Aberystwyth - Court Royale

Formerly known as Harley’s Sports Bar; Jesters; Prince Albert

Address: 21 Eastgate, SY23 2AR. Tel: 01970 611722 [gmap] 
http://www.courtroyale.org.uk (not working Feb 2011)
http://www.sabrain.com/court-royale

Pubs Galore page
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page

Last APG visit: 03/03/2011

Background: Was a newly-opened semi-American influenced sports bar back when I started in ’98 and was often empty, but then began picking up a lot of local custom at weekends. Now re-branded on the outside, but still looks very much like it always did inside except cleaner... 

Student factor: A fair number, mainly shouty sports types and their groupies. Turns very local on a weekend.

Atmosphere: Quiet during the week, but loud and busy at weekends – the queue for the bar can be horrendous. Part of the townie crawl circuit on a weekend so be warned, some of the ones in here can be pretty lairy.

Drinks range: Limited – this is a vertical drinking den in the evenings, make no mistake. There’s normally a cheap offer on something or other. They've got the Brains 45 lager - it's not bad actually (high praise from an ale drinker!), though pricey. There was a handpump with Brains ale on offer ion March 2011, though the clip was turned.

TV/Music: Very loud music in the evening, with the telly on during the day. 

Other stuff: One thing it does do very well is the rugby – this is a great place to catch the 6 Nations because of the atmosphere generated in the back room. I was told this had a brief flirtation with being a gay boozer, but it looks like the same old place to me. Two pool tables and a jukebox also feature along with some posh leather sofas in the front bar. Apparently they have a vehicle registration plate for every US State on the walls (I've never bothered to count but I'll take their word for it). Food is now available in the afternoons and evenings. There's also dart boards, a pool table and wi-fi.

Quinno’s verdict: Maybe if the rugby’s on or you fancy a lazy afternoon on the soafas. But I wouldn’t really bother unless you’re in a big group, wanting to down bottles of lager in a hurry.

Aberystwyth - Downies Vaults

Address: 33 Eastgate, SY23 2AR. Tel: 01970 625446 [gmap]
Pubs Galore page
Facebook page 

Last APG visit: 21/08/2010

Background: Formerly a tidy boozer with some nice period features and comfy individualist drinking areas. Successive refurbs over the years has taken the edge off it though. Back in the day, this was a classic comfy two-roomed bar... 

Student factor: More of a locals pub at the weekend, but students make up a fair portion of the drinkers during the week, often from the Interpol Department. 

Atmosphere: Very packed and very rowdy on the weekend, but in contrast is quite quiet and reserved during the week. Go figure.

Drinks range: Not bad, has something for everyone. Main drink for the alcoholics and scrawny male students trying to show off is the Admiral – 4 vodka’s and a Red Bull. Last time I heard it was £4, making it a natural successor to the ‘triple vodka for 99p’ promotion that used to be on offer at the Beeching’s.

TV/Music: Mainly music, the jukebox in here was one of the best in Aber a few years back, but now just pumps out standard stuff. Although there are speakers in the bogs, which is a rarefied bonus in these heathen parts. 

Other stuff: Fred the landlord has a ‘unique’ way of removing unwanted drunken customers. Some nice stained glass windows and tiling if that sort of thing floats your boat. 

Quinno’s verdict: Sometimes worth a stop during the week, but less so on a weekend (unless you get there before 8:30pm), where the queues are too big, the jukey is too loud and you have to shout conversation to the person stood six inches away from you.

Aberystwyth - Fountain Inn

Address: Bridge Street, Trefechan, SY23 1BE. Tel: 01970 612430 [gmap] 

Pubs Galore page
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page 1
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page 2

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.

Aberystwyth - Glengower Hotel

Address: 3 Victoria Terrace, SY23 2DH. Tel 01970 626191 [gmap]
http://www.glengower.co.uk
Pubs Galore page 

Last APG visit: 18/05/2012

Background: This, along with the Boars Head, Pier Pressure the Seabank and The Bay used to form a rather wonderful pre-Licensing Reform Act sweep of late-opening joints along the seafront. Alas, with the advent of late licensing, the owners bailed out of this place, reasoning that it was too far for the kids to walk when they could stay in Wetherspoons until midnight. So now it’s a huge wannabe foody lounge thing instead. 
  
Student factor: From hero to zero unless it’s a sunny day, when the limited outside seating gets popular with the locals, or Sundays when mum and dad are in town to buy their student sprog a square meal and venture in here because the view looks nice. 

Atmosphere: Again, not much these days – it’s just too big to sustain anything outside of Friday evenings. Also seems pretty cold, which doesn’t help. A far cry from the ‘Aber Rock Café’ of years past. In a previous visit I complained bitterly about filthy tables and falling masonry ("Perhaps the falling masonry is an ironic attempt to make the students feel at home and I've missed the joke...") - this appeared to have been largely rectified. Let's hope it stays that way. 

Drinks range: One area of massive improvement at least, with one or two relatively unique (for Aber) real ales on sale (get them to take the sparklers off the Southern ones first though) alongside Wye Valley HPA/Butty. There are also lots of whisky varieties (25+) and no more Hofmeister masquerading as Harp. Features in the Good Beer Guide 2010 - though I wouldn't recommend it particularly as a pubbing experience myself. 

TV/Music: There’s definitely music, sometimes horribly inappropriate (we ate Sunday lunch in here to sound of 50 Cent when it first re-opened). There’s also a big screen for the football, out back. 

Other stuff: Besides the view, there's pot plants and pool. Despite the wholesale refurb upstairs, the downstairs bogs are just the same as they were in the ‘plub’ days, which is hilarious, given the amount of times I saw people urinating (and in one case, defecating) into the sink. A former manager of this place a few years back had what I shall call a 'run-in' with the workers of a particular kebab house in the town and ended up through the front window of said establishment. More trivia - Elizabeth Taylor's grand daughter used to worked here back in the early 90's; to quote "she looked very similar to LT in the 1950s. She had stayed at Michael Jacksons mansion (being a girl I guess she was OK) in LA but still ended up working in the Glen (94/95). If I remember rightly she was a local not a student but can't remember her name. Was worth putting up with Dave just to be served by her." (Mr X, former UWA student and barman at the Bear in the early 90's). 

Quinno’s verdict: Can’t help thinking they threw away the Golden Goose. Maybe go here on a summer’s day (it’s the only ‘legal’ place to drink out on the seafront apparently, although that never stopped me). Sadly, I don’t really see the point of this place now - the Glen falls between two stools of not being posh enough for food but not studenty enough to be busy.

Aberystwyth - Harry's Bar

Address: 40-46 North Parade, SY23 2NF. Tel: 01970 612647 [gmap]
http://www.harrysaberystwyth.com 
Pubs Galore page 

Last APG visit: 04/03/2011

  
Background: This used to be a hotel-cum-bistro with a small residents bar, back in the day. Has taken a leaf out of the Bay's book (15 years later!) and turned itself into a large bar with a tokenistic Irish theme - which appears to extend little further than an Irish flag outside and some Guinness paraphernalia in the window.

Student factor: Looks like this is turning into a student haunt - usually ones dressed up bananas/Superwoman.

Drinks range: Fairly poor for such a large bar, no real ale (now got Double Dragon) no real ale (again) or unusual spirits. In fact, outside of Guinness, I don't recall seeing any Irish drinks at all. The only thing that I'd want to drink in here is the Brains 45 but that is an expensive option. 

Atmosphere: Getting busier at weekends but still quiet during the earlier parts of the week. It's huge inside with two enormous bar areas, so they're obviously expecting some customers. Beware that you can no longer do a lap of the bar as the left hand side is now given over to dining - an odd choice given the amount of drunk students in fancy dress only yards away...I wouldn't fancy eating there. The staff get sniffy if you wonder in there by accident, as I found myself!

TV/Music: Both, loudly and at the same time. TV's are dotted around - assuming that it's going to try and market itself as a sports destination venue? A previous visit yielded the eclectic sports choice of competitive skateboarding. 

Other stuff: Dark and hot. The toilets are quite an impressive affair, very modern now getting vandalised, need to keep on top of that. There's a 'no hidden catches' loyalty card available for various discounts. The food is also being pushed again.

Quinno’s verdict: Seems to be finding a niche amongst the students, but I find it a fairly bland box-ticker.

Aberystwyth - Inn on the Pier

Address: Marine Terrace, SY23 2AZ. Tel: 01970 610000 / 01970 636101 [gmap]
http://www.royalpier.co.uk
Pubs Galore page

 

Last APG visit: 03/03/2011

Background: Nicknamed the ‘Pin’ (play on the name, Inn on the Pier - Pinn on the Ear, ho ho) this is the little sister to the nightclub (Pier Pressure) next door. As the name suggests, it's on the pier, which is always worth sampling on a wet Tuesday night with a Force 9 gale raging. Black barman with the (now shaved off!) dreadlocks is possibly the longest-serving barman in Aber, he was there back in 1998 when I started. 

Student factor: Mainly students, with a fair number of loud and boisterous townies in the evening and the occasional hen do. Now has an extremely late licence (the only pier in Britain with a 24 hour licence in fact*), so there’s plenty of dregs wafting around there in the early morning. However, it has stopped being 24 hour during the working week in response to complaints. 

Atmosphere: Always buzzing, which will tick most people’s boxes. Can verge on the rowdy late on in the evening with people desperately trying to get shitfaced whilst they can still hear themselves talk before they head next door. During the day it’s a great place to shelter from the cold and relax whilst watching the waves along the bay. Ladies take note, it's not afraid to trade on latent sexism during the evening.

Drinks range: Not too bad, your average MOR drinker will be happy, and there’s always a Del Boy range of offers on during the week. Sadly the ability to purchase draught Skol, which until the mid 2000s used to be the last genuine pound-a-pint left in Aber has now gone; Tuborg is on instead. No real ale, sadly - only Ansells nitrokeg (£2.40).

TV/Music: Football is almost a 24/7 fixture in here and it has enough tellies to show a number of live matches simultaneously – if you ask nicely. 

Other stuff: Along with football, this place draws in a lot of punters for the food - pizza and fries based – which is fairly good value. There’s also an awful karaoke night. Toilets are often flooded and can smell horrific (even in the middle of the day), which is bad given the money this place makes, and the fact the waft of stale wee hangs around the pizza hatch seems like the toilets are improving and the smell of pizza wee has subsided. Oh and not to forget the most spectacular of all – the sight of thousands of swarming starlings coming to roost under the pier at dusk every evening. Just don’t get caught under it outside, or you’ll have a head full of faeces.

Quinno’s verdict: Always worth a stop, especially when the footer’s on or you’re looking to start the evening early with alcohol and pizza. Fair play to them here for being able to stay in fashion for so long.  
*Hat-tip - Rebecca Connop Price

Aberystwyth - Kanes

Formerly known as The Unicorn

Address: Corporation Street, SY23 2BT. Tel: 01970 615662 [gmap] 

Pubs Galore page

Ceredigion CC historical pub info page (the 1981 entry is well-worth a read)

Last APG visit: 19/05/2012

Background: Small 2-floored drinking den with incredibly steep stairs leading downwards to the lower bar which is seemingly carved out of the hillside rock - a real health and safety botherer. Pub is only open in the evenings. A recent internal makeover has seen the toilets moved lock stock and barrel downstairs, with the area they previously occupied being turned into a pool and quizzer room.

Student factor: Some, but this is really one for the townies and friends of the football club as Landlord Jock is also the club's chairman. He's also good for banter when he’s in the mood. 

Atmosphere: Quite how this place stayed open when I was at Aber is a mystery, as me and my dozen friends seemed to be the only ones in it during the week. But here it still stands, rammed to the rafters on a weekend and seemingly not much else unless Aberystwyth Town get a result during the week. 

Drinks range: It's a teeny-weeny bar that used to serve lager and spirits only. There’s now a corporate ('buzzpubs'??) drinks menu at the table, centred squarely around alocopops, spirits and fighting ciders. In May 2012 we had some test tube shots which were, well, 'interesting'. Below the legal measure as well, according to a fellow APG agent.

TV/Music: Both, often loudly and at the same time - can be a real assault on the aural senses.

Other stuff: Look out for the bogs where you can add your own comedy message with a keyring. Used to have an excellent dingy UV corner upstairs where your teeth would glow a funny colour and everyone could see each others dandruff but that's gone now. Shame as that was a real selling point for people when things like that were only found in Kate Moss type coke-fiend bars in London. Pool table located upstairs now alongside a quizzer. Forgot to note if the Unicorn-monikered dart board is still in existence.

Quinno’s verdict: Perhaps you and your friends could make it a niche-pub during the week? It isn't one I'd particularly recommend myself, to be honest.

Aberystwyth - Lord Beechings

 

Formerly known as the Railway Inn

Address: 8 Alexandra Road, SY23 1LE. Tel: 01970 625069 [gmap] Facebook page 
http://www.sabrain.com/lordbeechings
Pubs Galore page
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page

Last APG visit: 05/03/2011

Background: Formerly a small, tight bar, notable only for offering lethal triple vodkas for 99p, this has recently been overhauled and extended into a fancy upmarket Brains outlet (see the Sistine Chapel thing going on below). However it's getting a bit grubby round the edges and is risking a fall from grace - a lick of paint and a good clean would help massively.

Student factor: A number, though a lot less so since the refurb. Currently seems to be a 70-30 mix between townies and students and becoming more townie by the year. Has, however, established itself as a stop-off for Uni pub crawls due the wide open space of the main bar, so be prepared for pub golfers and suchlike. Surprisingly quiet on a Saturday evening in March.

Atmosphere: Can feel a bit bare. The refurbed décor and bar ethos seems like a direct attempt to give the Varsity some competition. The inside is light and airy, good for a sunny day. However, there seems to be an unsavoury element that are attaching themselves to the place - concerning. Not helped by a low level of cleanliness recently.

Drinks range: Fairly standard Brains range of beers and ales in variable condition. The pub has now got a decent selection of wine for the more sophisticated lady who gave up Barcadi Breezers after finding out how much sugar was in them. Has a few offers on and prices are generally cheap. Barmaids are friendly.

TV/Music: Piped mainstream stuff, loudness and tone varies according to the time of day. They now have SKY Sports and the like, surprised by that as I thought they were attempting the 'relaxed vibe' thing. It's not like Aber is short on places to catch the sport. 

Other stuff: Has a neat little beer garden. Pub serves food - burger and chips based, no great shakes but will fill a greasy gap. 

Quinno’s verdict: Was a nice place on re-opening but is letting its standards slip alarmingly. On its day it's a decent venue, especially if you can bag a seat in the old sweet shop corner with the big windows. The place seemed fairly gay-friendly post-refurb but that vibe has gone and is definitely heading towards a middle-aged locals club.

Aberystwyth - Marine Hotel

Address: Marine Terrace, SY23 2BX. Tel: 01970 617435  [gmap]
http://www.marinehotelaberystwyth.co.uk

Last APG visit: 21/05/2011

Background: Hotel bar, that gets in purely on the basis of having a real ale - the yucky Cambrian Bitter.

Student factor: One or two during the mega buffet Sunday lunch (see below). Otherwise, only during graduation week.

Atmosphere: Quiet but relaxing. Lovely views of the seafront if you grab a window seat (basically, just like Belle Vue)

Drinks range: Average hotel bar range, the real ale notwithstanding. Tried the Guinness last visit as I couldn't stomach the Cambrian. It was pretty good and not marked up against the lagers, which makes a change.

TV/Music: Occasional. Music is usually hovering around Celine Dion's Greatest Hits in terms of quality.

Other stuff: Sunday carvery. £10 for mains + 1 or £15 for a three course chow-down - always packed with locals and chapel-goers. Entrance is signalled by the lights flashing on and off in the bar. Good value and well-worth doing when your SLC money arrives after Christmas (or Mum and Dad are in town). Watch out for the gaggle of old ladies who have a slither of meat and a potato each in order to be first to the groaning pudding table to holocaust the meringue tray of its contents. Front bar bay windows are good for dolphin-spotting.

Quinno’s verdict: Not really worthwhile as a loungy seafront venue during the week - the Belle Vue is better. But Sunday lunch with a pint is a must.

Aberystwyth - Mill Inn

Formerly known as the Cross Foxes 

Address: Mill Street, SY23 1HZ. Tel: 01970 612306 [gmap] 

Pubs Galore page 
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page 1
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page 2

Last APG visit: 17/05/2012

Background: Small watering hole, a little off the beaten track on Dan Dre. Hosts a downstairs area with a bar which has been semi-derelict for the last ten years. There used to be a downstairs bar area but apparently it is no longer useable (presumably ripped out?).

Student factor: Used to usually occupied by sports-types from the Uni and younger locals, though there seemed to be quite a sea-change in atmosphere on my last couple of visits, with a quite a relaxed (if boisterous) bohemian crowd.

Atmosphere: Used to need a machete to cut through the fug of cigarette smoke, which was part of its charm a few years back, and has definitely suffered since the smoking ban. It has at least been cleaned now! Otherwise can get very very crowded (sometimes unpleasantly so on Friday and Saturday nights because of its small size).

Drinks range: Heavily leaning towards funnily-coloured spirits and mixers, but enough other stuff to keep most people happy for an hour or two with competitive prices. Has upped the ale range (compared to a couple of years back - 15 years previously it had plenty), which seems to be getting better, quality-wise. Currently it appears to be stocking Porthmadog's Purple Moose.

 

TV/Music: A couple of TV’s, tuned almost exclusively to football and The Simpsons. Music from an average jukebox otherwise.

Other stuff: Formerly(?) the lock-in capital of Aberystwyth, this correspondent managed to do a 6pm-3am Sunday stint in here more than once after the quiz had finished during Guy's tenure (where is Quizmistress Karen now?). Also has comedy outside lavs for the gents, which are a bastard in the winter. The ladies by contrast, have it rather plush and heated. Now has brand new toilets for the gents - indoors, warm and, dare I say it, almost plush. Free pool during the day, if you’re lucky.

Quinno’s verdict: Not quite the pub it once was (I miss the lock-ins!) but still worth a visit outside the major crush times.

Aberystwyth - Nags Head CLOSED

Address: 23 Bridge Street, SY23 1PZ. Tel: 01970 624725 [gmap] 
Pubs Galore page
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page

+++UPDATE+++

Now closed and gone for good (June 2016). Thanks to Vas for the tip!

Last APG visit: 18/05/2012

Background: Classic out-of-the-way (well, on Bridge Street, it’s actually a stone's throw from the clock tower) two-roomed locals pub. 

Student factor: Few and far between - this is locals territory mainly - though the occasional two or three pop in as overspill from the clock tower area.

Atmosphere: If someone walks in who the regulars don’t recognise, it’s like a comedy Western where everything goes quiet, the honky-tonk piano falls silent and faces swing slowly round to look at you, before returning to their drinks. That said, once you’ve stayed a while and not shown any obvious characteristics of being the type of student ponce that gives students a bad name you can strike up some decent conversation with people. Decoration is spartan in the main bar, but there’s a roomy and sun-oriented beer garden out the back which is nice in summer (note that the beer garden isn't mentioned on rival sites... *cough cough*) and there's also now a games room with darts and pool, see below.

Drinks range: Since Kara left the usual suspects (a couple of well-kept handpulls for Banks Mild and Bitter) have been replaced by what looks like an extended offering from the Marstons range, plus the usual lagers. The ale quality under Kara was good and the place was included in the Good Beer Guide 2010 but I was distinctly underwhelmed by the two beers on offer in May 2012 (Hobgoblin and Tom Fool). 

TV/Music: TV and a so-so jukebox. Be prepared for a double-header of Bonnie Tyler and Meatloaf if the locals have put their cash in before you get there...

Other stuff: There's a darts board in the public bar on which you can attempt to beat a local (I wouldn't advise beating them by much though). Used to sell cockles which were always good for a drunken challenge but sadly these have gone the way of Roy Castle. Have a gawp at the pictures of the regulars in various states of intoxication pinned around the walls.

Quinno’s verdict: A ‘proper local' pub, it’s an enjoyable visit but many younger students will find it anachronistic and unappealing (a good thing for some though). Worth putting on a crawl list I reckon.

Aberystwyth - Orangery CLOSED

+++UPDATE May 2012 - this has had yet another change and is now Bella Italia or somesuch. There appears to be no bar of any significance so I will be removing this from APG in the near future and adding it to the RIP section.+++

Formerly known as The Talbot Hotel; Brady’s; El Retro 

Address: 10 Market Street, SY23 1DL. Tel: 01970 617606 [gmap]
http://www.theorangeryaberystwyth.co.uk

Pubs Galore page
Ceredigion CC historical pub info page

Last APG visit: 07/11/2009

Background: A far cry from its previous chequered incarnations as low-grade seedy dives, this place is a p.o.s.h. a wine-cum-coffee bar; the inside is all muzak and mood lighting. As for the posh history of the building, read the informative plaque pictured below.

Student factor: A few, mainly postgraduates and girls from the Home Counties called Harriet and Verity. Otherwise it’s 30-something men and women conducting elicit affairs, rotund estate agents schmoozing clients and old ladies having tea and scones during the daytime. 

Atmosphere: Pleasant and relaxed - if you’ve got a hot date and want a quiet drink, dimmed lighting and some posh food, this is a no-brainer. Big groups of half-cut students not welcome but children and the gay community are, so I'm informed. 

Drinks range: Lots of wine, an eclectic mix of left-field bottled lagers and ales (try the Kelpie Seaweed ale for something particularly outlandish). Liqueur coffees available too. It's expensive for Aber, so be prepared - a small bottle of Budvar will set you back over £3.50.

TV/Music: Calming soothing muzak and old jazz. Niiiiice. 

Other stuff: Pleasing art deco feeling interior and the aforementioned food, which is popular. Toilets are top-notch, although a bit of a hike. Now owned by the same bloke who runs the mighty Shilam. Table service is the norm here, going to the 'bar' too often will make you look common. Don't forget to pay before you leave - I have.

Quinno’s verdict: Dividing opinion down the middle, this is truly the Marmite of the Aberystwyth scene. At least it’s not El Retro any more, that was the poorest excuse for a bar I’d ever been in. Go in to find out what it’s like and make your own mind up. I like it for what it is.

Aberystwyth - Pier Hotel

 

Address: Pier Street, SY23 2LN. Tel: 01970 615126 [gmap] 

Pubs Galore page

Ceredigion CC historical pub info page

Last APG visit: 03/03/2011

Background: Not to be confused with the Inn on the Pier complex, this is instead the bar of the Pier Hotel which in recent years has been extended from a small and permanently quiet drinking room into something more resembling a full-on pub, without actually quite being one. Has had a very recent scrub-up and IKEA-style pine overhaul inside, making it look more of a bar. Have to admit I preferred it the way it was - it certainly never used to need a bouncer outside on a Saturday night. 

Student factor: A few, but more of a locals place overall. The occasional student crawl stops off here.

  
Atmosphere: Not bad, gets rowdy when the inevitable Saturday hen night crowd from Penrhyncoch arrive and the place turns into a grab-a-granny session. Otherwise quite quiet during the week, good for a few beers with your friends. 

Drinks range: Pretty good considering its size -it manages to pack in two of the Banks’ ale range which often come out well. Does a nice line in jelly baby flavoured vodka and you can get a two-pint glass of lager. 

TV/Music: An eclectic mix of 70’s and 80’s from the jukey. 

Other stuff: Darts and pool. The nudie quiz machine looks to have disappeared.

Quinno’s verdict: A decent visit, put it on the crawl list for the jelly baby vodka and two-pint servings.