Halcyon Quest Hotel, Prestatyn

Impressive looking mock Tudor building and quite nice inside too, a bit knocked-through but the original areas are still obvious. Plenty of knick-knacks including an upturned boat suspended from the ceiling. Football on one half of the pub and over-loud 60s music on the other with some codgers singing along. What looked like a decent rear garden wasn’t available the evening I was in. Four pumps with three on; Mauldons Black Adder (NBSS 2), Facer's Flintshire Bitter (warm, 2) and Community Brewing Company Secret Sessions Elderflower 20 (just about a 3) – clearly turnover issues here. The elbow press lighting system for the COVID toilets was an impressive innovation. Decent boozer but issues to be addressed on the pumps. 6.5

Currently up for sale and is a little run down, large room and back patio. Not especially friendly, but there are 4 real ales but the quality was poor on this visit.

The Halcyon Quest Hotel offers accommodation, but I would say that the bar is much more like a pub than a hotel bar. The actual bar is found on the right wall where there is a selection of standard draught. Four hand pumps are supported, but two of these were unused leaving Facer’s Brewery’s Flintshire Bitter and Salopian’s Boomerang as the ale options. I didn’t see any food advertised. The interior has a lived in feel and the carpet has seen better days, but I feel that the worn look adds a bit of character. On the walls are lots of display cases with old sporting memorabilia in them from sports like tennis, cricket, fishing, golf etc. A rowing boat hangs from the ceiling in the left rear seating area and there are a couple of plasma screens. Ashes cricket commentary via Radio Five Live was being aired on of the screens during my recent Friday afternoon visit so I gather that there is no Sky Sports. There is a jukebox on the wall which was off in favour of the cricket. Out the back is a good sized patio garden with a shelter at the end that houses a couple of tables and a barbeque. There is also a car park. I liked it in here and would be very happy if I was staying in the hotel and found this to be the bar.

Halycon Quest is a pleasant one roomed bar, with a newly constructed outdoor area. Flintshire Bitter, from Facer's Brewery is the house beer and there are always two ever rotating guests selected from throughout the UK. Wrexham Lager is also always available. At present, no food is served.

Official site of the Halcyon Quest Hotel - www.halcyonquest-hotel.com