The Plough, Cardiff

Visited 29/01/25 Another Brains establishment and the cask offering here was Best, SA and Rev James. Keg range was Barry Island IPA, Estrella, Hawkstone lager (not sure if that is now a regular offering in Brains outlets), Moretti, Carlsberg, berries and cherries Old Mount cider, San Miguel, Neck Oil, Guinness and a variant of Inch's cider called Riverside (my first sighting of such and wondering if this is Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omicron situation all over again). Another venue on the main road through the commercial heartland of Whitchurch (not sure if locals would think they have a commercial centre). Again, some tables and chairs out the front on the paved area, with some railings to direct non-quaffers (ie pedestrians) the other side of the pub fore court. Inside the bar counter is to the right of the entrance and is bare boarded apart from a slate tiled area in front of the bar counter. A leather banquette sits in the bay window in front of the bar counter with a mix of tables and chairs in the bar area. A large and attractive fire grate seems to be decorative only. To the left of the entrance is another bare boarded area with some nice leather wingback or fabric bucket chairs around small tables but the light was too bright to make this area as cosy as it could be. Through a gap between both sides of the front bar is another bar area with a dark wood bar counter in another bare boarded area and regular seating including attractive fabric corner banquettes by the again unused fire grate. Beyond this and stretching into the distance is what is described as the restaurant area, off limits to just drinkers but it was similarly arranged with regular tables and chairs. Nice pub in theory but just lacking in ambiance for my liking.