The Pilot, Swansea

I last visited this pub in early 1999 during a crawl of the now seemingly defunct 'Mumbles Mile' pub crawl, of which this was, for most participants, the final pub of the crawl. Returning over 16 years later - a period which has seen so many of its contemporaries close or converted into coffee shops, cafes etc... - it was reassuring to find the place much as I remembered it. In fact, the only significant changes I could detect were the signs advising large groups, such as stag and hen parties, to steer clear and a much improved ale range, thanks in part to the pub's own Pilot Brewery. Three of their beers were available on this visit - Pilot Gold, Black Storm and Black Revolver - alongside a varied selection of Weird Beard Mariana Trench and Little Things, Bass, Wells Bombardier and Hook Norton Old Hooky. At least one real cider was available on handpull, but a board listed a great many more cider options. I tried the Pilot Gold, which was a good session ale and kept in excellent condition. The bar area was packed on a Friday evening yet the friendly bar staff successfully served me over half a dozen punters' heads and seemed well drilled in dealing with such crowds. The pub is typical of many of the old Mumbles pubs, occupying a small seafront property with a compact L-shaped layout. The front part is a tile floored bar area with the servery directly opposite the front door. The bar has a nice dark wood counter, tongue and groove bar back and an eye catching back-lit stained glass canopy which depicts pleasant images of rural and urban life. To the left there are some high tables and stools under arched windows and a large board listing all of the beers, whilst over on the right hand side a few more tables and stools stand under bare brick walls with a drinking ledge running along one and a ship's wheel on display under a high shelf stacked with various bottles, glasses, tankards and the like. The room extends further back on this side, passing a series of ship's flags, a lovely low stone fireplace, a collection of board games and books, some CAMRA certificates, plenty of photos and paintings, a rack with the day's papers, a couple of tables and chairs, a stack of wood for a small burner and a most unusual old ship departures board. Eventually you reach a small rear raised seating area with more standard tables and chairs and a few low stools in an area with half panelled walls, local photos and info boards and a stained glass window with a ship's wheel image. A bar skittles table was propped up to the rear and I also noticed a shove ha'penny board. No music was playing and there was a TV screen in one corner, but it remained off and didn't look like it got much, if any, use. This is an excellent pub that has reacted to the loss of trade now that students no longer complete the Mile, by targeting the more discerning drinker and judging on this evidence, it has been very beneficial doing so. There are a few very good pubs in the Mumbles and this one might just be the best of the lot.

Official site of Pilot Inn - www.thepilotofmumbles.co.uk

Official site of Pilot Inn - www.thepilotofmumbles.co.uk

Hi grumpy bastard. I don't remember trying to lick anyone last time I was in the Pilot, but then I had drunk several pints of the Oystermouth stout. Fortunately my doggies know their way home! They also drag me in 'cos Joe keeps jars of dog treats on the bar! My excuse etc.. I was trying to add some links to their websites,but as a semi-luddite, I don't know how. So here they are......... http://www.mumblesbrewery.co.uk/ and........ http://www.thepilotofmumbles.co.uk/ Keep up the grumpy good work.........Phredd

This is a detached pub and home to the Mumbles Brewery. The pub (formerly the Pilot Hotel) is early Victorian, but the plan on display in the pub shows that it was remodelled and extended in 1967. It is a simple cottage style in a light blue render, with a couple of small upper windows and two larger, flat ones flanking the central entrance. The interior has a single L-shaped room, which is in brick and white at the front and green and white at the back (up a step or two). There is a stone flag floor, with a nice wood bar, with colour glass above. Old photos of the area are on the walls. There is a tiled fire and a few brass ornaments. The TV wasn't on and there was no music. The service was really friendly and the clientele maturer - they don't do stag/hen parties in fancy dress etc (so no scantily clad French maids, alas). Saying that, the beer more than makes up for it. Beer; usual tap stuff with Bass, Worthington E and then Mumbles' Gold, Mile, Gower Power, Gower Wheat and Xperimentale on handpull. I tried all their beers other than the Wheat - they were decent. Simply an excellent little pub, the one to head for on the Mumbles - a must.

The Pilot has been bought outright by Richard and Jo, a very friendly couple, and has been refurbished. Jo worked behind the bar in the Park Inn ( Camra area pub of the year several times) for some time before the opportunity to buy the Pilot came up.They are a Real Ale pub, (5 brews last time I was in) plus the usual range of lagers etc.and will be brewing their own beer on-site from spring 2013....Phredd.

The Pub is now re-open and the new landlady is very welcoming and they are always snacks and stuff on the bar and you also get to sample the land ladies favorate music while you there lol Good luck to the new owners