Britannia Inn, Swansea

Out on a bit of a limb in the North West corner of the Gower peninsula, this is a very pleasant rural pub and restaurant with a reputation for good food and ale. You enter into a cosy front bar with a terracotta tile floor, whitewashed walls and some old beams across the ceiling, some of which were apparently salvaged from local ship wrecks along this treacherous stretch of coast, although they’ve all been given a lick of paint, so this isn’t particularly obvious. Two rows of tables are served by chairs, pews and hard backed benches dotted with scatter cushions. To the right is an impressive inglenook fireplace which had a lit stove inside – a welcome sight after a chilly November morning walking along the coast. Sadly, the striking presence of this fireplace is diminished somewhat by the use of bookcase-style wallpaper to cover one of the walls to the side. The bar is along the back wall, slightly to left of centre, and has a stone counter front, modern bar back and a canopy lined with specials boards that complement the already extensive menu. A few low hanging lights require a bit of dodging as you move around the room and there are some nice paintings around the walls, mainly wildlife-themed, which help brighten up the space. A door to the left leads through to the smart restaurant area which was full of high-end furniture and offered an a la carte menu. Pop tunes played quietly in the background and there is a large garden and car park to the rear, complete with children’s playground facilities and a nice little aviary. They had three ales available when we visited – Wye Valley HPA, Gower Gold and Sharps Doom Bar. A very friendly, overworked barman served up a fine pint of the Gold, which went down well with some of the hearty food available from their bar menu. Customers were a mix of middle-aged diners and younger walkers stopping off for some refreshment. I thought there was a lot to recommend here, from the good quality food, to the friendly service, interesting interior and well-kept beer. There’s no doubting that this place is out of the way and not somewhere you’re likely to stumble across, but it’s easy enough to get to from most of the Gower’s main attractions and is well worth considering if your planning on visiting the area.

This is a detached pub and restaurant, with patio, beer garden and kid's play areas. The pub is a converted row of cottages, one of which may have been the early incarnation of the pub, which was know to exist before 1880. The pub is in white render with green paintwork. The interior has a long room, with a few steps between what is the bar area and that of the dining area. The dining area is in undressed stone, carpet, with a few pictures, mirrors and solid wood furniture - it looks tidy. We did not eat here, so can't comment on the food. The bar is in stone, white and pale green, with a red tile floor and white and beam ceiling. It has a mix of settles, benches and other seating and has a stone fireplace, with a range and a burner fire. A few prints are on the walls and the odd rugby shirt too. There is a dart board, though i am not too sure it is that easy to play. The service was fine and it seemed popular with locals and holidaymakers. The TV wasn't on and there was no music. Beer; usual tap stuff with Pedigree, Gower Gold and Wadsworth 6X on handpull - the 6X being ok. Not my favourite beer choice, but a nice pub and one i would definitely pop back to.

Official site of the Britannia Inn, contains menu - www.britanniainngower.co.uk

Official site of the Britannia Inn, contains menu - www.britanniainngower.co.uk