The Four Elms, Roath, Cardiff

Not much to add to Blu Scrumpy’s description of the venue. Was equally rammed as the JDW catching the business end of the Eng v Swi game. However, it was definitely a notch up from the nearby JDW. The front bar is all I got to see on this visit. It felt busy not just with students but equally people my age out to catch the footy. The bar is well stocked with loads of keg choices. So many taps you would be excused for thinking this was A Spoons! Not going to list everything but ones I ted that were a bit different were Bits from local brewery Flowerhorn, quite a few ciders and a grand tap dispensing the lager and Weissbier from ABK. Only two cask selections, a cider called Apply Dapply from Snails Brook and a session pale ale from Tiny Rebel called Park Life. I also noticed they had a large fridge inside the front door stocked with what looked like as a decent craft selection. I have never been to this one but have been to their venue not far from Cardiff Central station a few times. It was a bit too rammed too enjoy for the drinking / pub experience at this time on a Saturday evening in Cardiff, exploded by the footy being shown. Unlike the nearby Spoons, I will have this one on my radar for a return visit when in area.

A little east of the city centre in a terraced residential area, the Four Elms belongs to the JW Bassett chain of pubs. It is one of 2 of the chain in the city, the Queen's Vaults being the other. We arrived to find a couple of real ales - Boss Brewing Brave & Skinner's Betty Stogs, promoted using a handwritten pumpclip. We both ordered the Brave, only for it to run out before a second could be poured. In fact, the only one the barmaid managed to pour was undrinkable. I quickly switched to a cider and had a choice of 3 boxed ciders from Gwynt y Ddraig - Happy Daze, Ancient Warrior & Welsh Warrior. The front area of the pub has a number of pillars creating separate drinking areas. In fact, we didn't see many people in when we initially arrived, but soon realised that there were several others hiding behind pillars! To the rear is an open kitchen and then an appealing garden area. Also off to the right is a long, narrow room now used for dining, that I correctly identified as a former skittle alley. Menus on tables listed an interesting selection of food, with nobody appearing to partake. Despite the problems with the beer, service was cheerful and the dodgy halves we had ordered were replaced without any issues. I quite liked the atmosphere and would gladly come back for another visit.

Official site of The Four Elms - www.jwbpubs.com

Official site of The Four Elms - www.jwbpubs.com