O'Neill's, Cardiff

Visited 18/06/25. Visited previously as the Old Market Tavern on 19/09/18. No cask. Keg offering of Guinness, Madri, Neck Oil, Asahi, Peroni, Inch's cider, Thatchers Gold, original and dark fruits SB, Tiny Rebel Cali Pale, Punk IPA, Coors, Brew Dog Hazy Jane. Quite low key (for early evening visit) O'Neills. Seating outside opposite the church popular and bar counter is along the left-hand wall, with service at the front and then more extensively at the continuation the other side of the food hatch. Small amount of tall stool seating at the rear part. The front had the windows opened which made the drinking ledge with tall stools there the best place to be on a warm day. Venue is bare boarded apart from a rear of venue space which is carpeted with a handful of booth tables. Plenty of TV's showing sports, no volume but a turned-up music soundtrack instead. Seating in the more substantial front part via regular tables and chairs, some leather studded banquettes and the odd booth table.

Official site of O'Neill's - www.oneills.co.uk

Official site of O'Neill's - www.oneills.co.uk

Was O'Neills and is now a Nicholson (not that there’s been a change in the pub’s overall ownership – they’re both M&B). Three pumps as you enter and five further round. However in contrast to traditional Nicholsons pubs in London and Birmingham there was only Doom Bar, Rev James and the Nicholson Pale Ale on. The others were all off or found to be off when enquiring at the bar; really appalling cellar management given that we called in early Saturday afternoon. So we settled for a half of the Nicholsons Pale Ale (brewed by St Austell) which was in decent nick. Student discount prominently advertised, though they were utterly perplexed when presented with an NUS card by Mrs Quinno. Fairly so-so interior, the converted butchers were the main thing that caught my eye but there’s no high Victoriana as you might well expect from the chain, it really did feel like a pretty basic switch over from O’Neills. Rugby showing silently on the TVs to remind you you’re in Wales. Overall, the poorest Nicholson I’ve been in for many a day.