One of the very best of “counties”, an uneasy alliance of Anglesey, Conwy and Gwynedd that made Number 9 in my Top 10 series during lockdown.
Forget the pubs, this stretch of coast and mountain is one of the world’s scenic highlights.
Top Victoriana,
some of the UK’s best gardens (Bodnant, below),
and nothing beats that feeling of exhilaration after 3 hours climb up Snowdon when you reach Matthew Le Tissier.
I had real problems picking just five pubs, so I’ve tried to give a mix of styles and locations,
but I seem to have overlooked Anglesey. So feel free to nominate Ye Olde Bulls Head in Beaumaris, though in fairness that feels a bit like nominating something in Chester.
But we’ll start over the Menai, at one of the very best.
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Yes, I know the song is really about a trip to Connah’s Quay, but that didn’t scan.
The eponymous Patrick is one of the great Pub Landlords,
serving “a beautifully presented pint in a place of high standards and low banter”,
and even opening up till midnight on a Sunday to serve Duncan and your hero a local chilli-infused gin. What were we thinking of !
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If you must visit Bangor for the Victoriana and Patrick’s, you must visit Conwy for the ramparts where I lost Mrs RM,
and visit the UK’s smallest future micro.
But I guess you’ll end up at the Albion. It’s a trad, multi-roomed place,
with lots of Old Boys and lots of beers.
and you have a 88% chance of meeting an American in there. What more can I say ?
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From heritage pubs to craft bars in the most unlikely of locations. I reckon you need the lakes as well as the mountains, which sounds like a country song.
Vyrnwy is my favourite but Bala has those essential dragon boats,
and Stori might look like an expanded off-licence contrasting with the clickbait over the road at the Ship,
but there’s room in the world for craft keg and grazing platters by the lake,
though in honesty I’d be heading to Bala for the local(e) artisan ices across the road.
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From the pub by the lake to the pub on the beach,
the star of GBG’18, one of the Guide’s top scrambles over pebbles and baby sharks to a pub.
The location on the Llŷn is good enough reason to visit, but this was also a cosy all-rounder with as much trade in crafty keg as paninis.
Best views from an outside loo in the GBG, too.
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Caernarfon – Black Buoy (top)
Always good to finish with Bass.
Long before that young whippersnapper The Wickingman made Bass trendy again, the Black Buoy (I’d never noticed the “u” till now) was a stronghold for the red triangle.
Top Bass, but more than that a busy, boisterous local,
a joyful place to finish these five,
and hand over to you for a sixth.
retiredmartin 
Unusually I’m familiar with three of your choices – Patrick’s, the Albion which I used last year and the Black Boy where I stayed about five years before they added the “u” rather than renaming it the Quarryman.
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Ah, it’s the one that changed name. I remember.
You’d like the one in the Llyn, Bala less.
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My brother in law was in Patrick’s Irish Bar in Bangor yesterday afternoon, he reckoned the Ossett Yorkshire Blonde there was easily a 4.
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Hey Martin, do you still wet the bed after you’ve drank more than 3 pints?
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2.5 is more than enough. TENA pads are a life saver. Thanks for asking.
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