POWYS is renowned for so many things; its stunning landscape and scenery, agriculture, hospitality and tourism.
But no stay here would be complete without a visit to the pub. And despite the rurality of the county, there are actually countless watering holes to sample a quick tipple – some quite literally in the middle of nowhere.
There are more than 220 pubs in Powys, according to the website www.beerintheevening.com. Food Standards Agency statistics from 2018, meanwhile, revealed that, despite its remoteness, Powys had the highest concentration of pubs or bars per person. With it said there are 296 pubs, bars, or clubs in total the county, that’s one for every 448 people. It actually puts Powys third in the UK for the ratio of pubs to people – behind the Derbyshire Dales (419) and Eden (426).
There are of course the traditional and older familiar names for boozers, like the Red Lion; there are 12 of them in total prowling Powys. There’s also five Royal Oaks and five New Inns.
But, which Powys pub has the coolest name? Here’s our top 10 in Radnorshire:
1 Happy Union Inn, Abbeycwmhir
Can you think of a pub with a name that feels more friendly than the Happy Union?
If the name wasn’t standout enough, the sign hanging above it is even more enticing. It depicts a man riding a goat with a mug of ale in one hand and a plate of cheese and bread in the other. His hat is decorated with leeks. I defy you to walk past without popping in for a pint the next time you’re in this remote Radnorshire hills of Abbeycwmhir.
It is believed the name of the pub refers to the union between Wales and England in 1536.
The Happy Union does not lean towards modern day traditions in that it has no telly, jukebox or fruit machines.
It does, however, have a welcoming atmosphere helping you to relax and forget your troubles.
2 Roast Ox Inn, Painscastle
It sounds like a delicious item on the menu rather than a name for a pub, but it is believed there has been an inn on the present site for at least 500 years.
Painscastle actually boasted five inns during the 300 years of the Welsh Drovers’ existence. The decline of the Drovers and the advent of the railways allowed Painscastle, and many similar villages on the Drovers’ routes, to slip back to how they once were.
The inn – nestled high up in the hills overlooking Radnorshire – boasts views over some spectacular countryside that must be seen to be believed.
3 The Triangle Inn, Rhayader
Cool name, cool triangle sign hanging outside and the pub even has a cool nickname – ‘The Pit’.
This beautiful drovers inn, located in the Cwmdauddwr area of near Rhayader, has a self-contained stone holiday cottage opposite and offers spectacular views of the surrounding Elan Valley – which you can reach a short 350 yards from the beer garden.
There has been a pub here since the 16th century, favoured by drovers on the Hereford to Aberystwyth drive.
It is a snug little inn with low ceilings and interconnecting spaces. It has coined the nickname ‘The Pit' due to the fact you need to stand in a pit to play darts. This interesting feature can be spied via a trap door in the left-hand room which reveals a shallow square pit for arrows enthusiasts to throw their spears - without it, due to the low ceiling, the darts would hit the beams.
4 Seven Stars Inn, Aberedw
We should all be thanking our lucky stars that the Seven Stars is still serving, as it’s been quite a few precarious years for the Aberedw watering hole.
The pub has been at the heart of Aberedw life for centuries, but the vital village organ almost got ripped out in June 2018 when previous owners submitted a planning application to turn it into a home. That failed and new owners came in, but it was soon back up on the market.
Eventually, the pub’s loyal punters were the ones to step in and save it, cobbling together the funds to buy it. It’s now run by the community, with the first pint after the group purchased it being sold in May 2019.
5 The Fforest Inn, Llanfihangel-nant-Melan
A cool name for a pub not only synonymous with the cool weather, due to its altitude, but also famous for a story of cold-blooded murder.
Dating back to 1548, the Fforest is one of Wales’ oldest pubs; it was the inspiration for H L V Fletcher’s 1946 novel called ‘The Forest Inn’, a story of romance and murder.
The inn is itself also at the very centre of an actual murder, that of local legend ‘Silver’ John Lloyd, a local sheep farmer and punter who became famous for his heavily laden sparkly attire.
On his way home from a Michaelmas fair in nearby Builth Wells one night his horse-drawn cart arrived home alone. He wasn't found until early the next year when Mary, the daughter of the landlord, was skating on Lyn Hilyn lake, behind the pub. She fell and screamed, finding, frozen into the ice and looking up at her, the corpse of Silver John.
His body was recovered minus his coat and silver treasures – it became evident he had been murdered for them.
6 Temple Bar, Llandrindod Wells
Refurbished, re-named and under new management since 2017, the Temple Bar is named after the street it resides on, Temple Street.
The Temple bar features original Victorian architecture alongside beautiful furniture, retro lighting, stained glass windows and striking art pieces hung throughout the bar and dining areas.
The upmarket bar serves a variety of cask ales, draft beers, lagers and ciders, plus a wide selection of wines, spirits, cocktails and bottled beverages, with their evening food offerings centered around pizzas and a wide selection of sides.
7 The Harp Inn, Old Radnor
The harp is a beautiful instrument and its public house namesake offers arguably the most beautiful views of any watering hole in Mid Wales.
A lovely old Welsh longhouse inn perched on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Radnor Valley, the Harp has ancient slate floors, oak beams, antique settles and a huge open log fire.
As well as offering outstanding views and beer and food, the Harp has plucked several awards in recent years – it was named the best pub in Powys at the National Pub & Bar Awards 2021.
It has also been included in current editions of the Good Pub Guide, CAMRA Good Beer Guide, Michelin Red Guide and Sawday’s Special Places (Great British Pubs and Hotels & Inns) and owns a current Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence based on the online reviews received.
8 Hundred House Inn, Hundred House
The future of the quaint village boozer has been rather precarious in recent years, but new owners came in in 2020, which secured its future.
Located among rolling Welsh hills just outside Builth Wells, the Hundred House Inn takes its name from the Saxon ‘Hundred’ which was an administrative area.
At one time a drovers inn, it is now a traditional locals pub, loved by the local farming community. There is a lounge, locals bar, pool room with TV, as well as a restaurant area and beer garden offering brilliant views of the stunning surrounding countryside.
9 Wharf Inn, Felindre
The Wharf was built in the 18th century in the tiny Radnorshire village of Felindre, near Knighton.
As with many small rural pubs in the county, its future has been called into question in recent times, with the local community council holding a special meeting in January 2013 about the future of the Wharf as it was trading with very restricted hours, with the licensee living away.
Since then the upper rooms have been converted into flats and it reopened in early 2015 after a short closure and has very much transformed into the hub of the local community with good support from the local Young Farmer's Club. The pub will open earlier if the rugby is on.
10 Mid Wales Inn, Pantydwr
OK, so maybe not the coolest or most original name, but imagine thinking your boozer is that good that it’s the definitive option in an area as big as Mid Wales? We love it.
Situated on a watershed between the Severn and the Wye, the pub, located in a tiny little village in the hills above Rhayader, is formed from a terrace of three nineteenth century cottages.
The 'Mid', as it’s known to locals, is a community pub that still retains the long bar counter for stand-up drinking. The counter and the imitation thatched roof are made of fibreglass.
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