We headed for a long weekend on the South Wales coast, where we'd decided to make Newport our base.
We perhaps didn't take full advantage of everything on offer for the tourist in Newport - every morning I threatened to get up early and walk to the transporter bridge, and every morning I failed to do so.
But I think we did a pretty good job of exploring the best of the local pubs...
It didn't take us long, after hopping off the train, to find ourselves sat with a pint in the Pen and Wig...
We perhaps didn't take full advantage of everything on offer for the tourist in Newport - every morning I threatened to get up early and walk to the transporter bridge, and every morning I failed to do so.
But I think we did a pretty good job of exploring the best of the local pubs...
It didn't take us long, after hopping off the train, to find ourselves sat with a pint in the Pen and Wig...
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| Scaffolding is my business and business is good |
This is a pub that I really liked.
It reminded me of a few long lost places that I used to drink in during the '90's. Just a no-frills room with the choice of sitting in the middle of the action or tucking yourself away on a table in one of the areas to the side.
Lots of TV's, although I was a little grumpy that they deemed Sky Sports news and the dismissal of Sean Dyce by Burnley to be of more interest that the lunchtime Championship match.
The Pen and Wig is a lone outlet for Bass in this part of the country, but the barrel had just run out when we arrived. That left an interesting choice of Welsh brewery beers, including plenty of dark stuff.
As it was close to our accommodation, we called in more than once...
"I can't believe we've been in here three days in a row" said Mrs PropUptheBar with a frown, on Day 3 of the South Wales trip.
Well, we had to return and check the Bass had come back on, didn't we?
"I can't believe we've been in here three days in a row" said Mrs PropUptheBar with a frown, on Day 3 of the South Wales trip.
Well, we had to return and check the Bass had come back on, didn't we?
It was just a short walk from the Pen and Wig to the Tiny Rebel bar.
This well-known Welsh craft brewery began in 2012 with two brothers-in-law upgrading from home-brewing in a garage to rented an industrial unit and marching forth on their way to winning Champion Beer of Britain.
Their first bar, Cardiff's Urban Tap House, opened in 2013, with Newport hot on it's heels in 2015.
This well-known Welsh craft brewery began in 2012 with two brothers-in-law upgrading from home-brewing in a garage to rented an industrial unit and marching forth on their way to winning Champion Beer of Britain.
Their first bar, Cardiff's Urban Tap House, opened in 2013, with Newport hot on it's heels in 2015.
Tiny Rebel (22-23 High Street, Newport, NP20 1FX - web)
In a great location, this is pretty much what we've come to expect from craft bars the length and breadth of the country - a bit of street art chiseled out of the old brickwork, canteen-style furniture, industrial ceiling with all the ductwork on show, and a hip soundtrack pumped out the music system.
The clientele included footy fans on their way to Rodney Parade and families munching down burgers and fries as they supped their Juice Bar IPAs.
Tiny Rebel Addendum
Jumping forward a couple of days since our initial pub visits in Newport, we made the effort to get out to Tiny Rebel's brewery and tap room.
Located at Rogerstone, around 3-miles west of the city centre, this was an easy bus ride away, the only other passengers turning out to be going to exactly the same place as us.
Spotting the colourful grain silos in the distance provided a clue we were walking the right way...
In a great location, this is pretty much what we've come to expect from craft bars the length and breadth of the country - a bit of street art chiseled out of the old brickwork, canteen-style furniture, industrial ceiling with all the ductwork on show, and a hip soundtrack pumped out the music system.
The clientele included footy fans on their way to Rodney Parade and families munching down burgers and fries as they supped their Juice Bar IPAs.
I opted for the Tiny Rebel cask 'Press Start', an unusual smooth, nutty black IPA, whilst Mrs PropUptheBar ordered the 10% 'Peppermint Candy Cane' imperial stout and got tutted at by the staff who thought she wanted a pint of it.
(The question was actually 'can we order a 3rd?', not 'we're beer monsters and demand our 10% stouts by the pint!')
A couple sat down at the next table with a shared glass of coke, propped their phone up against the wall, then both sat chuckling at animals doing funny things on video clips.
Maybe Sam Smith's non-digital policy isn't such a bad idea after all.
I meant to get another picture later of the Olde Murenger House without the Newport constabulary outside, but completely forgot...
(The question was actually 'can we order a 3rd?', not 'we're beer monsters and demand our 10% stouts by the pint!')
A couple sat down at the next table with a shared glass of coke, propped their phone up against the wall, then both sat chuckling at animals doing funny things on video clips.
Maybe Sam Smith's non-digital policy isn't such a bad idea after all.
I meant to get another picture later of the Olde Murenger House without the Newport constabulary outside, but completely forgot...
Ye Olde Murenger House (52-53 High Street, Newport, NP20 1GA)
This is the ideal building for a Sam Smith's pub, having been taken over by the Tadcaster brewery in the early '80's.
After admiring the Mock Tudor frontage, the entrance led to several dimly lit wood paneled rooms within. I was about to take a picture of the fine display of football club mugs in a cabinet at the side of the bar, before remembering that Humphrey has outlawed photography in his pubs.
So I instructed Mrs PropUptheBar to take the interior picture, knowing that she won't be especially upset if she receives a Sam Smith's ban.
Not enough craft y'see. Meanwhile, I was quite content with my 'Old Brewery Bitter'.
As pub names go, this is amongst the more unusual ones.
'Murenger' is an ancient term for a tax collector who collected the money for the upkeep of the town walls. And his house used to be on this site.
The building foundations date back a long way, whilst the current building was constructed in 1816.
There's a decent bit of variety in the pubs so far today - let's squeeze in a micro-pub!
This is the ideal building for a Sam Smith's pub, having been taken over by the Tadcaster brewery in the early '80's.
After admiring the Mock Tudor frontage, the entrance led to several dimly lit wood paneled rooms within. I was about to take a picture of the fine display of football club mugs in a cabinet at the side of the bar, before remembering that Humphrey has outlawed photography in his pubs.
So I instructed Mrs PropUptheBar to take the interior picture, knowing that she won't be especially upset if she receives a Sam Smith's ban.
Not enough craft y'see. Meanwhile, I was quite content with my 'Old Brewery Bitter'.
'Murenger' is an ancient term for a tax collector who collected the money for the upkeep of the town walls. And his house used to be on this site.
The building foundations date back a long way, whilst the current building was constructed in 1816.
There's a decent bit of variety in the pubs so far today - let's squeeze in a micro-pub!
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| Honey I shrunk the A-board! |
The Cellar Door (5 Clytha Park Road, Newport, NP20 4NZ)
Opened in 2017, this micro is just a short walk from the train station, headed away from the city centre.
For a Friday evening it was frightfully quiet - a bit of merriment coming from the rear area, but just the one lady sat by the bar chatting to the boss about people's ailments and woes.
Opened in 2017, this micro is just a short walk from the train station, headed away from the city centre.
For a Friday evening it was frightfully quiet - a bit of merriment coming from the rear area, but just the one lady sat by the bar chatting to the boss about people's ailments and woes.
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| Everyone had been warned I was coming...again. |
Superb beer though - my Bristol Beer Factory 'Cinder Toffee Stout' was a delicious beer on good form, with a Quantock pale being the other option.
Oooh - Welsh Cider Pub of the Year 2018. Enough to tempt me it was a good idea to stay for another drink and switch to the apple stuff. Quiet it may have been, but we were content to skip Newport's livelier bars with bouncers on the door and end our evening comfortably settled under the fairy lights in the window of the micro pub.
Oooh - Welsh Cider Pub of the Year 2018. Enough to tempt me it was a good idea to stay for another drink and switch to the apple stuff. Quiet it may have been, but we were content to skip Newport's livelier bars with bouncers on the door and end our evening comfortably settled under the fairy lights in the window of the micro pub.
Tiny Rebel Addendum
Jumping forward a couple of days since our initial pub visits in Newport, we made the effort to get out to Tiny Rebel's brewery and tap room.
Located at Rogerstone, around 3-miles west of the city centre, this was an easy bus ride away, the only other passengers turning out to be going to exactly the same place as us.
Spotting the colourful grain silos in the distance provided a clue we were walking the right way...
Tiny Rebel Brewery (Cassington Road, Wern Industrial Estate, Rogerstone, NP10 9FQ - web)
This modern tap room opened it's doors in the summer of 2017. It's an impressive building - an industrial-style, high ceilinged beer hall, with a mezzanine level and views through to the brewing equipment to the side.
Perhaps surprisingly, there had been a wider choice of beer in the Tiny Rebel Bar in Newport centre. Here at the tap, a run of shiny handpumps went mostly unused, with just three in operation serving 'Cwtch', 'Press Start' and 'Peloton Pale'.
Oh well... the 'Cwtch' is the award-winner and was in good condition and very tasty.
This modern tap room opened it's doors in the summer of 2017. It's an impressive building - an industrial-style, high ceilinged beer hall, with a mezzanine level and views through to the brewing equipment to the side.
Perhaps surprisingly, there had been a wider choice of beer in the Tiny Rebel Bar in Newport centre. Here at the tap, a run of shiny handpumps went mostly unused, with just three in operation serving 'Cwtch', 'Press Start' and 'Peloton Pale'.
Oh well... the 'Cwtch' is the award-winner and was in good condition and very tasty.
More from Newport on the next post - when we wander east of the river, discover a nano-brewery and get mildly disappointed by some Roman ruins.
Cheers!
Cheers!
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