The Mill, Swansea

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Pub SignMan left this review about The Smokin' Dog

Previously known as the Smoking Dog, this used to be an It’s A Scream pub when I was a student back in the late ‘90’s and the place, despite the name change and refurb, has retained a student vibe compared to the more traditional pubs nearby. The single room layout sees the bar sited on the back wall with a pool table to the right underneath the front windows. The mid section of the pub is bare boarded with some centrally positioned high tables and stools filling up the space somewhat. Some semi partitioning separates another seating area which runs down the side of the pub as far as the darts area on the far wall. In the rear left corner some sofas and plush banquettes have been arranged to create a bit of a chill-out type space under various Jack Daniels posters and some hand-painted Swansea FC and WRU crests that look like they were painted after consuming plenty of the aforementioned bourbon. Visiting on a very hot summer’s day, I was disappointed to find no relief from the heat inside the pub, and my drink barely stayed in my glass, such was the oppressive warmth. There is a decent indie orientated juke box on a central pillar near the bar and a satisfying soundtrack was playing throughout my stay.
Sadly there were no handpulls in operation so I ended up with a pint of keg Worthington, which was pretty rubbish. The barmaid was very polite and kept herself busy despite a conspicuous lack of customers.
I used to drink here because the pub gave good discounts to students, but I remember thinking it was a bit rubbish even back then and little has changed in the intervening years to convince me otherwise. It’s the most student friendly of the four pubs in this part of town, but it’s also the one I’m least likely to return to.

On 30^th July 2013 - rating: 4
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