The Royal Oak is a lovely pub which serves excellent pub food at lunch and dinner time. A standard…read morepub menu - all the usual favourites and a good choice. The food is freshly cooked, and the portions are huge! Massive servings of everything. For a pub meal in Porthcawl it's hard to beat. There is a restaurant area at the back, and food can also be eaten in the two bar areas. Nice pub atmosphere - but not too rowdy. Definately pleasant for eating and drinking. My top choice for a great value and great tasting pub food in a friendly atmosphere.

We met some Welsh in Winchester whom we overheard talking about "the best fish and chips in the…read moreUK." We had to ask where that was. They told us the Prince of Wales Inn in Mawdlam. Hungry, we drove a few hours in the hopes of savoring this deliciousness. We arrived Saturday night at 9, after a long drive, only to learn they stopped cooking at 8. A huge disappointment to say the least. Hungry and tired we wondered what to do. That's when the special happened. The bartender was so kind. Great Welsh beer and cider and plenty of warm, genuine smiles. Plus it was karaoke night and the pub was filled with wonderful, friendly (and TALENTED) locals who made us feel so welcome. One lady brought her delicious homemade cakes and brownies to share! They all sang us a beautiful Welsh folk song as a farewell. It was sad to leave. Thank you, kind people of Mawdlam! We will never forget you. TAN TRO NESA!

Great atmosphere on this very authentic local pub. Lots of history on the walls and also available…read morethrough touch screen iPad on wall showing short videos and the history of the pub and the local area. Small rooms, low ceilings and ancient building. Great pub food. Had cod & chips - fresh fish and well cooked. Friends had beef & ale pie and stuffed potatoes which they raved about. Very generous portions and very reasonable. £38 for 4 with soft drinks

The Jolly Sailor is a great traditional pub in Newton, Porthcawl. Overlooking Newton Green and the…read moreNorman church the Jolly is a great spot for a summer drink, while you play cricket or football on the green. The Beer festival hosted in the summer months is a great event held in the Summer. The inside is small and cosy, with traditional pub decor, and a bit of a maritime feel, linking in to the Jolly's history as the oldest pub in Porthcawl and home to smugglers in earlier times! There's a beer garden out the back, and plenty of seats and benches out the front. Recently the Jolly's been taken over by new management, but i'm sure the good local atmosphere will remain, and hopefully the sunday night quiz!

Well described by Cloudwood (purists might argue it is in Nottage or Danygraig but what the hell)…read more Excellent place to sit on a warm day, shaded by the huge tree at the front, looking out over the green towards the church - very popular summer spot with the picnic benches, boundary wall opposite and the green itself to spread out over. Gets 4 stars for its location, but agree that should be 3 otherwise, for fairly uninspiring (old fashioned - though might appeal to some) inside. Hope this is helpful.

Yes, it's ok for a pint and an average meal! Nothing special…read morethough! Sometimes there are old rockers on beta blockers outside with their clapped out leathers and bikes, if you like that type of thing! I don't know, but there is something weird about the place!

Premier muicians pub in Porthcawl run by a landlord who knows wot he is doing. Jam night on…read moreTuesdays acoustic jam on Thursdays music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. If music is your bag this Inn is Utopia.

This pub has a superb location overlooking the river Ogmore and its ruined castle. On a sunny day…read moreit's lovely to sit outside enjoying a cool drink and watching the world go by. The interior of the pub is very traditional with flagstone floors and low beams. The food served here is excellent; when I last visited I had their cheese and tomato pie which was superb! Although I have not yet been there at the weekend the Pelican is noted for its Sunday lunches, which have been recommended in national papers and by numerous of my friends and relatives.

Real ale, brilliant food, atmosphere, some outside tables. Gets crowded in holidays. Near the sea.read more

Cool cocktail spot with loungy, trendy vibes. Music is loud, so don't come here for meaningful…read moreconversation. Solid third date kind of a spot (dark & sexy) but also a cool place to hang with friends. Cocktails were good, though we went right after the Oasis gig so they had a reduced menu for the weekend. Still everything we had ranged from solid to great. Service was friendly and helpful.

I wish that I could give this place more than 5 stars. This is absolutely one of my favourite…read moreplaces that I have ever been - and certainly the best cocktails that I have ever had. My husband took me here as part of my birthday treat a few months ago and I will be forever grateful that he did. It is really quite difficult to put in to words just how good the cocktails are. The premise of this place is that they make 'molecular cocktails' - essentially cocktails that they have scientifically concocted so that all of the ingredients complement each other molecularly. For just £50 per person, you are treated to a 7-course cocktail menu. With each delicious cocktail you are brought a unique side dish that has been chosen specifically for that drink. We were given such unusual dishes (including slices of cured meats and filled pasta!) that oddly did enhance the taste of the cocktails. As well as the delicious cocktails, what this place also has going for it is the decor. It is very sleek, elegant and gothic. The service is also incredibly good as well. I would absolutely recommend going to this cocktail bar if you can. You would be stupid not to go here. It is absolutely worth visiting. I cannot wait to return.