A large Grade II listed pub near the Millennium Stadium which caters for sports fans and has a lively atmosphere.

The Venue
Just yards from Gate Three of the Millennium Stadium and occupying the corner of Westgate Street and Golate Street - just off the main drag of St Mary’s Street - The Queen’s Vaults dates back to the mid-1800s. After a spell as a Firkin pub this Grade II listed building was refurbished to make it open plan and, in 2002, it reverted back to its original name. It’s clad in light brown tiles outside and inside it's a big, lively and friendly place with beams criss-crossing the high vaulted ceiling.

There’s a raised section at the front mainly for eating, but the main features are the three pool tables which dominate the middle of the room and the enormous roll down screen which covers the whole of the far wall. There are two darts boards, a pinball machine and fruit machines too and the colours are whites and light orange. There’s pretty much something on every night of the week from quizzes and poker to pool and darts contests.

The People
Given its pool tables, pinball machine, darts boards and, of course, its proximity to the Millennium Stadium the Queens Vaults is usually filled with men. On big match days it gets very busy and quite raucous. And although conversations can get animated trouble is extremely rare and on the whole the punters, like the landlord, are friendly.

The Food and Drink
On tap there’s Carlsberg, Carling, Früli, Stella Strongbow, Heineken and Guinness, Leffe and Welsh ale Felinfoel, from the brewery in the village of the same name near Llanelli. Being a Brain’s pub there’s the whole range of Brain’s beers too. Their bitter is £1.79 and there's Dark, Smooth and SA. A pint of Smooth is a no-brainer (excuse the pun) during the day at just £1.39 a pint until 5pm. In bottles they’ve got Carling, Budweiser, Corona, Newcastle Brown Ale, Magners, Brothers and Kopparberg. On the menu it’s regular pub grub, such as jacket potatoes and sandwiches (£3.75 for a sausage and onion) and mains like scampi and chips for £5.25.

The Last Word
Take a window seat and have a spot of lunch here in the day when it’s quieter, or come for a loud night of testosterone fuelled sport talk.