Pen-y-Gwryd

Pub Details

Address
Llanberis
Wales
LL55 4NT
Telephone
(01286) 870211
Opening Times
Weekdays
11 - 11
Closed
all Nov - Dec, and midweek Jan - Feb

Location

Good Pub Guide Recommended

Run by the same family since 1947, an illustrious favourite with the mountain fraternity, with a slightly eccentric but cheerily simple atmosphere With its mountaineering fraternity, scheduled suppers and simple interior, this isolated inn reminds us just a little of an alpine refuge. Mentioned in the Everest Museum in Darjeeling, this long-established climbers' haunt, high in the mountains of Snowdonia, was used as a training base for the 1953 Everest team. Their fading signatures can still be made out, scrawled on the ceiling, and among the memorabilia is the rope that connected Hilary and Tensing on top of the mountain. One snug little room in the homely slate-floored log cabin bar has built-in wall benches and sturdy country chairs. From here you can look out on the surrounding mountain landscape, including to precipitous Moel Siabod beyond the lake opposite. A smaller room has a worthy collection of illustrious boots from famous climbs, and a cosy panelled smoke room has more fascinating climbing mementoes and equipment; darts, pool, board games and table tennis. Purple Moose Glaslyn and Madogs are on handpump and they've several malts. Staying in the comfortable but basic bedrooms can be quite an experience, and the excellent, traditional breakfast is served between 8.30 and 9am (they may serve earlier); dogs £2 a night. The inn has its own chapel (built for the millennium and dedicated by the Archbishop of Wales), sauna and outdoor natural pool, and the garden overlooks a lake.

Good Pub Guide Food

The short choice of simple, good-value but carefully sourced home-made lunchtime bar food (you order through a hatch) includes filled rolls, ploughman's and quiche of the day. The three- or four-course hearty fixed-price meal in the evening restaurant is signalled by a gong at 7.30pm - if you're late, you'll miss it; maybe sweet potato and coconut soup followed by welsh cutlet of lamb with herby crust and shallots glazed in port.

Bar food times: 12 - 2, evening meal at 7.30pm
Restaurant times: evening

Good Pub Information

Dogs allowed in: Dogs Anywhere

Rating

  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
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Rating: 3/5 (228 votes cast)

Reader Comments

dougkennedy

Tuesday 12 April 2011 12:45:00 pm

What a glorious place this is! It never changes, and the beer, atmosphere and staff are as good as ever. Couldn't stay there this time as it was full with a party. Worth a visit just for the experience, especially when it's busy with climbers at the end of the day.