Tŷ Coch Inn, Pwllheli

Official site of Ty Coch Inn - www.tycoch.co.uk

Official site of Ty Coch Inn - www.tycoch.co.uk

The Ty Coch Inn is situated on the north coast of North Wales’s Lleyn Peninsula, not too far from Morfa Nefyn and is certainly one of the more remote pubs that my travels have ever taken me to. It’s on a remote stretch of beach, surrounded by a dozen houses at most, which appear to be mainly holiday homes. The most pleasurable way to get to the pub is to walk across the beach from the car park to Porthdinllaen. Whilst there is also a small car park situated on the edge of a golf course on the cliffs above and behind the pub, its existence appears to be known only to golfers or regulars and it’s a much less satisfying way of getting to the pub. As we descend down steps leading to the beach, a helpful sign tells us the pub’s current opening hours ( for September and October, it’s open every day between 11 and 3. Evening opening is between 6 and 10, but this is Friday and Saturday only ) and that it’s a 20 minute walk along the beach. Our first sighting of the pub is the large lettering “Ty Coch Inn” on the wall, as there’s no hanging pub sign. It’s a smallish whitewashed single room pub on the edge of the beach and built in 1823. It was apparently once a vicarage, built from Dutch bricks that may have arrived in Porthdinllaen as ballast on a ship from Holland. It’s picturesque location has led to it being used as a film set, including apparently the mystery horror film Half Light. The interior is dominated by light pine wood panelling together with sturdy looking rustic light pine furniture. It’s a rather plain interior by itself, but, predictably, with plenty of nautical memorabilia – ships’ wheels, lamps, sea charts etc – to give some character and interest. Perhaps not surprisingly, there’s plenty of outside seating – some picnic tables on the beach and some on the sea wall at the front and side of the pub. The pub is evidently popular with walkers, with a dog seemingly a compulsory accessory. Real ale is now availablehere – contrary to previous visits – with 2 pumps on my visit serving an excellent but pricey Purplemoose Dark Side of the Moose ( £ 3.50p ) and Wychwood Jester Jack. On my visit the landlady, a larger than life character with shocking pink hair, was trying to get a group of German visitors to “try the proper cask stuff”, but, to her considerable disappointment, they chose to stick with the Mansfield Smooth. You wouldn’t come here specifically for the beer, but it’s a great place for a pint in summer, sitting outside gazing out over the sea to the nearby cliffs. Finally, do check opening hours – even in September and October, they’re restricted, as reported above.

Great position on the beach. Friendly landlady who runs a good pub. Great shame that the only real ale is in a bottle not on tap. (thus low rating mark) Dog friendly