The Hanbury Arms, Newport

Got a bit of history lurking - apparently Tennyson wrote Morte D'Arthur here. It’s an interesting old pub, with an intriguing round stone tower in one corner and sits on the bend of the River Usk – there’s decent beer garden by river if you fancy that and the views from the bay windows are nice. There was a good range of Brains cask beer (including Dark Mild) all served to a good standard on my visit - this was in the GBG but has since dropped out. We ate, and the food was basic, but decent standard mass-produced industrial pub grub. It’s quite big inside with three distinct areas though the décor leaves a bit to be desired, a weird salmony pink colour pervades. It’s also got quite a locally clientèle – our reception could have easily been mistaken for frostiness which let the side down a bit, the woman behind the bar was pretty poker-faced as well. No gem, but worth seeking out if you're in the area for the quirkiness factor. If it wasn't for that, my mark would be one lower.