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 "middle to bottom" of town seems to be the place to head for at the moment (not that you'll find many students brave enough to jog there from Trefforest though) with a new real ale bar, Alfreds grab a granny and extortionate fish, hippy CYB and the Llanover & 'Globes' of course. The police finally closed down one drug den whilst another is up for sale and so its not as bad walking the streets these days as it was the last few.

 

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! New photos to be added too.

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, poets, rock stars 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 recently changed hands. 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!). Do meals but haven't sampled.

 

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?

The Patriot

New "Real Ale" bar opposite Iceland in Taff St.  Great place for a bar, much needed and we hear that beer fans are most welcome! Small bar area which obviously isn't quite finished yet, but the beer was "fantastic!" Fingers crossed this will continue. Friendly barmaids and landlord.

 

The Rhymney Dark 4% and Export 5% didn't half hit the spot - nice relaxed atmosphere and plenty of good banter. Easily the best beer in Ponty and good prices too!

 

Blueberry
... or should that be "Muffin's" or "Raspberries" (thanks Dan)? Popped in for a beer Saturday and whilst not wanting to sound negative the "feng shui" which spoiled the old Market Tavern is still all wrong! Very expensive looking bricks, tiles, slates, copper, stone, wood etc. etc. and there lies the problem - too much of everything! Looks a bit Harry Potter but not really gothic enough, not really, anything really? Don't think it would win any awards on Grand Designs! Maybe Grand cock-ups?

Having said this, did have a very good pint of Theakstons Dark for less than £3. Food place looked very nice, although heard from a friend they had a terrible experience on first night - £10 for a burger which was crap and took over an hour to arrive. Sounds like Alfreds, which has improved greatly, so maybe just teething problems.

Upstairs is a sort of Roman orgy style French chic type thing - perfect for lots of sober people, so an interesting concept in Ponty - how that will work will be interesting. Downstairs due to be a paying nightclub.

 

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 (similar to Le Monde, Cardiff where you pick your own kangaroo steak etc. and prices to match). Run by the Market Company and seems to cater for the older generation (think that's us nowadays), 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 seem to want to charge £2 entry after 10pm which is a complete rip-off for a pub and so on principle never enter when this is the case. Also have a problem with not 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, Barney, El Presidente and Lil Rich to name but a few. You can also learn Welsh here, and they have excellent bands most weekends.

 

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. Personally I'd like to see the place market itself as an African theme pub but I'm kinda weird like that. Seems to alternate between being completely empty and rammed full. Choose wisely and visit for a few pints... otherwise some scumbag local businessmen may buy the place and ruin it! You have been warned.

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.

 

Tratoria's
Good Italian eatery & bar - need to visit soon to update this hopeless review. Maybe they could give us a free meal to do so? Wife has been there lots (ah, that's where my wages go) and says it's lovely.

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?!

 

White Hart (now Soul Suite?)
Some new blues band bar? Will visit soon... Actually have tried to visit a few times but they never want to let us in without charging us. Principles again. Heard from a friend it's rubbish but hopefully will change and get some good bands in as town needs more live music venues.
 

Greyhound
Gone are the pickled eggs and old men dead in the corner. Quite trendy now, in a valleys sort of way. Could 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 never stored/served properly. Not as cheap as it could be especially if you want to drink drinkable beer as you need to buy bottled Becks, Stella etc. 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. 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. OK to spot valley talent before it heads to Kudos or alleyway.

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 and seems to have gone downhill since opening.

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 2000 after the Muppet era (still more than C****** get at away games though). The beer, "Bass" 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 still really 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. At least Leicester fans tell us this.

The beer, banter and knowledge is first class, as long as you agree with who you're 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 & orange. Who said that?!

 

"Duffys"
The ex-servicemen's club above Sardis Rd in Maesycoed is a small, very cheap place for a beer and a show. Haven't been for years but worth a visit before the club I guess.

 

Graigwen Club - 01443 402550
The District club premier music venue has very good beer and could well be the cheapest beer on the planet 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. Anyone who likes reality TV can stay away. Much under-used drinking hole and should be visited more often. Haunt of all the old rockers in town - great stuff!

Latest gossip:
Everest curry house still threatened with new Beirut II development but will be takeaway in New Year 2011 - phew!

 

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 Royal Oak
The pub itself gets more custom these days because the "Bassett" is shut and the "Central" & "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 but the lovely huge beer garden has been sold off for housing - what a waste.

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. Also used for local Karate club which is great.

The Central Hotel
For Sale, not sure what it's like lately.

 

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
New landlord, good food we hear, need to re-visit soon.

 

This pub used to be the best! Not sure what's happening at mo though. 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 changed the old Treforest but 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"
Heard this is going to be a Wetherspoons?

 

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.

 

 

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 (you decide if that's good or bad). 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 and can't get an internet connection to grace us with a reply. Great place to see Steve the pirate dance a Scottish jig to the bagpipes (yes, has to be seen to be believed!). Fishing Club also meet here as well as lots of locals. Great real ale list.

Flagstones
Tapas Bar with Spanish music, TV, guitars, red wine, trendy beers for people who wouldn't know anything about beer and cushions for floor sitters. Excellent food, nice mix of ages and very reasonable, apart from the weird beers which you'll need a second mortgage for. Four of us ventured in recently and ordered the entire menu! One of the best places in Treforest, 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?). Shit, too late. 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. Dewi (ex-CYB) has helped give the place a bit of a makeover and some great real ales now. We also hear the Sunday lunch is pretty good. They also do a curry night and breakfasts. The breakfasts are in the morning in case you were wondering.

Raffles
Shut at the moment...

 

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! Quite lively most days.

 

Barini's
New bar, next door to student Tesco. Large open plan area, nice decor, could do with some of Dave's great photos on the wall maybe? Had a pint of Hobgoblin which was nice. Food upstairs.

 

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.

 

Treforest AFC

Community club with a host of teams from 6yrs up to seniors. Two bars and great facilities. Also popular with students.

 

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 these days. Used to be twinned with Soweto but not anymore.
 

Rhydyfelin Rugby Club
Have spent a lot of money upgrading the club in the past couple of years and not only run senior rugby sides but also a near full junior/mini section as well as darts and pool teams (for women as well as men). The club has refurbished the bar, lounge and upstairs kitchen. CCTV cameras throughout the club and also one of few venues with SKY TV.  Open from 12pm.

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.

Rhydyfelin Arms
The old Jubilee (older Duffryn) Rhydyfelin's cosmopolitan bistro bar. Closed and up for let?

 

Labour Club
After Iraq, Kosovo, Rwanda, 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. Sunday dinners good if you like tons of gravy drowning your food.

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). They do quite a cheap Sunday lunch which is ok if you can't be bothered with the dishes one weekend.

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.

 

The Green Rooms
Small very friendly live band venue down Trefforest Industrial Estate. Very cheap beer, £1.70 a bottle and great bands. Worth a taxi. Bring some friends and the place will be rammed!

 

Hopkinstown

Just out of town heading towards Porth.

The Hollybush
Closed?

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. Hear it's going to be extended again, which should make it the same size as Dewi Sant hospital. 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 by a mile!
 

The Maritime Arms
Up for sale.

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!??? Up for auction at the moment.

 

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, although I'm guessing it's just a down and outs / probation place now. Maybe the Jungle Jim has gone? If so let us know eh.

 

 

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