Visited for a late lunch on a weekday after a business meeting in ’09. The lunchtime rush was just over and we bagged a table no problems. 2 floored building, wooden floors, mix of comfy seating and standard wooden chairs/tables. 2 or 3 Brains beers on cask (plus a keg offering) and that was about your lot. Food was adequate but nothing amazing, service was fine. Not too far from the station, better than a Spoons in terms of ambience but beer range is rather limited.

Flagship Brains pub which increasingly seems to regard real ale as a chore.

I and hundreds of other Grimsby Town fans drank in here before we lost at the Millenium Stadium in a Play-Off match. Two storeys, all very crome and silver metal, full of happy singing football fans and Brains beers. Modern and bright, plenty of staff (they knew we were coming). I arranged to meet up with some mates here; it is within a large square with eating places and wine bars on all sides. Obviously a busy place at night, my visit was during a lunchtime. Not normally my sort of place, but it was what was needed on the day and the younger element reading this will like it more than a traditionalist like me.

I feel the Yard has to be mentioned as it is the Flagship pub of the Brains Brewery in Cardiff. The pub itself is a modern looking building re built on the Old Brains Brewery site. Brewery now down the road in the old Buckley’s Brewery location. Obviously it only has a selection of Brains beers available, but good if you need to get some Brains ratings. Good bar to visit and have a beer, I hear the food is good. Not my favourite place in Cardiff but worth a beer or two. City centre pub, staff can be a little grumpy.