Pontypridd Pubs

Pontypridd might be a dirty, run-down, neglected dump but it does still have a fairly decent pub culture.

The "top-end" seems to be the place to head for at the moment with an even mix of decent pubs and kiddie disco's. The "bottom-end" is also pretty good but the middle is distinctly devoid of decent watering hole action (Clwb Y Bont apart).

Just out of town down Ynysangharad Road is the Bunch of Grapes, a beautiful old pub with lovely fireplace, stone walls and great selection of real ales. It's a 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!

Possibly the best pub in town is the Llanover Arms? 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 also 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. I'd maybe change the church pews for settees and mend the broken benches in the back room but that "broken" feel also adds charm surely? The beer garden with matching A470 view has had some restoration work, probably sparked off by the visit of old layabout Tom Jones a few years back. 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) and the Ponty Curry Club (as featured on the BBC's "I Love Wales" with Iolo Williams).

Globetrotters Bar is upstairs at the back of the Llanover and is 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 & rugby, 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. 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).

The Maltsters is up for sale at time of writing so hopefully good news to follow. If you can put up with the riverside rats this place could be a goldmine. 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!).

The Muni Arts Centre, Ponty's only cinema, has a nice quiet little bar, and they do serve beer (if you can call it that!)

Aqua is a newish 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? Sometimes becomes a lap dancing bar. Guess student loans are hard to pay back these days.

Alfreds is nice and new and 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 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.

Clwb-Y-Bont is the 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. You can also learn Welsh here, and they have excellent bands every weekend. 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. Fridays see a couple of guitars and a sing-song which is well worth a visit if you're passing through. Involved in the Full Ponty fringe events too, although the Pop Factory usually organize them (which is a shame). The biggest big screen in the whole world, if not in RCT - ideal for rugby matches.

The Celtic Club is for members only and men only, and so 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.

Bar Inc is the new, old Angharads, re-branded. Long gone are the days Davis used to stand outside on Christmas Day dressed only in a tutu. We also 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.

Next up, the Celtic Pride. Always full on the weekends with a mix of ages and always full for a few days after "dole day". Music's usually too loud (or maybe I'm 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 and the BBC.

The Greyhound has lost 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. A bit expensive though.

The Tumble is 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. 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 is a 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 is better known as the "House of Pain". It certainly 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.

The Graigwen Club or District Club is the premier music venue and 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.

Official Website
Ponty Town website