Castle Inn / Tafarn Y Castell, Carmarthen

A busy locals pub with an unusual L shaped exterior, two cottages knocked-together an angle I presume. Interior feels like it was refurbed 50 years ago; artex style walls, multiple archways to the knock-through rooms, fake wood beams. Bar is confusingly round to the back right. Two ales over three pumps, Doom Bar and an apparent house brew by Evan Evans which was in good shape if a bit cold (NBSS 3.5) though the dirty glass let the side down. Switched to the bottled Gwynt Y Ddraig cider which was pleasant. The corner I sat in had a cold draught through a gap in the ceiling – it’s that kind of place. Desperately needs investment, though the locals seemed happy enough. It’s GBG’22 listed. 6.5

This is a detached pub, with front patio area, which is in the GBG. The place is likely older than the later Victorian period to which i could trace it on the maps. It is an L-shaped building in undessed stone, only broken by a couple of large lintles in white and a conservative neo-classic entrance. That entrance takes you into a central passage way that has the serving bar to the right, along with a small bar room. Off to the left is a dining area, which is bisected by a stone feature. The decor, on the whole, is cream artex with a white and fakey 80s style black beam ceiling and a blue carpet. The bar as sporting pictures and a TV (showing the cricket), whereas the dining side has patterned benches and chairs, with more genteel prints on the walls. We didn't eat, so can't comment on that. The service was fine and a few locals were in. There was no music. Beer; usual tap stuff with Brains Dark. There are a couple of handpulls, only one being and that with Doombar on - a little disappointing for a GBG pub. I had the Dark, which was fine enough. Despite this, the place is really nice and i would happily return - hopefully the other beer would be on then.