The Halfway, Cardiff

Former Brains pub, now run as an unbranded Marston's outlet. Partly opened out inside to leave a L-shaped bar along the frontage and facing the corner entrance, and then continuing round to the back. Given in a semi-traditional refurbishment and relatively sparsely furnished, but it's a large place so still plenty of seating in the various different areas. The original brewery still supplies some of the cask ale, so I found the standard Bitter (£4.20) and Rev James along with Hobgoblin IPA and Rosie's Pig cider.

Visited 22/11/24 Range of Brains cask of SA Gold, SA, Best Bitter and Rev James. Keg was Neck Oil, Peroni, Guinness, Inch’s cider, San Miguel, Moretti, Carling, Barry Island IPA and Cruz. Classy venue with seating on all sides of a large wrap around bar counter. Shiny bare boards and lots of regular tables around the perimeter and some comfy armchairs with a real fire at one end of the pub. Some outside seating also. This is always a busy pub and is set opposite Pontcanna fields in what has become an upmarket dining destination area in Cardiff (close your eyes and ears if you are Jay Rayner). On the wall around the far side of the bar, as noted by Blue Scrumpy, by a nice seating area away from the hustle and bustle of the front of the pub, is a wall display listing all the pubs in Cardiff. Resisted the temptation to get out my Sharpie to amend as it was missing quite a few new venues, and a good few listed had gone by the wayside. Saying that it wasn’t far out on the number of open pubs listed on here!

Another Brains pub that does have some interesting features, including a map of over 200 Cardiff pubs and bars around the back of the bar on the way to the toilets. It is interesting to work out which ones you've been to! The room wraps its way around the large bar, despite not connecting at one end. TVs were showing 2 different European football matches. Although nobody seemed to be too interested. The 3 Brains beers are Bitter, SA & SA Gold. Having had enough Brains beer for one day, I reluctantly ordered an Aspalls cider. I agree with Pub SignMan about the interior. It does have a nice feel to it. However, it's a shame that the ale range has dropped off a bit since summer 2013.