McCann's, Newport

Rock music bar with a long, thin interior and a stage to the rear left. Outdoor areas can be found to the rear from a corridor to the rear right and also on pavement seating to the front. There are some sports shields behind the bar but the walls feature music memorabilia, rock posters, pumpclips and a large sign from the former Hornblower pub (another former Newport music venue). There was also a pool table in front of the stage, as well as a couple of games machines and a jukebox. Toilets and what looked like another bar/room were downstairs down a fairly steep staircase. The bar sports a couple of handpulls with just the one clipped with Butty Bach. We were drawn to the boxed ciders on the end of the bar. It's been a while since I've had Palmers Upland Cyder Rubber Chicken. Pick of the keg beers was Tiny Rebel IPA. Despite the lack of cask ale choice, I quite liked it here and my cider was very enjoyable.

A self-proclaimed 'Rock & Ale Bar', and a broadly accurate description. On a blazingly hot Saturday afternoon, most of the punters were sat out on the pavement tables getting scorched, but I took refuge in the narrow, elongated but much cooler bar (with a compact stage at the back). The music certainly wasn't at background level, but you wouldn't expect that here anyway (so as it fully met my requirements, then I'm not complaining!). I found a couple of Wye Valley beers on the handpumps - HPA (£4.00) and Butty Bach - and noted mostly standard offerings on the keg taps.

Rock bar with a stage at one end. Red and grey interior with laminate floor. Of note are the stairs down to the bogs, each one inscribed with the name and passing date of a famous rock star. A couple of cask on, I chose wrong with a spluttery end of barrel effort via Salopian (should have gone for a Duck Fart, one of the charmingly named shots that were advertised). Intense chat about M*A*S*H* and Blackadder at the bar - Sunday in Newport is like being transported back 30 years. I slowly warmed to this place, shame I got unlucky with the beer. I might be tempted to pop in again. 6.5