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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat on the Pub Forum

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Submitted on Tuesday, 12^th November 2024
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The Old Arcade, Cardiff

Church Street
Cardiff
CF10 1BG

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Cardiff Central

Reviews of The Old Arcade (Average Rating: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Quinno _ left this review about The Old Arcade

Back in the GBG so thought I might as well have a look despite my sign-off back in 2015. It’d reached 5pm on a Saturday by the time I arrived and this place had turned into a full-on boyo pub to the extent that I was driven outside by the racket – best visited at a quieter time. The interior is not without charm however and it is * CAMRA NI listed. My Brains Dark had long ran its course (NBSS 2) and I decided to dump half of it and head off for the greener pastures.

October 2014
Another Brains outlet (there are so many in the area). This one has an unremarkable interior (bar the nice servery), reminiscent perhaps of an older JDW. Full Brains range plus one of their craft offerings. My Brains Dark was in fair condition but tasted tinny. Kudos to the barman who found us with a delayed drink order in a busy pub. Not one I’d make an effort to re-do, really. Rated 6

On 5^th December 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]

Ian Mapp left this review about The Old Arcade

Head and shoulders above any of the other Good Beer Guide 2025 ticks I visited today.

Very busy on a Monday Lunchtime. Maybe the £2.70 Brains SA Promotion (very good condition), where the landlord talked me out of a half as it was more or less the same price for a pint.

Interesting rugby memorabilia and entertainment provided by a rumbustious landlord who was genuinely entertaining.

On 29^th October 2024 - rating: 8
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]

David Walton left this review about The Old Arcade

I haven’t been here for years, generally preferring the really decent Head of Steam next door. In fact I had almost forgot it was still here. Still here it most definitely is. Layout wise, well described below. I think it is a decent venue, although the tables are v close together and would mean the place was claustrophobic when there were a lot of punters in - not something I have to contend with this evening.

As noted v much a Brains pub, 6 hand pumps operational dispensing 5 of their ales. I went for the one that was doubled up as I had never tried before, the Dark. I really enjoyed it. Others were SA, SA Gold, the standard bitter and the Reverend James. They also had their keg version of the Standard bitter and their own lager called Bayside. Other keg choices included Barry Island IPA, another Brains quaff, and the now seemingly ever present on the venues I go to, Cruzcampo!

I’m not a great Brains beer fan, but I think the venue itself is more pleasant than the Head of Stem next door. Especially on a spring evening where the balcony doors here are thrown open to let in the South Wales gloom! Lush.

On 16^th May 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]

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