Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Tuesday, 12th November 2024
With picture contributions to 5510 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (12 more images)
Detail Pages
The Pen & Wig, Cardiff
Cardiff
CF10 3BJ
Served areas
The Pen & Wig
We’re so proud of Rob for recently entering a mobile film competition, raising awareness for climate change! Please… https://t.co/nOyiUN6ZaF
12:58 PM Nov 15th 2019 from Twitter for iPhone
Reviews of The Pen & Wig (Average Rating: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Pen & Wig
As mentioned, this pub’s name may be a legal reference, so perhaps these grand neo-Gothic buildings constitute legal chambers, or is this, given the area, a ‘maindy’ (stone building)?
Either way, it would seem that this is a conversion of some sort, boasting that it’s been in the GBG for the last six years, now under the aegis of Heritage Pubs. Dark wood panelled, the interior is quite grand as mentioned, with affluent professional customers, many apparently drawn from the legal profession, though presumably not the criminal fraternity; what does let the place down though, are the TV screens which were showing adverts from the Food Channel on loop; how many times do I want to drink and watch a medium rare steak being turned over or a salad being tossed?
There were 10 pumps, about five dispensing Lilley’s ‘unreal’ cider, though half were sporting ‘Coming Soon’ tags, me going for a half of Glamorgan Jemimas Pitchfork (Google it) and in ok shape.
This place is an interesting addition to a crawl, but the TV dross, average beer and limited ale promised for a Thursday evening lets the side down a bit, but otherwise it’s a decent place for a prolonged stay.
On 1st June 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2242 recommendations about 2199 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Pen & Wig
Based in an upmarket suburb away from the circuit drinkers,this ornate building has the feel of a legal chambers with it's solid exterior. Inside there is a fine fireplace at the front,good wood panelling and some opulance.Opposite the bar is a wooden staircase ,while beyond is a seating area and then the beer garden,a real suntrap in good weather.A large Bass mirror adds to the interior decoration.
Real ale options on my trip were Goffs Pan -Asian IPA (NBSS 3.5) and Mango IPA,Tomas & Lilford Irreverent James,Mumbles Gold,Glamorgan Jemima's Pitchfork ,two Lilly ciders and three ales coming soon.Ales priced around £5.60 mark this out as expensive for the area but one I would return to given the range of real ales available.If crawling Cardiff,dont miss out on this one.
On 26th May 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2971 recommendations about 2971 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Pen & Wig
Pretty much the same as the last time - the wood panelling at the front remains and it's a mid-market venue straddling the students and staff of the Uni, local legal office workers and middle class locals. 10 pumps remain as per 2015 though once the ciders and ‘coming soons’ were stripped out we were down to five local ales. GBG listed, my Tomos & Lilford Nash Point was in fair shape (NBSS 3); advanced pricing at £5.45pp and I played the CAMRA discount to get it down to £4.95. The COVID enhanced garden with cast iron column seating area is impressive. 7.5
November 2015
Not far from the immediate city centre and worth putting on the crawl list. It’s a fairly traditional place in a large knocked-through Victorian terrace building (you can enter from either end). There are plenty of discrete seating areas with a large traditional bar area and back. Clean and tidy inside with a welcoming furnished feel. Busy on our late Saturday afternoon visit, with a pleasing mix of shoppers, locals and students though the music was over-loud and not really required. Ten pumps at the bar with eight ales and two ciders. A pretty good selection of micros and regionals to choose from. I stayed local and went for Cwm Rhondda and Otley O6; the Cwm Rhondda had seen better days but the Otley was much better. 10% CAMRA discount is offered and clearly advertised at the bar. Food available and we decided to eat; it’s mid-range pub grub but it must be said that the quality and service were a notch above what I expected and we all enjoyed our food (they even did Mrs Quinno’s steak properly medium as requested). Really enjoyed my visit here and would make sure I take it in again next time I’m in Cardiff. Rated 8
On 5th December 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5589 recommendations about 5570 pubs]
View more reviews of The Pen & Wig (4)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The Pen & Wig - www.heritagepubs.co.uk
- Twitter - The Pen & Wig
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Pen & Wig - whatpub.com
Cardiff Queen Street, 0.41 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Cardiff Central, 0.98 miles, 18 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : Yes - 10% with CAMRA vouchers. - last updated 30 May 2025 by Tris C
- Car Park : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes - Baby changing. - last updated 30 May 2025 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes - Selective, TNT/Viaplay. - last updated 30 May 2025 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : Yes - Tuesdays, 20.00. - last updated 30 May 2025 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 30 May 2025 by Tris C
- Wheelchair Access : Yes - Disabled WC. - last updated 30 May 2025 by Tris C
- WiFi : Yes last updated 05 December 2024 by Quinno _
Misfits Social Club- Daffodil
- Gassy's
- Laguna Kitchen & Bar
- Yates
- Henry's
- Carib Vibes
- Leonardo's Bar @ Leonardo Hotel
Recently Viewed: