“A cracking day for a crawl!” - that was the view of the Pembrokeshire CAMRA members who piled into the Cleddau café at Haverfordwest station early on the sunny morning of Saturday March 12th. Fortified by the café’s excellent breakfast, and undeterred by the usual saga of rail replacement buses and packed trains, we arrived in Swansea about noon, eager to enjoy our first pint. 

This was enjoyed at the Queen’s Hotel, where the legendary Theakston’s Old Peculier on draught awaited us. Thence to the No Sign, where the sign outside saying “no sign” is a classic example of an antinomy! Here the Cheddar Ales Totty Pot, although advertised as a porter, was revealed by its distinctive smokiness to be a good example of a Rauschbier, a style from the German region of Franconia. Very tasty too! Landlady Becky made us most welcome in this lavishly appointed and comfortable wine bar which offers a good range of real ales in good nick. 

Tearing ourselves away, we popped next door to the Bank Statement, a very decent Wetherspoons hostelry. Here we enjoyed a good range of ales from over the border in England at the usual good value ‘Spoons prices, whilst watching Italy keeping their end up quite creditably against Scotland in the Chwe Gwlad. 

Sadly all too soon it was time to head back to the station for our train home. As we dispersed on foot and by bus from Haverfordwest, everyone agreed it had been a most enjoyable day, with good ale enjoyed in fine pubs amidst convivial company. Our thanks go to Nick Myles for organising it. 

Our Branch will be organising more crawls and other enjoyable beer-related activities, in the year ahead. Next time you could be enjoying them with us. Interested? Contact ku.gro.armac.erihsekorbmep@yraterces