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.