Queens Hotel, Swansea

In the ‘quiet’ bit of town (the ‘maritime quarter’ which I assume is an upmarket euphemism for the old docks offices) over the A road that cruelly(!) cuts off the southern section of Wind Street. Housed in a large red brick building with some Italianate features such as the large arched glass windows, the interior remains fairly traditional – accessed through a glazed porch is a wood and mirrored island bar surrounded by a number of seating areas. A homely feel with a pub carpet, local docks and nautical photos, plant pots, cream and Wedgewood turquoise colour scheme. A good number of well-refreshed punters inside though mainly on the mature side (“wait for their wives to come in off Wind St at half ten to pick them up to go home” mused one of my local companions, who was proved entirely correct in a good number of cases). GBG listed, four ales on; a bank of three at the far side of the servery with Mumbles Brewery Mile (NBSS 4), Glamorgan Cwrw, something called Zoo and, alone on its tod at the nearside of the bar, Theakston OP (a magnificent 4.5). I really enjoyed my couple of hours here and whilst I haven’t yet managed all the Swansea GBG pubs, I’d struggle to see this one being bettered.