The Greenhouse in Cwmbran has been named the Best Managed Pub in the East & West Midlands & Wales region. But the pub is still in the running to become the UK's Best Managed House and goes up against four other finalists from across the UK at the awards ceremony next month.
Now in its ninth year, The Great British Pub Awards are recognised as "the one to win" by licensees; attracting hundreds of entries from thriving pubs around the UK. The awards will be announced at the Hilton on Park Lane on Thursday 13th September 2012
On the outside is an unique stone pub sign, written in Welsh which says:
The Greenhouse
1719
Good Beer
And Cider for You
Come in you shall taste it
The pub has had a number of owners through the years - Phillips Brewery of Newport, then Symonds and Courage before it ended up as a Greene King pub when it was quite awful. I used to work nearby so would go in here regularly as the bus stop was outside. Brains have improved this pub no end and it is now a pleasure to drink in this pub, rather than being a convenience whilst awaiting the next bus.
Popped into one of my former regular old haunts for the first time in years and what a change for the better since SA Brain have taken this pub over. I used to work on a nearby business park a few years ago and regularly popped in here for a pint or two afterwards. In those days Greene King owned the pub and the real ale was often hit and miss - too often miss. Luckily Brains bought the pub and have done wonders for it. A refurbishment has knocked the two bars into through into one but this has improved the pub, exposing the old wooden beams and creating a bar servery more suited towards serving the customer. Previously the 2 bar layout did not work as the staff tended to congregate in one bar talking to their mates whilst the customers were in the lounge. The bar was also a bit tatty and I would rather drink in the more comfortable lounge anyway.
The old wooden beams are matched by flagstone and dark wood floors with bar stools, settles and a dining area all giving a choice of seating. The pub is set in extensive grounds with a very large garden out to the rear of the building and a car park to the side. Easily reached by public transport as well as there is a bus stop outside.
There are three handpumps dispensing Brains beers - Brains have used their unique eye-level dispense pumps on this pub, something they reserve for their better quality outlets. Not a bad pint of Brains bitter as well, served in a branded glass. Gwynt Y Ddraig cider is also available in bottles. There are some old photographs of the pub on the walls, taken when it was owned by Phillips Brewery of Newport.
The Greenhouse is situated next to the parish church of St John and is an old building, though has been extended throughout the years.
On the outside is an unique stone pub sign, written in Welsh which says:
The Greenhouse
1719
Good Beer
And Cider for You
Come in you shall taste it
Not a bad pub and a vast improvement on what it was like before.
On the outskirts of Pontypool, just downgill of the Monmouthshire-Brecon canal stands the Sebastopol Social Club. Now the Brew Wales editor used to be a regular here in the days he worked in Cwmbran, nowadays the visits ard few and far between so it was nice surprise to pop into tonight and find the club redecorated. Wooden floors, new tables and chairs with padded seatings all in a mauve/light brown setting. The beers on at the moment are Otley O1, Tring Side Pocket, Jennings Biggest Liar and Burton Bridge Have a Heart. Brew Wales is on the Otley O1 of course. The cribbage boards are coming out in the front bar though so will be moving to the back bar or catching the bus home.
Well-respected local publican and real ale supporter Paul Cooper, of the Globe, Talywain, Torfaen, has lost his battle with cancer. Paul, pictured above behind the bar of the Globe during CAMRA's National Pub week in 2008, was a firm supporter of real ales and local breweries. Paul first came to the attention of CAMRA with his pub, the Prince of Wales in Cwmnyscoy, near Pontypool, before moving to Pontypool Rugby Club. Here, at the Rugby club, he co-hosted with CAMRA the First (and only!) Poola Beer Festival in 1997, a forerunner of Gwent CAMRA's bars at Tredegar House and Abergavenny Food Festival. One of the first beers at the beer festival was from the newly formed Swansea Brewery and Paul continued to support this brewery by regularly ordering their beers in years to come. After the Rugby club Paul and his wife Phyllis took over the Labour in Vain, High Street, Pontypool, where the pub sign had mysteriously gone missing a few years previously. Luckily Paul found an old photo of the sign and allowed me to photograph it.
The not-too politically correct pub sign of the Labour in Vain, High Street, Pontypool
The exterior of the Labour in Vain with a different pub sign
Paul and Phyllis behind the bar with their array of pumpclips
Paul Cooper behind the bar of the Labour in Vain
Again beer festivals occured at the Labour in Vain but it was a bit of a trek up the hill from the town centre. More recently Paul and Phyllis took over the Globe in Talywain, a 2-bar pub, high up on the road to Blaenavon. This pub became a rare local outlet for beers from Felinfoel Brewery alongside other guest ales from breweries such as Breconshire. A warm welcome was always assured when visiting Paul and Phyllis in the Globe and quite often I would miss my planned bus home and would have to wait another hour for the next one whilst chatting to Paul over the bar. Paul's death is a sad loss to everyone who new him and our condolences to Phyllis
Another unique pub sign, the Globe in Talywain
Thanks to Dave from the RATS for permission to use some of his photos on this site.
