Address:
http://www.varsitybars.com/bars/aberystwyth
Pubs Galore page
Facebook page#1
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page
Last APG visit: 20/05/2011
Background: This was once the future back in the pre-chain bar mid-1990’s Aberystwyth. A classic sanitized interior and a favourite hang-out for the Home Counties ‘plastic’ brigade, sporting a cut-price rip-off of whatever Victoria Beckham was wearing in Heat the previous month. In its White Horse days this used to be two bars on two floors with a large games room; no longer. Has had a recent interior refurb and is certainly less of a barn than before - there's now divided seating areas. Quite nice inside now. Although one of their fancy light fittings above a table came crashing down, luckily no one was sat underneath...
Student factor: 95% of the customers are students as are the bar staff. A favourite haunt of the American Football team and other loud lager-swigging sporty types.
Atmosphere: Nicknamed ‘the Goldfish Bowl’ for its large encompassing windowed frontage where everyone can see in as well as you can see out. Can make for much fun watching the people inside spill dinner over their tops or accidentally flash their low-grade knickers at you when sitting down by the window as you walk past. Very busy at weekends and Pound Party nights, so very noisy as a consequence. The upstairs seating area gives a nice view and a more relaxed vibe during the week.
Pubs Galore page
Facebook page#1
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page
Last APG visit: 20/05/2011
Background: This was once the future back in the pre-chain bar mid-1990’s Aberystwyth. A classic sanitized interior and a favourite hang-out for the Home Counties ‘plastic’ brigade, sporting a cut-price rip-off of whatever Victoria Beckham was wearing in Heat the previous month. In its White Horse days this used to be two bars on two floors with a large games room; no longer. Has had a recent interior refurb and is certainly less of a barn than before - there's now divided seating areas. Quite nice inside now. Although one of their fancy light fittings above a table came crashing down, luckily no one was sat underneath...
Student factor: 95% of the customers are students as are the bar staff. A favourite haunt of the American Football team and other loud lager-swigging sporty types.
Atmosphere: Nicknamed ‘the Goldfish Bowl’ for its large encompassing windowed frontage where everyone can see in as well as you can see out. Can make for much fun watching the people inside spill dinner over their tops or accidentally flash their low-grade knickers at you when sitting down by the window as you walk past. Very busy at weekends and Pound Party nights, so very noisy as a consequence. The upstairs seating area gives a nice view and a more relaxed vibe during the week.
Drinks range: Good but very expensive (except for the infamous Pound Party night on Tuesdays) unless you buy a ‘V’ card early on, which only reduces the prices to normal levels on most drinks as far as I can see. So it's basically one of the most expensive bars in Aber, unless you are a very regular card-carrying customer (and even then it isn’t the cheapest in town). Often seems understaffed at random times. After an 8 year period without ale (used to be electric-dispense Banks back in the day), there are now three to choose from - my Brains was pretty good and the Greene King IPA was, well, GK-like; both served in a handled beer mug. However, whilst my pint was poured well, I noticed another barman top up a pint with slops from the drip tray. There was beer festival on in May with some decent choices. However there was clearly a lack of knowledge - southern beers fitted with sparklers and the ones on stillage having no obvious cooling (so don't touch those!). However they are at least trying, unlike those lazy bastards over the road.
TV/Music: Piped MoR and Rn’B, plus whatever Now! Album is out, after 8pm.
Other stuff:
Quinno’s verdict: It’s a safe bet, though its expensive prices and bland middle-of-the-road clientèle means that there’ll be at least one person in your group who’ll hate it. No doubt that there have been significant changes for the better over the last couple of years, mind.
