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Ship & Castle, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
SY23 1JG
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Spinko Spinko left this review about Ship & Castle
This as Quinno says has a reputation as Aber's flagship real ale venue. However on this visit I was surprised I could barely finish my Oakham pint. I'll consider it an off day as usually much better. Although I arrived at 2, left at half past and didn't see another punter.
On 16th May 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 44 recommendations about 44 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Ship & Castle
Ticks along as much as ever does. Slightly underwhelming quality this visit with beers from Tiny Rebel (NBSS 2.5) and the ubiquitous Butty (3).
August 2018
The refurb has fully bedded-in now and it was a superb stop-off here, a great atmosphere and all three of my beers were great shape. There’s also a selection of proper ciders and an increasing amount of craft keg (in Aber!!). Good to see Blairo still behind the bar as well. Still a top pub in my book. Rated 9
June 2014
Real ale and cider house. Usually has five handpulls on the go, dispensing a number of unusual brews from Wales and the Midlands (Wye Valley Brewery is a regular) in excellent condition. There's a large range of whiskies and foreign beers, as well as at least one real cider or perry. Refurbishment a few years back has been effective. Gets rammed on Friday and Saturday after 8pm, so best sampled when quieter. The only must-visit pub in Aber. Rated 9
Click the link towards the bottom of the page for an expanded review.
On 8th May 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Ship & Castle
The High Street is a bit of a backwater these days, but a number of venerable establishments (such as this) remain. That said, the interior of this pub has been comprehensively refurbished and now comprises a 'L'-shaped bar with a pool table just to the side of the entrance and a further seating area down a couple of steps at the back. Six handpumps on the counter, offering a cider and an interesting selection of beers (including two from Wye Valley and the Tettnanger Deutsch Ale from Harbour Brewing).
On 25th June 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Ship & Castle
We arrived here just before opening time, so had to take a little stroll. On our return, we found ourselves to be the first customers of the day (at 4pm). There are five ales and a cider on the six hand pumps, and we went for the Spitting Feathers Special Ale, which was very good. We quite liked it here, but there was a radio DJ on the video screen (Steve Wright, FFS - is he still alive?) which rather spoiled things for me. If we hadn't been in the very busy and welcoming Glengower previous to our visit here, I might have agreed with the reviewer below, but now I think the Ship & Castle might have some catching up to do.
Date of visit: 20th December 2016
On 29th December 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3734 recommendations about 3471 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Ship & Castle
The Ship and Castle stands out as a beacon in a sea of mediocrity.
This is the best real ale traditional pub in Aber but frankly from what I experienced that could quite possibly not be a ringing endorsement as it doesn't have a lot to beat.
However in saying that this is a very decent pub and would stand up to a lot stiffer competition was any to be offered.
I can well understand its somewhat awkward long and thin internal set up gets rammed at weekends but it was pleasantly quiet for my Monday afternoon visit. Five pumps operational and the house Wye Valley Butty Bach and HPA were complemented by Oakham Inferno, Salopian Matrix and Otley O2 Croeso and the couple we tried were in excellent condition.
On 7th September 2016
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Ship & Castle
When I first came here it was called Flannery's and had a microbrewery installed on the premises. It was also a fake Irish pub, something I always found a bit odd for a place like Aberystwyth. Today it is clearly the premier real ale venue in Aber. It's a long narrow room with the bar on the right as you enter, a pool table on the right and a quieter area down a few steps away from the bar.
There were a few tables and chairs alongside benches around the wall. There were some strange beer mats on the tables with Holden's on one side and Carling on the other. I made sure all the ones within reach were Holden's side up.
Six handpumps were on the bar with one unused on my October Thursday afternoon visit. The choice was Scarborough Stout, Wye Valley Butty Bach, Dark Star Hylder Blonde, Peerless Crystal Maze and Tiny Rebel FUBAR. Both beers tried were £3.10, so as they are all roughly the same ABV I assume that price applies to all of them. The FUBAR and Scarborough Stout were both great beers in outstanding condition.
On 17th October 2014
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
I L left this review about Ship & Castle
A very well kept clean pub which is now open plan but with diferent drinking areas including a pool table to the right of the main entrance. There were 5 ales on during our visit and the two we tried were in very good order. The ales on offer were mainly from smaller breweries.
On 3rd January 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 287 recommendations about 284 pubs]