Stag Inn, Dolgellau

This is another Marston's pub that was once a Burtonwood pub. It is situated at the north end of the compact town centre just before the river. It's a long narrow room inside with a pool room somewhere round the back. The bar had four hand pumps with one unused, Banks's Bitter, Hobgoblin and Help For Heroes. I went for the Banks's Bitter (£2.25) which was in good condition and the cheapest pint I had during my stay in North Wales apart from the Pwllheli Spoons. I don't drink spirits but I noticed that most of them were marked at £1.25 which sounded cheap to me. This is a nice enough pub that I will return to along with all the other real ale outlets the next time I visit Dolgellau.

In the heart of Dolgellau is The Stag Inn, a small, traditional, comfortable single bar pub. Bilingual lettering on the outside hoarding reminds us that we’re in Wales – thus for instance, we learn that the pub sells “cwrw go iawn”, or real ales to you and me. The bar counter is directly in front of us as we enter through the central entrance. It’s quite narrow here, but there’s several wider areas at each end of the room. A blackboard on the bar gantry tells us that we have just entered “probably the best pub in Dolgellau” which, given the dearth of competition is not the accolade you might think. It’s a comfortable, traditionally furnished pub with circular copper topped tables, fixed padded seating around the perimeter of the room and it’s carpeted throughout. An attractive brick fireplace on the left hand side has several built in seats. On the right hand side is a dartboard, with a fine collection of trophies high up on a shelf nearby. There’s a separate pool room at the back. A largish garden at the rear has several pens with chickens, guinea pigs etc. It’s a bigger garden than you might expect. From place mats, we learn that the building dates back to 1608 and was a coaching inn – although it doesn’t look that old at all and hardly has that classical coaching inn look – but that, on the fireplace, there’s the date 1771. We also learn that the pub flooded in the 1960’s with customers having to escape through the windows – quite believable really as the River Dee and the picturesque old stone bridge is little more than a stone’s throw away. A basic food menu is served at lunchtime and early evening. On my recent early evening visit, there was a good mix of locals and visitors to this part of Wales, presumably staying in local guesthouses. Mine host and hostess were businesslike and professional, if not desperately friendly and welcoming. Although not badged as such, it’s evidently a Marston’s pub which was serving Hobgoblin Bitter, Jester Jack and Banks Bitter. A fourth pump was unbadged. The collection of pump clips would indicate that Adnams and Old Hooky have been on at some time. It’s an unremarkable, fairly average sort of place to be honest, but it kept me fed and watered adequately while I was staying in the area – yes, it is probably the best pub in Dolgellau