Nags Head, Boncath

Lovely old stone building with an ancient stone flag floor, kitchen furniture in the large bar this has a huge magnificent fireplace and a big bottle collection as well as a stuffed woodworking squirrel. There are also the enevitable pump clips on the (newish) ceiling beams. The bits of exposed brick around the counter show there has been partial renovation and it’s not fully ye olde village pub. There is a projection screen over the fireplace, I’m guessing that’ll be for the rugby. The back appears to be a family room with a TV, sofa, memorabilia of the pub and the giant rat of Abercych captured and stuffed for posterity. It has an old Ind Coope advertising sign behind the woodburner stove and is served via a hatch. The side room is set up mainly for dining. Three pumps serve beers from the on-site brewery “Cych Valley”, Cariad a copper coloured pale ale 3.9%, Quoff, at 3.6% which I didn’t try and Celtic Supreme, at 4.5% a reddish more malty brew than Cariad, both were excellent. There’s also a Celtic Red at 4.3% which wasn’t on plus some pump clips for this Fox and that Fox including Samantha Fox with a suitably busty clip design, although these are not listed on the brewery gate. Not quite a hidden gem as its in the 2013 GBG but a gem nonetheless.