The Golden Fleece Inn, Porthmadog

I remember visiting this place around fifteen or so years ago when it was a cosy carpeted bar with good beer and an emphasis on food. It's been given the "modern" treatment with the exception of the small area on the left as you enter which is still recognisable as a pub rather than a restaurant. It's all wooden floors and set out for dining with low level lighting so you may as well be in Islington Green or Hoxton rather than a sleepy village in North Wales. Another annoying thing I noticed was that there were some rather new looking enamel advertising plates for Guinness, Whitbread Tankard, Mackeson and Skol International Lager on one of the walls. Who is that supposed to impress? The bar area is set in what appears to be a cave. Unfortunately the barman was not a troglodyte but a six foot something young lad who must have a permanent headache from banging his head on the roof and sides of the cave. There were four hand pumps and despite the presence of Llyn, Conwy and Purple Moose drip mats on the bar offered a really boring selection with one unused, a rugby themed beer from Thwaites, Greene King IPA and Shepherd Neame Amber Ale (£3.30). I went for the Amber Ale which although expensive for the area was in very good nick and saves this place from getting a really dismal score.

Great Food, Real ales, log fire, snug, beautifull restaurant, and fantastic atmosphere. Bar meals are exceptional value for money and taste great too. A locals favorate for eating and drinking. The Little Ivy restaurant is devine and decedent fantasticly tastefull!