Live Music — Pubs in Cwmbran

Built in the early 1960's, this large estate pub once boasted a public bar, lounge, sportmans bar with skittles alley, and an off-license. It has since been transformed by an impressive rebuild that has made the external appearance as well as the interior more attractive. This has proved successful in attracting new customers as well as passing trade while on the weekend it is a very popular music venue. The extensive lounge, which has absorbed the former off-license and sportsman's bar, caters for both drinkers and diners who may choose to settle in one of several different areas. A TV is available for news and sport normally using sub-titles. The menu offers a wide choice of dishes large and small with special deals through the week. Breakfasts served from 9am until noon. The former public bar with a pool table, dartboard and TV is popular with all ages including sports fans. Weekly activities include a poker league (9-11 Monday evening), open mic (Wednesday), disco/karaoke (Friday) live bands (Saturday) and quiz nights on Thursday (9pm) and Sunday (8pm). .

Cwrt Henllys

Henllys Village Road, Cwmbran NP44 6HX

Smartly appointed hotel with several very comfortable drinking and dining areas including a large comfortable bar, side annex, and spacious lounge giving access to a bright conservatory. An extensive refurbishment of this former farmhouse was completed in mid 2014 and again in 2017 as new owners have updated the premises. Live music Friday evenings, and a quiz on Sunday evenings.

Halfway Inn

Commercial Street, Cwmbran NP44 3LR

Smoking Area

A large village pub with a distinctive Simonds Brewery pub sign depicting a large hop leaf. Simonds eventually amalgamated with Courage Brewery. Inside there is a public bar and lounge that has close historical connections with the nearby Monmouthshire & Brecon canal. A lively public bar during the week and weekend disco/karaoke in the lounge. Good sized function room upstairs. Weekly meat market in car park.

Oakfield Inn

Green Willows, Cwmbran NP44 3DY

Lunchtime Meals

This pub was built as part of the post-war new town initiative to have a pub, school and local shops at the centre of each new housing estate.Very much a community based local tucked away in the back streets of the Oakfield district of Cwmbran, and with a typical estate pub feel, but welcoming and friendly. At the rear is a large enclosed garden with a smoking room. Good value Sunday lunches take the form of a buffet. Midweek opening time in Summer is 2pm.Dark clouds are on the horizon for this community with local shops closed and shuttered, the neighbouring primary school is due to close, while the large comprehensive school is under threat of closure, all of which is likely to have adverse impact on local traders. The licensees of the Oakfield themselves may be on the move soon due to the downturn in trade suffered by so many pubs these days.

Queen Inn

Upper Cwmbran Road, Cwmbran NP44 5AX

Real Fire

Attractive hillside pub with a striking sign of a youthful but mournful looking Queen Victoria. Set beside a rushing mountain stream, wildfowl, a rabbit hutch, swings, a slide and even a tree-house keep the kids amused. The pub was once tied to the old Rhymney Brewery that was taken over and closed by Whitbread in the 1960s. Prior to that the building was two or three cottages. Years ago this was an industrial community with quarries and mines further up the mountain and the Queen was one of four local pubs slaking the thirst of the local working population. Note the name is singular although it is known as the 'Queens'. The interior is cosy with a bar (note the shepherd's crook on display), lounge/diner (a later addition in the '60s) and separate dining room. The Covid pandemic triggered an extensive enlargement of the outside area to provide al fresco dining and drinking. The licensees and customers work hard to raise funds for charity, especially a local hospice. A talking point during the festive season is the upside down Christmas tree by the lounge entrance. Note a plaque mounted on the outside wall commemorating "Thomas JH Richards (1919-1985) Olympic Silver Medallist who trained and lived in Upper Cwmbran".

Six in Hand

Edlogan Square, Cwmbran NP44 2NR

Karaoke

This was one of a number of new build pubs of the 1950's when Cwmbran was a post war new town. Situated alongside a small shopping precinct, it has a traditional two bar layout with a roomy public bar with a pool table and a smaller lounge where the dart board is situated. After a difficult spell of trading it closed for several months in 2018 before re-opening in July 2018. Hopefully it will succeed this time.

Upper Cock Inn

The Highway, Cwmbran NP44 2HE

Large roadside pub and former Ansells Brewery house with connections to the Chartist march of 1839. It once served a scattered rural community before finding itself surrounded by the houses of Cwmbran new town. An extensive refurbishment a few years ago not only presented a smart fresh interior to its clientele but also announced its return to the real ale fold with two handpulls delivering ales from the general area. The pleasant decor of the public bar, which has a large TV screen, and larger lounger bar is similar in style and comfort. The two rooms are now linked. Many original features have been retained which add to the character including a tiled fireplace above which is a large ornate clock. Cockerel figures are placed around the lounge and there is a striking image of a cockerel fight and the pub name in glass behind the bar. The food offering gives a good choice of popular starters and mains, mostly home-cooked, with light bites (until 3pm) plus a childrens' menu. Sunday lunch is a traditional roast while a curry special deal is on Tuesday. Monday is quiz night (7.30pm). Outside the colourful pub sign sits atop a stone plinth on which is etched: “Here is an inn – The Cross of the Cock welcome is yours for a penny, for payment so small, good beer waits for all, come in, taste our ale, good as any.” Plus the Welsh translation: “Dyna dafarn Croesyceiliog groesaw i bob un am ei geiniog, cwrw da i bawr trwy clalu, dewch i mewn, chwer gewch eibrofi.” A bold claim, and it's generally true, but beer for a penny? If only.

Waterloo Inn

Llandowlais Street, Cwmbran NP44 7HD

Lunchtime Meals

Built in 1810 this pub has served canal users and its community for over 200 years. The interior layout was opened out a few years ago and has low beams and a pool table tucked into one corner. Entry takes you into the original pub where the bar counter is on the left. Here could be found the solitary but now disused handpump dispensing the weekly guest ale. The interesting point about the guest ale was that landlord "Gussy" asks his suppliers to surprise him when ordering his drinks and they invariably obliged with a generally unusual ale. Booking for Sunday lunch is preferable while during the week simple bar snacks are available on request. Open Mic (Tue), occasional live music (Wed, Thu), Karaoke (Fri & Sat), quiz night (Sun). Across the road is Cwmbran Sports Stadium and Celtic Park for sports fans. Access for wheelchair users may be a bit tight through some doors but the width to the toilets is fine while there is a ramp at the rear leading to the garden and smoking shelter.

Mount Pleasant

Wesley Street, Cwmbran NP44 3LX

Limited space for inside drinking, ample outside space. One-way system for bar service Homely pub situated in what could be described as the ecclesiastical centre of Cwmbran, it having several religious establishments as neighbours. The Mount offers spiritual uplifting of a different kind with pleasant and comfortable surroundings in a spacious open-plan interior. Tastefully furnished using a rich dark red decor for carpets and upholstered seating, there are broadly three sections, including a raised area. It attracts a good mix of a generally mature clientele who help create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The patio at the front of the premises has a sheltered area. The beers are mainly sourced from independent breweries, mostly local. Occasional live music evenings featuring local artists start at 9pm while the Thursday evening quiz starts at 9pm. Breakfast/brunch available 12-2.30pm Wednesday to Saturday, evening meals same days, with Sunday lunch running to 4pm

Llanyrafon Social Club

Llanyravon Way, Cwmbran NP44 8HT

This social club is part of a community centre sited adjacent to Llanyrafon Mill and across the road from mediaeval Llanyrafon Manor heritage centre which is open to the public. The club offers a comfortable and popular lounge bar environment with sports memorabilia and local scenes on the walls. A larger room accommodates live entertainment on Saturday evenings. TV screens deliver sports events. The 'Afon Room' is a large hall that caters for local community activities and public meetings. A committee room is available from 2-8pm. Outside is a fenced off grass play area for children. Entry rules are relaxed but may be applied on busy occasions. The club shares the site with Llanyravon AFC who play nearby. Doom Bar is usually accompanied by a guest ale which can be sourced from anywhere in UK but mainly from a regional brewer.

Cwmbran Celtic AFC Sports & Social Club

Oak Street, Cwmbran NP44 3LT

The home of Cwmbran Celtic AFC, founded in 1925, who play at Celtic Park about three quarters of a mile away near Cwmbran Stadium. The social club has occupied an old Victorian house, formerly an undertakers, for over 30 years. The entrance foyer has a couple of trophy cabinets stuffed with shields, cups and signed footballs as befits a football club that has known a good deal of success over the years. This area gives access to a cosy traditional public bar with TV and a comfortable lounge with bay windows and a second TV for sporting events. Photos of past teams over the decades are displayed. There is a garden with plenty of seats and a play area at the rear. Thursday evenings there is a quiz and poker league. Club entry rules are relaxed but may be applied on occasions.

Cwmbran Working Men's Band Club & Institute

Oldbury Road, Cwmbran NP44 3JU

Sports TV

Close to Railway Station

Large club comprising a concert/entertainment hall, public bar, sports bar and function room. The ubiquitous Sharp's Doom Bar is the house ale of choice and they sell loads of it!

Pontnewydd Royal British Legion Club

The Laurels, 53 Station Road, Cwmbran NP44 1NZ