The Old Kings Arms Hotel, Pembroke

The staff managed to ignore us for the best part of five minutes, being involved in an important conversation at the reception desk, which is within sight of the bar. My daughter finds that beer exacerbates her hay fever, so we split a bottle of local cider between us. It's not often I drink cider, and I would have to say this was ok but I'm not converted. With a choice on hand pumps of Bass, Felinfoel and Old Speckled Hen perhaps I wasn't missing anything.

A genteel place, a quiet pub with no music. Two-roomed interior though only the left was open on my visit, presumably the right is for when the diners descend. Quite characterful, some bare stone walls and black and varnish wood panelling along with a jumbo dark varnish wood carving of who I took to be Elizabeth of York, Henry VII’s wife (or Harri Tudur as he’s known round these parts). A flap at the bar as I ordered, the place is table service only, presumably to encourage the gentlefolk diners and discourage the more earthy elements who also frequent the town. Two ales available; Doom Bar and a superb pint of Bass (NBSS 4.5) alongside two local ciders in Henry VII and Oliver Cromwell brewed by Pembrokeshire Cider. An odd one but quite nice overall, I’d recommend trying it based on the interesting interior and beer quality. Shame about the table service but in a way it kind of worked given the environment.

Official site of The Old Kings Arms Hotel - www.oldkingsarmshotel.co.uk

Official site of The Old Kings Arms Hotel - www.oldkingsarmshotel.co.uk