The Goscombe

It’s almost as though The Goscombe has been beamed in from another, posher area of Cardiff, because in many ways the general vibe doesn’t really fit its immediate Cowbridge Road vicinity. Almost exactly opposite Canton’s trusty Wetherspoon’s The Ivor Davies, on first glance this Smith & Jones pub’s somewhat more luxurious décor makes it a deal more inviting than its near neighbour. The prevalence of cocktails and decent wine list nails its colours to the mast, as well. It’s a rare day when The Ivor Davies isn’t bustling, though, and The Goscombe rarely seems to match that standard throughout the week. That regular comparative lack of any discernable atmosphere is at least a feasible alternative to the pockets of professional drinkers across the road. Regardless, most punters in the area either swallow their pride and save a few pennies at Wetherspoon’s or simply don’t give a flying one for bars with any loftier aspirations in the first place.

Ah, The Goscombe! Mmmm… she says pensively… where do you start a review about this place? It’s difficult to know! Perhaps across the road from The Goscombe is a good a place as any?
Ah, The Ivor Davies!!! Another difficult one to sum up in a nutshell!
The fact that these two places have somehow been juxtaposed is more curious than fiction… they are essentially the same place with the same kind of clientele, but one opts to splash its exterior walls with meal deals, printed up on large full colour canvases, and the other, The Goscombe, has their meal deals presented in a much more subdued manner on sandwich boards made to look like blackboards… some could say its pretentious, and others would say it’s more upmarket… I would say, no matter how you dress up this business, we can still see what it looks like naked!
The Goscombe is a huge pub with a nice paint job that will appeal to people with certain aspirations. The Ivor, will appeal to people who are a tad more comfortable inside their own skin, who prefer to be able to buy their drinks a fair bit cheaper and sup them on the terrace with a fag. The Goscombe is cast in shadow at home-​time and doesn’t have any outdoor seating.
For all their foibles, these are two of the better pubs on this street, and in the area in general. Things improve the further towards Pontcanna you go, but the prices get more steep.

This was a real find. I haven’t come across many Smith and Jones pubs before but judging from this one i’d be keen for more. They do all sorts of deals like a 2 for 1 curry night on Thursdays, a Friday night champagne night, or also on Friday’s they offer a platter and bottle of wine for a tenner which is perfect for after work. They also do a great Sunday lunch and even take Tesco voucher things!
Its like a pub/​café really with a modern feel to it. There’s lots of comfy sofa’s to sink into and its my almost perfect sunday afternoon pub for relaxing with a pint and a paper and some nice cheap grub.