The Pen & Wig, Newport

Large pub with carvery & live sports. Long bar, polished wood floor, set up like a chain pub pushing food, but some nice areas & space

A fairly mainstream place in a sloped terraced building but has some good selling points. The interior has not been fully opened-out so there are some relatively discrete drinking areas in what feels like a mid-90s refit - inoffensive but hardly noteworthy - and there’s an open kitchen at the rear if you want to check out chef's deep frying skills. When you enter you see four pumps but don't stop there, carry on round the bar for the full six. On my evening visit there was Gloucester Gold (good nick and only £1.40 a half) Bass, Cotleigh Osprey, Goffs Tournament and 2x Brains, SA and Main Stage. Friendly service from behind the bar. A solid pub that’s a guaranteed visit if you’re in the town.