The Tanners Arms, Brecon

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Tanners Arms

The village of Defynnog has just the one pub. The village itself was quite busy with some kind of livestock market taking place. However, there was nobody at all in the pub except for a couple of ladies who were running it.

The pub has quite a homely feel. There are stone walls in the main bar area with a large stone fireplace on the left-hand side. The ceiling is beamed with a few horse brasses on the beams. There are quite a few pictures of tractors on the walls, including in the gents. This is clearly an agricultural community. The bar also has a couple of stuffed animal heads on the walls.

To the right-hand side is a side room with another fireplace and a large TV. The bar area also has a smaller TV. In addition, there are a large number of board games on the windowsill. I was particularly attracted to one called "Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus". There are also some books and some Lego. Presumably kids are allowed in to make use of these items.

All TVs were off but background music was playing in an effort to create some kind of atmosphere. A wood burner was on but this is the kind of pub that must be expensive to keep warm. It was still quite chilly inside for a September afternoon. Opening is limited to 5 days a week, opening at 4pm on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday and all day at weekends.

On the bar, there are 3 handpulls. Only one was clipped with a Black Sheep Best Bitter pumpclip which was turned round. One of the ladies said that they had had St Austell Tribute but that had run out the previous evening. Unsurprisingly, the pub has not been in the Good Beer Guide since 2022. After enquiring about the ales, I also asked if they had any cider. I struck lucky as they had both Black Dragon & Old Rosie in boxes out the back. Neither were promoted anywhere so you presumably have to be in the know to have any idea what is available. Why wouldn't you at least put a couple of pumpclips on the unused handpulls?!

Craft beers available were Shipyard & Stonewall IPA. A sign stated that the kitchen was closed. This probably explained the lack of customers late on a Saturday lunchtime.

The pub has a small car park to the front. There is also a bus stop adjacent to the pub. I had to do a double take at the decapitated bodies with jeans on sat at the picnic tables to the end of the car park. I guess this is a novel way of attracting passing trade. Although it clearly hadn't had the desired effect.

I think this pub would benefit from offering at least one cask ale and it would be desirable if they would at least promote the real cider they have. Serving food would probably be good for business too. Unless things change, I fear for its future.

On 28^th September 2025 - rating: 5
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