Pembrokeshire

Campaign for Real Ale

Campaign for Real Ale

Welcome to the Pembrokeshire branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale

Farewell Bessie

It's unlikely that anyone visiting this site will be unaware of the passing of Bessie Davies, one of the UK's longest serving publicans. Such is her fame that news of her death travelled swiftly from Cwm Gwaun, where her historic and much loved Dyffryn Arms is situated, to the rest of the UK and the wider World.

Known to everyone simply as Bessie, and the Dyffryn Arms, consequently, as Bessie's, she became a symbol of tradition and hospitality over the 73 years in which she served ale through the pub's famous sitting-room hatch. In the Valley, she also became known for being there when her regulars neded a helping hand, as well. It seems that many a local can be grateful to her for putting her hand in her pocket when they needed something to see them through hard times.

A native Welsh speaker, although of a dialect known to baffle Welsh visitors from outside the Valley, she would make sure local drinkers spoke in English if she had guests who spoke no Welsh, seeing it as only polite to include everyone in the pub's lively discussions.

Speaking to people who knew Bessie, it soon becomes clear that, as welcoming as she was, she was also capable of freely expressing her opinion in the bluntest of ways. There's a much repeated story of the visitor who told Bessie that his wife would like a glass of wine, only to be told that, in that case, she could "toddle" off to somewhere that sold wine.

Bessie's was a real ale, and cider, pub, before anyone thought of calling them real, and it stayed that way through the lean years. Known these days for its Bass direct from the cask, the Dyffryn Arms once sold ale brewed by Bessie herself. Proper beer, she called it, not the stuff sold in other pubs, which she dismissed as being "60 per cent fizz". She ran a real pub, with proper beer, so whether in Bessie's, which it will always remain, or one of the other real pubs Pembrokeshire has to offer, please raise a glass of proper beer in her memory and in thanks that you still can.

Latest News:

Pembrokeshire CAMRA
Presents 2023
Pub of the Year Awards

Branch Chairman Nigel Skipper presents the Pembrokeshire Pub of the Year award to the Mason's Arms, Cilgerren. Jo Stafford accepts the award on behalf of publican Francine Barber.

CONTACT US

[click here to contact other committee members]
Branch Diary:
  • March Branch Meeting Saturday 23 March 2024 13:00 Note earlier than usual start time
  • March Social Saturday 30 March 2024 Second, or maybe first, branch beer festival visit of the year. Watch this space.
Branch Chairman Nigel Skipper presents the Pembrokeshire Cider Pub of the Year award to Jess Fulker, publican of the Pembroke Yeoman, Haverfordwest.

Pub Guide
A map and list of all branch area pubs



CAMRA's guide to all UK pubs
Pembrokeshire's breweries have many delights awaiting you. This is just one example.
Pembrokeshire's breweries have many fine ales for your delectation. This is just one example of a local nectar which awaits you.
See the list of the county's breweries in the menu.