The Grouse, Corwen

Every time I visit The Grouse I always intend to do a review, then I find it difficult to add anything to the John Bonsar review. It is more of a "must do" area to be in than a must do pub. It has a pleasant cosy bar area with two separate rooms which are usually used for dining. Up a few stairs and you are on a large covered veranda overlooking the River Dee. Up here on a sunny day you can really feel at peace. The only sounds are the river, gushing against the ancient stone bridge and the occasional whistle from the steam trains just down the road. The Grouse just seems to do things right. When a lot of pubs nearby close for one day a week, or just open in the evenings, or say there is no demand for Real Ale or food, the Grouse is always there to give you what you want. Whether it is a quick pint between trains, a nice meal (served all day 'till late), or just relaxing after the two and a half mile Deeside walk from the next town of Corwen, I always enjoy myself here. The J W Lees beers might not be everyones favourite but how they keep and serve them here, the pub has deservedly kept it's place in the National Good Beer Guide for a number of years.

Official site of the Grouse Inn - www.thegrouseinncarrog.co.uk

Official site of the Grouse Inn - www.thegrouseinncarrog.co.uk

Popped in today off the train and enjoyed a very well kept pint of Lees Bitter.

Visited in September 2009 The Grouse Inn is a nicely situated pub in the small village of Carrog, overlooking the River Dee and the picturesque 17th century stone bridge. The restored railway station at Carrog, a 5 minute walk away from the pub, is the westerly terminus of the steam train line which runs from Llangollen and is a popular tourist attraction. In order to benefit from passengers, the pub is open all day for food and drink. Perhaps not surprisingly, there is a strong food emphasis, with most tables set up for dining. A standard pub menu is offered. It's a three roomed smallish traditionally furnished pub, but with a large outside terrace at the side which affords fine views of the river and bridge, plus the distant hills. An information panel lower down the hill by the bridge tells us that Carrog used to have 4 pubs and that The Grouse Inn is now the sole survivor. It was apparently once a farm and a brewhouse. It's a J W Lees of Oldham pub and my recent mid-September visit found 3 real ales on - Lees Bitter, Willie Lees Premium Bitter and Coronation Street Premium Ale, the latter being rather naffly described as "Gripping Drama in a glass" by a poster near the bar. Both the Lees Bitter and the Coronation Street Premium Ale were in good condition, as befits a current GBG - listed pub. In fact, the pub proudly displays a certificate from the local CAMRA branch in recognition of 20 consecutive years in the GBG from 1989-2009. It's a pleasant enough pub, not worth going out of your way to visit as a pub in itself, but if you're travelling on the steam train, it's well worth the short walk from the Carrog railway terminus if you're feeling either peckish or thirsty.

JW Lees Passport Trail