Black Boy Inn, Caernarfon

Nice enough hotel bar with plenty of brassware, black timber and leaded windows. Visited when Wales was still panicking over Covid; there were a lot of theatricals and a lot of faff to order on a website reached by scanning a QR code. You do have to give all sorts of details so hopefully they’ll be taking GDPR laws seriously. The beer was actually worth the faff and to be fair once ordered it arrived bloody quickly. I used the lounge bar with two cask beers on but there is a public at the other end with three more. Usual keg choice of course.

Looks the part from the outside and having seen the general praise elsewhere I was keen to do this one. Thanks to Mrs Quinno dragging her heels in the B&B we were slightly later than I wanted and we ended-up in a queue to get in for dinner. A pub (quite literally) of two halves – the original main building is really cosy, traditional and atmospheric, a wonderful place to imbibe but sadly we were directed to the first COVID-sorted table which was in the rear barn (the buggers behind us in the queue got a main bar space and I hated them for it). The barn room is accessed via a courtyard and is set for dining. They’d done a good job in here though with a high vaulted ceiling, and walls painted with Welsh landscapes, myths and legends. Determinedly un-PC in this age (see the pub sign as well as a few other bits and pieces) which I was happy to see and I hope they stick with it. Four pumps with three ales on in the main bar; Purple Moose Glaslyn, Bass (superb – NBSS 4.5) and Cwrw Llyn Porth Neigwl (4). Noted via the receipt an unjustifiably huge mark-up on half pints (£3.85 vs £2.30!). The food was relatively expensive but good quality – plus they made sure there were enough staff to cope with the demand so if that pays their wages then fair enough. It's a lovely place with great beer and I really enjoyed my visit (the halves mark-up notwithstanding). 8.5.