Going to Cardiff for a few days next month

[Gromit]

Brix'll never find Chapter...tis tuck away IMO

From the Mariot he walks to the Goat Major, Westgate Tavern, Kings Castle, (maybe pop in the Codfather for some chips) The Foresters, Admiral Napier, The Ivor Davies, The Goscombe, The Corporation, Turn right to the Butchers Arm and then left to the Chapter.

Tis easy. Hic!

 

[softybabe]

From the Mariot he walks to the Goat Major, Westgate Tavern, Kings Castle, (maybe pop in the Codfather for some chips) The Foresters, Admiral Napier, The Ivor Davies, The Goscombe, The Corporation, Turn right to the Butchers Arm and then left to the Chapter.

Tis easy. Hic!

The Codfather....hmmmmmmmmm yummy

 

[PAD1OH]

the Butchers Arm

it's criminal I've never been in there. Apparently a CAMRA pub of the year... stinks of piss though.

 

[Gromit]

Oops I missed The Canton. But then I've never been in there. Been in all the rest mind

 

[Gromit]

it's criminal I've never been in there. Apparently a CAMRA pub of the year... stinks of piss though.

They refurbished recently. Its really nice now.
Unless you get there really early, it standing room only before matches these days.
I remember when it was a best kept secret.

 

[PAD1OH]

They refurbished recently. Its really nice now.
Unless you get there really early, it standing room only before matches these days.
I remember when it was a best kept secret.

I lost count of the amount of times over the years walking past and saying we should go in.

 

[Gromit]

I lost count of the amount of times over the years walking past and saying we should go in.

Its an unusual pub with a strong contingent of regulars. They don't do food anymore for starters.

They will however provide plates and cutlery if you want to order a take away. They'll even provide the take away menus and wash up free of charge.

So the new sign on the wall says

 

[Brockway]

I just called the Marriott to see how much it costs to use their wifi (I just KNEW they'd be charging) and it's £15 from 1200 to 1200 the next day.



I think I can cope without the laptop for a few days if it's going to mean:

a) spending a fortune
b) sitting in McDonalds or Starbucks
c) sitting in some dodgy pub/bar on St Mary's Street
d) any combination of the above

Or just walk the 30 yards from the Marriott to the brand new Library and take advantage of the free wifi facilities or one of the 90 computer terminals. You don't have to be a member to use them - just take some id and they will give you a temporary pin number.

 

[Build_A_Fire]

Or just walk the 30 yards from the Marriott to the brand new Library and take advantage of the free wifi facilities

I didn't know they had free wi-fi at the library.....? Or the temporary pin thing lol...I think you only get half an hour at a time but thats still cool for you brix I guess?
Damn tho I could have saved a fortune on cups of coffee if I'd known about the free wifi instead of chillin all day in Shot In The Dark

 

[Brockway]

I didn't know they had free wi-fi at the library.....? Or the temporary pin thing lol...I think you only get half an hour at a time but thats still cool for you brix I guess?
Damn tho I could have saved a fortune on cups of coffee if I'd known about the free wifi instead of chillin all day in Shot In The Dark

You get an hour, then you can go straight back on and have another hour. I think there is a limit to the number of hours you can have per week though - might be 20? I noticed the other day they have a flat screen TV in the newspaper section which shows the news (but then you can get giant screen sitting in the Hayes ). The library also has a piano if you fancy a tinkle.

 

[brix]

but how will you be able to meet up with any slacker Welsh urbs?

Good point. I can get e-mails on my phone though, so I might have to give soem of you my e-mail address

I'd go for Chapter Art Centre, A great bar, good coffe fab eats and lovely atmosphere and culture and stuff too!!

Oooh, this sounds good.

From the Mariot he walks to the Goat Major, Westgate Tavern, Kings Castle, (maybe pop in the Codfather for some chips) The Foresters, Admiral Napier, The Ivor Davies, The Goscombe, The Corporation, Turn right to the Butchers Arm and then left to the Chapter.

Tis easy. Hic!

Is is a girl! But apart from that I like the pub crawl, er... I mean route, you have suggested

Or just walk the 30 yards from the Marriott to the brand new Library and take advantage of the free wifi facilities or one of the 90 computer terminals. You don't have to be a member to use them - just take some id and they will give you a temporary pin number.

This is very good. I don't think I need to lug my laptop up there with this facility on my doorstep. Excellent - many thanks for this.

 

[Build_A_Fire]

You get an hour, then you can go straight back on and have another hour. I think there is a limit to the number of hours you can have per week though - might be 20? I noticed the other day they have a flat screen TV in the newspaper section which shows the news (but then you can get giant screen sitting in the Hayes ). The library also has a piano if you fancy a tinkle.

OK if anyone needs me I'll be in the library

 

[poisondwarf]

From the Mariot he walks to the Goat Major, Westgate Tavern, Kings Castle, (maybe pop in the Codfather for some chips) The Foresters, Admiral Napier, The Ivor Davies, The Goscombe, The Corporation, Turn right to the Butchers Arm and then left to the Chapter.

Tis easy. Hic!

I wouldn't really recommend The Foresters or Admiral Napier, as imo they are a bit rough. Someone also mentioned to me that The Kings Castle has closed down..........does anyone know if that is definite?

 

[llantwit]

I wouldn't really recommend The Foresters or Admiral Napier, as imo they are a bit rough. Someone also mentioned to me that The Kings Castle has closed down..........does anyone know if that is definite?

The admiral Napier's a fine boozer. One of the best pints of Brains in Cardiff in there. Never seen any aggro there, either.

 

[poisondwarf]

The admiral Napier's a fine boozer. One of the best pints of Brains in Cardiff in there. Never seen any aggro there, either.

Well as a woman I don't drink pints of Brains and I certainly wouldn't go in there or The Foresters on my own! I don't want to gender stereotype but I think Brix said she was female but that of course does not mean she wouldn't love a pint of dark!

 

[Gromit]

I wouldn't really recommend The Foresters or Admiral Napier, as imo they are a bit rough. Someone also mentioned to me that The Kings Castle has closed down..........does anyone know if that is definite?

Well the remit was real pubs. The only posh pub on my list was the Goscombe.

The only pub I wouldn't drink in is the Kings Castle as its full of the hoollie element on match days. Seemed to be open when i drove past on Sunday.

The Foresters is okay but stick to the bar (not the backroom) if you are sensitive.
Its one of the few pubs I've been in where the women (as well as the men) look at the knock off porn dvd's sold by chinese imigrants. Saw a couple discussing which one they prefered with the woman pointing 'that one', so that was the porno they bought.

The Admiral is fine. Nice larger yard out the back.

 

[poisondwarf]

Well the remit was real pubs. The only posh pub on my list was the Goscombe.

The only pub I wouldn't drink in is the Kings Castle as its full of the hoollie element on match days. Seemed to be open when i drove past on Sunday.

The Foresters is okay but stick to the bar (not the backroom) if you are sensitive.
Its one of the few pubs I've been in where the women (as well as the men) look at the knock off porn dvd's sold by chinese imigrants. Saw a couple discussing which one they prefered with the woman pointing 'that one', so that was the porno they bought.

The Admiral is fine. Nice larger yard out the back.

I had the dubious honour of being at a lock in at one of the above mentioned pubs, after the Swansea - Cardiff match last November. I was with a Swansea fan and we had watched the game in The Romilly and kind of ended up at this place at the end of the night. My friend was terrified to open his mouth as some of the people in there were a bit scary. As an aside though, they let us smoke! It was odd being in a pub and not having to go out for a fag! (Reason for not naming the pub)

 

[Brockway]

I like the Foresters. And the King's Castle is pretty good imo, though I've not tried it on a match day. They've got a decent juke box too. It's the place across the road from there - Robin's Bar (?) that is a bit scary. Saw a bloke whose face was a mask of blood come staggering out of there one lunchtime.

 

[brix]

REAL pubs are fine by me. I like seedy. I'm more than happy in pubs that 'ladies' wouldn't go into.

Really looking forward to this trip now. I'm liking the sound of Cardiff very much

 

[Gromit]

Wishing I was around on the weekend now to lead you up the canton mile.

 

[Clint Iguana]

I wouldn't really recommend The Foresters or Admiral Napier, as imo they are a bit rough. Someone also mentioned to me that The Kings Castle has closed down..........does anyone know if that is definite?

Kings Castle has indeed closed down

 

[softybabe]

REAL pubs are fine by me. I like seedy. I'm more than happy in pubs that 'ladies' wouldn't go into.

Really looking forward to this trip now. I'm liking the sound of Cardiff very much

cos Cardiff is ace! We might even get St Mary's st shut especially for ya

U got ddraig's email? I'm travelling up Thursday...we might come out to play on Friday

 

[poisondwarf]

Kings Castle has indeed closed down

This is a shame actually as it did have a great jukebox and I had some good laughs in there, over the years. It was one of the first pubs I ever frequented after moving to Cardiff in the eighties. A shame indeed.

 

[Clint Iguana]

This is a shame actually as it did have a great jukebox and I had some good laughs in there, over the years. It was one of the first pubs I ever frequented after moving to Cardiff in the eighties. A shame indeed.

The last few seasons i have have got into the routine of supping in the kings before the football. The juke box was, as you say, awesome, and loud. Pre-match crowds might have looked a bit scary to the outsider, but i never saw any trouble in there and I found it very welcoming.

The bar maids always struck me as being 'traditional'; buxom, tolerant and friendly but you always got the impression that if it did kick off they would be capable of sorting it themselves. They were never phased by anything that went on.

I will miss it. If it reopens i hope they can retain that old vibe.

 

[Clint Iguana]

you could always nip down the road to

 

[JamesWales]

My understanding was very much that the Kings Castle was closed down, or at least a licence wasn't going to be reissued to the landlord.

I liked the place. That Nay-homi from the charlotte church show worked behind the bar, and it was a nice place. I think you could probably buy more than just beer there though.

 

[Clint Iguana]

My understanding was very much that the Kings Castle was closed down, or at least a licence wasn't going to be reissued to the landlord.

I liked the place. That Nay-homi from the charlotte church show worked behind the bar, and it was a nice place. I think you could probably buy more than just beer there though.

There were occasional dubious goings on at the place, but i heard the shut down was purely for business reasons. I will reserve judgement till i hear some facts.

 

[poisondwarf]

There were occasional dubious goings on at the place, but i heard the shut down was purely for business reasons. I will reserve judgement till i hear some facts.

Yeah the dubious goings on were great .

I was told, by a regular, that the landlord wasn't making any money and that is the reason it closed down.

 

[brix]

cos Cardiff is ace! We might even get St Mary's st shut especially for ya

U got ddraig's email? I'm travelling up Thursday...we might come out to play on Friday

PM sent to you both

 

[Clint Iguana]

Kings Castle has indeed closed down

Low and behold, it has opened up again tonight, under new management