Cardiff (City Centre)

Graham Green wrote in news:Aonrd.420 $ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe1-win.ntli.net:

I'm afraid I don't have a great opinion of Cardiff city centre for beer, so hopefully someone else will chip in with some recent good experiences...

Personally, I would recommend the 15 minute walk from the stadium to Cathedral Road (you can cut through the park and follow the river on the way back, but getting there it's easier to find by road) where you'll find the Cayo Arms, listed in the GBG 2005.

The beer's been rather good there recently, tho a tad expensive for Cardiff (around £2.20 to £2.50 for the Ales). Tonight they had, I think.... Thomas Watkin Merlin Stout - excellent Thomas Watkin O.G. (called something like Coroni Glyndwr this year I think) - also excellent Breakspear Special (freshly on, replacing London Pride) Thomas Watkin OSB Thomas Watkin BB Bass Buckley's Rev James Brains SA

If you aren't familiar with the top two on the list above, I'd certainly give them a try.

It's a great pub, althought the atmosphere's not as good as it was when it first opened 4 years ago.

Hope you enjoy your visit, David

I visited the millennium stadium just over a year ago and found the Buchers Arms in Llandaff Road to be a real gem on our way to the match (England v. Wales world cup warm-up). Brains Mild and Bitter only, but extraordinarily well kept and a real local's pub. Very friendly atmosphere, very chatty staff and locals despite the fact that my wife and I were both wearing England rugby shirts! One rather inebriated local chap even offered us beds for the night though thankfully we had already booked into a hotel.

Sadly this pub has disappeared from the Good Beer Guide for 2005. Anyone know why?

Cheers, Ian

Of course that should be "Butchers" Arms...

I forgot to mention that the pub is not right in the centre, but it was smack bang in the middle of the route from our hotel to the stadium. It's across the river to the north-west of, and a fair walk from, the station, probably about 15-20 minutes (10 if you're really athletic, unlike me). Worth it at the time though in comparison to the city centre's overcrowded and volume-sales-orientated airport lounges.

Cheers, Ian

Good luck

This recommendation is very much seconded by me. A very nice pub.

Martin

I didn't post earlier, as the GBG 2005 is as the most recent info I have ( and which I endorse). the Cayo may be back on form now, I've not been for a while - personally I rarely have much spare time in Cardiff, so usually get by with using just the Wetherspoons (The Gatekeeper is still my 1st stop, though the PoW is more interesting for the architecture). I'd recommend taking a look in the Vulcan before it closes for good, though they no longer serve Brain's Dak.

Just a quick thank you - Dave, Martin, Mike, Ian, AJ (and e-mailers) for your suggestions - much appreciated!

Now to 'road test' them!

Cheers and regards, Graham.