Continuing the magical mystery tour of local pubs, get us down to the river side, starting in Chepstow.
The Boat Inn – we got there and there were four blokes looking at the sky through binos – one was very small (the man, not the binos).
Chepstow has quite a few pubs, almost as many have closed as have in Haverfordwest, but this one is still going and it was one I didn’t know was there, even though I must have walked passed it once. It’s down by the river, which is a little muddy, and very banked – but it does have some seats outside. Inside is a little nicer, made up like an old warehouse (that’s *ware*-house) with some nice tables and an open upstairs. Apparently, so Paul told me, there is a ghost, who barges past people – there is even a plaque telling you this. We had a beer, can’t remember what it was now, and sat in the sun – nice pub – beer garden is not so nice.
6/10
Ferry Inn – was down under the Bridge on the other side of Chepstow – it seems massive, and probably was very busy when the ferry used to take people across the Severn. But now it just looks a little neglected – but did have, as usual for these types of pubs on a lunchtime on a Wednesday, a far diversity of oldies having some nosh. For such a big place, right next to the river it’s beer garden was very modest 0 but I suppose unfortunately the view of the bridge and the muddy estuary are not ideal? Had an okay beer in the garden, and Paul returned for some nosh a few days later – but I wouldn’t make a special trip..
5/10
Next up was a place I had been meaning to go to for an age, and after getting in there, I was very surprised that the inside didn’t look like I expected.
The Piercefield just up from the race-course in Chepstow at a place called St Arvan – we sat outside in the large beer gardens with piped music – which was quite nice. They have Heineken here, which I like and I thought all in all in was pretty good. We returned a couple of weeks later for some lunchtime nosh – and I enjoyed the bangers and mash, although I would ask for extra gravy next time. Really nicely laid out inside and I quite liked it.
8/10
The Greyhound, on the way to Usk was yet another place I had fancied stopping at, but never had the reason to. Nice garden, although the “gardener” insisted on moving, very noisily, around us whilst we were there. It has three bars, sort of connected, but at different levels, and a couple of areas to sit in – all looked okay. I think this might have been a Stella place, but again I cannot remember (I really should take notes). All good, although the weather could have been better – it did brighten up later and we sat back home in the Lion.
7.5/10