U.K. Pub Report CARDIFF, Wales (Caerdydd in Welsh) Text and photos by Owen Ogletree, Brewtopia Events LLC www.ClassicCityBrew.com January, 2008

The Impressive Millennium Centre on Cardiff Bay

In late December of 2007 Owen and Kerri were able to visit the Welsh city of Cardiff.  Being big fans of the new BBC Wales version of the science fiction television series Doctor Who, we were anxious to see the city where many of the episodes are filmed.  We also visited the Cardiff Doctor Who exhibition and the Millennium Center near Cardiff Bay.  Cardiff is the capital of Wales located in the southwest portion of Great Britain.  Wales has its own ancient language, and no visit to the city is complete without a tour of the historic Cardiff castle.  This website focuses on some of the best real ale pubs we visited while in Cardiff.  Most of the city's real ale was made up of beers from the local Brain's brewery.

Brewtopia Events Beer Guide to Selected Cities Commercial Beers Blind Tasting Results BBC Wales' new versions of Doctor Who and Torchwood TV series are filmed in and around Cardiff.

Heathcock 58 Bridge Street Llandaff area The Heathcock pub is a pleasant walk from Cardiff castle toward the Llandaff suburb.  This is very much a community pub, but still very welcoming to visitors.  Adnams beers are featured - along with some nice Indian dishes and other pub fare. The Vulcan 10 Adam Street Cardiff This old gem of a pub now sits by itself in the middle of a cleared parking area on an industrial street near the heart of Cardiff.  Walk inside and you will feel transported back to the early part of the 20th century.  Vulcan serves Brains cask ales and has a cult following of die-hard Cardiff fans.  Perhaps this lovely old pub will be spared while redevelopment occurs all around it. Mochyn Du (Black Pig) Sophia Close Cardiff This friendly pub is now a free house (able to stock beers from any available brewery).  The Black Pig is just a ten minute walk along the river from the center of Cardiff and is very proud of its Welsh heritage.  Very traditional.  The Goat Major 33 High Street Near Cardiff Castle Just around the corner from Cardiff Castle is the delightful Goat Major pub.  Named for the traditional goat mascot of a historical Cardiff military group, this pub has held on to much of its original interior decor and charm.  Good pub food is offered at lunchtime, and a colorful crowd of Cardiff regulars can be found at the bar most days.  The cask-conditioned, real ales from Brains are very well maintained. The Cottage 25 St. Mary Street Cardiff Nice pub in the middle of the bustling nightclub area of town.  Good cask ales from Brains are served alongside hearty pub fare.  Be sure to look over the historic photographs of old Cardiff that adorn the pub's interior walls. The Old Arcade 14 Church Street Cardiff The Old Arcade is a very traditional pub located near Cardiff's city center.  TVs around the place feature local sporting events, and the cask ales are from Brains. Chapter Arts Centre Pub Market Road Canton area  This pub is nestled in the front lobby area of the local arts center.  The center has a cinema and theater, and the bar area offers some extremely interesting food items, several rare cask ales and ciders and many intriguing bottled beers from different countries.  The colorful artwork will make you dizzy if you stare too hard.   Other Cardiff Pubs of Note... Albany - 105 Donald Street.  Brains ales in a student area of town. Beverley Hotel - 75 Cathedral Road.  Friendly hotel bar with varied range of nice real ales. Butchers Arms - 29 Llandaff Road, Canton. Cayo Arms - 36 Cathedral Road.  Popular pub with one bar area and a good range of interesting guest ales.