please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Pontcanna Inn, as the ex-Cayo is now called, offered four ales tonight, all in the craft groove I'd say, from VOG, mainly.
The high chairs, I have to say, are well-designed and comfortable. (You can always surprise yourself. Can't you, Theresa?)
The default glasses are, however, dimpled pint pots, so if that ain't your cwpan te, then don't say that you weren't told.
The downdraught from the aircon was quite nice too.
But, for all that, we went to the Cricketers, for a less-challenging pint of Evan Evans after just the one.
|
You're writing 'for the community'...see your vet...!?
|
Yes, Cayo Evans was leader of the Free Wales Army. However, it was in 1969 that he was imprisoned for conspiracy to cause explosions, and not in the 1970s as I wrongly wrote.
The area round The Pontcanna Inn, formerly the Cayo Arms, is home to many of Cardiff's Welsh-speaking residents, a few of whom were perhaps Cayo's erstwhile comrades, and I owe it to them to be precise.
I'm writing for the community of this pub's customers, not for, say, white van man from Reigate, who will never visit.
Whatever, TPI gets eight-out-of-ten from me.
|
Your historical facts are inaccurate. Views on what a 'jolly wheeze' - infantile.
Why not just type about pub standards, beer etc. - it's what this site is about.
|
Cayo was a Welsh nationalist, jailed in the 1970s for trying to blow up a BBC transmitting station, if I summarise correctly.
We bumped into one of his comrades (I perhaps won't name him), in the Halfway, just down the road not so long back. He was staring rather solemnly into his beer.
I suppose that he might well have been. There was once a time, when the odd jolly wheeze, such as the Brighton hotel bombing, meant that our rulers were at least scared of something. Nothing appears to frighten the wretched low-life these days, does it?
Well, if you have any sentiment for those days, then you'll possibly be disappointed to learn that the Cayo, after a period of some months closure, is now open again, but under the name of The Pontcanna Inn.
Still, if so, then dry your eyes, dear hearts. This now a fine pub-cum-restaurant-cum-hotel. The décor is stylishly traditional and solid, light, but not insipid. The selection of beers is pretty damned decent, and fairly priced too.
"To the future" (whatever that might be.)
|
Oh, it has a fairly decent quiz too.
|
A range of real ales, quite jolly, frequented by plenty of Welsh-speakers.
|
Marstons pub in a pleasant suburban area of Cardiff. The interior was light and airy and there is a pleasant patio at the front for outdoor drinking. The selection was Pedigree, EPA & Hobgoblin. DIdn't stay long. There are better pubs around here. But you might as well give this one a try if you're in the area.
|
As the 2 pubs near to The Cayo (Mochyn Du and Cricketers) have got better, this place has nose dived! I haven't been here for over a year but I'm sure that the number of handpumps has been considerably reduced. The 4 left were all displaying pump clips for beer from the Marstons range but (I assume that they have employed an ex wetherspoons manager) only 1 beer was available. As that was Hobgoblin, I departed without leaving behind any of my money. Not surprisingly, there were no customers in here at lunchtime.
|
Wandered in on a Monday evening for a bit of grub and a pint, had the place to ourselves until gradually people began to turn up clutching musical instruments, violins, guitars, accordians etc. and gave us a concert. The food wasn't bad when it eventually arrived the beer was good and the music, given that they were rehearsing, was very acceptable.
|
Seems to be Marstons loose tie ? Wasnt impressed , beer quality more than questionable , food was very " format " - wouldnt go back
|
My first visit to Cardiff - what a friendly pub. Large, convivial spacious bar and outside seating, very well kept ale from Thomas Watkins.
|
Just had a refurb looks great. Rooms look pretty good too, friends staff and nice atmosphere. will return again.
JaneR - 10 Aug 2010 15:25 |
Convenient for the football/cricket/rugby and easy to find, this is a really pleasant place to visit with good beer (notably the Tomos Watkins brews) and a wide range of good-value food in comfortable surroundings. Though not a traditional "authentic locals" pub, this is probably the best choice (especially if combined with the adjacent Y Mochyn Du) for the stranger to Cardiff on a day trip to refresh themselves in friendly surroundings.
|
A much safer and more pleasant pub than all the other filthy, dangerous, piss-infested larger dens of Cowbridge Road in Canton. Here the landlord is amicable, the beer garden is pleasant and the decor is nice.
The best pub within a 1 mile radius.
|
Great Pub get there every year ,when visiting Beer Festival ,good food
and friendly staff .lets see more welsh beer in the north west of england !
|
Great pub. Tomas Watkins beers and cider, and a selection of others. Great relaxed atmosphere for just lounging around in the big comfy chairs. I could sit here and drink all day. One of my favourite pubs.
|
Very nice pub near Sophia Gardens serving a variety of different ales - as GuideDog Saint said, nice to see a change from the ubiquitous Brains in Cardiff.
|
Visited pub recently as Norwich were playing Cardiff. Enjoyed a decent pint of Hoggy's Night Watchman from Marstons. Not a bad pub to visit near Sophia Gardens. It was quiet for a Saturday lunchtime with more Norwich supporters than anyone else.
|
Visited after my disappointment of the Mochyn Du,this pub was an improvement but again not what I was expecting. The day outside was quite hot and inside the pub was stiflingly hot. The doors were wedged opened,counteracting any aircon the pub might have had,and letting all the cancer clag blow in. Poorly wiped tables were filled with garish chain pub menus(worse than wetherspoons!).Titanic ale was ok though a little hazy and tired. The barmen and woman just wanted to have their conversation instead of knocking the place into shape. Expected better,had one and left.
|
Enjoyed a Tomos Watlkin beer, and had Marston Old Umpire that may well be Old Empire. Nice pub.
|
Continued from below, it really would help if we could edit reviews.
Not sure what happened there! Back to the review.
...Chwarae Teg. Started with the Wild Mule which was on the turn although I think it probably does have a bit of an odd taste, very fruity. Rest of the beers I tried were fine.
Apart from a few locals it was mostly us in there.
Food ok, had a Mexican burger which was fine.
A change from the usual Brains pubs.
|
Visited on Saturday as Saints were playing Cardiff. Pedigree, Banks's Original, Roosters Outlaw Wild Mule, Thwaites Double Century and Tomos Watkins OSB and
|
This used to be a fantastic Tomos Watkins pub, really well kept ales and a 'go-to place' a few years ago. Moved back to Cardiff last year and although it is still (arguably) the best pub in Cardiff, this gem has lost a little lustre.
Bought by Marstons and although it does have a good selection of ales, they don't have the 'must-try' factor that ales served here used to. Food has also gone from very good to average (again, Marstons and their "glossy menu" antics). Still, has a couple of Tomos Watkins beers and is FANTASTIC for match days.
|
Have visited this pub several times over the last few years, but this is tht first time of commenting...called in around 6pm on a Sunday evening. Fairly sparsely populated, flatscreens everywhere and volume FAR too loud. Excellent range of beer as always, "food all day" didn't apply at the time we were in. At it's best on matchdays when very busy, rather than the half-hearted atmosphere we found on this occasion. Still worth searching out for the Tomos Watknis beer, though.
|
Returned to the much loved Caio after a few years of not being in Cardiff and whilst it's still a good pub, my fond memories of it were not quite relived as I remembered them. It gains lots of extra bonus points by virtue of the fact that it's one of the only places in Cardiff you can go for a pint of Tomos Watkin and escape the clutches of Brains Brewery, but the beer doesn't seem as well kept these days, although possibly this is a cellar issue owing to the hot weather we were having at the time. The food has unfortunately gone 'ping' cuisine as well though unfortunately and was rather disappointing.
|
This is the best place to go to during the Match Days. A very nice pub with a very cozy atmosphere.Food is superb and the service is excellent.Prices are reasonable/worth paying for.Staff and the management are doing a great job.I'll say 10 out of 10 for this pub.
anonymous - 7 Mar 2006 10:31 |
Wouldn't go quite so far as Rich66 but this is unquestionably a decent pub with a good range of beers. I found the huge space of the lounge a bit disconcerting - it was more like being in a hotel lobby than a pub and thoought that the atmosphere suffered as a result although no doubt it is jumping on match days. Still well worth a visit and not too far from the desert that is the city centre (Goat Major excepted)
|
As a Londoner who was recommended this pub by a Welsh friend, I went some distance out of my way to find it (stopping off in Cardiff on route to a rugby match in Bridgend) and it was well worth it. looks like a big posh house from the outside, and as you walk through the door the decor and ambience is suitably tasteful. If a pub like this was in London it would be full of unbearable poseurs, but here the clientele seemed to consist entirely of decent down-to-earth people. There was a wide range of real ales, from the local Tomos Watkin and Brains breweries (four and two respectively), plus Draught Bass and Old Speckled Hen. I sampled Watkin OSB and Brains Rev. James, both of which were superb, both �2.40 a pint - don't know if that's expensive for the city or not as I couldn't tear myself away to visit anywhere else. Also very conveniently situated for Glamorgan CCC matches at Sophia Gardens. Definitely a 10 out of 10 from me.
|
As well as Brains beer, it also has half a dozen ales from the excellent Tomos Watkins brewery including Braf and OSB among others. As the previous poster mentioned there is a welcoming atmosphere. Accommodation also available.
|
perhaps one of the finest establishments in the greatest city in the world,if there is one place you should wet your whistle this is it-its superb, and truly explodes on match days. One of the finest pubs in cardiff, the atmosphere is so welcoming and it is truely a delight to sip a Brains in here.
anonymous - 17 May 2005 20:13 |
