Don't quite know how I've missed mentioning this place went with friends in 2004.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] It should be absolutely brilliant a real ale pub with multiple beers that also brews its own beers on site. Then running down the side of the campsite is the
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] in fact the station for the trains is reached through the pubs car park.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] So when I was there you had a preserved railway station* that also provided the useful function of trains to Caernarfon. Now as the line has been extended you can get a train all the way down to Porthmadog and indeed on to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
I know why I missed out reviewing it because it was run by dreadful people and I lived in hope that they would go bust and someone else would take over.
The Friday that we arrived saw us gathering in the pub at just gone 9.00 pm 21.05 when we got to the bar and asked about food. Oh it finished at 9.00 was the explanation. Bear in mind that this was a party of over 20 people (I can actually count off 22 so it could have been well in excess of twenty. We trudged out alas not very far as the best option seemed to be a nearby chip shop. Returning to the bar the beers were perused and it was enquired where the home brew was. "Oh We've Not Got Round to Brewing Yet this year" I can't remember whether it was the first or second May bank holiday.
The campsite and facilities were functional enough if not especially pretty. The showers were clean although to access some of them involved a trip over a railway footbridge.
It was just the grim unhelping attitude of the owners that clouded everything. There was no original beer in the bar and no great welcome so no great time or money was spent there.
Reaching a culmination on the Sunday when I went to the owners and politely requested the use of an empty 11 gallon keg, as we were barbecuing and such a vessel would be ideal to lift the barbecue. Numerous health and safety reasons were given as to why this was not possible. Even though it was known I was happy to handle barrels and an empty 11 weighs bugger all. I retired and then proceeded to burn as much of the grass as possible with the barbecue. The following day I shook the dust off my feet as we left.
The location of the site and the both picturesque and easy transport (as well as the train there is the quicker and cheaper bus to Caernarfon and the stop is outside the pub) is brilliant we spent a group day out in Caernarfon with no one forced to drive. Now of course you can access the tourist areas of Porthmadog and beyond.
On the 28th of Dec I attended a wedding in Betws-y-coed an on Sat the 29th I travelled north to see what had become of the place. The bar hadnt changed much and still had a late 1970's feel to it though I gather it is much older. It's a big pub and does have a cracking sized family room. the difference was apparent as soon as I stepped up to the bar though. 1 bought in and 4 home brewed live beers but best of all lively and engaging bar staff.
The staff were desperately trying different taxi companies to get a ride home for one old boy who had come down for his lunch. I gather the food is praised both for quality and portion size. Anyway I ended up giving the guy a lift back to Caernarfon. Best example of improvement I can think of. The previous owners wouldn't have given a chuff and I'd have never known.
UK Campsite reviews
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] It wouldn't hurt if the site was a couple of quid cheaper but vastly improved by attitude.
* It isn't actually a preserved station because the station building was dismantled in order and with numbered stones but the line contractors used the stone to fill the embankments.
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