The Park Inn, Swansea

Inconspicuous back-street pub, with a very pleasant two-part alehouse-style interior (featuring a tiled floor in the part in front of the counter, and the luxury of a carpet in the other half). Tidy, plain furniture and decor mostly comprising breweriana. Five real ales on handpump, including two from Evan Evans - Cwrw and Organic Gold (£3.40).

Down a narrow back street just a short walk from the Mumbles seafront, the Park Inn is a fantastic ale house that is well worth seeking out. The pub has a tile floored main bar with lots of seating to either side of the entrance where you can spot some nice stained glass windows with the pub's name picked out on them. A stage had been set up to the front right when I visited late on a Friday evening and there was a quirky folk band playing off-kilter versions of familiar pop songs to a large and appreciative crowd. This helped generate a fantastic atmosphere that was highly infectious and reflected by the relative lack of space. The servery is in the rear right corner - a simple service area complicated by countless bar blockers - although I was able to get served with a degree of ease and could appreciate a large pump clip collection attached to a series of posts. The left hand side of the room had the majority of the seating under high shelves full of books and whisky boxes and a large plain mirror. A corridor to the side of the bar housed a knot collection and a single pew set underneath a staircase yet it was still occupied on such a busy evening. Beyond is a rear room with some slightly glum looking pew seating, a dartboard and a few disused kegs, making it feel a bit like a storeroom, rather than an integrated part of the pub. A board listed a long roster of upcoming events and it seemed that the pub was a genuine hub of the local community. The ale range is a key attraction here and the selection on this visit comprised Porter Street Angry Bishop, Watkins Dark Mild, Mallinsons Rakau, Cottage Golden Arrow, Crouch Vale Mosaic and Cotswold Spring Aviator, with at least one real cider also available. I tried the Rakau, which was in excellent condition and I would have been more than happy to spend the rest of my evening here working through the rest. This is a quality pub which seems to appeal to a wide range of customers and has one of the best ale ranges in the Mumbles. I really loved the lively atmosphere and warm ambiance within and would suggest that this is an essential port of call if you're in the area.

Still selling first class real ales, and they have added a fairly extensive range of Whisky sss ses. If only the pup was twice the size it would be great, as i can be hard to get in on some nights.

I'm writing this literally 10 minutes after leaving the pub and what a worthwhile visit it was. Several different real alea and the wife was well please with the selection of bottled ciders. I shall, hopefully, get back here later on today and sample more? One thing to note: If you're in the area looking for this pub, bear in mind it's up a narrow back street and parking is very difficult.

A great pub... it's not very often that these pubs are found. One of my über favourite pubs! Plenty of real ales to choose from, and it has that real pub atmosphere and aura about it. It has a proper log fire (which was a God send after walking through the streets of Mumbles in the snow), and that cosiness to the place. The customers and the staff are always friendly. The place can also be peaceful, with a couple of quiet conversations going about and the crackling of the fire and I don't think there is a jukebox either (just a single old amplifier on a stool in the corner). The other day, I've only noticed that there is a telly in the corner, but I'm not sure when it's switched on. There is a seating area outside the back, and a few board games stacked underneath the dartboard. There is an old piano there, too... but I haven't heard it being played yet. There is also a bookshelf with donated books to read. It can be difficult to find, and it seems one of those places that are only found if you know where it is... or come across it by complete surprise as it blends in almost perfectly with the surrounding houses (apart from a couple of empty beer barrels outside). And they close at 11 every night... even on weekends. But that doesn't put me off going there... I'd arrive earlier in the evening!