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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by peter ashworth
Submitted on Friday, 28th June 2019
With picture contributions to 26844 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (1 more image)
Requested be closed with reason - Other: Closed according to Swansea CAMRA. Google agrees.
Detail Pages
The Hefty Chest, Swansea
Swansea
SA1 2AE
Served areas
Reviews of The Hefty Chest (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Gravity Station
The Gravity Station is the second bar to be opened by the Waen Brewery, following the success of their micro-pub in Cardiff. This place is too large to be termed a micro pub, occupying a decent sized corner property on a street just one block over from all of the big clubs and bars of Wind Street - one block seemingly being all that is needed to keep the undesirable elements away judging by this visit. The layout is very simple, comprising a single, rectangular room with the servery down the right hand wall. there are dark floorboards and exposed brick walls throughout and some rather plain tables and chairs have been arranged to the front and down the left hand side under some large window sills stacked full of various magazines, old annuals and a collection of board games. The servery has a tongue and groove panelled counter and large white canopy. Blackboards on the bar back list the various kegged beer options and hot drinks available, whilst a turntable at the end of the bar was, rather bizarrely, playing an old Dead or Alive LP. To the rear there was a space set aside for live music performances, and a band was setting up on my arrival. Pictures of brewing vessels, perhaps from the Waen Brewery itself, adorn the walls and to the rear someone has painted one of those Beer Periodic Tables that you see in various craft beer bars.
I made a bit of a hash of things when deciding what to order here. The lack of handpulls combined with the blackboard listing the keg beers led me to believe that the place didn't serve cask ale, so rather than clarifying things with the very friendly barmaid, I shambled on and ordered a pint of Waen Hanging Rock on keg (£4.20). Now, this thankfully turned out to be an enjoyable pint, but I was left kicking myself when a couple of minutes later a bloke came in and ordered something which was poured from a hitherto unseen tap protruding from the bar back. It then became clear that the casks are racked on stilage behind a series of doors on the bar back, each with a small tap for pouring. Each tap had a small label detailing the beer, but these were impossible to read from my side of the bar, so I have no idea what was on - something the venue might consider addressing. There were nine out of a possible twelve keg lines in use, mostly offering Waen beers plus guests from the likes of Hopcraft and Wild Weather and at least one cider.
I thought this was an interesting venue and unlike anything else I can think of in Swansea. The place felt a bit cold and empty and perhaps needs a bit more time to bed in and develop some character, but there is plenty of potential here. I'll definitely be giving this place another try when I'm next in Swansea and I'll make a point of trying some of their cask ales!
On 14th January 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
aleand hearty left this review about The Gravity Station
Craft beer bar and specialist off-licence, owned by Waen brewery.
On 5th October 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 578 recommendations about 560 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Hefty Chest - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No - Discount withdrawn - last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Hot Food : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live Music : Yes last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No - Now a live music & gaming bar - last updated 25 April 2018 by Craig O
- Pinball : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Pool Table : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- Real Ale : No - No real ale according to Whatpub - last updated 25 April 2018 by Craig O
- Real Cider : No last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
- WiFi : Yes last updated 15 September 2017 by ROB Camra
