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George III Hotel, Dolgellau
Postal town: Dolgellau
LL40 1YD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about George III Hotel
If you are coming from Barmouth (as I was) this pub is well worth 80 pence to use the wonderful old wooden toll bridge across the Afon Mawddach. In fact if you miss the toll bridge (it closes at 6.30pm) then on a fine day it’s still worth the extra couple of miles to drive up to the head of estuary and back.
Why?, well primarily for its fantastic setting overlooking the estuary and it’s a great place for an alfresco pint, especially in the evening when it gets the full effects of a setting sun.
The wonderful stone building over two levels and its location right bang smack on the now disused Penmaenpool to Barmouth train line is all well covered by previous reviewers, so I won’t cover any of that.
Post covid the Estuary Bar (as the ground floor bar under the colonnaded front referred to by Will below is now branded after the Robinsons take over) now opens at lunchtime and provides a limited lunchtime pub grub menu with the usual jacket potatoes, Catch of the day, burgers e.t.c., but the upstairs bar and the much posher upstairs restaurant doesn’t open till 5.00PM and if you want to eat here, booking is very much recommended.
We had searched it out for a beer and in that respect Robinsons Trooper, Dizzy Blonde and Unicorn were on the three hand pumps in the Estuary Bar and the Blonde was well served.
I dont mind Robinsons brews but the little niggle I did have is that if you are drinking outside then you have to have one of the modern plastic glasses, but the view soon made me forget about that.
The pub also sits on the Mawddach Hiking Trail which goes from Dolgellau all the way into Barmouth, via the Barmouth Railway bridge and the first bit towards Barmouth from the pub that goes across the flood plain and follows the shore line to Abergwynant is a pleasant pre or post pint stroll.
On 27th July 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about George III Hotel
Standing as this pub does beside the former Penmaenpool station and the disused line towards Barmouth, the passing of a train cannot have been ignorable in pre-Beeching days. The train must have been literally within touching distance of the front of the hotel. There's a bar under the colonnaded front, but this was not open at the time of my visit so I entered the upper floor by the door at the side and found my way past reception to the Welsh Dresser bar. This is a pleasant room with other rooms off it, all featuring lovely old furniture, with pride of place going to the piece out of which the bar has been fashioned (see photo).
It was something of a let-down to find that the beers on the bar were from Robinsons: Wizard was one option, the other being Cwrw'r Draig Aur which translates as Golden Dragon Ale but was in fact Hartleys Cumbrian Way, according to the bar manager. Anyway, it was a pleasant enough beer, but I like to be able to drink local ales when on my travels. The beer aside, this seems like it would be a pleasant place to stop a little longer: the lounge across the corridor from the bar had a massive inglenook fireplace, though the fire was not lit.
On 26th February 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3733 recommendations about 3470 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about George III Hotel
A historic imposing former railway pub dating from the mid-17th century spread over two drinking floors with a dedicated dining area and spectacular views over the Barmouth estuary and to the mountains beyond.
This is something of a tourist area so expect a clientele drawn mainly from incomers and hikers renting local cottages. There is also a rather grand hotel bar with large fireplace; there are at least two other fireplaces. The range of beers is minimal though the three draft ales (London Pride and two from the local Bragdy Mŵs Piws) were fine. Despite its presentation, a Sunday roast buffet (£9.95) was surprisingly good, with meat sourced locally from Arthog. The staff were very friendly and service was efficient - if I were in the area again I would certainly return but this pub loses a point due to movies blaring from a large tv in the lower bar; not at all restful or conducive to conversation.
On 23rd February 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1983 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about George III Hotel
A fine old building located in an splendid position overlooking the dramatic scenery of the Mawddach estuary and its historic wooden toll bridge. It is also located on a disused railway line which has been converted into an excellent cycling and walking trail linking Dolgellau to Barmouth Bridge. Didn't visit the main hotel which is located at first floor level when viewed from the river, but the collonade in front of the Cellar Bar provided a very welcome break from the rain. Three real ales on handpump - Hobgoblin, London Pride and the first-rate Glaslyn Ale from the local Bragdy Mws Piws (Purple Moose Brewery) worth every penny of the £2.90 asking price. Friendly staff too, quite happy to provide a glass of tapwater and even offering to pop some ice in it too - cost almost nothing, but the sort of little thing one remembers when asked to recommend places (which, in this case, I definitely do).
On 12th August 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]