Liverpool Arms, Conwy

After a lengthy walk back into Conwy town centre, my faith was restored in Conwy's pubs by a visit to the Liverpool Arms. The pub is situated on the town's quayside. I remember it fondly from my visits here as a child. This return visit was my first to this hostelry and indeed all of the other pubs. It's location encourages a strong presence of tourists and visitors. Indeed, it is a few yards from the "smallest house in Great Britain". As Quinno has said, the pub is quiet in an evening. As such, I did manage to secure a table in the small single-room interior. Most people were preferring to sit outside in the sunshine, in any case. Black Sheep Best Bitter & Skinner's Betty Stogs were the 2 real ales available. Apparently they normally have Bass in addition, but had maybe run out, given I noted a beer delivery when I passed by the following morning. Weston's Rosie's Pig was also an option for apple worshippers like myself. I sat alone in the bar, apart from the 2 bar staff and another couple playing board games. The atmosphere felt good, despite the lack of customers.

The tourist pub is Conwy, wonderfully situated on the quayside with a super panoramic view from the front garden if you can get a seat (we did, and it was brilliant). Quietens down in the evening which is when we timed our visit. The interior is small, olde worlde, cosy and L shaped, sporting undressed stone walls and flagged flooring alongside the inevitable nautical-related paraphernalia. Only two pumps going, dispensing an excellent Bass (NBSS 4) and a cider. It’s plastic if you’re drinking outside, no exceptions. Friendly service, which I was not neccessarily expecting. Surprisingly good, it’s well-worth trying to get a pint here if you can find a seat but I guess that’d be unlikely for the average daytripper in-season. Rated 8, could well be a 6 on another day...

Although I'd never been to this pub before I had been aware of it for decades mainly as it was a famous outlet for Draught Bass before they ruined it. It's now part of the Enterprise property company and on my warm and sunny October Sunday afternoon visit had mainly a load of lager fuelled oafs outside while being fairly quiet inside. It's basically a tourist trap. Inside it's predictably Olde Worlde but ruined by two obtrusive TV screens and the fact that the genuine old beams had been painted light grey. The bar has three hand pumps which had boring Bass, Heavy Industry Electric Mountain and Spitting Feathers Thirst Quencher. I went for the Electric Mountain (£3.50) which was in good nick. Despite being GBG 2018 listed I can't say I would bother returning here.