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Chainbridge Hotel, Llangollen
Berwyn
Postal town: Llangollen
LL20 8BS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
One of two Llangollen entries in the Good Beer Guide, the Chainbridge Hotel is located west of the town in Berwyn. I'd imagine it could make for quite a nice walk from Llangollen during the daytime. You can also arrive by steam train to Berwyn station, which is just across the River Dee via the Chainbridge itself. With the night drawing in, I elected to drive and negotiated the narrow road alongside the adjacent canal to reach the parking area outside.
This place very much has the feel of a hotel. It is the receptionist who will come and serve you, a friendly chap who was happy to discuss the town's hostelries and advise where to go next. Of course, I had a pre-planned list. Although he did persuade me to add a bonus stop!
Drinking here was like drinking in a hotel reception area. The guy did suggest I head into another room where a real fire was going, but I stayed near the entrance where the other customer was sitting. The real ale was Stonehouse Cambrian Gold and was much appreciated after having visited or at least having tried to visit 3 or 4 establishments serving no decent beer at all. Nevertheless, I'm not a great fan of golden beers.
A welcoming place whose real selling point is its location wedged between the canal and the raging River Dee, with its eponymous bridge.
On 17th October 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
As others have mentioned the Chainbridge Hotel has an excellent location on the River Dee, a short walk from the Horseshoe Falls and it’s associated car park, or a pleasant 40 minute stroll along the canal tow path from Llangollen.
Again nothing to add to John’s extensive review below, but just to reiterate that the outside river facing tables close to the main entrance with their wonderful view of the chain bridge are the ones to try and grab on a fine weather day. We did and it was an excellent spot to enjoy the pub food and a very good pint of Cambrian Gold.
And if you are lucky you will be entertained by the white water rafters in their rubber boats and the Heritage train stopping at the renovated Berwyn station opposite.
From wha I could see the inside rooms were quite smart also, but best visited on a fine weather day when the outside tables can be utilised.
On 26th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
Well worth visiting this pub for the location alone. The view of the river is stunning and the chain bridge itself is worth a look. An excellent pint of Cambrian Gold as well! I will return if I am in the area.
On 22nd October 2021
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
A nice, if expensive, pub in a lovely location. The pub is described by Mr Bonser in detail so there is nothing much to add there. The outside seats give a relaxing view of the river below and the railway station above. The 2 handpumps where dispensing Stonehouse Station Bitter and Sunlander.
On 25th September 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
Situated about a mile outside Llangollen on the banks of the River Dee is The Chainbridge Hotel, an establishment that brands itself as a “Hotel, Restaurant and Bar”.
It’s a longish building, single storey in parts, occupying the narrow stretch of land at this point between the river and the Llangollen Canal towpath, which run in parallel at this particular spot.
After a long period in the doldrums and subsequent closure, the establishment re-opened in 2014 after an extensive refurbishment. Reflecting its out of town position, it’s now best described as a smart country hotel. There’s over 30 rooms, many with views of the bridge and the fast flowing river
After over 30 years of closure, the eponymous historic chainbridge, reputedly the oldest chainbridge in the world, re-opened in May 2014 and now allows direct access from Berwyn Station on the Llangollen steam railway on the far side of the river.
Perhaps surprisingly, a small typical looking country hotel bar was serving 2 Stonehouse beers - Cambrian Gold ( £ 3.50p ) and Sunlander. My visit was marked by my first sighting of a CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2016 sticker, pleasingly prominently displayed in the glass door, which acts as the entrance from the chainbridge.
Under previous ownership and prior to refurbishment, real ale was not available and there was something of a disorganised Fawlty Towers feel to the place and I vaguely recollect several instances of stop offs for just coffee, tea etc sorely testing my good humour and naturally sunny disposition. It is clear that this place has come on leaps and bounds and it is indeed pleasing to see real ale now being available as part of the overall upgrade
There’s no question that the establishment has an envious idyllic location and it was very pleasant indeed sitting outside in the afternoon sunshine on the small patio overlooking the River Dee and also within sight of the occasional passing steam train. It’s a convenient stopping off point if walking along the canal to the Horseshoe Falls and, despite the definite hotel bar ambience, given the experience as a whole, I certainly wouldn’t be averse to calling in again if the opportunity presented itself.
On 5th October 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Hurdle left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
18/05/2013
After the collapse of the Llangollen Hotels Group, The Chainbridge Hotel has found new owners.
A major refurbishment is well under way. The main entrance is now on the front of the hotel!
A brand new bar area has been built, with a 2nd bar on the 1st floor planned. Real Ale has made a welcome appearance. The two pumps serve Stonehouse Station Bitter and a changing "guest" ale. Drinking the good quality Station Bitter and watching steam trains pass through Berwyn Station across the River Dee is a beer and steam buffs delight!
UPDATE- 02/06/2015
The hotel continues to improve on each visit with the beer deserving it's inclusion in the 2016 GBG.
With the recent reopening of the Chain Bridge across the River Dee, it is now only 2 minutes from Berwyn Station platform to the Stonehouse Station Bitter!
On 2nd June 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 707 recommendations about 645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
The building is unremarkable but it's situation is impressive with the River Dee cascading down the valley.Sadly the chainbridge from which it takes it's name is out of use and crying out for restoration which would allow easier access to Berwyn Station and it's steam train service.The entrance to the bar is along a riverside terrace with a few outside seats.You enter with the bar ahead and two handpumps on my trip dispensing Stonehouse Station Bitter and Purple Moose Snowdonia on fine form if a shade too cold.There are a series of rooms with views over the Dee ending finally at the restaurant.There is one internal room with a large fireplace and Chesterfield chairs.
It's also close to the Horseshoe Falls ,a wier built to divert river water into the canal which then feeds it to a resevoir near Nantwich and into the drinking water taps of Chester and Crewe,besides filling the canals of the area.There lots to do and see closeby and this hotel is a good option for a pint.
On 15th September 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Hurdle left this review about Chainbridge Hotel
Comfortable bar set on the edge of the 'white water' river Dee with good views of the river, the old chain bridge crossing the river, and the Llangollen Steam Railway high on the viaduct opposite at Berwyn Station.
Bar meals served all day but no Real Ale.
This quirky hotel has a brilliant setting in the beautiful Dee Valley, surrounded by water with the river on one side, and on the other side, the hotel main entrance (on the BACK of the hotel) on the towpath of the Llangollen canal with the water less than two yards away. Horse drawn barges call here from Llangollen two days a week.
Like marmite you either love it or hate it (so why have I rated it 6!??)
On 5th September 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 707 recommendations about 645 pubs]