What is the best pub in Aberystwyth?

Ty Seidr was named CAMRA Local Pub of the Year 2024. Bottle & Barrel (CAMRA 2023) has 14 keg lines and 3 real ale pumps. The Glengower on the seafront is the classic Aberystwyth pub with sea views and cask ales.

Are there good real ale pubs in Aberystwyth?

Yes. Ty Seidr and Bottle & Barrel both won CAMRA Pub of the Year awards in consecutive years. The Glengower, Ship & Castle and Hen Orsaf (a Wetherspoons in a converted 1924 GWR station) also serve real ale.

Best Pubs in Aberystwyth | Real Ale & Student Bars Guide

Pubs in Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth has a better pub scene than most Welsh coastal towns of its size, sustained by a year-round student population, a strong CAMRA presence and an independent culture that resists chain dominance. The following are the most consistently recommended.

Ty Seidr

Ty Seidr was named Bae Ceredigion CAMRA Local Pub of the Year 2024 — the most current and direct recommendation the real ale community can offer. Its name means “Cider House” in Welsh, and it specialises in Welsh ciders and craft beers alongside a curated selection of ales. An essential stop for anyone interested in Welsh drinks culture.

Bottle & Barrel

Bottle & Barrel was Bae Ceredigion CAMRA Local Pub of the Year 2023. It offers fourteen keg lines (half of which are live beer), three real ale hand pumps, and a mix of Welsh products and national guest beers. One of the more technically serious beer bars in mid-Wales, with knowledgeable staff and a considered selection. Worth seeking out for a proper ale stop.

Ship & Castle

Ship & Castle is a small Victorian-era pub with one of the best selections of real ales, spirits and cider in the area. It has the character you would expect from its age — low-ceilinged, unpretentious, genuinely local — and a drinks range that rewards exploration. Popular with walkers and visitors arriving via the station.

The Glengower

The Glengower is a modern, stylish bar on the seafront with up to five cask ales at any one time, a good selection of local ciders and a welcoming atmosphere. It is one of the more comfortable options for a drink with a sea view, and the food is solid. Good for groups, visitors and a post-promenade pint.

Hen Orsaf

Hen Orsaf is a Wetherspoons conversion of Aberystwyth’s original 1924-built GWR railway station building — a magnificent Edwardian structure that now houses up to six guest ales, regular beer festivals and the standard Wetherspoons value offer. Whatever one thinks of the chain, the building itself is worth stepping into. Particularly convenient for arriving rail passengers.

Kanes Bar

Kanes Bar has been serving real cider and ale since 1989 — a proper independent local with decades of consistent trade. It is the sort of pub that is easier to warm to on a second or third visit, with a loyal regular crowd and no pretension. Good for anyone who wants a proper old-fashioned pub rather than a bar with a craft beer menu.

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