PUB GUIDES

The infamous Ponty pub guide as devised by that bloke who can't get served in the rugby club or half the town's pubs anymore (we wonder why?). Tip for the top - never tell the truth! Why not get banned yourself? Go on tell the truth when you get served a crap pint or just post your observations here. Remember if you don't complain when you get treated badly no-one else will complain for you! You pay good money for a pint so expect to be served a decent one. PS - If sarcasm and honesty aren't your thing best you don't read on...

 

Town centre

The "top-end" of town seems to be the place to head for at the moment (not that you'll find many students brave enough to walk there from Trefforest though) with an even mix of decent pubs and kiddie disco's. Who knows the police may eventually close a couple more down or arrest the underage drinkers and allow people to walk the streets without fear. The "bottom-end" is also pretty good but the middle is distinctly devoid of decent watering hole action (CYB apart).

 

Note: as this pub guide is long overdue an update we thought we'd spend the summer re-visiting all the pubs (that'll let us in) in the guide and writing new reviews. So look out landlords here we come!

Bunch of Grapes
Just out of town down Ynysangharad Rd. Beautiful old pub with lovely fireplace, stone walls etc. Freehouse that serves "SA" and other decent beers as well as vastly over priced bottle lagers from as far away as Macro. Excellent eatery, not the usual plastic rubbish most pubs do but a proper menu with real food on it. They also serve the award winning "Gwynt Y Ddraig" - wicked strength cider made locally. Don't drive after one of these, and we do mean one!

 

 

Llanover Arms
The best pub in town surely? Not sure about the spaceship vending machine on the bar but always good beer, a guest real ale every week or so and loads more choices as it's a Freehouse. The "Llan" still retains that old run-down charm, just visit the toilets and you'll soon be using the word "quaint" in conversations. Please don't change it John! Maybe you could change the church pews for settees though and mend the broken benches in the back room. The beer garden with matching A470 view has had some restoration work, probably sparked off by the visit of old layabout Tom Jones. Alcoholics, actors, millionaires, property moguls, playwrights, builders and rugby teams drink here - usually all at once. Tom Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Mark Davies... they've all had a few pints at the Llan. Also the meeting place for various community groups that do sterling work in the town. Examples include the recently formed K.W.S. (Pontypridd branch), Ponty Curry Club (as featured on the BBC's "I Love Wales" with Iolo Williams, but don't worry we won't mention all those girls from Corwen you know). Also assorted Vikings, Chisum and company.

Globetrotters Bar
Upstairs at the back of the Llanover is "Dan's place" - easily the most trendy, laid back bar in town suitable for all ages. Wooden floors and old brickwork. A couple of big screens for films & sports, comfy settees and a small cosy little bar area, although the bogs are minging late on. Great music, such as Santana, Gypsy Kings, Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens (hint, hint). It's a veritable Buena Vista Social Club, although you do have to pay £2 on band nights after 10pm to get in without a hard stare from the owner. Wheat beer and Stella on tap as well as the usual Whoosh. Open until 1am on weekends. Hang-out of such famous faces as Darth Vader (Star Wars) and Jamie Baulsh (Olympic athlete).

 

Maltsters
Recently been done out but you wouldn't notice it, apart from the tables in the way of the bar and the toilets. Used to be famous for not having any drinkable beer and now up for sale. If you can put up with the riverside rats this place could be a goldmine. In fact if I could afford it I would buy it and turn it into a pub. Sky Sports make it popular with the football supporters although rugby matches are also shown on the big pull-down screen. Lost its way a bit recently but nice cosy cellar bar for the youngsters and beer garden at back in summer (watch out for Roland!).

 

 

Muni Arts Centre - 01443 485934
Ponty's only cinema has a nice quiet little bar. Bet many of us would not even think of going here! But they do serve beer (if you can call it that!) Good if there's a film on, often get council do's here where "Dap" takes his clothes off on tables... Used to have good bands here e.g. "Big Mac's Wholly Soul Band" etc. but haven't seen anything decent here for ages. All part of RCT's master plan to close Ponty down maybe?

Aqua
New bar where Champs and Jeffersons used to be in precinct. Minimalist and modern. Nice clean decor with wooden floors, glass fronted and very airy. Always empty - no idea why? Ponty needs more pubs but so far it's been very quiet. Sometimes becomes a lap dancing bar. Guess student loans are hard to pay back these days.

Market Tavern - 01443 485331
Closed at the moment, but rumoured to become an upmarket cattle market (opps, sorry that should have read Members Bar)...

 

Alfreds
Nice and new bar that looks like the set from "Friends" or "Coupling". Nice city feel to the place, beer too expensive but the food is very good. Run by the Market Company and seems to cater for the older generation (think that's me nopwadays), which is nice. Plenty of life in there on a Saturday although have only just entered the 21st Century by allowing trainers in. They also charge £4 entry after 10pm which is a complete rip-off for a pub which never has enough bar staff serving and those that do wouldn't know a thirsty person standing in front of them if they screamed "Give me a beer you blind b*****d!" Thanks to Derek for lending Dinkie his shoes, even though they were too small.

Clwb-Y-Bont
Welsh club and live music venue down by the river. Siarad Cymraeg used to ensure free entry but now open to all and very friendly staff. Good pub, good pint and pool table. Don't be put off by the cans of 4 Star outside, they're just for show (joke mun!). Home to Stinky, Dewi, El Presidente and Barney to name but a few. You can also learn Welsh here, and they have excellent bands every weekend.

 

Big thanks for the free room and disco provided for Dave and Derek's charity night for Ty Hafan (more here).

 

They also do "Literature" classes with famous Welsh writer John Evans and family rooms for 6 Nations as well as a host of other functions.

They also have a couple of guitars and a sing-song on most Friday nights which is well worth a visit if you're passing through. Involved in the Full Ponty fringe events too, although the Pop Factory usually organise them (which is bad).
 

The biggest big screen in the whole world, if not in RCT - ideal for rugby matches.

Not as many students as you'd expect but this is changing as the more adventurous ones do find their way here eventually. Seems to alternate between being completely empty and rammed full. Choose wisely...

Celtic Club
Members only and men only, the Celtic has a long waiting list for members. What a relief it is to find a club that isn't afraid to stand up for men in this age of political correctness and inequality. Great club and very good cheap beer. The perfect hiding place from 'er indoors.
 

Sky Sports of course, loads of quality snooker tables and great service.

The toilets overlook the River Rhondda and main Rd. so if you're walking past ladies you can check he's in there by looking across the river at the gents.

 

Bar Inc
The old Angharads, re-branded. We hear they've stopped letting drugged up 15 year olds in so will have to give it a try soon and report back... Be very careful of the traffic when you trip on the step and fall out the door.

Celtic Pride
Always full on the weekends with a mix of ages and always full for a few days after "dole day". Used to be "The Criterion" gay bar (joke). Music's usually too loud (or maybe we're too old?). Pay to get in on weekends. One of the best buildings in town although it needs a lot of work from Griff Rhys Jones. We like this pub, such a shame the kids fighting, girls peeing outside and all the sick and rubbish on the floor outside ruin it sometimes. Regular haunt for those on probation according to the owner - I wonder why?!
 

Greyhound
Gone are the pickled eggs and old men dead in the corner. Quite trendy now, in a valleys sort of way. Will no doubt take over as the "rugby" pub on a Saturday as it's near the ground. Annoying pillar in the middle of the pub but guess the building would fall down without it. We do miss the bar snacks and sweaty, old, toothless men singing mind you. Come back Mark! A bit expensive though.

 

The Tumble
The new JD Wetherspoons/Lloyds pub where the old post office was. Like stepping into the Tardis. When it opened it was like being transported to a first world country, leaving third world Ponty behind, but now as with all Wetherspoons pubs it's starting to look a bit worn and rough around the edges.

 

Limited selection of real ales, e.g. Abbott, and are rarely stored/served properly. Quite cheap though and plenty of cheer. Two meals for £5.75 menu is so bad if you want to end a relationship - take her here.

After initial excitement, huge crowds, fights, police presence, headline news we've noticed that it's settled down a bit  although still a great place to spot the "steroid abusers" and always full on weekends as they now have a dance floor and music screens. Open 'till 1am.

Kudos
Late night club/drinking hole. Free entry before 9pm ish? and Guinness Extra Cold was quite cheap when we ventured in on a Friday. Supposed to cater for over 21's which is nice, but we saw mostly kids in there, probably due to the funky house music. Bit of a studenty feel with idiots dancing with their parka's still on. A long place with an 80's nightclub look and wine bar type bar. OK and quite smart we suppose, although a lot of trouble from youngsters fighting.

Ponty RFC
The "House of Pain" used to be exactly that when it came to getting a decent pint. It is quite cheap though and has improved since crowds at games dropped from 5000 to 1000 after the Muppet era. The beer, "Worthy Best" is at best average and the bar management is still poor. Literally hundreds of thirsty people walk straight past and into town to get a pint every weekend as the service is so bad. Rolls and pasties, pie and chips, crisps available sometimes, but don't depend on it. The clubhouse is dirty and sticky and the toilets dirty and stickier but that's just kind of cute I guess.

The beer, banter and knowledge is first class, as long as you agree with who your talking to. The clubhouse does need a bit of a makeover though, like a very large bulldozer and a new clubhouse but at least no-one has painted it pink. Who said that?!

 

Graigwen Club - 01443 402550
The District club premier music venue has very good beer and could well be the cheapest beer outside Zimbabwe. In fact the beer is so cheap that visitors from England think they've just paid for a pint when in fact they've just got a huge round in. Big hall upstairs where they have excellent bands on the weekends. Anyone with a taste in music should come here. Much under-used drinking hole and should be visited more often.

Latest gossip:
We hear that a new development is planned for the White Hart (Silks) which will make the top end of town the place to be! New lease has been taken out (Aug 2005).

 

Trallwng

Trallwng and Coedpenmaen don't have many pubs which is just as well judging by the standard but here goes anyway... Trallwng has tremendous pubs, every one a veritable feast for brewers fair! My god I'm fluent!

The Bassett
Is it shut?
 

The Royal Oak
The pub itself gets more custom these days because the "Central" and "Newbridge" don't. Quiz on Thursday's. Good night out and of course the Chinese is next door!

 

The Newbridge
The oldest pub in Pontypridd and from outside looks wonderful. The place has seen some improvements recently and so fingers crossed it'll turn into a good pub soon. They do have a pool table and a huge beer garden but I think someone built houses on it?

Trallwn Club
Don't go there so hard to say but everyone you talk to says its very good, especially half time entertainment on match days (say no more). Quiet in the week but great venue for kiddies parties if anyone is considering it.

The Central Hotel
Beer - "Worthy Best" - well worth a visit. The pool room used to be where the real men like John Chisum and Thor hung out, but even they don't go here anymore after falling out with a previous landlord (not Keith by the way).

 

Cilfynydd

The centre of the Universe has little to offer in the way of pubs unfortunately, but fortunately in Cilfynydd international opening hours do apply. If you fancy a pint at 8:30am on a Sunday then don't panic there's always Cilfynydd. Rivals Hopkinstown and Hawthorn as the Ronnie Barker of the pub world...

The Cil Inn
This pub is the best! Full on the weekend. Pool table, karaoke - valleys style! The home of the most infamous family in the valleys... right Alun. Mind you the smoking ban must have affected trade.
 

If you need a plasterer then you'll find one in here. A short stroll from the "Albion" Kebab house too - a place of the utmost quality, black-tie only. Full breakfast every morning, open 26 hours a day (sometimes), Sunday dinners, drunken kebabs and burgers on the weekend - you name it - the Albion's got it!


 

"The Spite"
The Commercial Hotel is a huge pub with function room upstairs that needs a wedding party or a roofers and builders Christmas do to fill it! Full size snooker tables here! Wednesday night used to be "kiddies" disco but I think its shut now? If you fancy a beer with Noggin or Trigger this is the place for you.

The Con Club
Beer fairly cheap but not compared to other clubs in the area. Visited the other day and it was just the same as it always was. Good rugby or mining chat. Did make a profit when Terry was in charge but not sure whose running it now! Bingo on weekends.

Cilfynydd Rugby Club
A shadow of it's former self, although the boys are coming back slowly. Great location, over by the Cwm. 

Good on international days. Fantastic 100 year+ history. Beer is good and very cheap. Lovely lounge, but pool room needs a bit of work ... and Ian Johnson said thanks for his cap although it was a bit late.

And Mark Davies said that he wasn't offside that much, just misunderstood. Come back Chris Johns! Oh has he?

 

Treforest

Students have taken over and spoilt the old Treforest but we suppose in some ways have added a new lease of life. It could be worse though, at least Tom Jones doesn't sing here anymore. Fresh vomit, stringy kebab lettuce and carrots can be found on the pavements every night now, not just like in the old days when it was only there on the weekends. A good alternative from Ponty for a night out although thanks to the University of Glamorgan and the Students Union the opposite isn't true.

The "Cot"
The Forest or "Cot" is OK but still too many students and last we heard a few scraps here - will have to check out this rumour. Nice for a change if you live in Ponty though. Small upstairs for small parties. Popular with Seren and Gwenno when they slum it in Tref.

 

Toms
The old Wood Road club is now run by local lad and lass and have plenty of live bands most weekends. Well worth a visit.

 

The Bridge
Just down from "The Cot" was a typical student pub last time we went but someone told me its not that bad now.
 

The Otley Arms
By the station. Good beers. Mixed crowd although can also be quite studenty. Monday night it's the meeting place for the Ghost Society. Honest! We have emailed them to add a link but they haven't replied - probably scared we were zombies or they're busy floating in ether somewhere.

Flagstones
Tapas Bar with Spanish music, TV, guitars, red wine, weird beers and cushions for floor sitters. Excellent food, nice mix of ages and very reasonable. Four of us ventured in recently and ordered the menu! Easily the best place in Treforest now by a mile, but don't tell the students or it'll be over-run with the buggers in their lifeguard outfits, bargy shoulders, loud voices talking bollocks and stupid women (how the hell did they ever pass their A levels?). Could become another temporary home of the Ponty Curry Club one night me thinks...

The Rickards
Good pub. Good beers. Nice little cavern/barrel effect that the Beatles would be proud of - not quite up to Oporto's wine lodge standards but nevertheless a great pub this one! Lots of little nooks and crannies, very cute.

Raffles
The Old Rafa club, formely "Bootleggers", then the Knot Inn, now named after a famous hotel in Singapore (I'm confused?)  "More bloody students" - The Young Ones. We hear they have a cracking Chinese meal here and the chef is from Noble House or Happy Gathering or somewhere?

Quote: Yes students frequent the place, but more and more locals are using the pub due to its wonderful food, not only are they enjoying the varied menu - many are regulars for the Traditional Sunday roasts.  Also, to further encourage locals they have been providing free food during televised rugby matches. This along with a great welcome has resulted in a healthy crowd of Ponty rugby supporters using the pub and helping to create a great atmosphere - "Rob Summerhill"

Mr Snooker
Kindly reminded that you can get beer in here but haven't been in for about 100 years so not sure what else to write...

The Pick and Shovel
The old "Crown" is quite good, mix of locals and students, but way too expensive. Good on St Paddy's Day but not sure about St David's Day? Recently been done up on the back of all that student money no doubt!

 

The Social Club
On the broadway there's the excellent social club with good cheap beer as you'd expect.

The Golden Age
Typical plastic brewery pub but quite nice. OK, if you're passing through. Food quite good we hear.

The 5th Welch
Not quite as wide as our front room, but then most of us only live in a mid terrace. Bloody great! More people outside than in since the smoking ban.

 

Rhydyfelin & Hawthorn

What can you say about this quaint little hamlet that hasn't appeared in the South Wales police gazette? Only kidding, "top site" is tidy now and the helicopters are just chasing sheep. Used to be twinned with Soweto but not anymore.
 

Rhydyfelin Arms
The old Jubilee (older Duffryn) Rhydyfelin's cosmopolitan bistro bar. Recently had a makeover, will have to check it out soon. Used to be good cider here and pool table.

Rhydyfelin Rugby Club
What can you say... it's Rhydyfelin rugby club! Good local team, plenty of gossip and fighting in here. Hello to "Muck" and all the boys. Was told recently by an ex-Welsh boxing champion that he avoids it now due to all the fighting!

Non-Political Club
Ken goes here in the week for a couple. Good club, great place to top up the Viagra supply or hear what the DSS panel has to say.

The Griffin
Not sure, used to do food at tables and things but now a pub.

Labour Club
After Iraq, Kosovo, Goma, Afghanistan, New York and Sierra Leone we're still waiting for our intrepid reporter to emerge from this one with a report... in other words we're still waiting for Geraint to do this bit... come on... hurry up... where are you? Still waiting for Don McCuillin for the photo's :) We do hear it's a good place to be interviewed by the panel on the pros and cons of benefit fraud.

The Hawthorn
Used to be international drinking hours and the place to be at all hours of the day and night but changed owners a few times recently we think. Now open-plan which is better we reckon. If you don't like this write-up blame Geraint.

 

Good meeting place on rugby days with a magic taxi outside...

 

Hawthorn Leisure Centre
Big hall often has wedding do's and Richard & Ceri's parties with busty exotic dancers. Nice quiet bar with never enough bar staff serving and big dance hall. Cheap beer and a good night out. Always reminds us of school or your cousins weddings. Expensive gym and sauna downstairs unless you have a dole card.

The Upper Boat
Just off the roundabout by the Estate, a decent enough pub with "Harvester" type food.  Good place to take her for an illicit rendezvous 'cos no-one much goes here. Mind you Mark got spotted there a while back - ha ha! (Years ago Linda). Have recently heard that they do very nice food here now so may pop in for a meal to confirm soon.

The Pottery
Used to be called the "Estate Restaurant" and always full of workers on Friday afternoons from all the factories. Then the Tories closed all the factories down and they turned it into a "kiddies playground" type pub with no atmosphere. Haven't been for a while but seeing as there's less factories now and Nantgarw has a plastic pub too (Frankie & Johnny's) I doubt it's doing booming trade. Will have to pop down one night.

 

Hopkinstown

Just out of town heading towards Porth.

The Hollybush
Looks a bit run down from the outside and is no better on the inside last time we ventured up there. OK for a quiet out of the way pint. Does food too.

The Merlin
Lovely looking pub with statue of a woman on front. Cracking pub to visit before the rugby and the nearest (only one) by far. Typical valley brewery pub with pool tables etc. Went in on a Monday night, only life was Turkish Halil playing pool but a few regulars there. Good pub on match days.

 

Hopkinstown Cricket Club
24 hour drinking den (so we're told). OK, if you like cricket or beer and it's not full of alcoholic Indians.

Ty Mawr
Lovely pub just up the hill on Pantygraigwen Road. Regular with Porth boys from the '70's.

 

The Graig

Up the hill under the station bridge is a million miles away to some people but that's a shame because there is a hidden gem just a short walk up the hill...

Rose and Crown
Excellent pub! Free pool on a Wednesday, great photos of Nepal and Himalayas all over the walls, great beer, been extended lately and now has large areas for big crowds as well as loads of huge big screens for the rugby and all other sports. Lots of rugby, football, cricket etc. memorabilia on the walls too. Sky Sports. According to Derek (The Official Ponty Pub Guide's Roving Reporter) the landlord at the Rose & Crown - "Snowy" is very good at organising the catering (beer) on the train on stag trips to Newcastle. His impression of a BR announcer as we boarded at Bristol Parkway apologising for "the inconvenience we (15 drunk blokes) were about to cause" to all residents of the carriage will never be forgotten. Best pub up the Graig.
 

The Maritime Arms
Used to be The Globe and was great with "grab a granny" night but it has since been very quiet. Worth a visit though as it's opposite the Rose and Crown. Last we heard Year 8 pupils were calling it a kiddies pub!???

 

Victoria Club

This is now a pub but still looks like a club. OK, we suppose but we always feel like "the hills have eyes" when we walk in. Perhaps we should slag it off so they'd have something to stare about? Heard it's going to be turned into flats soon though - a shame that.

 

The Graig Hotel
We loved this one, but then it shut. Up the hill and stinking dirty. Have heard it's been bought and being done up, will have to check this out.
 

Morning Star
As the name suggests this pub has a proud socialist history. Need to pay another visit as someone said there's a great Chinese meal here now. Maybe the Jungle Jim has gone? If so let us know eh.

 

 

 

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