Pub of the Month
Location: Taffs Well

Click here for larger image of Fagan's

This month we tested the pubs of Taffs Well (near Cardiff). Penarth was our original choice but the train service was so p!ss poor that we hopped off the train early.

Crossing over the bridge on the Cardiff side, we walked down a rather intimidating, unlit alleyway and turned right to find The Anchor awaiting:
This pub had a country feel about it, with a wood panelled interior, plush red velvet seating and naval pictures. To be honest, the bar was virtually dead, but the lounge had a bit more life. There was a wide selection of drinks on view including: Stella, special Vat, Pedigree, Brains, Guinness, Murphy's and various wines. We sampled the reasonably priced Tomas Watkins on the pull, and it wasn't too bad either. The restaurant at the back looked alright and boasted a fairly cheap menu, but a liquid lunch is all we required so we ventured on.

Our next port of call, a five-minute walk up the road, was the Taffs Wells Hotel. This place had a homely feel and seemed to be full of forty-something locals. The main lounge was decorated with country plates, horse brasses and rather bizarrely a coach wheel against one of the walls. The friendly bar maid, who served us pints of Tetleys and Brains, told us they had occasional live music but she had no idea when!
The rather couply looking restaurant at the back seemed okay, though of more interest was the excellent beer garden (with a bloody briliant view of the mountains, fair play). On the downside, there was no bog paper in the gents - sacrilege in anyone's book!

Last up, further along the road, is is our pub of the month, Fagins. This regular winner of Camra awards is by far the liveliest around and has a mature-studenty clientele. It comprises a large square room with flagstone floor, tables to the sides and about the gaudiest colours on the walls and doors we've ever seen. The black-beamed ceiling was adorned with Welshisms such as: fair doos, wadger wan now and eyespect. Everyone, including the first smart birds we'd seen, seemed to be drinking real ale (the place had over a dozen on offer, with weekly changes to boot). So we joined them, ordering pints of Cocker Hoop and 1744, though Gerwyn insisted on his usual bottle of Bud - the sad git!
The restaurant menu had everything from Top-nosh to the greasy spoon, but we still had Chip Shop of the Month to do...........................

Pub Score: 9leeks out of 10
Crawl Score: 6 leeks out of 10