Written by Hector Rogers
There is something rather fitting about Brains returning to its old home in Cardiff. The Old Brewery, the company’s new pub and entertainment venue in the Brewery Quarter, occupies the site where Brains brewed beer from 1882 until 1999. More than 140 years of brewing history therefore provides the backdrop for what is an unmistakably modern Cardiff drinking and entertainment experience.
Walking into The Old Brewery, the first impression is that this is much more sports bar and entertainment venue than traditional Welsh pub. The interior is spacious and deliberately informal, with a largely open-plan feel and plenty of seating. The ground floor features a long bar, booth-style seating, benches and tables, while large screens are positioned prominently around the room. Upstairs, there is another bar, further seating and a stage area, with a Welsh dragon neon feature providing a particularly eye-catching backdrop.
The décor is relatively stripped-back and modern rather than cosy or old-fashioned. Bare wooden flooring and a mixture of booths, benches and high tables give it a contemporary, functional appearance. That may disappoint anyone expecting the character and traditional interiors associated with some of Cardiff’s older Brains pubs, but it makes sense for a venue designed around sport, groups and entertainment. The emphasis here is clearly on creating an energetic atmosphere rather than a quiet corner for a traditional pint.
And there is plenty to keep visitors occupied. The Old Brewery incorporates interactive sports experiences covering activities including rugby, football, cricket and golf, with simulation technology intended to bring famous sporting venues and challenges into the pub environment. There are also darts areas and more than 100 interactive games, making this a venue designed as much around doing something as it is around drinking and eating.
The beer offering is, naturally, central to the experience. Brains cask ales sit alongside a broader selection of beers, while Welsh spirits and a Welsh barbecue-inspired food menu add to the local identity. One of the more unusual touches is the Bayside Flavour Fusion system, which allows customers to choose between Original, Cherry and Grapefruit versions of Bayside lager from a single three-tap font.
Overall, The Old Brewery feels like Brains looking firmly towards the future while acknowledging where it came from. It is not a recreation of the old brewery, nor is it attempting to be a traditional pub. Instead, it combines Welsh brewing heritage with sport, technology, food and nightlife.
For a quiet, classic pint in an atmospheric old pub, there are arguably other choices in Cardiff. But for groups looking for somewhere to provide lively, spacious and distinctly Cardiff-centred entertainment, The Old Brewery is an interesting new addition to the city. Its greatest strength may ultimately be its versatility: whether the attraction is the beer, the sport, the food or simply the novelty of drinking on the historic Brains site, there is plenty here to encourage a return visit.
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