Real ale, craft beer, a famous gastropub and proper locals
The Pub Scene in Colwyn Bay
For a town of its size, Colwyn Bay punches well above its weight for beer. It has a nationally recognised gastropub with sea views, one of the most decorated micropubs in Wales, and a brewery taproom – plus honest locals in Old Colwyn and seafront pubs at Rhos-on-Sea. Most of what matters sits on or near Abergele Road, with the rest a short walk or drive away.
Pen-y-Bryn – the Flagship
Pen-y-Bryn (Pen-y-Bryn Road, Upper Colwyn Bay) is the pub most visitors should head for first. Run by Brunning & Price, it has the group’s trademark look – oak floors, open fires, book-lined walls – and a garden with sweeping views over the bay towards the Little Orme. Cask ales rotate constantly, the wine list is serious, and the kitchen turns out some of the best pub food on this coast; Sunday lunch here is an institution, so book ahead. It sits up the hill from the town centre – a steep 15-minute walk or a short drive.
Real Ale & Craft Beer on Abergele Road
The Bay Hop is the town’s celebrated micropub and bottle shop – a small, friendly, conversation-first room that has been CAMRA branch Pub of the Year four times (2017–2020), North Wales Pub of the Year in 2019, and branch Cider Pub of the Year as recently as 2025. Expect a changing line-up of cask ales, craft keg, real cider and perry, with bottles to take away. No music, no TV – just good beer.
A few doors along at 71 Abergele Road, the Black Cloak Taproom started life as a brewpub in 2018 (founded by two former Heavy Industry brewers) and now serves as the taproom for Black Cloak’s Denbigh brewery – four handpumps and ten keg lines, a beer garden, dog treats behind the bar, and live music most Friday evenings. Between these two and Pen-y-Bryn, Colwyn Bay is a genuine real-ale destination.
Town Centre & Budget
The Picture House (24–26 Princes Drive) is the town’s JD Wetherspoon, in a building that spent its first eighty years as the Princess Picture House cinema and later a bingo hall. It does what Spoons does – cheap, reliable drinks and food all day – and gained a proper beer garden in its recent refurbishment. Handy for the station, and the usual safe bet for families and big groups.
Match days at Stadiwm Eirias – RGC 1404 rugby union and other fixtures – make the town centre pubs noticeably livelier, so time your visit accordingly depending on taste.
Rhos-on-Sea
A mile west along the promenade, Rhos-on-Sea has a gentler, village-feel offer. The Rhos Fynach, in a historic building close to the seafront, is the classic choice – good outdoor seating and dependable food. The Cayley Arms, opposite the promenade, is a solid all-rounder that also does a well-regarded breakfast. And though it’s more restaurant than pub these days, The Toad on the seafront has been feeding and watering visitors for over a century, with sea views thrown in. The walk back to Colwyn Bay along the promenade is the perfect way to finish.
Old Colwyn & the Hills
East of the centre, Old Colwyn keeps a proper local in the Red Lion – a regular in CAMRA listings and the place for an unhurried pint of real ale among residents rather than visitors.
Best of all, in the hills above Old Colwyn at Llanelian-yn-Rhos, the White Lion Inn is reputedly one of the oldest country inns in North Wales – parts of the building are claimed to go back centuries, with Welsh slate floors and oak-beamed ceilings to match. A family-run free house next to St Elian’s church, it has held a Good Beer Guide place for over three decades, serves proper home-cooked food, and runs jazz on Tuesdays and a quiz on Thursdays. It’s a five-minute drive or a stiff uphill walk – and worth either.
Practical Notes
Most pubs open late morning and close around midnight, later at weekends. The town centre is compact and walkable at night, and the promenade links Colwyn Bay to Rhos-on-Sea for an easy two-pub evening on foot. For current hours and beer boards, WhatPub (CAMRA) is well maintained for the area – the local branch is active. If your priority is food rather than beer, see our restaurants guide; for the seafront bistro scene, Porth Eirias has its own page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there good pubs in Colwyn Bay?
Yes. Pen-y-Bryn (Brunning & Price) is a destination gastropub with sea views, the Bay Hop micropub has been CAMRA branch Pub of the Year four times (2017–2020), and the Black Cloak Taproom offers four cask and ten keg lines on Abergele Road.
Which Colwyn Bay pub is best for real ale?
The Bay Hop micropub on Abergele Road is the standout – CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2017–2020 and Cider Pub of the Year 2025 – with the Black Cloak Taproom and the White Lion Inn at Llanelian-yn-Rhos close behind.
Are Colwyn Bay pubs family-friendly?
Several are. Pen-y-Bryn and the Picture House (Wetherspoon) welcome families and serve food all day, and the Rhos Fynach at Rhos-on-Sea has outdoor seating close to the beach.
Is there a Wetherspoons in Colwyn Bay?
Yes – The Picture House on Princes Drive, in a converted early-1900s cinema, with a beer garden added in its recent refurbishment.
More Places to Eat and Drink
Looking for food as well? See the best restaurants in Colwyn Bay, our cafe guide and where to have breakfast. Planning an evening out, check what’s on and where to stay in our accommodation guide.
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