Built in 1891, The Crwys is a popular Brains pub that welcomes people of all ages through its slightly aged doors.

The Venue
Situated on Crwys Road, directly opposite Woodville Road, The Crwys Pub is an ideal location for anyone walking to or from the city-centre via the Cathays or Roath areas. Whether it’s for a quiet afternoon pint, or as a temporary watering hole before a big night out, it does the job. The pub is well lit from the outside and has quite an open and spacious feel on the inside, with plenty of seating; however the decor is somewhat dated and slightly unoriginal (with numerous rugby flags and old-styled framed pictures), but it is essentially what you would expect for a traditional pub.

The Crwys is populated with entertainment such as big screen TVs, a jukebox, a dartboard, a pool table, and a skittle alley. The weekly quiz night is on a Tuesday night and attracts a mixture of students and locals with its offer a cash prize for the winning team. The Crwys also has a spacious beer-garden, with plenty of seating (including heated and sheltered areas) that prove popular on warm summer days.

The People
Despite being located in the middle of a student area, the pub tends to attract classic local rugby fans rather than swarms of students looking for the cheapest drinks deals (this position is usually filled by the nearby George or Varsity). It is relatively quiet on your average week day afternoon with mostly regulars in for a few quiet drinks, to being very busy on a Friday evening or match-day, when it is filled with mostly 20-40 year old locals, which means the atmosphere is loud and lively. Bar staff are generally friendly and helpful, and you won't feel too out of place at The Crwys due to the mix of people it attracts.

The Food
The Crwys offers the classic Brains pub menu, so you have the choice of five classic pub meals for just £3.85 (Monday to Thursday only). These include all-day breakfast, bangers and mash, or a build-your-own-burger option. Also on offer are a range of sandwich melts, salads, baked potatoes, and steaks. The food is not too pricey but this can be reflected in the quality. Dishes are not always in stock, and so alternatives sometimes need to be sought. Ordering food sometimes seems to confuse the staff but is, on the whole, a stress-free experience. The food quality varies: the burgers taste good and fresh, but many of the dishes look somewhat unappealing after clearly being prepared in a microwave.

The Drink
Offering a wide range of beers, spirits, shots and soft drinks, The Crwys caters for all of its customers’ wants or needs. Drinks are priced competitively (a pint of Foster’s is £2.25, and spirits can be doubled for an extra £1) and well chilled. Being a Brains-owned pub, The Crwys offers a range of Brains beverages, including Brains SA and Brains Bitter, as well as the more commonly found draught drinks, such as Stella Artois, Strongbow, or Heineken (£3 a pint).

The Last Word
The Crwys is not your classiest and most exciting joint, nor is it the cleanest or cheapest, but it does provide local residents with somewhere they can socialise, eat and drink for relatively little cost.

venue information venue map view cardiff review add a review