This wee guide has been constructed with the help of two Leeds United fans who for some unknown reason are well up on all things public house in the area. Neither of my spies have ever mounted a bicycle so we have no information about tea rooms.
PENRHYNDEUDRAETH – Influential Welsh musician Alan “Sbardyn” Huws, a founder member of the band Y Tebot Piws (The Purple Teapot), was brought up in Penrhyndeudraeth. The town is also home to “The Cockles”, CPD Penrhyndeidraeth who play at Maes Y Parc.
Two pubs are noted here for those fancying a stroll out from Mekonvillage: Y Griffin, Griffin Terrace, Penrhyndeudraeth, LL48 6LW. Y Griffin is a traditional pub right in the centre of Penrhyndeudraeth about 3.4km from Portmeirion and Y Dderwen (The Oak), High Street, Penrhyndeudraeth, LL48 6BL What’s not to like about a pub with a Meat Raffle?
Here are Y Tebot Piws singing “Godro’r fuwch” (Milking The Cow):
PORTHMADOG – My spies in Gwynedd (for there are many) tell me that Porthmadog is a Toper’s paradise especially with its very own Purple Moose Brewery.
The Australia, 31-35 High Street, Porthmadog, LL49 9LR. A pub since 1864, the Australia was taken over by Purple Moose Brewery in 2017 as their tap house. The bus stop outside the pub is known by the pub name hence one can get a bus to Australia. The brewery also run The Station Inn, Cambrian Coast Railway Platform, off the High Street, Porthmadog, LL49 9HT.
Tafarn Pencei, 17-18 Corn Hill, Porthmadog, LL49 9AT. The Pencei has an impressive mural depicting the neighbouring buildings that overlook the harbour. The pleasant bistro dining room serves lunchtime and evening meals, including Sunday lunches.
Spooner’s Bar, Harbour Station, Porthmadog, LL49 9NF. Spooner’s is named after the commissioning engineer of the original Ffestiniog Railway James Spooner, who built in the line between 1832 and 1836 – steam trains are outside the door much of the year on the Ffestiniog Mountain Railway.
Y Llong (The Ship Inn), 14 Lombard Street, Porthmadog, LL49 9AP. Established in 1824, The Ship Inn is the oldest pub in Porthmadog. Nearby is the Maritime Museum which tells of Porthmadog’s relationship with the sea, ship building and the quarrying industry.
TREMADOG – Tremadog is just outside Porthmadog and is said to be the birthplace of modern town planning in Wales. Tremadog was the birthplace of TE Lawrence ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley rented property here. He departed hastily after an alleged attempt on his life by a nocturnal intruder.
Two interesting watering holes in Tremadog have been mentioned by my spies: The Golden Fleece, 8 Market Square, Tremadog, LL49 9RB which boast of having over 70 Welsh Gins! Booking is recommended at the Fleece and if you fancy eating at The Union Inn, Tremadog 7 Market Square, Tremadog, LL49 9RB.
