HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY No. 56 – NORTH-EAST WALES.

I bet few of you could tell you where North-east Wales starts and stops; from that muddy bit south of the Wirral along the caravan coast to Rhyl (?), then down to posh Llangollen and east to Wrexham Industrial estates ?

Yes. Something like that.

Rolling beaches,

dark clouds, flint villages,

and the gorgeous Clwydian range.

And Hollywood (Wrexham) branch. Sadly Wrexham’s most famous Spoons was sold on. Boooo.

So a fine area, but a struggle to find five great, representative pubs, possibly because most of the newer ones on this blog were all micros.

But I’ll give it a go…

Trevalyn – Griffin

In the posh villages just north of Wrexham, this one doesn’t have greeters and tractors, except in the lanes on the approach from Rossett.

I’d walk, if I were you.

Flagstones, pizza and pool,

pulled pork paninis and pale,

a pub cat called Pete Rocky,

Cosy is the word.

—–

Prestatyn – Archies

I’m not sure anything in Prestatyn could be called “cosy”,

but it does have a place or two to pitch your campervan, and in Archie’s it has one of those cafe bar frontages you associate with towns that beer deserts,

which is possibly why Mrs RM had the whole bottle of Merlot to herself,

but the decent and generously proportioned food,

George Michael soundtrack, top service and the best pint of Flintshire Bitter in the kingdom of Flint (NBSS 4.5) put this in my list. Oh, and the barman talked enthusiastically about his beers, which always terrifies me.

But it’s not the best pub in Prestatyn. That’s the Halcyon Quest, which is just too good to tell you about.

—–

Llandderfel – Bryntirion

We had good food at the Bryntirion, tucked away near the approach to Lake Bala, but it was better than the turnip stew advertised outside.

Welsh pubs often have great ancient signage, and it’s not an affectation.

This is a lovely village pub visited by gentlefolk, often solo,

often reading from an eclectic library.

After a bit of a wait, the landlady shows up, bright and breezy and 20 minutes later we’re eating homemade lamb stew made out of ACTUAL Welsh lamb and chatting about campervans, and when the Old Boys turn up for their lunches and it’s a different world.

—–

Kinmel Arms – Waen, Llandyrnog (currently closed, but we live in hope)

Into the Clwydian range for another relaxing, slightly more foodie place. Perhaps that Greenalls ash tray is an affectation.

It’s an unfussy sort of place, the type of family pub you get in De Beauvoir Town except there it’s a bit artificially unfussy.

Perhaps a bit child-friendly for some of you; pool table rendered unusable by toddlers toys, toddler on the charge round the pub. Don’t complain, you were young once, before you became a bar fly.

More Marston’s. Can’t promise they’ve still got the Bitter.

To be fair, I can’t promise they’ll be any Marston beers in 6 months time (ooh, topical).

And as noted in comments, not currently open. Rural Welsh pubs relying on some passing trade have a tenuous existence.

—–

Connah’s Quay – Ship

Connah’s Quay ! You’re joking ?

A sentimental pick, mainly for Delicious Chinese whose chips and sweet and sour sauce sustained me while waiting for the RAC man to fix my Pop Plus 30 years ago.

But the Ship (What Pub – “Simple no frills local on the main drag“) deserves your custom.

Why ? Well, the banter, obviously.

“Went to a wedding with a £1 bar last night.  My head hurts”

“£1 !  The world’s yer lobster”

“Gin Gan Gu !”   What does that mean ?

And the beer, beautifully served in the wrong glass, was the case for that old maxim;

“One beer is plenty”.

Over to you for a sixth. It’s going to be a micro in Mold, isn’t it ?

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

24 thoughts on “HALF A DOZEN PUBS IN EVERY GBG COUNTY No. 56 – NORTH-EAST WALES.”

  1. The Kinmel Arms in Llandyrnog closed three years ago. Three Pigeons in Graigfechan , Raven in Llanarmon-Yn-Ial or Miners Arms in Maeshafn are all good options.

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      1. Unfortunately I don’t have that much influence, but the planners do. Various people have proposed glamping, caravaning etc, and the council insist on the pub reopening as a condition. That would be much appreciated as the only remaining village pub is dreadful.

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  3. I’ve been catching the train from Prestatyn a lot recently and have been accidentally arriving too
    early, so was about to recommend the HQ Pencadlys, the new name for refurbished Halcyon Quest (‘pencadlys’ is Welsh for ‘headquarters’ in case you’re wondering WTF as I was) but then read you sort of did! Was there what seemed like a wooden lifeboat stuck to the ceiling when you were there? What have the local Camra branch (who I assume are mainly Scousers or Scousers-lite) got against the towns of Denbigh and Rhuthin?

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    1. Really odd. I went to HQ in 2014, fell in love, Top 5 pub. No pics.

      Went back 3 years later and did Archies and that other modern bar before ending up at HQ. Absolutely brilliant phone out of battery. Hard to explain.

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    2. As a local member and non Scouser I can confirm that there are no decent pubs in Denbigh. Masons Arms passable at a push but typically only serves one Facer’s beer. Most are keg only now.
      The Llindir at Henllan, 2 miles out, is interesting but the service can be off.
      Ruthin is really disappointing given the quality of the town. The Spoons is (currently) in the guide but the service is slovenly, which is particularly surprising since it’s a hotel.
      If you can name a reasonable pub in the town, please let me know.

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      1. Thanks for responding.

        Only serving one beer, albeit Facers, surely only elevates a pub’s standing, at least according to RM’s strict and sensible metrics!

        Denbigh was where I went out on a Saturday in my teens, when cask was only a twinkle in my eye, but I do confess it’s near impossible to find cask there now. My parents retired to Denbigh a few years ago, near Brookhouse Mill, which had cask I think for while before closing under sad circumstances – mum’s heard (second or third hand) it’s just been bought by someone runs either a pub or hotel in Llandudno, which is promising. When visiting I get my fix in the Railway, but it’s a bit run stark, and my retinas can’t cope with the Mason’s plasma screens, although it’s a popular place. I only discovered Y Goron Fach micro just before Covid, from which it never reopened.

        I lived in Ruthin briefly a decade ago, and frequented the Park Place, which was bit rough around the edges, but I liked the landlord (Dafydd(?) the wrestler). It’s now another one-Facer’s pub as well according to Untappd. I drank in the Feathers, which had Landlord.

        I can’t argue that these places are any way as picturesque as all the country pubs selected, but the north east selections on the map seem lacking in town centre options for those who don’t have the luxury or the inclination to be chauffeured around. Cob and Pen in Rhyl is also

        But I will certainly rise to your challenge and make an effort to visit more pubs in Denbigh and Ruthin which are at the very least passable and serve cask.

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      2. I think my point about one-beer Facers pubs is that the beer is not great; it’s a step up from Doom Bar-only but that’s notvsaying much.
        Park Place also falls into this category, plus Dafydd is an acquired taste and the pub is best generously described as “unimproved”.
        Feathers not bad but very bright and I’m put off by the codgers seemingly permanently sat at the end of the bar and incapable of speaking without swearing incontinently.
        Good hunting.

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  6. Agreed the Bridge End at Ruabon seems an obvious omission, together with the Fox at Ysceifiog.

    I always find the overall standard of pubs in this area a little disappointing.

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    2. For some reason I never see the Bridge End as Welsh. I was there a little while ago, the opening hours have been curtailed a bit but beer choice and quality fine.
      Fox is a good shout, beer still remarkably cheap and something from Cwrw Llyn normally on.

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