Cardiff. Built in 1879 as part of the Great Western Hotel which served the Great Western railway station. The unusual exterior stonework consists of rocks used to ballast colliers (ships) returning to Cardiff empty having delivered coal overseas.

A big beautiful pub located near the railway station. Of course the exterior is amazing - you don't see many pubs that look like this - it kind of felt like going into a palace or a cathedral! Once inside I loved the long beautiful bar and the beautiful spiral staircase going up to the upstairs bar and terrace. This is a JD Wetherspoon pub but it had some really nice Welsh beers to choose from. After a few tastes I chose the Thunder IPA from Glamorgan Brewing just outside of Cardiff. A nicely balanced IPA!