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

Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Wednesday, 26th June 2024
With picture contributions to 5437 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (8 more images)
Detail Pages
The Waterguard, Cardiff
Cardiff
CF10 4PA
Served areas
Reviews of The Waterguard (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Waterguard
Visited 28/01/25
No cask, keg offering of the Sovereign Bitter, Old Brewery Bitter, Taddy lager, Alpine lager, Pure Brewed Organic lager, Cider Reserve, Organic Wheat Beer, and the Extra Stout.
This feels a world away from the dark wood clad central London Sam Smiths venues collectively worth the value of a small country GDP in terms of the primeness of the properties. This feels like a posh riverside bar in a yacht club in comparison! It was difficult to get a proper external view of the place on a dark rough weather evening other than I agreed with the earlier review that it looks a bit castle keep like. The outside tables / benches were not surprisingly in play this evening. Inside the light wood bar counter was along the left-hand side of the main room that was a tiled floor affair with quite a bit of nautical theme around the place. Mixture of high bench seating opposite the bar, some booths along the right-hand side towards the other glass frontage. There was a small snug with Chesterfield sofa to the side of the entrance of the main bar and rather unexpectedly a darting area in a small area with a couple of tables the other side of that. The venue is undoubtedly classy with some nice art / prints on the walls, but as a Sam Smiths pub it really does mess with your perception.
On 21st March 2025
- rating: 5
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Waterguard
Sam Smiths pub in the trendy trendy trendy Cardiff Bay area. Distinctly different entrances at either end of the building – it looks like most of the place is new and has been grafted onto the frontage of an old castle-esque folly building. Nothing like their average place, this is all light wood, polished stone floor, light and airy. Of passing interest are various bits of nautical and Tiger Bay paraphernalia but all very neatly arranged and a bit sterile. Of higher draw is the rear garden with a dockside view. Fairly limited range of draft once it was established that the Extra Stout was off and the place is cask-less. A pint of Man in a Box set me back £4.40.
On 12th July 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Waterguard
The Waterguard is a riverside Sam Smiths pub so unsurprisingly it was empty during a recent Tuesday early evening visit. To the right of the entrance is a snug and to the left is a dartboard. The high-ceilinged bar area is open plan with a long bar counter that runs up the left-hand side. The usual SS keg range is available, and I paid £1.65 for half an OBB. As per there is no music or television. Outside at the rear are some picnic tables. I found the barman to be polite, but I was pleased I only ordered a half.
On 4th January 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
View more reviews of The Waterguard (4)
No known official website for this pub.
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Waterguard - whatpub.com
Cardiff Central, 1.47 miles, 28 min walk (show)
Grangetown (Cardiff), 1.6 miles, 30 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 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 04 January 2019 by Strongers .
- Function Room : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Live Music : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Quiz Night : No last updated 04 January 2019 by Strongers .
- Real Ale : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _
- WiFi : No last updated 12 July 2024 by Quinno _