Pontcanna Inn

Pleasant atmosphere

Went here for food and drinks on Saturday 03/12/2023. Arrived no tables. Large area reserved for 6pm with about 8 tables and 6 people milling around in the area. Managed to get a table. Downloaded the app… trying for about 10 minutes to get the app to work. Went to the bar app doesn’t work. Ordered the sausage and mash, pie and chips meals. The larger 1/2’s were served in flat beer glasses so the larger was flat and horrible. Food turned up in 20 minutes. Luke warm, not sure what you’re probing your food temps to but the food wasn’t warm enough! Microwaved mash looked horrible. Pie was rock hard and inedible. Over microwaved sausages which were like rubber. Left most of it. Paid £35 for rubbish food, could of purchased better frozen food at the co-op. Won’t be returning for food it was dire. Door man was eating food with his fingers not washing his hands and touching the door handle etc gross!

Upon arriving noticed how well presented it was. Very clean. And big! lovely garden out the back to sit and relax. It seemed to just go on and on, Staff very friendly. Although I would say another member of staff behind the bar on busy days, like a bank holiday weekend maybe to save the lengthy ques. We were able to check in slightly earlier then 3pm which was nice so we finished our drinks and went to check the room out, upper floor room 8 at the front of the building :) Did have reservations about the noise but did not hear a thing even at 11.30pm ish when the place was so busy. We went down for a quick bite to eat Befor heading out. Ordered 2 large nachos . I have to be honest I didn't enjoy and neither did my husband. You literally could not pull a single nacho out of the bowl unless you used a knife to get to the bottom and I mean the bottom. Befor this I did hear the chef having what seemed to be abit of moan with who I thought was the manager ( about new till system) I think he took his bad mood out on the food that followed and unfortunately it was ours. We did not stay for breakfast as we wanted to start heading back so can not comment on that. And after being put of by the simplest thing of nachos we were not convinced we would enjoy. Is having a kitchen upstairs the norm in such a busy place with staff having to carrying the food down flights of stairs? If you did have use of a dumbweighter I didn't see it, just thinking health and safety :/ Back to the room bed was very very comfy. Had a kettle so we could make a cuppa. Coffee/tea/hot chocolate/sugar, milk and a couple of biscuits provided. I love my tea so we did ask for more tea bags ect to see me through they brought them up no problem. No fridge in this room not an issue for us. Bathroom a good size only issue with our bathroom was the toilet seat. It needs looking at as not very secure. It is only card payment, which we didn't realise at the time and maybe should of been stated As a whole I would definitely return to stay again. Having food there is questionable but maybe try something differant next time and of course if my opinion changes on that I'll add another review. :)

Clean rooms and very comfy beds. We stayed in rooms 2, 6 & 9. Room 6, & 9 are on the upper floor which was quieter, not that we had a problem with the noise. Good coffee/tea facilities and a small fridge in room 2 & 9 but not 6. We didn’t stop for breakfast as we were leaving early but I’m sure it would have been good judging by the standard of the bar food. Parking was the biggest obstacle, whilst there is parking on the road, we arrived on a Saturday and therefore all the parking had been taken up. We parked not far away and prices were similar to Cardiff parking prices. We walked into Cardiff which was about a 10/15 minute walk to the centre.

We were staying in the Pontcanna as part of a wedding weekend, as a family we took over the place. Check in was 3pm but we had our room a bit early. Our room was lovely, everything you wanted was there, lovely hot shower , tea & coffee etc. We spent the evening there , very busy, good atmosphere. Breakfast…. There were 10 of us for breakfast, you choose from the menu, i have to say , I had the best Egg Benedict I have ever had and believe you me I’d had plenty, my husband had bacon bap, there were full English & full Welsh breakfasts all with different eggs etc , ever one was correct and spot on . Really helped & friendly staff, shout out to Adam who was funny , friendly and helpful A return is obviously on the cards Diolch

Our room was on the top floor and we had the noise of the band underneath us and music blasting out in the back garden. Not relaxing at all. It did go quiet at 11pm but wish we had been made aware that this was not a quiet room.

No heated towel rail in the shower room - would have been nice, with the temp outside being below zero. I wanted to leave at 8.45 on my last day - but didn't know how to check out, as the pub was closed. I just left my key in the room door, and hoped they realised that I had gone before 11am, so I didn't get charged for another night! It was a shame that the restaurant closed at 9pm - luckily I found a very good restaurant just up the road.

The staff were all very great and welcoming. The room was clean and had thoughtful touches. I would recommend staying here to anyone!