Golden Mile, Bridgend

Country pub which can be found to the south of Bridgend. It has nice views over the countryside/farmland below. Although there are a few industrial units which spoil the view. There is an outdoor patio and a small grassy area which a children's play area. A large car park is split over two levels. We were the first customers to arrive, even arriving before some of the bar staff. As such, we had the choice of seating in the pub which is split into two roughly similar size sections, both having access to a central bar. The bar is on the road side of the pub, with a dining room overlooking the valley. The bar had laminate flooring with a fireplace at one end containing a wood burner. There was a TV at the opposite end showing the Lions rugby union match. After getting our drinks, we chose a table in the middle of the bar. However, the next customers in were a father and son who were there for food. They wanted to eat in the bar and the barmaid who had arrived after us proceeded to try to find them a table. One nearest the TV was rejected as being too noisy for the father. Despite there being plenty of other tables free in the bar and an empty dining room, the barmaid decided it was best to move my wife and I to another table so that the diners could have their preferred table. After initially approaching us, she decided that the idea might not be so great after all and I think they ended up in the dining room! With no reserved sign on our table, we had every right to sit there. It certainly proved to us where the pub's priorities lie. The pub was nicely decorated but another strange occurrence was a woman walking around telling the barman/landlord which items of the pub she would like to remove! Whether the pub had recently changed hands or whether there had perhaps been a death in the family, I'm not sure. But it did sound like many of the ornaments and furnishings were about to be removed! There are 4 handpulls at the bar. Sharp's Doom Bar & Glamorgan Welsh Pale were the only 2 cask beers on. A third handpull had a Wye Valley Butty Bach clip but had a glass over it. The fourth handpull was unclipped. Camden Pale was on keg, whilst the cider was Glamorgan Apples. A Kopparberg Crisp Apple pump also had a glass over it. My Glamorgan Welsh Pale was not in the best nick. With just two cask ales across the 4 handpulls, with poor quality beer dispensed and with a clear emphasis on diners at the expense of drinkers, it surprises me to see this kind of pub in the Good Beer Guide.