Doghouse, Swansea

This is a relatively new two-room micropub on the seafront road through The Mumbles. A porch leads you into the front bar area, which has a shop-style front window with a long high table beneath it, made from a stylised piece of old driftwood and served by several bar stools. To one side is a nice Chesterfield sofa, lost under a sea of scatter cushions, but very comfy looking regardless. The bar runs down the right-hand wall and has a simple counter front decorated with a nice mural and a rustic bar back with a beer board to one side and a strange recessed space to the other in what looks like some sort of former storage unit. There’s not much room opposite the bar – just enough space for a drinking ledge with more high stools under a glazed tile wall with a load of merchandise hung above it. Moving past the bar, you climb a couple of steps to the compact rear room which felt like a nice bright space with bare boards, white walls and simple table and chair seating options plus what appeared to be a kitchen to the rear, dishing out simple but innovative light meals according to a menu I noticed in the front window. I noticed a small TV screen in the back room, but this wasn’t being used, with a contemporary R&B soundtrack playing quietly instead, and there are various surfing themed items dotted throughout the pub, which seems appropriate enough given the location. Over the road, there is a grassy area between the road and the promenade, which has a large dome tent-like structure pitched on it, underneath which six picnic benches have been positioned for those that want a view of Swansea Bay to accompany their pint. The beer boards were a little confusing, in that they didn’t distinguish between cask and keg options, but thankfully there were clipped handpulls on the bar, so I was able to figure out that the cask options were Grey Trees Drummer Boy and Mosaic Pale Ale, Mumbles Gold and Fallen Acorn They’re Taking The Hobbitz To Isinglass. I ordered a pint of the Drummer boy (£4.00) and the friendly barmaid poured it and then suggested I should try it before paying, as she was concerned about the quality (it was fine). There were only a couple of other customers on my Saturday afternoon visit, but it was hammering down outside, so perhaps not indicative of an average day. I quite liked this place and thought the beer and service were major plus points, but it loses points for the lack of decent seating in the main bar area that forces retreat into the duller rear room for those not wishing to stand. I’d say this is well worth checking out if you’re down this way and the pub’s location between the Pilot and the Mumbles Ale House makes it an easy addition if you’re checking out the area’s best boozers.

New(ish) micropub, this is a small narrow bar with a room beyond. Basic whitewash interior over an obvious strip-out and a slightly chaotic affair in addition; two tiny (and I mean tiny, I could have easily trodden on one) dogs whizzing about, empty barrels lying around and an awful of accompaniment of terrible daytime TV blasting out, fat Eamon kept leering down at me which put me off my beers. Four pumps with three ales on from Grey Trees, Tenby and Frisky Bear Harmonic Movement (NBSS 3). Five craft in addition with a good range of styles, the Tenby No Way Gose was sampled in addition. The down-at-the-mouth woman behind the bar didn’t inspire much though her (cheerfully hungover) younger partner (daughter?) was a bit more welcoming. I really didn't take to the place, but the beer demands a visit and if you’re going to the Pilot you may as well stop in for one.