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BARMOUTH
visited a couple of pubs here while camping in the mid '90s. One was a smallish old place in the town, more a local type pub but did food, the other was a bigger place on the main road into town which was more of an eating type place.

BANGOR - have visited briefly a couple of times when changing trains or walking
* TAP & SPILE - Last visit: 2009 - big pub next to the pier with several ales, I had one from the Purple Moose brewery. There's an impressive collection of pump clips on the ceiling and the interior is quite large and rambling with areas on different levels, lots of bare wood, a flagstone floor, pool table and music events advertised (assume it is quite a studenty pub)     photo
* WATERLOO - Last visit: 1996 - sat in quite a small narrow room, had a couple of nice pints and a good cheap lunch, remember finding it a decent down to earth place I would have happily stayed in longer but had a train to catch.

BENLLECH BAY - came on holiday here a few times when a child but wasnt into my ale back then, camped here once in more recent times
* BENLLLECH HOTEL - went in on a summer Saturday in 2003, a big place packed with local youths and can't remember what if any real beer it had.

BETWS Y COED - once had pint in here when pasing through, cant remember when
* BONT Y PAIR HOTEL - Last visit: 2000 ?? - cant remember much about the place, other than I sat in a small back room with a TV

CAERNARFON - only been here once in late 1990s, it was a Saturday night and the town centre was full of moronic youths racing their GTis round and the pubs all had bouncers on the door and more gormless looking local youths inside. As you can tell I was not impressed with the place. Found sanctuary in the:
* ALEXANDRA - Last visit: 2000 - a small busy place full of Welsh speaking locals and a good range of beers.
later ventured back to the town centre by the Castle and found a pub from which had quietened down so had another couple of pints, can't remember the name.

CAPEL CURIG - been camping here a couple of times
* COBDENS HOTEL - Last visit: 2011 - a large stone hotel, the bar is a large open room with beams, fireplace, bare walls and local photos. I visited once years ago and wasnt that impressed, but on my most recent visit things were much better with 4 ales all from the Conwy brewery, big portions of good food and friendly service. There's also a smarter dining room and from my previous visit I remember the 'mountain room' of which one wall is the actual rock face of the hill behind! I couldnt find that room this time - reading their website maybe its closed for refurbishment? Photos   website
* BRYN TYRCH INN - Last visit: 2011 - small hotel, the open plan bar is a mix of quite smart and bright but with a bare floors, old fireplace etc and also a couple of small seperate rooms. There were 2 ales from the Orme brewery and very nice, but evening meals are too upmarket for my tastes (ie expensive and a small choice!), somewhere for a posh meal than food after a days walking. Beer garden across the road by the river  Photo

CARDIFF - stayed here for a night for work reasons, and wandered round for a few pints in these
* COTTAGE - Last visit: 2009 - a cosy traditional old pub with a good choice of Brains ales and also another Welsh guest. Behind the narrow front with a bay window is a long open interior possibly leading to more room at the back but I didnt venture that far down!    photo
* GOAT MAJOR - Last visit: 2009 - an open room round an L shaped bar with comfy seating, wood paneling, there was sport on small TVs. Several Brains beers and a guest ale.   photo
* MOCHYN DU - Last visit: 2009 - a bit out of the city centre, a large old building converted to a pub with a mix of areas to sit from a large conservatory to some cosy little corners with bare stone walls. Lots of sporting memorabilia on the walls and a big choice of ales (most of them unpronounceable to me!) from various little Welsh brewers   photo
* PRINCE OF WALES - Last visit: 2009 - a Wetherspoons near Central Station in a conversion of an interesting old building, a large open room but some interesting features including a staircase to an upstairs area. A decent choice of ales.
* YARD - Last visit: 2009 - a modern bar converted from a pub at the front and the former brewery at the back. There are two bars downstairs, the front part is more pub like, the large bright open back room has lots of bare metal and brickwork and there's a mix of seating from tables and chairs to sofas. Several staircases lead to more room and another bar upstairs. It's a Brains pub sells a full choice of their ales, plus decent food.   photo

CONWY - have stopped off here a couple of times when passing through
* BRIDGE INN (Y BONT) - Last visit: 2009 - a corner pub opposite the castle, inside is one open room, a bit careworn but comfy with sofas and fireplace. Ales were from Marstons and Jennings including a guest beer. photo
* GEORGE & DRAGON - Last visit: 1996 ? - I cant remember anything about this pub other than I had a pint and meal outside in the courtyard next to part of the old town walls. I recognised it as being the one I'd been in when i passed by many years later!

HOLYHEAD - a grim place, have ended up here on occasions in the past but only been to one pub, the only one that looked inviting
* 79 - Last visit: 2000 ? - modern styled pub near the station I've visited a couple of times, bar is upstairs with good range of ales, views from large window over station & ferry terminal.

LLANTHONY- stayed here one night while on my way to Pembrokeshire, glad I did, it's a great pub.
* HALF MOON HOTEL Last visit: 2005 - one of the most interesting pubs I've ever visited. In a remote hamlet in valley in the Black Mountains reached down a single track road several miles from Abergavenny or Hay on Wye. Inside is a basic stone walled bar with a real fire, traditional bar billiards (still not sure of the rules) and beers from the Bullmastiff Brewery served straight from the barrell. Simple but good menu and accomodation which is rather basic but perfectly functional for a night with a good breakfast. On my visit there was a lively and friendly mix of those staying for the night (including a well known American travel writer!), holidaymakers from other nearby accomodation and locals. Opening hours can be limited at quiet times - contact details here (but ring, had no reply to e-mail) photos

LLANBEDROG - spend a couple of nights camping here
* SHIP - Last visit: mid 90s on road out of village on Llyn peninsular. Local pub with smaller bar and larger eating areas and beer garden, was busy with holidaymakers from nearby campsites. Photo

LLANBEDR - somewhere else in Wales I've spent a night camping
* VICTORIA INN - Last visit: 1997 - attractive stone Robinsons pub, quite large but comfortable with separate areas and a nice river side beer garden. Photo.

LLANDUDNO - used to come here regularly as a child, have been back a few times in more recent years
* COTTAGE LOAF - Last visit: 2009 - on a side street in town centre, an old building with an opened out interior on two levels with a low beamed ceiling, bare stone and wood (including bits salvaged from old ships) and a real fire. The beer choice has changed on my visits here over the years, the most recent time there were several ales from small Welsh brewers. Photo
* KINGS HEAD - Last visit: 2005 - old pub next to the tram station at the bottom of the Great Orme. Proper bar area at the front with flagstone floor and real fire, with more seating to the side and dining room at the back. Also beer garden and benches at the front. Does food lunch & evenings with 3 or 4 beers including a very good house beer 'Tram Driver' from Pheonix. Photo
* LINKS - Last visit: 1999 - hotel on roundabout on main road out of town to Conway, Lees bitter, used to sit outside when I was a lad in the early 80s while visiting relatives and more recently had a quick pint here in 1999.
* LONDON - Last visit: 2003 ? a busy town centre pub I have been in a couple of times, as it's name suggests it has a London theme with various odd capital related objects
* PALLADIUM - Last visit: 2004 a very large Wetherspoons in an old theatre, still has many features of the theatre inside so an interest building to visit and has the usual Wetherspoons food and beer.
* QUEEN VICTORIA - Last visit: 2005 - decent traditional pub not far from pier with Banks and Marstons beers, does food.
I've also been in some other pubs in the town over the years that don't stick in my mind.

LLANGOLLEN - stayed in town for a couple of nights in 2003. Quite liked the place!
* BRIDGE END - Last visit: 2003 - a large Robinsons pub with mix of visitors and locals, pool room with TV (where I watched an England game surrounded by Welsh locals)! Photo
* CORN MILL - Last visit: 2003 - nicely converted mill, lots of light wood and glass, alongside the river with a range of interesting beer in the bar downstairs and good food served upstairs, also has terraces to sit out right above the river. Was busy on a Sat night, had to reserve a place to eat but highly recommended. Photo
* SUN - Last visit: 2003 - a fantastic pub with a big range of ales. Looked like just your average local, but inside there's a bar lined with handpumps, real fires in the front room, a little snug and outside area. Visited on a Friday night when a very good live band was in action and the place was packed but the service was very friendly as were the locals of all ages, a rather noisy but comfortable atmosphere.

LLYSWEN - stopped off for a quick pint and snack when passing through
* GRIFFIN - Last visit: 2005 - only a brief visit but seemed a decent place with 3 Welsh real ales and good food. Room by the bar and seperate more comfortable dining area, both with traditional wood and bare stone with 2 large real fires.

MATHRY - spent a week staying in a cottage in the village
* FARMERS ARMS - Last visit: 2005 - visited the pub for a couple of meals and several pints. Inside appears rather recently done up, an L shaped room by the bar with a modern wood style and a seperate conservatory room. 4 beers including the Felinfoel, Rev James and a guest which changed a couple of times in the week. Decent food, friendly service and a mix of holidaymakers and locals, with jukebox, darts and pool table. photo

MENAI BRIDGE - called into these for a couple of pints before walking over the actual bridge
* BRIDGE INN (Y BONT) - Last visit: 2009 - a small old pub on the roundabout next to the Menai Bridge. Quite a smart modernised interior but cosy with beams, sofas, bare stone and a few different areas and rooms. There's also a seperate dining area, but I sat at the tables outside and had a guest beer from Jennings. photo
* VICTORIA HOTEL - Last visit: 2009 - a large stone hotel with public bar - two rooms, one basic with pool table and the other a comfortable wood panelled lounge with lots of old ship photos. Ales were Bass, which I ignored and instead had one of the two guests from small Welsh brewers. There's also a restaurant, conservatory, and beer garden overlooking the Straits. photo

PORTHGAIN - somewhere visited once while walking during a Pembrokeshire holiday
* SLOOP INN - Last visit: 2005 - old pub by the harbour visited once for lunch. Inside a traditional bar area and larger dining room filled with nautical memrobilia, also outside seating area. 2 or 3 beers including Welsh ones such as Felinfoel and Rev James and good (though not the cheapest) food. photo

PORTHMADOC - a place I remember from childhood holidays, but my only drinking experience was recently when stopped off while passing through
* SPOONERS BAR - Last visit: 2007 - next to the Ffestiniong Railway station, it doesn't look very pub like from the outside but I was impressed on my one brief visit - just called in for a quick pint, there were many beers on offer from indie breweries, I had something from Purple Moose and it was excellent. It was enjoyed while sat in one of the comfy seats in the large open plan room which has various railway photos and objects inside including a real narrow gauge steam engine! Would have stayed for more if i wasnt driving

RED WHARF BAY - visited once when camping nearby
* SHIP - Last visit: 2003 -on old low ceiling building right alongside the bay, several different beers and good food. It was very busy when I visited in summer 2003 as you might expect on a sunny Saturday evening but the service was still good.  Photo

ROSNEIGR - used to come on family holidays here too, then came camping here a few times when older but not been back for years
* MEALOG LAKE - Last visit: mid 90s - no idea what this place is like now and I don't remember much about the inside as always sat outside on my few visits here. It's situated a bit of a walk from the village and is (or at least was) a Lees pub and also did food.

TREFFIN - another place visited once when on holiday down here
* SHIP INN - Last visit: 2005 - called in for a quick pint mid afternoon so probably didn't see this place at its best, we were the only customers! Little public bar and two larger rooms, real fire and couple of beers including a guest (was London Pride on my visit which was good though not cheap).

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