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.
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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