissed bit might be). Now run by Ian Blair AKA Blairo (who some of you may recall took over the Mill after Guy left). Whilst still selling many fine real ales, the place has modernised somewhat after an extensive (and sympathetic) refurbishment in the summer of 2009.

Student factor: Unsurprising high mix of ale-loving locals along with the students. Students are mainly ale drinker stereotypes - Interpol, Comp Sci and Geography students, Indie kids/Rockers and Rugby players. 

Atmosphere: Hot and fuggy after 8pm as the inside is small and narrow – head to the far end for a lower-level drinking area in a calmer atmosphere and an impressive sea-faring mural. Often not found by first years so many inhabitants are 2nd and 3rd years, bringing with them a more relaxed vibe than the average Aber town pub (except on Friday and Saturday evenings when it gets rammed like everywhere else). 

Drinks range: A mecca, usually has five handpulls on the go, dispensing a number of unusual brews from Wales and the Midlands (Wye Valley Brewery is a regular) in excellent condition. There's a large range of whiskies and foreign beers, as well as at least one real cider and perry, with Gwent y Ddraig bottled cider in the fridge. Yum. Voted Ceredigion CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the Year 2007 and 2009, this is a permanent fixture in the Good Beer Guide. Also made it into the last 16 of CAMRA's Pub of the Year for 2010. Read more here.

TV/Music: Digital Jukebox which has a strange aversion to playing New Order. There's now a TV for sports (mercifully not permanently switched on). I'm not sure whether the folk music nights have survived the refurb. 

Other stuff: Named after Aber's ancient trading connections with Bristol (a ship and castle features on the city's coat of arms). Holds a twice-yearly beer festival which is an absolute must-visit for any self-respecting student ale drinker; I spent many a fun hour in those. Free pool before 4pm (though given the amount of valuable floor-space the pool table takes up I'd say there's a good argument for getting shot of it, myself). The toilets are the smallest in Aber, tighter than Russell Brand’s Y-Fronts so don't turn round too suddenly. Was the scene of the infamous General Picton drinking contest before IndieSoc+10 in October 2008.

Quinno’s verdict: A must-visit for the more discerning punter or people who appreciate a good beer. Whilst the refurb has it's faults (weird amplification of background noise for example) it needed to be done and is about as good as can be expected. A fabulous place.

*- Hat-tip: Scary John for the correction
**-Most internal pics sourced from their website

Borth - Bosun's Call (was Seahorse Inn/Danny's Bar)

Address: Borth High Street, Borth, SY24 5HZ. Tel: 01970 871122 [gmap]
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page (my pic again...) 

Last APG visit: 29/03/2009

+++UPDATE+++

Now appears to be called Bosun's Call

Old Seahorse review below, for posterity:

A newcomer to the Borth pub scene (so new it still smelt of wood laminate and paint) and a welcome addition. We regularly pop in for the Sunday carvery (£5, bargain!) which is very tasty with extremely generous portions. Beer-wise, there are two cask ales: a guest ale of Newmans (last visit), alongside the regular Butty Bach, with some other keg items available. The atmosphere is good and we get a warm welcome. It feels like a very community-oriented place (including an old boy playing a hammond organ in the corner to himself). There's a big screen for sports and suchlike, I watched the Boat Race on it whilst the other APGer's rinsed the quiz machine of a tenner (Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old really wants to pay here). Very close to the train station, so ideal for a quick pint after you've been to the Animalarium.
 

Borth - Friendship Inn

Address: Borth High Street, Borth, SY24 5JA. Tel: 01970 871213 [gmap]

http://www.friendshipinn.fsnet.co.uk/inn/inn.htm (very out-of-date!!!)
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page 
 

Last APG visit: 19/04/2008

A nice little community place, with a couple of good ales on, one of which is the rather good Butty Bach - the condition of which is usually fairly good. Interior is down a step, feels like a proper little den. Bits of paraphernalia around the walls make for homely atmosphere. Check out the unusual pub sign, double sided with a different illustration on each. 

 
Dogs are welcome and a beer garden is located out back. TV in the main bar normally with horse racing on. Some unusual pics up in the bogs. Landlord is a bit of a misery though, cheer up mate! All in all, a nice pub, good for an impromptu singalong.

Borth - Railway Inn

Address: High Street, Borth, SY24 5JE. Tel: 01970 871348 [gmap]  
Beebo site
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page (yes, that's my pic...)

Last APG visit: 01/12/2009

Quite a locals pub, with a younger clientèle than the other three in the town. Has had an extensive refurb in the past couple of years. Has a so-so ale (Rev'd James) and a quiz machine, plus darts. Functional beer garden out back. 

Check out the retro Borth FC footy shirt. Loves its sport, got SKY and Setanta. Pretty popular, and can be difficult to get a seat at weekends.

Borth - Victoria Inn

Address: Borth High Street, Borth, SY24 5HZ. Tel: 01970 871919 [gmap]
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page


Last APG visit: 01/12/2009

+++Seems to have shut and re-opened again since the review below from 2009+++

The Victoria is now re-furbed and re-opened. Popped in for a pint and noted that:

a) The inside looks like a sanitized Wetherspoons. An odd choice for Borth. 

b) The interesting ale selection has been replaced by Rev'd James. Rubbish!

c) No obvious availability of ice creams, cockles or stuffed Gorillas.

d) And no multi-coloured fairy lights outside.

Can't imagine it'll be much fun on a wet November evening. We shall see. For now, it's abdicated its place as Borth's best pub. 

Previous review, for posterity:

A really, really good pub, lots of atmosphere. Has three ales on the go (two from the fabulous Wye Valley brewery and a Rev'd James) which are usually in good condition, though the Rev'd James had to go back on our last visit. Sells cockles and ice creams (from a dark room round the back!) and has food on in a restaurant section in the rear overlooking the sea. Also has a nice beer garden (no access to the seafront though, apparently!), as well as telly and a large stuffed Gorilla called Jacko (see below, posing with Degu) who you need to guess the birthday of for a quid. Oh, and the colourful fairy lights outside too. A winner, well worth the trip to Borth for on a wet and windy Friday night!

Cross Inn - Rhos Yr Hafod Inn

Address: Cross, Nr Llanon, SY23 5NB (at B4337/B4557 crossroads). Tel: 01974 272644 [gmap]
http://www.rhos-yr-hafod-inn.co.uk

Last APG visit: None yet!

Features in the Good Beer Guide 2010, serves Youngs bitter (an odd but interesting choice) plus guest beers. See their website (and the GBG!) for further details because I haven't managed to pay a visit yet.

Goginan - Druid Inn

The Druid Inn
 
Address: High Street (the A44), Goginan, SY23 3NT. Tel: 01970 880650 [gmap]
http://www.goginan.com/druid
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page

Last APG visit: 04/03/2011

Out in the sticks, this place features in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2010 and was voted Ceredigion CAMRA Pub of the Year for 2008. This place certainly ticks some boxes straight off - a couple of ales on, including the perennially yummy Butty Bach - an APG favourite - which was served very well by a friendly, eccentric barman.

There's a room off to the right hand side which leads to an outside smoking area. Cosy inside, with some pictorial history up on the walls and a roaring wood-burning stove fire, I could imagine this being a great place to sink a few ales on a cold winters night (of which there are many in Goginan I imagine). There are also some tables set up for dining - Sunday lunch is apparently a speciality. Apparently has a rather spectacular cellar hewn from the bare rock, I forgot to ask to have a look. It's quiet during the day, but really fills up in the late afternoon/early evening.

A really nice community pub, and it's well-worth a trip out this way for a few beers - start by doing the Tynllidiart at Capel Bangor, then move onto Goginan up the A44 and you'll have a nice evening out. There's a car park just over the other side of the road to the pub.

Oh and check out the view you get (below) from outside the Druid - not bad eh?

Opening hours:
11.00am till 11.00pm - Sundays 12.00pm -10.30pm all year around

Talybont - Black Lion/Y Llew Du

Black Lion Hotel/Y Llew Du

Address: Talybont, Dyfed, SY24 5ER.Tel: 01970 832555 E-mail: croeso@gwestyllewdu.com [gmap]
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page
Old pic of Black Lion on Ceredigion CC's website

Last APG visit: 27/07/2008

+++UPDATE April 2012+++

"under new ownership, and has been refurbished"- so take the comments below in the context of 2008! Will try and get back there soon...from the latest comment it sounds like the ale situation is looking up!

Two pubs are to be found in Talybont - next door to each other! First up (alphabetically, in both English and Welsh) is the Black Lion which boasts lovely views over the village green and is a fine old building on the outside. The inside isn't - it's a bit weird; the main bar is plain, spartan and open plan, whereas the small lounge behind it is really nicely done and quite modern, whilst there's a room to the right of the bar that looks like it hasn't seen any paint since the 1950's.

Two ales are available - Hancocks HB and Bass Red Triangle. The Bass was OK but nothing special. The pub seems aimed at a younger(ish) clientèle than the White Lion next door. Food is available at lunchtimes and after 5pm. Darts available, as is a fish tank in the lounge. The quiz machine is willing to pay so get down there with a few mates and rack up some cash - we took £20 away. There's lots of Welsh Rugby Union paraphernalia around the walls and a nice outside seating area to be found. Not a bad place but could be a little better, for my money.

Talybont - White Lion/Y Llew Gwyn

White Lion Hotel/Y Llew Gwyn
 
Address: Talybont, Dyfed, SY24 5ER. Tel: 01970 832245 [gmap]
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page
Old pics of the White Lion on Ceredigion CC's website

Last APG visit: 27/07/2008

Lovely pub placed in some nice countryside and overlooking the village green. The White Lion is a two-bar, Good Beer Guide listed (since 2002) pub, selling Banks' Original and Bitter along with a guest beer, which sadly wasn't available on our visit. I tucked into a Banks Bitter which was good, as was the Original sampled by APG Agent Toothbrush.

It's a friendly place, got a bit of banter from the landlord when I asked for the sparkler to be taken off ("You want it flat? In that case, if anyone asks, tell them that you got this next door!"). Also got chatting to an old boy asking as us what we were up to Aber, and exchanged a couple of pleasant anecdotes.

The interior is kitted out with wooden settles and an original slate-flagged floor. Metal hooks can be spotted on the ceiling, giving away the origins of the building as a butchers shop (apparently!).

We dropped in on a Sunday afternoon and tucked into a good-sized Sunday lunch, in which the meat is Welsh-reared - so a good food miles tick there. There was no problem accommodating the dietary needs of one our group (not hard to remove potatoes and gravy from a dish, but you'd be surprised how many places can't cope with simple requests). So thumbs up all-round for the food. The dining room was a little tight though - best lose a table to allow a bit more room for the elbows when the Simpson-style eaters like the APG crew turn up.

Apparently there are Sunday pub quizzes, a monthly Friday Welsh club - Welsh language singing and poetry. A darts board, jukebox, piano and terrestrial TV also feature and accommodation is available too.

To sum up - a nice unpretentious locals pub, well worth a visit if you appreciate a traditional pub atmosphere. And a good place for mum and dad to take you for a meal on their once-a-term visit.