Olde Bulls Head is Wales' Best Pub

The pay-for-entry book the Good Pub Guide 2012 has been launched today, not a book I buy every year, in fact I tend to purchase it from charity shops when a few years out of date. Still it's another book about pubs, although one that is an advertorial rather than a quality-based publication.

They have their awards though and their Best Pub in Wales is the Olde Bulls Head, Beaumaris, Anglesey, its also in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Here is the description from the GPG website:
Interesting historic pub with brasserie food, accommodation and wines
The various areas at this relaxed inn cover quite a range of styles – there’s a simple but cosy bar, a popular brasserie and a smart upstairs restaurant. It was built in 1472 and well known visitors have included Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens, both of whom would find much of it familiar today. The low-beamed bar is nicely rambling, with plenty of interesting reminders of the town's past: a rare 17th-c brass water clock, a bloodthirsty crew of cutlasses and even an oak ducking stool tucked among the snug alcoves. There are lots of copper and china jugs, comfortable low-seated settles, leather-cushioned window seats, and a good log fire. Kindly staff serve Bass, Hancocks and a guest such as Conwy Welsh Pride on handpump. Quite a contrast, the busy brasserie behind is lively and stylishly modern, with a wine list that includes around 20 by the glass; the exceptionally good restaurant list runs to 120 bottles. The entrance to the pretty courtyard is closed a huge simple-hinged door that’s and astonishing 11 feet wide and 13 feet high. Named after characters in Dickens's novels, the bedrooms are very well equipped; some are traditional, and others more contemporary in style, and there are also bedrooms in the Townhouse, an adjacent property with disabled access.

Wales Dining Pub of the Year went to the Felin Fach Griffin, just outside of Brecon.


 Full list of winners is available here