Rose & Crown Hotel, Carmarthen

Facebook page of Rose & Crown Hotel - www.facebook.com

Official site of Rose & Crown Hotel - www.roseandcrowncarmarthen.co.uk

Facebook page of Rose & Crown Hotel - www.facebook.com

Official site of Rose & Crown Hotel - www.roseandcrowncarmarthen.co.uk

A much bigger town than we were expecting with 5 (I think) Good Beer Guide 2026 entries. On our first visit - we chose this central one. A narrow pub, but it goes back a long way - where we found a dining area. In the front bar, there was a TV tuned to Sky Sports, a large gas fire and a ground of blokey locals talking beer. I am surprised they hadnt taken the beer thoughts to the staff. Two cask ales on - London Pride and Butty Bach. I expected something a bit more LocALE in a fiercely proud neighbourhood. The London Pride was in great condition. With a medium coke, £8.50. Sounds pricey to me - but I say that everytime I get my card out in 2026.

Having not been to Carmarthen since 2018, I returned midweek recently to try a couple of pubs that have since appeared in the Good Beer Guide. The Rose & Crown Hotel can be found in the present Good Beer Guide. The local CAMRA people must be fairly desperate. A lengthy drive from London through a storm rewarded me with none other than the sight of London Pride on the bar, the only cask ale across the 3 handpulls. Ciders were Thatcher's Gold & Aspall's. A front bar area has bare boards, whilst there is a slightly raised dining area to the rear. Stairs to the rear left lead to toilets and are lined with rugby and boxing pictures. A couple of TVs were showing live test match cricket, whilst live football matches were being promoted. Plenty of other sporting memorabilia line the walls. There is also a games machine and a jukebox. Food menus and a cocktail & premium drinks menus can be found on each table. Perhaps these could have been better options than London Pride. Unless things have gone downhill badly since my last visit, there are far better pubs in the town.

Larger inside than you'd think, long and narrow with knock-through and RSJ galore. Bland but fair decor; white and greeny blue. Small and tidy rear garden. Two cask on, a poor Evan Evans Cwrw (NBSS 1.5) and a house beer by Tinworks (2.5); looking around, the cask simply wasn't shifting. Offers accommodation and I overnighted here – the rooms are of a good standard, recently redecorated as well. 4.5