Next stop on our little expedition was a flying visit to Pontypridd and Wikipedia tells me that this station once had the longest platform in the world. That’s something I’ll have to investigate at some point, I like a bit of railway excitement.
We were visiting The Tumble Inn, a JD Wetherspoon operated pub which is also listed in the Good Beer Guide. The chain explains the pub’s history on their website:
“In Victorian times, this area was known as ‘The Tumble’, from the horse-drawn carts which often overturned as they journeyed to and from the pits. The Tumble, with its innumerable inns, was the heart of the town. The Half Moon, which stood opposite this site until 1989, was said to be the most frequented bar in Wales. The New Inn is also well remembered. A farmhouse in the 1730s, the New Inn became a post house and then a famous hotel, until it was demolished in 1982.”
We were celebrating our bravery at abseiling, me with a beer, Richard with gin, Ross with a coffee and Liam with an orange & lemonade…. They know how to party. Incidentally, I had gone to take a photo of the carpet, as I’m like that, when my drink arrived and they wouldn’t leave it on the table until I came back and they could check that I was old enough. They seemed to decide I was old enough with alarming speed, but there we go.
The pub interior and the venue is on the chain’s lowest price band.
My new obligatory carpet photo.
As I’m a creature of habit, I had another steak pudding with a rather lovely craft beer of Son of a Beach from Tenby Brewing Company. The food and drink cost just £7 and the beer was hoppy, fruity and a little tropical. The venue had around seven real ales available as well as craft beer selections, all at their usual low prices.
The food tasted as expected, it’s not fine dining but it’s entirely agreeable. Richard went for a festive pizza as he’s very excited about Christmas with Liam going for a hearty meal of sausages and chips.
As usual, I feel the need to check the online reviews and the venue is about average in JD Wetherspoon terms.
“The last reason for visiting here has gone. San Miguel has been taken off and replaced with a very inferior Poretti. There is now no decent premium lager.”
Each to their own, but both are technically premium lagers and neither set the craft beer scene alight shall we say.
“Me & my friend come into Weatherspoons we ordered our food. I went outside & I did talk about making a joint. But I didn’t it was just words. Then the manger came over & asked n me to leave which I understand even though I ain’t done nothing. She knows me from before & is judging me & my friend on my past. I have worked hard to be clean off drugs. I am clean 18 months now.”
One of the more personal reviews that I’ve seen….. But not many JD Wetherspoon pub managers are going to let customers stay in their venue that have made it clear they will be rolling a joint.
“Called in for a fish Friday lunch and was told the menu had been changed so no longer providing the “healthy fish” option.”
This is a very old review, but I forgot that they offered this option until early 2017. I’m sure that they had good reasons to get rid of this, but I always thought it was a sensible idea. Not that I ever ordered it, which is likely the good reason that they stopped doing as no-one wanted it.
Anyway, I digress. The pub was busy and we were perhaps fortunate to find a seat, the team members were friendly and the food and drink met my expectations. The value was excellent and I’m glad that the Good Beer Guide directed us here.