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.

Llanfarian - Royal Oak

Royal Oak Inn

+++RE-OPENED!!!+++

Address: Llanfarian, SY23 4BS. Tel: 01970 615355 [gmap]
Old photo on Ceredigion CC website

Last APG visit: 19/05/2012

So, after many years of passing this pub we finally managed to step inside. What a funny little place. Appears to be run by a team of Oriental ladies who gave us a warm welcome.

It has three rooms. To the right is a plush dining room (Thai food I believe), the bar is in the central room as you enter and up a couple of stairs to the left is a very spartan games room with dart board (there are two in the pub) and pool table.

Very little appears to have changed internally over the past 40 years, with period fireplace (a real fire too). The small of damp was pervasive so we were happy when the fire was lit upon our arrival. Indeed we were the only customers for 40 minutes until a coach load of pissed-up boyos arrived.

Drinks-wise, there was just the one ale - Cambrian Bitter - which was fairly terrible. Much amusement had by us at the attempts to pour it as the pump is stupidly stiff and the slightly-built oriental lady was giving it so much welly the entire bar top was literally moving moving up and down at around 33 degrees. Check out the gouge marks in the plaster on the right hand wall where it joins to see what we mean.

In conclusion, despite the friendly welcome I won't be rushing back.