Dyffryn Arms, Pontfaenback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A must visit pub! OK, it only has Bass on but it is an experience to behold - the front room of the house is the pub. Did not see Bessie, but the barmaid was very friendly and poured the beer from a jug. If you go in early May, you'll get to see the beautiful Bluebells if you go on a walk up the Gwuan Valley.
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I found this pub while I was on holiday with my girlfriend. I can only agree fulsomely with the other reviews on here. This pub is an absolute classic, a real gem. No fruit machine, no jukebox, no karaoke, just ale and good company. Bessie is a real diamond, she told us that she had been running the pub for over sixty years and it had been in her husbands family since 1845. They don't make pubs like this anymore, I only hope Bessie leaves it to someone in her family when she goes to the Great Alehouse in the Sky.
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An incredible place, focussing on what makes a great pub - good beer and conversation. Truly a pub stripped down to the bare essentials in a fantastic location.
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A must visit pub for the real ale buff. Only one ale Bass draught but always in tip top condition. Landlady Bessie is a wonderful lady. Don't let this pub pass you by, you will love it.
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A very happy, recent return to this fantastic and uncut diamond of a pub. Mrs Davies was still on top form as was her draught Bass. Spent a late autumn evening in the little beer garden relishing the remains of the day in the beautiful Gwaun Valley. The night spent in gentle conversation with friendly locals and tourists alike. Unmissable.
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We chanced upon the Dyffryn Arms while lost on the road near Pontfaen on, of course, a "dark and stormy night". After groping around to find my way in the correct entry and not being sure if it was even a pub at all, I was warmly greeted by Bessie and a small gathering of folks who all were more than happy to give their own special slant on the directions I needed to find my nearby Bed and Breakfast. Of course, by the time I walked out to the car, I was completely twisted as to which way to go, as all their directions were just a bit different, one from the other. The next day awaking at our B and B, I was determined to return to the Dyffryn Arms to have a Bass from Bessie as I was sure that the place wouldn't even be there - that it had all been a misstep into a time warp the night before...that the place was part of some dream world that I had wandered into. The furnishings and decor have not been altered with in years, giving the place one of the most charming atmospheres of any pub I have had the pleasure visit. The place was really going off when we returned for our pint the following evening as a local women's group was there to share a potluck meal and have a go at darts - warm and inviting in the way that only the Welsh can welcome you. Chancing upon this place was a real treat and will remain as a very fond memory of my journey through Wales.
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Fantastic place. Known locally as "Bessie's", as in the Landlady who bless her is in her 80s and running this jewel of a pub.
Bessie told us that other than a lick of paint, this hostelry has not been changed for over 50 years. She does not want music or television at the pub, pubs are for social interaction and beer! I agree!
Perfect Bass poured from the jug, no pumps. I only which I didn't live 270 miles from this little piece of real life history - the nearest you will ever get to going back in time.
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An extraordinary and charming pub, like a piece of living history and none the worse for that. We walked miles through the rain and wind to visit and it was well worth it, not only to receive Bessie's child rearing advice!
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Bessies is best
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I went to Wales with my now ex boyfriend back in Oct 06.
Being an American living here at the moment he's keen to visit and see as much of Europe and the UK as possible.
I admitted (shamefully) that I'd never been to Wales and so we decided to go.
He'd found details of Bessie and the pub in I think it was The Lonely Planet (??)
He was determined we had to go and find Bessie and see the pub having read about her.
We drove from the Gower Peninsula to Pembrokshire for the day and our last port of call was to find Bessie! It's not easy to find and as I drove further and further down tiny windy roads I didn't think we'd ever find her.
But we did...and when we did she was an absolute delight!
Such a fantastic character, sharp tongued, bright eyes that you know she's totally all there! But she was genuinely interested in us and where we were from and chatted with us whilst making a fire out of crisps packets and empty chocolate wrappers (much to my ex's amusement who sat with eyes on stalks!)
He showed her the piece about her in the book and she was pretty embarrased and very modest...
If you want to do something different then I throughly recommend it!
It was like you'd stepped back in time...mismatching furniture and decoration.....but this only added to the charm.It is a very unique place!
I had a white wine that Bessie had open....it wasn't something I'd want again but it wasn't the worst I've had either and my ex loved the Bass once he got used to it......She has soft drinks too and I think we could have had pork scratchings...but that's as far as it goes so I wouldn't go hungry!
It was an experience and definitely something different so don't miss it....She's a great lady
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I have to agree with Mr. No-Mild-Walkout, below. A fantastic place, that is incredible to visit.
Small local pub, with such honest, and real traditional character. The sort that is not produced by a pub group.
Good beer, beautiful surroundings, wonderful conversations. If the evening is nice, sit on some of the benches outside, stare over the quiet, isolated valley, sup beer. Wonderful.
If the evening is grim, sit close to the open fire, and engage the wonderful Bessie in conversation, or chat to the couple of locals who are probably in and out...
This pub is amazing, go there, and just one last thing... Its been in every single Good Beer Guide, except the very first one... now that is a pedigree!!
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As a mild drinking anglophobe you may have better luck in North Wales.Classic pub nevertheless.
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A real gem. You would not know there was pub here, being well off the beaten track about 5 miles south of Fishguard, in the Gwaun Valley off the B4313.
A confession. As a MILD drinker I wouldn�t normally rate a pub that does not serve MILD. This however is an exception.
This is the home of an amazing Welsh old lady, Bessie Davies who must be well into her 80s and has run the pub for best part of half a century. The dog barks to alert Bessie to a customer. The front room is the bar and Bessie appears at the serving hatch and with a kindly welcome in Welsh, draft Bass is served straight from a barrel into a jug.
Please note the Bass is the only beer served at the Dyffryn Arms, and a most refreshing drink at that.
Do not ask for anything else. (And don�t ask for food � take your own sarnies).
It can be a real hoot to see the New Labour hoi poloi turn up and ask for some ridiculous euro-fizz, wine or whatever trendy rubbish is flavour of the month in Islington. Bessie lets them know in no uncertain terms that there is only beer available. This is a local pub for local people, so show some respect.
So, a challenge to all the English trendies currently invading and polluting this part of Wales: If you want to sample some real rustic unspoilt Welsh hospitality then pop into here, sample a pint of Bass and sit up in the beer garden and enjoy the quiet tranquillity of the Gwaun valley.
When Bessie finally serves her last pint this little piece of Welsh history will be gone forever and no doubt the pub will become another English holiday let. So get there while you still can.
By the way, the BASS beer is not flat. This is how beer should be, straight out the barrel, no head and at the right temperature.
An exception to the rule of: NO MILD WALK OUT.
top marks
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