The Grove, Haverfordwest

Brains-owned hotel bar. Lounge to the left, bar in the middle and conservatory dining to right. Carpet, light wood, inoffensive colours and muted lighting – the usual hotel bar feel. The pumps were all off because the lines need cleaning but the manager “hadn't had the time to do it” though he seemed to have plenty of time as far as I could see as he sat at the bar with a drink on the go nattering to one of the locals. A distress purchase of the crappy keg Barry Island IPA had to do. Shame – in a city of few options this one could make an effort.

This is another hotel in St Davids that has opened itself up to the public to take full advantage of the visiting crowds. And the Grove is fairly well located to do this being dead opposite the plush information centre and just down from the main car park where the tourist coaches park. Externally it’s a decent looking old stone building that now has a large conservatory dining room bolted onto the side. The original main building houses a fairly comfortable lounge seating section with a fair amount of leather sofa seating and then the large conservatory section to the right is set for dining. There is a decent food menu, although we didn’t eat and being a Brains house there were three hand pumps including Brains SA and Reverend James and a third one that was off on our visit. Comfortable enough place for a pint and the menu looked good and reasonable if you intend to eat. But if all your after is a pint, I’d still recommend the more traditional pubs further down the street by the Cross.