Pub named best in South Wales for the second time

A PUB near Maesteg that brews its own ale on site has been named the best in South Wales for the second time.

The Cross Inn in Cwmfelin has been named South Wales Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

Owned by husband-and-wife duo Dai and Gill Morgan, the pub was first voted the best in Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend before going up against others in South Wales.

Neil Goodman from Camra said: “The Cross Inn brews its own beer on site so you really couldn’t get a beer any fresher or in better condition.

“It usually has a variety of four or five of its own regular real ales, and we particularly love going up for their beer festival.”

The Cross Inn runs its own brewery – Cerddin Brewery – and head brewer Dai even visited Brewlab in Scotland to develop his skills.

The team put in hours of work to come up with the perfect recipes – including the pub’s first beer Maiden Ale.

It has since created Cwrw Dau (Beer Two) and Cwrw (Beer Two) which go down a treat with the regulars and all of its beers are brewed using green energy.

Members of the group also voted for The Cross Inn – which won the award for the first time in 2016 – because of the “friendly staff”.

“The staff are friendly, fast and efficient and you’re made to feel very welcome, not only by the staff but also the regulars,” continued Mr Goodman.

“We don’t look for cheap beer and food, we look for a good return for your hard-earned pennies. In The Cross Inn, we found the ales are offered at a very reasonable price and are in excellent condition.”

The next stage of the contest will see the Cross Inn compete to be crowned the best pub in Wales when it goes up against pubs from North and West Wales.