Cross Inn / Rhos yr Hafod, Cross Inn, Aberystwyth

Will Larter left this review about Cross Inn / Rhos yr Hafod

This was my third pub on a list of those of the 16 regional finalists in CAMRA's pub of the year that I had not previously visited. In planning, I had found a camp site nearby which put me within a six or seven minute walk of the pub, though when I wandered up to take some photos I had some doubts about whether it was open at 5pm as promised. It turned out that there were no lights on inside and the front door was shut tight because of the wind off the sea. In fact, when I returned after my camping stove dinner I found it quite busy, even lively. It turns out that Thursdays are alternately quiz night or games night, and there were four tables of people playing board games to the left, forcing everyone else to stand around the bar and gossip.

There are further rooms towards the back, though I think the pile of fleecy blankets I saw there are for using in the outdoor seating. Two hand pumps are on the bar with locally brewed beers, plus a small pile of bag in box ciders behind. I went for Mantle Rock Steady, a golden ale brewed in Cardigan (NBSS 3.5) and later went back for the other, Mantle Cwrw Tefi (NBSS 4), this being a very nice dark bitter. One of the bar hangers heard me explaining about my mission to tick my missing pubs from the list of 16 finalists and was so impressed that he bought my beer for me!

From chatting with some other regulars - incomers of 40 years who raised their children here - I learned that the pub was failing until taken over by a local farmer, who bought it and revived it spectacularly so that it is now the hub of the community and judged the best pub in Wales. (The pub's name in Welsh means something like "summer house on the moor" and is nothing to do with Cross Inn, which would be "Tyn-y-Groes", so perhaps the English version of the name is to do with its location at a five-way crossroads.)

On 18^th September 2025 - rating: 10
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