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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Palace Vaults, Caernarfon
Caernarfon
LL55 1RR
Pub Type
Local Pub (Marstons)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Palace Vaults
Quite a striking building which gave me a brief glimmer of hope. Inside is a weirdly laid-out place, a proper incongruous mish-mash of levels and spaces; certainly a little character though sadly the COVID grey paintbrush has taken the shine off things and it clashes horribly with the old carpet and furniture. Three pumps with nothing on (all Marstons clips turned) so I took a punt on the keg Mansfield Bitter which was surprisingly decent, and served-up by a friendly barman.
On 14th May 2024
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Palace Vaults
Much as described by Richard in 2018, though when I was here Pedigree and Wainwright were the cask beer options. My half of Pedigree was suffering from two or three infections, the dominant one being musty. I returned to the bar: "Is it vinegary?", asked the barman/cleaner/cook. I described it and was offered a taster of Wainwright, which seemed ok in the taster glass, apart from being bland and uninteresting, but my half had a similar taste of dust and furniture polish. Are the lines infected, or the glasses shelf? Clearly, hardly anyone drinks cask beers in Wales, but if you do, don't drink them in this pub.
On 12th May 2024
- rating: 3
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Palace Vaults
Marston's pub with a split-level interior refurbished in a light, if rather anonymous, semi-modern style (apart from an interesting selection of local history photographs). Also has some patio tables out front. Pedigree and the 'house' Cwrw Pen Deitch (£1.60, half) available from two of the three handpumps.
On 22nd January 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Palace Vaults
This is a long standing Marston's pub. Inside it's a single wide room with an island bar and a lower area at the front. To the right of the bar is a room with a dart board, a pinball table and unusually a bar football table.
The left of the bar has three hand pumps which had Pedigree turned, Ringwood Boondoggle and something called Cwrw Pen Deitsh.
I asked the young barman about the Cwrw Pen Deitsh and he said it was a local beer. I looked closer at the pump and it said Marston's on it so pointed that out and the barman insisted it was a local brew so I asked him how Burton in Staffordshire could possibly be local. At this point an older man sitting at the bar who I assume was the manager or tenant told me it was brewed for them. Well that explained everything, the thought that it could possibly be badged Burton Bitter or even worse Mansfield Original Bitter (brewed at Burton) was clearly wrong. I came across this ridiculous subterfuge at another Marston's pub in Aberdyfi a year earlier.
Obviously I went for the Boondoggle (£2.99) which was in good nick. Apart from the stupid con trick with the beer I quite liked this pub. Why don't they just do Burton Bitter or better still get a genuine local ale in.
On 24th April 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]