08/04/17 - The Lorelei Hotel, Porthcawl

After a weekend walking the dunes (and more dunes), we find ourselves staying overnight in Porthcawl.

Most of the beer scene comprises of seaview hotels over San Miguel at £4.50 a pop.  It all makes perfect sense in the sunshine.

But a little research revealed the chance to get my first Welsh CAMRA Good Beer Guide Tick.

The Lorelei Hotel, Esplanade Avenue, Rhymney Export

Google maps left me wondering what to expect.   It doesn't look like too much like a pub from the outside.

A Pub Hotel

You can read the history of the place on their website - which has a terrific summary of the past and the present, with the possible exception of how much it costs to stay there.  And the unusual name?  A rock headland on the River Rhine, where the original owner met his wife.

I didn't need convincing to go, but the GBG states that they hold a beer festival on Grand National and Halloween weekends.   I might have to return in October to complete the set.

Flowerpot man wouldn't let on what a Lucky Buddha Bottle was

We walk into a main bar that looks exactly like a pub should.  Locals gathered around on high stools reminiscing each other with how much they enjoyed last nights festival by getting "completely Gary Barlowed, I was".

They're a friendly bunch, recognising us for the strangers we were, they took great care to inform us of all the ales they had on and how they had setup an outdoor bar containing most of the 14 real ales on for the festival.  Menus thrust into our hands and the invitation to explore.

We had a look - but we had already made up our minds.  Half a Stowford and a first pint of the house specialty, Rhymney Export Ale.

A Rhymney, A Stowford and a Happy Pub Goer

We did move on to a couple of other pubs in town - The Ancient Briton was directly opposite the Jolly Sailor.  Brains SA all round and a good meal in the latter.