I’m sure Richard would have had something to say about the carpets in the Cadwgan, But I know he’d appreciate the beauty of Aberaeron, a place I can’t believe I’ve spelt correctly so far.
Only a second trip to the Times reader’s favourite West Welsh resort (I didn’t actually do any research for that, don’t sue), the last in 2015 while we stayed in a caravan in New Quay like real people do.
Like a lot of Wales, it’s the colour that gets you.
It looks very grey in these photos, so perhaps it was.
I bought a tub of pate from the deli in Market Street, and came to the conclusion that although the Landlord of the Cadwgan was sitting outside at 11.30 he wasn’t letting me in early.
So I did the town walk, using the little town guide from the TIC. Plenty of towns larger than Aberaeron have long dispensed with tourist information, but then when the internet hasn’t arrived you need a human to look at lists of lodgings for you.
I expected the Cadwgan to be packed with seadogs and confused Yanks when I arrived at 12:08, but it was just me.
Admit it. It looks great.
A beer from Bradford (why ?), a beer from Wisbech (why ?), a beer from Cardiff. Easy choice, then.
A wordless transaction, some dull music I’ve forgotten, a Hancocks HB I left.
There was no-one at the bar, I didn’t want an argument about a half that wasn’t quite vinegar. So I left it, without even the joy of a plant drenching.
Just shows, good looking pubs with great beer are the exception, not the rule.
retiredmartin 
I’ve thought that a beautiful town both times we drove through it. Your pics confirm it.
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“If they moved their cars it’d be better” or if they painted their cars orange, blue and yellow to match their houses.
“Something to say about the carpets” might be that commensurate with it being at the seaside the pattern is of maritime signal flags and it spells out something quite rude.
Worthington beer mats proves how popular that beer, albeit keg here, is in Wales.
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It wouldn’t surprise me if the keg Worthy outsold any of the cask beers.
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“outsold any of the cask beers” . or outsold all of the cask beers ?
That Felinfoel pub reminds me that the great majority of that brewery’s output is nitrokeg, and I don’t think Brains is much different. You don’t get that with the long established English breweries. .
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Facts are sacred, but however humble, they nonetheless confer their holiness on those in their possession. Did you know, that a Jerusalem artichoke is in fact the tuberous root of a kind of sunflower? Bless you all.
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Reg,
Not many people know that in 1189 a dozen regulars of a then quite modern Nottingham pub set off on a long journey so that they could introduce Jerusalem artichokes to Britain.
A couple of years later the pub’s best selling dish was Crispy Jerusalem Artichokes with Roasted Garlic and Rosemary, served with locally sourced broccoli for a groat – and it went very well with Kimberley Best Mild.
Had the adventurers thought to stop off in Flanders on their way home for some hop plants there would have been the choice of Kimberley Best Bitter.
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1189 marks the end of Time Immemorial in English law.
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I hold dear the idea that one of my South Korean readers will one day find this information useful.
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Indeed, and hopefully find its way into a proper history book !
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I’ve been to Aberaeron a couple of times, but always before the sun is over the yardarm, so I’ve never been in a pub there. According to WhatPub, it has seven pubs, which is pretty good going for a town with a population of 1,422.
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“before the sun is over the yardarm” – that’s no excuse, but the first one out of the line might be !
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That is astonishing. Always looks busier than a town of 1,422. Possibly more cafes than pubs!
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“seven pubs” and a “Craft Centre” highlighted in blue on the map.
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On a curious note, how much say does this pub have in what beers are on? Does it specifically request those beers or is it limited by what he can order through his distributor or even by what is on the delivery truck? I’ve never been sure how flexible beer selection is for pubs that are not tightly tied. I would think the limitations would only increase in a remote location like this…
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I’d guess this is a free house, but they probably use a regular distributor who may suggest particular beers of the week or month. Sometimes pubs like this will have one pump for a local microbrewery who deliver direct, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. The pub will also have to bear in mind the types of beers they know will sell.
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I overheard the previous lessee of my nearest pub say something like “I have whatever’s on offer” so that’s whichever was cheapest.
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Indeed.
The one thing I won’t repeat on this blog are the details of what licensees pay for beer but “the cheapest as long as it’s not that Cotswold muck” sums it up.
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Given this their ability to have a “choice” seems rather narrow. Interesting info. Great interpretation Paul! Love it.
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But many average sized towns can only really support a couple of pubs with the “choice” of several interesting or “inspiring” beers.
In the great majority of pubs it’s more about “84% of ale drinkers want to see at least one nationally recognised ale brand on the bar”.
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Spot on.
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As I’m sure you’ve wrote before, the problem with a lot of modern beers is the pub regulars won’t have a clue what their pint is going to be like by looking at the label.
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I don’t think the choice is particularly narrow. I’m no expert, but I’d guess that beer distributors actually have quite a range of cask ales to choose from, but may well tend to have offers on particular beers at various times which may influence licensees’ selection.
If you’re running a generalist pub, you’re unlikely to have either the knowledge or enthusiasm to be constantly researching and sourcing beers from all over the country. Plus you’re also limited by what you can actually get delivered – a brewery in County Durham isn’t going to want to supply a single cask to a pub in West Wales. Therefore free trade licensees are to a large extent dependent on wholesalers.
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All good points.
I think we can overstate the enthusiasm of a generalist pub for rare, trendy or local beers.
The Druid certainly took an interest in local breweries though, probably a free house.
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“the pub regulars won’t have a clue what their pint is going to be like by looking at the label” nor me.
“beer distributors actually have quite a range of cask ales to choose from” – yes, LWD, who are active in the Midlands and North, offer “2679 products” under “beer & cider” though not all are cask. There’s quite a considerable difference between the prices of firkins of real ale, and not all as one might expect.
.
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Great colours, town and pub, but such gloomy grey skies, must try harder Martin.
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Sadly even I can’t improve on the skies with my clever filters.
Pembrokeshire looked stunning the night before, though.
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Timing is everything.
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Anyway, here’s a sunnier picture of Aberaeron from 2014:
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Shane about the cask ale lottery bit Welsh pubs look great…apart from Holyhead
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There’s also a fair bit of grot and tat in Welsh pubs that rarely makes it to the GBG.
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LAF,
Shifnal won’t be a lottery.
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I suspect they’re quite lively, though.
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You are convincing me Paul 😉
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LAF,
Suggest dates you could do and a few of us should soon get round Shifnal with you.
We’ve got a Proper Day Out in Preston on Friday 23rd August and I’ve suggested one in Bristol on Friday 30th August and so Shifnal might best be between 20th July and 20th August, and a Friday is usually best for Pete from Birmingham.
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