The Goorich is a big old building just outside of the centre of Caerphilly, catering mostly during…read morethe day for staff from nearby offices and industrial estates. There is a car park out the back, but this is quite small and gets full very quickly at lunch times, especially on a Friday. There are two rooms downstairs; a bar out the back with a decked and covered outdoor area (built since the smoking ban) and the restaurant part at the front. Locals tend to go out the back and people ho work close by stay in the front part. The meals are cheap and filling and served quickly. If you're after a bite to eat at lunch time and want something cheap and cheerful, then this would fit the bill. The lasagne is good, but you can't go wrong with ham egg and chips in here! Oh, and a pint of course!

Tair Pluen is a very Welsh pub, great to go to when the rugby's on, for example. The food is…read moresimilarly traditional. To be honest, though, there's nothing much that different about this pub, nothing to make the journey all the way into town worth it. The beers that they serve are pretty good and the ambience is one of traditional friendliness. It can sometimes feel as though you aren't welcome in places - particularly if you are an English student in town on a Friday or Saturday night - but this is not true here at all. Of an evening, I'd head to one of the nearer pubs for a quiet drink.

I've been socialising at this pub for around 10 years now. During the week you see a lot of…read morestudents using the wi-fi, pool table and eating home made grub. The weekend is more of a mixed bag with mostly local people (Young and old). Great atmosphere, great beer, amazing food! p.s the Sunday dinner is to die for!

The Rickard Arms is one of my favourite pubs in Treforest. With a huge rooftop beer garden, a fully…read morestocked bar and resident speciality shots, this bar is a great place to go if the weather is hot and the sun has got his scarcely worn hat on. "What are these speciality shots," I hear you ask. Springboks are a range of creamy liqueurs that come in a variety of flavours, ranging from banana to mint to toffee, and they are awesome. With a price tag that even the most needy of hobos could afford in abundance, these shots are a local favourite amongst the surrounding student community. Despite the admittedly enticing allure of the Springbok shots, the real attraction is the beer garden. Situated above the actual pub itself, there is little obstruction when catching some rays on a sunny summer's day...even if those sunny days do only come round a handful of times a year. A great way to spend an evening after a long day.

This place is not a bad little boozer. Cannot vouch for the food or live entertainment as I have…read morenever sampled them. Which reminds me of the motto emblazoned abouve the bar "There are no strangers here only friends we have not met yet", which is quite a welcoming sign which befits the pubs name. The pubs is tastefully furnished, clean & has some nice movie and sporting pictures dotted around its decor. Also like the two pub crawl posters of Cardiff & Swansea on the walls. Also has several flat screen TVs. Ther is a good selction of ales available and on my visit had a rather good pint of Brains Dark Smooth which I recommend as a personal choice. Well worth checking out & having a look.

Better known to it's regulars just as 'The Welcome',it's a friendly place with a great atmosphere…read moregood beer and delicious very reasonably priced homemade food (not microwaved fayre like so many places),the £3.50 breakfast is awesome and at that price you'd be hard pressed to find a bigger better breakfast anywhere.Thurs night is quiz night and fri and sat from 8pm caters more for the younger clientel,with lively music and an upbeat scene.

felt like writing a review as the staff, food, wine and beers are superb. it is a lovely place and…read morethoroughly enjoying going there whether it is for a Sunday roast or weekday meal, highly recommend going there, you won't be disappointed.

This pub is great because it attracts both students and locals. The Otley is a real ale pub and…read moreoffers a fantastic range of local ciders. It has a juke box with a good 80's / 90's indie selection, at 4-5 songs for a pound this is a fantastic bargain! The Otley also does lunchtime and evening meals. There are interesting vege options, not your bog-standard lasagna. It's not brought-in stuff either, there are huge potions and proper homemade chips, Glamorgan sausages and lentil burgers. Apparently the meat dishes and pizza dishes are really nice, but I havn't tried them. Annnnd you get a proper meal for £4 and you're absolutely stuffed after. The lady cook is very lovely and attentive, will cater for vegans and also adapt meals if required. There is an outdoor seating area/courtyard with an old toilet with flowers growing out of it. Inside there's a conservatory area, which is light and sets it apart from your average pub. The rest of the pub is more traditional and dark, the conservatory area is better for eating if you like to see what you're shovelling in. The only downside of sitting here is that it can be very noisy when it rains. Be warned the toilets smell of wee. This is certainly emanating from the mens, but thankfully can't be smelt from the eating area or the main bar. Top tip for the people watcher: There are always interesting characters at the bar and in the smoking area, very old, very odd and always willing to share their 'diverse' observations on the world.

The North Star is a vast pub cum restaurant and music venue occupying a prominent position on North…read moreRoad in the Maindy / Gabalfa area of Cardiff. It is an incredibly inspiring and important addition to the cultural wealth of the city. Opened in October last year, it is already the home to a cosmopolitan mix of locals, business people and students, as well as regular visitors from all over the city and beyond. When you walk into The North Star you can appreciate why it has such a draw. The old Victorian mansion-sized building has been lovingly refurbished with impressive style. The modern look, embellished with antique flourishes and an eclectic use of period furniture, has been created by Tim Rice, one of Cardiff's most successful designers, leading The North Star to be shortlisted for 'The Best Bar and Restaurant Design Awards' within months of its unveiling. It also scooped up another accolade when it was voted the fifth best 'cheap eat' in the UK by The Guardian. There's more to say about The North Star than I've got space here on Yelp. It's a multi-faceted business that offers a lot, to many. Managed by a brother and sister team, with Alex taking care of front of house, and her brother conjuring up epicurean delights in the kitchen. The food, organic and locally sourced wherever possible, is extensive in range and all homemade from scratch, including the relishes, dough's and even the Yorkshire puds! Dishes are predominantly Italian, but the menu frequently includes Welsh favourites like cockles and lava bread, Monmouthshire lamb and potted pig. With deals like '2 for 1' operating from Monday to Friday, customers are visibly increasing on a weekly basis. Specialty dishes are changed regularly, usually prompted by the advice of their local butcher, J T Morgan, who tips them the wink about all the best seasonal cuts on offer. Established in 1861, J T Morgan Butchers have occupied a position of importance at the indoor market, in central Cardiff, for more years than anyone can remember. A family butchers that have moved with the times, they are presently one of the most recognized purveyors of free range and organic meat and poultry in South Wales. Not surprisingly, The North Star makes the most of a good thing. As well as fantastic Sunday lunches, boasting the most succulent roasts in town, they're also hosting BBQ's on Friday and Sundays over the warmer months. Live music is on offer most days of the week, kicking off on Wednesdays with the Open Mic Night hosted by Rowan Liggett, who is also Co-Director of The Miniature Music Press, a really well produced A5 music magazine and 'What's On', that you can pick up for free at a whole host of places around the city. The North Star also has a sister pub worth mentioning; The Vulcan in Cathays on Wyvern Road, another haunt of the ubiquitous Rowan Liggett, who runs the Open Mic nights here as well. Frequented mainly by students, this is a cool live music pub, also designed by Tim Rice, that is equally well worth checking out. www.theminiaturemusicpress.com/

So the North Star has recently undergone a big renovation which is probably why I got some discount…read morevouchers to go and test it out. Its in a bit of an odd place really and right on the middle of the student area which is why I guess I had never been tempted to go there sooner. Went for an early dinner, the food was nice but not outstanding. I liked the relaxed atmosphere of the place and all the comfy looking leather sofa's. It would be a lovely Sunday place hangout I think. Prices are probably aimed at the students so its fairly cheap and there seems to be lots of events going on. Just wish parking was easier round there.

This is a popular student pub known as The Woody that's part of the Scream chain. It's well-located…read morefor students - just a stone's throw away from the university's Colum Road Site and the Humanities library, and within walking distance of many student houses. There's probably barely a student in the city that hasn't had a drink in the Woody at some point. They cater well for their target audience, too - with a relaxed atmosphere, lots of cheap drinks and food promotions, a couple of beer gardens, a decent jukebox, and even an outdoor screen for watching matches al fresco in the summer. They open at midday, and even in the afternoons you'll often find quite a few people drinking in there.

The Woodville Pub is located at the very end of Woodville road, closest to Lidl. It is a popular…read morestudent haunt because of its location and its cheap prices. Unfortuately, it can sometimes seem as though you only get what you pay for. While eating there once I was disappointed at the less than adequate service, before I was served a meat burger. To be fair, their response to my complaint was quite satisfactory but I feel very strongly that a vegetarian shouldn't be put in that position. On the other hand, going there for a drink before heading on somewhere else is great fun, as long as you get there early enough for a table. There is a downstairs area as well, with a lot of seating though it is colder down there. Significantly! There is a juke box which transmits music videos to the televisions placed all around the upstairs. It's quite a good talking point if your date is going a little awkwardly!

This is an old pub which has just undergone a stunning Refurbishment of 3 en-suite double rooms…read more The food is fabulous food and it's also a great place to enjoy a quiet pint. For tourists this is in an ideal location for visiting Abergavenny, Blaenavon and most of the industrial heritage of Wales and the South West. If you know this area it has everything from historic interest to outward bound activities, scenery and it's oly 40 minutes from Cardiff if you need some serious retail therapy, (also the smaller Festival Park Outlet Village just 15 minutes away). Friendly landlord and landlady who will help with everything from a cot to booking tickets for the Theatre in Abergavenny, I can't recommend it highly enough. Free Car Parking, good links to trains and roads about an hour from Cardiff Wales Airport. Ideal place to stay during the food festival as it's walkable, but not in the expensive zone.