The Wheatsheaf, Newport

An old coaching in situated on a corner site and across from Newport Minster. A couple of side areas as you enter with the bar beyond to the left and another area to the right with a pool table and darts. There was a fireplace in here and seating at high backed leather armchairs. There is a restaurant area which seems to specialise in pizzas and there are en-suite rooms advertised. Some tables to the pedestrianised area to the front, regular style seating inside. It was fairly quiet on a Monday evening with a group of apparent regulars gathered at a corner of the bar chatting. A few pump clips on a post suggest that the cask options can change, this visit had Brew York Calmer Chameleon plus Timothy Taylor Landlord.

Potentially quite a good pub, with cosy low-ceilinged rooms around a central bar, with a mixture of stone and carpetted floors and lots of dark wood. It does seem a little confused though, with a hotel bit and an adjoining pizza restaurant which seems to want to take over. The back room holds a pool table, if there is room to play, while tables in the square outside are popular for al fresco drinking. Two sets of three handpumps, repeated, sadly only offered Doom Bar as the TT Landlord and Twickenham Naked Ladies were reversed. In fairness, the Doom was in very good condition. I would rate the place higher if they made up their minds what they were doing and got the beer sorted out.

Attractive-looking old inn (still offering accommodation) in the centre of town by the minster, and with a few small tables out in the square. The opened-out interior has been refurbished in an attractive semi-traditional style with a mix of furniture in the various rooms (and decor including hops and tankards around the counter). Real ales were Doom Bar, Upham Punter and the local Goddard's Fuggle-Dee-Dum (£3.90).