The Pilot, Penarth

Official site of The Pilot - knifeandforkfood.co.uk

Right up by the pinnacle of the Penarth headland, this looks from the outside to be an unprepossessing local. The interior has two rooms, one behind the other. We sat in the front bar which didn’t really inspire - laminate floor, snot green third length wood panelling and the bar which was entirely snot, décor straight from a trip down to the local Home Sense and didn’t feel particularly welcoming on a cold wet weekday afternoon. The star, I later discovered, is the rear dining room which is more homely and has fantastic views out over the water. Four pumps at the bar with just one ale on (oh-oh!), however it was an excellent VOG Chaos (NBSS 4) cool and crisp and clearly poured through before serving, as we were the only punters in after opening. Also a Stans cider on another pump. It’s certainly doing excellent beer and deserves its GBG slot but ultimately it's a bit of a middle class foody kind of place first and foremost rather than a drinking pub. 6.5

Official site of The Pilot - knifeandforkfood.co.uk