If you have ever travelled through Betws-y-Coed, you will have likely seen Y Stablau right next to the Royal Oak Hotel in the middle of this picture postcard Eryri village. There is normally a queue of customers waiting to get a table on the popular outside terrace.
The outside terrace looks very inviting with the glass covering overhead decked out with hanging lights and purple flowers. There is also a purple neon sign that says ‘Amser Da” (good time) and ‘Iechyd Da’ (good health) near the entrance of the bar.
Inside, it has a long central bar showcasing a good selection of local beers including those from Conwy Brewery. It feels a bit dark after being in the sunshine due to its low ceiling, dark grey beams and quarry tile floor.
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We order at the bar but you can also use a handy QR code function on the table that takes you to their website. We were only here for a beer but the menu has a range of burgers, salads, pizzas and classic pub grub but the food certainly isn’t cheap.
Burgers are priced from £15.50 to the three peaks burger at an eye-watering £28.95. A mixed grill platter will also set you back £28.95. However, the business says it uses only top-quality local ingredients from a reputable butcher and the bread is bought from a local bakery.
We order a pint of craft beer from the local Wild Horse brewery but are slightly taken aback at the price of £6. The buckskin lager is a superb pint brewed with Czech hops with a crisp and floral aftertaste but at £12 for two pints seems a little expensive to me.
We make use of some picnic tables nearer the A5, which a sign says are for drinkers only. We decide to sip our pints very slowly but luckily, my tears kept the pint glass topped up for a while.
To be fair, I recently read that since the financial crash, the average price of a pint in the country has risen by more than 70 per cent. But I am not sure I will be getting too merry at these prices.
![A pint of Wild Horse served at Y Stablau](https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article27562950.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_The-Royal-Oak.jpg)
However, the many climbers, hikers and passing tourists don’t seem too bothered by the price and are just enjoying the food and picturesque environment. It is certainly a prime spot to relax after a day in the mountains.
There are a lot of dog owners taking advantage of the dog-friendly environment with dog treats and water in the aisles. A notice says “paws on the floor” please and for one second, I wonder if dogs can read.
I am sure hotels would argue that the cost-of-living crisis has put the price of energy up and the breweries would point to the sharp increase in the cost of ingredients. I am not even sure what a pint of really good-tasting craft beer should cost anymore? £6 would probably be considered a really cheap pint in London these days.
I would certainly pay more for a pint of a really tasty local ‘Wild Horse’ beer than a bland-tasting generic lager, so what am I moaning about?
This could just be what we are paying for a pint in the near future. £12 for two pints. (Breaks into tears again) ‘Iechyd Da’.
The Facts
Pint of Wild Horse: £6
Bar Open times : 12pm – 9pm weekdays
Atmosphere: Picturesque postcard setting
Car Parking: Car park behind hotel
Disabled Access: Full disabled access
Service: Order at bar or Qr code
Overall: Local beer at London prices
Address: Y Stablau, Holyhead Rd, Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0AY
Telephone number: 01690 710011
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